There’s a lot of aspects to life that we’ve found ourselves having to adjust to amid the ‘new normal’.
For many Brits, working from home is one of those aspects.
Companies of all shapes, sizes and industries are looking to embrace the concept of working from home a lot more as we head into the coming months, but when the stresses and strains of uncomfortable working positions just end up getting on top of us, we all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then, right?
Thanks to online gifting retailer Prezzybox, here are some of the best at-home massage products on the market right now to do just that – treat yourself.
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Vibrating Body Massager
Prezzybox
This fantastic handheld massager means you no longer have to travel anywhere other than your own home when the daily stresses and strains of life have you feeling a little bit uptight at times.
It’s your very own massage assistant at your fingertips.
The vibrating ball-shaped massager has special pads for the right pressure to ease any tension, has soft-coloured LED lights to help on your journey to relaxation and is retailing at just £7.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Body Massagerhere.
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Vibrating Neck Massager
Prezzybox
This vibrating neck massager can help soothe muscle aches and pains in your neck after a long day of working.
The soft and pillow-like massager has innovative therapeutic vibrating technology, can be wrapped around your neck to allow for hands-free pain relief, is the perfect size to carry wherever you go post-lockdown and is retailing for just £14.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Neck Massagerhere.
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Mini Massage Cushion
This small-but-mighty massage cushion is the ultimate relaxation accessory.
It’s powered by a UK mains adapter, meaning no more pesky batteries, has rotation massage features and four pressure points – plus an optional ‘heat mode’ for aches and pains – and provides deep tissue relief for any part of your body.
It’s also the perfect size for post-lockdown travel too and is retailing on Prezzybox at £29.99.
You can get your hands on the Mini Massage Cushionhere.
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Eyezone Massager
Prezzybox
This Eyezone Massager has three revolutionary features.
It combines massage therapy, pinhole therapy and magnetic therapy, all in one clever little tool. According to the product description, “a lot of the stresses we feel living in today’s world have a technological cause [and] it’s therefore sensible to approach relieving these stresses and strains in a scientific manner”.
It helps to combat headaches, eyestrain, fatigue and insomnia, and is retailing on Prezzybox for just £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Eyezone Massagerhere.
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Lower Back Massager
Prezzybox
This portable Lower Back Massager is a handy and efficient way of dealing with the muscle strain and posture issues that are brought on by working from home, because according to the product description, “we often neglect and take for granted the way that the body copes with strains and tension”.
It’s easily attachable, can be worn around the waist or across the chest, helps to ease pain by releasing heat in soothing waves and is retailing on Prezzybox for only £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Lower Back Massagerhere.
News
Brand new venue confirmed as the host of The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness
Danny Jones
The magnificent Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness is back this year, and with the 2025 event fast approaching, they have announced arguably their biggest host venue yet, setting up in camp in a brand new food and drink hall.
Having housed the incredible charity gathering from Freight Island last year, it was always going to take some beating this time around, but somehow they’ve managed to.
The annual relay run in aid of Greater Manchester’s homeless community will be taking place at none other than the city centre’s recently unveiled House of Social, with the building’s wider student living quarters serving as the perfect fit for the initiative first thought up by university friends back in 2018.
Announced this week, House of Social will be teaming up with the wider First Street neighbourhood to look after the hordes of incredible runners this year.
Jamie Hills, Development Director at Ask Real Estate – who operate the ever-growing First St complex – said of volunteering as this year’s hosts: “First Street is thrilled to welcome and fuel the incredible runners of The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness.
“As the city’s hotspot for community events and culture, we’re proud to be a place where community thrives, so we’re incredibly excited to support this important initiative. With our fantastic on-site amenities like House of Social, we’re ready to keep those participating powered up and going strong!”
As for co-founder Tom Lewis, speaking to The Manc, he said: “We’re excited to return for our 7th edition, with Manchester being our flagship event.
“Through being hosted at House of Social in First Street, we’re hoping to make this year’s edition the best and biggest yet, aiming to raise £50,000 for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity Scheme, ‘A Bed Every Night’.
“We’d love to see you all at the event, plus bring your friends and workplace to. There are paces for everyone, including walking laps.”
In November 2024, not only did the fundraising phenomenon mark its first-ever expansion with an inaugural event in Birmingham, but it also surpassed £50,000 here in Manchester alone, and is now set to make debuts in a trio of new cities.
Tom went on to add: “I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve managed to accomplish as a team with starting up three more events across the country this year and expanding Manchester to a scale we couldn’t have dreamed of when we started out seven years ago.”
We here at The Manc Group have been helping The MCR 24 Run Against Homelessness for several years now, and have put in plenty of those 5k laps between ourselves, so you can bank on us being there to put in some more hard yards this November.
Even better still, we’ve already roped in our friends over at The Hoot to help out with the maiden 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness in Leeds, and we hope to see lots more of you chipping in across the North and beyond.
Here’s to helping rough sleepers find beds and get back on their feet all over the country.
The @mcr24hourrun is expanding in 2025 and is heading to Leeds for the first time. 🏃♂️
And they're not the only city making their debut this year either… 👊
Tatton Park makes decision to temporarily close gate after visitor is attacked by rutting deer
Emily Sergeant
Tatton Park has made the decision to temporarily close one of its gates after a member of the public following a ‘recent change in deer activity’.
It comes after ‘a couple of injuries’ despite warnings and a large amount of signage across the park.
The decision to close the Knutsford gate had to be taken by Tatton management with input from Cheshire East Council’s health and safety manager, and its director of growth and enterprise, along with ‘expert advice’ from the leading deer vet who works across many deer parks in the UK.
The Knutsford gate will be closed to pedestrians and vehicles ‘until further notice’, but the Dog Wood entrance and the main Rostherne entrance will remain open.
Tatton Park cited a current ‘larger number’ of stags than usual found feeding on fallen acorns near the Knutsford entrance, and an overall ‘recent shift in our deer herd’s behaviour during the rutting season’ as the reason for the gate’s closure in a statement shared to social media this week.
Rutting season – which refers to the autumn deer breeding season, typically from late September to early November in the UK – is when deer herds may exhibit aggression if approached.
“If you come across wild deer whilst visiting, we strongly advise you take an alternative route,” the park said in its statement.
The park’s Operations Team added in a statement, as reported by the MEN: “Despite all warnings, a large amount of signage, staff being on hand to advise people to avoid the deer, and all efforts to try to re-route people and get them to stop approaching the deer, we have unfortunately had a couple of injuries.”
One of the ‘injuries’ referred to was an incident involving 67-year-old man named Rod Savage, who was reportedly hurled up in the air after a large stag suddenly appeared and charged at him with his antlers, puncturing his stomach.
Tatton Park temporarily closes its gate after a visitor is attacked by rutting deer / Credit: Diana Parkhouse (via Unsplash)
The terrifying ordeal happened just 300 yards inside the Knutsford entrance, contributing to the gate’s temporary closure.
Tatton Park has now issued warnings and advice to all future visitors.
People are being told to ‘never walk between the deer’ and ‘never put yourself between deer and a fence’, while always maintaining a safe distance of 50m or more when possible, and ultimately remaining vigilant and fully-aware of your surroundings at all times.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd July 2020 
