Latest news with #Peterborough-based
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New venture for Up the Garden Bath
Award winning Peterborough-based charity Up The Garden Bath says it is proud to introduce Goal2Grow, a new community focused fundraising initiative. Instead of asking for money, the innovative organisation is encouraging people to donate their pre-loved football kits. Whether it is outgrown, a spare or simply ready for a new team, your donation can help make sport more accessible for others. All donated items are carefully cleaned, sorted and sold through their UNITY store at affordable prices, providing access to quality sportswear for individuals and families on low incomes. But Goal2Grow is about more than raising funds. It champions sustainability by extending the life of valuable sportswear, reducing textile waste and removing financial barriers that can prevent young people from participating in sport. Recommended Reading: Latest planning applications submitted to Peterborough City Council It is about inclusion, wellbeing and giving everyone a fair chance to enjoy the game. Up The Garden Bath believe great things happen when people are given the space to grow creatively, socially and environmentally. With the Goal2Grow fundraiser they are blending the community's passion for nature and football to create meaningful and lasting change. All proceeds from sales will directly support Up The Garden Bath's wide range of educational and environmental community projects across Cambridgeshire. These include school based eco workshops, community gardening initiatives, sustainability education and the creation of public green spaces. Up The Garden Bath is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising environmental awareness, encouraging creativity and strengthening community connections through upcycling and practical learning experiences. Since launching, they have built a loyal following and continue to make a real difference across the region. Their UNITY store, opened in 2023, and is already a local success story, generating more than £600,000 in revenue for local crafters, makers, artists and small businesses. More than just a shop, UNITY is a thriving community hub, offering free workshops, a public crafting area and a welcoming space for people of all ages to come together to learn, create and grow. Dave and Kez said: "UNITY has shown us that when people are given the chance to grow both creatively and personally, amazing things happen. With Goal2Grow, we are bringing that spirit into new territory, combining our love for community, the environment and sport to deliver lasting impact. This is about inclusion, sustainability and giving everyone the opportunity to get involved." How to Donate: Drop off your old football kits at the award-winning collaborative community retail project UNITY in the Queensgate Shopping Centre. For more information and details about how to get involved, visit: or contact: info@ Do you have a story for Peterborough Matters? Send details to: newsdesk@
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Traitors star becomes learning disability charity ambassador
A finalist of The Traitors has teamed up with a learning disability charity to become its newest ambassador. Alexander Dragonetti appeared on the third series of the show and said if he had won he would have donated some of the prize money to Mencap, after the charity helped his late brother. Fans of the show have since helped raise £95,000 for the Peterborough-based charity, which Mr Dragonetti said was "nothing short of incredible".He said: "People with a learning disability still face stigma and exclusion every day - I want to help Mencap increase visibility of learning disability and hope that in doing so we can promote acceptance and inclusion." The charity announced the news on National Siblings Day on 10 April in a series of videos shared on social media. Previously speaking to BBC Radio 4, Mr Dragonetti said he did not know whether or not to talk publicly about his brother, who had global development delay and autism. He said: "I talked about a summer camp I used to attend. This was a place where he could shine. He could be himself, he'd have infinite attention, he could be silly and my parents could get a break."My brother was the most wonderful human being and I miss him so deeply. I also know how hard it can be for parents looking after children with special needs." The Traitors, which is filmed in the Scotland, sees contestants engage in challenges, "murders", roundtables and banishments to build up a prize pot of money. He said: "It's remarkable how many people have experience or are impacted by learning disability. Hearing their stories has been humbling, and often surprisingly moving. "I am also passionate about raising awareness, and am so excited to continue doing this. Being different isn't easy and I'm proud to play a role for an organisation that breaks down barriers and improves understanding." Jon Sparkes, the chief executive at Mencap, said the charity was "thrilled" to welcome Mr Dragonetti to the "family". "He has already done so much to raise awareness of our essential work by bravely sharing his family's story, and in doing so has opened people's minds about learning disability." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough project aims to empower youngsters through nature
A charity that looks after green spaces in Peterborough has been awarded a National Lottery grant to run a scheme empowering young people by connecting them with nature. Nene Park Trust (NPT), which manages seven sites in the city, has been given £160,000 for a two-year project offering workshops in gardening, conservation and wildlife aims to reach 500 people aged 11 to 25 through group sessions, by working with local wildlife, arts and community groups."The multi-partnership working will allow us to test, learn and share successful approaches to improved ways of working and enhanced outcomes," said Nicola Craven, head of development for NPT. Luke Payn, manager of Westraven Community Cafe and Garden, called it an "important project", adding that it would help young people with their personal Starkey from Peterborough-based Froglife, said the project could "create several new habitats that will help amphibians and other wildlife to thrive."The first session took place at a school last week, with further classes planned at the YMCA and Queen Katharine Academy in Walton. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
31-01-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Supermarket trials selling grapes with flavour and texture labels
A UK supermarket is trialling the sale of grapes labelled with their flavour or texture as it aims to better understand what customers prefer. Tesco said that many may think of grapes in terms of red, green and black but that there are many hundreds of varieties. The chain noted there are other fruits which are sold by variety, for example apples – with Gala, Braeburn, Golden Delicious and many more. It said this helps customers know what to expect with each purchase. As a further example, wine is sold by grape, flavour and style rather than simply red or white. A trial in 220 Tesco stores has seen grapes go on sale in three types of newly labelled packaging – categorising the fruit by either tropical flavour, candy flavour or crunchiness. This is in addition to the existing range of table grapes. Tesco hopes to learn more about shopper preferences through the trial and could look to expand the range. It said that early feedback indicated that UK shoppers favour their grapes primarily by crunchy texture, next by tropical flavour and lastly by candy flavour. Tesco fruit technical manager James Cackett said: 'If you ask anyone how many grape varieties there are, most people are likely to tell you three – red, green and black. 'And that was pretty much the case until the turn of the century when fruit breeders began looking at how to naturally improve flavour, crunchiness and sweetness, which is a wholly natural process, to deliver better quality grapes all round. 'Now with the advance in breeding technology we have the possibility to draw from many hundreds of new grape varieties which will allow us to deliver exactly what our customers want, and that's the reason why we have set up these trials.' He said that they will 'allow us to better gauge and understand the attributes our shoppers prefer'. The trial is being carried out together with Tesco suppliers AMT Fresh, a Peterborough-based global fruit importer, and leading global fruit developers Bloom Fresh. Rachel Botha, head of commercial at AMT Fresh, said: 'This project, which we are implementing with Tesco through the Jaffa brand, is the most far-reaching research ever undertaken in the UK to understand British consumers' table grape-eating preferences, redefining the way they are segmented and marketed. 'We are working with the world's foremost fruit breeding companies to supply the grapes that British shoppers want to consistently see on supermarket shelves. 'Thanks to advances in technology we now have the ability to do just that.' She said that the trial 'reflects the strengths of our breeding programmes, the commitment of growers eager to explore new possibilities, and Tesco's openness to pioneering shopper-focused initiatives'.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Traitors' Alexander inspires fans to donate to Mencap
A Traitors finalist has helped boost donations to a learning disability charity by more than £46, Dragonetti told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire he was "so grateful" for donations to Mencap after the charity helped his late brother. During the series, the former British diplomat, who attended Oundle School, Northamptonshire, said if he won, he would donate some of his prize money to Sparkes, chief executive of the charity, said: "Telling his story has inspired a tremendous wave of generosity from the public." Mr Dragonetti, 38, said his brother, who had global development delay and autism, used to go to summer camps set up by he was voted out of the show in the final and did not win, Mr Dragonetti told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire his hope of donating some prize money was "effectively happening" as fans touched by his story had made donations."Anything I can do to try and raise the profile of that would be fantastic," he said."I know first-hand it's really hard for carers, parents, siblings of special needs children to both look after children and be political advocates, and if there is anything I can do to add my voice to that and be helpful then that would be my most proud takeaway."More than 2,000 people gave to the Peterborough-based charity, with some taking to social media to share their reasons and encouraging others to Sparkes said: "Despite not winning on Friday night, Alexander remained faithful to the end and captured the hearts of the nation – he is our champion."These donations are needed more now than ever as people with a learning disability continue to face extensive inequalities every day."Mary O'Hagan, Mencap's executive director of fundraising, said: "Every penny will help us ensure people with a learning disability can live happy and healthy lives."Additional reporting by PA Media. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
