Manchester United legend Andy Cole has pledged £250,000 worth of research funding to help combat kidney disease.
It’s all part of his ongoing work with Kidney Research UK.
The former striker – who is known and loved by Manchester United fans for scoring dozens of goals, winning nine trophies, and being a part of the Red Devils’ iconic 1999 Treble-winning season – has worked in collaboration with the charity to launch the a new grant awards scheme as part of the Andy Cole Fund.
The 51-year-old – who made 195 appearances for the Reds between 1995 and 2001 – set up his own fund with Kidney Research UK after sadly developing kidney disease back in 2014, and going on to receive a lifesaving transplant from his nephew in 2017.
His experience of transplantation and subsequent challenges with mental health following his diagnosis inspired the fund’s research goals.
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Manchester United legend Andy Cole has pledged £250k to kidney disease research / Credit: Kidney Research UK
This is the first set of grants to be awarded from the fund – with Andy’s generous £250,000 donation all set to go directly towards research into the condition that he has personal experience of, according to the charity.
“I set up the Andy Cole Fund to make a difference,” the footballing legend explained.
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“I’m determined that we will find the best ways to support kidney patients’ mental health and improve the transplant experience.
“Kidney disease is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. We’ve got to make it better for others and research is the answer. I’m excited to see what projects we can fund through the Andy Cole Fund Grant Awards to help change the game for kidney patients.”
Funding from the newly-established Andy Cole Fund Grant Awards will be allocated to research that will focus on transforming transplantation to improve patient experiences, particularly in relation to mental health.
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Speaking on the launch of the new grants scheme, Sandra Currie – chief executive at Kidney Research UK – added:”When Andy established the Andy Cole Fund, he wanted to focus on making a difference in areas that have affected him personally, aiming to help people live longer, healthier and happier lives with kidney disease.
“It’s an absolute pleasure working with him, and it’s great to be opening the fund for applications.
“All researchers who are interested in being part of this drive to improve transplant outcomes for patients or to reduce the mental health burden of kidney disease should apply now and be part of the change.”
Applications for the Andy Cole Fund Grants Awards are now open, and you talented researchers, scientists, clinicians, and innovators from all across the UK have until Tuesday 29 August to apply for funding.
You can find more information on the grants and how to apply here.
Featured Image – Kidney Research UK
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How will the Government’s new digital ID alternative for alcohol sales work?
Emily Sergeant
All licensed venues across England and Wales now have the choice to introduce digital proof of age for alcohol sales alongside physical.
Instead of having to hand over physical ID that contains personal information, such as names and home addresses, customers now have the choice to simply provide confirmation that they are 18 or over on their phone – helping to better protect privacy and personal safety in the process.
This means that, no matter whether you’re buying a drink at your favourite pub, heading to a festival, or enjoying a night out at a concert, you won’t need to worry if you’ve left your ID at home.
According to the Government, this new change will benefit businesses greatly too, as certified digital services are able to check that an ID is genuine and belongs to the person presenting it much easier than the alternative can, which therefore helps to reduce the risk of any fake or borrowed IDs going undetected.
Well, according to the Government, it could be as simple as a customer showing a QR code for staff to scan, or tapping their phone against a compatible reader, where staff will then receive a clear confirmation on their device that the customer has passed the age check.
This change follows a 2024 Government consultation where it was reported that 72% of respondents supported the use of digital identities for age verification when buying alcohol.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock reiterated that ‘it will remain an individual or business’ choice whether to use or adopt [digital ID]’ and that physical ID will ‘still remain a valid way’ for customers to prove their age.
“This groundbreaking change in the law will mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information such as your name or address just to prove your age, allowing everyone to feel safer on a night out,” she concluded.
Featured Image – Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)
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Manchester to host G20 Summit in 2027 with more than a dozen world leaders descending on the city
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been confirmed as the host city for the G20 Summit next year.
It was already announced back in November last year that the G20 Summit would be coming to the UK in 2027, and plans were apparently already being discussed to host it in Manchester even before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister and Number 10 North was set up.
But now, ahead of this year’s leaders’ summit being held in Miami in December, it has been confirmed that the G20 Summit will arrive in Manchester in November 2027.
Manchester is said to have been picked to host the leaders’ summit because of its ‘cultural heritage’.
Bringing together 19 of the world’s largest economies and two major multilateral bodies – the European Union and the African union – G20 members who will be invited to attend the summit next year make up 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population as a whole.
Manchester has been confirmed to host the G20 Summit in 2027 / Credit: 10 Downing Street | Paul Kagame (Flickr)
G20 members are also some of the UK’s closest economic partners, the Government insists.
17 of the UK’s top 20 global export markets attend the summit, as do 18 of the UK’s top 20 sources of foreign direct investment.
The presidency of the G20 is currently held by the US but will pass to the UK after the leaders’ summit hosted by the president at his Trump National Doral Miami golf resort in December.
The 2027 summit will be held at Manchester Central, it has been confirmed, and other locations across the UK will also host other G20 events as part of the year-long presidency, but these are yet to be announced.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd August 2023 
