Year: 2026

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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In an era of rising scrutiny on green claims, transparency is the trust builder brands can’t afford to ignore

Stuart Mitchell

Consumers are actively seeking products and companies with clear, transparent and verified information on climate commitments, with 66% saying carbon footprint labelling on products is good for consumer choice. Regulators are setting the ground rules for green claims, including in the EU where legislation aimed at empowering consumers will be implemented on 27 March ahead of enforcement starting from 27 September 2026.   In this climate-conscious marketplace, the Carbon Trust’s new ‘Marketer’s guide to carbon footprint labelling’ urges brands to use carbon footprint labelling to build consumer trust, set themselves…

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New ILO data confirm women face higher workplace risks from generative AI than men

Stuart Mitchell

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping the world of work, with the potential to boost productivity, support job creation and improve job quality, but its impacts are far from gender-neutral. A new research brief from the International Labour Organization (ILO) warns that GenAI is set to affect women’s jobs more than men’s, with female-dominated occupations almost twice as likely to be exposed to the technology. The brief, Gen AI, occupational segregation and gender equality in the world of work, shows that women are disproportionately exposed to GenAI for three main…

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RSPCA announces Professor Ian Jacobs as new chair

Stuart Mitchell

The RSPCA has welcomed Professor Ian Jacobs, a highly experienced leader across the health, education and charity sectors, as its new chair. A lifelong animal lover, Professor Jacobs has devoted his career and voluntary work to improving social welfare and human wellbeing through health and education. He now wants to lend his expertise to advance the cause of animal welfare Professor Jacobs will join Chief Executive Jo Rowland, who took on the CEO role at the 201-year-old charity in December last year, at a critical time for animal welfare. RSPCA…

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