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People are drawn to train as social workers for a range of reasons – professional, personal and a desire to make a difference. Once qualified, having opportunities to continue to learn and train are an integral part of the job. This training and career support is something Essex County Council has been focusing on, says … Read more

Potatoes are a staple of the British diet. However, they have gained a bad reputation, with concerns about them spiking our blood sugar levels – which, if repeated over time, can increase the risk of diabetes. “It depends on the type of potato and how you prepare it,” says Dr Christine Bosch, from Leeds University’s … Read more

England Bournemouth Beach Lodges, Dorset It’s unusual to find a beach hut that you can sleep in overnight, so these small but beautifully designed lodges are understandably in demand. Positioned directly overlooking the quieter end of Bournemouth’s long, sandy beach, the miniature seaside boltholes combine white clapboard walls and nautical stripes with mod cons such … Read more

I was temporarily living in my home town of Wangaratta while caring for my grandmother, who had dementia. I got weekends off and on one of those occasions I met a girl called Marie. During that lovely early period of a new relationship where you’re still getting to know each other, I took her camping … Read more

British Gas is causing me mental breakdown. I am a refugee and was grateful to be given a social housing flat. I duly informed British Gas, which supplies the gas on a prepayment meter and electricity, which was supposed to be billed. They sent me a new code and top-up card and I paid in … Read more

It began as a support group for overweight New Yorkers in 1963 and ballooned into a multimillion pound global enterprise that has spent decades selling people the dream of long-term weight loss. The trademark WeightWatchers’ points-based programme has been followed by millions, with accompanying cookbooks, groceries, weekly weigh-ins and “judgment-free” meetings, and a food-tracking app. … Read more

The question I am a man in my mid-50s, living with my wife and our children. Two years ago, I admitted to an affair, texting sex workers, watching porn and checking out women in public. I was not upfront with my wife and it badly affected her self-worth. Since then, I have been in therapy … Read more

The gym is back. In the UK, about 11.5 million people aged 16 and over now belong to one. Even old habits are making a comeback: after a few years of exhorting people to socially distance and wipe down machines, gym chains are removing cleaning stations, while their clientele go back to sharing kit and … Read more

Dove, 31 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2EU (020 7043 1400; dove.london). Starters £4-£16; mains £12-£33; wine from £35 I am a potentially dull person to eat with. However much I love and relish food, food is not my friend and I have a host of verbotens, ranging from garlic, onion and chives, which for … Read more

Like most sane people, I’d always assumed “love at first sight” was a concept reserved solely for sappy romcoms and teenage diary musings. It certainly didn’t happen in real life, to real people, and it certainly couldn’t happen to me. I was entirely devoted to my career in radio and, after a particularly bad breakup, … Read more