Month: March 2026

Energy Storage Firm Opens Public Investment as Households Seek Protection from Rising Energy Costs

Stuart Mitchell

Puredrive Energy, the UK renewable clean tech manufacturer behind Duracell-branded home energy storage systems, has opened a public investment round as the company looks to continue to support households tackling high energy prices and long-term market uncertainty.   While wholesale electricity prices have eased since the 2022–2023 energy crisis, household energy bills remain significantly higher than pre-crisis levels. This sustained volatility has accelerated demand for renewable technologies that gives control back to homeowners, in particular residential solar and battery storage systems. To capitalise on this opportunity and support further innovation…

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Millions cutting back on water as bills rise, putting hygiene and health at risk

Stuart Mitchell

Around a third of people in England and Wales who are cutting back on their water usage because of cost say it is negatively affecting their health (33%) and personal hygiene (31%)​​​​​​​​. When asked how they were cutting back, one in four (25%) of this group said they are spending less time in the shower, 22% are reducing toilet flushes, and 18% are reducing their use of the washing machine. Overall, around one in five people (22%) in England and Wales are cutting down on water usage due to cost,…

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MYGroup backs Great British Beauty Clean Up 2026 as UK’s beauty waste demands industry action

Stuart Mitchell

 MYGroup is playing a central role in the Great British Beauty Clean Up 2026, a nationwide campaign launching today and running through March to mobilise beauty brands, retailers, salons and consumers to refill, reuse and recycle their used products. The Great British Beauty Clean Up (GBBCU) 2026, powered by the British Beauty Council and its Sustainable Beauty Coalition, arrives at a critical moment, with 86% of all used beauty and cosmetics products never making it to a recycling facility,1 being too small, composite or complex for kerbside collection. UK households generate an estimated…

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Save the Children shops draw in new generations of volunteers with a rise in under 25s contributing their time in stores

Stuart Mitchell

Save the Children’s charity shops are welcoming in a new generation of supporters, with a sharp rise in under-25s signing up to volunteer and more volunteers giving time to support their local stores.   Volunteers contributed more than 324,000 hours to running Save the Children shops across the UK in 2025 – an increase of more than 46,000 hours (17%) compared to the previous year.i The global children’s charity says the rise reflects a shift in how people are choosing to volunteer, with many now favouring greater flexibility around shifts and a shorter overall commitment to the role, while giving more time during the period they actively volunteer.    This change coincides with a growing number of younger people taking on volunteer roles across the charity’s retail network. Last year, 42% of new Save the Children shop volunteers were aged between 18-24, compared with 28% in 2021. During the same period,…

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Human Appeal hosts global Grand Iftars, providing over 250,000 meals for vulnerable people this Ramadan

Stuart Mitchell

Leading humanitarian charity, Human Appeal, announces a series of large-scale Grand Iftar events this Ramadan, providing a total of 250,302 meals to vulnerable people across seven countries affected by conflict, displacement and poverty. The Grand Iftars are currently underway in Gaza and Syria and have been carried out across Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, providing complete hot meals alongside safe communal spaces where families can break their fast together in dignity. In Sudan alone, seven Grand Iftar events have been held, reaching almost 31,000 beneficiaries. In Gaza, over 12,000…

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