Wildlife woes, mental health petition and a film frenzy
ON MONDAY, star Rachel Riley will deliver a mental health petition to Downing Street calling for a law change in how the issue is dealt with in workplaces.
She will be joined by author Bryony Gordon and campaigner Natasha Devon in handing over the Mental Health First Aid England petition, which is calling for the health and safety regulations around first aid to include mental health as well as physical health.
It comes after studies found 56 per cent of the public say they have experienced a mental health issue – but 90 per cent still feel there is a taboo around mental health. This needs to change.
More than 200,000 people have signed the online petition urging the Government to commit to updating the Health and Safety At Work Act to ensure that businesses have the same obligation to provide mental health first aiders as they do medical first aiders.
Princes William and Harry will officially open the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London on Wednesday.
The Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex will be at St James’s Palace for the event, which has been organised by the Government to try and find ways to address the criminal trade, which is worth billions of pounds a year.
Illegal trade in animals, body parts, plants and timber is the fourth most lucrative transnational crime after drugs, weapons and human trafficking.
The Duke of Cambridge, who has recently completed a visit to Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya to highlight issues around illegal wildlife trade, will give a keynote speech at the event.
The annual BFI London Film Festival will start on Wednesday night with the premiere of director Steve McQueen’s new star-studded heist film which stars Viola Davis, Liam Neeson and Colin Farrell.
The festival runs until October 21, when it will close with a screening of
a highly-anticipated film about Laurel and Hardy starring Steve Coogan and John C Reilly. Among the other highlights this year are Mike Leigh’s and a biting comedy about two women fighting for the Queen’s affections in 18th century England. It stars Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.
Gareth Southgate’s young England side will be back in action at the weekend, fresh from the popular manager signing a new contract extension with the national team that will keep him in charge until the 2022 World Cup.
The Three Lions will travel to Croatia for a Friday night match in the Uefa Nations League before a match next Monday away in Spain. Among the new stars selected for the squad are Leicester City playmaker James Maddison, Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and Derby’s on-loan Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
Two events this week are planned as the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War draws closer. The Royal Albert Hall is to host a Classic FM Live concert in aid of SSAFA, the armed forces charity supporting military families.
The second half will be the world premiere of by Patrick Hawes. It will be performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and singers including the Invictus Games Choir and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.
Meanwhile, author, Sir Michael Morpurgo, is to visit the original Poppy Factory in Richmond. Sir Michael has written a new book,
to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.