ONS data that shows inflation to have held at 2.8 per cent in May

The amount of money people invest when they first open an Individual Savings Account (ISA) has jumped by 84% in a year, according to proprietary data from Scottish Friendly. The modern mutual’s data shows that opening values have been steadily increasing over the last four quarters, data for Q4 2025 and Q1 2026 shows a 21% increase.

Four in 10 adoptive families say they are facing severe challenges or are at crisis point as the Adoption Barometer 2026 calls for a legal right to lifelong, needs-led support. A major new report from Adoption UK has revealed that too many families are still being left without the support they need once adoptions are made, and adult adoptees continue to be overlooked by policymakers.

Britain’s roads have become the “number one issue” for drivers, businesses and the wider economy, warns Edmund King OBE, AA president, saying motorists are paying billions into the Treasury while too many roads remain dangerous, badly repaired and roadworks poorly coordinated.

A new church congregation has been launched in Lancashire this week to ensure deaf people can access worship in a way that is meaningful and inclusive to them; while also being rooted in the local community. Preston Deaf Church, founded by Ribbleton Parish, began meeting at The Church of the Ascension.

A new competition will be held to see who can travel to the highest number of railway stations in the North of England in a single day. Passengers can now apply here for a place in The Great Race Across the North, which will be held on Saturday, 25 July. Ten people will be selected to take part and they can compete solo or bring a friend.

Carers UK today has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a public consultation on employment rights for unpaid carers. The Government’s consultation will explore a range of options to help unpaid carers remain in and return to work, including the introduction of a statutory right to paid Carer’s Leave.

The Parish of Oswaldtwistle has announced it has received a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to save the heritage asset of Immanuel Church and secure it for the future use of the community. Immanuel Church - part of The Parish of Oswaldtwistle - has been awarded the grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to repair and renovate the church roof.

Overall index increases by 2.6 points this May, the largest monthly increase since May 2021. Britons forward looking view of their household finances recorded the largest monthly increase since May 2020. Perceptions of house prices also improved.

Too many patients are missing out on their life-saving prescription drugs, or being given them late, in Emergency Departments – and hospital overcrowding is making the problem worse. These are some of the findings the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) can share today, 3 June, from its latest Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) report.

Half of UK adults say risk warnings on financial promotions put them off investing, new research from Scottish Friendly reveals, as the mutual’s chief executive Stephen McGee backs calls for a more balanced approach to communicating investment risk and long-term opportunity.

Things you didn’t know about blood cancer:1.Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK. 2.At any one time there are around 2,000 people in the UK in need of a stem cell transplant.

A new nationwide heart health check programme launches today, aiming to testup to 100,000 workers for risk indicators of cardiovascular disease, with follow-up information and supportprovided by Pharmacy2U, the UK’s largest online pharmacy. The first-of-its-kind initiative by an online pharmacy aims to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease inthe workplace.

UK inflation eased more sharply than expected last month, falling to 2.8% in the year to April from 3.3% in March, but economists have cautioned that the respite for hard-pressed households would prove fleeting as the inflationary aftershock from the conflict in the Middle East continues to build.

The Ben Kinsella Trust has announced that Knife Crime Awareness Week 2026 will take place from 18 to 24 May alongside National Police Chiefs’ Council Sceptre Week, combining policing, prevention and community action in a coordinated effort to tackle knife crime.

Labour has suffered a harrowing defeat as Green Party leader Zach Polanski declares that two-party politics is “dead and buried”. Keir Starmer takes the loss on the chin and declares that he “won’t walk away”.

37% of grassroots youth music projects have considered closing due to funding pressures Over two-thirds (67%) unable to meet demand from young people More than 33,500 young people are currently on waiting lists for grassroots music projects Nearly 40% expect their financial position to worsen in the next 12 months Youth Music has raised £1 million through its Rescue the Roots campaign, but warns the sector remains under severe strain

The Church of England in Lancashire is playing a key role in this year’s Christian Aid Week, with the Bishop of Blackburn and a county priest appearing in separate videos during the campaign on the charity’s social channels, to encourage donations. There will be campaign content on Christian Aid’s channels every day from May 10-16, for what is Britain’s longest-running fundraising week.

74% of carers in employment say being able to work supports their wellbeing, offering a break from caring, boosting confidence and social contact Despite this, nearly half (47%) of carers who are employees are considering cutting their working hours or giving up work altogether. Giving up work to care can also have a significant financial impact New research from Carers UK examines the ‘tipping point’ at which unpaid carers feel that they have no choice but to give up work to care

Prostate cancer patient Neil Connolly, will be appearing alongside award winning writer and BBC Radio 4 comedian Jon Holmes in a brand new quiz style podcast to support prostate cancer patients.