Communities are encouraged to buy a poppy as this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is launched in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. 

The annual fundraising campaign supports members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, personnel and their families. 

The Poppy Appeal remains the Legion’s biggest annual fundraiser.  

Last year, more than 32 million poppies were distributed across the UK, and about £51.4 million was raised in donations. 

Chris Hayward is managing the Poppy Appeal in North Hampshire & Winchester and said: “Wearing a poppy during Remembrance time shows that you care.” 

“It’s a national symbol, and it shows the armed forces community that you appreciate everything that they do.” 

She added: “For those who want to get involved, you can wear your poppy, donate to the Royal British Legion, Poppy Appeal, and also participate in the collections and volunteer as a collector.” 

Winchester will be recognising remembrance itself, with a service at the Cathedral on Sunday, 9^th November, in addition to a service at Winchester Guildhall at 11 am on Armistice Day. 

The service will begin at 9:20 am and will include a procession from The Broadway to Winchester Cathedral, as well as wreath laying too. 

Donations from the campaign go towards services including mental health support, housing assistance and employment advice for veterans transitioning to civilian life. 

For more information on how to donate, volunteer or order poppies online, visit: britishlegion.org.uk/poppyappeal.  

When is the last time you picked up a book for the sake of your own enjoyment?

Once a beloved childhood pastime, reading books is now becoming more rare among young people.

An annual report by the National Literacy Trust found that reading rates among younger generations are plummeting every year.

The study found that the amount of young people aged eight to 18 who read for their own enjoyment has dropped to just 1 in 3.

This has resulted in a 36% decrease from when the study began taking place 20 years ago.

Professionals are growing concerned about young peoples comprehension skills, empathy levels, and their creativity, all attributes which are strongly connected to reading.

In an age of scrolling, streaming, and gaming, the appeal of a paperback no longer seems to compete with screens.

But in Winchester, community efforts are helping to spark that interest again.

Local children’s bookseller Jo works with schools to run author events and workshops to get stories back into young hands.

“Authors go in to schools and talk to the kids directly about their books and get them really engaged and I see that have such a great effect.”

As reading habits evolve, experts advise the goal isn’t to fight technology, it’s to find new ways to make stories matter again.

For reading to thrive like before, families, schools, and publishers will need to work together to make stories feel relevant and remind young people that reading is educational in more ways than one.

Major reforms have been announced that will affect landlords and tenants and will come into force later this year.

With about 20% of the population renting privately this new change will have significant impact on renters and landlords.

One of the most noticeable changes is the much demanded changes to the Section 21 evictions – or for no fault evictions – which this new law will be abolish.

The right to end tenancies within two months notice will be introduced, as well as making it illegal for landlords and agents to place discrimination against tenants with benefits and children.

Some are welcoming this law as a good step towards greater security, fewer surprises and better quality homes for all tenants.

More changes are appearing with the further announcement of Awaab’s Law since the death of two year old Awaab Ishak, who died from living in prolonged exposure to mould.

This law aims to protect tenants and force social landlords to urgently fix dangerous homes, like the private renting law being introduced this will drive more positive change.

Ben Twomey Chief Executive of Generation Rent, says that “clarity to renters and landlords” is vital with the need to announce “an implementation date quickly”.