By Natasha Benjamin - Founder & Managing Director www.freeyourmindcic.com Domestic Violence in Childhood is a major problem of our times, effecting 1.8 million children across the UK and even more alarmingly 1 in 3 will have a mental illness as a result. Since launching Free Your Mind in 2013, I have worked to create better awareness of this issue and to create a support system for children affected after realising that there was no specific service for them, only finding that...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Westminster Council has spent a vast sum of money on luxury limos while at the same time decimating childcare. The Tory-run council is splashing out on cars while at the same time slashing children’s services. Westminster council spent £90k on Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph to be used by the Mayor and other esteemed individuals. Additionally, they also spent almost £30k over the previous three years leasing a luxury Audi. In the last twelve months Westminster council...

Pollsters have finally admitted that they got the election result tragically wrong, because conservative voters didn’t give them the time of day. Sally Thomas, 24, who works for Ipsos MORI said: “I would walk up to huge houses, but the people there would chase me off their land, occasionally I would ask a groundsman who they were voting for and noted that down. We actually predicted Cobham, in Surrey, would go red.” James Avery, 26, from Gallup, said: “We knew...

“I was just about to learn the Spanish for ‘two beers” but I just couldn’t find the time, I’ve only been here eight years."

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The PM has just announced plans for an English language test to all partners who join their spouse to live in UK. The examination would take place two and a half years after they have arrived on these shores. If they do not meet the required standard it could count against the person's right to remain living in the UK, and they could return to their country of origin, against their will. The PM said:...

The Martian's space botany theme has been affirmed this week after US astronaut Scott Kelly confirmed that a zinnia plant had flowered on the International Space Station (ISS). Ridley Scott's film, due for UK release on February 8, is based on space botanist Mark Watney's incredible survival on Mars where he was able to grow and cultivate potatoes. And the concept may not be so far fetched after all. Commander Scott Kelly has announced on Twitter that the “first ever flower grown in space" has made its debut, adding:...

By Alex Lodge (@alexlodgemusic | Insta @alexlodgemusic7) Alex Lodge is a music supervisor for film, TV and advertising at Studio 32 Music. According to the Internet, today is ‘Blue Monday’, which if you believe the tsunami of lifestyle articles flooding your timeline means that we all feel more miserable today than on any other day of the year. Admittedly, I finished this playlist before finding out about this so haven’t made any effort to counteract your inevitable feelings of emptiness with any significantly...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The NHS is trying to tackle the obesity crisis in its own restaurants and vending machines. There are plans to create a sugar tax in hospitals to address the issue of the "national sugar high," which is ruining the nation's health. English hospitals will charge a higher tariff for high-sugar content snacks and drinks available in vending machines and cafes. it is hoped these inflated prices will mean staff, patients and visitors are less likely...

The most baffling aspect of the recent all white Oscars nominations was not the lack of ethnic minorities. That's par for the course thanks to the ageing, mostly white and male Academy voters. The really disturbing part was reaction from some online commentators, including journalists, who criticised the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag. A common complaint came from self-styled liberals, the kind of posing social justice warriors who claim to be “colour blind”. Apparently, criticising the world's most prominent awards show for failing...