Offbeat:
Sometimes the most uplifting moments come from the most unexpected places. In our Offbeat section, we celebrate the quirky, surprising, and wonderfully unusual stories that show the lighter, brighter side of life. From curious innovations to the most heart-warming moments, these tales remind us that optimism often hides where we least expect it.
More of the Same:
The most dangerous phrase that men say every day
"I'm fine." Two words. Spoken a million times a day. Said casually, even automatically. But for many men, they hide what's going on. Underneath ''I’m fine'' is very often stress, grief, despair, addiction and loneliness. 700,000 each year. 59,500 a month. 15,900 a...
How to stay informed without losing hope
Here's a moment that hits, sometimes quietly, sometimes all at once. You’re scrolling on your phone, maybe at a bus stop, in bed, or between meetings, and suddenly the world's weight lands on your shoulders. War. Wildfires. Politics. The more you scroll, the heavier...
Tabby Teas on how animals can help your mental health
I went down to Sheffield’s first cat café, Tabby Teas, to hear about how being around animals can be beneficial for our mental health. With the beautiful cats around us, some even jumping in our laps during filming, we heard the first-hand story of what the business...
11 Random acts to put a smile on someone’s face
It can be easy to get caught up in your own life and forget to nurture those around you. Here are 11 random acts of kindness to show people you care and put a smile on their face. Put a strangers trolley back at the supermarket Listen, you’re going that way....
Family First – a person’s favourite picture
This was the question I asked pretty much everyone I know, and then asked them to send it to me. The results were both heart-warming and varied. It was amazing to me what people chose, and how honest and raw they were. It just goes to show that a photo can have so...
Community radio clubs reducing child marriage in Bangladesh
In coastal and rural areas of Bangladesh, climate change has devastated crops, homes, and livelihoods, driving many families to seek desperate solutions. For many, child marriage has long felt like the only way to ease financial pressure- yet with community radio...
The Future Isn’t Cancelled: Gen Z hopeful amid global politics and AI
"Do you think things will get better soon?", someone asked me recently following our deep conversations about the state of the world and AI, a reoccurring conversation lately. With so much bad news constantly circulating around the world, going online or even outside...
A How-To Guide for surviving the bad days
There are just some days that are doomed from the start. When you can’t even say ‘Good Morning’ when greeting someone because it just feels so far from the truth. And whilst some bad days can be turned around and made into good ones, some are just unsalvageable. So at...
Ranking our readers best ways to turn a bad day good
Some days feel like they’re destined to be bad. Everything is going wrong: the milk in the fridge has gone off, the shower isn’t free when you need it, you set off for a day out in Crocs and it starts to rain. No matter how hard you try, having a good day just doesn’t...
Why constructive journalism matters
In today’s media landscape, the most controversial stories often dominate. Conflict, crisis, and catastrophe lead the headlines, shaping not just what we see but also how we feel. For many readers, it’s no longer just about staying informed. It’s about how the news...
Comparing your behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s success
If we all had the same level of success in all that we did, there would be nothing to become excited about. No build-up, no climb, no nuance in experience. Someone’s Tuesday 3 March would be the day they get their dream job or opportunity. For others, it may be the...
The people changing mental health crisis response
I entered West Park Psychiatric Hospital in Darlington. Dazed from a two-hour journey at six in the morning, I follow signs for an education centre. The corridors gradually become less like a hospital and more like those of a corporate building. Finally, I got...
Fairtrade products: building a fairer world
Behind all Fairtrade products are ordinary people doing something extraordinary. A cotton farmer in India who stands up for equal pay for women. A beekeeper in Mexico who reinvests her earnings into education for girls. A coffee grower in Peru who leads a co-operative...
Rīga continues to celebrate Latvian award winning film ‘Flow’
Rīga Municipality has announced plans to install three additional sculptures inspired by Flow, the first Latvian film ever to win both an Oscar and a Golden Globe. The 3D animated feature, directed by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, has captivated audiences...
Pope Francis’s popemobile to be used for medical aid in Gaza
A popemobile will be turned into a mobile clinic providing medical aid for children in Gaza, in partnership with charity organisation Caritas. The Vatican said that this was the Pope’s “final wish” for the children of Gaza before his death on 21 April...