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Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Dad who is tackling toxic masculinity nominated for Pride of Britain award
Kevin Stoodley founded revolutionary project to help'overlooked' young dads gain confidence and parenting skills has helped over 700 men since launch A father of two who launched a revolutionary project helping young dads in the North East has been nominated for a Pride of Britain Local Hero award. Founded by Kevin Stoodley, North East Young Dads and Lads (NEYDL) in Gateshead, gives social, financial and practical support to fathers under the age of 25 from across the region. Working with just 10-12 young dads when it launched in 2017, the project now helps more than 250 men annually. And Kevin, who originates from Birmingham, says he has made it his life's work to tackle the kind of toxic masculinity promoted by influencer Andrew Tate. The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises celebrate the nation's unsung heroes, from children of courage and heroic blue light workers to local heroes such as Kevin. A former youth worker, Kevin, 49, who has a son Sam, 17, and daughter Freya, 22, now lives in Northumberland and says that, after moving to the North East in his twenties and later working on a project supporting young mums, he realised there was little support for young dads in the Gateshead area. He tells The Mirror: ' I started looking into whether the dads could be supported in any way., connecting them with other young dads through WhatsApp groups. ' What was clear was that the young dads were a problem that needed to be fixed but, actually, they needed support too. 'They are being ignored, overlooked by services and unfairly judged. " What I encountered was young men who were really isolated. Often, young dads don't meet other young dads. It's historically the case that being a young parent is something to be derided and caricatured as feckless.' Almost all the young men who access the charity—91 per cent—experience isolation and loneliness. Kevin, who is married to Ancha, 49, realised young dads also needed support in areas such as housing, parenting and relationship skills and mental health. They needed advice around social care and court proceedings. He says: "My son Sam is the same age as the young dads we work with. I see the challenges they go through - like being seen in a negative light - when all they need is support.' He also thinks young dads feel they don't deserve the same support as young mums. "As a first-time parent in my late twenties, I recall having questions for the health visitor or midwife, and not being given that time to ask them or to learn, because the focus was certainly much more on mother—and child,' he says. 'I didn't face the level of stigma that younger dads face now. We live in a world at the moment where there's an awful lot of focus on the negativity about young men, in terms of the landscape, in terms of Andrew Tate, in terms of the response to the recent Netflix series Adolescence, which looks at toxic masculinity in children. "We often encounter young men who historically have been written off because of their lives and their choices, their age and where they live. 'But what we're seeing at NEYDL is that these young men, with the right support, can absolutely flourish and make a positive contribution to their families, their children, but also to society.' Some of the young fathers Kevin has supported have even gone on to work for the project, helping other young dads. The group, which was set up in 2017, offers activities for young dads where they can open up in a non-pressurised environment, as well as offering toddler play sessions that they can bring their kids to. This year, so far, NEYDL, which is a charity, has worked with 250 young dads. In all, the team of 16 employees, plus more than 100 volunteers, have worked face-to-face with 700 plus dads. "We also have an award winning e-learning platform called Digi Dad, which is reaching young men across the country and beyond,' says Kevin. 'What we're trying to do is create cultural change - a real shift in thinking. trying to raise men's sense of self and sense of belonging. So these young men now are more confident to ask for help and to expect a quality of care that they never had before from services.' How to nominate Local heroes have been at the heart of Pride of Britain for the past 26 years .Do you know someone like Kevin who goes the extra mile to change lives inyour community? Nominate them now for a Pride of Britain This Morning Local Hero award is for an individual or group that goes to remarkable lengths to help people around them in their local is a full list of categories on the website, and the Pride of Britain team will consider every nomination, before compiling a shortlist for the judging panel.
Scottish Sun
09-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Scots beach described as ‘white sand paradise' named best in UK
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PRISTINE beach with pale, white sands has been named best in the UK. Heading for the coast often come top of the list for a family day out. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The island beach came out in top place in the UK 3 This bay in Morar also made the top five And we are spoiled for choice in Scotland. New research, conducted by QR Code Generator, analysed Tripadvisor reviews to find the highest-rated beaches in the UK. The coastal spots rated four stars or higher were ranked based on the percentage of five-star reviews compared to the total number of reviews. And four of the top five were in Scotland. Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, said: "Scotland dominates the list of best UK beaches, claiming four out of the top five spots." Coming out in top place is the stunning Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris. The bay had an impressive 93.79 per cent of reviews giving it five stars. This beach boasts white sands, blue-green waters and was named one of the UK's best beaches in the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. Often mistaken for the Caribbean, it is found on the west coast of South Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Coming in second place was another destination on the isle, Scarista Beach with 90.50 per cent of reviews rating it five stars. Primark is selling the perfect beach bag for your summer holiday - it's lightweight, waterproof and shoppers can't get enough of the sparkles Less than six miles from Luskentyre, it is rated as the best place to visit on Harris. This white sandy beach speckled with seashells lies on the southwestern coast and looks out into the Atlantic Ocean. Camusdarach Beach in Morar, three miles south of Mallaig, came in third place. Described as an arc of white, glistening sand and clear water, it can be found south of the estuary of River Morar, with views of the Isle of Skye. This beach was also featured in the film Local Hero and is a popular filming location to visit. Marloes Sands Beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is the only top five placing not in Scotland. The fourth place bay has dramatic coastal scenery and vast golden sands. It's surrounded by wildlife and ancient history, looking out onto Skokholm Island. 3 Sandwood came in fifth place And in fifth place is Sandwood Bay in Sutherland. It is a natural bay with a remote, picturesque beach on the far north-west coast of mainland Scotland. Visitors will find a mile of golden sands and dunes, with rocky cliffs and a giant sea stack to complete the stunning vistas. COASTS WITH THE MOST HERE'S the full top 10: Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris, Scotland Scarista Beach, Isle of Harris, Scotland Camusdarach Beach, Morar, Scotland Marloes Sands Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales Sandwood Bay Beach, Sutherland, Scotland Embleton Bay, Northumberland, England Ross Back Sands Beach, Northumberland, England St Aidan Beach, Northumberland, England Rhossili Bay, Gower Peninsula, Wales Steve's Beach, Isle of Wight Marc said: "Scottish beaches can often be overlooked for southern destinations, but these reviews show how extraordinary these locations really are. "These beaches are more remote than usual seaside towns that are overrun during the summer months. "They offer visitors a quieter, more picturesque experience that is truly breathtaking.'
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
The Ballad of Wallis Island is a big hug of a movie
"Would you like to hear a story about a man who's tired of life?" So begins a movie that will put a song in your heart - anyone who loves Local Hero, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and The Holdovers needs to pitch up on Wallis Island. It's the home of Charles Heath (Tim Key), an endearitating oddball who's about to have the ultimate fanboy experience. By means best kept undisclosed, Charles has managed to reunite his favourite group, the folk duo McGywer and Mortimer, for a gig on his doorstep. The first to arrive is Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden), a gifted singer-songwriter who has taken the soup of chart collaborations and - worse - also suffers from a chronic case of Lead Singer's Disease. Then Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) shows up, the perfect foil for Herb's high maintenance who left music behind after their split and is now happily married to in-tow husband Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen). As Charles does his ham-fisted best to make his guests feel at home, aided amidst the rolling disasters by local shopkeeper Amanda (Sian Clifford), we get a backstage pass to life in all its messiness. There's a gorgeous backstory here for reel romantics that adds to the magic on screen. Eighteen years ago, co-stars and co-writers Basden and Key and director James Griffiths released a BAFTA-nominated short called The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island. Eventually, Basden and Key finally got around to writing a full comedy-drama in the lockdown era; they brought Mulligan's character into the mix, and along with the returning Griffiths have made a better film than they would've done if the cameras had started rolling in 2009. There's something about the onslaught of time, the aging of the central trio, and, indeed, yourself that makes the quirks, laughs, and misty-eyed moments of The Ballad of Wallis Island all the more powerful in the present day. The performances are brilliant; it has the best of British humour mixed with lovely songs, and it also says a lot about making sense of the world and ourselves. As for the ending, well, just you wait... If there's a more uplifting cinema experience between now and Christmas, 2025 will be one for the books. See you in the foyer.
The Herald Scotland
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
10 films from Scotland that Donald Trump might just love
Local Hero (Image: Moviestore Collection/REX) Isn't this the greatest story ever told? Drill baby drill. Burt Lancaster was fantastic as the American oil man so clever he convinces the locals he's been bamboozled by their coughing and cutesy ways, while all the time he sets out to annex the sh*t out of them. Love it, baby. And it proves that if you throw enough dollars on the table, then Greenland and Canada will join the Trump party too. Braveheart Braveheart (Image: free) Some newspaper critic once said this movie 'serves up a great big steaming pile of haggis,' that it got its dates all wrong, that Wallace came from Renfrewshire – not some Highland hut – and that everyone looks like they're appearing in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and points out that Wallace's girlfriend has perfect teeth. But didn't they also have very good dentists in the 13th century? Fake news, baby. And why was this movie deemed a little homophobic? Who's to say Edward 2nd didn't sprance around the French palace in baby blue crushed velvet? As you know, I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist, and I think the movie was right on the money. And for those who say Wallace couldn't have impregnated Isabella of France, because she would have been nine at the time in 1304, well that's just the sort of fake news you would expect from Macron's people. Gregory's Girl Gregory's Girl (Image: free) At first, I didn't like this guy, Gregory. He couldn't score, and unlike me the blondes didn't take to him at all. And he clearly wasn't a team player, like me. But it's a great movie because it teaches young guys what foxes women can be, that they're all Hilarys and Kamalas at heart, like the one he ended up, from the pop band who sings Happy Birthday all time. And if you're not careful women will have you lying on the grass and doing hand dancing. And what good is that? Trainspotting Begbie bar fight scene from Trainspotting. Filmed in the Crosslands bar, Glasgow (Image: unknown) Doncha just love the honesty in this movie, when Rent Boy declares it's sh*** being Scottish, and points out how Scotland has been colonised by England. And what he was really saying was the truth; let's not be colonised by England, but by America. Make Scotland Great Again. And hats with MSGA will be available in my golf shop in Turnberry any day now. Fifty bucks each. Awesome baby. A bigly idea. Restless Natives Restless Natives (Image: free) Beautiful story. About two lovable rogues – they could be JD Vance and me, couldn't they? – although JD is definitely the one in the clown mask, who take money from the tourists who have been leeching off their beautiful country for the longest time. And why shouldn't you tariff the tourists? And if they help make Scotland great again, how can you not love it? Greyfriar's Bobby My old Scots friend Janey Godley one described me as a 'Greyfriar's Bobby', and I took it to mean that she thought me a very, very loyal, sorta guy, the kind who find themselves surrounded each day by local kids all wearing big saucer-shaped Bisto caps and nice ladies from Morningside who were kind, although not that good looking. And I guess she thought I was the kinda guy who would sleep in a cold, damp cemetery for 14 years to be close to the person I loved most. And it's true. I would sleep next to me any day. Whisky Galore Whisky Galore (Image: free) My Mama loved this movie, being an island girl herself, which is all about showing the big guys you can't be pushed around, and if you have to break a few little laws then why not? I can't stand Scotch myself, but Mama loved a glass with her porridge in the morning. And I guess Diet Coke Galore doesn't have the same ring. Great Escape I love prison movies. I love anything to do with Alcatraz, any way you can lock up people who eat cats. And I know this is not really a Scottish movie, but it featured only these wonderful Scottish actors, who were so brave and so defiant, like Mr Hudson from Upstairs Downstairs, one of the Men From Uncle and Wee Shughie McFee from Crossroads - who all led the way to freedom against evil with nothing but kitchen spoons to dig their way out. But we've got shovels these days to show China what we're made of. Yes, I know the Escape guys all died at the end, but don't we all at some time? Although I'm told if you drink enough bleach you can push that off almost indefinitely. The Wicker Man The Wicker Man (Image: free) I love the theme of human sacrifice, because all of us humans have to sacrifice something, right? That's what I said to Zebedee, or Zelensky, or whatever his name is. I said, 'Look at me, I've sacrificed my freedom as an individual to make America great again, I've given up on my ego.' He looked at me in awe, which told me he agreed totally. But back to the movie. Isn't it great that men are portrayed in roles of power and women are hypersexualized and isn't this the way it should be? What's the point of sexy underwear if you can't wear it in a movie? I know Scottish underwear relies on a lot of heavy flannel, but that can work too. But wasn't it great that Britt Ekland didn't have to wear any, although I hear Rod wasn't too happy about it, but then he doesn't play golf, and he used to wear Spandex trousers so who the hell cares? Geordie Young handsome guy with great hair and a beautiful smile becomes champion of the world... You can see why I love this film. Okay, I've never slept with my feet out the window on a cold winter's night, except the time Stormy ran over my toes with the golf buggy. What's also great about this movie is Geordie wasn't seduced by the Russian with the big biceps – that would have been a terrible thing – but the moral of this movie is sometimes you've gotta kiss a little ass to get what you want, which is the cute babe with the fruit in her hat and world domination.
The Herald Scotland
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
10 films from Scotchland that could escape Trump's bigly tariffs
Local Hero (Image: Moviestore Collection/REX) Isn't this the greatest story ever told? Drill baby drill. Burt Lancaster was fantastic as the American oil man so clever he convinces the locals he's been bamboozled by their coughing and cutesy ways, while all the time he sets out to annex the sh*t out of them. Love it, baby. And it proves that if you throw enough dollars on the table, then Greenland and Canada will join the Trump party too. Braveheart Braveheart (Image: free) Some newspaper critic once said this movie 'serves up a great big steaming pile of haggis,' that it got its dates all wrong, that Wallace came from Renfrewshire – not some Highland hut – and that everyone looks like they're appearing in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and points out that Wallace's girlfriend has perfect teeth. But didn't they also have very good dentists in the 13th century? Fake news, baby. And why was this movie deemed a little homophobic? Who's to say Edward 2nd didn't sprance around the French palace in baby blue crushed velvet? As you know, I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist, and I think the movie was right on the money. And for those who say Wallace couldn't have impregnated Isabella of France, because she would have been nine at the time in 1304, well that's just the sort of fake news you would expect from Macron's people. Gregory's Girl Gregory's Girl (Image: free) At first, I didn't like this guy, Gregory. He couldn't score, and unlike me the blondes didn't take to him at all. And he clearly wasn't a team player, like me. But it's a great movie because it teaches young guys what foxes women can be, that they're all Hilarys and Kamalas at heart, like the one he ended up, from the pop band who sings Happy Birthday all time. And if you're not careful women will have you lying on the grass and doing hand dancing. And what good is that? Trainspotting Begbie bar fight scene from Trainspotting. Filmed in the Crosslands bar, Glasgow (Image: unknown) Doncha just love the honesty in this movie, when Rent Boy declares it's sh*** being Scottish, and points out how Scotland has been colonised by England. And what he was really saying was the truth; let's not be colonised by England, but by America. Make Scotland Great Again. And hats with MSGA will be available in my golf shop in Turnberry any day now. Fifty bucks each. Awesome baby. A bigly idea. Restless Natives Restless Natives (Image: free) Beautiful story. About two lovable rogues – they could be JD Vance and me, couldn't they? – although JD is definitely the one in the clown mask, who take money from the tourists who have been leeching off their beautiful country for the longest time. And why shouldn't you tariff the tourists? And if they help make Scotland great again, how can you not love it? Greyfriar's Bobby My old Scots friend Janey Godley one described me as a 'Greyfriar's Bobby', and I took it to mean that she thought me a very, very loyal, sorta guy, the kind who find themselves surrounded each day by local kids all wearing big saucer-shaped Bisto caps and nice ladies from Morningside who were kind, although not that good looking. And I guess she thought I was the kinda guy who would sleep in a cold, damp cemetery for 14 years to be close to the person I loved most. And it's true. I would sleep next to me any day. Whisky Galore Whisky Galore (Image: free) My Mama loved this movie, being an island girl herself, which is all about showing the big guys you can't be pushed around, and if you have to break a few little laws then why not? I can't stand Scotch myself, but Mama loved a glass with her porridge in the morning. And I guess Diet Coke Galore doesn't have the same ring. Great Escape I love prison movies. I love anything to do with Alcatraz, any way you can lock up people who eat cats. And I know this is not really a Scottish movie, but it featured only these wonderful Scottish actors, who were so brave and so defiant, like Mr Hudson from Upstairs Downstairs, one of the Men From Uncle and Wee Shughie McFee from Crossroads - who all led the way to freedom against evil with nothing but kitchen spoons to dig their way out. But we've got shovels these days to show China what we're made of. Yes, I know the Escape guys all died at the end, but don't we all at some time? Although I'm told if you drink enough bleach you can push that off almost indefinitely. The Wicker Man The Wicker Man (Image: free) I love the theme of human sacrifice, because all of us humans have to sacrifice something, right? That's what I said to Zebedee, or Zelensky, or whatever his name is. I said, 'Look at me, I've sacrificed my freedom as an individual to make America great again, I've given up on my ego.' He looked at me in awe, which told me he agreed totally. But back to the movie. Isn't it great that men are portrayed in roles of power and women are hypersexualized and isn't this the way it should be? What's the point of sexy underwear if you can't wear it in a movie? I know Scottish underwear relies on a lot of heavy flannel, but that can work too. But wasn't it great that Britt Ekland didn't have to wear any, although I hear Rod wasn't too happy about it, but then he doesn't play golf, and he used to wear Spandex trousers so who the hell cares? Geordie Young handsome guy with great hair and a beautiful smile becomes champion of the world... You can see why I love this film. Okay, I've never slept with my feet out the window on a cold winter's night, except the time Stormy ran over my toes with the golf buggy. What's also great about this movie is Geordie wasn't seduced by the Russian with the big biceps – that would have been a terrible thing – but the moral of this movie is sometimes you've gotta kiss a little ass to get what you want, which is the cute babe with the fruit in her hat and world domination.
