Politics
Autistic Son’s Quirk In Airport Bathroom Riles Up Stranger
As my daughter and I stepped out of our respective stalls in the airport bathroom, I saw my son standing in the corner waiting for us, having come in after he had used the men’s room next door. He has a habit of eloping at airports, so I was relieved to see him.
“Love,” I told him. “Thank you for coming in and waiting for us.” The three of us moved to the sink to wash our hands. That’s when things got weird.
My son has high-functioning autism, what used to be called Asperger’s syndrome, now called autism spectrum disorder, level 1 support. When people look at him, they notice nothing different. When they hear him speak, they are often impressed at his verbal comprehension and articulation (indeed, his IQ is very high in this area). His challenges lay in perseverations (obsessions or ruminations), recognising social cues, and having spatial and environmental awareness.
He received his diagnosis at age 7, in March 2020, days before the COVID shutdowns. Suddenly every resource in our small town was unavailable. We started homeschooling and would continue it long after schools reopened. My son loved our home routine, probably because he got to see the family dog whenever he wanted. He’s always had a special connection to animals (music too).
He’s a seasoned and easy traveler, having taken his first flight at 2 months old, which I’m thankful for. Still, traveling is not without stress. He tends to wander away at airports. Over the years I’ve had several moments of pure fear when I didn’t immediately know where he was. One time, after landing and coming into the airport, he bolted for the bathroom without telling me. Another time he proceeded to try and leave the airport because he didn’t want to wait in the TSA line.
Over the years I’ve accepted that most of the time he lives in another world — his inner dimension. While it’s rich and creative and weird and wonderful, there have been moments where I’ve begged him to live in our world more often, not for my convenience but for his safety. Since, on this day, we were in Los Angeles International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, I was on high alert. Because of his relatively young age (11), I didn’t think it was strange that he was in the crowded women’s bathroom with us.
My son also has a fascination with sink and toilet holes. He studies the shape of them, talks about them, wants to see as many of them as he can, both in people’s homes and in public places. It’s always been his way. And, according to him, this particular sink hole in this bathroom at LAX had a unique shape — it was less round and more square than most sink holes.
After retrieving his phone from his pocket, he took a photo of it. That’s when an older woman – one I’d noticed had been watching us – snapped. She was washing her hands in the sink next to where my son was, and I saw her look over at him. She started yelling, “This boy took a picture in the women’s room!” She repeated this loudly for everyone to hear as she dried her hands, as she grabbed her luggage, as she followed us out the door.
I felt a combination of embarrassment and anger at the scene she was making, trying to call attention to my son’s odd but harmless behaviour. She was still repeating it as we all walked out the door: “He took a picture in the women’s room!” Her posture was menacing and meant to be intimidating.
We separated from her and moved to the side of the hallway to regroup. My son and daughter, not fully comprehending what was happening, stood close to me with their suitcases. Even though we were now a few yards away from her, I could still feel her eyes on us, particularly me. I could sense her judgment for allowing such behaviour from my child. I could tell she was waiting for me to berate my son for taking the photo.
What happened next was horrifying. I did exactly what she wanted me to.
Against my gut feeling, which told me my son was innocent, against my understanding of his diagnosis, against my hard-won advocacy of him at school and with medical providers, against my purported assertiveness with strangers and others who may not be conscious of why he behaves the way he does, I scolded him for his actions. I asked him, not in a friendly way, why he chose to take a photo of the sink, even though I knew exactly why. I told him it was inappropriate and that he knew better, even when I knew it wasn’t true, that he didn’t know. I made sure the woman was within earshot. As I went on, my son looked stunned, confused and hurt.
The worst part is that I love his innocence, his youthful quirkiness, his sweet naiveté that sometimes comes with autism. And here I was chipping away at that, all because a stranger assumed the worst of him. I was doing the opposite of what I’ve always done.
The woman’s gaze was gone. She had folded herself into the crowd and disappeared. My son, overwhelmed and teary with emotion, bolted toward our departing gate, which fortunately wasn’t far. I took a breath, took my daughter’s hand and followed my son to the gate. It was there, in our seats waiting for the boarding call, that I apologised. I cried. Never in all of motherhood had I felt so low. I told him I was aghast at my behaviour, that I should have stood up for him, that I knew what he had done was innocent. I asked for forgiveness. I told him to take his time. I am perpetually grateful that I got it.
An hour later in the air, I was still brooding, replaying the scene over and over in my head. I found myself looking for the woman, imagining, relishing in what I’d say to her in a raised voice: that she had no right to yell at us, to shame us, to treat my son as though he was a paedophile. That she had been bullying an autistic boy. See that boy over there? Do you know he has autism? You should be ashamed of yourself.
That last thought gave me pause. Would I really disclose his diagnosis? To what end? Is it her business? Would it have made a difference? Would I be hoping to better explain his behaviour or to make her feel bad? And as my children grow older (my daughter also has autism), I find myself regarding their privacy more, wanting to protect them. Because I constantly wonder if the world will be too much for their sensitive souls. Or perhaps they will be too much for the world.
The diagnosis of “autism” first appeared in 1980 in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the bible for all things psychological, under the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Before then, it was considered to be part of schizophrenia. In 1987, the DSM was revised (as it is every five to seven years), and the criteria for the diagnosis was broadened to include more mild symptoms of autism. That, coupled with improved early screening tools and an increased awareness, have led to a perception of a significant rise in the disorder, though it’s actually that we’ve gotten better at recognising it.
In the latest DSM, it is listed as autism spectrum disorder, typically followed by the level of support needed (1 through 3). My children are both level 1, which include accommodations such as extra time to transition between activities, managing perseverations and inflexibility in routine, and navigating pervasive and narrow interests (such as sink holes).
In the end, I arrived at the conclusion that no, I would choose not to disclose his diagnosis to this angry stranger. She didn’t deserve to know. She didn’t deserve an explanation. In a different setting, where emotions weren’t so charged, I might have a different answer.
With my son’s blessing, I wrote this essay to give voice to the fine line that parents of children with autism walk, the line between advocating for our kids and guarding their privacy, the line between explaining and keeping quiet, the line between supporting a need and excusing behaviour. It’s within these nuances where we live day by day, sometimes hour by hour. Sometimes I don’t get the answer right, but all answers come from a place of care and love.
For people who may not have or even know children like mine, I wrote this to encourage more empathy in the world. These days it is too easy to rush to conclusions about a child’s behaviour, judge another’s parenting and shame what is not acceptable to us. I encourage everyone to lean into curiosity and compassion as much as possible, know that we are doing the best job we can, and that our children are amazing people.
As my daughter and I stepped out of our respective stalls in the airport bathroom, I saw my son standing in the corner waiting for us, and I was so proud of him. Going forward, I refuse to feel anything else about him — and I’ll make sure he and everyone else know it.
Lorna Rose is a Pacific Northwest writer and speaker. Her writing has been recognised by Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Oregon Poetry Association, and has appeared in About Place Journal, Jellyfish Review, Painted Bride Quarterly, Writers Resist, and elsewhere. Previously she has written about raising children with autism for Scary Mommy and Motherwell. Currently an MFA candidate at Augsburg University, Lorna is at work on a memoir about going from L.A. party girl to trail worker in rural Alaska. When not wrangling her two children, she fantasises about being interviewed on NPR’s “Fresh Air.” You can find more about her at www.lornarose.com.
This piece was previously published on HuffPost and is being shared again as part of HuffPost Personal’s “Best Of” series.
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Politics
Politics Home | Keir Starmer Says It “Beggars Belief” Officials Withheld Information Over Peter Mandelson
(Alamy)
2 min read
Keir Starmer has said it “beggars belief” the Foreign Office withheld information over Peter Mandelson’s vetting failure.
The Prime Minister addressed MPs in the House of Commons on Monday after it came to light that Mandelson was appointed as US ambassador despite serious security concerns and failing vetting checks.
It has also emerged that the single biggest client of Mandelson’s ex-lobbying firm Global Counsel was linked to the Chinese army. Downing Street has said security concerns and vetting failures were not raised with them after Mandelson was appointed.
Starmer told MPs it was “astonishing” neither he nor his cabinet were informed about Mandelson prior to securing the job.
Starmer told the Commons: “I know many members across the House will find these facts to be incredible.”
“To that, I can only say they are right. It beggars belief that throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in government.
“That is not how the vast majority of people in this country expect politics, government or accountability to work.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of throwing “his officials and his staff under the bus” to save his job. Badenoch claimed she was holding the Prime Minister to the same standards Starmer had held Boris Johnson when he was the opposition leader during the Partygate scandal.
Badenoch also said Starmer’s “reputation” was “at stake”.
Starmer reiterated the claims that the Mandelson case “could and should have been shared with me before he took up his post.”
He added: “If I had known before he took up his post that UKSV recommendation was that developed vetting clearance should be denied, I would not have gone ahead with the appointment.”
Foreign affairs committee chair Emily Thornberry asked whether ensuring Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador was a priority which overrode anything else, including security implications.
Starmer said the committee asked the relevant questions during evidence sessions, but said he would not have appointed him if concerns were raised with him.
Starmer responded: “If I had been told Peter Mandelson or anybody else had failed security, not given clearance on security vetting, I would not have appointed them.
“A deliberate decision was taken to withhold that material. This was not a lack of asking, this wasn’t an oversight. It was a decision taken not to share that information on repeated occasions.”
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson was removed from the chamber after using unparliamentary language, claiming the Prime Minister could not “lie straight in bed”.
Boy George has defended his participation in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that the former Culture Club frontman will be performing alongside San Marino’s entrant Senhit at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria.
For the last few years, the music event has been at the centre of controversy due to Israel’s continued participation, despite the ongoing conflict and unrest in the Middle East, with many calling for the country to be banned from competing, similarly to how Russia was excluded from the contest after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
After it was confirmed by Eurovision bosses that Israel would be back at the event in 2026, five participation countries withdrew in protest, with many critics also calling for a boycott of the contest.
During a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Boy George was asked for his take on the boycott calls, and insisted that, to him, withdrawing would be akin to “turn[ing] my back on” the Jewish friends he’s had since his teen years.
He said: “I am so affiliated with Jewish people. I am not necessarily affiliated with Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that. But the job of music is to unite people.”
On Ireland pulling out of Eurovision in solidarity with Palestine, George noted: “Ireland is my mother’s home country. I hope they’re not too angry. But if they are, that’s out of my control.”
Mark Case via Getty Images
In February, the Karma Chameleon singer wrote on X: “I love Israel too. Blaming an entire people is moronic. You can be against war and still love humanity.”
He added: “I have DJ’d in Tel Aviv a number of times. I hope I will in the future!”
George was later quoted as saying: “It’s very trendy to hate Israel, but I have always said ‘fashion for the fragile, style for the brave’.”
Two years ago, he also co-signed an open letter calling for Israel to remain a part of Eurovision, alongside the likes of Dame Helen Mirren, Sharon Osbourne and Scooter Braun.
It has been clear to most of the British population for some time that criticising Islam is a dangerous game. But one would still hope that the military would be allowed to talk more freely about the threats to our national security.
But apparently not. According to the Daily Mail, a Royal Air Force cadet has been suspended for describing Islam as ‘the greatest threat to the UK’ during a presentation at RAF Cranwell, shortly before Easter. An RAF spokesperson confirmed it was investigating an ‘alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour’, without providing any further information.
The cadet will no doubt be accused of failing to distinguish between Islam and Islamist terrorism. He failed, that is, to abide by the unwritten law of our age – to ‘respect’ the former, and at the same time insist that the latter has no connection whatsoever with the ‘religion of peace’. Either for failing to make this distinction, or for simply mentioning Islam at all, this young cadet will be hauled over the coals much the same way that Conservative MP Nick Timothy was last month, when he (correctly) characterised a mass Islamic prayer in Trafalgar Square as an act of ‘domination’.
The response to Timothy’s comments was ominous, not least as a demonstration of just how perilous it has become to criticise Islam in the UK. But it was also predictable – Labour, desperate to recapture Muslim voters after its loss at the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, was always going to leap at the opportunity to label a political opponent as ‘Islamophobic’.
The treatment of the RAF cadet is in some ways a cause for greater concern. It is increasingly difficult to see where the ‘mainstream’ Islam ends and radical Islam begins in the UK (more than half of Britain’s mosques are run by the fundamentalist Deobandi movement). And radical Islam is by far the greatest security threat the country faces. If this fact can’t be acknowledged in the armed forces, then they are not doing their job.
The statistics support the cadet, not his inquisitors. In the past 20 years, Islamic extremists have killed 95 people in the UK. The ‘far right’ that we endlessly hear of has killed three. In 2020, it was reported that of the 43,000 extremists monitored by MI5, more than 90 per cent were Islamists.
Recent events bear this out. Who attacked the Heaton Park synagogue in October? Who allegedly set fire to four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green last month? Who was recently convicted for planning to gun down as many Jews as their ammunition allowed at a march against anti-Semitism in Manchester in 2024? It wasn’t the far right. It wasn’t someone who had been ‘radicalised’ by watching Tommy Robinson videos. It was Islamists or suspected Islamists in every case.
The inability to criticise Islam has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech in the UK and across the West. We can hardly be reminded enough that a British schoolteacher remains in hiding, under a new name, for showing pupils a drawing of Muhammad during a religious-studies class at Batley Grammar in 2021. Labour has even introduced a non-statutory definition of Islamophobia (rebranded as ‘anti-Muslim hostility’), which is effectively an Islamic blasphemy law in all but name.
Clearly, this timidity towards Islamism has now seeped deep into the nation’s institutions. The treatment of the RAF cadet is mirrored by the warped priorities of Prevent, the government body that is supposed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. In 2022, it was reported that just 16 per cent of referrals concerned Islamic extremism. Right-wing extremism, on the other hand, accounted for 20 per cent of its caseload.
The evasiveness around Islam must end. Every other country, it seems, is able to see that the UK has a problem with the nature of the Islam practised here. The United Arab Emirates now discourages students from studying in Britain because of the pervasive influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. That a Muslim country can identify a threat that the British authorities can’t, or won’t, hardly inspires optimism.
The Iran war may have exposed the decrepit state of the UK’s armed forces. But the treatment of the young cadet by the RAF suggests that the problem with the British Armed Forces runs deeper than a shortage of materiel. What is the good of having more warships or more troops, if a threat cannot be named?
The treatment of the Royal Air Force cadet is a scandal. The public has come to expect this kind of thought-policing in government bureaucracies, but it appears it’s now worked its way into the military, too. The price we might have to pay for this right-on censorship will be very high indeed.
Hugo Timms is a staff writer at spiked.
These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ singer Nancy Sinatra made it clear that Donald Trump was a heel, after the US president shared a video of her late father Frank Sinatra singing My Way.
Without explanation, Trump posted the vintage clip of the Chairman of the Board crooning the classic tune of a man looking back on his life without compromise on Saturday.
The posted prompted all kinds of speculation about the reasons behind it, but Nancy clearly wasn’t interested in the president’s motive.
She lamented: “This is a sacrilege.”
One person asked if Nancy could do anything about it, to which she replied, “Unfortunately no. The only people who can do something are the publishers.”
Even that route may not prove fruitful, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“There’s a big difference between Trump using music at rallies or in ads, where a license is required, and merely sharing a video on social media,” the show business outlet wrote.
My Way is one of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ signature hits, but he didn’t sing the original version, Comme D’Habitude, previously performed in French (and co-composed) by Jacques Revaux.
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Nancy has made it clear in plain English that her father was no fan of the two-time president – and nor is she.
Last year, she responded to a commenter on X who wrote that the singing legend would vote for Trump if he were still alive.
“Not a chance,” Nancy said of her dad, who died in 1998 at the age of 82.
“You obviously don’t know my father at all. Do some homework before you post about him.”
Ron Galella via Getty Images
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, has presided over the opening of the University of East London’s (UEL) new Neighbourhood Health Hub in the London Borough of Newham – a pioneering partnership bringing healthcare closer to home through collaboration between the University, the NHS and local authorities.
The launch event at UEL’s Stratford Health Campus on 17 October brought together local leaders, health partners, students and residents to see how the Hub will transform access to health and wellbeing services in east London.
The Neighbourhood Health Hub plans to provide accessible, preventative, research-informed healthcare services for local residents, while offering hands-on training opportunities for students and professionals, both preparing to join and progressing further in the health and social care workforce. It combines clinical care, education and research under one roof – creating a model that supports healthier lives, reducing pressure on local GPs and hospitals, advancing digital innovation and offering students real-world experience in a prevention-first approach to healthcare.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said, “Where you live shouldn’t determine how long you live but that is the unjust reality in our capital today. A girl born in Newham will fall into ill health six years earlier than a girl born down the road in Kensington and Chelsea – this is a scandal which we are determined to end.”
“This groundbreaking neighbourhood health hub will bring healthcare closer to communities that need it most, providing a one-stop shop for health and care services on people’s doorsteps. It is a leading light of change we are making in the NHS, shifting its focus from hospital to community.
“By integrating care, education and innovation in one place, we’re not just treating illness – we’re preventing it, training the next generation of healthcare professionals, and bringing our analogue health service into the digital age.”
At the Hub, residents can access a wide range of practical, community-based health and wellbeing services, including:
- Physiotherapy, sports therapy and podiatry for injury recovery and mobility support
- Counselling and wellbeing sessions, including mindfulness and parenting support
- Health checks and screening for blood pressure, cholesterol and heart health
- Musculoskeletal therapy, a non-invasive technology that supports joint, muscle and bone health – with free sessions offered to eligible Newham residents as part of clinical trials
Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor & President, University of East London, said, “The Neighbourhood Health Hub is designed to be a ‘passport to good health’ for our community, reflecting three vital goals: helping families build healthy foundations from a young age; supporting people to stay active and in work; and reducing health inequalities for everyone in our community.
“The Neighbourhood Health Hub also gives our community access to free, high-quality services while offering students and practitioners transformative learning experiences that prepare them to make a difference from day one in the NHS.”
The Hub forms part of UEL’s expanding Stratford Health Campus, which also includes the University’s state-of-the-art Hospital and Primary Care Training Hub, opened by His Majesty King Charles III, and the forthcoming Academic Health Building. Together, these facilities are shaping a new model for healthcare education, research and service delivery in east London.
UEL is also developing a new, primary care-focused medical school, with its MBBS degree at the heart of the Stratford Health Campus. From 2027, and subject to General Medical Council (GMC) approval, the programme will train doctors for east London, from east London – widening access to medicine and strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce for generations to come.
Try as I might (and believe me, I’ve tried), I constantly manage to wake up hot and sweaty at 3am.
I’ve always attributed that to my insomnia. But hormone and sleep specialists have shared my issues might be partly down to my biology.
We know it’s crucial to keep bedrooms cool (experts recommend 16-18°C) to be able to sleep well – and this is perhaps even more important for women.
When a study found rising temperatures are impacting sleep globally, it also revealed women were impacted more than men. The Guardian noted “women’s bodies cool earlier in the evening than men’s when going to sleep, meaning higher night time temperatures may have a bigger impact on women”.
Women’s slightly higher core body temperatures can also make us “feel” external cold and warmth more intensely, Dr Karan Rajan previously shared.
Women appear to wake up overheated more often than men – but why?
Dr Renee Young, an endocrinologist and founder of the Young Naturopathic Centre For Wellness, told Pretty You London that “hormones like oestrogen and progesterone play a central role in how the brain regulates body temperature”.
She added: “Even slight fluctuations can confuse the body into thinking it needs to cool down. That often looks like a hot flush or a sudden sweat episode, especially at night.”
These are not exclusive to menopause or perimenopause, though both of these can lead to similar symptoms.
Clinical dietitian Dr Colleen Fogarty-Draper said it’s not just hormones, though.
“Women in midlife often have a lower stress threshold… Higher cortisol levels, especially when they don’t follow their normal rhythm, can interfere with sleep and make overheating worse,” she shared.
How can I stop overheating at night?
Though you might be tempted to take a cooling shower before settling down, NHS GP Dr Hana Patel said this may not be the answer.
“A cold shower can cause your body to generate more heat as a response,” she advised, while the cool-down period following a warm shower “tells your brain it’s time to sleep”.
Wearing thinner pyjamas, avoiding heavy bedding, and even keeping your partner out of your bed (if needed) may help, The Sleep Foundation said.
Whatever the cause, though, you should see your GP if your sleep is consistently interrupted.
“Menopause and hormonal changes don’t have to steal your sleep,” Dr Fogarty-Draper stressed. “When we understand the cause, we can take back control.”
Sydney Sweeney’s nude scenes in the new season of Euphoria were generating controversy before they’d even aired.
In the latest episodes of the award-winning US drama, Sydney’s character Cassie has turned to modelling on OnlyFans, as a way of paying for the flowers in her upcoming wedding to Nate (played by recent Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi).
Last week’s instalment saw Cassie posing in lingerie and dog accessories, which alarmed some viewers, as did a preview clip that included footage of the character posing in an “adult baby” outfit.
These latter shots were included in the latest episode of Euphoria, as part of a montage that saw Sydney’s character posing nude in a wet, see-through American flag, topless underneath American football gear and eating an ice cream which is dripping down her exposed breasts.
After episode two aired, many critics voiced their discomfort with the scenes, and the portrayal of Cassie in Euphoria’s latest outing.
“In season two, Cassie degraded herself for Nate,” one review in the New York Post said. “The show did seem to take too much pleasure in it. But, there was a larger point, as that story explored how a girl like Cassie can destroy herself for a toxic guy. That’s an experience that many viewers can relate to, or can recall witnessing.
“When Cassie dresses as a baby in season three, Euphoria isn’t saying anything thoughtful about a particular experience. It isn’t asking us to understand her behaviour. It’s making her a sordid punchline, to the point where it feels spiteful.”
Rolling Stone’s critic agreed: “Throughout the episode, it becomes clear that the narrative is mocking Cassie and other influencers-turned OnlyFans models […] But the show also leers at its women.
“There are close-up shots of coke on Angel’s breasts, melted ice cream on Cassie’s, and Katelyn spreading her legs out for the camera. I’m aware that depiction doesn’t equal endorsement. But one wonders what else writer-director Sam Levinson is doing this for, if not for shock value, because he seems confused about what he wants to say about sex work and women.”
Meanwhile, a piece in Slate with the headline “What Happened To Euphoria’s Cassie?” compared the character’s story arc to a “humiliation ritual for Sydney Sweeney”, claiming that the series’ “most pitiful character” has now “become the worst possible version of herself”.
Other outlets also included round-ups from viewers, calling the scenes “degrading” and “horrible”, while accusing the show of “going too far”.
Even the in-show voiceover provided by Zendaya, in character as Rue, describes Cassie as “beautiful, but directionless” and “so desperate for attention, she’s willing to humiliate herself”.
It’s worth stating, though, that not all of the press surrounding Sydney Sweeney and the latest episode of Euphoria has been negative.
A review in Variety described the Emmy nominee’s performance as “complicated and compelling”, while celebrating her “high-wire acting”.
In 2022, Sydney called out the “double standard” around the way male and female actors who have appeared nude on screen are treated.
She lamented to Cosmpopolitan: “I don’t think as many people took me seriously in Euphoria because I took my shirt off. There’s such a double standard. I really hope I can have a little part in changing that.”
Around this time she also told The Independent: “When a guy has a sex scene or shows his body, he still wins awards and gets praise. But the moment a girl does it, it’s completely different.”
During this interview, she also made it clear: “I’ve never felt like Sam [Levinson, Euphoria’s creator] has pushed it on me or was trying to get a nude scene into an HBO show. When I didn’t want to do it, he didn’t make me.”
A skateboarding charity has successfully reopened its much-loved skatepark in a new Derby location after being evicted from its former premises.
Flo Skatepark unveiled its 20,828 sq-ft indoor skatepark in Derby’s Derbion shopping centre earlier this month, transforming the former Eagle Market space.
Its opening day featured a packed skate jam, filled with upbeat energy that made attendees of all age groups feel alive.
Mark Deans, chairperson of Flo Charitable Trust, which was set up to stop the skatepark disappearing, summed up the mood.
It can only get better and better from here. The park is there to be used by a whole range of small wheels.
Flo Skatepark centres diversity and inclusion
Flo Skatepark had to leave its Nottingham home in 2024 when the site was repurposed for a new footbridge over the River Trent.
For the skaters who mastered their wheels under its roof, and for the charity behind it, the closure felt personal, not just practical.
However, the departure from the old location led to Flo landing in a new place, prompting potential for a bigger platform and a great future.
Its new space puts diversity and inclusion at the forefront. Alongside a dedicated beginner zone for first-timers, it offers substantial features for experienced riders, including a vert ramp and a bowl.
Deans says Flo has always facilitated growth throughout the entire skating journey, from that nervous first push to elite training.
In the past, we’ve taken someone from beginner to national champion. Whether you’re trying it for the first time or training for the Olympics, this park can support you — at any level in between.
That is of great importance in today’s skateboarding landscape as the sport now operates on the world’s biggest stage.
Since joining the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020 and returning at Paris 2024, skateboarding has gained legitimacy, allowing an increased number of young people to pursue the sport professionally whilst preserving the culture and creativity that define it.
Why indoor spaces like Flo Skatepark matter
The most concrete message enunciated at the opening centred on safety and confidence, particularly for people who can feel excluded in outdoor spaces.
In the UK, indoor skateparks answer a straightforward challenge derived from the weather and its limitation to outdoor presence. Year-round access enables consistent practice and structured coaching for the sport, both crucial for helping young riders improve and stay engaged.
Flo’s expansion aligns with national aims from Sport England to keep people active by facilitating access to welcoming local amenities.
A city centre skatepark with real visibility
The Derbion’s location places skateboarding at the heart of the city, alongside shops, places to eat and other attractions. That visibility reshapes who encounters it, who gives skateboarding a go and who feels it’s truly a sport for them.
Beth McDonald, managing director of the Derbion, called it “world-class” and said it would “unite sport, culture and community”.
Derby City Council leader, Nadine Peatfield, framed it as part of a bigger city-centre plan.
She said:
This is a brilliant addition to our city centre, providing a world-class space where people of all ages can come together to stay active and inspired…
I can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have.
What does Flo’s move mean for British skateboarding?
Flo’s story reaches beyond a single building and demonstrates the resilience of a skating community that refused to fade away.
Nottingham was a defining chapter, proving a focus on nurturing talent, building confidence and creating a place to belong for its young community.
However, Derby is the next step: bigger, bolder and far easier to find. As Mark Deans put it, it’s a new era.
Featured image via Marketing Derby
By Faz Ali
The University of East London (UEL) has announced plans to open its first South Asia Careers Hub in Chennai, strengthening its long-term strategic commitment to India and the wider South Asia region.
Planned to open in Autumn 2026, the Hub will serve students, alumni, employers, researchers and entrepreneurs across South Asia. It will bring together international academic practice with regional industry and community expertise to create practical, career-focused learning opportunities.
The Hub will support:
- internships and live industry projects
- executive education and workforce development
- applied research partnerships
- support for start-ups and entrepreneurship
Focus areas aligned with regional priorities:
The Hub’s initial academic focus will include:
- Health and Behavioural Sciences
- Engineering
- Business Management
- Psychology
These areas closely align with Tamil Nadu’s priorities in healthcare, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and inclusive development.
Developed in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) and the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Hub will work directly with industry to provide hands-on experience while supporting fast-growing sectors such as advanced manufacturing, health technologies, digital innovation and the creative economy.
Announcement made at India International Higher Education Summit
The announcement was made at the India International Higher Education Summit (IGES), where Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of UEL, is leading the University’s delegation.
Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of East London, said, “India is one of the most dynamic education and innovation markets in the world, and Chennai is at the heart of that momentum. The launch of our first South Asia Careers Hub represents a major step in UEL’s long-term commitment to India, bringing our careers-first, enterprise-led education model directly into partnership with government, industry and academia.”
“This collaboration with the Government of Tamil Nadu and TIDCO allows us to co-create globally relevant, industry-embedded education, applied research and workforce development that delivers real impact – for students, employers and society. Together, we are building new pathways for talent, innovation and inclusive growth that will shape the future workforce across India and South Asia.”
The Hub will also support alumni engagement across India and South Asia, strengthening links between education, employers and lifelong learning, while creating new opportunities for academic and research collaboration in the years ahead.
Government of Tamil Nadu statement
The Government of Tamil Nadu welcomed UEL’s decision to establish its first South Asia Careers Hub in Chennai, reinforcing the state’s position as India’s leading destination for global education, advanced skills and innovation-led growth.
Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding with TIDCO, the initiative reflects international confidence in Tamil Nadu’s governance, talent ecosystem and policy stability, strengthening its reputation as the preferred destination for high-quality global universities.
Planned to open in 2026, the Hub will support high-value job creation, skills development and inclusive economic growth, aligned with the India–UK Vision 2035 and Tamil Nadu’s ambition to act as a global gateway for education, innovation and talent mobility.
Find out more about studying in the UK as an international student.
The University of East London (UEL) hosted a cross-sector symposium at the House of Commons on 9 February, bringing together parliamentarians, employers, practitioners and people with lived experience to examine how workplaces can better support colleagues affected by trauma, substance use and recovery.
Held in partnership with the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR), the event focused on employers’ responsibilities in a changing landscape of work and health, and the role recovery-ready, trauma-informed practices can play in addressing long-term sickness and economic inactivity.
Discussions were framed in the context of the Government’s Keep Britain Working agenda and the growing recognition that good work can support long-term participation in the labour market.
Opening the symposium, UEL Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Amanda Broderick said: “East London is a place of extraordinary energy, resilience and creativity. But it is also where communities often experience the sharpest edges of health inequality, economic precarity, trauma and addiction-related harm.
These realities do not stop at the workplace door. They show up in absence, presenteeism, disciplinary processes, and too often, in people falling out of work altogether.
Our work is deliberately practice-based and grounded in a responsibility to deliver solutions that benefit learners, employers and communities alike. Developing recovery-ready, addiction-informed workplaces is, for us, a practical way of enacting that responsibility – translating evidence, values and lived experience into real organisational change.”
Through keynote contributions, panel discussions and facilitated roundtables, participants explored how organisations can move beyond basic policies to create workplace cultures that reduce stigma, support early intervention, and enable people to stay in or return to work safely and sustainably.
The symposium heard that around 2.8 million working-age adults are economically inactive due to ill health. Roughly one in five working-age people is out of work. The economic cost of this is estimated at over £200 billion a year.
Guests included House of Commons host the Rt Hon James Asser, MP for West Ham and Beckton, Deputy Mayor of London Mr Howard Dawber, the Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham and Minister for Social Security and Disability, and Dr Laurie Krom, Executive Director, and Dr Carmel Clancy, Director, from ICUDDR.
Professor Fatima Annan-Diab, Executive Dean of the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, told guests, “We are committed to working with employers, policymakers, practitioners, and partners to translate evidence into capability – and intent into delivery. Through our interdisciplinary expertise and our Recovery-Ready and Trauma-Informed Professional Pathway, introduced today, we are building the infrastructure needed to support real and lasting organisational change.”
“This work does not begin and end with an event. It is ongoing, and it is designed to be collaborative.”
Over the next phase, the collaboration will focus on developing professional education and practical resources for employers, including continuing professional development (CPD) courses, employer toolkits and opportunities for applied research.
View all our short courses (CPD)
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