FU Loves The Midlands #6 – Freeze Your Buns and Get The Soup On

NEW PHOENIX AT HOME HUB LAUNCHED

The Phoenix cinema and art centre in Leicester may be temporarily closed, but they’re still giving people access to the best in world cinema and digital culture with the launch of their new ‘Phoenix at Home’ hub that brings together a host of online content, handpicked by Phoenix’s creative team to offer a diverse range of film, performance, digital art, learning resources and creative activities.

“We’d usually be curating a programme for our own cinema screens and gallery”, says Phoenix membership and communications manager, Sarah Vallance, “but as that’s not possible at the moment, we’ve turned our hand to curating a programme for people to enjoy at home instead. With so much content available online and via streaming platforms it can seem overwhelming – and that’s where Phoenix at Home comes in. Each week, our team is putting together their recommendations for what to watch over the next seven days, alongside specially curated film seasons – all of it available online.”

Phoenix at Home is accessible at phoenix.org.uk/phoenix-at-home

TIPS ON TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH DURING LOCKDOWN

With another two weeks of Lockdown ahead, there’s never been a more important time to focus on, not just our general health, but our mental health and well-being, too.

Holly Beeden, clinical lead at Living Well UK, has shared her five top tips on how to keep your mental health and well-being on track, read them here.

ART.QUARTER LAUNCHES IN DIGBETH

A new creative hub is ready to go post-lockdown and has been designed to help the city’s cultural community thrive and re-build. A collection of workshops, offices, retail areas and community spaces. The space is actively looking for tenants.

Find out more at www.artquarteruk.co.uk

LEICESTERSHIRE BUILDING SOCIETIES JOIN FORCES TO HELP LEICESTERSHIRE CARES

Leicestershire’s five local building societies – the Melton, Loughborough, Earl Shilton, Market Harborough and Hinckley & Rugby – have joined forces to donate £10,000 to Leicestershire Cares to help people in need directly affected by the Coronavirus crisis. Leicestershire Cares is a leading charity which supports local businesses, schools, young people, ex-offenders and community groups.

WIN!  A £5000 PUBLICITY PACKAGE WITH FU MEDIA & DLUXE MAGAZINE

Publicity specialists, FU Media, and luxury magazine, DLUXE, have joined forces to offer an exclusive competition to win a year-long publicity package – worth over £5000.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply CLICK HERE.

T&Cs apply. 

Competition closes 31st May 2020.

BBC BANGER!

DJ Ben H has spent his lockdown time remixing Dua Lipa’s Hallucinate with the BBC News theme to create the ultimate in hands-in-the-air Corona Lockdown CHOOOONS!

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BIRMINGHAM ARENAS’ MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS INDUSTRY AWARD

A group of kind-hearted employees at NEC Group Arenas (Utilita Arena Birmingham and Resorts World Arena) have been recognised with an industry award for their hard work as Mental Health First Aiders.

The volunteers, who are both employees of NEC Group and CBRE, were awarded The Stadium Business Award for Sustainability and Community, which praised their efforts in looking after the mental health of the Arenas’ audiences. Their mental health support has, so far, helped hundreds of concertgoers, many of whom can find the buzzing and bustling atmosphere of an arena show overwhelming.

The NEC Group currently has 20 employees trained as Mental Health First Aiders, who can take early intervention if they see someone struggling

FANCY A FAKEAWAY?

Those missing their weekly takeaway treats are embracing a whole wave of ‘fakeaways’ beings shared across social media. From Mcdonalds-esque homemade hash browns to knock off Nando’s, food bloggers everywhere are handing out their top hacks to replicate our comfort food favourites.

For any Gregg’s fans in the house (guilty), Intu have shared their hack for the iconic Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt – the Saturday morning hangover cure of many a late night Zoomer. Here’s how to make one at home.

What you’ll need:

75g baked beans (or a can of sausage and beans)
75g puff pastry (no need to create this from scratch you can buy this in most supermarkets)
1/2 a sausage
30g cheese
Milk or egg for glazing

Instructions:

First, cut two squares of roughly 15cm x 15cm ready-made puff pastry Then use the egg to wash the edges. Pop your sausage and beans in a bowl and squash them with a fork. Place your sausage and beans on one square of your puff pastry and sprinkle cheese on top. Put your other square of puff pastry on top and fork the edges. Then egg wash all over and stick in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes or until golden brown and piping hot.

LOYALFREE DONATES OVER £1300 TO HELP TACKLE HOMELESSNESS IN LEICESTER

Since launching the LoyalFree app ‘Give As You Save’ charity scheme in November, the Leicester based business has now donated £1,304 to theGive Leicester Campaign, a project set up by BID Leicester and Leicester City Council, working in partnership with Leicester Homelessness Charter which has raised over £20k to date. The LoyalFree app, which promotes local businesses and interactive trails, donated 1p for every loyalty stamp collected on the app across 6 months.

Give Leicester was launched in October 2019 to help make giving to people who are homeless easy and secure. 15 giving points are located in businesses around the city centre and these small, contactless terminals enable people to make a £3 donation simply by tapping their card or smartphone. This money will go towards helping the One Roof Winter Night Shelter, to provide emergency accommodation, food and support to the homeless. The campaign continues during the pandemic and you canread morehere.

Simon Jenner, Director of BID Leicester, commented: “We are grateful for LoyalFree’s support of the first Give Leicester campaign. Their pledge of 1p per stamp collected on the app – backdated to the app’s launch – has made a generous contribution to fundraising efforts. As a BID (Business Improvement District), it was great for us to be able to promote the LoyalFree app not only as a way of supporting local businesses, but also as a way of helping some of the most vulnerable people in the city.”

To download the LoyalFree app click here:www.loyalfree.co.uk/download

FANCY A CHANGE? NEW PUB BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Looking for a change of direction post-lockdown?   This could be for you.  Everards are looking for new business owners for a quintessential country pub set in the idyllic village of Long Whatton in Leicestershire – The Falcon Inn; a beautiful building that anyone would be proud to call home.

Many may be sceptical about taking such a big leap in this current climate, but Everards are supporting all their business owners to make sure they come through this stronger than ever and more importantly together.

The Falcon Inn has all the character and warmth you would expect from a traditional country inn. On entry you are greeted by the cosy main bar, which leads through to the lovely dining area, and upstairs you will find the recently refurbished extended dining room.

Along with its great food and drink offering, it also has 11 rooms that have been lovingly decorated for a home from home experience. If you would like to find out more about The Falcon Inn or owning a pub business, then give the Everards team a call on 0116 201 4260 or see what’s currently available here or read more on what it’s like here.

Meanwhile, the Everard Family Foundation is donating £50,000 to Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland.  This is a local cause that the Everard family have a long history of supporting, with Richard Everard being their president since 1992 and donating regularly over the years.  This donation will directly support older people in our local community who find themselves in greater need during the Coronavirus crisis.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/leics/

COVENTRY BID INVITE YOU TO A BANK HOLIDAY GARDEN PARTY – WITH A DIFFERENCE

With the May Day Bank Holiday weekend fast approaching – and it being celebrated on the Friday rather than the Monday for the first time due to the 75th anniversary of VE Day – Coventry BID is inviting every citizen of Coventry to a very special Bank Holiday Garden Party – with a difference!

On the 8th May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE, every household and street up and down the nation are invited to hold their own Garden Party as part of a ‘virtual’ Garden Party Weekend. It’s time to raise the roof, decorate the home with bunting and party like it’s 1945!  Whether it’s a picnic on the back lawn; a sandwich and a glass of fizz on your front step, or a pork pie and slice of cake in your kitchen, there’s no excuse not to enjoy the knees up!

Leading the charge over the Bank Holiday weekend, some of Coventry’s favourite food and drink businesses, alongside Coventry Market, will join forces to create extra-special Garden Party Weekend dishes and VE Day hampers for home delivery across the 3-day weekend.

With 30 city businesses already pledging their allegiance to the campaign, Coventrians can choose from sumptuous Afternoon Cream Teas delivered to your doorstep on the Friday and Saturday – a perfect way to treat yourself or why not show you care by having one delivered to a loved one or neighbour during the lockdown?  And Sunday 10th May will see traditional Roast Dinners with all the trimmings being prepared and delivered across the county, too.  This really will be the Best of British!

Interested parties should head to the official Coventry BID website www.coventrycitycentre.co.uk as well as their social media pages CovCityCentre for up to date announcements and to organise your Afternoon Tea and Sunday Roast slots.

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LOCAL AUTHOR RELEASES THE UPLIFTING BIRMINGHAM COLLECTION.

An award-nominated journalist has released her debut book called The Birmingham Collection.  Wersha Bharadwa’s collection of short stories have been written with the aim of uplifting readers and making them smile during the lockdown, with all of the stories in the collection being set in Brum.

Sunny the Indian Datsun is a parable of racial integration that’s funny, moving and shrewd, and with a central character so endearing that it seems a shame that cars can’t talk.

Set in a museum, the witty scenes in Living History juxtapose our colonial record of exploitation with contemporary attitudes and prejudices. With perfect irony, the parting shot illustrates how invidious the propaganda about immigration has been.

This is Earth takes us to an alien civilization on the planet Zerg, where a mother is explaining to a baffled daughter about the patriarchy.

The Birmingham Collection is published by Patrican Press and is just £3.99 during lockdown. You can buy your copy here.

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BE A RECORD BREAKER AND TAKE PART IN THE BIG COMEDY PUB QUIZ AT ‘THE COVID ARMS’

For one night only on 1st May at 8pm become part of an official Guinness World Record title attempt by staying in, sitting on your backside and taking part in a record attempt to break the Guinness World Record Title for ‘Most visitors to a virtual pub’ – brilliantly named as The Covid Arms.  In taking part, you will also be helping to raise money to support your local pubs and donate to The National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal – all while wearing your slippers.

Take part in the ultimate virtual Pub Quiz with some of the nation’s best-loved comedians including  ‘landlady’ Kiri Pritchard-Mclean and her host of celebrity guests; Russell Howard, Nish Kumar, Jon Richardson, Joel Dommett, Marcus Brigstocke, Rachel Parris, Lucy Beaumont, Jenny Ryan and Suzi Ruffe, as well as mystery guests (who’ll be hosting the music round?), quick-fire rounds, a live leader board and prizes.

Admission to ‘The Covid Arms’ will support your local watering hole, as well as our hero emergency workers who are risking their lives for our safety every day. Entry will be based on a pay-it-forward scheme, so any pubs missing their locals can register online and let their community know they’re (virtually) open for business.

To find out more about how you can get involved, and buy tickets for a night in at The Covid Arms go to: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/worldsbiggestpub

SHARE YOUR LOCKDOWN PHOTOS FOR NEW EXHIBITION

Residents across the county are being invited to submit photographs of life in lockdown for an exhibition, which will take place at Winstanley House later this year.

The exhibition, titled Inside Stories, will bring together 24 compelling photos captured during the Coronavirus pandemic. The images will reveal a glimpse into Leicestershire’s hidden lockdown moments – the personal pains, small wins and revelations that marked out this unique moment in time.

The idea for Inside Stories came from Mark Robinson, director of Leicester creative agency, Creative62, who saw a unique opportunity to document the experience of living through a global pandemic and capture individual perspectives of an unprecedented time. Mark is joined by fellow Leicester business owners, Julie Proctor of Swithland Events, professional photographer Pete Martin, and freelance content writer Sarah Heeley, who are joining forces to promote and host the exhibition.

Julie adds; “The call for submissions is now open and anyone with an interest in photography is invited to take part. Photos can be captured with a camera, smartphone or tablet in colour or black and white, and can be of any subject that conveys their lockdown experience. Photos must also include a brief caption and a short description of why the image is meaningful”.

If you are interested in submitting a photograph, please contact Julie for an entry form at the following link >> [email protected]

Photos must be received no later than Friday 29 May 2020. Exhibition dates will be announced later this year.

BIRMINGHAM CELEBRATED IN HUGE NEW COLD WAR STEVE ARTWORK

A new artwork which celebrates Birmingham and its people has been revealed by satirical collage artist Christopher Spencer, aka Cold War Steve, and Birmingham Museums Trust.

The hugely detailed work,Benny’s Babbies, is the artist’s most complex photocollage of his career to date, and was due to be revealed in his hometown at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, but has now been shared online whilst the doors to the museum are temporarily closed.

Spot comedian Joe Lycett and cricketer Moeen Ali, alongside Duran Duran and activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, with the members of Black Sabbath rocking out on top of the Rotunda building.  You might even spot Benny from Crossroads, which was filmed in Birmingham, as he peers out over the crowd full of many more famous and recognisable Brummie faces.

Birmingham Museums Trust commissioned Cold War Steve to produce work inspired by the Trust’s digital imagedatabase,which hosts thousands of out-of-copyright images from the city’s collection which can be downloaded and used creatively for free.

The background ofBenny’s Babbiesis the View of St Martin’s Church Birmingham from the Bullring,1815-1835, by Thomas Hollins, which features on a japanned tray. The backdrop has been updated with familiar city scenes including the Birmingham Pride Festival; the brutalist architecture of the now demolished Central Library; Birmingham’s beloved Mr. Egg takeaway and the Central Birmingham Mosque.

The artwork is being hosted online at www.thesocial.com/bennys-babbies/and includes written submissions about the city from Cold War Steve, Joe Lycett, and novelists Kit de Waal and Jonathan Coe.

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KRAY TREADWELL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO OPEN FIRST RESTAURANT IN DIGBETH

Great British Menu finalist, Kray Treadwell, has announced plans to open his first restaurant in Digbeth.  Named after the weight of his daughter when she was born four months prematurely, 670 Grams will offer a set, 10-course tasting menu at £60 per head.

Ever evolving, the handwritten menu will be available to view 48 hours earlier on the restaurant’s website and takes in a mix of European influences and Asian-inspired flavours. Playful elements such as dishes inspired by takeaway food and a ‘Tesco cheese and onion sandwich’ will also feature, as well as the peach dessert that saw Kray reach the finals of The Great British Menu.

The 16-cover restaurant, designed by 2G Design & Build, will operate over two floors and showcase an open kitchen upstairs, overlooking a two-person chef’s table and a table of four with the remaining covers downstairs.

Kray, who’s CV also takes in the Hand and Flowers and Purnell’s, said; “670 Grams will be a unique experience designed to attract all kinds of people. Keeping the experience as accessible as possible is hugely important to me. At £6 per course, the menu represents amazing value and our location in the city’s creative quarter, Digbeth, means we’re on the doorstep of a really interesting mix of retail, residential and creative businesses.

Ultimately, my aim is to bring my eclectic take on food to as many people as possible, without the stuffiness and pretention that fine dining can sometimes bring with it.”

670 Grams will open mid-June – subject to Government Guidelines in light of Covid-19.

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FTM DANCE RISES ABOVE THE CHALLENGE OF COVID -19

A performing arts respite service, FTM, in Leicester has continued to function throughout lockdown, providing face to face* services for its most vulnerable families on a one-to-one basis whilst continuing all other lessons online.

The charity is providing face to face community sessions supporting the most vulnerable in the community for daily exercise, family shopping and medication pick-ups in line with government guidance. Alongside this provision, FTM ensure all pupils, who would usually access dance, music and acting lessons throughout the week, access activities online.

Online lessons are password-protected and allow the children and young people to take part and contribute in a live session, see their friends and familiar faces and ask questions. The lessons have been a huge success to date with most young people joining in at the normal timetabled time.  For those who need access to props and resources, FTM have fundraised for various items including iPads with 4g for those who do not have access to the internet.

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CARDS FOR HUMANITY – NHS HEROES PLAYING CARDS CREATED TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR NHS

A new series of playing cards have launched in a bid to raise funds for the NHS heroes working on the frontline in the nation’s battle against Coronavirus. The specially crafted NHS Heroes deck features doctors, nurses and surgeons in place of traditional Jacks, Kings and Queens as well as the rainbow colours which have become synonymous with the pandemic, adorning windows across the nation.

The NHS Heroes deck will be available as a reward for a £5 donation at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/nhs-playingcards . If you make a £50 donation you will receive 12 decks – making perfect gifts – or you can donate to the charity without a reward deck of cards. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will go to NHS Charities Together.

SME FUNDING FOR SUMMER STUDENT PLACEMENTS

The University of Leicester is reminding local SMEs that funding is available if they are interested in recruiting a student for a period of four weeks or more, starting this summer. For those with short-term or long-term projects, the University has current students looking for opportunities over the summer period. The University of Leicester is committed to supporting SMEs and their recruitment needs, especially now in this very turbulent time.  Their team of SME and Internship experts can provide the following services free of charge:

• Access to Santander’s University Internship funding (eligibility criteria applies);

• Fully managed recruitment service providing expert advice and support on the graduate recruitment market;

• Free vacancy advertising to over 20,000 University of Leicester students;

• Support screening and shortlisting of applicants; and

• Up to £1,260 funding available to support your business prosper.

If you’re interested and your business has a turnover of less than £50 million p/a with fewer than 250 employees, email [email protected].

CHINESE PARTNERS SEND PPE TO HELP BIRMINGHAM BATTLE

University of Birmingham partners across China have joined forces to send over 105,000 items of protective clothing – including masks, gloves, coveralls, and goggles – for use by doctors and nurses at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and other local medical services to use in the ongoing battle against coronavirus.

The first shipment of 2,000 particulate filter respirators, 10,000 surgical masks, 20,000 examination gloves and 500 protective coveralls has arrived at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from Sun Yat-sen First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou. More equipment is on its way from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan; China Railway Rolling-Stock Corporation (CRRC); the Bioscience College of Nankai University in Tianjin; the Nanjing University of Aerospace and Aeronautics; East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai; Southeast University in Nanjing; and the Women and Children’s Medical Centre in Guangzhou.

Among the incoming equipment are 4,800 face masks destined for Selly Oak Community Response to COVID-19 and GPs in the Selly Oak/Edgbaston area. And a further 12,500 masks are pledged and these will be given to care homes and residences for older adults run by Extracare, Sir Josiah Mason Trust and Bourneville Village Trust. Birmingham City Council will also distribute masks where the need is greatest.

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JLS ANNOUNCE FREE MATINEE CONCERT FOR ALL NHS FRONTLINE STAFF AND HOSPITAL WORKERS

JLS have announced a free matinee concert for all NHS frontline staff and hospital workers on Saturday 28th November at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena. Aston, Marvin, Oritsé and JB’s additional NHS matinee show will be centred around celebrating and honouring the incredible efforts made by the UK’s NHS frontline staff and primary care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tickets will be limited to 2 per person (eligible NHS, Primary Care & emergency service staff members and one guest). The band is also offering a number of tickets to a few select charities and organisations they have personal affiliations with to reward their staff for the hard work they continue to do protecting the country’s most vulnerable people.

Tickets are available HERE

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WASH YOUR CLOTHES REGULARLY AT 60 DEGREES TO KILL BACTERIA AND VIRUSES

Experts at cleaning and laundry company, Dr Beckmann, have advised the regular washing of clothes at 60 degrees to help eliminate the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Dr Beckmann spokeswoman, Susan Fermor, said; “There’s a common misconception that people should wash clothes on the hottest possible setting to kill bacteria, but it’s unnecessary. Tests have proven that washing your clothes at 60°C, with a good detergent, is perfectly adequate to kill bacteria.

“Just make sure that you check all garments are suitable to be washed at this temperature before putting them in the washing machine and take care not to ruin your clothes by boil washing.”

Experts at Dr Beckmann also recommend washing your clothes more regularly than usual – especially when you come home from work, or from trips outside where you come into contact with other people. “Most people leave clothes and household items until a pile has built up before washing. There’s also a tendency for people to wash at 40 degrees on a quick wash cycle, which we don’t recommend. Under current circumstances, we would recommend that you do the 60-degree washes, more regularly, as soon as clothes have been worn.”

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RSC ACTORS HELP STUDENTS STUDYING SHAKESPEARE UNDER LOCKDOWN

As part of the newly launched Royal Shakespeare Community initiative, artists from the Royal Shakespeare Company, who are currently unable to rehearse or perform, will lend a hand in helping to unlock Shakespeare for thousands of children and young people studying at home.

The RSC’s ‘Homework Help’ initiative gives young people everywhere the opportunity to pose questions about Shakespeare and drama studies to working actors and alumni from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Those responding to questions and offering top tips on how to tackle the language include David Bradley – star of the Harry Potter film series; Doctor Who and Broadchurch star, David Tennant; Paapa Essiedu, who played the title role of Hamlet in Simon Godwin’s 2016 production for the RSC (soon to be broadcast on the BBC); RSC Associate Artist Niamh Cusack and Charlotte Arrowsmith, who recently made RSC history as the first deaf actor to understudy a hearing role in Justin Audibert’s 2019 production of The Taming of the Shrew.

Those wishing to pose questions are asked to email them to [email protected], or share their questions using the hashtag #RSCHomeworkHelp on Twitter/ Insta, no later than Sunday 10thMay.  A selection of video or written answers from the RSC actors will be shared via the RSC website from 11 May to coincide with the first BBC Bitesize ‘Teaching Shakespeare’ week, which will focus on Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet.

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STAY HOME AND PAMPER SAY SELFRIDGES

Staying at home saves lives and helps protect our NHS – it also provides a perfect opportunity for some pamper time, says Selfridges.  Keep on top of your skincare routine with their hand-picked selection of products, ideal for boosting your confidence and mood while staying safe indoors.

See their pick of pampering products here.

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JOIN BRITAIN’S LARGEST VIRTUAL GARDEN GATHERING

Now more than ever, all of us are appreciating the power of nature to lift our moods.  From a pot plant to a window box, or a flower filled space, more of us are realising the joy that greenery can bring.  Garden Day is Britain’s opportunity to come together to (virtually) celebrate the magic of gardens and nature; to surprise friends or neighbours with a doorstep posy and to inspire and connect with one another through with pictures, anecdotes and video calls.  Personalities including 13-time RHS gold medallist Chris Beardshaw and garden designer and broadcaster Arit Anderson will be sharing images of their gardens online and there will be a series of fun, interactive classes available on social media @GardenDayUK that everyone can join.

Find out more at www.gardenday.co.uk

FREE ONLINE WORKOUTS FROM NUFFIELD HEALTH

Nuffield Health have a host of online activities to help you and yours stay fit, healthy and well during lockdown. Click the links to find out more!

Home workout videos here

Kids’ Wellbeing: herehere

Fitness at Home: here

Eat well at home: here

Looking after your mental health: here

Online Physiotherapy:here

MAKING TIME OUT: MINDFULNESS IN YOGA

Recent studies have shown that meditative yoga practices not only reduce stress and increase calmness, but also improves working memory and concentration – two major plus points if your mind is overwhelmed during this exceptional time and you find it difficult to focus.

MindYoga by MyndPlay is the first yoga app that utilizes the power of neurofeedback technology and benefits of yoga, measuring mindfulness during yoga practices to help you develop mind, body and soul, and find your life balance.

Put a headset on, select from a variety set of poses, and choose the difficulty level that you would like to train at. Then, follow the guidance and perform a selected yoga pose and stay relaxed and focused for the perfect mindfulness score.  See the report on your meditation and focus during each exercise right after you finish one. Unlock the number of poses by improving your mindfulness level. Yes, measuring and training mindfulness in yoga can be that easy.

MindYoga is currently available for PC, iOS and Android for just £2.99

LOCK ME DOWN WITH THOR: EAST MIDLANDS FILM FANS WANT TO BE QUARANTINED WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTH

Film fans might currently not be able to enjoy big screen blockbusters during lockdown, but they’re certain about which movie legend would help make social isolation a bit more bearable.  It might come as no surprise that cinemagoers from the East Midlands would choose Chris Hemsworth – the hunk in Avengers Assemble and Thor – as their favourite lockdown partner, according to a study by Showcase Cinemas.

Hemsworth pipped Dwayne Johnson – AKA The Rock – to the title in a closely fought contest between two of the big screen’s biggest stars.  Men in Black and Independence Day star, Will Smith, came third in the poll, closely followed by Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Lawrence (who both polled 11%).

Twice as many film fans would rather spend lockdown with a funny actor or actress (32%) than a physically attractive actor or actress (15%), the study reveals.  While men mostly voted to spend their lockdown with a physically attractive movie star (22.5%), women overwhelmingly opted to spend it with a funny actor (42%).  Who says men are shallow?

NEW MISS LEICESTERSHIRE CROWNED IN HER BACK GARDEN

The new Miss Leicestershire was crowned over Easter weekend. Tia Carter, sponsored by Richard Clarke, won the public and judges’ vote after submitting her talent, catwalk and intro video to the judges. She was crowned by older sister, Sapphire, who herself won the title in 2017, so luckily had a tiara on hand!

Update: The Miss England contest has been forced to postpone the Miss England semi and national final planned for June and July.  “I can’t plan an event to select this year’s winner until we know what’s happening, so until then we will just carry on and run the qualifying heats online.  If it comes to it, we may end up choosing the next Miss England winner online and they won’t have to leave their house, but hopefully it won’t come to that, “said competition organiser Angie Beasley.

To watch the Miss England applications submit their catwalks at home and intro & talent videos go to; www.youtube.com/MissEnglandContest

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCE HELP FOR HEALTH WORKERS

John Lewis Partnership has partnered with the British Medical Association (BMA) to distribute care packages for frontline NHS workers at the new Nightingale Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Over the next two weeks, the retailer will start making the deliveries to all acute NHS trusts in the region, ensuring that each one receives at least one package to help NHS staff feel refreshed and energised during long shifts.

Based on advice from the BMA, these supplies will be a combination of much-needed, non-clinical essentials including toiletries – such as deodorant, shaving foam, hand cream, anti-bac hand gel and lip balm – as well as breakfast bars, tea, coffee and socks. The boxes also contain a wellbeing leaflet with information about a 24/7 counselling service and guidance from the BMA on a range of issues.

In total, 400 boxes will be delivered to all our acute hospital trusts in the region and safely distributed to high intensity clinical areas such as critical care and intensive care units. This will ensure healthcare staff working long hours and under terrible strain receive the products they need.

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WORDS OF WISDOM

“Either I will find a way, or I will make one.”

Philip Sidney