Latest news with #TheMix
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
More than 1,000 pupils take part in safety event
More than 1,000 pupils took part in a safety event designed to equip them with life skills. The Mix in Stowmarket hosted its eighth annual Crucial Crew programme, welcoming Year 6 pupils from 43 primary schools across Suffolk between June 16 and 24. Laura Saville, coordinator at Crucial Crew and part of the front of house team at The Mix, said: "Crucial Crew 2025 was a huge success. "The young people were so engaged with each session. "Over the seven days we delivered over 30 hours of youth work and 686 sessions to local primary schools. "Over 1,000 young people were able to learn about personal health and safety in a new and engaging environment." Crucial Crew aims to prepare pupils for the transition to secondary school through practical workshops led by emergency services and health professionals. Sessions covered topics such as online safety, fire prevention, and drug and alcohol awareness. The scheme is funded by Babergh and Mid Suffolk district souncils and the Suffolk Resilience Forum, a multi-agency partnership that includes the fire service, police, NHS, and environmental agencies.
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Niles Park District Fourth of July parade ‘after party' is ‘just a time to be with family'
Splashes, laughter, music hits and the aroma of hot dogs filled Grennan Heights Park on July 4 as the Niles Park District hosted its annual 'Post-Parade Family Fest.' With inflatable attractions, pony rides, booths full of family-friendly games and a live performance by the band The Mix, the Park District delivered a festive Fourth of July celebration to its residents and visitors alike. The post-parade fest has been a tradition in Niles for more than two centuries. With free admission to the park and most attractions and food included – aside from beverages and raffle tickets – the event came together with help from Park District staff and other who spent hours preparing for an anticipated high turnout, according to organizers. 'It's a great event and it's definitely a team effort,' said Robin Brey, Niles Park District office manager and recreation supervisor. 'They set up all day yesterday. We get here at 6 in the morning, everybody comes in, then there's the parade, and everybody gets here at 11 o'clock. So, it's probably 24 hours. There's 30 full-time staff and about 50 part-time staff that help.' A crowd estimated in the thousands – from Niles and neighboring towns – poured into the park, looking to make the most of the holiday despite the high summertime heat and morning cloud cover. Among them was Tia Davis, a Niles resident who's made the Post-Parade Family Fest a tradition with her sons Roman, 6, and Don, 9. 'It's a lot of fun for the kids. Nice parade, good rides; just a lot of fun with the neighborhood,' said Davis. This year marked the Davis family's fourth time celebrating the Fourth of July at the event. 'I really love the after-party,' Davis added. 'It's just a time to be with family, get away from work and just enjoy ourselves.' Also returning were longtime attendees Renee Polit, her husband, and their sons Jacob, 4, and Joaquin, 8. This marked their eighth year at the post-parade fest. 'We're just letting the kids have fun. We always go to the parade, and they enjoy the jump house here,' said Polit. For Carmen Sciackitano, this year was her first time attending. She traveled from west suburban Winfield to spend the Fourth of July with her family, especially her granddaughters and great-granddaughters. When asked what she enjoyed most, she said, 'The beautiful parade with veterans, police, first responders and the band here at the park. Wonderful.' As her family played nearby under a refreshing spray from a fire truck ladder, Sciackitano reflected on what the day meant to her. 'It means that we're a country united by all different types of Americans, and we're strong, good people,' she said. During the event, the Park District picked prize winners for a raffle open to all attendees, with tickets available for $1 each, or six for $5. Ten prizes were awarded, including bikes, scooters, a volleyball and badminton set, and other interactive items. Despite a few morning showers, the Post-Parade Family Fest saw a packed turnout. 'I think it brings families together. People come from all over, and kids [who] grew up here … come back here to visit and take part in the event,' said Brey.
Canada Standard
10-06-2025
- Health
- Canada Standard
Q&A: How Deep Energy Retrofits Can Unlock Health Care Savings in Alberta
Across Canada, provinces like British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Ontario are investing in energy retrofits to cut emissions, lower energy bills, and improve health. But Alberta stands apart-not for what it's doing, but for what it isn't. There, 42% of 598,000 homes built before 1980 need repairs and upgrades. But Alberta is the only province or territory that doesn't allow utilities to engage in demand-side management (DSM) programs-initiatives that help people use less energy by funding things like insulation, heat pumps, and efficient appliances. Amid increasing wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and rising energy prices, retrofit advocates are working to build institutional support for programs to make homes safer for Albertans. Though retrofits can be costly and complex, a new Pembina Institute report shows their full value emerges when health care savings are factored into the equation. For example, researchers in England found that poor housing conditions cost their country's health care system $3 billion each year. Simply fixing homes that were too cold would save the National Health Service $1.8 billion per year in avoided costs, the study found. In New Zealand, researchers uncovered remarkable health and energy savings from retrofits made during a multi-year insulation and clean heating program, writes Pembina. After tracking hospitalization rates, prescription costs, and mortality across retrofitted and non-retrofitted homes, they found that insulation had the most benefit, while the biggest health savings came from reduced mortality. The program had a net return of $1.03 billion in health and energy savings-for every dollar spent, four dollars were returned. The Energy Mix talked with report author Raidin Blue, an analyst with the Pembina Institute's buildings program, about Alberta's retrofit gap, its health and equity impacts, and what's needed to drive policy change. The Mix : Why is it important to highlight both health and energy savings when making the case for deep retrofits? View our latest digests Retrofits aren't just about energy-they have a broader value proposition that we aren't capturing. We believe deep retrofits can be key to making life more affordable for Canadians, which is a huge priority right now. The business case for deep retrofits needs to be expanded to include non-energy benefits: improved health and safety, enhanced resilience, and better insurance coverage. When all of that is factored in, deep retrofits make strong financial sense. The Mix : Who do you hope will act on this report-and what message do you want them to walk away with? Building owners. I want them to understand that health is tied to housing-we spend 90% of our lives indoors. Poor ventilation? Air quality issues can damage your lungs. Struggling to keep your home warm in winter? Chronic cold is linked to cardiovascular issues. Both owners and tenants can face serious health impacts from their buildings, and retrofits are a powerful solution. The Mix: You highlight vulnerable households-like low-income families and seniors-living in poor-quality housing, yet Alberta has no province-wide retrofit strategy. However, we are seeing targeted programs like the Metis Government's federally funded $9.24-million retrofit initiative. What would it take to build broader political or institutional support for retrofits in Alberta? And should the feds step up with funding? People in Alberta want to retrofit. The demand is there. It is great to see this initiative from the Metis Government. The City of Calgary also expanded its Home Upgrades Program, and 20-some communities are involved in Alberta Municipalities' Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP). Unfortunately, CEIP programs are often out of reach for vulnerable populations, since the funding is tied to property taxes-and many low-income families and seniors don't own their homes. In provinces and territories where there are utility-led Demand-Side Management (DSM) programs, retrofit initiatives are common, and many focus specifically on low-income housing. These programs offer stable, year-over-year funding that building owners can rely on. So a key first step would be for Alberta-a DSM outlier in Canada-to enable utilities to administer and invest in them. At the federal level, the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program has allocated C$800 to $900 million across the country to support retrofits in low- to median-income homes. So far, Alberta is the only province not actively working to access those funds. In most other jurisdictions, they're managed through a combination of designated agencies and utilities. To advance deep retrofits in Alberta and across Canada, all levels of government need to work more closely with important players like Natural Resources Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, insurance companies, and health authorities. We need to better understand the impacts of retrofits on everything from health to resilience to affordability-and then create stable supports and incentives. That's when building owners will begin to see real returns on deep retrofit investments-beyond just utility bill savings and emissions reductions. The Mix : You've drawn on international examples from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Are conditions in Alberta different enough that more local research is still needed? Where should that work start? It is great to see that Australia saved senior households $840 a winter-I think a health-focused retrofit study in Alberta would see significant health savings. We had hesitations with extrapolations because our examples vary from Alberta in both climate and by types of buildings-so we tried not to make direct comparisons. Alberta-specific pilots would showcase the health benefits of retrofits to building owners, local and provincial governments, and the retrofit industry as a whole. Fortunately, these benefits are likely to emerge even without extensive data collection or formal studies. A good starting point could be post-retrofit surveys, where program managers ask tenants about increased comfort or improvements in their overall health and well-being. From there, deeper research could explore reductions in sick days or asthma symptoms. This means working with health care providers to make stronger links between retrofits, health outcomes, and avoided health care costs. The Mix: Are there any promising examples in Canada-provincial or local-where health research is already influencing retrofit policy or program design? Canadians are really starting to make this connection between our built environment and health. For years people have discussed active transportation, walkable cities, and their health benefits. The University of Alberta has a Climate Change + Health Hub and the Housing for Health initiative because these are important issues to Albertans. Look to the 2021 heat dome, when 619 people died in British Columbia, 66 in Alberta. The B.C. government responded with a formal coroner's investigation and the province worked with utility BC Hydro to provide free air conditioners to vulnerable people. Similar programs were also launched in Oregon and Washington State. These are promising, but still just responses to acute events-they don't take a whole-building approach to deep retrofits. I want policy-makers and researchers to understand that-beyond heat waves-there are chronic health impacts associated with our housing. The Mix : What makes you optimistic that this framing will gain traction? Are decision-makers starting to think differently about the value of deep retrofits? Retrofits do make a difference and that gives me optimism. They are the one form of climate policy that does both climate mitigation and adaptation. They can make our homes healthier, safer, and more affordable. Part of our work over the next year will be to bring together all of these pieces for a complete deep retrofit business case. We just need coordinated efforts from all orders of government, utilities, insurance and investment sectors, and building owners, to keep Canadians healthy and safe. Source: The Energy Mix
Fashion Network
09-06-2025
- Health
- Fashion Network
JD Foundation and The Mix launch new mental health support scheme for men
JD Sports ' UK's charity arm JD Foundation has picked upcoming Men's Mental Health Week to team up with The Mix, the digital service for young people offering 'ongoing, meaningful support to young men across the country'. Together, they're launching a raft of new informative and supportive resources 'designed to tackle the mental health crisis among young men and provide a safe, supportive space to open up'. Live from Monday (9 June), the new partnered content will feature a JD Foundation-sponsored discussion board, where men can join and discuss any issues they're facing with other peers 'in a supportive, anonymous space'. Alongside the discussion boards, The Mix will also be releasing a special episode of its podcast, the 'Mix Six ix', hosted by Owen Wood, winner of BBC's Race Across The World in 2024, and featuring JD Sports team members opening up about their own mental health journeys. The organisations are also hitting the streets across the UK with a series of street interviews, capturing what mental wellbeing means to young men today. There will also be partnered social media content and articles focused on real life stories from young people. This will all be hosted on The Mix's newly relaunched website, offering content, community, coaching and crisis support, with a broad range of integrated services. This initiative marks the first step in a wider, long-term collaboration between The Mix and JD Foundation, with ongoing campaigns and joint content planned 'to keep mental health at the heart of youth culture'. Recent data from The Mix shows that 58% of young men identify anxiety and depression as their biggest mental health challenges. Yet stigma remains high, and asking for help is still one of the toughest steps, it says. Encouragingly, 82% of young men say they would consider using peer support if they needed help with their mental health – 'a clear call to action that this new raft of support is answering'. Aaron Probert, charity manager for the JD Foundation, said: 'These new resources are about creating meaningful content and support that is accessible, inclusive and reflective of the real conversations young men want and need to have.'
Fashion Network
09-06-2025
- Health
- Fashion Network
JD Foundation and The Mix launch new mental health support scheme for men
JD Sports ' UK's charity arm JD Foundation has picked upcoming Men's Mental Health Week to team up with The Mix, the digital service for young people offering 'ongoing, meaningful support to young men across the country'. Together, they're launching a raft of new informative and supportive resources 'designed to tackle the mental health crisis among young men and provide a safe, supportive space to open up'. Live from Monday (9 June), the new partnered content will feature a JD Foundation-sponsored discussion board, where men can join and discuss any issues they're facing with other peers 'in a supportive, anonymous space'. Alongside the discussion boards, The Mix will also be releasing a special episode of its podcast, the 'Mix Six ix', hosted by Owen Wood, winner of BBC's Race Across The World in 2024, and featuring JD Sports team members opening up about their own mental health journeys. The organisations are also hitting the streets across the UK with a series of street interviews, capturing what mental wellbeing means to young men today. There will also be partnered social media content and articles focused on real life stories from young people. This will all be hosted on The Mix's newly relaunched website, offering content, community, coaching and crisis support, with a broad range of integrated services. This initiative marks the first step in a wider, long-term collaboration between The Mix and JD Foundation, with ongoing campaigns and joint content planned 'to keep mental health at the heart of youth culture'. Recent data from The Mix shows that 58% of young men identify anxiety and depression as their biggest mental health challenges. Yet stigma remains high, and asking for help is still one of the toughest steps, it says. Encouragingly, 82% of young men say they would consider using peer support if they needed help with their mental health – 'a clear call to action that this new raft of support is answering'. Aaron Probert, charity manager for the JD Foundation, said: 'These new resources are about creating meaningful content and support that is accessible, inclusive and reflective of the real conversations young men want and need to have.'
