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Coping with exam pressure, a guide for students by Ofqual

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Coping with exam pressure, a guide for students by Ofqual

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How to feel more confident about exams and assessments

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Coping with exam pressure - a guide for students

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The Mix - Crises Support for under 25 year olds

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The Mix - Crises Support for under 25 year olds

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Crisis Messenger

Do you need help now? Our crisis messenger text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you’re aged 25 or under, and are experiencing any painful emotion or are in crisis, you can text THEMIX to 85258.

We know that finding the right support is important, especially if you need someone to talk to right now. We aim to connect every texter to a trained volunteer in less than five minutes to provide crisis help.

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Essential support for under 25s

Welcome to The Mix's Get Support section. Here you can visit our discussion boards, use our Group Chat Service and speak to our trained team.

The Mix. Registered charity number: 1048995

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Welcome to The Mix, the online guide to life for young people in the UK.

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Welcome to The Mix's Get Support section. Here you can visit our discussion boards, use our Group Chat Service and speak to our advisors.

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Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

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Simply support Shout's Big Give campaign by midday on 5 December, and your donation will be doubled!

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Ways to cope with upsetting events in the news

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious or sad about what's going on in the news, know that you're definitely not alone. Here are some actions we can take to help us cope better through times like this.

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However you're feeling right now, you don't have to face it alone. We're here to support you with your mental health.

Take a look at our resources, information and support, find further help or reach out to one of our volunteers.

Resources for you

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Shout - UK's 24/7 Crisis Text Service for Mental Health Support

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Shout 85258 is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.

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The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.

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What sorts of things might help you prepare for exams?

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What sorts of things might help you prepare for exams?

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xams can cause a mixture of feelings – hope, excitement, pressure – but the experience we tend to associate most with exams is worry or stress. Feeling some level of apprehension around exams is normal. When something feels important to us, especially when it is also new and unfamiliar, this worry is a natural response that is designed to help us deal with the situation

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Exams can cause a mixture of feelings - hope, excitement, pressure - but the experience we tend to associate most with exams is worry or stress. Feeling some level of apprehension around exams is normal. When something feels important to us, especially when it is also new and unfamiliar, this worry is a natural response that is designed to help us deal with the situation. Research shows that small and manageable amounts of apprehension can actually be helpful, giving some students the focus they need to prepare and do their best.

Our research during lockdown showed that some students were pleased when exams were cancelled, but just as many felt that they had missed out on an opportunity to prove what they could do. Preparing for exams this year, after Covid and school closures, might feel a bit different to "normal", and you might feel excited or hopeful, or worried or pressured, or a mixture of things.

If you are feeling worried, there are strategies you can try to help reduce your worry. Students with manageable amounts of worry can see exams as a challenge they can cope with.
Find ways to take control
With any assessment, like a job interview, or a driving test or an exam, it can feel like someone else is taking control of your future. Disruption and uncertainty over the last two years might make this feel even more true this year. Schools and exam boards know this too. They have found out about student and teacher experiences and are making changes to the way exams will take place this year to ensure that you are not disadvantaged.

It's important to remember you are being assessed on your work and that you do have control over this. Focus on what you can do now to show the best of your learning. Your class work, homework assignments, class tests, and exam revision will all directly support your preparation for final exams, and knowing you are doing this will help keep anxiety at bay.
Actively managing your well-being.
Looking after your physical, mental and social well-being will help you manage during your examination preparation. Try to establish routines in things like:

socialising - spending time with particular friends or family who make us feel happy;

relaxing - whether actively, like playing a game, or passively, like watching a film;

exercising - which can 'work off' stress and can get you outdoors too;

eating - keeping mealtimes regular and balancing healthy options with treats;

sleep - safeguarding time to 'wind down' and get good quality sleep can be a big help when managing a demanding period of work or study.

We know all these things can help keep you healthy, but you will know which are the most important for you, the main thing is to be aware of what is important for your well-being and to actively protect that during your exam preparations.
Remember you aren't on your own
You are one of many thousands of students preparing for examinations. People often feel reassured when they can talk to each other about their experiences and hear how others are finding ways to cope. Talking to other people in your year group and hearing about how they are preparing for and thinking about their exams can feel supportive. And sometimes you find out about personal or practical strategies that might work for you. In some schools, a form tutor might arrange for some time to talk as a class about how exam preparation is going and feeling.

For some students, worries about exams do become too difficult to cope with on their own and persistent anxiety can negatively affect your well-being and exam preparation. If your worries feel overwhelming you can get help to cope. Speak to a trusted adult, or to one of the professional services/ organisations below:
Professor Kevin Woods and Dr Tee McCaldin

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What sorts of things might help you prepare for exams?

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Exams can cause a mixture of feelings - hope, excitement, pressure - but the experience we tend to associate most with exams is worry or stress. Feeling some level of apprehension around exams is normal. When something feels important to ...

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If you feel like you might seriously harm yourself or attempt suicide, you need urgent medical help.

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Struggling with Reading? Try Bionic Reading!

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Struggling with Reading? Try Bionic Reading!

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What is bionic reading?

Bionic reading is a new reading method that creates artificial fixation points on words, thus guiding our eyes through the text. Highlight the first 2/3/4 letters of the word (depending on the word) so that our eyes only read the highlighted letters and our brain understands the entire word. This technique makes reading easier and faster. It is especially useful when we have to read large contracts or terms and conditions online.

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Health and Wellbeing Support drop in clinics 

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Health and Wellbeing Support drop in clinics 

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Should you have a question about Health and Welfare, or needs some information, guidance or signposting, then please use the links below the link which matches your gender identity, to access a drop-in session for a Cuppa and a Chat.

Health and Welfare Support Drop-in Session - Tea and a Chat! - MALE ONLY: 10am till 11am (MALE HOST)

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Health and Welfare Support Drop-in Session - Tea and a Chat! - FEMALE ONLY: 10am till 11am (FEMALE HOST)

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Meeting ID: 378 148 573 414
Passcode: vbNgKA

Health and Welfare Support Drop-in Session - Tea and a Chat!  - For those who are Non-Binary/Gender Neutral – ONLY (or prefer not to say) (MALE or FEMALE HOST)

11-12am

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device.

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 397 107 270 847
Passcode: pAxRrw

Download Teams | Join on the web

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ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. We want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation. #ITSOKAYTOTALK

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ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online.

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Did you know that Richard Branson is Dyslexic?

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Did you know that Richard Branson is Dyslexic?

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I’m thrilled LinkedIn has added Dyslexic thinking, as a skill that can give you the edge at work. If you are Dyslexic you’re likely to have strong problem-solving skills, great imagination, and creative, big-picture thinking.

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I'm thrilled LinkedIn has added Dyslexic Thinking to its recognised skills list.

This is significant because it recognises this unique way of thinking as a positive trait and something people should be proud of. Dyslexic thinking is a skill that can give you the edge at work: you're likely to have strong problem-solving skills, great imagination, and creative, big-picture thinking.

I'm proud to be a dyslexic thinker and I have used it to my advantage to shape the Virgin brand. It wasn't until I dropped out of school at 16 that I was able to cast my lack of interest in mental arithmetic, my wandering mind, and short attention span in an entirely new light. I recognised these were actually the result of epic imagination. Where others saw problems, I was able to see solutions. Insurmountable challenges became endless opportunities. I was able to easily simplify things and see the bigger picture.

I didn't allow for my poor spelling to prevent the start of my first business, Student Magazine. I learned to delegate early on and surround myself with people who could help me in the areas I found tricky. Maths is a good example - to the wonder of those around me, I've never been able to grasp the concepts of net and gross! But that's not been a barrier to the building of the Virgin Group (luckily, I've had some brilliant accountants to keep me on track!)

Being a dyslexic thinker also means I'm a people-person. I like to pick up the phone and talk things through. This has shaped my style as a leader and team member. This way of thinking means I can't help but ask questions and ponder solutions. Without curiosity, innovation would not exist.

Dyslexic thinking has been responsible for some of the biggest leaps mankind has ever made, from the light bulb to the motor car, the aeroplane to our exploration of space. So, it's about time we redefined what it stands for. Recent research by Made By Dyslexia found that, in light of the rise of AI, dyslexics have the exact skills needed for the workplace of tomorrow, as set out by the World Economic Forum.

On that note, in another incredible step forward, Dictionary.com has confirmed it will add "Dyslexic Thinking" as an official term, describing its "strengths in creative, problem-solving and communication skills". LinkedIn and Dictionary.com are giving Dyslexic thinking the recognition it deserves.

It's been five years since Made by Dyslexia started with the mission to help the world to understand, value, and support dyslexia. I was so excited by their vision of empowering dyslexic minds from the beginning, and this is just one of the huge strides forward I've seen them make. Their founder Kate Griggs told me her goal for the charity is not to exist. If we redefine dyslexia and make sure every teacher and employer can empower it, then the job is done. It's incredible to see how much it has achieved in the past five years, and I can't wait to see what the next five bring.

Of course, our next step would be to change the word 'Dyslexia' entirely. It's still amazes me that a word used for those with spelling difficulties is itself almost impossible to spell. But one step at a time.

Redefining my dyslexia as a skill set gave me the freedom to pursue my dreams without barriers and recognise this unique way of thinking as a hidden superpower.

Space Scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Soho House Founder Nick Jones, the UK's youngest award-winning Vegan Chef Omari McQueen, and world-renowned ballet dancer Darcey Bussell are some of the great dyslexic change makers and influencers who have joined the Dyslexic Thinking conversation and spoken out about their Dyslexic Thinking skills. Now it's your turn. Using the new drop down you can show your pride in possessing this unique way of thinking and being #MadeByDyslexia. Trust me, it's something to be proud of.

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I'm thrilled LinkedIn has added Dyslexic Thinking to its recognised skills list. This is significant because it recognises this unique way of thinking as a positive trait and something people should be proud of.

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Doom scrolling or doom surfing is the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online

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Doomscrolling or doomsurfing is the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online. In 2019, a study by the National Academy of Sciences found that doomscrolling can be linked to a decline in mental and physical health.

The practice of doomscrolling can be compared to an older phenomenon from the 1970s called the mean world syndrome, described as "the belief that the world is a more dangerous place to live in than it actually is as a result of long-term exposure to violence-related content on television". Studies show that seeing upsetting news leads people to seek out more information on the topic, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.

In common parlance, the word "doom" connotes darkness and evil, referring to one's fate (cf. damnation). In the early online days, " surfing" was a common verb used in reference to browsing the internet; similarly, the word " scrolling" refers to sliding through online text, images, etc. Though the word "doomscrolling" is not found in their dictionary itself, Merriam-Webster is "watching" the term-a designation for words receiving increased use in society that do not yet meet their criteria for inclusion. Dictionary.com chose it as the top monthly trend in August 2020. The Macquarie Dictionary named doomscrolling as the 2020 Committee's Choice Word of the Year.

The term gained popularity in the early 2020s through events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the George Floyd protests, the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the storming of the U.S. Capitol in 2021, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine since 2022, all of which have been noted to have exacerbated the practice of doomscrolling.

Doomscrolling became widespread among Twitter users during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has also been discussed in relation to the climate crisis.

The act of doomscrolling can be attributed to the natural negativity bias people have when consuming information. Negativity bias is the idea that negative events have a larger impact on one's mental well-being than good ones. Jeffrey Hall, a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, notes that due to an individual's regular state of contentment, potential threats provoke one's attention. One psychiatrist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center notes that humans are "all hardwired to see the negative and be drawn to the negative because it can harm [them] physically." He cites evolution as the reason for why humans seek out such negatives: if one's ancestors, for example, discovered how an ancient creature could injure them, they could avoid that fate.

As opposed to primitive humans, however, most people in modern times do not realize that they are even seeking negative information. Social media algorithms heed the content users engage in and display posts similar in nature, which can aid in the act of doomscrolling. As per the clinic director of the Perelman School of Medicine's Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety: "People have a question, they want an answer, and assume getting it will make them feel better... You keep scrolling and scrolling. Many think that will be helpful, but they end up feeling worse afterward."

Doomscrolling, the compulsion to engross oneself in negative news, may be the result of an evolutionary mechanism where humans are "wired to screen for and anticipate danger". By frequently monitoring events surrounding negative headlines, staying informed may grant the feeling of being better prepared; however, prolonged scrolling may also lead to worsened mood and mental health as personal fears might seem heightened.

The inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) plays an important role in information processing and integrating new information into beliefs about reality. In the IFG, the brain "selectively filters bad news" when presented with new information as it updates beliefs. When a person engages in doomscrolling, the brain may feel under threat and shut off its "bad news filter" in response.

In a study where researchers manipulated the left IFG using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), patients were more likely to incorporate negative information when updating beliefs. This suggests that the left IFG may be responsible for inhibiting bad news from altering personal beliefs; when participants were presented with favorable information and received TMS, the brain still updated beliefs in response to the positive news. The study also suggests that the brain selectively filters information and updates beliefs in a way that reduces stress and anxiety by processing good news with higher regard (see optimistic bias). Increased doomscrolling exposes the brain to greater quantities of unfavorable news and may restrict the brain's ability to embrace good news and discount bad news; this can result in negative emotions that make one feel anxious, depressed, and isolated.

Health professionals have advised that excessive doomscrolling can negatively impact existing mental health issues. While the overall impact that doomscrolling has on people may vary, it can often make one feel anxious, stressed, fearful, depressed, and isolated.

Professors of psychology at the University of Sussex conducted a study in which participants watched television news consisting of "positive-, neutral-, and negative valenced material". The study revealed that participants who watched the negative news programs showed an increase in anxiety, sadness, and catastrophic tendencies regarding personal worries.

A study conducted by psychology researchers in conjunction with the Huffington Post found that participants who watched three minutes of negative news in the morning were 27% more likely to have reported experiencing a bad day six to eight hours later. Comparatively, the group who watched solutions-focused news stories reported a good day 88% of the time.

Some people have begun coping with the abundance of negative news stories by avoiding news altogether. A study from 2017 to 2022 showed that news avoidance is increasing, and that 38% of people admitted to sometimes or often actively avoiding the news in 2022, up from 29% in 2017. Even some journalists have admitted to avoiding the news; journalist Amanda Ripley wrote that "people producing the news themselves are struggling, and while they aren't likely to admit it, it is warping the coverage." She also identified ways she believes could help fix the problem, such as intentionally adding more hope, agency, and dignity into stories so readers don't feel the helplessness which leads them to tune out entirely.

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Money Helper is a useful service that's free to use and offers practical tips to help you manage your money

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Budget Planner | Free online budget planning tool | Money Helper

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Budget Planner | Free online budget planning tool | Money Helper

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Budget planner is a tool that can solve and reduce stress, setting a budget to spend each week or month may help your learners feel more in control of managing your money.

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Budget Planner | Free online budget planning tool | MoneyHelper

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Discover our free online MoneyHelper Budget Planner calculator to gain a better understanding of your money coming in and out, and how to improve your finances.

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The Home Secretary has launched an ambitious new, multi-year national communications campaign which says ‘Enough’ to violence against women and girls.

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The campaign includes television adverts, billboards, social media and radio advertising and will highlight different forms of violence against women and girls and the simple acts that anyone can take to challenge perpetrators of abuse. Forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) represented include street harassment, coercive control, unwanted touching, workplace harassment, revenge-porn and cyber-flashing.

The campaign was informed by the unprecedented 180,000 responses to the Call for Evidence last year. This multi-year campaign will also include communications to educate young people about healthy relationships and consent, and ensure victims can recognise abuse and seek support.
View a YouTube video about the 'Enough' campaign to tackle violence against women and girls
It has been developed with an advisory group comprising over 30 voluntary sector organisations, survivors and academics who have given their expert insight. The latest findings in behavioural science have also been used, including the role of peers and wider society in influencing people's actions, and the importance of providing simple, clear options to overcome the barriers people can have to challenging abuse.

Alongside advertising, a new website provides more information on the steps people can take to safely challenge violence against women and girls, guidance for victims of these crimes and advice for perpetrators who recognise their behaviour needs to change.

It comes as the Home Secretary, National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing (HMICFRS) confirm that they are accepting and implementing all of the recommendations made by HMICFRS in their violence against women and girls inspection. The inspection, commissioned by the Home Secretary last year, recommends:

appointing a full-time VAWG national policing lead to co-ordinate and improve the national policing response - which the Home Office supported, and DCC Maggie Blyth is now in post

adding VAWG to the strategic policing requirement placing it on the same strategic footing as terrorism, serious organised crime and child sexual abuse

new guidance to police forces on how to treat victims and to establish a single national survey on victim satisfaction

ensuring that progress is closely monitored, including violence against women and girls as a priority for the ministerially chaired Crime and Policing Performance Board

taking action to make sure different agencies, including the police, health and education, are working together effectively to tackle violence against women and girls, including considering whether any new duties should be introduced - the government recently made it clear in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that local areas can consider domestic abuse and sexual offences for the purposes of the new serious violence duty

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

For too long, the responsibility of keeping safe has been placed on the shoulders of women and girls. This campaign says enough, and recognises it is on all of us to demand major societal change. Everyone has a stake in this.

Our new campaign shows that everyone can play a role in challenging abuse and making our country a safer place. By accepting all of the recommendations in the HMICFRS report I commissioned last year, the government and the police are doubling down to support victims and survivors and punish perpetrators.

The Home Secretary also commissioned a 2-phase independent inquiry, chaired by Dame Eilsh Angiolini QC, to investigate and scrutinise the robustness of vetting practices, professional standards and discipline, and workplace behaviour within the police.

Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said:

The last year has seen some tragic and shocking incidences of violence against women and girls. There have been abhorrent examples of abuse or misogyny by police officers.

We have a good plan for change in policing to better protect women and girls from violence and root out misogyny in our own ranks.  Experts in the VAWG sector have helped shape it and all forces are implementing it.  I will review progress to ensure we are delivering as well as enabling others to scrutinise our progress.

The government's decision to make tackling violence against women and girls a strategic policing requirement reinforces the commitment already made by police chiefs to prioritise making women and girls safer.

CEO of Karma Nirvana Natasha Rattu said:

We welcome the launch of 'Enough', which the Karma Nirvana team and survivor ambassadors contributed to. The campaign is an important step and sends a powerful message that violence against women and girls cannot go on, and everyone has a role to play to stop it. We are pleased to see the Home Office launch a communications campaign that raises awareness of the abuse women and girls can face on a daily basis, challenges perpetrators and empowers others to know how to safely intervene if they witness unacceptable abuse.

Chief Executive at Women's Aid Farah Nazeer said:

Violence against women and girls is a spectrum, running from the everyday misogyny that is so prevalent, many people don't even notice it, right through to horrifically violent crimes and murder. Campaigns like this by the Home Office are an important tool to raise awareness of sexist actions and language that have been tolerated for too long and normalise the treatment of women as objects. Women's Aid will continue to keep working for the safety of women - until we no longer walk home in fear, whether it is the journey or the destination that holds the greatest danger - but we can't do it alone. It's also not enough that women must initiate and highlight the urgency of these conversations. We need 'allyship' to help bring about structural change.

Jo Todd, CEO of Respect said:

For too long the responsibility has been on women to keep themselves safe. If we are going to tackle violence against women and girls we must hold those who use abuse to account. This involves providing meaningful opportunities for change and robust action for those who continue to abuse. We hope this campaign will challenge those using abuse to take responsibility and enable communities to feel more confident speaking out. Violence against women and girls must not be tolerated in our society, we will not stop until women and children are safe.

Jayne Butler, CEO of Rape Crisis said:

Campaigns such as these are incredibly important for raising awareness not only on the prevalence of violence against women and girls but also of the types of harmful behaviours that are too often minimised and ignored. All too often the onus is put on women and girls to keep themselves safe or mitigate for male violence, so it's encouraging to see a campaign that shifts that responsibility, highlighting the different types of abuse and the importance of bystander intervention.

Payzee Mahmod, Child Marriage Survivor and IKWRO Campaigner, said:

I'm behind this strong campaign which importantly shows that everyone has a role to play in taking action to end violence against women and girls and ensuring that every woman and girl gets the support they need.

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said:

We welcome this campaign to tackle male violence against women and girls. We can't end this abuse without addressing the unacceptable attitudes and behaviours that minimise and normalise it.

The End Violence Against Women Coalition has called for a public campaign since 2018, and it is clear that this type of campaign must be long-term, properly funded and shaped by specialist organisations including those led by and for Black and 'minoritised' women.

It's really important to engage men and boys in this conversation, because violence against women and girls is everyone's business and we should all be able to take action and hold each other accountable.

Preventing violence is always better than solely responding after the harm has been done. We need to see more investment in prevention so that as a society, we can continue to have these difficult but necessary conversations and build.

The communications campaign advisory group includes:

Business Disability Forum

Dr Sarah Steele, Cambridge University

Professor Catherine Donovan, Durham University

Office of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner

Drive

Dr Kelly Johnson, Durham University

Professor Nicole Westmarland, Durham University

Dr Stephen Burrell, Durham University

End Violence Against Women  Coalition

Everyone's Invited

FORWARD

Galop

Dr Helen Mott, expert on ending violence against women

Nimco Ali OBE , Independent government advisor on tackling VAWG

Iranian Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation

Karma Nirvana

Laura Bates

Dr Fiona Vera-Grey, London Metropolitan University

Professor Purna Sen, London Metropolitan University

Mental Health First Aid

DCC Maggie Blyth, National police lead for violence against women and girls

Plan International UK

Rape Crisis

ReBuild Britain

Refuge

Respect

Revenge Porn Helpline

SafeLives

Dr Shola Apena Rogers, University of Birmingham

SignHealth

Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Office of the Victim's Commissioner

Welsh Women's Aid

White Ribbon UK

Women's Aid

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Home Secretary says 'Enough' to violence against women and girls

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The Home Secretary has today launched an ambitious new, multi-year national communications campaign which says 'Enough' to violence against women and girls.

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Thinking about suicide? Worried about someone?

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Thinking about suicide? Worried about someone?

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Stay Alive is a Grassroots app, suicide prevention that can make a real difference when it is needed the most

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The Stay Alive app is a pocket suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information to help you stay safe. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.

In addition to the resources, the app includes a safety plan, customisable reasons for living, and a life box where you can store photos that are important to you.

"I have used this app with volunteers and service users across the UK and the feedback is consistently positive. People have used it when in crisis and say it is literally life-saving."
Suffolk User Forum Survey 2017

Are you thinking of suicide, or worried about someone else and don't want to use the app? Check our "Find Help Now" pages for:

Helplines

Websites

Other services

These can help when you are having thoughts of suicide or are in a suicidal crisis. They can also help if you are concerned about someone.

We believe there's no shame in reaching out for help if you are feeling stressed, depressed or experiencing suicidal crisis in some form. If you're not sure of who to reach out to in your community and don't want to download the app, some of the contacts on our "Find Help Now" pages could help. People who care are ready to help you right now.

View Find Help Now

New features

The Stay Alive app has been given a complete overhaul. It's packed with more resources, more tools, and more information to help you or those you are worried about stay safe.

Optionally create a StayAlive account that will allow you to synchronise your LifeBox and other content across multiple devices, including the new website at www.stayalive.app.

The LifeBox now allows you to add videos and other file types alongside your existing photos.

There's a new search facility in the Find Help Now section which allows you to search for resources, helping you find exactly what you need.

You can now share your Safety Plan, Wellness Plan, and Reasons for Living with family, friends, or anyone that may be supporting you.

Life-saving features

Quick access to UK national crisis support helplines.

Quick access to local crisis services across of the UK.

A safety plan that can be filled out by a person considering suicide.

A LifeBox to which the user can upload photos from their phone reminding them of their reasons to stay alive.

Safety contacts page.

Strategies for staying safe from suicide.

How to help a person thinking about suicide.

Wellness Plan for your recovery, a place for your positive thoughts, inspirations and ideas.

Suicide myth-busting.

Research-based reasons for living.

Online support services and other helpful apps.

Suicide bereavement resources.

All guidance and information within the app are reviewed and updated every 6 months to check all resources are updated and links are in working order.

The app is fully compliant with GDPR and international data management standards.

"This weekend I found the online support list and the keeping safe for now section helpful and made me feel less lonely. Unlike so many mental health apps yours is not patronising and doesn't claim to 'fix' anyone. No app will ever be able to fix me but yours kept me company during a very long, dark weekend. Thank you for that."
Anonymous, via Facebook

"[The app helped me help someone else to stay alive] by introducing and making clear the option of 'stay safe for now'. This was so helpful for the young person I was working with who felt as if she had no choice other than to try and kill herself given how hopeless she felt."
Anonymous, via online survey

"Aside from Breathing exercises, grounding techniques and lots of useful tips and contacts, it has a section called 'My Life-box'. Here I can add pictures that remind me of my reasons to stay alive. I uploaded a funny photo of Si, one of my Mum and Dad celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and one of Saagar and I, happy together. This is the next best thing to a friend sitting with me, holding my hand when I am down and out."
SANGEETA MAHAJAN, on her blog.

A life saving story...

"I have had the Stay Alive app on my phone for many months, I keep my safety plan updated on it and have read a lot of the content. This has been incredibly helpful for me, but it is in the event of crisis that I have found the app most useful.

A few months ago I found myself in a position where my thoughts of suicide were so strong and prominent, that I needed immediate help to avoid another suicide attempt. In previous moments like this I have not known where to turn for help and have instead begun turning suicide plans into actions.

Fortunately, when I was trying to think if there were options other than suicide open to me, I remembered that I have the app and that it might help. I was able to immediately dial through to a helpline using the crisis resources on the "find help now" section of the app and they were able to support me and keep me safe in the short term, until further help could be reached. They were also able to help friends look after me.

I think perhaps without the app and its ability to help me to find help, strong suicidal thoughts would have become another suicide attempt. I believe that it is a unique resource which I carry with me everywhere I go, which gives it an unbelievable scope to help."
Brighton resident

StayAlive in professional healthcare settings

The app is included on mental health patients' discharge paperwork at Brighton & Hove and Haywards Heath Accident & Emergency Departments

The app is pre-installed on a number of counselling service waiting room tablets

Sussex Police promote the app to staff on their intranet and also to community members on their public-facing website

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust promote the app to their staff and service users

A wide range of mental health practitioners (both clinical and non-clinical) and therapists are using the app in and/or between sessions with their patients and clients

A recent independent evaluation report (PDF) from the Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network showed the app helped 76% of at-risk users to stay safe from suicide. The upgrade and evaluation were funded by the Crisis Care Concordat - Beyond Places of Safety scheme from the Department of Health & Social Care.
Stay Alive: Qualitative Review and Opportunity Cost Model (PDF)

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Stay Alive App - Grassroots Suicide Prevention

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Stay Alive is a suicide prevention app for the UK, packed full of resources, useful information, and tools to help you stay safe or help someone else.

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Support for Males who have been the Victims of abuse

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Support for Males who have been the Victims of abuse

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The Home Office has released a document on supporting male victims of crimes commonly associated with violence against women and girls (VAWG) that supplements the plan to tackle domestic abuse.

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Position statement on male victims of crimes considered in the cross-government Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan.

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Position statement on male victims of crimes considered in the cross-government Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan.

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Teenagers ‘risking prison over extremist content without leaving their rooms’

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Teenagers ‘risking prison over extremist content without leaving their rooms’

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The head of Counter Terrorism Policing said they were seeing more online hatred spill over into ‘real threats of violence on the streets’.

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#InclusionStartsWithI is a discussion around the importance of a positive, inclusive work environment. Starring a group of Accenture people, this video demonstrates that bias can appear in both expected and unexpected ways.

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Show caption
As winter looms, households weigh up turning on the heating or trying other ways to keep warm. Photograph: Jochen Tack/Alamy

The clocks change this weekend, and suddenly there's no escaping that winter is on its way.

Over the next few months it will be darker and colder, the heating will need to go on, and you may feel more nervous about leaving your home empty in the evenings.

To help you get through the worst of the weather, we have put together a guide to help you get all aspects of your life ready for winter.

There are things you can do now to make sure your home is ready for the colder temperatures, and any adverse weather that may be on its way. "If your home is well prepared and maintained, it will help to avoid having to make any claims that could drive up your home insurance premiums," says Matthew Harwood at Confused.com's home insurance arm.

By clearing your gutters of any leaves or other items swept in by the wind, you will ensure they don't overflow and cause any leaks. "It's best to do this at least twice a year, and particularly after any bursts of heavy rain," Harwood says.

If the weather gets windy, there is a risk that any loose roof tiles will fall and damage your property or even injure a passerby, so check for any that need to be fixed.

Make sure your radiators and boiler are working correctly before temperatures drop even further. If a radiator isn't functioning properly, bleed it to ensure an even spread of heat.

When it comes to your garden or the area around your property, Harwood says you should do the following.

* Cut back any overhanging trees or unstable-looking branches before high winds have the chance to blow them into your home.

* Make sure your garden shed and other outbuildings are properly secured, "as they tend to take a real beating from extreme cold and rain".

* Tidy or put away any loose items and furniture to prevent them from being moved around by gusts of wind. This will also help protect your belongings from any damage or damp.

Smart cameras Fitting a smart camera can be a great deterrent to intruders, acting as a visible sign that your property is protected. There are many different types, although the most popular is the video doorbell. There are various options available from about £60, such as Amazon's Ring or Blink and Google's Nest, plus lesser-known brands such as Arlo or Eufy.

Doorbells can be wired or battery-powered, allowing DIY fitting. They all connect to the manufacturer's smartphone app, so you can see what is happening remotely.

Alarm systems These are a great alternative or addition to smart cameras, with many wireless DIY solutions available.

The lockmaker Yale has a range of wireless alarms, with a starter set costing about £120. Smarter options cost from about £175, such as Amazon's excellent Ring Alarm system, which allows you to set the alarm and receive alerts on your phone.

Timer lights For simulating your presence while out, putting your lights on timers is a quick and easy trick. You can pick up plug timers for about £5 and plug a lamp into them to come on at dusk and go off again at a set time. For those looking for something more advanced, smart bulbs such as Philips Hue allow you to set lights to come on and off at various times, including with a random element to help avoid problems with burglars watching your property.

You can switch but for most people, it probably won't be worth it. The vast majority of homes in England, Scotland and Wales are currently on standard variable tariffs set at or near the Ofgem price cap. This cap changes every three months, and the latest change - a 7% drop in prices - took place on 1 October.

There are now quite a few fixed-rate tariffs out there, but they typically come with a 6%-7% price premium. Analysts at Cornwall Insight said this week that they are expecting the cap will rise by 3.5% in January, before dropping by about the same amount three months later. If that is accurate, there is little reason to shift to a more expensive fix.

The one exception is arguably E.ON's Next Fixed v3, which comes at a typical £55-a-year premium (based on average use). It is open to new and existing customers and offers prices fixed for 12 months. If you wish to leave before the year is up, there are exit fees of £75 for both gas and electricity.

If you believe events around the world will result in another rise in energy prices - then it could look like a good decision. It's not a massive premium to pay for price security.

If you don't, you would probably be better off on one of the tariffs that reward those willing to shift their consumption to off-peak hours. Guardian Money will undertake a detailed look at these in the coming weeks, so watch this space.

If you want to keep the heating off for as long as possible this winter, it is worth bearing in mind the " heat the human, not the home " mantra. There are heated textiles available for every budget.

Lakeland has the Snuggler, a heated throw with sleeves and a foot pouch, for just under £100.

It also has £24.99 faux fur slippers with inserts to zap in the microwave, or a £19.99 extra-long hot-water bottle that can be wrapped around your back or feet and is likely to appeal to home workers.

The new online brand Snugel has an extra-thick heated blanket for £67, which it says costs only 4p an hour to run.

The company's other products include a £64 heated gilet that can be used with a power bank (£26). It also has £28 "cocooning" hot-water bottles.
Battling condensation
This is a common problem during the colder months and can lead to damp and mould - but there are ways you can beat it.

Dehumidifiers draw excess moisture from the air, and many people swear by them, although the bigger ones can be pricey to run. For example, you may want to have one in a room where you dry clothes. The MoneySavingExpert founder, Martin Lewis, has said using a dehumidifier is generally far cheaper than a tumble dryer or putting on the heating.

Smaller, well-reviewed budget dehumidifiers from companies such as Russell Hobbs and Black+Decker can be picked up from about £40-£50 upwards.

Meanwhile, there are a number of budget-friendly houseplants that can help to combat condensation by absorbing excess moisture from the air, including spider plants, snake plants and aloe vera plants, the garden and farm equipment company Atkins says.

The Centre for Sustainable Energy, a charity, says simple things make a huge difference, such as keeping lids on pans when cooking, and drying clothes outdoors (not on radiators) where at all possible.

With cold weather creeping in, it is time to review your heating. Simple timers can work well if you keep a consistent schedule. But smart thermostats promise to be more adaptable and efficient by turning down the heating when not needed, such as when no one is home, tracking usage and enabling programming and remote control from your phone. If you had your heating system replaced in the last five years, you may already have one. Some DIY options are available from about £100 but most need a heating engineer to alter wiring on your boiler.

Supplements The nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert reckons everyone should consider vitamin D supplements this winter because "it regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body". This is important to keep teeth, bones and muscles healthy and help the immune system. Most of our vitamin D comes from sunlight, which we get less of in the colder months.

"The NHS recommends that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement from September to late March or early April," Lambert says. She adds that people should be wary of taking too much vitamin D for a long period, as it can cause a calcium buildup in the body. Lambert has created a supplement with the exact dose that Public Health England recommends; it retails at £13.99.

Vaccinations It is recommended that you get seasonal flu and Covid vaccinations if you are at higher risk of serious illness.

In England, you are eligible to get these for free if, for example, you are 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024) or have one of the listed health conditions. If you are eligible, you can contact your GP or local pharmacy.

Some people may be able to get a free winter flu jab through their work. You can also pay to get a flu jab via most major pharmacy providers: Boots offers it for £19.95.

Exercise If you struggle with motivation when the weather gets colder, Klaudia Lucia, a personal trainer and a Barry's UK instructor, suggests indoor workouts. "Investing in basic workout equipment like a mat, resistance bands or a set of dumbbells can go a long way," she says.

"If you are planning on keeping up with outdoor workouts, dressing in layers is key. Moisture-wicking base layers will help keep sweat away from your skin, and insulating layers will trap warmth to keep you toasty and able to move in the cold."

She recommends investing in thermal leggings and gloves, sweat-wicking tops and comfortable thicker sports bras. "I found a headband to be the most valuable piece of kit last winter to save my ears," she says.

The right footwear really matters in winter, she says - if it is icy outside, you really need something with good grip.

Lucia says you also need to make sure you warm up before working out, and focus on consistency rather than perfection. "For most of us, maintaining any kind of fitness over the winter can be hard enough. With shorter days, lower motivation and a full social calendar, it's important to remember that an adapted workout routine is still a workout routine."

The freezer is your friend Strawberries, raspberries and other soft fruit may not be in season but you can still buy bags of frozen ones in the supermarket. They are usually frozen within a few hours of being picked, so they retain nutrients. Or you can freeze any fresh fruit now that will be out of season in the coming months.

If you want to avoid going to the supermarket or butcher repeatedly during the winter months, stocking up on meats in advance and freezing them will save you multiple trips. The key is to separate meats so that they don't stick together and cannot be separated without defrosting. Take a tray, line it with clingfilm and place individual steaks, chicken pieces or chops on it with a gap between them, and then put another layer of clingfilm on top. After a few hours in the freezer, the cuts can be bagged without fear of them sticking. In the same way, portion out mince into 100g balls, so you can take out what is needed and don't have to defrost a whole slab.

Consider a slow cooker The colder months are well suited to the slow cooker, which works best with stews and on joints that tenderise over hours. Indeed, coming in from the cold to a kitchen with the aroma of a curry that has been cooking for hours is very welcoming.

The cookers simmer at a low temperature for a long time - often between three and 12 hours. Coming down in the morning to some overnight porridge is a great start to the day. For vegetarians, butternut squash works well slowly cooked.

The Energy Saving Trust says slow cookers are " incredibly energy efficient ". Prices vary widely, with the most basic starting at about £20.

Which? reviewers say they were "extremely impressed" by a 1.5-litre version from Progress costing £19.99 at the time of writing.

Winter nutrition Lambert recommends trying to follow a balanced diet during winter that includes a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. She says this will give people antioxidants and nutrients to support overall health. Seasonal produce includes celeriac, carrots, turnips, brussels sprouts, parsnips, dark green leafy vegetables, apples and pears.

She adds that you can also support your immune system by supporting gut health through adding probiotic foods into your diet, such as kefir, kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut and live yoghurt. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts promoted as having various health benefits.

Reflective gear and winter coats With the evenings getting darker earlier, remember to keep you and your dog safe by wearing reflective clothing and using bright or reflective collars or light-up leads, advises the Kennel Club.

Some dog owners will be wondering whether they should get a winter coat for their pet. The veterinary charity PDSA says dogs with fine or thin fur, such as greyhounds and whippets, and dogs that are very young, underweight, old or unwell, will need a warm dog coat when they go out, as they feel the cold much faster than other dogs. It adds: "They should go out in the cold for shorter periods, too."

Smaller dog breeds such as chihuahuas and some terriers can feel the cold quickly, so may benefit from the extra warmth of a coat in winter, the charity says.

Websites such as Smart Bark (a reviews site) have up-to-date UK guides to the best dog coats. If you are looking for a good value coat, there is a dog-patterned one sold by Mountain Warehouse that gets a lot of love online and is available (at the time of writing) for £14.99.

Winter pet hazards Antifreeze can be extremely dangerous to dogs and cats. If you suspect your pet has licked or drunk any, contact the vet immediately. Many festive treats, such as mince pies and Christmas puddings, are not safe for dogs, so keep them out of sight and reach, the Kennel Club says.

A good weather app can help you avoid the rain and prepare for the day. There are many to choose from but you may find they all come up with slightly different forecasts and focus on different things. The Met Office's weather app is good for large-area forecasts, particularly for storms and wind. For hyperlocal weather forecasts - for example, to predict the chances of rain within the next hour or so - comparing a few weather apps, such as AccuWeather and Apple's weather app, gets the best results,

For more extreme events, you can sign up to get flood warnings (a call, text or email) if your home or business in England is at risk. There are similar schemes in Scotland and Wales.
Consumer affairs

From security to heating, wellbeing, food and pets, there are many ways to help stay warm, healthy and safe

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Winterproofing: how to get you and your home ready for Britain's cold months ahead

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From security to heating, wellbeing, food and pets, there are many ways to help stay warm, healthy and safe

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The mental health benefits of physical activity

It's a scientific fact that regular physical activity and exercise can make us healthier and happier.

When we're active, the body releases feel-good hormones that can improve our mood and boost our energy.

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One of the best things we can do for our mental health and wellbeing is to be active - it's a natural mood booster.

Our bodies release feel-good hormones when we're active that can also reduce anxiety and stress, and help us sleep better.

There are lots of free and affordable ways to get moving for all ages and levels of physical ability, including our Couch to 5K and Active 10 apps, so we can all benefit.

Find out more about the mental health benefits of physical activity and ways to get moving.

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Be active for your mental health - Every Mind Matters

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Find out about the benefits of physical activity for your mental health and ways to get moving to boost your mood.

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Broadband providers block website linked to suicide deaths

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Broadband providers block website linked to suicide deaths

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Leading UK broadband providers have told the BBC they have blocked access to a website promoting suicide.

Sky Broadband, which has 5.7 million users, says the forum will automatically be barred if home users are using its standard filters.

Virgin Media said it would be automatically barred on its mobile and broadband services, while TalkTalk and BT said it could also now be blocked.

It follows a BBC investigation linking the forum to more than 50 UK deaths.

Bereaved relatives had written to internet service providers in the UK requesting they block the site.

Sky Broadband - the second biggest internet service provider (ISP) in the country - has now confirmed the forum had been added to a list of websites that are blocked by its Sky Broadband Shield safety filter, which is automatically activated on home routers.

The company said it had moved as quickly as possible and blocked the online forum with "immediate effect".

TalkTalk - which has about four millions users - told the BBC the site would now be blocked for any customer with its HomeSafe safety filter activated. It said it was unable to automatically block the site.

BT told the BBC the site is automatically barred on their mobile networks and is also blocked on home broadband, if users turn on parental controls.

Virgin Media said its web filters are switched on by default and the site is now blocked.

Following the publication of the BBC investigation, administrators of the controversial website have posted a message on its front page saying they are unconcerned by threats from the UK digital safety regulator Ofcom to block their forum. The post also calls on users in the UK to lobby MPs against the newly passed Online Safety Act.

David Parfett's son Tom, 22, ended his life in 2021, after finding instructions on the forum.

Responding to Sky Broadband's decision, Mr Parfett said: "It made me cry. It's pure relief, mixed with anger that Tom may still be here if [the forum] had been regulated two years ago. My sole aim has been to stop other people being influenced to take their own life."

Joe Nihill, 23, died in 2020 and left a note asking his family to get the forum shut down.

His mother Catherine Adenekan and sister-in-law Melanie Saville said other internet service providers should follow Sky Broadband's example.

"It's really important to us both, as it means access is becoming limited to prevent others... finding it - which is a step in the right direction."

The BBC identified Lamarcus Small as one the of the creators of the site and tracked him down to his home in Huntsville, Alabama, in the US. He refused to answer any questions, but an account associated with Mr Small on the controversial platform "Kiwi Farms" has since posted about the BBC's findings.

"The UK wants to block the site and pretend that this is going to help things, when it won't," the post says, continuing: "Chasing me down to the ends of the earth to harass me isn't going to solve the mental health crisis, nor would shutting the site down."

Responding to the post, Mr Parfett added: "These people encourage others to die and celebrate death, they have no place in a civilised society."

The government's controversial Online Safety Bill, which aims to make the internet safer, became law last week - giving the regulator, Ofcom, further jurisdiction.

In a statement Ofcom told BBC News: "If services don't comply, we'll have a broad range of enforcement powers at our disposal to ensure they're held accountable".

In a further development, digital music streaming service Spotify has moved to disable what is called a "social login" button on the forum.

A "social login" allows users of an app to use their existing username and password to register or log on to a third party website, using a simple click button.

BBC News discovered the Spotify "social login" button on the pro-suicide forum and approached the music app for comment.

Spotify says the feature was enabled by a third party developer, without the company's knowledge, violating their terms of agreement. It said: "Once we were alerted to this matter, we removed access for the site in question immediately and the button no longer works."

If you've been affected by issues in this story, help and support is available via BBC Action Line

Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

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Broadband providers block suicide website linked to 50 deaths

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Bereaved families had asked internet providers to block the forum, following a BBC investigation.

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I am Marsha Castello a Data Analyst with the UK Civil Service, a master’s graduate from the University of London, and have served as a UN woman delegate to the 67th UN Commission on the Status of women. I am a Black woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths)!

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I am Marsha Castello a Data Analyst with the UK Civil Service, a master’s graduate from the University of London, and have served as a UN woman delegate

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We are a movement of people taking action to create a happier and kinder world, together.

This page is about our mission, organisation and beliefs.

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Action for Happiness is a charity that promotes a happier and more caring society. We promote how to be happy, kindness, connection & wellbeing

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-Just to let you know that WOBOT, the Self-Help Wellbeing and Mental Health App is no longer available to users in the UK. We have found a new app which is called MyPossibleSelf: Mental Health, the App can be download it on both IOS and Android.

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Asthma charity says e-cigarette popularity among children and young people is ‘concerning’

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Study links lung conditions to young people who vape - The Independent

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Asthma charity says e-cigarette popularity among children and young people is 'concerning'

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Holidays and Observances in United Kingdom in 2023

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Holidays and Observances in United Kingdom in 2023

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It is always good to celebrate :-)

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Holidays and Observances in United Kingdom in 2023

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Overview of holidays and many observances in United Kingdom during the year 2023

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What to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Guidance issued by Counter Terrorism Policing for members of the public.

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What to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Guidance issued by Counter Terrorism Policing for members of the public.

In the unlikely event of a terrorist attack, remember to follow RUN HIDE TELL - guidance which can be applied to many situations and places.

RUN

escape if you can

consider the safest options

is there a safe route? RUN, if not HIDE

can you get there without exposing yourself to greater danger?

insist others leave with you, but don't let their indecision slow you down

leave belongings behind

do not attempt to film the incident. RUN

HIDE

If you cannot RUN, HIDE:

find cover from gunfire

if you can see the attacker, they may be able to see you. Cover from view does not mean you are safe. Bullets can go through glass, brick, wood and metal. You must still HIDE, even if you are behind a locked door

find cover from gunfire behind substantial brickwork or heavy reinforced walls

be aware of exits

try not to get trapped

be quiet, silence your phone and turn off vibrate

lock and barricade

move away from the door

TELL

When it is safe to do so, TELL bycalling 999

What do the police need to know? If you cannot speak or make a noise, listen to the instructions given to you by the call taker:

nature of the incident - what is happening?

location - where is the incident taking place? Give an address or general location

suspects - where are the suspects?

direction - where did you last see the suspects?

descriptions - describe the attacker, numbers, features, clothing, weapons etc.

further information - casualties, type of injury, building information, entrances, exits, hostages etc.

stop other people entering the building if it is safe to do so

Asset Name

Description

Download

RUN HIDE TELL Leaflet

Printable Leaflet to advise in an event of a terrorist attack
PDF

RUN HIDE TELL Video

Video to explain the steps to take in an event of a terrorist attack
Video

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What to do in the event of an attack. RUN HIDE TELL Guidance issued by CT Policing for members of the public which can be applied to many situations and places.

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Menopause and menstruation guidance launched for workplaces to support employees

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Menopause and menstruation guidance launched for workplaces to support employees

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The British Standards Institute has published a new standard to help organisations retain experienced and talented staff.

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Menopause and menstruation guidance launched for workplaces to support employees

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The British Standards Institute has published a new standard to help organisations retain experienced and talented staff.

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If you are planning on buying tickets to an event this summer, take time to read "Get Safe Online" advice on purchasing tickets online safely. Attached is a new leaflet on Ticket Fraud, whilst the below link provides the latest advice listed on our website:

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You want tickets to see your favourite band, a festival or a big sporting event. The box office and other well-known sites have sold out, and you're reluctant to pay the prices on the fan ticket exchange sites. So you respond to an ad on social media or an online marketplace.
The seller tells you they'll post or email the tickets as soon as you've transferred the money to their bank account. But when you try to contact them after nothing's arrived, they've disappeared off the face of the earth. Checking a fan forum, you find that dozens of other people have fallen victim to the same fraud.
This happens to thousands of music, sports and other fans every year who get tricked into buying fake or non-existent tickets. However desperate you are to get into a gig, festival or game, don't buy tickets from anyone apart from official vendors, the box office or reputable fan reseller sites.
Your expert ticket buying tips

Buy tickets only from the venue's box office, sports club, promoter, official agent or reputable ticket exchange sites.

Consider that tickets advertised on any other source such as auction sites, social media and fan forums may be fake or non-existent, however authentic the seller may seem and whether they're advertised below, above or at face value.

Don't be tempted to click on social media, text or email links or attachments offering tickets, as they could link to fraudulent or malware sites.

Paying for tickets by bank transfer - however desperate you are to get hold of them - could result in you losing your money if it's a fraud. The responsibility for losses lies with you, not anybody else, including your bank.

Check sellers' privacy and returns policies.

Consider paying by credit card to get additional protection over other payment methods.

Double-check all details of your purchase before confirming payment.

Before buying online, check that the page is genuine (carefully enter the address yourself, not from a link) and secure ('https' and a locked padlock), and log out when you've completed the transaction.

Keep receipts until after the event.

Get the full story

For everything you need to know about protecting yourself from ticket fraud, visit www.getsafeonline.org and search 'Buying Tickets'

#TicketFraud

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Buying Tickets Safely Online - Get Safe Online

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You want tickets to see your favourite band, a festival or a big sporting event. The box office and other well-known sites have sold out, and you're

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Improve and maintain your mental health

If you're struggling with your mental health and wellbeing, this simple mental health quiz can help. It generates a personalised plan based on the information you provide.

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Improve and maintain your mental health

If you're struggling with your mental health and wellbeing, this simple mental health quiz can help. It generates a personalised plan based on the information you provide.

If you want help to deal with anxiety or low mood, tips to reduce stress or advice on how to fall asleep faster and sleep better, start the quiz above.

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Take our quick, 5-question quiz for personalised tips and advice on looking after your mental health and wellbeing. Update your plan any time for new tips.

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Mindfulness is no longer a mystical concept. Numerous books, websites and dedicated apps promote the practice as a potential antidote to many modern-day ailments.

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What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practise of present moment awareness. In recent years, meditation experts such as Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Andy Puddicombe of Headspace, have helped the world see that this is not just a spiritual practice, it is grounded in science and is relevant and helpful to many of us.

Practising mindful eating simply means being present when we eat - paying attention to it and being aware of it. As a mindfulness teacher and registered nutritionist, this is my favourite way to empower clients. It's an easy method to learn, it helps us eat well and is simple to practise as we already eat several times a day. It involves tuning in and enjoying.

How do I practice mindful eating?

Start by practising one step at a time for a few days, then try the next one. Eventually, you can combine all five steps through a whole meal, and experience being fully mindful whilst you eat.

Keep at it and it'll come more naturally. Ultimately, it will give you a sense of understanding, appreciation and respect for your food that will make it an easy habit to continue.

Step 1: When hunger strikes

When you are hungry, become aware of your body and notice a couple of breaths. What is your body telling you? Spend a couple of moments noticing the sensations that give you that message. No need to change them, just become aware of them and explore the feeling.

Benefits: When you listen, your body will tell you if it is actually hungry and what it's hungry for. Learning to accept and therefore tolerate hunger stops us from immediately feeling the need to eat food that we don't really need.

Step 2: Choosing what to eat

Look or think about the choices, becoming aware of what's on offer. Notice all the factors at play - the different foods, what they're made of, how they are prepared, how they smell, the cost. Appreciate that the choice is yours, and notice what thoughts or feelings arise from each option, without trying to change them.

Benefits: To stop and notice the foods on offer opens our eyes to the choices we make. It allows us to make informed decisions that nourish us - whether that's by making a wholesome choice or one that's more indulgent!

Step 3: Preparing your food

Take the time to be mindful as you prepare to eat. It might be as you are peeling back the paper as you walk along, sitting at your desk lifting the lid, or beginning to peel, chop and fry. It doesn't matter where you are or what you're eating - just notice the textures, sounds, smells and what everything looks like as your food is in front of you.

Benefits: We eat with our eyes too, and paying attention to the food you're preparing stimulates and focuses your body, ready for eating. It helps the body to prepare for what it's about to do, so you'll find your digestion and appetite signals working much more efficiently. If your mouth waters - you know you're on track.

Step 4: Eating

Arguably, the most fun bit. Start by having a good look at what you're about to eat. Take note of the textures, shapes and colours, then notice any smells and sounds. When you take a bite, notice the temperature, the texture and all the different tastes. Be aware of how the food feels on your fork or in your hand, then how it feels in your mouth. Notice your mouth chewing away, and your breathing as you go.

Benefits: Being mindful when we are eating food allows the body to respond properly to what it's doing. If you eat while worrying about your next meeting, the body is in stress mode and digestion is compromised. Eating mindfully also allows for the proper signals to be sent to the brain when we're full, preventing us overeating.

Step 5: After you've finished

When you've finished eating (or are having a break), become aware of your body. Again, noticing the breath is a helpful way to engage with yourself. Notice the feelings of fullness, or emptiness, any movement in your body or any tastes that linger.

Benefits: Becoming aware of feelings after we've eaten allows the body to return to a resting state, which aids digestion. Much of our appetite comes from how full we're accustomed to feeling, so bringing our attention to this can help interrupt habitual overeating.
Are you going to try to eat mindfully? Let us know how these steps worked for you when you give it a go!
Enjoyed this? Now read...
Why mindful eating is important for families Nancy Siragusa is a qualified psychotherapist and registered nutritionist specialising in CBT, hypnotherapy and mindfulness for stress reduction and relaxation. She works with individuals and runs workshops for businesses in London. All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
10 benefits of walking
Top 10 mindfulness tips for kids

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Nutritionist and mindfulness expert, Nancy Siragusa, shares tips to help us all eat more mindfully and explains how it can help our overall health

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For any community to have a good coexistence you have to have respect for democracy, tolerance, respect and tolerance, especially in the UK which is a country of multiculturalism and these 5 fundamentals are very important.

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This website is primarily aimed at GCSE and A Level learners but offers really good advice and guidance for reducing exam stress

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It's normal to feel stressed and worried about exams. Stress is your body's natural response to pressure. While it can help you focus and feel motivated to get things done, sometimes it can feel hard to manage.

Exam stress can affect anyone and it can show up in different ways. For example, you might:

feel anxious or depressed

feel irritable and angry

struggle to sleep

notice changes to your eating habits

have negative thoughts about yourself

worry about the future

lose interest in the things you enjoy

struggle to focus and concentrate

feel unwell - for example, you might get headaches, feel sick or tired

You might experience symptoms of stress that aren't listed here, and that's okay. We are all different and cope with stress and pressure in different ways.

If you notice any of these feelings or you're worried that exam pressure is taking over your life, you are not alone. We have tips on this page that can help.

I wish I knew then what I know now, which is that I am worthy and valuable regardless of what I've 'achieved'.

Exam stress can feel lonely and like a heavy weight to carry, but you don't have to handle it all by yourself. Lots of young people find exams difficult and it's okay to need support from people around you.

Try talking to someone about how you feel. If someone knows that you feel stressed, they can be there to support you, encourage you and offer a listening ear. This could be a friend, family member, carer, community or faith leader, a teacher, or anyone else that you trust. You don't have to go through this alone.

Below are more tips and advice to help manage stress and get through exams.

In the lead-up to your exams

Here are some things that can help in the lead-up to your exams:

Think about whether there's any practical support that might help you deal with exam stress. If there is, speak to a teacher or tutor about it. This could be support with:

a subject you're struggling with

revision help and advice

balancing different subjects

somewhere quiet to revise

access arrangements

It can feel nerve-wracking asking a teacher or tutor for help. But remember that they will have spoken to lots of students who are feeling the same way. Schools want to help their pupils pass exams and you deserve the help and support you need.

Everyone has different needs. Access arrangements help students with special education needs (SEN) or disabilities. This could look like:

extra time to complete the exam

assistive technology (such as a computer, text-to-speech software etc.)

breaks during the exam

You can speak to your school, college or university to find out about applying for access arrangements. Some access arrangements can be organised by the school, but others need the permission of the examining body, so it's best to talk to your school as early as possible.

Here are some tips to try when exams start:

Try not to cram in last-minute revision before your exam. This can be really overwhelming and make you feel like you're unprepared, but you've done everything you can. Instead, try to focus on remaining calm. Breathing exercises and grounding techniques can help you feel calmer before your exam. Take a look at Kerry's blog on the techniques that help her when she feels anxious.

The grounding technique that helps me when I'm anxious

The importance of self-care

'Self-care' is a phrase you've probably come across, but what does it really mean? Simply put, self-care is the little things we do to look after our own mental health.

If you feel stressed about exams, you may feel like you don't have time for self-care, or that you need to spend all of your time revising. It is of course important to revise, but you'll find it harder to revise if you don't take the time to look after yourself. You might try to eat and sleep well, or give yourself time to unwind by gaming or seeing your friends. We are not machines - we all need a break sometimes!

When you're thinking about how to use your time before exams, make sure to factor in time to take care of yourself. You deserve it!

Life doesn't stop around exams

We all have things going on in our lives outside of school, work and exams. Complicated things can happen during exam season that make it hard to study. You might not have the time, space, motivation or concentration.

It could be things like:

It's so important to ask for help if something in your life is making it harder to revise and feel ready for your exams. If you don't want to talk to someone you know, there are lots of helplines at the bottom of this page. You deserve support with whatever you're going through, no matter how big or small it seems.

Keeping things in perspective: results aren't everything

Exams can help you take the next step in your academic or professional career - but results are not the only measure of success. We asked our Activists how they keep things in perspective when dealing with exam stress. Here's what they said:

Real stories about exam stress from young people

Not everyone learns in the same way

We all have our own ways of learning. If you feel distracted or struggle to remember your notes, it might help to try something different. There are lots of techniques to test out and see what works best for you. Take a look at the examples of learning styles and techniques for exam revision.

You might find one way of studying works for one subject, but not for others. You can try different techniques and see what helps you learn best. Revise in whatever way works for you.

More tips and advice from young people

Our Activists and people like you share their tips for revision and coping with exams:

Stress - especially academic stress - has really affected my sleep over the years. I struggled with insomnia all throughout secondary school when I was facing my GCSE exams and then my A Levels.

Don't give up - there is always more than one route to get to where you want to be. It doesn't matter how long it takes or how you get there.

You might also find helpful...

More tips, advice and real stories on what to do if you're struggling with exam stress.

This page was reviewed in October 2023. It was co-created by young people with lived experience of exam stress. We will next review the page in 2026. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If you are in crisis right now and want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Exam Stress | How To Deal with Exam Stress

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It's normal to feel a bit worried about exams, but sometimes they can make you feel anxious or depressed. Find out how you can deal with exam stress.

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Ever thought of trying Cold Water Therapy? 

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Ever thought of trying Cold Water Therapy? 

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Cold water therapy has become increasingly popular in recent years. There are cold water retreats, celebrity followers and even TV shows dedicated to this new trend. Supporters claim it can help with everything from your circulation to your mental health. But what does cold water therapy involve exactly and is there any evidence behind the claims?

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Legal disclaimer

This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals and deemed accurate on the date of review. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition.

Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers.

The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. We do not accept advertising on this page.

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Dr Samantha Wild, Bupa GP, discusses the evidence and health benefits of cold water therapy.

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Tapping Techniques can help relieve stress and anxiety 

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Tapping Techniques can help relieve stress and anxiety 

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Try this to help you get in to a good head space before your exams, it can also stop the onset of panic when yoiu see that difficult question.

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Mental Health Helpline for Urgent Help - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

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Mental Health Helpline for Urgent Help - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

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NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages in England.

You can call 111 for:

24-hour advice and support for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for

help speaking to a mental health professional

an assessment to find the right care for you

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NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages in England.

You can call for:

24-hour advice and support for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for

help speaking to a mental health professional

an assessment to find the right care for you

You may need urgent help for many reasons.

The important thing to know is you will not be wasting anyone's time.

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Mental Health Helpline for Urgent Help - NHS

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Find NHS urgent mental health helplines for people of all ages. Call for 24-hour support from a local service to help you with a mental health emergency.

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Top tips to improve your mental wellbeing

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Top tips to improve your mental wellbeing

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We all need good mental health and wellbeing – it's essential to living happy and healthy lives. Here are 7 areas of life where simple changes can make a big difference. Why not start today?

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What is good mental health?

Looking after your mental health is not something we should just do if we are struggling, or feeling low, anxious or stressed. It's actually something we should think about all the time and really invest in, just like with our physical health.

Staying on top of our mental wellbeing is good for us now but also helps us deal manage difficult times in the future. Over time, it can also reduce our risk of physical health problems.

There are lots of things we can do to look after our mental health and wellbeing every day - make a start with these 7 top tips.

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Top tips to improve your mental wellbeing - Every Mind Matters

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Good mental health is essential to living happy and healthy lives. See 7 areas of life where simple changes can make a big difference. Why not start today?

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Understanding the impact of crime on society through data

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Understanding the impact of crime on society through data

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Just as the nature of crime evolves, so must the data sources we rely on to capture its true nature and extent. If you’ve listened to the media you may have got the impression that overall crime in England and Wales is at record levels, but do the statistics back that up, or has crime actually been falling?

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Just as the nature of crime evolves, so must the data sources we rely on to capture its true nature and extent. If you've listened to the media you may have got the impression that overall crime in England and Wales is at record levels, but do the statistics back that up, or has crime actually been falling? Or is it the case that the nature of crime has simply changed over the last few decades, meaning we're now more likely to be targeted online than in the streets?

And what in any case is the value of understanding the overall level of crime when that term captures such a wide and varied range of social ills and harms?

The latest episode of Statistically Speaking debunks common misconceptions, unpicking the valuable insights hidden within measures of total crime. We investigate the impact of the pandemic on crime and our ability to capture it, and how our most recent figures suggest crime is changing. Later we discuss violence against women and girls and how combining data sources might address the challenge that "hidden crimes" such as domestic abuse, rape, and sexual assault present. Finally, we look at the future of our work to better understand the nature of child abuse, alongside charities and key stakeholders, and the essential safeguarding that must wrap around it.

Helping us with our enquiries are Meghan Elkin, head of the ONS centre for crime and justice, and Billy Gazard, head of acquisitive crime and stakeholder engagement.

As Meghan explains, interpreting crime statistics is not as straightforward as one might think:

"When you see increases in police recorded crime it doesn't necessarily mean that crime has gone up. And that's a big part of our work at ONS, to unpick and understand what's going on there. When we look across trends in general over time, crime has been decreasing since the mid 90s, and has been more flat in recent years, and that's when you're using a comparable estimate. That's not just a pattern that we've seen in England and Wales. It's a pattern that's reflected across other countries, across Europe and America."

Click  here to listen to the full episode now, or find us on your podcast app of choice.

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Understanding the impact of crime on society through data

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Just as the nature of crime evolves, so must the data sources we rely on to capture its true nature and extent. If you've listened to the media you may have got the impression that overall crime in England and Wales is at record levels, but do the statistics back that up, or has crime actually been falling?

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If you're worried about how gambling makes you or someone else feel, we can help

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The National Gambling Support Network, formerly known as, 'The National Gambling Treatment Service', is a group of organisations across Great Britain who provide free, confidential and personalised support for anyone who's experiencing problems from gambling, as well as those affected by someone else's gambling.
If you're worried about your own or someone else's gambling, this service is totally free to access, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction

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Free, confidential help and support to anyone who's worried about their - or someone else's - gambling. If gambling's on your mind, we're here to help.

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How qualified are the people in my industry?

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How qualified are the people in my industry?

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There was a wide difference in the qualification levels held by workers employed in different industries according to Census 2021.

The professional and scientific, information and communication, and education sectors were the industrial sectors with the most highly qualified workforces, while agriculture, forestry and fishing, and transport and storage had the lowest qualification levels.

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There was a wide difference in the qualification levels held by workers employed in different industries according to Census 2021.

The professional and scientific, information and communication, and education sectors were the industrial sectors with the most highly qualified workforces, while agriculture, forestry and fishing, and transport and storage had the lowest qualification levels.

Want to know more about how qualification levels differ by geography and employment sectors?

You can explore this with our interactive visualisation at the end of this article.

Of the sectors that employ the most qualified workforces, 3 out of 5 are strongly concentrated in local authorities in and around London. The two exceptions are the education and health sectors, which are relatively evenly distributed across all local authorities across England and Wales.

Part of the reason for this is that London has a high concentration of universities, providing access to higher qualifications. It is also a centre for graduate job opportunities, which helps retain qualified workers, and attract them from elsewhere. This largely explains the high qualification levels in many London boroughs, and why the "brain drain" of our most highly qualified workers and the industries that employ them remain concentrated around London.

Initiatives such as the Northern Powerhouse aim to boost the economy by, for example, increasing job opportunities for highly qualified workers outside the nation's capital. Cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds gained devolved powers and budgets to boost the local economy and invest in skills, innovation, transport and culture. These are relatively new initiatives with long-term investment and objectives. Some changes have already started but the longstanding draw to London remains.

This article examines the qualification levels across different industry sectors and industries across England and Wales. It builds upon our previous article, which examined how workforce qualification levels differ across England and Wales. The qualification levels of local labour forces indicate an area's ability to attract, retain and train highly qualified workers. It can also reflect the health of the local labour market and economy.

The most highly qualified workforce was the professional, scientific and technical sector, while transport was the least

While not everyone will be using the qualifications they hold in their role, identifying the distribution of highly qualified staff across industries in England and Wales indicates which industries are most dependent on recruiting high numbers of highly qualified staff and where the opportunities lie for people with higher qualifications to use them.

The 2021 Census asked those in employment to provide the name of their business or employer and a description of what their business or employer does. From this, individuals are assigned to an industry code (using the Standard Industrial Classification), grouping together businesses that do similar economic activity, for example, a food store and a clothes store are grouped together as retail businesses. There are 21 industrial sectors, which can be broken down into specific industries to give more detail. We also consider the occupations people have within these industries using the Standard Occupational Classification; more details on both classifications can be found in our glossary.

Each sector was issued with a qualification index score, representing the spread of all known qualification levels across all workers in the sector. A higher index score (maximum of 4) indicates the spread is towards the more advanced qualifications, and a lower index score (minimum of 0) shows the spread is towards lower qualification levels. The index score for all workers in the whole of England and Wales is 2.83. Find out more about how we calculated the index in our technical annex.

The professional and scientific, information and communication, and education sectors have the most highly qualified workforces

Qualification index score for workers in each sector, England and Wales, 2021

The sector with the most highly qualified workforce is professional, scientific and technical activities with a score of 3.49, closely followed by the information and communication sector (3.41).

The professional, scientific and technical activities sector employs a slightly higher proportion of staff with higher education qualifications than the information and communication sector (70.2% compared with 64.8%), though both sectors employ similarly low (approximately 15.0%) proportions of staff with their highest qualification at school level (GCSEs and equivalent) and below.

These sectors employ similar proportions of their workforce in professional and associate professional roles (60.4% and 63.9% respectively), which are the occupation groups that most commonly require higher qualification levels. The types of employment opportunities for highly qualified staff within these sectors are very different.

Occupations in computer science (such as programmers and software development professionals) and creative communications and broadcasting (such as arts officers, producers and directors) are common in the information and communication sectors.

In the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, the two most common occupations for highly qualified staff are in legal (solicitors and lawyers) and accountancy roles. This sector also employs a wide variety of other professions including engineers, veterinarians and research scientists.

In contrast, the sector that has the lowest qualified workforce is transport and storage, with a score of 2.23, closely followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.28). Both sectors employ similar proportions of their workforce with higher education qualifications (23.5% for transport and storage and 24.0% for agriculture, forestry and fishing) with opportunities for highly qualified staff comparatively limited as these sectors respectively employ only 10.2% and 6.4% of their staff in professional or associate professional roles. The most common of these are biological scientist for agriculture, forestry and fishing, and the command and navigation of aircraft or vessels (aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers, and ship and hovercraft officers) for transport and storage.

Some of the workforces of individual industries within the lowest qualified sectors are much more highly qualified than the workforces in the rest of the sector

While industries in each sector are grouped by similar activities, some of the individual industries within these sectors can have very different qualification levels among their workforce than other industries within the same sector.

The sectors that have a very high variation within them are:

mining and quarrying

manufacturing

administrative and support service activities

transport and storage

Apart from mining and quarrying, these are all relatively low qualified sectors, which have one or more individual industries within them that employ substantially more highly qualified workers. For example, two manufacturing industries that employ more highly qualified workers are the manufacture of pharmaceutical, and of computer, electrical and optical products.

In the more highly qualified sectors, there is generally less variation, though there is still a moderate amount in the human health and social work activities, and arts, entertainment and recreation sectors. For example, workers in the human health activities industry are notably more qualified than those in the residential care activities industry. Similarly, workers in the creative, arts and entertainment activities industry are in general considerably more highly qualified than those in the gambling and betting activities industry.

This shows that while the qualification levels in the sectors are a good guide, there is still some variation in the opportunities for highly qualified people within them. You can explore the variation in all sectors using our interactive tool. In this tool you can select an industrial sector and it will display the education score for each of the industries within that sector.

Select an industrial sector to explore the qualification levels of the individual industries:

Many of the largest differences between industries within the sectors are a result of an industry employing a much higher proportion of its workers with higher education qualifications (Level 4 and above) than the rest of the sector. For example, 65.8% of workers in the pharmaceutical industry hold higher education qualifications, over double that of the manufacturing sector as a whole (32.4%). In fact, this is higher than for all other sectors except for the professional, scientific and technical activities sector.

Two other manufacturing industries that employ substantially more highly qualified staff than the sector as a whole are the manufacture of computer, electrical and optical products industry, and the manufacture of other transport equipment. In these industries, 46.0% and 44.3% of their staff respectively hold higher education qualifications. The other transport equipment industry also employs a higher percentage (24.0%) of their staff with Level 3 qualifications (A levels and equivalents) than in the whole of the manufacturing sector (19.0%).

You can further explore the detailed qualification levels of these and all the other individual industries using the interactive visualisation.

In this visualisation, select the industry you are interested in, and it will display the full qualification level profile for that industry as a bar. You can also see the percentage of workers with that qualification level in the sector your selected industry belongs to as a black bar.

Industries and their distribution across England and Wales

The "industry concentration ratio" (see glossary) is a measure we have developed to allow us to show concentrations of different sized industries across different sized local authorities on the same scale. This means that industries and local authorities can be more easily compared, and that we can identify how evenly distributed different industries are across England and Wales regardless of their size.

A value of 1 would mean the proportion of workers in the industry in that local authority is in line with the national average. Any value greater than 1 would mean the industry is more concentrated than average in the local authority.

The interactive map shows the industry concentration ratio for each industry and local authority in England and Wales. The darker shades show the industry is concentrated higher in that local authority. This enables us to make quick comparisons between local authorities and highlight examples of regional clustering of certain industries. The concentrations are based on where the workers live not where they work. Census was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic where the UK and Welsh governments put in place work from home guidance. As some industries where more able to be done remotely than others, and commuting patterns were disrupted, this disruption would not be equal across the country.

The scatterplot shows the percentage of workers in each local authority who have higher education qualifications, by industry.

Plotting this onto the industry concentration ratio allows us to compare how prevalent an industry is in different local authorities, and how highly qualified the workforce is. We have excluded from this analysis sectors that employ under 50,000 workers across England and Wales to protect the confidentiality of respondents in local authorities that employ very few workers in these industries.

Glossary

Highest level of qualification

The highest level of qualification is derived from the question asking people to indicate all qualifications held, or their nearest equivalent.

This may include non-UK qualifications where they were matched to the closest UK equivalent.

The equivalent qualifications for "highest level of qualification" are as follows (please note, this is not an exhaustive list and therefore does not include every possible qualification):

Level 1 and entry level qualifications: any GCSEs at other grades, O levels or CSEs (any grades), Foundation Welsh Baccalaureate, 1 AS level, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 1, Basic or Essential Skills, skills for life, literacy and numeracy, Level 2 Scottish Vocational qualifications

Level 2 qualifications: five or more GCSEs (A* to C or 9 to 4), O levels (passes), CSEs (grade 1), Intermediate Welsh Baccalaureate, one A level, two to three AS levels, NVQ level 2, Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) General, City and Guilds Craft, Level 2 Scottish Vocational qualifications

Level 3 qualifications: two or more A levels, four or more AS levels, Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate, NVQ Level 3, City and Guilds Advanced Craft, Ordinary National Certificate (ONC), Ordinary National Diploma (OND), BTEC National, International Baccalaureate, Level 3 Scottish Vocational qualifications

Level 4 qualifications and above: degree, foundation degree, PHD, Master''s degrees, Higher National Diploma (HND) or Higher National Certificate (HNC), NVQ Level 4 and above, professional qualifications (for example, teaching or nursing)

Other: any other qualifications, equivalent unknown

Higher education qualification: In Census 2021, qualifications were categorised in a series of levels. Higher education qualifications in England and Wales include all qualifications above Level 3 (A levels and equivalent) and typically are undertaken from the age of 18 years or older.

Industry

Classifies people aged 16 years and over who were in employment between 15 and 21 March 2021 by the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007 code that represents their current industry or business.

The SIC code is assigned based on the information provided about a firm or organisation's main activity. Overall, there are 21 industrial sections, referred to as "sectors" in this article, which can be broken down into 88 industrial divisions that we refer to as "industries" for brevity.

Industry concentration ratio

To identify where there are concentrations of the different-sized industries across the local authorities that also vary substantially in size, we use a measure called the "industry concentration ratio". It was calculated using the following formula:

Industry concentration ratio = (X divided by Y) divided by (A divided by B)

X = local authority industry population

Y = total industry population

A = local authority total workers all industries

B = England and Wales total workers all industries

In this measure a value of 1 for a local authority means it has the same concentration of workers working in that industry as in England and Wales as a whole. For example, if an industry employed 7.0% of workers across the whole of England and Wales then this local authority would also employ 7.0% of its workers in that industry. Whereas a value of 2 would mean that the local authority has twice the concentration of workers in that industry compared with England and Wales as a whole (14.0% in the above example). This measure allows us to show the geographical concentrations of very differently-sized industries on the same scale to allow for easier comparisons across industries.

Occupation

Classifies what people aged 16 years and over do as their main job. Their job title or details of activities they do in their job and any supervisory or management responsibilities form this classification. This information is used to code responses to an occupation using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020.

It classifies people who were in employment between 15 and 21 March 2021, by the SOC code that represents their current occupation. The lowest level of detail available is the four-digit SOC code, which includes all codes in three-, two- and one-digit SOC levels.

Qualification index score

For Census 2021, we use a qualification rank index score to compare how highly qualified population groups are. It converts a person's highest qualification into a single metric and creates an average rank score for the population. You can find out more in our technical annex.

Usual resident

A usual resident is anyone who on Census Day, 21 March 2021, was in the UK and had stayed or intended to stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more, or had a permanent UK address and was outside the UK and intended to be outside the UK for less than 12 months.

Further information

This analysis used data on highest qualification level from Census 2021. Further information on the data, the methods used in the local authority rankings and definitions are explained in our technical annex.

Further information is available in the Census 2021 quality and methodology information (QMI) report.

You may also be interested in education quality information for Census 2021.

You may be further interested in information about the labour market quality information.

There is also a publication on quality and methodology information (QMI) for Census 2021

Finally, information is available on how workforce qualification levels differ across England and Wales in our technical annex.

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How qualified are the people in my industry?

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Census 2021: Variation in qualification levels between industries in England and Wales

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Cyber security needn't be a daunting challenge for small business owners. Following the five quick and easy steps outlined in the guide below could save time, money and even your business’ reputation. This guide can’t guarantee protection from all types of cyber attack, but the steps outlined below can significantly reduce the chances of your business becoming a victim of cyber crime.

If you want to improve your cyber security further, then you can also seek certification under the Cyber Essentials scheme, which has the benefit of demonstrating to your clients (or prospective clients) that you take the protection of their data seriously.

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How to improve your cyber security; affordable, practical advice for businesses.

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Time blindness is a cognitive condition that causes difficulties in perceiving and managing time, often leading to challenges in punctuality and planning

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Time blindness is commonly associated with ADHD and autism. It can be managed with organizational techniques.

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Light is an important signal that helps to kick start a huge array of biological functions in the body. It controls our circadian clock which affects everything in our body from how we sleep, to our metabolism, to when we release certain hormones. Light helps us to sleep and to wake up, and can even help with insomnia. With better sleep often comes better moods.

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The Mis - support for under 25 year olds

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The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile.

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You searched for Is my relationship healthy - The Mix

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Your Voices is a community-focused section of The Mix where you can share stories about your experiences on a specific issue. Upload your own videos, images, blog posts, and playlists to Your Voices and share them with your friends.

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Advice and understanding for the LGBTQIA+ community 

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Advice and understanding for the LGBTQIA+ community 

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We are a safe space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional well-being.

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Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone,
by email and through Instant Messaging.
Find out more here.

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Samaritans are available 24/7 116 123 so you can call them anytime for a conversation, they are supportive and can stay on the phone as long as you like. They are a listening helpline.

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Samaritans works to make sure there's always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

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Headspace is a good mindfulness tool. It can take as little as 5 minutes to go through an exercise and can really help to calm your mind.

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Shelter is a housing and homelessness charity.

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© 2022 Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless People Limited Charity number: 263710 (England and Wales), SC002327 (Scotland). Company number: 01‌038133 88 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HU Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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© 2022 Shelter, the National Campaign for Homeless People Limited Charity number: 263710 (England and Wales), SC002327 (Scotland). Company number: 01‌038133 88 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HU Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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Refuge supports women who are in unsafe relationships and experiencing domestic violence.

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Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds
Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline 'Transcript'

[Background music plays]

Soft down beat music

[Animated sequence]

Animation in hand-drawn style showing a woman in a house standing behind a man on a sofa. The woman looks worried and the man appears angry, a speech bubble comes out of the man's mouth.

[Text displays]

!*!!*!!

[Female voice over]

I was walking on eggshells around my partner didn't know where to turn.

[Animated sequence]

The door in the background slams shut. We zoom in on it and it turns into a smart mobile phone in the women's hand. The phone displays the details of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline Number and a green phone icon. Her finger hovers over the phone icon.

[Text displays]

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247

[Female voice over]

I'd read about refuges National Domestic Abuse Helpline, but I was hesitant to call.

[Animated sequence]

The scene transitions to the woman sitting on a couch to the left of the screen, and another woman, the Helpline adviser, sitting on the right on a computer. They are facing each other. The screen is split into two different backgrounds with a window in the background that crosses over both.

[Female voice over]

The woman I spoke to really understood my situation though, it was such a relief just to talk.

[Animated sequence]

The woman begins to smile. The blinds in the window open up to show a sun and both rooms become brighter.

[Animated sequence]

Scene transitions to a top down view of the Helpline worker writing on lined paper.

[Female voice over]

I was reassured that it was a confidential and non-judgmental service run by a charity.

[Text displays]

Confidential

Non-judgemental

[Female voice over]

She said I could ring at any time, even if I just wanted to talk about what I was going through

[Text displays]

Any time

Just talk

[Female voice over]

It's free and open 24 hours a day.

[Text displays]

Free

24 hours

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show a group of five women of mixed races and ages including the Helpline adviser from the earlier scene.

[Female voice over]

It was comforting to know that the helpline is staffed by an all female team of experts,

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show smart mobile phone showing an animation of the live chat page on nationaldahelpline.org.uk. The women's finger begins to type.

[Female voice over]

and that I can also contact them using live chat.

[Sound effect]

Keys tapping

[Animated sequence]

The phone fades away and four framed picture swing into view. They show four women of various ages and races, one of who is pictured with a child, including the women from the first scene.

[Female voice over]

I was told that the helpline is open to any woman who is afraid of her partner,

[Sound effect]

Glass cracking

[Animated sequence]

The glass in one of the picture frames cracks

[Text displays]

[Female voice over]

whether you're being physically abused or not

[Animated sequence]

The picture of the woman from the first scene is zoomed in on. She picks up her mobile phone as the frame turns into a circle. Another circular frame, showing the Helpline adviser, comes into view and begins to merge with the woman's frame. The woman and the Helpline worker turn to face each other and hold hands.

[Female voice over]

The Helpline advisor helped me realise I'm not alone and reassured me it wasn't my fault.

[Text displays]

I'm not alone

[Animated sequence]

Scene scrolls across to show the woman looking in a mirror and hugging herself. She begins to smile.

[Female voice over]

That was really empowering and I began to believe in myself again.

She made me feel like I had choices.

[Background music plays]

Music becomes more upbeat

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms in on mirror until the frame is not visible. The background transitions to show a countryside scene with rolling hills, trees and butterflies. The woman lifts a hot drink to take a sip and closes her eyes.

[Female voice over]

From that moment on, I could see a life free from violence and fear.

That phone call was the beginning of the rest of my life.

[Animated sequence]

The woman opens her eyes and looks up.

[Animated sequence]

Scene fades to show black text on a white background below the Refuge pink and black logo.

[Text displays]

Refuge's Freephone, 24 hour, National Domestic Abuse Helpline.
Call us on 0808 2000 247
Or visit wwww.nationaldahelpline.org.uk for information and support, including our live chat and secure online contact form.

We know our lines are often busy but we really want to hear from you.

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Home | Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline

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Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

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Mankind - Domestic Abuse Support for Men

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Mankind - Domestic Abuse Support for Men

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Mankind is an initiative that support men who are experiencing domestic abuse

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Charity supporting male victims of domestic abuse through a helpline, directory of local services and general information on the website.

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Women's Aid supports women experiencing domestic abuse and survivors of domestic abuse.

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I need help - information and support on domestic abuse

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Women's Aid Live Chat does your relationship not feel right? It could be domestic abuse. Send an email to a Women's Aid domestic abuse support worker. Help for all aspects of domestic abuse, suc...

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Cruise offers bereavement support via a helpline.

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Grief can be overwhelming - you don’t have to deal with it alone. Cruse Bereavement Support is here. Call our helpline or chat online.

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Improving your mental health when you're at work can feel like a challenge, especially if you work in a busy or stressful environment. But the 5 ways to wellbeing offer some simple steps which you can do every single day.

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Read our 5 Ways to Wellbeing to learn how you could boost your mental health at work. They’re developed by the New Economics Foundation, and rooted in research.

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Our volunteers are trained in all types of bereavement and can help you make sense of how you're feeling right now.

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Grief can be overwhelming - you don’t have to deal with it alone. Cruse Bereavement Support is here. Call our helpline or chat online.