'Be a friend' - new campaign launches today!

The 'Be a friend' campaign was launched today, and is an aim to help change the future of loneliness. Friends of the Elderly are calling everyone to 'Be a friend' in a number of simple ways. It is predicted that over five million older people are affected by loneliness today and the number is sadly on the rise. Loneliness can cause depression, whig can lead to a poorer quality of life and higher mortality rate, and yet simple daily interactions with others can significantly combat this.

This is why Friends of the Elderly have launched the 'Be a friend' campaign, which encourages people to promise to do a small act of kindness for an older person in order to help combat loneliness. These things range from promising to treat every older person you meet with respect, to helping with shopping to teaching an older person how to use a piece of technology. People can also create their own promises, and so far today over 280 people have pledged to help change the future of loneliness.

The Prime Minister today praised Friends of the Elderly for the 'Be a friend' campaign, and wished it every success, noting the good work they are doing and encouraging others to do.

The campaign is taking off, will you get involved?

Find out more at beafriendtoday.org.uk  and watch the video below

Mr Fothergill's Nation of Gardeners Campaign

In the last issue of the Phonebox Magazine you'll have noticed a feature about the Mr Fothergill's Nation of Gardeners campaign, with an interview with the local representative for Buckinghamshire, Diana Herniman. 

We found out about the campaign and what it requires of it's 12 gardeners across the country, with the aim of discovering more about the way in which plants grow in different locations around the country, and how, where and when they grow the best. Diana had been discovering that many of her plants were the first to bloom and quickest to grow compared to the others, an interesting point if you're a gardener in the Olney area.

We've grown quite interested in the campaign, and have been following it's progress on the official blog. If you're a keen (or budding) gardener it's well worth keeping an eye on the progress, as you're more than likely to pick up some interesting tips. One of the most interesting and useful things being studied during the experiment, is the differences in growing certain plants in the autumn compared to in the spring, letting you learn from the experiment rather than having to risk your own plants.

Having seen how well plants have grown in Diana's local garden, it's pretty inspiring to try at home for yourself. Knowing that you can grow your own beans, garlic, fruit etc. and grow them in abundance, makes it seem well worth it! Think of how much you'll be saving from not having to buy certain things in the supermarket, not forgetting how much better home-grown foods are bound to taste. Why not keep track of the Mr Fothergill's Nation of Gardeners campaign while planting your own seeds? It's time to go green!