General Election 2015: UK Vote App Could Be The Key To Getting Young People To Vote

March 24, 2015, 6:52 am

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With the UK general election just around the corner, it seems as though young people couldn't care less. Many are not registered to vote, many are unaware of how to vote, and many simply just don't want to.

This, however, could be about to change, thanks to the development of a new App which aims to keep voters up to date with the latest UK polls and political campaign news.

The App, called Vote UK, is developed by Wide Angle Software, and can be dowloaded free of charge on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Read More:

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• Meet The Young People Voting Tory


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• 'All I Want For The Election Is Free Education'. What Students *Really* Want From Our Next Government


• Ed Miliband Blogs: This May, the Stakes for Britain's Young People Could Not Be Higher - Let's Make Sure Their Voice Is Heard

Amongst a whole host of features, Vote UK gives accurate and unbiased information about candidates and parties, allows voters to search for the contact details of their local MP and shows real-time changes in national opinion polls over the previous six months.

The release of this App comes following the news that nearly two-thirds of young people want to be able to vote online in the general election

The App's developer and Wide Angle Software Director Neil Benson is enthusiastic about the project: “We wanted to develop an app that would really connect voters throughout Britain with the political process”, he said.

"I was personally excited to develop a completely free app that could engage the imagination and the interest of mobile-savvy voters in the political process", he continued.

"A large group of voters feel alienated from the political process – especially younger voters. This is exactly the demographic that feel comfortable with internet connected mobile devices, smart phones, tablets etc. Our App is primarily targeted at these younger potential voters. Vote UK is designed to engage users with the political process."

When informed that 60% of young voters want to vote online, Benson was unsurprised: "This generation of new voters have grown up with the internet – it’s part of their everyday lives. The thought of walking to a dusty old community centre or primary school to place an ‘x’ in a box with a half sized, worn out pencil must seem awfully archaic to many of these new voters", he said.

"The government should make voting as easy and as accessible to as many people as possible."

The Vote UK App has also been endorsed by MP Jeremy Lefroy – the MP for Stafford where developers Wide Angle Software are based.

“The 2015 General Election will be one of the most important and closely contested in a generation. Vote UK will give people accurate and unbiased information about candidates and parties to enable them to decide how to cast their vote”, he said.

The early signs are positive. But whether or not this new App will be enough to mobilize young voters remains to be seen.

More information about Vote UK and Wide Angle Software can be found at: http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/voteuk

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A Vote for Electoral Reform

March 24, 2015, 10:36 am

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Why is the current system broken and what are the three main alternatives?

Following the 2010 general election, two thirds of the elected MPs lacked majority support. This was the highest figure in British political history and with the 2015 election swiftly approaching, a figure which we are unlikely to see reduced.

With today's political landscape now taking smaller parties more seriously than ever, it is fairly safe to say that the current electoral system provides unrepresentative and undemocratic results.

As such, it's time to distil the dry and overly technical discourse of electoral reform down, into manageable chunks which can be digested and considered by all.

This debate gets fairly mechanical, but don't let that put you off. There are important questions which need to be asked and even more important answers which need to be given. Without doing so, we tacitly consent to institutions which fail to reflect the people they serve. We need to ask and continuing asking the question, is our current electoral system the worst way of electing a representative government and what are our other options?

The current state of affairs

The UK currently uses several voting systems across different levels of government, and each one has radically different implications for parties, voters, governments and Parliament.

The first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system is the method used for election to the House of Commons. In this system, voters in each area (constituency) put a cross in the box next to their favoured MP from a choice of candidates. Voters can only vote for one candidate and the candidate that gets the most votes becomes the MP.

If one party gets an overall majority (more MPs than all the other parties put together), they form the government. If no party gets an overall majority, a situation which arose in 2010, it is called a hung parliament and two or more parties would be expected to work together to form a government.

For those of you who have voted and for those of you who have not, you should all be in agreement that this system is incredibly simple to use and understand. As such, it doesn't cost must to administer. It also means that it's easy to count votes and swift to work out who has won.

FPTP has historically produced two party systems. This has tended to produce single party governments that have not been shackled by the restraints of having to bargain with minority coalition partners to pass legislation. As a consequence, FPTF encourages broad-church centrist policies.

Extremist or fringe parties, have very little chance of being elected to parliament under FPTP because they are unlikely to gain anywhere near enough votes in any one constituency.

The case for reform

The best place to start this discussion begins with the disproportionate results it draws. The number of votes cast for a party in a general election does not accurately reflect the number of seats won. In 2010, despite getting 20% of the vote, the Liberal Democrats only won 9% of the seats.

We see this formula mirrored at constituency level too, where the winning candidate may have only received one third of the votes cast. Governments have been formed by parties who do not have the largest share of the total votes, as happened in 1974 when Labour won the general election on the number of seats gained but the Conservatives had a much larger share of the votes cast across the country.

Small constituencies also lead to the proliferation of safe seats, where the same party is almost guaranteed re-election at each general election. This can lead to specific areas being ignored when it comes to policy framework as well as voters in the region becoming disenfranchised. More worryingly, it can mean that the 'safest' looking candidate is most likely to be offered a chance to stand for the election, restricting the opportunity for women and minorities to stand.

For me, the biggest issue with FPTP is the treatment of smaller parties under its control. Although smaller parties may have a sizeable national cross country support, they are never given a proportional number of MPs because there are not enough votes concentrated in constituencies to let them win seats. Of course, encouraging two-party politics can be advantageous, keeping extremist policies at bay, but in the multi-party culture in which we live, smaller parties with significant support are hugely disadvantaged and always take the biggest hit.

Put simply, FPTP wastes huge numbers of votes. Any vote cast for a losing candidate in a constituency and any vote cast for a winning candidate above the level they need to win a seat, count for nothing. This knowledge encourages and leads to tactical voting, where people, such as my myself, feel they have no choice but to vote for a specific party on the basis on preventing another party from being elected. Worse still, FPTP stops people from voting altogether, believing their vote will count for nothing.

A vote for change

Liberal Democrats' leader Nick Clegg and UKIP party leader Nigel Farage, have not kept their desire for electoral reform quiet. Clegg has shown particular interest in the Single Transferrable Vote and Farage supports the AV Plus system (as recommended by the Jenkins commission on electoral reform in 1998).

So how do these systems work?

The Alternative Vote:

The Alternative Vote (AV) is a preferential system where the voter has the chance to rank the candidates in order of preference. The voter puts a '1' by their first choice and a '2' by their second, and so on, until they no longer wish to express any further preferences or run out of candidates.

In a situation where a candidate gains more than half of the first preference votes, the candidate is elected outright. If not, the losing candidate (i.e. the one with the least first preferences) is eliminated and their voters are then redistributed according to the second preference marked on the ballot paper. This process continues until a winner emerges.

Supporters of AV will champion the fact that all MPs would have the support of a majority of their voters. AV also penalises extremist parties, who are unlikely to gain many second-preference votes. Moreover, unlike FPTP, it reduces the need for tactical voting because voters can select their first choice candidates without fear of wasting their votes.

The AV system is, however, not a form of proportional representation. In certain condition, such as a landslide, it can produce a more disproportion result that FPTP and parties could still form a government with less than 50% of first choice votes.

In a UK-wide referendum in 2011 the British public were asked if they wanted to replace First Past the Post (FPTP) with the Alternative Vote. The referendum produced a definitive no answer.

AV plus

In response to AV's proportional failings, emerges AV plus.

In this system, as well as ranking candidates in order or preferences as you do with the AV, voters are given a second ballot paper and asked to cast an additional vote for a party or choose their favourite candidate from a top-up list. Additional seats in parliament are awarded to each party based on its national share of this additional vote. MPs elected in this way are drawn from lists published by each party.

In addition to the advantages of the Alternative Vote, this system also means voters are given both a constituency vote and a regional vote which means that parties would have an incentive to campaign across the whole country and not just in the marginal seats.

AV plus produces a fairer result as elected MPs have the support of a majority of their local electorates. It also produces majority governments when the voters express a desire for one party.

The downside of AV plus involves redrawing constituency boundaries and a system which is slightly more complicated than FPTP, which has its own set of issues.

Single Transferable Vote

Leading the proportional representation movement (where the number of seats more accurately reflects the number of votes cast for each party) is the Single Transferrable Vote (STV).

Supporters of this system, such as the Liberal Democrats', say that it is more transparent than AV plus because electors select named candidates rather than voting for party lists.

Like AV, voters are asked to rank their preferences on the ballot paper. But the main difference between the systems is that STV offers constituencies more than one MP from particular parties.

Ballot papers are gathered into piles according to preferences, like AV, but because the constituency has more than one member representing it, the winning threshold has to be calculated using a quota system.

The quota (the number of votes necessary to secure the election of a candidate) is equal to the result plus one. The total number of valid ballot papers are divided by the number of candidates to be elected plus one. So if there are six seats to be filled, the total number of valid ballot papers is divided by seven. When a candidate reaches the quota, they are deemed elected. If, like in the AV system, no candidate achieved the winning threshold, then the least popular candidate is eliminated and his/her votes are redistributed. This process goes on until all the seats are filled.

STV presents a system which minimises wasted votes, allows people to vote for known individuals rather than unknown party lists and motivates political parties to contest every seat because elections cannot be won by influencing only a few swing voters in marginal seats.

Some of you will already be familiar with the system, which is already used for European Parliamentary elections, elections within many voluntary organisations and trade unions, as well as within the Northern Ireland Assembly and local Scottish elections.

What now?

It's clear that under FPTP, in situations where the winning parties received over 50% of the vote, the system is a total success. But, despite Conservative leader David Cameron and his Labour counterpart Ed Miliband insisting that their parties are able to win an overall majority in the 7 May poll, current opinion polls suggest the election could result in another hung Parliament. It's very likely that the two main political parties will receive less that two thirds of the vote in 2015. In this situation, the hung Parliament would present another instance of parliamentary seats which are misrepresentative of the number of votes cast for each party.

Our electoral landscape has totally transformed from the days when FPTP was a true success. It gives people a reason to tactically vote or to not vote at all. With election turnouts at 65%, we do not need to give the disillusioned 35% anymore reason to not turn up.

Politics should offer people real alternatives and people should be able to shape the decisions that affect their lives. The current electoral system means that not every vote counts and thus not every voice has value.

The movement for change relies on a strong, informed and impassioned campaigning. If this sparks a fire in you, I suggest joining the Electoral Reform Society movement to help fix our broken political system.

Why MPs Aren't Doing What They're Told - And Why That Might Be a Good Thing

March 24, 2015, 10:39 am

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Anyone who's ever seen The Thick of It (so, everyone, basically) will know the importance that government enforcer Malcolm Tucker places on ministers and MPs 'knowing their lines.' What that means is, of course, saying the right thing at the right time, day in, day out, forever. Toeing the party line. Staying on-message. Whatever you want to call it, it's always been a vital skill for any politician who wants to get ahead. It's essentially sucking up to the party leadership by not defying their interests. Nobody ever failed to get anywhere in Parliament by being too much of a repetitive party drone.

At least, that had always been the case. It might not be so true anymore. In recent years, particularly since the 2010 election, there's been a steady stream of defiance from MPs of all stripes. Witness the Labour MPs who criticise Ed Miliband for being out of touch. Take a look at the Tories who fail to back David Cameron. It's not just backbenchers, either - the former Liberal Democrat president, Tim Farron, has been making a habit of sticking the boot into Nick Clegg when he gets the chance, no matter how much he denies it.

Party backbenchers have always been capable of showing their rebellious sides. The Conservatives spent much of the 1990s plagued by division over Europe, while New Labour saw big rebellions on Iraq and tuition fees, among others. However, it feels like there are many more contradictions inside the major parties at the moment. MPs are voicing dissent more regularly than ever before, criticising their leaders and their policies loudly and frequently. The evidence suggests that rebellions might be becoming part of the Westminster furniture, and for new and interesting reasons.

It's easy to conclude that the explanation for our current crop of more outspoken MPs is the comparative weakness of all three major party leaders. It's true that Cameron, Miliband and Clegg don't appear able to enforce party discipline. However, the strength of the leader doesn't always match the level of discipline in their party. Tony Blair had a monster majority in the House of Commons between 1997 and 2005, but that didn't result in added deference from his MPs. It's too simplistic to say that weak leaders cause divided parties. In fact, the divisions stem from changing political circumstances more broadly.

The debate over the debates - who should be invited to them - has shown that we live in a multi-party system now. In the past, tons of seats were safe as houses, impervious to change. For example, take the constituency that I call home: South Staffordshire. It's a Tory seat. It just is. It always will be. The Conservative candidate could slaughter a camel in the front of the Codsall District Council building and it wouldn't do any harm to his majority (which stood at over 16,000 last time around). However, these kind of seats may soon be the exception rather than the norm. No seat can stay safe forever when you have Ukip, the Greens, the Lib Dems and the nationalist parties all taking chunks of the vote. MPs today must worry 24/7 about their chances of retaining their seats, and that'll contribute towards the instinctual independence that some MPs are now displaying. It's not easy to make voters turn out in droves for a party drone who just repeats talking points all day long. MPs need to be more selfish in the way they defend their seats today than ever before - so differentiating themselves from the pack is key. It's a good way of fending off the colourful and ever-expanding pack of rivals that are always waiting around the corner to steal their seats.

Technology is also helping MPs to sow and cultivate an independent streak. According to Tweetminster, over four hundred of the UK's MPs have a Twitter account. That's a great way to reach out to voters, but it has to be used in the correct way. Again, nobody's going to retweet your links if you're a repetitive, dull, party-line techno-bore. The best example of this, again, comes from my MP, Gavin Williamson, who is ferociously, excruciatingly boring on Twitter ('Looking forward to hosting my supermarket surgery at Sainsbury's in Wombourne this evening between 6 and 7pm') and doesn't make much of an impression on the site as a result. Today's MPs don't need endorsements from their leaders to make their mark outside the House of Commons. If you can get yourself a committed and wide-ranging following on social media, you can turn into a big fish pretty quickly - so why bother waiting around for patronage by being a goody-two-shoes?

Having MPs talk about issues in ways that party leaders don't can have mixed results. For every Tory like Robert Halfon, who floats interesting ideas on how the Conservatives could reconnect to trade unions, there's a Jacob Rees-Mogg, who seems to want the party to return to the early 1900s. Labour MPs Simon Danczuk and Tom Watson have done valuable work uncovering scandals that Westminster didn't seem to want to touch - but Danczuk has also managed to damage his party by attacking Miliband in astonishingly counterproductive terms, particularly when we're this close to a general election.

Because of the uncertainty that they cause, party leaders will no doubt be wary of MPs who choose to ignore the orders that come down from the central office. Despite that, it seems they're here to stay. And after all, don't we all want politicians who represent the people that elected them, rather than being slavishly devoted to party interest? If the House of Commons is to be the true centre of the debate on what kind of country we want this to be, then we should have as many different ideas and opinions expressed inside it as possible - not just a constant stream red-on-blue, party-approved back and forth. To be blunt, it's better for everyone when political parties act like a big tent, as opposed to a strait jacket.

How to Make the Most of Your Journalism Work Experience

March 24, 2015, 10:42 am

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In the journalism industry, work experience is a pretty crucial part of getting a job. You need to put together a portfolio, demonstrate you can hold your own in a news room, and prove you have a flair for writing.

Qualifications are all well and good, but if you don't have the above, you won't get too far.

From personal experience, it can be daunting going into a newsroom for the first time, especially if you're stepping foot into a national one. No-one told me what to expect, what to do while I was there, or how to make a good impression.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share some pearls of wisdom on how to make the most of your work experience. Feel free to tweet me @sherrifflucy if you've got your own nuggets of knowledge to offer up.

Before you start

Preparation

I run the work experience programme at HuffPost UK, and for me, preparation is key.

Ask your employer if they would like you to do anything in advance. Even if they say no, sit down and brainstorm some ideas you could present on the day.

Think about upcoming events you think the publication/website should cover. Rough out some feature or news story ideas.

If you can demonstrate you know the audience the publication writes for, and what content they consume, you're already onto a winner.

Dress appropriately

There's nothing worse than turning up somewhere realising you've totally misjudged the occasion. So don't do it. Ask what the dress code is before your first day, that way you won't get it wrong. If you don't get a response, then it's best to err on the side of smart than to turn up too casual. You might be sent out to do some on-the-ground reporting, and if so, you need to make sure you're representing the company well.

While you're there

Attitude

This is possibly the most important thing to get right. You might be the best reporter on the beat but if your attitude stinks, then you ain't going nowhere.

Most places are looking for someone with enthusiasm, energy and a willingness to learn.

Remember that - you are there to learn, so don't get annoyed if you're told something you've done isn't right. It's not a personal criticism. Just ask where you went wrong, and what you could do better next time. Most journalists are more than happy to share their expertise, as we've all been there before.

@sherrifflucy try and get a seat close to the action. Difficult to ingratiate yourself if your hidden in the corner.

— Sean Griffiths (@SeanMixmag) March 23, 2015

You've probably only got a short time to impress. I'm not saying don't be yourself, but no-one's going to remember you when there's a job going if you haven't said a word all week, so don't be afraid to introduce yourself, and make friends.

Don't be afraid to ask questions

We don't bite! Make the most of your time, as it's far easier to get advice when you're in an office and chatting with someone face to face, than it is over email, Twitter or telephone. Also, it's much better to ask and get it right, rather than staying quiet and getting something wrong.

Use your initiative

Saying this, sometimes you do need to use your initiative. Not sure what an acronym stands for or what a word means? Your first stop should be Google. If you still can't find out, then ask.

@sherrifflucy be proactive and pitch stories - don't just sit there waiting to be handed a PR to write up! and make tea, obvs @SeanMixmag

— Catrin Shi (@catrinshi) March 23, 2015

The newsroom is a busy, fast-paced environment and this means you need to be able to think for yourself. Yes, you're there to learn, but it should be a two-way street; you should also be contributing to the publication.

Work your assets

Are you a social media fiend? Have an eye for trending stories, or a brain for data? Are you well versed in SEO? Can you speak a second language? Or is there a particular issue you know inside out and are burning to cover?

@sherrifflucy If you're knowledgable about a certain subject, play that up. People love it if you're a font of relevant info. Shows you care

— Laurence Green (@LaurenceTGreen) March 23, 2015

Don't be afraid to utilise your expertise and knowledge - and don't assume your employer already knows everything. I once went in to an office and taught half the team I was sitting with how to use Twitter.

Check your writing

I mean this literally, as well as style-wise.

Make sure you proof, proof and proof again before you send your article over to be subbed. Spelling and grammar mistakes are not looked upon kindly - and factual errors even less so. Yes, everyone does make mistakes, but if you can avoid doing so, do.

@sherrifflucy You're not the story. Use simple language, wherever possible. Know your readership... these tend to work for me.

— Ian Clover (@iclover) March 23, 2015

Style-wise, shake yourself out of your English Lit or politics essay writing habits. You're writing an article, not a dissertation. Keep sentences snappy, simple and digestible. We don't want to see flowery, superfluous language and complex sentences. Save that for your professors.

Why We Ignore Gender at Our Peril When It Comes to Worklessness

March 24, 2015, 2:38 pm

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Tackling men's and women's challenges in the same way can be a well-intentioned attempt at ensuring fair treatment or avoiding discrimination. However, men and women have different challenges and to achieve fairness and equality, different and tailored solutions are needed.

This is undoubtedly the case in the world of employment where the situation is far from equal. Women are over-represented in part-time and insecure jobs, four out of five of people stuck on low pay for more than ten years are women, caring responsibilities have a disproportionate impact on women and the pay gap is a long way from being closed.

These are just some of the reasons why Young Women's Trust is concerned about young women and has produced a report, Creating a Working Future for Young Women; the result of a year-long Inquiry into young women NEET (those not in education, employment or training). In this report we are calling for a gender-specific response to the crisis of young women's worklessness.

Crisis? What crisis? The report highlights the fact that many more young women than young men - 428,000 compared to 310,000 - are NEET. They will be NEET for longer - three years compared to two - and the impact will be deeper, forcing many to endure a lifetime of poorly paid, insecure jobs and unemployment.

Successive governments have failed to alter the fact that over the last decade an average of more than 130,000 more women than men have been NEET. Which is yet another reason why we need a gendered response.

Despite common assumptions, young women want to work. They share some challenges with young men, such as very high levels of young unemployment in some localities. But they also have additional and often insurmountable challenges which prevent them furthering their education or entering work. They are encouraged towards a narrow range of career options despite their qualifications, they are much more likely to be carers or mothers and the training and skills they are given do not match what is needed for the jobs that are available.

The report contains a number of recommendations, some of which will benefit young men and young women who are NEET, while some will undoubtedly benefit young women more. These include:

Training providers of Information, Advice and Guidance to ensure they are encouraging and supporting young women towards a broader range of subjects and careers, not funnelling them into the usual stereotypical jobs, which are fewer in number and generally pay less.

Extending the provision of free childcare so that young mothers can work and study. In 21st Century Britain being a mother or carer is still a huge barrier to work or study.

Gathering more data about young people who are "economically inactive", of which over two thirds are young women, and work closely with them to address the issues that are making it impossible for them to actively seek work.

There are other recommendations which will benefit young men and young women. Both groups need a second chance at education and training. They particularly need this if they have left school with few or no qualifications. The report recommends creating many more apprenticeships which do not require formal entry criteria (usually five A*-C GCSE's) and simplifying the access to funding for Further Education at least until age 25.

At the moment responsibility for young people's employment is split between three government departments, DBIS, DfE and DWP. This means no one person is accountable. We are urging the creation of a Minister for Youth Employment, who understands the challenges and is prepared to champion a gendered approach.

Aside from the human tragedy of young lives being written off before they have begun, it makes no sense for a country with more skilled jobs than it can fill and seeking to reduce dependency on benefits, not to do all it can to allow young women to fully contribute to the economy and to society.

These are complex problems that won't be fixed overnight but they can be addressed; just as long as we take gender into account. To do otherwise means that any attempts will continue to fail, and to fail young women.

The NUS Asked Its Student Delegates To Use Jazz Hands Instead Of Clapping To Avoid Triggering Anxiety

March 25, 2015, 2:29 am

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The National Union of Students was the subject of ridicule on Tuesday after telling its delegates to use jazz hands instead of clapping in order to avoid triggering anxiety.

Some delegates are requesting that we move to jazz hands rather than clapping, as it's triggering anxiety. Please be mindful! #nuswomen15

— NUS Women's Campaign (@nuswomcam) March 24, 2015

A spokesperson for the NUS justified the decision saying: "The request was made by some delegates attending the conference. We strive to make NUS events accessible and enjoyable for all, so each request is considered."

However this didn't stop numerous people from poking fun at the union, with some wondering whether the Twitter account was a spoof.

@nuswomcam Is this satire?

— Anthony Veitch (@tonyveitchuk) March 24, 2015

.@nuswomcam Brilliant. You've won the internet, for ever and ever. You can keep it.

— Greg Cook (@ImGregCook) March 24, 2015

@nuswomcam You know the whole world is checking you aren't a parody account when you tweet stuff like that?

— House of Cake (@GreedyRosie) March 24, 2015

@nuswomcam @Little_G2 hi, jazz hands can be triggering because of the quick movement of the hands. I vote blinking rapidly instead. Thanks

— Book Geek (@BookGeek_T) March 24, 2015

@nuswomcam @Little_G2 also it's shocking ableism as many cannot do 'jazz hands'.

— Book Geek (@BookGeek_T) March 24, 2015

@nuswomcam best tweet of the day. Made me laugh just thinking about it. Thanks.

— Mark Ellis (@CultureEffect) March 24, 2015

@nuswomcam @Nero Open palms can be triggering. Well, so can closed ones... you should just ban any outward expression of approval.

— Jason (@JLat55) March 24, 2015

.@nuswomcam I'm afraid jazz hands are only effective when accompanied by a tap dance. My elephant feet will be awfully loud. #jazzhands

— Kell (@KellDeggers) March 24, 2015

Nona Buckley-Irvine, general secretary at the London School of Economics Students' Union, told Newsbeat: "Jazz hands are used throughout NUS in place of clapping as a way to show appreciation of someone's point without interrupting or causing disturbance, as it can create anxiety.

"I'm relatively new to this and it did feel odd at first, but once you've used jazz hands a couple of times it becomes a genuinely nice way to show solidarity with a point and it does add to creating a more inclusive atmosphere."

There are several types of anxiety disorders, which can be treated with cognitive therapy, medication or psychotherapy - or a combination of all three.

For more information about anxiety, visit the NHS' website.

Young Entrepreneurs Of The Week: How Two Friends Launched Their Global Frozen Yoghurt Company, AngelBerry

March 25, 2015, 3:07 am

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Starting a business from scratch is always a daunting prospect. Sunk costs can be huge, and the possibility of failure looms large.

However, for James Taylor and Ryan Pasco, two entrepreneurial young friends, the lure of success was too hard to resist.

James and Ryan, both 23, set up frozen yoghurt company AngelBerry in Bristol in the Winter of 2011, selling their product in a Hartcliffe shopping park, and have since gone on to open stores in Mauritius, South Africa and the UAE.

AngelBerry have also recently signed a deal for 80 stores across the Gulf States, and James and Ryan plan on targeting India next, where they've just returned from a Trade Mission with the British Chambers of Commerce.

The company now employs over 30 people and has a turnover of £750,000. James and Ryan also hope to open 15 more stores globally this year.

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The Huffington Post UK caught up with co-founder James, and were able to ask him about the brand, and his plans for the future.

What was the inspiration behind AngelBerry?

The idea came when Ryan was in California on a summer holiday with his family. He saw the queues out the door of frozen yogurt shops and though that this is what the UK was missing. He approached me to see if I was interested in partnering with him to create a UK frozen yogurt chain.

After lots of research in Miami, we opened our first AngelBerry store in December 2011. During our research we visited 30 different frozen yogurt shops in 2 days, taking in the best and the not so good aspects of each store. By the end we knew all about the different machine manufacturers, product suppliers, store layouts, service style, flavour range, toppings, décor and what locations work. We took all of this information, and from that created AngelBerry.

Did either of you have any prior experience at marketing or selling?

Both of us come from business background. Both sets of parents have their own business, and we had each set up a company before AngelBerry. I ran a greengrocers, buying and selling fresh produce on a daily basis. Ryan set up an internet business selling holidays.

Neither of us were experts in marketing or selling, but we used a PR company to help polish our brand. It took at least a year until we were happy with AngelBerry in its colour scheme, brand positioning and operations. Every day we learnt something new, and we are still learning about business, marketing and how to expand further.

What challenges did you face when setting up your business?

Money was an issue to start with. We managed to finance all of our machinery and borrow money off family to get the business started. Opening in winter did put a downer on things early on, but once the summer came round we realised the potential of what we had started.

There was a lot of focus from us on educating our customers about what they were eating. Frozen yogurt and ice cream are two different things. We make sure that every customer is welcomed to the store, told how AngelBerry works (self-service, pay by weight) and offered samples of the product - This is policy in all AngelBerry stores across the world. We still have issues with customer service, and making sure staff are up to the standards we expect, but with our improved staff training program we have seen customer service levels improve massively.

What is your biggest achievement with AngelBerry to date?

Seeing our brand grow and expand internationally. We both have memories of one week working in the office in the UK, and then the next serving Mauritian customers attempting to communicate with them in French! We have some big developments in the pipeline which will hopefully come to fruition mid-late 2015.

We never expected the business to grow overseas. We always aimed to franchise, but within the UK. But naturally we didn’t say no when the opportunity came knocking, and now there are two stores in the UK, four stores in Mauritius, two in the UAE and three in South Africa.

What plans do you have for AngelBerry in the future?

One of our main focuses at the moment is to reduce the sugar content of our products, and we now have a stevia based range which is low sugar and low fat. This range has gone down very well with diabetic societies and customers in all countries.

We see that sugar is the next battleground in terms of health because of the health issues stemming from overconsumption of sugar. We are offering our customers the option of a low sugar offering, without any loss of flavour or quality.

In terms of business development we are looking for new UK partners such as cinemas or service stations. This is one area we see room for large growth. Our newly designed kiosk, as used in cinemas in South Africa, offers a quicker Return on Investment, leaves a very small footprint and is totally self-contained. It is through these kiosks that we see most of our growth happening over the next 2 years.

We have also developed a hard pack supermarket product, the aim is that this will be available in supermarkets across all current territories.

We are also exploring India as a market for AngelBerry. In fact we’ve been on a trade mission to Mumbai with the British Chambers of Commerce to explore opportunities and have also exhibited at franchise show there with great success. We have store designs and kiosk concepts in place ready for the Indian market and plan to target the west and south cities first – including Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

What advice would you give to upcoming young entrepreneurs?

One of the most important things you can do is keep your eyes open for opportunities, and say yes when they present themselves. Even if you don’t quite know how you are going to pull it off, give yourself the challenge as you never know where it will take you.

Otherwise read and learn as much as you can about business, from finance, development to operations. It will allow you to view every decision from multiple angles before making your decision.

Finally, learning from other business professionals, who have already experienced what you are trying to achieve, can really help. Business networking groups, such as those run by local Chambers of Commerce, can really help young entrepreneurs to avoid costly mistakes and spark new ideas by speaking with like-minded small and medium sized enterprises.

Follow AngelBerry on Twitter: @AngelBerryMe

Celeb Magazine Editors: ENOUGH of the Irresponsible Images

March 25, 2015, 3:22 am

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I write this latest blog, in part as an open letter to the editor of heat and other magazines that trade on images of women that I deem extremely damaging.

I have been in recovery from anorexia for nearly three years. I am now at a healthy weight and people will probably think I'm recovered because I look 'fine', but every day is a mission to keep healthy and happy.

In the past I would go out every Tuesday and buy the latest magazines... including heat. I would spend around £15 a week. If you multiply that by 52 (weeks in a year), I spent over £700 on magazines. Magazines that slated other women - and men. They fed me with the latest body trends that, in all honestly, I really thought I needed to follow to be seen as 'beautiful'. Some of them carried diet plans and even advertising for slimming pills.

I would look at the pictures of super-slim models and celebrities and think: "Why can't I look like them? I need to diet, I need to follow this trend."

Even so, I was stunned to see the cover of this week's heat magazine, which showed a half dozen celebs with impossibly tiny waists, with a headline 'The rise of the Cinderella Waist', sub-headline Extreme Body Trend. For those not in the know, actress Lily James wears a corset in the new Cinderella film to give her a fairytale waist.

I wanted to scream!

It seems to me that magazine editors are using celebs to sell their magazines for all the wrong reasons. Why can't they work hand in hand with our generation to encourage positive body image for all, not images of shapes that most people can never achieve? I guarantee a lot of girls will see this headline and feel bad about themselves.

I think magazine editors have a massive responsibility to the young of our society. Ever since I started to speak out about my feelings that the media needs to address its part in body image, a lot of people have agreed with me.

I became ill because I would look at the images in those magazines - I thought they were beautiful and because I didn't look like that, it made me low. Mental illness, in the form of anorexia and bulimia, took hold of me.

I am not blaming ANYONE for causing my illness. However, I do think such magazines should be more positive about every body type. Maybe they could talk in terms of nutrition not new 'diet trends', so young people understand what healthy food is doing for them. And just maybe they could help encourage us to love ourselves?

Following my experience, I became so passionate about preventing anyone else going through what I did that I joined forces with charity young people's social action charity Fixers to create an awareness film about body issues - and to promote a message about positive body image. You can watch it here.

How about we now work together? I would love to be able to meet the team at heat in person, to explain more about the dangers of their images - to hear their explanation of why they fill the magazine with the same images. I'm campaigning to get the government involved with my plan - to get positive body image, self-love and nutrition taught in schools."

It would be great to get the media on board too! Let's FIX eating disorders together.

---

Thierry Henry Wears Terrible Wig To Disguise Himself As A Teacher So He Could Surprise Student With Award

March 25, 2015, 3:58 am

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Former Arsenal player Thierry Henry donned a dubious wig and specs to disguise himself as a teacher so he could surprise a Welsh student live on Sky Sports News.

Henry sauntered into the classroom and announced "hello I'm your new teacher" to shocked students at Pen-Y-Dre High School in Merthyr Tydfil.


Thierry prepares to enter the classroom in his undercover garb

After admitting of course he wasn't their teacher, he then told the class they were live on TV and he had an award to present to teen Emma Morgan.


Surprise!

"Quiet," he sternly chided the class, before erupting into a smile and admitting, "I've always wanted to say that."


Thierry in his element

With her mouth agape, Emma was told she had won the Sky Sports Living for Sport Student of the Year award for Wales - which celebrates the skills learnt through sport.

An overall winner, chosen from the England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland winners will be announced on Sunday.


A visibly chuffed Emma

"Emma is a fantastic example of the effect Sky Sports Living for Sport can have on young people and I’m delighted to present her with the Student of the Year award for Wales," the footballing star said.

"The life skills learned through sport can be applied to all areas of life and Emma managed to turn her life around and reach her potential since being involved in Sky Sports Living for Sport. She’s a deserving winner."

Loughborough Students' Union President Petitioned To Resign After 'Slapping Woman' On Drunken Night Out

March 25, 2015, 4:20 am

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*Trigger Warning: Violence Against Women*

Loughborough University's incoming student president has been urged to resign after it was revealed he was banned from the union for "slapping" a woman twice during a drunken night out.

More than 3,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Ed Reckless to stand down.

The petition, created by the Stand Against Violence charity's Loughborough branch, argues Reckless should not be representing the university's students in light of the incident, which occurred in January.

Reckless, who has been voted in to become the new SU president for the upcoming academic year, issued a public apology in the wake of the ban.

"Regretfully, I have been banned due to out of character behaviour on a night where I consumed far too much alcohol. This resulted in me conducting myself poorly and in an intoxicated state, following which I was escorted out of the venue."

The petition states: "He was banned from the very Union he wished to lead for being violent towards a woman, and yet he now represents and speaks on behalf of all Loughborough students.

"We do not want a President who has actively been violent towards a woman to represent us."

The petition has gained the support of external students, including UCL's women's society.

. @UCLU_WomensNet in solidarity with Loughborough feminists! Ed Reckless must stand down. @LSUWomenOfficer pic.twitter.com/zaWrXICGca

— UCLU WO // Annie (@UCLU_WO) March 23, 2015

Others have also spoken out to condemn Reckless' election.

Ashamed to be a Ph.D student at L'boro today. @loughboroughsu: tackling sexism one backward step at a time. #EE2015 http://t.co/3H5p8RpesP

— Jenna Townend (@jenna_townend) March 5, 2015

@labelonline Diabolical show that Ed Reckless has been elected. Feeling embarrassed for the uni.

— C (@BSbyClaudia) March 5, 2015

Despite the incident, Reckless says he believes it does not have any bearing on his ability to fulfil the role of president.

"If nothing else, I have matured and grown from the experience and feel that this improves my candidacy."

The allegations came to light during the university's Executive Election campaigning period, when an article appeared on The Epinal Tab in which a student claimed to be the victim of the attack.

The woman, known only as Alexandria, claimed that the slap, which took place after the pair were introduced through a mutual friend, was completely unprovoked.

“I remember it really well. We just asked each other what course and all that and in the middle of that he just slapped me round the face. I didn’t know him, it took me by surprise,” she said.

“It was hard enough for me to know it wasn’t a joke."

In the aftermath of the incident, Reckless sent a letter of apology to the student, which she accepted.

Speaking to The Huffington Post UK, a P.H.D. student and seminar tutor, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "The result of Loughborough Students' Union's elections is sending a confusing message to students regarding the University's supposed 'zero tolerance' stance against violence and misogyny on campus.

"Students and staff members are concerned that a student who has committed an act of violence on campus, and so (rightly) banned from the Union's building, has now been elected to the most senior post within the Union's hierarchy."

"No person who has been banned from the Union during their university career should be given the opportunity to represent the Union or the student body."

The Huffington Post UK has contacted Loughborough Students Union for comment.

'Rape Culture Is A War On Boys On College Campuses', According To Fox News Host Andrea Tantaros

March 25, 2015, 5:42 am

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Fox News host Andrea Tantaros has declared rape culture is a war on boys on college campuses, following the discrediting of the now-infamous Rolling Stone story regarding an alleged gang rape at a US university.

The article, which recounted the experiences of a woman named Jackie at the hands of a student fraternity at Virginia University, hit headlines around the world - but has since unravelled.

A police investigation produced no evidence the gang rape ever occurred - although still can't rule out that nothing happened. However Rolling Stone has apologised for the article, admitting it was a "mistake".

See Also:

• Student Fraternity Discussed 'Raping Members Of The Feminist Society'


• University Investigates Students For "Unacceptable" Play Parodying Rape


• David Tennant Backs Students Anti-Sexual Harassment Campaign

"This is the most dangerous form of journalism," Andrea starts off saying. "They're just looking for stories, and if they don't get them then they'll just make it up.

"But there's a bigger theme happening here. This hurts women, this hurts victims of sexual assault, and I'm going to speak slowly so all the feminist blogs can get this one because I'm sure they'll clip it."

(At this point there's a titter from one of the panellists.)

"There is a war happening. On boys. On these college campuses," Amanda continues.

"Now we see this fraternity, they can't show they did anything wrong, we don't know if anything was done wrong.

"There is no opportunity to discover the facts, there's no opportunity to confront witnesses and present a defence.

"They cannot fight back.

"So you have Lena Dunham, Rolling Stone, it is a theme in this country to go after boys in this rape culture. There are absolutely legitimate reasons for them to do this. But what happens after they assassinate their character?

"What happens to Lena Dunham? What happens to these fraternity boys? Absolutely nothing. And it hurts the women and the victims at the end of the day the most."

Germanwings Plane Crash: 16 German School Pupils Nearly Missed Fatal Flight After Forgotten Passport

March 25, 2015, 7:54 am

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Sixteen German school pupils and their two teachers who all died in the Germanwings plane crash on Tuesday nearly missed the flight after one pupil forgot her passport, it has emerged.

The students, who were returning from a nine day exchange trip in Barcelona, looked set to miss the doomed flight, after one fifteen-year-old girl left her passport behind with her host family.

However, in a desperately unfortunate turn of events, the family took the girl and her travel documents directly to the airport in Barcelona, enabling the party to board the flight on time.

Young girls stand in front of the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium secondary school in Haltern am See, after it was confirmed teachers and students from the school were on board the downed plane

There had initially been some hope that the pupils might have missed the flight, but this was quickly quashed by by Marti Pujol, the mayor of the Spanish village, who revealed that the young girl had realised she left her passport behind after arriving at the train station, but confirmed that the group had managed to board the flight nonetheless.

In Dusseldorf, the destination airport, family members arriving at the airport were taken from the main terminal to a nearby building and offered counseling.

The pupils were from the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium school in Haltern am See, Western Germany.

Bodo Klimpel, the Major of the town, said: "The school director has received confirmation from Spain that the students did board the plane, with the teachers accompanying them."

"Rescue services have not been able to reach the crash site which means we have no final confirmation, however we have to assume the worst."

News of the tragedy has provoked an outpouring of grief, both at the Giola Secondary School, where the students were on exchange, and at the Gymnasium in Germany.

Anna Garcia, a pupil at the school in Spain, confirmed the events: "One of the German girls left a bag with all her travel documents inside at her host family's home," she said.

"So they didn't hold the rest of the group up, the family took her to the airport and she was able to board the plane."

Meanwhile, in Germany, there were emotional scenes as schoolmates of those killed in the disaster were seen comforting one another and laying flowers at the school gates.

Candles and flowers have been laid outside the school

One pupil, know only as Ibrahim, told a local TV station: "I lost a good friend on that plane, 15 years old, a beautiful girl with everything ahead of her. We are in bits here. We cannot take it in."

The town's Ruhr Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck said: "We have despatched pastoral workers across the town to help with the loss. It is the saddest day we have known."

The plane, an Airbus A320 operated by the low-cost company Germanwings, was traveling from Barcelona to Dusseldorf when it disappeared off radar.

The plane began to lose altitude, caused by an unknown on-board emergency, eventually coming down the Alpes de Haute-Provence region, around two-and-a-half hours from the nearest village.

Germanwings, an arm of German national carrier Lufthansa, released a statement saying: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the passengers and crew members."

It is believed that 150 people on board were killed in the crash.

London's 5 Best Craft Beer Breweries

March 26, 2015, 3:17 am

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Once upon a time, the beer scene in London was nothing short of diabolical. Back in the 1970's, the chances of finding a locally produced brew in the capital were few and far between. The industry was dominated by large monopolistic corporations such as Watneys and Whitbread and Bass, producing bland, boring watery bitters.

Fast forward 40 years or so, however, and the beer industry in the city is thriving. Just last year over 30 new breweries opened in London alone, whilst the overall number of active breweries is around 80. Furthermore, the variety of beer on offer has soared, as the 'craft' movement has swept through the city. Pop into a pub in London today and you will likely find a range of styles, from classic IPA's and lagers, to intriguing belgian saisons and fruit beers.

Following the news last week that The Office of National Statistics have added craft beer to their basket of goods used to calculate the Consumer Price Index, here is a rundown of five of the best breweries on offer in the capital.

Germanwings Plane Crash: Poignant Last Texts Of Students Who Died Aboard Fatal Flight Revealed

March 26, 2015, 3:52 am

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A poignant picture has emerged of some of the students who perished on board the Germanwings plane when it crashed in the French Alps on Tuesday morning.

Texts from the students sent to friends and family back home have also been published, with some saying they couldn't wait to return, and they missed their family.


There were no survivors on board the A320 Germanwings aircraft which crashed in the French Alps on Tuesday

Sixteen German exchange students died when the Airbus A320 went to ground in a remote region of the alps, killing all 150 passengers.


Elena Bless, one of the teenagers who died on the flight

The Year 10 students were from the Josef Konig Gymnasium School and had been returning from a stay with Spanish host families in Llinars del Valles, near Barcelona.

One, 16-year-old, Elena Bless, had been messaging a friend saying she "couldn't wait to come home", the Daily Mail reported.





Elena's schoolfriend Philippa, who had opted out of the trip, said many of her friends were excited to be coming back and had missed their families.

"I just can't believe they're not coming back," she added.

It has since emerged one of the pilots on board the plane was locked out of the cockpit when it went down. On Thursday an official with knowledge of the audio recordings retrieved from the recovered black box told the Associated Press one of the pilots was apparently unable to get into cockpit during the plane’s eight minute descent before it crashed into mountains.

Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr described the pilots as "experienced and trained" in a press conference in Barcelona Wednesday night.

Lufthansa has refused to identify the pilots, or give details of ages and nationality, but it said the co-pilot joined Germanwings in September 2013, directly after training, and had flown 630 hours.

The captain had more than 6,000 hours of flying time and been Germanwings pilot since May 2014, having previously flown for Lufthansa and Condor, Lufthansa said.

Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr described the pilots as "experienced and trained" in a press conference in Barcelona Wednesday night.

Lufthansa has refused to identify the pilots, or give details of ages and nationality, but it said the co-pilot joined Germanwings in September 2013, directly after training, and had flown 630 hours.

MORE ON GERMANWINGS:

• Germanwings Plane Crash Black Box 'Damaged' As Mystery Grows Over Final 8-Minutes


• Germanwings A320 Plane Crash: 3 British Victims Confirmed


• Germanwings Crew Refuse To Fly After Airbus A320 French Alps Plane Crash


• 'No Distress Call' And Rapid Descent At Centre Of Germanwings Mystery


• Germanwings Plane Had 16 Students And Two Teachers From Same School On Board


• Germanwings Plane Crashes In French Alps With 150 On Board

The Year Abroad: Trials and Tribulations

March 26, 2015, 5:55 am

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As a linguist, your second year is not based around planning internships, thinking about doing a Masters degree or going into work at long last. Instead you get to look forward to a year abroad; an educationally acceptable gap year so to speak. It is an opportunity to travel, to live in another country and to put off the world of work for another 365 days. We take a look at a few of the different ways to spend you can spend this magical year abroad:

The University Placement

For those that can't bear to leave the campus life, most universities have links to other institutes abroad; these can be through the Erasmus scheme (European universities only) or through external links to universities, in China for example. This is a relatively safe and secure option where you still have the support of a university, while taking classes and meeting a whole new set of friends. What is important in these placements is getting registered correctly at the institution and the area that you're staying in. In some countries if you are staying for more than 3 months then you must register as a resident for multiple reasons (tax and medical as key examples). Equally if you are going to a country outside of the EU you may need a study visa in order to stay in the country for an extended period of time. All of this kind of information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. It is essential to check this before travelling anywhere as, if you are required to apply for a visa, it can take some months to arrive.

The Teaching Assistantship

Although being a language assistant in a school can be arranged privately, the vast majority of students opting for this style work go through the British Council Assistantship programme. Essentially you will be an English language assistant in a country of your target language and will usually work for between 12-20 hours a week. Again this is a relatively safe option because you have the support of the school, fixed hours and a substantial amount of funding. Some schools will even help you sort your accommodation, although this is subject to your individual school. One strict part of the British Council Language Assistant Programme is that you must accept the placement no matter what. Once you have applied you are obliged to take up the place if offered so make sure you are certain you want to do this option before applying. Another thing to think about with British Council is where you want to go. You can put down three preferences, but remember, think outside the box. If French is your target language, you don't necessarily have to apply for mainland France. Quebec and Outre-Mer are great places to apply for if you want a different experience.

The Internship

For the more daring or those wanting some work experience before returning to finish their university year, an internship abroad is ideal. There is less stability but if you stay within the EU you can receive an Erasmus Grant for internships of 60 days or more. Internships allow you to specialise in a field of interest and get paid in many cases! However there are many more administrative things to consider. Do you need a work visa? Do you need to set up a bank account in the country and what are your rights as an employee? As a British citizen you do not need a work visa for other EU countries, however again it is best to check specific working rules and regulations on the FCO travel advice website (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice)

All the options above offer great scope and a lot of flexibility, meaning that you can make your year look however you want - just remember to plan ahead! No matter what option you choose or where you go, if you are spending a year in a foreign country, make sure you really research the laws and customs, talk to other people/students who have visited or even better lived there before to get tips on making the most of the place, and how to really integrate.

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Clayton Cardenas: The Art of The Storyteller

March 26, 2015, 5:55 am

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There are some people that spend their entire lives trying to perfect an art.

I used to live with a girl that was a beautiful painter. She'd spend hours in her room creating the most gorgeous images of the people she loved. It was art, but it was all on the surface. There was nothing beyond the paint and canvas. That didn't make her a bad artist, it was just an aesthetic that fell a little short.

That girl isn't the only person I'd met with that paint-and-canvas artistry. In the last few months I've met a lot of people that love art, but just aren't artists. They lack that certain something that sets them aside from the rest.


Clayton Cardenas is NOT one of these people. Art found Cardenas and plucked him out from a crowd of a billion and gave him a gift; a gift he didn't even know he was looking for.

'A friend of mine got me up and dragged me to Anthony Gilardi's acting class,' It's early morning for Cardenas when we talk but already his energy is infectious.

'I didn't put anything up that first time but just watching these people made me realise that it was what I wanted to do.'


Copyright Pocho-One photography


You'd be forgiven for feeling threatened by the artist in the photographs. With his deep drawl and tall, dark and handsome allurement, Cardenas is a force to be reckoned with even off screen.

He's tall at 6'2" and has that presence that most men crave. Originally destined to be a professional football player, his build is one of his defining features.

'My body just wasn't designed for the pain of being a linebacker,' he says, 'and I felt like I was doing it for everyone else, not for me. I liked football but it wasn't my purpose.'

After coming to terms with the harsh reality that he wasn't happy within his sport, Cardenas spent a few years in limbo.


Cardenas on set - copyright Lineage Entertainment Group


He describes his first experience in Anthony Gilardi's acting studio with vibrant animation, encompassing both his virility and admiration for his subject.

'It was like I was breathing for the first time, it gave me a new purpose. It's never boring, it's constantly evolving and there is always something new to do,'

'I'd never been passionate about ANYTHING before I found acting.'


Then Cardenas says the one thing I never thought I'd hear: 'If it wasn't for art, I'd either be in prison, or dead.'

It sends chills down my spine, a throw back to my first ever article on Cardenas' best friend and colleague Richard Cabral.

As we talk, another generation of Latin Americans who hail from the same streets that formed Cabral and Cardenas, are falling into the world of ganglife; a world that is slowly evolving to resemble organised crime syndicates, making it even harder for kids to get out without going to prison or dying from the lead slugs that are thrown around far too easily in East LA.


Cardenas, Cabral & Asau on set for the ever chilling episode of Out The Box starring the enigmatic Tui Asau - copyright: quincyndekwe


When he talks about his life outside of acting, the spark inside Cardenas dissipates, but doesn't dim completely. Then he'll remember he's getting to do the one thing he loves more than anything and suddenly, he's back to life!

'With art, I get to be my true self. I never had that with sports.'

It is the love that Cardenas holds for his art that permeates under the skin of those in his presence. I am yet to find a peer, friend or stranger with that level of contentment and reverence for what they've dedicated their life to.

Cardenas is a leading man, not only in his talent but in his soul. It's beautiful to witness and I can't wait for the rest of the world to see the light inside of him.

Luckily, I don't think the world with be waiting much longer.

So what's the end goal? I ask.

'I want to tell stories.'


Cardenas with Anthony Gilardi. Copyright - Anthony Gilardi Acting Studio

Watch this space for articles featuring stories from Richard Cabral, Tui Asau and Anthony Gilardi.

Goodbye Bermondsey Bomb

March 26, 2015, 6:00 am

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On a quiet - some might say eerily quiet - Monday, I stepped out onto my balcony in Bermondsey. I wasn't alarmed by the unexpected peacefulness until I looked to the right and saw police clustered at the end of my road... and then looked left to see even more officers.

On Monday, workmen unearthed a World War II bomb near my house, and by Tuesday night it was gone. What struck me about it was the incredibly prompt and organised response to what must not be a regular occurrence for London's police, paramedics, or even army, who all arrived to help control the incident.

While I was fortunate enough not to be evacuated, I lived in a vacuum for twenty-four hours, with the streets empty, the shops shut and no idea whether or not I would be required to leave my home. It was a surreal time, punctuated by the reality of running out of milk (and having no way to get more).

I won't say much about the facts of the event - I'll leave that to the news team here at HuffPostUK - but I will say that I was very impressed by the way it was handled by everyone involved, and would like to acknowledge the people that worked within such a close range of such a dangerous item to ensure the safety of residents like myself.

And now (around seventy years after it took up roots in Bermondsey) the bomb is gone. I'm sure we're all glad to see the back of it - I know that myself and the officers stationed by my flat were certainly delighted to say goodbye to the Bermondsey Bomb.





Images of the bomb being transported away from the site in Bermondsey, all photos are my own.

Protesting Students Shut London University And High Holborn Over Cuts Campaign

March 26, 2015, 7:13 am

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Students protesting against the profitization of higher education in the UK shut down High Holborn Street and the London College of Communication on Wednesday, it has been confirmed.

The protesters, from King's College London, joined students from the London School of Economics and University of the Arts London, who have been occupying Central St Martins since March 19 in protest due to the cutting of over 500 foundation course places last week.

Members from the occupation took part in a demonstration rally from LSE to High Holborn, which was initially targeted at the management building of the University of the Arts. However, the protestors then continued onto the London College of Communications in Elephant and Castle, which will bear the brunt of the cuts to foundation courses.

Upon finding the building locked, the protestors gathered outside the premises, at which point the police were called to the area. A fire alarm was set off, leading to some students gaining access to the building, although the entire college had to be evacuated.

The police then shut the building for several hours.


The protests were organised in response to the cutting over 500 foundation course places

Protesters gather outside the London School of Economics

The occupation is part of a wider campaign by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts

Speaking about the occupation, University of the Arts London Student Union President Shelly Asquith said: “That university management felt the need to call the police to keep us out of our own university building showed they are afraid of occupation as a tactic and of the power of students.

"We believe firmly that the police should be kept off our campuses and that universities should be a space free from intimidation and police harassment.”

Members of the protests also took to twitter to declare the occupation a success.

Today we have successfully disrupted 3 of UALs biggest sites. Mngmnt need to sort out the decision making & reinstate jobs & student places

— Occupy UAL (@OccupyUAL) March 25, 2015

Dozens of students now marching through London shouting "students and workers unite and fight" @OccupyUAL @NCAFC_UK pic.twitter.com/1DzTjGwdta

— Joana Ramiro (@JoanaRamiroUK) March 25, 2015

The protests were part of a wider campaign organised by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC), a network of student and education worker activists campaigning against tuition fees, education cuts and cuts to other public services.

In November 2014, a NCAFC demonstration in London attracted 10,000 students to campaign for free higher education.


Thousands of students protested in London in November 2014

The protestors were rallying against the rising cost of higher education

This Saturday (March 28) a NCAFC national demonstration will take place in Birmingham, where members will march on the seat of Shadow Higher Education Minister Liam Byrne.

Speaking about the ongoing occupations and NCAFC movement, the organisation's LGBTQ Representative Raquel Palmeira said: “ I have been occupying Central St Martins in solidarity with those who will be affected by the proposed cuts to foundation places. This is yet another example of the neoliberal university cutting things which it views as not useful for the free market economy.

"This new wave of activism is really unprecedented at this time of year, and I think it bodes well for our national demonstration on Saturday in Birmingham.”

Mental Health Campaigners Horrified At Zayn Self-Harm Hashtag

March 26, 2015, 10:13 am

≫ Next: Mental Health Campaigners Horrified At Zayn Self-Harm Hashtag Following Star's One Direction Exit

≪ Previous: Protesting Students Shut London University And High Holborn Over Cuts Campaign

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Campaigners have reacted with horror after it emerged some One Direction fans were urging others to self-harm in reaction to the news Zayn Malik has quit the chart-topping boyband.

The singer shocked fans yesterday when he left the world's biggest band saying he wanted the chance to be "a normal 22-year-old".

Shortly afterwards pictures emerged on social media from fans who appeared to have harmed themselves and were asking others to do so.

A spokesman for children's charity Barnardo's said: "We are horrified at the overnight trending of self-harm tweets after Zayn Malik quit One Direction with teenagers posting pictures of their self-inflicted injuries and encouraging others to follow suit.

"Self-harming sites and social media chat on self-harm are a disturbing aspect of culture which must be addressed and handled sensitively by all those responsible for caring for children.

"Children need a safe place to be able to discuss anything which distresses them and have guidance on how to deal with difficult feelings in a supportive environment.

"Carers, teachers and others and any young person who might be thinking about self-harm are urged to visit the Young Minds website."

A spokeswoman for Young Minds said: "Zayn is an important role model to other young people, as he is prioritising his wellbeing over fame and taking time out to look after himself.

"Young people who feel affected by this news should reach out to other young people and to trusted adults and talk to them about how they feel. It's a loss so like any loss it is about taking care of yourself and being with people who care for you and can support you."

Rachel Burrows, who edits parenting website Netmums. said: "Sadly some youngsters do self-harm to cope with stress, but hashtags like these are dangerous and they can potentially encourage kids to try it.

"The pressures of social media may mean some young fans see it as a way to prove their devotion to Zayn and the band.

"If you think your child is at risk, remind them it isn't what Zayn or the band would want - they want their fans happy and healthy. You can also contact charities like harmless.org.uk, Mind, the National Self Harm Network or the Netmums Parent Supporters for help."

The singer left the band's world tour last week after being "signed off with stress" and returned to the UK after he was forced to defend himself online and declare his love for fiancee Perrie Edwards when pictures emerged of him apparently close to another woman.

The group said they would continue as a four-piece for the tour and record another album - their fifth - later this year.

Yesterday, his former bandmate Harry Styles appeared to break down in tears on stage as he struggled to come to terms with Malik's sudden departure.

Styles wiped away tears as the band performed the latest leg of their On The Road Again Tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, hours after the news broke.

Pop svengali Simon Cowell, who discovered One Direction on talent show The X Factor, said he was sad to see Malik leave and was "immensely proud" of what he had achieved with the band.

He later tweeted his support for distraught fans, saying: "Sometimes strength is not defined by numbers."

He added: "As always you the fans have shown your amazing support to all the boys. When you have great talent great things happen."

Malik's statement yesterday rocked the pop world and led to a mass outpouring of grief from the band's young fans.

Among the many parents dealing with the fallout from the news was Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell's whose tearful daughter Kirsty joined her dad on air to talk about the "horrible" news.

She told listeners: "Everything's changed now he's gone. Like it's not going to be like One Direction, which is like five of them. It's just going to be Niall, Louis, Liam, Harry no Zayn... He was part of it and now it's just horrible that he's not going to be there any more."

Many fans took to social media to vent their feelings and were offered words of comfort from a veteran of boyband break-ups: Take That's Gary Barlow.

Barlow, who saw the disintegration of his own band in 1996 after Robbie Williams left, tweeted: "Sending my best to all the 1D boys ! #thatters we've all been there haven't we ? !!!!!"

Malik appeared in a leaked video last year smoking what appeared to be a joint while the group travelled in a van in South America.

He was also forced to explain his absence from promotional commitments after a US TV host questioned his bandmates about ''rumours of substance abuse''.

The band, who were put together after entering The X Factor as solo acts, have become millionaires on their way to being one of the biggest bands in the world.

Their latest album, Four, topped the US Billboard chart, making them the first group to debut at number one with their first four albums.

They have fans all over the world - their current tour takes in venues in countries including Indonesia and South Africa - and the video for their single, Best Song Ever, attracted almost 200 million views on YouTube.

Useful websites and helplines:

• Samaritans, open 24 hours a day, on 08457 90 90 90



• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393



• Young Minds offers information to young people about mental health and emotional wellbeing



• Students Against Depression, a website by students, for students.



• HopeLine runs a confidential advice helpline if you are a young person at risk of suicide or are worried about a young person at risk of suicide. Mon-Fri 10-5pmand 7pm-10pm. Weekends 2pm-5pm on 0800 068 41 41



• HeadMeds - a straight-talking website on mental health medication



• Student Minds supports students across the UK to bring about positive change on their campuses through campaigning and facilitating peer support programmes. To join the community or launch a student group contact the charity on hello@studentminds.org.uk

Mental Health Campaigners Horrified At Zayn Self-Harm Hashtag Following Star's One Direction Exit

March 26, 2015, 10:17 am

≫ Next: 'I've Been Given A Second Chance': Meet The Charity Helping Young People Excluded From School

≪ Previous: Mental Health Campaigners Horrified At Zayn Self-Harm Hashtag

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Mental health campaigners have reacted with horror after it emerged some One Direction fans were urging others to self-harm in reaction to the news Zayn Malik has quit the chart-topping boyband.

The singer shocked fans yesterday when he left the world's biggest band saying he wanted the chance to be "a normal 22-year-old".

Shortly afterwards pictures emerged on social media from fans who appeared to have harmed themselves and were asking others to do so.

Read More:

• My Self-Harm Nightmare: Was Channel 4's 'Graphic' Documentary Triggering And Irresponsible?


• Campaign Brilliantly Exposes Mental Health Stigmas


• How to Help Someone Struggling With Depression

A spokesman for children's charity Barnardo's said: "We are horrified at the overnight trending of self-harm tweets after Zayn Malik quit One Direction with teenagers posting pictures of their self-inflicted injuries and encouraging others to follow suit.

"Self-harming sites and social media chat on self-harm are a disturbing aspect of culture which must be addressed and handled sensitively by all those responsible for caring for children.

"Children need a safe place to be able to discuss anything which distresses them and have guidance on how to deal with difficult feelings in a supportive environment.

"Carers, teachers and others and any young person who might be thinking about self-harm are urged to visit the Young Minds website."

A spokeswoman for Young Minds said: "Zayn is an important role model to other young people, as he is prioritising his wellbeing over fame and taking time out to look after himself.

"Young people who feel affected by this news should reach out to other young people and to trusted adults and talk to them about how they feel. It's a loss so like any loss it is about taking care of yourself and being with people who care for you and can support you."

Rachel Burrows, who edits parenting website Netmums. said: "Sadly some youngsters do self-harm to cope with stress, but hashtags like these are dangerous and they can potentially encourage kids to try it.

"The pressures of social media may mean some young fans see it as a way to prove their devotion to Zayn and the band.

"If you think your child is at risk, remind them it isn't what Zayn or the band would want - they want their fans happy and healthy. You can also contact charities like harmless.org.uk, Mind, the National Self Harm Network or the Netmums Parent Supporters for help."

The singer left the band's world tour last week after being "signed off with stress" and returned to the UK after he was forced to defend himself online and declare his love for fiancee Perrie Edwards when pictures emerged of him apparently close to another woman.





The group said they would continue as a four-piece for the tour and record another album - their fifth - later this year.

Yesterday, his former bandmate Harry Styles appeared to break down in tears on stage as he struggled to come to terms with Malik's sudden departure.

Styles wiped away tears as the band performed the latest leg of their On The Road Again Tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, hours after the news broke.

Pop svengali Simon Cowell, who discovered One Direction on talent show The X Factor, said he was sad to see Malik leave and was "immensely proud" of what he had achieved with the band.

He later tweeted his support for distraught fans, saying: "Sometimes strength is not defined by numbers."

He added: "As always you the fans have shown your amazing support to all the boys. When you have great talent great things happen."

Malik's statement yesterday rocked the pop world and led to a mass outpouring of grief from the band's young fans.

Among the many parents dealing with the fallout from the news was Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell's whose tearful daughter Kirsty joined her dad on air to talk about the "horrible" news.

She told listeners: "Everything's changed now he's gone. Like it's not going to be like One Direction, which is like five of them. It's just going to be Niall, Louis, Liam, Harry no Zayn... He was part of it and now it's just horrible that he's not going to be there any more."

Many fans took to social media to vent their feelings and were offered words of comfort from a veteran of boyband break-ups: Take That's Gary Barlow.

Barlow, who saw the disintegration of his own band in 1996 after Robbie Williams left, tweeted: "Sending my best to all the 1D boys ! #thatters we've all been there haven't we ? !!!!!"

Malik appeared in a leaked video last year smoking what appeared to be a joint while the group travelled in a van in South America.

He was also forced to explain his absence from promotional commitments after a US TV host questioned his bandmates about ''rumours of substance abuse''.

The band, who were put together after entering The X Factor as solo acts, have become millionaires on their way to being one of the biggest bands in the world.

Their latest album, Four, topped the US Billboard chart, making them the first group to debut at number one with their first four albums.

They have fans all over the world - their current tour takes in venues in countries including Indonesia and South Africa - and the video for their single, Best Song Ever, attracted almost 200 million views on YouTube.

Useful websites and helplines:

• Samaritans, open 24 hours a day, on 08457 90 90 90



• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393



• Young Minds offers information to young people about mental health and emotional wellbeing



• Students Against Depression, a website by students, for students.



• HopeLine runs a confidential advice helpline if you are a young person at risk of suicide or are worried about a young person at risk of suicide. Mon-Fri 10-5pmand 7pm-10pm. Weekends 2pm-5pm on 0800 068 41 41



• HeadMeds - a straight-talking website on mental health medication



• Student Minds supports students across the UK to bring about positive change on their campuses through campaigning and facilitating peer support programmes. To join the community or launch a student group contact the charity on hello@studentminds.org.uk