Leeds medical museum launches 'choose your own price' admission
The new "pay-it-forward" option would "help support our vital work with schools, families and our local community", Mr Appleyard said."By making Thackray affordable for everyone, we can help shape a better tomorrow," he added.
The changes in entrance fee at The Thackray come after Leeds City Council introduced "pay as you feel" admission charges at Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds Discovery Centre. There is also a "pay as you feel" admission charge at Kirkstall Abbey for Leeds residents, while those living outside the city must pay an admission charge. The Thackray, which was opened in 1997, is set in a former workhouse which was opened 166 years ago.The building, which is now Grade II listed, later became part of the neighbouring St James's Hospital.It was awarded a special commendation at the 2023 European Museum of the Year Awards for its work with the local East Leeds community - the only UK organisation to be nominated.
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The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Try these four therapist-approved ‘brain hacks' to help relieve stress and reset your nervous system quickly
We often think of the summer as the best time to relax, but it's no coincidence that national wellbeing month also falls in August. The summer holidays can be a high stress time for parents and many people people experience burnout during the summer months due to increased workload as they cover for colleagues on holiday. Stress, anxiety and the feeling of being burnt out can hit at any time so it's important to be mindful of how much you're taking on and whether you have the support and coping strategies to deal with triggers. 'One in four adults in England will experience a diagnosable mental health problem each year,' says Hannah Stebbings, an integrative therapist at Priory – the UK's largest independent provider of mental health, addiction and adult social care services. 'We've seen a marked rise in the number of individuals seeking professional support for stress and anxiety, across a range of age groups and demographics. The pressures of modern life – whether it's workload, juggling work and family life, the impact of social media, or the uncertainty of global events – have created an environment in which many people have struggled,' she adds. Stebbings suggests learning simple techniques that function as instant mood boosters and can help to relieve the symptoms of common mental health issues such as stress and anxiety. These fast-acting 'brain hacks' include methods such as breathing, simple hand movements and using tools like music and ice cubes. You can do them anywhere and they can take effect within one to two minutes. 'The people I support have found it difficult to switch off or to find moments of calm. What's crucial to understand is that anxiety isn't a weakness – it's a signal that something needs attention. I always encourage people to listen to that signal, explore its roots, and develop the right tools to address it,' says Stebbings who works with patients at a Priory hospital in Birmingham. 'These 'brain hacks' can give an instant mood boost or act as calming measures. They are very practical and can help us feel happier and lighter in as little as one or two minutes,' she says. But, she notes, these techniques are simple tools that you can use by yourself for a quick shift in mindset. For ongoing mental health issues that require more robust support, 'regular mental health support from a trained therapist can help with processing and dealing with problems in life that feel too big to solve alone. A qualified expert can help you to develop coping strategies to overcome stresses in the future, and develop a more healthy, sustainable mindset that delivers positive mental health,' she advises. Read on for the simple techniques that Stebbings recommends for grounding, reducing stress and coping with anxiety fast. Physiological sigh: the nervous system reset How to do it: Take a long, deep inhale through your nose. Without exhaling, take a second, shorter inhale to fully expand your lungs. Slowly exhale through your mouth, emptying your lungs completely. Why it works: The physiological sigh is a quick and effective breathing technique that naturally calms the nervous system. It works by regulating oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body, helping to ease feelings of stress and anxiety within moments. Stebbings explains: 'this is more than a quirky life hack, it is a biological tool for managing stress. At its core the physiological sigh taps into the autonomic nervous system which governs bodily functions such a heart rate and digestion and it specifically activates the parasympathetic part of the system which is named 'rest and digest' whilst reducing the sympathetic nervous system which activates the 'fight' or 'flight response'. It's a quick and effective breathing technique that naturally calms the nervous system and helping to ease feelings of stress and anxiety within moments.' The five-finger gratitude technique How to do it: Touch each finger with your thumbs as you name one thing you're grateful for. Ideally choose small and specific things. For example, being able to cuddle with your dog or a having hot water. Why it works: This technique uses tactile grounding, bilateral stimulation and gratitude – a triple whammy to battle against anxiety and low mood. It can be an instant mood lifter if you're able to concentrate and do a full round. Stebbings points out that, 'this technique works because practicing gratitude activates areas of the pre frontal cortex, which are associated with emotion regulation, empathy and decision making. When we focus on things we are grateful for, we shift our brains attention from threat to safety and abundance. The physical act of touching each fingers also provides tactile simulation which brings awareness to the present moment which is a key principle to somatic grounding.' The cold spot technique How to do it: Hold an ice cube in your hand and glide it over your wrist for 30 seconds. You can also run cold water over your face or your wrist for 30 seconds. Repeat this several times. Why it works: This practice stimulates the vagus nerve and interrupts ruminative thinking. Cold exposure can be surprisingly effective at treating panic or stress spikes. The shock of cold water means you release endorphins, which can improve your mood instantly. 'The sudden cold stimulus activates the diving reflex, which in turn, slows your heart rate, redirects blood to core organs and constricts peripheral blood vessels. The shock of cold water means you release endorphins, which can improve your mood and stimulate the vagus nerve. This interrupts your anxious thoughts and shifts your nervous system back into 'rest and digest'. It is truly effective,' says Stebbings. Mood bridging with a song snippet How to do it: Play 30 to 60 seconds of a song that reflects how you want to feel – not how you currently feel. This might be an uplifting song or a feel-good song that brings back good memories. Sing along to it and, if you can, dance around. If you can only move slightly, try swaying from side to side. Why it works: Music can bridge emotional states. Even just the intro track to your favourite feel good song can lift your mood. 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As Stebbings explains, they can work in seconds by hitting the reset button for your brain and nervous system. If you're struggling with your mental health and need further support, reach out to a qualified mental health professional or your GP for guidance. You can also contact the Samaritans helpline at the number below or reach out to Anxiety UK.
Telegraph
8 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Young people turn to lodging to beat rising rents
Young people are becoming lodgers in ever greater numbers to beat rising rents, research reveals. Data from SpareRoom has found the number of young people becoming lodgers has risen by 50 per cent in just three years. Lodgers, who live in their landlord's home, pay around 17 per cent less than the average renter but can be evicted more easily. Many also end up having to go to bed early and endure bans on partners staying overnight and compulsory pet-sitting. But many reported feeling trapped by bizarre rules set by their landlords. Lina, 33, said: 'When you're a lodger, you're basically at their mercy. You have to do what they say, and they're always watching you. It can feel like they're invading your privacy.' James, 29, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, said his bedroom had no door, that he was not allowed to bring his partner back to the flat, and was told after he arrived that the landlord's girlfriend would be moving in with them. He said he was also told to stop all noise after 9pm because his bedroom was directly above the landlord's. 'I was sort of trapped in my room. I couldn't even go for a wee or anything like that. It was really bad,' he said. 'If I went downstairs to brush my teeth, he would get annoyed. Anna, 26, whose name has also been changed, said she had no other option but to become one as she had no reference or guarantor in Britain after moving from Norway for a master's course. She said the arrangement was her only option. She moved into a property she found on a Facebook group for Norwegians in London, but soon ran into issues. Her bedroom had no lock, she had to take care of her landlord's dog when she went away and had to give an advanced warning if a friend was coming to visit. All friends had to be women and visit during the day under the rules. She also said her landlord installed a camera by the front door. Anna recalled: 'She said to me twice, 'Just so you know, I got the camera so I can see who comes in and who doesn't come out when I'm not home'.' A government spokesperson told The Times: 'Our Renters' Rights Bill will transform the private rental sector in England, bringing greater security to millions of renters. 'Lodgers live in the landlord's home, rather than a rental property. But we know that this is an evolving sector which is why the Bill will allow us to extend protections and rights to new tenures like lodgers in the future. We continue to keep this under review.'
BBC News
8 minutes ago
- BBC News
Event to celebrate US troops based at Braunstone Park during WW2
An event remembering the basing of US troops in Leicester during World War Two is to take 82nd Airborne Division was headquartered at Braunstone Park in the months before the D-Day landings in Normandy in June 1944.A museum and a memorial stone for the parachute regiment are sited within the walled garden of the park and a small commemoration service is held annually. This year's celebration on Saturday has been expanded to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two and will include military vehicles, re-enactments and a rifle salute. Braunstone History Group traditionally celebrates the US troops on 16 August as it coincides with National Airborne Day across the Atlantic, marking the anniversary of the first official Army parachute jump in Dodd said the US troops arrived in March 1944 and made "quite an impression in the community"."The local people in Leicester welcomed the Americans with open arms," he said."They had nylons, cigarettes and chocolate - we have got some packets of nylons in the 82nd Airborne museum in Braunstone Park."The group is hopeful of a good turn-out for Saturday's celebration."I think visitors will get a sense of what communities were like in the past on the brink of war, and some pride in what people did to entertain the troops and make them feel at home," said Mr Dodd."It's not just a memorial stone in a walled garden, it's full of the memories of people who died for us." Group secretary Geraldine Syrett said: "We felt it was important as a history group to keep the memory of the 82nd Airborne on the park alive."It would have been extremely exciting for the children at Braunstone Hall School at the time, I believe they had to be escorted through the lines of American Nissen huts in the park to get to school."'Have you got any gum, chum?' was one of the well known phrases kids would shout at the soldiers. "They left a legacy. The Nissen huts were used by bombed out families after the war. There are still people living on Braunstone estate whose father or grandfather were GI. "I'm hoping that a lot of the local people will come."We are hoping the younger generation can learn about the history of the park."
