They greet volunteers and buy bags of food, as well as fresh loaves of bread, bagels and flowers. A four-year-old boy tucks into a doughnut from a bistro offering hot and cold drinks.

His mum, who runs her own business, says: “I can only speak for me. I’m struggling. I need it.

“I don’t manage to come every week, but as often as we can. It helps.”

Bags of food ready for collection at the Bread and Butter Thing food hub at the Salvation Army on Palmerston Street, Stockton. Picture: LDR/suitable for all partners.

Members of the Bread and Butter Thing, a food club which has celebrated its second anniversary at this Stockton hub, pay £8.50 for three bags, £17 for six, stuffed with groceries worth four times the price. And in increasingly tough times, the need for support is universal.

One member says: “It’s very useful, especially because of the cost of living crisis. Everybody’s struggling.

“It just depends on what expenses you have coming out each week. Obviously the price of gas and electric go up and you want a warm house, don’t you? Before anything else you need your bills paying. But coming here, it helps you at least get a meal.”

Another member says she came to the “marvellous” affordable food hub every week to pick up food for her family: “Everybody has a short week, if they’ve had a big bill or the car tax is due. It does serve everybody.

“I’m on a limited income, my mam’s a pensioner and my son’s got three kids. He’s self-employed but he hasn’t always got work in.

“It’s such a brilliant place. The volunteers can’t do enough for you.”

Food ready for collection at the Bread and Butter Thing food hub at the Salvation Army on Palmerston Street, Stockton. Picture: LDR/suitable for all partners.

Hub manager Gary Izomor says: “I think in these trying times the need has been very, very high. Especially nowadays, it’s increasingly so.

“What we’ve seen is people like doctors or school teachers or anybody with a quote unquote really good or decent job coming to need our services. They would go to us first then go to supermarkets and save a bit of money.

“You just tend to find everybody’s struggling, it could be for a little bit, it could be for a lot longer. But everybody’s going through the same troubles. The problem still doesn’t change that the cost of living is far too high for a lot of people.

“We find a lot of people who come and they’ve had no food at all for a week or so or they’ve got limited food and they don’t know where the next meal’s going to come from. They’re just regular people who work full-time, who earn money month to month, and they still can’t afford food, lights or heating.”

He said a sense of pride might stop people from coming: “They see it as a sense of failure when it’s not. Everybody needs a hand once in a while, it doesn’t matter where you come from.

“I would say, put your pride aside and come down. You will save a lot than you realise and that will go towards activities you would like or help you pay off a bill.

“It just gives you a safety line. You don’t have to panic.”

He says it also helps promote healthy eating, with bags of fruit and veg, chilled food and canned goods from supermarkets, suppliers and retailers. They currently sell more than 50 parcels at a time.

The borough’s five hubs, launched with funding from Stockton Council and Thirteen Housing, are among 156 nationally for the country’s largest food redistribution charity, which provides food to 100,000 members in low-income communities. Members save up to £25 a week and more than 70% report cooking more and eating more fruit and veg.

The Bread and Butter Thing van. Picture: The Bread and Butter Thing.

Gary says it brings out the best in people: “I really enjoy it. It can be really challenging on a morning, we’re always expanding so the deadlines get shorter. Once you get to the hub and help people out, it’s all worth it.

“It’s been very, very well received. It’s taken on a life of its own, evolved to more of a community. You see the community come together and help each other out.

“A lot of people know about it but don’t constantly use it, which is good for us because it seems like we’ve achieved what we set out to achieve – gave them a safety net, gave them the helping hand they needed and they’re back on their feet. And if they’re ever struggling again, we’re always going to be here to help them out.”

Salvation Army volunteers, mostly retired, make up the team hosting Bread and Butter as part of the church’s ethos to serve and help the local community. Its leader at the hub, Major Ian Davis, says: “We were approached by the council and asked if we would consider hosting the Bread and Butter Thing in our building. We’re happy to do that.

“It seems to be very busy most weeks. You see the same faces regularly so we know people are appreciating the service.”

Diane Bartle, a former specialist teacher who organises more than 20 volunteers, says: “It is quite a mix of society. It’s a cross-section that come through, a range of people.

“We are finding a lot of people locally are struggling. I think the need has grown, they’ve found a real big need in Stockton.

“There are increasingly families finding it difficult to stretch the budget, so it does help ease their budget a little bit. They’ll get a lot more for their money and it’s usually good-quality food.

“Some are saying their diet has altered because they’re getting fruit and veg they wouldn’t normally buy themselves.”

Volunteer Trevor Watson, 71, a former European supply chain manager for the chemical industry, says: “It goes very well, the people that came in are appreciative. Regulars come in and you get a rapport.

Salvation Army volunteer Trevor Watson, 71, at the Bread and Butter Thing food hub at the Salvation Army on Palmerston Street, Stockton. Picture: LDR/suitable for all partners.

“They find somebody to talk to, some people are opening up. I just think people are struggling with their budgets overall, with all the different rises.

“People who are earners come to Bread and Butter. Some people are proud and they don’t want handouts, whereas the Bread and Butter is something they pay for, £8.50 for £35 worth of groceries. People are trying to balance it so they can spend the money they have on essentials, maybe heating, maybe travel.

“I think when it started people were reluctant, but as they’ve come week on week they get more relaxed in the knowledge they’re doing their bit because they’re paying for the food.”

The Salvation Army also run a separate food bank, community meals and community space on the same premises, and Ian says the Bread and Butter Thing offers an opportunity for people to move to a different service.

Vic Harper, chief executive of the Bread and Butter Thing, said: “We’ve seen how access to affordable, healthy food can bring people together, reduce waste and strengthen neighbourhoods. None of this would be possible without our brilliant volunteers, whose commitment and care sit at the heart of everything we do.”

The Bread and Butter Thing is free to join and volunteers are welcome. Text 07507 237311 with your name, postcode, and where you would like to collect food – Salvation Army on Palmerston Street, Stockton; Teesside Vineyard Church, Acklam Road, Thornaby; New Life Family Centre, Low Grange Avenue, Billingham; Newtown Community Resource Centre, Durham Road, Newtown; or Redhill Family Hub, Redhill Road, Roseworth.

The Coronation Street icon made a big impression on the ITV reality show

I’m A Celebrity South Africa fans branded Beverley Callard their ‘winner’ as a potential feud emerged between the Coronation Street legend and one of her new campmates.

The Liz McDonald actress initially appeared on the Ant and Dec ITV reality in 2020, when the show relocated to a Welsh castle due to the Covid pandemic. She was the fourth celebrity eliminated in the series which was won by Giovanna Fletcher.

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Viewers are finally getting to see how Beverley fares in the jungle, with the 69-year-old among the stars featured in the return of I’m A Celebrity South Africa on Monday night (April 6). The All Stars series was recorded prior to her telling fans she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

Early on in the episode, Beverley was paired with Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas for a challenge titled Tipped Over The Edge They were strapped back to back and had to collect puzzle pieces from the ledge to build a star.

Going up against Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts and Olympian Sir Mo Farah, the team who completed the star in the fastest time would be the winners. With the cliff’s ledge tipping like a see-saw the closer they got to it, they would be sent over the edge hurtling into the drop below if they went too far too soon.

Adam and Beverly proved to be a good team as they made light work of collecting the puzzle pieces. However, disaster struck towards the end of the challenge when not only did they fall off the ledge when trying to get the last piece, but that some of the ones they had collected fell with them.

Despite still having time to finish the challenge, it took Adam a staggering ten minutes to figure out where to place the jigsaw pieces and led to him and Beverley losing the challenge. After this the stars met boxer David Haye and Gogglebox’s Scarlett Moffatt outside two remote lodges.

With David eventually finding the right key hidden among 50 wrong ones, he said that Beverley should be sent to Savannah Scrub, a camp with basic rations, instead of Scarlett. “It’s survival, we’ve got to eat,” he said.

While she insisted there was ‘no hard feelings’, Beverley replied: “David you are going to pay for that decision… up yours.”

Those watching the episode at home rushed to X, previously known as Twitter, to express why they think Beverley was hard done by and why she may just end up winning the series.

@fansvfavourites said: “oh beverley! this is what all stars is all about! our winner #ImACeleb.” @lmfaoitsjoeyy added: “i won’t accept ANYONE coming for my bev callard #ImACeleb.”

@RyanSoapKing25 wrote: “Poor Bev being sent to be bad camp #ImaCeleb.” @FattyFudge4 posted: “Bev ROBBED being sent away #ImACeleb.”

@RyanJL commented: “Love that Bev Callard is getting this experience after missing out on Australia for her series #ImACeleb.” @ThornhillNina stated: “Loving Bev #ImACeleb.”

ITV viewers saw some familiar faces head back into the jungle as I’m A Celebrity South Africa returned to screens.

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I’m a Celebrity viewers were less than impressed during the first episode of the South Africa series as one fan-favourite didn’t appear in the episode despite being shown in the teasers all week.

Fan-favourites from past I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! series are back in a bid to claim the title of jungle legend. On Monday night, ITV viewers saw hosts Ant and Dec welcome some familiar faces to South Africa as the former campmates were thrown straight into the deep end.

Actor Adam Thomas, Ashley Roberts, Sir Mo Farah and Beverley Callard were the first stars to arrive and meet the Geordie duo on the top of a high cliff ledge.

Split into two teams, they had to battle it out by collecting puzzle pieces from the ledge to build a star while strapped back-to-back with their teammate. The team that completes the star in the fastest time wins.

However, when they got closer to the cliff’s ledge, the ledge would tip like a see-saw, meaning if they went too far, they’d be sent over the edge, hurtling into the drop below. In the end, it was Mo and Ashley who won, sending Adam to Savannah Scrub, the smaller basic camp.

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Although the remainder of the stars joined the campmates later on in the episode, including Scarlett Moffatt, Seann Walsh, David Haye, and Sinitta, two famous faces were noticeably absent.

People were quick to notice Gemma Collins’ absence before she made an appearance at the end of the show alongside Craig Charles. The pair were shown in a preview for Tuesday night’s episode where they will go head-to-head in an eating trial with Craig.

She could be heard admitting: “This is a far cry from Essex! I’m ready for you.”

Viewers were less than impressed by their late arrival, as many issued the same complaint, as one person said: “I’m bored WHERE IS GEMMA COLLINS!?!?!?!? #ImACeleb”

Someone else added: “We’ve sat through 90 minutes with no sign of our Gemma.”

One viewer commented: “Just bring the GC in already I’m getting bored.” Another person added: “The producers gate keeping the GC until tomorrows episode #imaceleb.”

Someone else shared: “Where is the GC?? Are you telling me I waited the whole ep for nothing?#imaceleb.” While another person reeled: “I’m watching this sh**e for the GC and the GC only. What’s going on.”

Ahead of her return, Gemma, who starred in the series back in 2014 and lasted a mere 72 hours, confessed her comeback is her redemption.

She said: “Going on All Stars is a real moment for me in my career – it’s redemption. To be able to do this again is the greatest honour ever.

“I am going to be the best campmate and get those stars. None of us will be starving under my watch.”

I’m a Celebrity… South Africa which airs every weeknight at 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV Player & STV.

Officers were called to Lyons Lane at around 12.20pm on March 20 after reports that a BMW 320d had been involved in a collision with a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, a man in his 70s, was taken to hospital with a head injury but has since died. Police said their thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.

The driver of the BMW was not arrested and is being treated as a witness.

Sergeant Laura Kendall, from Lancashire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “As a result of this collision, a man has lost his life and my thoughts are very much with his loved ones at this distressing time.

“A number of enquiries have been carried out since the initial collision; however, work is still ongoing to establish the full circumstances which led to it.

“As such, I would ask any witnesses, or anybody who has dashcam or CCTV footage which would assist us with our enquiries, to contact the police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to email sciu@lancashire.police.uk or call 101, quoting log 648 of March 20, 2026.

The Sagittarius Moon works in tandem with Mercury in Pisces, bringing relationships into the forefront. Make meaningful connections.

Aquarius, Sagittarius, and Libra, this placement heightens your awareness and deepens your emotions. You have much to give your bonds with others today, so be generous.

Make sure you are looking outwards, rather than inward, as this placement is all about your external reality. Delve into the complex nature of friendships today.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday April 7, 2026

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To download your free Unique Personal Horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com/free-birth-chart/.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Your horizon widens the moment you question it. Beliefs that once felt protective may now feel restrictive, so notice the stories you tell yourself about what is possible. Are they brave or merely familiar? Intuition whispers that you are capable of more, so listen to it closely and let go of narratives that keep you small. By expanding your mindset, actions follow naturally.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Feel that someone is holding something back? Your sixth sense is rarely wrong, but instead of being polite, try being direct. Ask questions that can’t be brushed aside, as you always value transparency and you deserve it in return. Trust that truth strengthens bonds rather than weakening them. When you speak openly yet kindly, you create space for real understanding.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

You might want to branch out, yet your thoughts can drift toward quieter activities. Someone may show up with guidelines about what your next career move should be. Listen to what they have to say, as their insights can be a real gift right now. Test their advice against your inner knowing. If it rings true, just get on with it. Say a bold yes or a tactful no, then go for it.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Cancer 22 June – 23 July

You may feel tempted to ponder, improve and prepare endlessly, but the stars are waving the starting flag. There is no prize for hesitation, so choose the plan, open the file or send the email. Movement is your ally and action will ensure progress. A small brave step today becomes a sturdy bridge tomorrow. It’s time for action, so start now and keep it very simple.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

The Moon in Sagittarius can boost you while its angle with Mercury in Pisces can encourages empathy. If you want someone’s help, skip any drama and be honest. Say what you need and why it matters. People trust those who tell the truth quietly without fuss. Be direct and fair, and leave room for their response, Leo. Honesty now builds loyal alliances later.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

You’re able to see the big picture and intuit the subtle issues going on beneath the surface. You’re also brilliant at spotting patterns yet today asks for kinder detective work. Instead of correcting bad habits, study their roots. What fear, hope or past experience is steering the wheel? Curiosity helps a lot, as when you understand the why, the what becomes doable.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

You are gifted at keeping the peace, yet calm built on silence may not seem right. What do you actually want? Say it clearly, as you don’t need to stage manage everyone’s comfort zone. The right people will appreciate your openness, and the wrong expectations will quietly fall away. Choose yourself first and watch as your relationships recalibrate around your truth.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

You enjoy quality, but before buying any luxuries ask if they will enhance your life or act as temporary distractions. Your instincts are sharp, so use them to invest in tools, skills or experiences that benefit you. Skip fleeting thrills and remember that money really is concentrated energy. You wield it well when you spend with intention rather than on impulse.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

The Moon in your sign sees your instincts sharpened. Yet an angle with Mercury in Pisces adds a gentle undertow of empathy. A family matter calls for subtlety, not drama, and you don’t need all the answers, just the right questions. Curiosity opens doors that pride can shut. Your natural honesty softened with kindness can untangle knots that have lingered too long.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 20

Facts may be vague and information could arrive half baked. Your instinct is to demand solid data but today invites a subtler skill. Notice what your sixth sense says when things aren’t as they should be. You can sense truth even when details are blurred, so pause before judging others. Focus on the good, release the negatives and trust that feeling that lingers within.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 21 to February 19

You may be happy in good company, but you’ll want to be generous too. A social outing sparkles like a neon promise, even so mind the bill. Fun need not result in a financial hangover. Choose happy experiences over extravagance and share laughter, not unlimited excess. Your presence is the main attraction, not money. Giving is best when it’s sustainable.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

The Moon’s angle with Mercury in your sign encourages honesty about your direction. You often sense what is expected and quietly shape shift to fit it. Today asks for something braver. What do you truly want, not what sounds sensible or impressive? Speak that dream aloud, as desire is not selfish, it’s like your compass. Choose the story that feels alive, then act on it.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of April here.

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Tyrone failed to challenge for promotion from Division Two this season, but Conleith Gilligan knows they are always capable of raising a gallop against their Ulster rivals

Ulster SFC preliminary round: Armagh v Tyrone (Sunday, 4.15pm, Box-It Athletic Grounds, live on RTE2 and BBC)

“It is still Tyrone.”

Conleith Gilligan isn’t buying the narrative that Tyrone are up against it when it comes to Sunday’s Ulster SFC preliminary round clash with Armagh at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.

One of Ballinderry’s most famous sons, his home parish crosses into County Tyrone.

While he is acutely aware that the Red Hands have endured a lacklustre League campaign, he is fearful of a potential backlash from a team that gave Armagh their fill in the provincial semi-final last season.

When it was put to Gilligan at the recent Ulster SFC launch event that Tyrone are dangerous opposition when their backs are against the wall, he concurred: “Massively. Tyrone’s League campaign was very similar to our own, you’d (Niall) Morgan, (Darren) McCurry, (Michael) McKernan and Darragh Canavan missing a few games.

“They were the same and trying to get up with new and untested players. Similar points, they’d be disappointed in some of the games they lost that they might have won.

“It makes it very dangerous – it’s still Tyrone, it’s still a derby game and the winning and losing of it is massive.

“You’re in the preliminary round, earlier than you’d have wanted to be out but that’s where we’re at. It’s a huge game for both teams in terms of kick-starting their summer.”

Despite the fact that Armagh are 2/5 favourites to progress to a quarter-final meeting with Fermanagh, Gilligan stressed keeping the players grounded wasn’t an issue.

“I don’t think so, I think players are cute enough now to know and the proximity of Armagh to Tyrone… even our younger players would have looked at their younger players winning Hogan Cups and All-Ireland U20s, so there’s no illusion with the younger players as to the quality Tyrone have,” added Gilligan.

“The older players, they’ve been through the mill before and been stung in big games before where they were supposed to be favourites.

“Last year’s Kerry game was the prime example, where the expectation was that Kerry wouldn’t beat Armagh, and look how that turned out.

“The fact that the League is done now, every team’s looking for that one big win to ignite their summer. From a Tyrone perspective, going to Armagh to do that would be high on their list of priorities.”

Armagh’s head-to-head win over Tyrone sent the Red Hands down last season alongside Derry with the duo failing to gain promotion from Division Two this term.

Kieran McGeeney’s side claimed five points in Division One this year – two less than Tyrone in 2025, but stayed in the top flight.

Although Armagh were in Division Two in 2024 when they won the All-Ireland later that summer, Gilligan feels retaining their Division One status was hugely important.

“It was very, very important to stay up,” said Gilligan.

“It’s not the end of the world if you don’t but if you go into Division Two and something happens, you lose players through injuries, you get a couple of bad results and all of a sudden Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup becomes a question midway through the league.

“At least when you’re in Division One, if you have a bad start there’s a bit of protection in that.

For ourselves, a lot of those players playing those games, you learn an awful lot even from the ones you lose. Even that day in Mayo, we’d some very good performances. The Dublin game, Tomás McCormack came in and was excellent. That’s where the learning happens, he plays the Kerry game in a very similar vein. For younger players, it’s way more important than for the experienced players because you’re just getting way more exposure to better teams and bigger games and crowds, and it gives you slightly better preparation ahead of the Championship.”

Armagh are hoping to have close to a full strength panel to select from with Gilligan reporting that Joe McElroy, Andrew Murnin and Barry McCambridge are “close” to full fitness.

Meanwhile, Gilligan says he doesn’t understand why the hooter rule was changed for the 2026 season, arguing that there was little wrong with the ruling as it was last year.

Seemingly in response to a passage of play at the end of the first half of last year’s All-Ireland final when David Clifford kicked a two-pointer after a prolonged spell of possession for Kerry, the half now ends when the hooter sounds.

However, further issues have arisen, especially in the wake of the League finals.

Meath’s James Conlon cynically dragged down Cork’s Maurice Shanley to stop the rebels launching one last attack in the Division Two final.

In the Division Three decider, Down held possession for over three minutes before trying to engineer a winner over Wexford in normal time.

Gilligan said he is in favour of the hooter being used in some guise, but prefers last year’s version.

“I think the fact it’s definitive is good from the point of view of previously the referee might have had two minutes go up on the board but finds another three, so you don’t really know what you have to do,” stated Gilligan.

“I like that it’s definitive but I still think the way it was previously was better, last year – the final play.

“I still think the hooter is better than not knowing but I don’t see why they wanted to change that.

“Scoring on the buzzer or after the hooter brought great excitement and you could tell what every team was trying to do.

I thought it was good, I don’t understand why they thought changing that rule would add to the game at all, because it didn’t and doesn’t.

“Meath and Cork was probably proof that it’s not a good way when the game was as tight as it is there.”

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Howard Stern’s former assistant is suing the famed radio personality and his wife for allegedly subjecting her to a hostile work environment while employed at their 20,000-square-foot Hamptons estate, according to court filings reviewed by The Independent.

In a state lawsuit filed Sunday, Leslie Kuhn, who began working for Stern in 2022 as his office manager at SiriusXM, says she was made the shock jock’s executive assistant the following year, and relocated to Southampton, New York, in 2024 – at the pair’s request – to provide “assistance with such things as managing the staff of the mansion, setting staffing schedules, completing staff payroll and managing general household operations, including Beth Stern’s extensive at-home feline rescue and fostering operations.”

Beth Stern is a longtime animal activist who rescues and fosters abandoned dogs and cats, and is the national spokesperson and board member for North Shore Animal League America.

Kuhn’s complaint says she was given a raise in December 2025 from $100,000 to $265,000, plus an $80,000 bonus, but that she was fired in February 2026 for “alleged misconduct.” But while the complaint does not provide details of the purported wrongdoing, it says Kuhn “denies in whole and in part the reasoning given to her,” calling it “manufactured by the Defendants in general and Beth Stern in particular.”

“Rather, Kuhn contends that her termination was the result of, among other things, a hostile work environment and enablement of that hostile work environment, immense pressures on the household created by irresponsible and untenable animal rescue and fostering operations occurring on-site, and massively disorganized and questionable business operations and accounting practices,” the complaint states.

However, Kuhn claims the allegations against her are so detrimental to her reputation that they would have “a chilling effect on [her] future employment prospects.”

At the same time, Kuhn also accuses Stern’s production company of forging her signature on two non-disclosure agreements she denies ever okaying, and is asking a judge to declare them null and void because it forbids her from telling anyone, including prospective employers, her version of events while allowing Howard and Beth to “speak freely about Kuhn with impunity.”

“As such, Kuhn fully intends to disclose details concerning the facts surrounding her employment by Stern, Beth Stern, Sirius, and [Stern’s production company],” the complaint states, “and termination of that employment as necessary to address the accusations made against her and to protect her reputation and future employment prospects.”

Attorney John Leonard, who is representing Kuhn, told The Independent that he is simply asking the court to weigh in on the validity and enforceability of the two NDAs Kuhn says she never signed.

“It’s very easy to see that they are one-sided; they’re not reciprocal, so it gives one party the right to say anything they want and the other party is muzzled,” Leonard said.

Above and beyond forbidding Kuhn from discussing the ins and outs of her employment with Stern, the allegedly bogus NDA prohibits her from talking about anything about the couple’s “family members or friends, daily activities and personal habits (e.g., food preferences, sleeping habits, hobbies), use of consumer products, choice of restaurants, hotels or other establishments, entertainment preference, the location or contents of residences and other properties, travel arrangements, location(s) or methods, political affiliations,” and “any other matters” related to Stern’s business.

Such a contractual relationship would put Kuhn, who the complaint describes as “a mere at-will employee with considerably less influence and resources than the Sterns, their affiliated entities and associates,” at an unfair disadvantage “personally, professionally and publicly.”

NDAs are being used to silence people like Kuhn, who are “at distinct disadvantages in influence and resources,” according to Leonard, who pointed out that his client never wanted things to get to this point.

“The decision to seek declaratory relief from the court was a decision that was not made lightly,” Leonard told The Independent. “My client, however, is a very strong woman and she just wants the court to tell her what her rights are so she can move ahead lawfully. Not knowing whether you’re able to defend yourself against other people’s allegations is a very harrowing situation to be in. But I have to say, she’s handling it very well, she’s very strong, and she looks forward to her day in court.”

The Independent has reached out to reps for Stern for comment.

Kuhn is now seeking a declaration voiding the NDAs, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs.

Annual event celebrates safety leadership, culture and performance across the energy sector.

The search is on for people, teams, and companies in Lanarkshire who have gone the extra mile to ensure safety and wellbeing remains at the forefront of UK energy operations as nominations for the 2026 Energy Safety Awards open.

The annual awards event, jointly organised by Offshore Energies UK and Step Change in Safety, celebrates safety leadership, culture and performance across the energy sector.

Formerly known as the Offshore Safety Awards, the updated name reflects the evolving energy landscape and ensures the awards remain relevant, inclusive and future focused, while keeping safety firmly at the heart of the event.

They spotlight the excellent work being done to promote safety, support wellbeing and drive improvements in safety performance and they take place on August 20, at Aberdeen’s P&J Live.

The deadline for submissions is May 1 and the award categories are: Award for Major Hazard Awareness; Award for Wellbeing; Award for Safety Representative of the Year – sponsored by Opito; Award for Workforce Engagement; Award for Sharing & Learning; Award for Outstanding Contribution to Safety; Award for Decommissioning Safety; Award for Site Leader; and Award for Aviation Safety.

READ MORE: Detectives appeal for information after takeaway delivery driver robbed in Cambuslang

Mark Wilson, OEUK’s energy operations director said: “The flagship Energy Safety Awards recognise outstanding safety efforts by individuals, teams, and organisations in our industry.

“Feedback and recognition help build a strong safety culture, and we look forward to this year’s entries highlighting positive contributions across the sector.”

Craig Wiggins, CEO of Step Change in Safety, added: “Across the energy industry, there is a huge amount of work happening every day to improve safety and wellbeing – often driven by people and teams who don’t seek recognition.

“The Energy Safety Awards shine a spotlight on those efforts, while reflecting the evolving energy landscape by bringing sectors together to share learning.

“I’d encourage organisations to put forward nominations and help showcase what excellent looks like across our industry.”

READ MORE: Further delay in reopening of Airdrie’s John Smith Pool

More information about submitting a nomination for the Energy Safety Awards is available via https://form.jotform.com/260782714932058; all nominations are submitted fully online and can be completed on any device, making it quick and easy to enter wherever you are.

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Joanne, whose new book Vianne is a prequel to her best-seller Chocolat, appeared at a sold-out event at the Spurriergate Centre on Thursday (April 2) that took place as part of the York Chocolate Festival and raised money for Chocolate & Co.

Before this, she visited the Choc Affair factory in James Street and was given a tour of the building – making and packaging her own chilli chocolate by following one of her titular character’s own recipes from the book.

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Joined by friend and master chocolatier David Greenwood-Haigh, Joanne mixed her chocolate recipe herself and created the bars from scratch – pouring them into a mould and cooling them, before taking on the Choc Affair team in a wrapping challenge.

The bars she created were then split among the guests later that evening at her event: a talk and Q&A which raised funds for Chocolate & Co: a not-for-profit community cafe in Lowther Street, in the Groves, which supports people recovering from addiction and social exclusion through paid work and training.

Joanne said she was invited to attend the event by Linda Barrie – who owns both Choc Affair and Chocolate & Co – and that she was more than happy to take part in order to support the cause.

James and David being given a tour of the factory by operations manager Richard (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

She said: “For some reason, places that have to do with chocolate keep inviting me along to things – how great is that? It’s a really great project and really worthwhile to be a part of this.

“It’s interesting because when I first wrote Chocolat, I didn’t really know anything about chocolate that I hadn’t read from the first four pages of the Mary Ford Chocolate cookbook, but now I get to hang out with people like this who are incredibly knowledgeable and glean a bit of their knowledge.

“By creating these bars, we can share them at the event – we could give the guests the taste experience as well as the reading experience; people will be able to stack their pleasures.”

Working together with David, Joanne shared that the recipes created for the book were influenced by different ingredients – adapting traditional recipes, such as Mexican mole or the use of the cacao pod, into chocolate flavours that may be new and exciting for Western palettes.

Joanne putting her chocolate mix into the moulds (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Joanne added: “I find it’s much better to start with things that brought the novel to life – the senses, the smells, the tastes, the recipes, the stories behind all this.

“David created a ganache when we worked together on the One Show using Provance style herbs as the book is based in Marseille. The region has associations with sense, flavours, and plants that grow, so we took some of the regional flavourings.

“When I’m working, I usually start off with a scent as it’s generally one of the things that propels me and that’s why the books are so full of scent and tastes and the things we associate with those things and that’s why there’s so much food but it’s also about humans and how they process the world.”  

She explained that she first came up with the idea to write a sequel for Chocolat around five or six years ago whilst recording an audiobook of the novel.

Joanne packaging her chocolate (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Joanne said: “I don’t generally plan things ahead a lot – I have little germs of ideas and I think I could do that or I could go to this place. People assume I had a lot of these ideas when I was writing Chocolat, but that’s not really true.

“I started to write this book when I was recording the audiobook – that made it a lot easier and when I was listening, I thought I have to bear that in mind or that’ll be useful, so you’ve got all these sneaky references that look intentional but they were retrofitted.

“I didn’t know Vianne’s story when I wrote Chocolat, because she hadn’t told me. That’s why in the book there’s a lot of unanswered stuff; whenever I do an event, people go will you write a prequel about her mother as she’s present all the time, but she’s already dead.

“Actually, there’s lots of things she doesn’t know about her mother, so at some point, I may have to go even further into the past and write a prequel to the prequel – that might be quite fun.”

James, David, and Joanne (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

James Bye, business development manager for Choc Affair, said that it was a ‘pleasure’ welcoming Joanne to the factory and that it felt like a natural fit having her visit the factory before her fundraiser.

He said: “We thought it would be nice to have her visit us to make the bars that feature in the book. It’s been a pleasure welcoming her today.

“Over the last 20 years, we’ve gone from Linda founding us in her kitchen as she wanted to make a drinking chocolate for her daughter who is lactose intolerant and from there, it’s been a massive development. We’ve just expanded our production again and we hope to keep supplying independent businesses in the UK.

“Core to our beliefs are our ethical principles: we buy all of our chocolate from one source in Columbia and for every kilo of chocolate, we put five per cent back to projects at ground level.

“At the moment, we sponsor a project that helps children in marginalised areas, especially those affected by the drug trade, and show them there’s other ways to make a living through cacao. We’ve also done ways to get to school, reforestation, and we also support local projects here in York.”

Josie Thompson sadly died at the age of 37

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A mum died four years after being told she “had nothing to worry about” when she had a mole removed from her back. Now Josie Thompson’s family are urging people to wear sunscreen frequently to prevent the risk of metastatic malignant melanoma.

The mum-of-two sadly passed away at age 37 on March 28 this year, DailyStar reports. In the summer of 2022, Josie’s husband, Laith, 39, noticed a slight change in a mole on her back – it had become darker and irregular in shape.

After visiting the doctors, she was referred to a local dermatology department where the mole was removed. Josie was reassured that there was nothing to worry about – but shortly after its removal, the mole began to regrow through the scar tissue.

Despite a second removal with a wider excision, she was again told the mole was not cancerous and was never referred for CT or PET scans – even though she requested them. By March 2023, the mole had regrown, and a CT scan and a lymph node biopsy eight months later revealed melanoma in her lymph nodes, and stage three cancer.

Josie received the devastating news over the phone while at the aquarium with her two daughters, Rebecca, 10 and Sophie, 6. Tragically, despite “fighting everyday for her girls,” she passed away at the age of 37, reports the Manchester Evening News.

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Her grieving family are now hoping to share Josie’s inspiring story to encourage people to be aware of their skin, get checked if any changes are noticed, and hopefully save lives.

They are campaigning for heightened awareness regarding skin protection – including avoiding sunbeds, getting any unusual marks examined promptly, and wearing SPF50 – even during winter.

Jade Thompson, 40, described her sister as an “incredible fighter” who was always cautious and careful with her fair skin. Jade, from Plymouth, Devon, said: “They told her the mole was nothing to worry about.

“It was the biggest shock ever to learn, after eight long months, that she had stage three melanoma and it had spread to her lymphatic system. We were told for so long everything was OK. I carry so much anger – she did everything right.”

Specialists referred Josie for immunotherapy in March but unfortunately the second round made her very poorly and induced Myasthenia gravis – a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular condition.

Jade said: “She started noticing neurological changes – her breathing became difficult, her eyes started drooping, and her movements started to change. It was so serious that she ended up in ICU because her lungs just weren’t working.”

Specialists determined that it was too dangerous to continue with immunotherapy – with the Myasthenia Gravis now posing more risk than the cancer, said Josie.

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With no treatment for the cancer itself, the disease soon spread to her liver, lungs and eventually her spine. The family said they exhausted every avenue to try and help her. Jade revealed: “We reached out to doctors all over the world and no one could help. Josie even radically changed her diet and adopted such a positive mindset.

“We really did try every avenue, spiritually, emotionally and physically – she so desperately did not want to die. She kept fighting everyday for her girls – they are the most important thing.

“I have never known true strength until I saw what my sister went through, she lost everything with this disease – but it didn’t change her spirit.”

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The family managed to celebrate Josie’s 37th birthday together at Disneyland Paris last year – which Josie described to her family as a “dream come true”.

Her final months were spent being cared for at St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth. Jade said the care her sister received there was “nothing short of incredible”.

During her treatment, Josie established an online community named ‘Josie’s Journey’ – which gathered over 3,500 followers on Facebook.

She utilised her platform to raise awareness and encourage others to get checked – and she received numerous messages informing her she had helped people detect their skin cancer early.

Jade stated: “Josie created a real community of people and the support they gave her over the years really kept her going. It makes me so so proud, knowing that she has saved lives means everything and was so important to her. She used to say, ‘if this can save one life it’s worth it’. That is her legacy.”

The family are now spreading the word about the risks of skin cancer and how individuals can take precautions to safeguard themselves.

Jade stated: “People think you can just cut skin cancer out and are quite blasé about it – but melanoma is one of the most deadly cancers.

“I had never really heard of melanoma before this, but the amount of people that have reached out to Josie on her Facebook page to say they are going through similar things is crazy.

“We’re clearly warned that smoking causes lung cancer, with messages printed on cigarette packets, but we don’t feel the same level of awareness exists when it comes to skin cancer.

“When you’re in your teens or twenties, having a tan often feels like such an important thing – we’ve all been guilty of it. But it’s vital that people take a moment to think about the risks. The use of sunbeds is a major contributing factor to skin cancer cases worldwide.

“In a lot of countries sunbeds are banned – but not in the UK. We need to raise awareness about the dangers: protecting your skin doesn’t mean avoiding the sun completely, it means being sensible.

“Wear SPF30–50 every day (even in the UK) and reapply regularly, especially if you’re sweating or swimming, cover up with hats, sunglasses and light clothing, and avoid the strongest sun between 11am and 3pm where possible.

“Skip sunbeds altogether as they increase the risk of melanoma, and keep an eye on your skin – if you notice any changes, get them checked. Melanoma doesn’t always start from an existing mole.”

Jade has initiated a fundraiser to assist Josie’s family – her two young daughters and her husband, Laith, whom she had been with since she was 14. The funds will help cover Josie’s funeral expenses and contribute towards the care of the young girls.

Jade further stated: “Laith had to become a full-time carer due to Josie being so unwell and spending long periods in hospital over the past three years.

“The life insurance will not come through as expected – they accepted a small percentage payout after her diagnosis to provide short-term support, unaware that this would cancel the policy entirely.

“They sought advice from a solicitor, and unfortunately, this decision still stands. It is just an impossible situation for the family – people who have worked hard all their lives to be let down in their time of need.

“We just want to say that we have received so much kindness and support. This meant everything to Josie and it made such a difference while she was still here – and we have to keep her message going. She means the absolute world to us and we will miss her every single day.”

You can contribute to the fundraiser online to support Josie’s family.

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