We are constantly overwhelmed with content every time we open our mobile phones — with the typical user spending as much as 17 hours per week scrolling social media. Too much exposure to a digital world is compromising our mental health.

New data from Santander UK reveals a troubling rise in romance scams. Data from the bank shows more than £3.8 million was reported as stolen from customers in the last six months, an increase of 27% on the previous six-month period1, affecting customers aged from 18 to 93 years old.

The latest research by Zero Deposit, reveals that tenant demand for rental homes in England climbed by +1.7% between Q2 and Q3 2024, while demand since the start of the year has increased by +3.3%.

Teachers told me to lower my sights to a factory when I said I wanted to be a human rights lawyer. Now, my seven-figure business is making the jobs market fairer for disadvantaged people. As a young black woman of dual heritage growing up in an ex-mining town, Shani Newbold was no stranger to discrimination.

UK retirement savers are expecting to draw from pension pots for up to 27 years on average, according to new research from J.P. Morgan owned digital wealth manager Nutmeg, which could mean living to 93 years old based on the current state pension age. Despite this, as many as two-fifths (42%) know they aren’t saving enough.

New expert insight from Yopa, reveals that home sellers can add huge value to their property by directly appealing to the wants and needs of autumn and winter homebuyers. The autumn and winter period is a great time to sell your home.

Workers will now keep 100% of their tips, gratuities and service charges following new act coming into effect.

New data insight from My Home Move Conveyancing reveals that autumn provides sellers with the best chance of selling their home, so now is the ideal time to be preparing their property to impress eager homebuyers.

Heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours across the country has led to localised river and surface water flooding across central England, Yorkshire and the North East.

New research from The Global Payroll Association (GPA), reveals that the average salary for UK’s civil servants is 14.5% higher than the nation’s wider average salary, and that the combined wage bill for the civil service comes to an estimated £18.5bn, all of which comes, of course, from the UK taxpayer. Civil servants in the UK have come under fire.

The Prime Minister met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at UNGA. President Abbas opened by condemning the Hamas attacks of October 7th. He also highlighted the civilian death toll in Gaza since then, with 41k killed and 100k injured, plus 70% of infrastructure devastated. The Prime Minister agreed that the loss of civilian life had been intolerable.

Heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours across the country means significant river and surface water flooding is possible across central England.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms expected on Monday 23 September could lead to significant surface water flooding across parts of the country.

New research from Independent Age has laid bare the fears of older people in financial hardship as they go into this winter, with research showing that half (50%) of all older people in England on a low income (under £15k per year) are worried about paying for gas and electricity over the next six months.

Drivers using the M6 through Lancashire and Cumbria this weekend are being advised to be aware of a wide load movement on Saturday (21 September). Welsh Power are moving a huge electricity transformer from the port at Heysham in Lancashire to Longtown, north of Carlisle in Cumbria. The operation begins at 9am and will last around 12 hours.

A new study of working Brits suggests today’s generation of sixty-somethings have been able to prepare for retirement better than their predecessors, with a quarter (26 percent) having been able to take up new interests and hobbies, while they continue to work from home.

Over 10,000 people in Gaza have had limbs amputated and are in need of walking aids; Cool Crutches is on a mission to donate as many walking aids as possible, with 362 being donated so far

Number of homes for rent still 24% below pre-pandemic average compounded by stalled new investment by private landlords; Possible tax changes in Autumn Budget could result in further landlord sales; Rental demand has weakened but still 21 people competing for each rental property, more than twice the pre pandemic average; Rents posting double digit gains in affordable areas outside major cities e.g. Kilmarnock and Kirkcaldy in Scotland and Wolverhampton, Oldham, Darlington and Walsall in England; Supply/demand imbalance to remain into 2025 with growing unaffordability the main brake on faster rental growth.

Consumers believe the Government needs to offer more financial incentives to help people go green and to enable the UK to hit its net zero target, new research from The Green Insurer, which is focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way, shows.

The Royal Countryside Fund is urging more community-led organisations in rural Cumbria and Northumberland to apply for a new £500,000 funding programme to support local projects in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund. The deadline for applications has been extended to 12 noon on 26th September to boost the number of expressions of interest received.

Spiralling economic inactivity to be addressed as new Labour Market Advisory Board launched to advise Government on getting Britain working again.

In the UK, over 700,000 people take their own life each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds (World Health Organization) and 115 people die by suicide in the UK every week (ONS).

The LGIU & CCLA Cllr Awards are your chance to celebrate the hard-working councillors in your community. There are five categories, anyone can nominate a councillor, and it only takes 7 minutes to do -- completely free of charge. These are the only awards that recognise the vital work of individual councillors, so make sure you tell us about those who are making a difference where you are.