AO and Sale Sharks have joined forces to launch a new mental health initiative that’ll be rolled-out in schools across the North West.
The ‘Are you AO-K’ initiative is a life-changing mental health programme that has been launched by Bolton-based online electricals retailer and Sale Sharks’ new headline sponsor, AO, alongside the charitable partner of the Sale Sharks rugby team, Sharks Community Trust – who use rugby and the values of the sport to change lives across the region.
It was first introduced at St Matthew’s Little Lever PrimarySchool in Bolton yesterday, with help from Sale Sharks and England star, Jason Robinson.
After recognising how difficult the past 18 months have been for young people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AO, Sale Sharks, and the Community Trust Team teamed up to create a dedicated curriculum for local schools.
‘Are you AO-K’ is designed to raise awareness among children about positive mental health and wellbeing.
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The courses – which are being taught in schools across the North West – will last for six weeks at a time, and the programme will run in 125 schools throughout the region over the next five years, meaning that hundreds of children will get the chance to benefit from this ground-breaking scheme.
A core part of the curriculum is teaching the link between physical and mental health.
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Children will learn what a balanced diet is, and how this helps nourish both the body and the mind, and after all stages of the programme, they will be encouraged to discuss what they enjoyed about the task to help them recognise that exercise is a great way of boosting happy hormones.
As some children may not be completely comfortable with communicating their emotions verbally, they will also be taught more practical methods to manage negative feelings too.
Throughout the lessons, there will also be signposting for services such as NHS, Childline, MIND, Healthy Young Minds and Hub of Hope, and at the end of each course, wellbeing packs will be given to every child that takes part.
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We’re excited today to launch the 'Are you AO-K?' programme. Created in collaboration with Sale Sharks rugby team, the aim is to teach children how to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
“Supporting mental health and wellbeing is a really important and exciting part of our partnership with Sale Sharks,” said Vicky Monk – Director of Customer & Brand at AO.
“The last 18 months have been incredibly challenging for everyone, especially children, having faced huge disruption to their daily lives, so it’s vital that we come together to make sure young people know they can speak up about their mental health [and] at AO, we’re passionate about helping young people realise their potential.
“We hope that Are You AO-K creates a lasting, positive impact on the children involved.”
Featured Image – AO
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BBC cancel three hit shows, including legendary stand-up series, Live at the Apollo
Danny Jones
The BBC have reportedly cancelled three of their hit TV shows, including the long-standing Live at the Apollo.
With the company facing even more cuts and the television industry facing the ever-changing obstacles set about by increasingly dominant digital platforms, the hit live stand-up series, which has run for over two decades, is the latest big IP on the chopping block.
But that’s not all: joining them in cancellation after long stints on the box are Celebrity Mastermind and the most recently rebooted version of British favourite, Blankety Blank, brought back with Bradley Walsh as host back in 2020.
With roughly 65 full-length seasons between them, and literally hundreds of episodes under their belt, the unfortunate trio have fallen foul for varying reasons.
At first I read that as Celebrity Masterchef, but that show is immortal.
Really surprised to see Live at the Apollo go. It can't cost much and has been instrumental in giving many comedians their big TV breaks. https://t.co/BrT8k2hoYd
While Walsh announced that he was quitting the programme after three series (the fourth was set to begin recording later this year) largely due to scheduling conflicts, the driving force behind the decision is the aforementioned cutbacks.
In case you hadn’t heard, the BBC has seen an approximately £500 million reduction in annual spending, which has meant that one or more productions were always going to be hit hard as a result.
They are aiming to save upwards of £100m annually, which is set to come in the form of 100-150 hours less originally telly by the end of 2028.
Issuing an official statement, they say: “We are incredibly proud of all three of these much-loved shows and would like to thank everyone involved, both in front of and behind the camera, for bringing them to screen and making them such a success over many years.
“Unfortunately, we have to make some really tough choices in light of our funding challenges, and these savings have been identified from the entertainment genre.”
With Live at the Apollo, in particular, having served as an important proving ground and spotlighting stage for rising comics, the UK mainstay originally hosted by Jack Dee is sadly going the way of Mock the Week by being pulled after 22 years on the air.
As you can see, it’s already been heavily mourned by performers around the comedy circuit and fans alike. It goes without saying that those within the industry know all too well how important it’s been.
Unfortunately, more announcements and cuts are expected throughout the remainder of the year as the BBC‘s entertainment arm tries to regain profitability.
This means that these three likely won’t be the last to be axed; who knows? Given that even the biggest of IPs don’t seem to be safe, maybe even mainline Mastermind could be in trouble…
It’s also worth noting that this news comes not long after the media giants launched their big campaign to reassert their domestic significance and beyond, with more and more people straying away from the TV licence in favour of modern streaming.
You can read the full ‘savings’ update right HERE.
Co-op Live appears to tease major Mariah Carey Christmas gig sending fans into a frenzy
Emily Sergeant
All we want for Christmas… is Mariah Carey in Manchester.
And maybe, just maybe, our Christmas wish might come true very soon, as Co-op Live has taken to social media today to tease its next gig announcement with its hundreds of thousands of followers, and without jumping to conclusions, it does appear to be hinting at the queen of Christmas herself making an appearance.
Look, we know it’s only July and right in the middle of summer, but even if you think it’s too early to be talking about the festive season, you have to admit that the potential of Mariah Carey coming to Manchester is worth getting excited any time of the year.
The US pop powerhouse last performed in our city nearly a decade ago now when she brought her famous All I Want For Christmasshow to the UK for the first time ever, taking to sold-out Manchester Arena stage on 10 December 2017.
Mariah has not performed in Manchester since, but all that could be set to change as Co-op Live has hinted that an announcement is ‘coming soon’.
Taking to its official social media platforms today, Co-op Live posted a very festive-themed AI video of snow falling on the arena as the camera zoomed in and the instrumental of Mariah’s absolutely iconic hit ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ playing in the background, and the caption hinting at the song’s title too.
Of course, we could be wrong, it might not be Mariah at all, but if the 300+ comments from fans in a frenzy thinking the same as us are anything to go by, it’s looking like we might be right.
“The countdown to Christmas is on,” Co-op Live said in its video, before letting fans know that they would be getting some form of confirmation soon.
Emily Sergeant -
15th October 2021 
