logo
Neurodiverse students cycling more than 1,000 miles to raise awareness

Neurodiverse students cycling more than 1,000 miles to raise awareness

Yahooa day ago

A group of neurodiverse students are cycling more than 1,000 miles to raise awareness.
Pupils from Appleford School, in Shrewton, are riding from John O'Groats to Land's End in the Appleford JOGLE 2025 challenge.
The journey began on Wednesday, June 18 and will continue until Wednesday, July 2, aiming to promote understanding of learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD, while also raising funds for empowering student opportunities.
The team, composed of 14 to 16-year-olds, has been making steady progress despite tough weather conditions.
Read more
School praised for maintaining high standards and inclusive ethos
'Beautiful' new outdoor classroom built by volunteers in just eight days
Scouts earn new badges after completing emergency first aid training
They are completing the Appleford JOGLE 2025 challenge. (Image: Appleford School)
To donate to their fundraiser, go to gofundme.com/f/1000mile-cycle-challenge-empowering-neurodiverse-students.
On Monday, June 23, the young cyclists travelled from Crianlarich to Larkhall, covering over 72 miles.
Although they faced wet and windy conditions, the weather was not as severe as expected.
The students showed remarkable teamwork, taking turns leading the group.
Two tandems were also utilised, considering the wind conditions.
Despite the challenging terrain, the team arrived at their destination, tired but proud.
Their journey is being closely followed on social media, where supporters can track their progress and contribute to their cause via a GoFundMe page.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Centre finally finds friend for lonely orphaned owl
Centre finally finds friend for lonely orphaned owl

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Centre finally finds friend for lonely orphaned owl

A lonely owlet rescued by a wildlife centre in Devon has finally found a friend. Moorlands Wildlife Centre said the tawny owl, named Gizmo, was found orphaned in Branscombe Woods and taken to the rescue centre via Sidmouth Vets on the 28 May. Gizmo was becoming lonely and too used to human interaction, so the centre put a call out to the Devon Wildlife Rescue group, vets and the Barn Owl Trust in Ashburton to find an owl of a similar age to pair her with. Tony Bennet, from Moorlands Wildlife Centre, said they managed to pair Gizmo with a fellow orphaned tawny owl named Grommit which was found abandoned on a road in Exmouth. Mr Bennet said the small bird looked like a "fluffy toy" when it arrived at the rescue centre and was progressing nicely under their care. "We fed her and looked after her very carefully," he said. "She didn't have to be enclosed much as she wasn't very mobile but within a week's time, she had almost doubled in size. "They do bond very quickly with humans and they begin to think they are humans, or they will go to humans for food and won't bother looking for food. "Whereas if they are with another owl, they will behave as if they are in the wild. "When we just had Gizmo, for company, we put a mirror in her cage and she used to sit and talk to the mirror, like a parrot, but obviously she wasn't getting a lot of feedback, so she is behaving a lot more naturally now." Mr Bennet said introducing the pair could have "easily gone wrong" but they took to one another straight away. "They make a cute little couple of owlets," he said. It is hoped the owls will be released together from the Moorlands Wildlife Centre in September if they can raise money to build a bigger enclosure. He said: "We will be putting out food for them on a regular basis until they can learn how to forage themselves in the wild and hopefully add to the local population of tawny owls." The centre, which is run solely by Mr Bennet and his wife Claire, officially opened in December 2024 and has helped about 200 wild animals including hedgehogs, beavers, fox cubs and birds. "As an organisation we don't have any animals that are not able to be released back into the wild, we are not a zoo or a visitor centre," he said. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Rescued owls 'better off left in wild' say experts Woman helps keep baby owl alive Bonzo the therapy owl swoops into care home Moorlands Wildlife Centre

How to handle toxic in-laws, according to a clinical psychologist
How to handle toxic in-laws, according to a clinical psychologist

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

How to handle toxic in-laws, according to a clinical psychologist

Dr Sheri Jacobson has a PhD in counselling and psychotherapy, and a degree in cognitive behavioural therapy. She worked for many years as a senior therapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, as well as for MIND, MENCAP, a women's centre and the NHS. She is the founder of Harley Therapy. It's rare to find a family without at least some conflict between first-degree relatives. Imagine, then, the whole extra layer that can come with in-laws. We haven't known these people since childhood, and aren't as acclimatised to their ways. Getting used to this can take time. The gaining of an in-law represents a significant shift in the dynamics of your family. But while people often dwell on the difficulties that arrive with their in-laws, it's important first to note the positives in your by-marriage relationships. Your in-laws can give you social, practical and financial support. They're often sounding boards, or can help you with the day-to-day challenges of getting older. In-laws often increase the diversity of the types of personalities in your circle. Plus, this wider family often shares important experiences: celebrating joyful occasions, such as weddings and graduations, and offering support in times of bereavement. That said, there can often be tensions and difficulties involving hierarchy and power structures. People are often used to interacting in specific ways with certain dynamics at play, and it can take time to recalibrate to a new family set-up. Our loyalties and allegiances often realign – for example, if a close sibling gets married, that can lead to feelings of envy towards their new spouse if they aren't confiding in us as much. Families have different styles. On top of this, every individual brings into the mix their own underlying patterns of behaviour shaped by their unique past experiences. These can sometimes manifest in less desirable behaviours, such attention-seeking, wilfulness, manipulation or sulking. Whatever the reason for conflict, the same principles and values apply. Always try to start with compassion and empathy: aiming to understand, as opposed to being judgemental. This is the best way to de-escalate a situation, so it becomes less threatening to everyone. Here are four common in-law scenarios, and how to defuse them. 'I know him better than you'; 'he doesn't like it when you do things that way' – a mother-in-law's possessiveness is often driven by an underlying anxiety. Perhaps she senses her adult child is being 'taken away', and she still wants to be included. A mother might behave in a controlling way or use 'guilt-tripping' in order to remain relevant and central to her child's life. In all in-law relationships, there's the possibility of divided loyalties – that the wife is 'against' the mother, or vice versa. There's no right way to deal with this. Some people prefer to speak directly to their in-laws, and others prefer to enlist support from outside. The most important thing is for the couple to safeguard their own relationship – to discuss and air their views about this problem in non-belligerent ways. An opening comment such as: 'When your mother criticises my cooking, I feel undermined' might be helpful, and then take it from there. The key here is to explain how you are feeling, and open a discussion. If, as is often the case, your mother-in-law's behaviour is driven by anxiety, the best way to counter this is to make her feel included (while also making sure she doesn't take over). For example, if it's your anniversary dinner, and she tries to invite herself, say something like: 'We'd love you to be there, but tonight is just for the two of us. Let's do something separate next week.' Start by putting yourself in your daughter-in-law's place, to try and understand the root of why she's behaving like this. Perhaps she's trying to assert her independence, or establish a position within a new family hierarchy. Or maybe a memory of her earlier experiences is being played out: it could be that she was neglected when she was younger, or quite the opposite – she's used to being the centre of attention. Either way, it's difficult to cope with a daughter-in-law when she's demanding, 'drive me here', or 'I need this, now', especially if this squeezes out the preferences of other people. Your son's self-involved wife might also disengage, appear aloof or prioritise her own family over yours, which can lead to a lot of upset and sullen family dinners. This is a hard situation to manage and it's important to be sensitive. Family ruptures can happen easily. Though it has to be said that, in some contexts, the cycle of rupture and repair – heated arguments followed by making up – is not uncommon. Communication is nearly always a good idea, but be careful not to accuse your daughter-in-law of anything directly. Instead of: 'You always cancel when I plan a dinner, but you never cancel on your own family – that's not fair,' consider saying: 'I feel sad when you don't come to our dinners, as family time is special to us. Is there something about our gatherings that makes you feel unwelcome?' If you'd rather avoid such disclosures, or feel that this type of communication won't lead anywhere, my advice would be to work on acceptance of the situation. Realise that it might never really change. Some people maintain some distance to protect themselves from emotional strain. The alternative is to lower your expectations – appreciating that your daughter-in-law's behaviour might be linked to her past experiences rather than being personal. Sometimes, it can help to vent to a third party, such as a close friend or a therapist, who can hear you out and support you to better manage the situation. This can cover a wide spectrum from, 'let me drive' to a partner who takes total economic control, or restricts his wife from having a social life of her own. In a milder scenario, this may manifest with your son-in-law by arguing with your child's opinions, or by being dismissive of them. Various things can drive this sort of behaviour, including a perceived threat to the man's authority, or uncertainty of his place in the family hierarchy. In certain cultures, the 'husband in charge' scenario is more accepted, and this can be harder to question or challenge. Whatever the cause, it can be important to keep an eye on a bossy son-in law, as in its most serious form, damaging control can escalate. 'Let's not see your family today' can swiftly become: 'I'm better with money than you are, let me look after the account.' As a parent, it's important to look out for signs of overly domineering and manipulative behaviour. If you find that your daughter seems unrecognisable from her usual self, or she seems nervous, silent or on edge, you may want to intervene. This is a difficult situation, as you may see a problem and your child may not, and attempting to point it out could push her further away. Bring up the problem gently: don't accuse or point fingers. Say something like: 'I know you are devoted to your husband, but I'm concerned in seeing some of the ways he is with you. I care about you greatly, and I'm here for you regardless. Whenever you are ready, I would like to help.' If your son-in-law becomes menacing or abusive – whether violently or otherwise – seek support from the relevant professional services. Whether the inappropriate behaviour is aimed at you personally – or in a more general sense – there are ways of dealing with it. It's not uncommon for older relatives to have 'blind spots', owing to the generation in which they grew up – they just don't see the world in the same way as you do. If your partner's father is being racist or lascivious to the people around you, a comment such as: 'Remember, we don't use those sorts of comments today' might help, delivered in an approachable tone. If you are feeling personally targeted, then it's important to set boundaries. Say to your father-in-law: 'I know you mean well, but it's not OK to comment on my low-cut dress.' Or, 'I don't like it when you come up and hug me – I hope you understand.' It's also important to let your partner know you feel a bit nervous around his dad. All of this can be hard to do. But you aren't only looking after yourself: you are also prioritising safety for younger family members, and guarding them from inappropriate sexual or pejorative comments. Reshaped families can add much to our lives, and all the more so when we consider the feelings of every single member. As told to Miranda Levy Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.

Glass from Guildhall and Bloody Sunday belt go on display to mark new initiative
Glass from Guildhall and Bloody Sunday belt go on display to mark new initiative

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Glass from Guildhall and Bloody Sunday belt go on display to mark new initiative

A piece of stained glass from the IRA's bombing of Londonderry's historic Guildhall and a belt worn by one of those killed by soldiers in Derry on Bloody Sunday have been united in a new display to mark the start of a new initiative. Training logs for Loyalist prisoners in the former Long Kesh prison camp where scores of paramilitary prisoners were held are also among the items put together in a collaboration between museums and groups. The Conflict and Legacy Interpretive Network includes National Museums NI, the Museum of Free Derry/Bloody Sunday Trust and Healing Through Remembering. It aims to bring expertise together to nurture diverse perspectives on Northern Ireland's conflict and the legacy of The Troubles and inform the debate on reconciliation. The Network has been awarded more than £200,000 in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its Realising The Potential Of The Conflict And Legacy Interpretive Network project. This involves a project co-ordinator being appointed for three years to reach other organisations and communities across Northern Ireland, support the delivery of a major conference and online resources, as well as a touring exhibition. A display giving a taster of what is to come has been unveiled at the Ulster Museum in Belfast within its The Troubles and Beyond gallery. The objects in the display include a piece of stained glass from The Guildhall following the 1972 IRA bombing, training logs for loyalist prisoners in Long Kesh and the belt worn by Patrick Doherty when he was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, also in 1972. William Blair, director of collections at National Museums NI, described a 'complex part of history with many different perspectives'. He emphasised that the legacy of conflict needs to be interpreted sensitively and empathetically. 'Peacebuilding is an ongoing process, and we're all part of that journey,' he said. 'Interpreting our recent past requires care and sensitivity. 'At the Ulster Museum, our Troubles and Beyond exhibition is intentionally presented as a work in progress, inviting visitors to ask: 'What's missing?' 'This question creates space for continued reflection and engagement, and thereby continual evolvement. 'As the exhibition states, 'Whilst we have a shared past, we do not have a shared memory'. 'Everyone's lived experience holds its own truth, and that must be respected.' He added that National Museums NI is 'committed to representing multiple perspectives through the diversity of our collection'. 'More broadly, we're fortunate to be part of a wider network of organisations – brought together through the Conflict and Legacy Interpretive Network – who are actively engaged in exploring our recent conflict and progressing peacebuilding as a result,' he said. 'We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for recognising the value and potential impact of this collaborative effort.' Cate Turner, director at Healing Through Remembering, a cross-community organisation dedicated to facilitating discussion around conflict, said they are aware of the need to engage all perspectives. 'Challenges as a result of the past remain evident here in Northern Ireland, and in responding to them, we need to ensure that we adopt an approach that not only engages those directly impacted, but future generations too,' she said. 'The Conflict and Legacy Interpretive Network allows us to leverage specialist expertise to ensure we engage people in ways that will benefit communities.' Maeve McLaughlin, director at the Bloody Sunday Trust said that collaboration is central to the continued success of the Network. 'As the debate around the historical legacy of conflict here continues, museums and heritage organisations have been considering their role and purpose,' she said. 'This has been a difficult area, but in establishing the Network, we have found we can learn from each other and better define the approach. 'We are not simply institutions that record history, but experts in determining how history should be collected, interpreted and shared. 'We look forward to continuing to leverage this collective expertise across this new project.' Dr Paul Mullan, director of Northern Ireland at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: 'We recognise that dealing with contested history can be challenging, but as our ongoing investment in reconciliation projects demonstrates, it's important that work to build greater understanding of the legacy of conflict is acknowledged. 'It's thanks to National Lottery players that this meaningful project by the Conflict and Legacy Interpretive Network has the potential to connect with communities across the region and beyond, and demonstrate how important continued dialogue about the past is in building a better future.'' The Conflict and Legacy Interpretive Network exhibit will remain on display at Ulster Museum until the end of the year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store