Venturewood Outdoor Education Centre in Cheshire has become an official Approved Activity Provider for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, so it can now deliver expeditions at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. The approval means more young people will be able to take on outdoor challenges and build confidence, independence and life skills.
A couple in Yardley, in the West Midlands, have transformed their semi-detached home into a Halloween display that has drawn thousands of visitors. Entry is free, with optional donations going to the mental health charity CALM, and the couple have raised over £3,000 so far.
A 112-year-old bandstand in Rutherglen's Overtoun Park, badly damaged by a fire in 2024, has been unveiled after a careful restoration. Craftsmen rebuilt its original design from surviving ironwork, old photographs and foundry catalogues, and a new mosaic celebrating the town's 900th anniversary has been added to its base.
Dave Barron, from Wigan, has spent years creating elaborate Halloween displays in tribute to his late wife, Catherine. Visitors' donations have helped him raise more than £55,000 for the Macmillan cancer charity, and this year's Back to the Future-themed display was his most ambitious yet, with help from family, friends and strangers.
