Latest news with #SouthGloucestershire
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
HMP Leyhill prisoners staying longer due to lack of accommodation
Some prisoners are facing spending longer in prison due to a shortage of approved probation annual report by the Independent Monitoring Board into HMP Leyhill, in South Gloucestershire, found that some could stay in the Category D prison past their scheduled release also experience delays in getting parole due to the limited availability of overnight stays in approved report did, however praise the prison for several aspects, including prisoners being treated with humanity and respect. The IMB Chair for Leyhill, Mark Masters, said he was also concerned "that prisoners do not have access to communication devices equivalent to those available in the majority of the closed estate to maintain contact with friends and family members".Additionally, the report voices concerns about the changing demographic of prisoners from people serving longer sentences to those serving shorter says this presents challenges "in all areas," including facilitating releases. However, the report praises the prison's work to increase its operational capacity from 460 to 825 inmates, the care shown by staff towards vulnerable prisoners and the work done to monitor self-harm incidents."The IMB has observed staff at HMP Leyhill treating prisoners with humanity and respect in a safe and supportive environment," said Mr work of the Offender Management Unit has also allowed more inmates to work in the wider community through release on temporary licence.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bristol neurodivergent group Neon Daisy publish new magazine
A new magazine has been created to help young people who are neurodivergent feel connected and Neon Daisy magazine, filled with poetry, artwork, selfcare tips and comic strips, has been put together by a team of girls who are autistic from Bristol and South of the money made from magazine sales will go back into community events, the organisation has facilitator Serafina Kiszko said they hope the project will help young people who are currently experiencing "disconnection and isolation because of their differences". "We wanted to create something that we could send to people, that people could buy, that might make them feel less alone and remind them that they do have a community," they said."The young people that we work with, and I'm sure a lot of other young people across the UK, are really experiencing feelings of disconnection and isolation because of their differences."Even though it is aimed at people who are neurodivergent, the team said the magazine is still for everyone to enjoy. Rosa from the Neon Daisy magazine team said she hoped it will help people realise they are "special"."I just really hope that the magazine and Neon Daisy as a whole will help people find out that they might just not be weird, and that they might just not be the odd one out, and that they're actually somebody really special," she said."That's what I found out even before Neon Daisy started. They want people to have the same realisation dawn on them that they are someone special."All paper copies can be bought from Whapping Wharf in Bristol or can be purchased online. The Neon Daisy team said they are hoping to get funding for their next issue.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
New Bristol arena 'could have larger capacity of 20,000'
The group behind a massive new music venue planned for Bristol says it is now planning for a maximum capacity of 20, YTL Arena is being created inside a hangar on the old Filton Airfield, with the latest estimates saying it could open in plans suggested it would be able to hold 17,000 fans, with that later increased to 19, a statement YTL Arena Chief Executive Andrew Billingham said increasing the capacity beyond even those numbers is "really important". Plans for the arena in Filton were first announced in 2018, with it set to be the centre point of the Brabazon development, which will also include 6,500 huge scheme has been much delayed, with the developers - Malaysian-owned YTL - initially saying it could be open by expected opening has already been pushed back by six years, and the idea to increase capacity will now require new planning permission from South Gloucestershire Council. Andrew Billingham, Chief Executive of YTL Arena, said: "We want to attract the biggest artists and events to Bristol, so increasing the capacity to 20,000 is really important to us."We'll achieved this by maximising the size of the floor of what will be our standing area, where concertgoers will be stood on the very same concrete where Concorde was built."The Filton arena was promoted as a more affordable alternative to a previously council-backed scheme next to Bristol Temple Meads railway was first proposed in 2003, but building work never started, and while the plan was resurrected in the 2010s, former city mayor Marvin Rees scrapped the construction is yet to begin on the Filton arena, work on a railway station to bring concert-goers to the venue is under brand new station, North Filton, is set open as an unstaffed station in late 2026, though this is set to be enlarged later when the arena nears hundreds of people have already bought and moved into new homes as part of the development, and there are plans for schools, student accommodation and sports facilities.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Medical trial for penis cancer 'gave me two more years'
A man who was the first to take part in a medical trial for penile cancer says it may have extended his life by two years. Eddie Baker, 83, was given immunotherapy alongside the usual treatment of chemotherapy as part of the clinical trial, named treatment was found to have extended the predicted lifespans of more than half of the participants in the study, which was carried out by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Baker, from Yate, South Gloucestershire, said: "All I can say is, it is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me because I know if I hadn't had that, I would not be on this planet to this day." Mr Baker told the BBC his cancer had been caught late because it took over a year for him to come forward with his symptoms. The NHS says symptoms can include bleeding, a rash, a lump or growth, and a change in skin colour."It didn't look very good," Mr Baker said. "The actual swelling got bigger and bigger and then I was trying to get somewhere to get my life sorted out and find out what it was. It was too late."He had to have an amputation and has been left with incurable cancer. Consultant oncologist and chief investigator of the EPIC study, Professor Amit Bahl, said the stigma around such symptoms often leads to late said: "In cancers like these, there is no support system, you can't go out and talk about it because most patients have never heard you can get cancer in the penis. "If you ask ladies, they have heard about cancer in the cervix, in the vagina, but cancer in the penis never gets talked about."The immunotherapy treatment used in the trial is not available on the NHS, but Professor Bahl is applying to the Cancer Drugs Fund to pay for the small number patients who may benefit. Using immunotherapy to treat cancer is still considered by doctors to be a relatively new more than 60 per cent of the patients in the trial, who all had advanced penile cancer, were found to have had a clinical these patients, predicted lifespans increased to 15 months on Bahl said: "Our aim is to improve outcomes in this rare cancer, which has limited treatment options."Penile cancer can be a very aggressive disease, but this study shows we might be able to give men a little more time."Penile cancer is rare, and it usually presents externally first, so when patients are diagnosed, early treatments which can cure the cancer are possible."The trial has proved so successful that Professor Bahl is now planning to start another trial to give immunotherapy at an earlier stage of the disease, in the hope that it will improve cure rates.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
World War Two veteran celebrates 100th birthday
A decorated World War Two veteran who carried out covert missions behind enemy lines has celebrated his 100th birthday. Henry Charles Francis, known affectionately as 'H', served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after joining up aged 16. At his birthday party, Mr Francis was presented with a personal letter from the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, acknowledging his extraordinary service. His daughter, Teresa Betton, said: "What he gave for this country, all the friends that he lost… I'm so proud of him. He tells the stories, but not all of them. He signed the secrets act and has stuck by it." More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Mr Francis' family said the day was deeply emotional as they recalled stories of his daring missions. One tale involved being dropped into the wrong location in what was then Yugoslavia and spending five days finding his way out before being greeted by General Josip Broz Tito, who later became president of the country. Mr Francis, who lives in South Gloucestershire, was awarded the Yugoslavian military medal, which is one of many honours he earned over the years. In his letter, Gen Jenkins paid tribute to the "truly courageous" covert operations carried out by Mr Francis. He also referenced an incident in Burma when Mr Francis was injured by a bayonet before returning to the UK for a time to recover. Gen Jenkins said: "You are an incredible individual with an abundance of character, and you and all your generation are an inspiration to today's sailors and Royal Marines. "I am delighted to be able to send you the Royal Navy's best wishes for your 100th birthday." Asked for the secret to a long life, Mr Francis replied: "Before you argue with a man, make sure you can handle him." Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Stories similar to this Celebrations for WW2 RAF veteran's 100th birthday Veteran appointed MBE days before 100th birthday 100th birthday tribute to AA veteran
