East Hanningfield fire destroys three terraced houses
"Residents affected by the fire are being supported by the British Red Cross and temporary housing is being arranged by the local authority."An investigation will take place to establish the cause of the fire.Pictures show the roofs of the modern homes almost totally destroyed.
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North Wales Live
13 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
Clearing 2025: Everything you need to know about getting a university place
A huge day for students across England and Wales is on the horizon, with hundreds of thousands set to finally receive their exam results. For those who don't get the grades they need, do better than expected or simply change their mind about where or what to study, Clearing could be the next step. It's all about giving you options. But what exactly is Clearing and how does it work? Mark Blenkinsop, Director of UK Student Engagement and Recruitment at Coventry University Group, has the answers to all your questions about the process... What exactly is Clearing? 'Clearing is how universities and colleges advertise the courses that you can apply to because they still have spaces available. Historically, Clearing was there to help students who didn't achieve the required grades to get into the university and the course of their choice and help find them an alternative course. 'Now, Clearing supports many prospective students in finding the right course for them. Whether you've achieved better than your expected results, not met the conditions of your firm or insurance choice, not received any offers, changed your mind about your chosen course or university, or are only now deciding to go to university this year.' How do I find a place through Clearing? 'Think about the subject area and course that you want to study and where you'd like to study – research which courses and universities appeal to you, and check whether they have places available. The UCAS website has a wealth of information about different subject areas and courses for you to explore. Each university also has a section on the UCAS website where you can find out about the different campuses and teaching locations of the courses. 'Once you've narrowed down your choices, it is time to pick up the phone and get in touch. For instance, our friendly team of Clearing experts will be ready to discuss your options on 02476 888 888. If we have places on your chosen course and you meet the requirements, we might be able to make you an offer. If you don't meet the requirements, we will help you to find an alternative course or a different route to your chosen career. Our team will also explain the next steps and how to accept your offer. What can I study? 'Universities have a wide range of courses available through Clearing. You might need to have previously studied specific subjects, have relevant experience in a particular area or pass an interview before getting accepted onto some courses but we will advise you on your options. Can I change my mind about which university I want to attend? "If you have already made your decision on UCAS but are interested in joining a different university, don't worry. You can decline your place, which will release you, and enter you into Clearing, which gives you control over your UCAS application. "Instead of contacting the university or college and waiting to be released into Clearing, you are now able to do this yourself as long as your firm choice has updated your status to unconditional or unsuccessful. Self-release is available in your UCAS Hub to all placed applicants now. "The process of declining your place is simple but you need to be sure that you no longer want to study at your firm choice, as your place may have been offered to another applicant. If you want to stay at your firm choice but change your course, contact the university to discuss your options - don't decline your place until you have an alternative course that you will be accepted on to. 'Here's how to decline your place: Step One, Sign into the UCAS Hub, click 'Decline your place' on the homepage. Step Two: you will be prompted with a drop-down question before confirming. Once this has been completed, you are now in Clearing and you will no longer have your place at your firm choice. "If you have made a mistake, you will be advised to phone the university that you have declined to discuss your options." I have achieved better results than expected. Can I use Clearing to change my university or higher education provider? "Yes. If you achieve better results than expected, you may want to choose a different university or course, and this can be done through Clearing.' What is Clearing Plus? 'Clearing Plus is a feature in UCAS Hub where you can see a list of courses that are 'matched' to you if you are an unplaced applicant, based on your grades and the types of universities you are looking for. 'You can then confirm your interest in a course and the university will see your details and can contact you directly by phone or email to discuss an offer. If you already have a confirmed place, you can release yourself into Clearing to use Clearing Plus.' What are the key dates I need to know? 'Clearing opened for 2025 entry on July 5. If you have received your results already, you can contact us now to discuss an offer for one of our courses. On Thursday, August 14, A-Level and BTEC Level 3 results will be announced. "The last date to add a Clearing choice for 2025 entry is October 20; however we offer November start dates on our CU campus courses – in Coventry, London (Greenwich and Dagenham) and Scarborough – so you may still be able to join us after October 21, depending on the course you are applying to. Our advice is to contact us as soon as you have your results so that we can check if there is a place available on your chosen course before it becomes full.'
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
BBC Make a Difference announces Cornwall animal award shortlist
The founder of a pony sanctuary and a woman who dedicates hours to finding lost dogs are in the running for a BBC Radio Cornwall Make A Difference Award nominations for the animal category also feature one man and his Pets As Therapy dog and the founder of a shelter for small awards, which are in their fourth year, recognise and celebrate people who genuinely make a difference in their communities across nominees' stories are inspiring examples of Cornish community spirit. At the Community and Hospital Education Service (CHES) sites in Cornwall, Tony Nicolson and Beven the labrador are familiar and much-loved service teaches children who are too unwell to attend mainstream and Beven are part of the 'Pets as Therapy' team, there to help young people who are feeling sad, anxious or his big brown eyes, Beven is a picture of calm and affection as students pop in for a stroke, a cuddle or even to read him a story."Why do I do it?" said Tony. "Because I'm retired, Beven is such a friendly dog, he loves everybody and everything. "They're not with us for very long and I just wanted to share him with everybody else."Beven is also a witness support dog at Truro Crown Court. Maria Mulkeen started Marias Animal Shelter 25 years the hutches and runs at the centre near Probus are full of more than 100 rabbits, guinea pigs and other small and her small team of volunteers offer advice, a place to bring injured or sick animals and a rescue and rehoming service. For some it is a "forever home" - the oldest rabbit resident lived here for 17 admitted the shelter had become her life, saying: "I could see all the animals that needed help and there was nothing in Cornwall. "The longer I've done it, the more I know we need to do more education, there are some cases that are so cruel, the things we see here is horrific."They're misunderstood, we're trying to change that with education and making life better for them." The Bodmin Moorland Pony Rehabilitation charity was founded in 2014 when Shelley Oldfield was asked to help four semi-feral ponies from Bodmin Moor,She said they were "close to death" when they than 10 years later, she is still doing it, inspired by her love for the said: "Generally they're completely wild when they come to us, many have had welfare issues such as malnutrition."We get them well, we encourage them to learn trust and we then find them homes where possible."They're incredible, they're so resilient, they are just the most beautiful souls and we do what little we can do as a small organisation to help them." For the last decade Maxine Young has been the volunteer co-ordinator of Dog Lost Cornwall, advising distraught people whose dogs have run off what to do next, as well as organising and joining the said it was an all-consuming passion - she spends hours running the organisation's social media pages and often has a bag of chopped liver, binoculars and a slip lead in her bag. Maxine also uses humane cage traps, remotely-trigged trail cameras and a thermal imagining scope to track down missing pets."I saw an article about the woman who set up the Dog Lost website, read her story and decided I wanted to help out," she said."I've also got dogs myself so if my dogs went missing I would want to know there was somebody out there to support me, to help me, and just be a back-up if I couldn't do things." The winners of the BBC Radio Cornwall Make A Difference Awards 2025 will be revealed at a ceremony in Falmouth in September.
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
A mystery carving in a Sussex church which could depict chastity
A historian believes he has discovered the identity of a mystery carving of an animal inside a medieval church in East documents at 14th Century St Andrew's Church in Alfriston record the stone artwork to be a dog biting its tail, but the curled up creature has sparked debate for many carving's true meaning has remained uncertain for some time, adding to the church's rich tapestry of folklore and mystery. But Kevin Gordon, a local historian, says he is now convinced it is a "medieval Christian symbol representing self-sacrifice and chastity", depicting a beaver biting off its own testicles. The carving is to the left of the altar in the medieval church, close to another believed to represent Lewinna, the only female saint from Gordon said: "I was showing a group around and a woman said to me 'that's not a dog, it's a beaver biting its testicles off'."She explained to me that in Christian art a beaver represents self-sacrifice and chastity."He added: "In medieval times people used to catch the beaver for the medicine that was inside its testicles."People believed that if a beaver thought it was going to get caught it would bite its testicles off to escape."I think that's a far better explanation of this creature than Saint Lewinna's dog."I have found plenty of references in medieval manuscripts which show beavers in exactly the same style as the one depicted at Alfriston." In 2024, Mr Gordon persuaded one of the top beaver experts in the country, Derek Gow, to visit the church."He looked at the figure and confirmed it was in fact a beaver and not a dog."The medieval church draws in tourists from all over the world. Mr Gordon believes it is important that people know the truth about its contents. "People coming into the church should be informed about what it is they are seeing."Dogs may be a faithful companion to people, but in Christian art it's the beaver which represents Christian values."
