Male suicide prevention charity CALM has urged perspective over Andreas Lubitz, the Germanwings co-pilot who deliberately crashed his plane into the Alps, killing all on board.

Reports suggest that Lubitz was depressed and hid the fact in case he was deemed unfit to fly, an aspect that is likely to drastically reduce public sympathy for mental illness. CALM – the acronym stands for Campaign Against Living Miserably – points out that, whilst understandable, this is deeply unfair to the hundreds of millions of people in the world who suffer depression and, with or without help, handle it. It is also deeply unfair to those relative few who can’t cope and tragically take their own lives, though without ending 150 others. Sadly the reality now is that those with jobs where the lives of others are in their hands, and the list is a long one, are far less likely to be trusted to do those stressful and responsible jobs if they are known to be suffering mental health problems. Continue reading →

An investigation of accusations that senior detectives at Scotland Yard covered up decades of child abuse, and possibly murder, has been welcomed by the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. (NACAP)

The charity’s chief executive Peter Saunders told the press : “We are looking at something that is going to be absolutely massive in terms of the revelations that will follow the allegations, if investigated properly” The investigation, overseen by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) concerns claims that young boys were abused at the Dolphin Square apartments in London from 1970 to 2005 by a child abuse sex ring comprising paedophile MPs, judges, police officers and a cabinet minister. It is expected to last several years and cost several million pounds, and is promised to be “thorough and robust” by the IPCC.

NACAP say that around one in four children experience abuse at some time, and that the damage can include, in adult life, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, depression and a proneness to substance abuse, criminality and suicide.

The RSPCA has been accused of abusing its powers by a senior High Court judge after they, with police and officials from Tendring council, raided a breeder’s dog kennels in Lawford, Essex without a legal warrant and unlawfully seized 44 dogs.

In a scathing rebuke for all three parties Lord Justice Beatson evoked Magna Carta – this year is the 800th anniversary – and told the court: “It is incumbent on the officers of the state, and those who assist them in this way, to take care that the principle of legality that has protected us well over many centuries is observed”.

The legal mistakes made by the RSPCA, police and council officials resulted in their prosecution of the kennel owners being stopped, with the charity’s challenge of the decision being rejected.

A frail and elderly widower who was mugged for £5 has pledged to donate hundreds of pounds sent to him by well-wishers to charity, so that “some good can come out of evil”.

Stanley Evans, 92, was attacked outside the entrance to his Soho block of flats and pushed to the ground by homeless Soloman Bygraves, 29, as he lunged for the widower’s wallet.

Recorder Andrew Mitchell jailed Bygraves for 30 months for his “callous and sickening attack” that could “easily have killed Mr Evans”, Southark Crown Court heard.

Popular donation site JustGiving has come out badly on a MoneySavingExpert.com comparison website.

JustGiving charges a transaction fee of 76 pence, paying £11.74 to the charity for a £10 Gift Aided donation that would give it £12.50 if paid directly. JustGiving also charge the charities a monthly fee of £15. Continue reading →

Those running charity shops might want to check incoming items a bit more carefully after an Arizona man bought an old watch for $6 at a Goodwill thrift shop and then got $35,000, plus a $4,000 Omega watch for it from a collector.

The antique timepiece was a rare 1959 Jaeger-LeCoutre divers model and only 900 were ever made. Lucky customer Zach Norris bought it because he recognised the brand name but only found out its high value when he advertised it on a specialist website.

Reportedly Norris is using his windfall to pay for his wedding, and to make a donation to Goodwill.