Day: 19 November 2023

UN programme instructs women on climate-resilient farming

Stuart Mitchell

Since 2019, UN Women has partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on “Contributing to the Empowerment of Women in Africa through Climate-Smart Agriculture”, a programme to provide technical farming skills, recommendations on best business practices, and climate-conscious agriculture methods to tens of thousands of women farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.  About 66 per cent of working women in the region are employed in agriculture-related fields, according to a recent report by the FAO. Women’s working conditions “are likely to be worse than men’s”, the report found,…

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UNESCO names Rio de Janeiro as World Book Capital for 2025

Stuart Mitchell

Books are vital vehicles to access, transmit and promote education, science, culture and information worldwide. Thanks to books, we keep ourselves informed, entertained and are able to better understand our world. This is why, each year UNESCO designates a World Book Capital. After Accra in 2023, and Strasbourg in 2024, I am pleased to announce the designation of Rio de Janeiro as World Book Capital for 2025.Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General UNESCO and the World Book Capital Advisory Committee commended Rio de Janeiro’s demonstration of the importance of its literary heritage alongside a…

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Ben launches exciting new challenge ‘Race Across Britain’

Stuart Mitchell

Following the huge success of BBC TV series ‘Race Across the World’, Ben is recruiting teams to take on a new UK-based fundraising challenge for the automotive industry, called Race Across Britain.  This event will raise vital funds to support people who are struggling or in crisis and is proudly supported by LKQ Euro Car Parts. Ben is challenging automotive industry people to pair up with colleagues and take on this new and epic 3-day race across Britain in February 2024. The event will raise funds for Ben during a…

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Charities forced to turn people away due to entrenched financial challenges

Stuart Mitchell

Charities are struggling to continue delivering services to the people that need them, and some are turning people away. New research this month from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) with more than 600 organisations, finds that more than half of charities (53%) surveyed say they are at full capacity for their services. Of these, two-fifths (41%) say they cannot help anyone else, and one in eight (12%) say they have been forced to turn people-in-need away. Charities responding to the research included food banks, community groups and support services. A…

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100,000 skilled volunteers needed to support the UK’s environmental charities, says Pilotlight

Stuart Mitchell

New research from Pilotlight estimates that 100,000 skilled “climate volunteers” are needed to accelerate environmental action in the UK. Published today, the findings reveal an urgent need amongst environmental charities for professional support from skilled volunteers. As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak rolls back the UK’s climate commitments, pressure is set to fall on environmental NGOs even further to help drive impact. Pilotlight’s survey of nearly 300 environmental charities found that almost two thirds (63%) are actively looking for professional support from skilled volunteers. The skills gap is greatest for smaller…

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