Inside The Box: Issue 4

LIFESTYLE

Is Sustainability The Answer To The Cost Of Living Crisis?

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CULTURE

Made In Peterborough: Celebrating Artists 23

SPORT

An Interview With Will Palmer, Local Footballer 29

OUR SITE

WELCOME!

Inside The Box magazine is a showcase of the diverse and creative talents of University Centre Peterborough’s students, with a variety of articles and more!

MEET OUR EDITORS...

What an exciting way to start the academic year with an Autumn edition of Inside the Box. I am so excited to continue as Editor as I navigate my final year of education.

Working on this magazine brings me so much joy and I wouldn’t have my final year without this wonderful team. I joined Inside the Box as a contributor and editorial team member in my first weeks at University Centre Peterborough as it has been an integral part of my university journey. Myself and the rest of the team have so many exciting plans for the publication this year and we can’t wait for all our readers and contributors to watch our ideas form and unfold. We are especially excited to get another chance to take some awards home in the Student Publication Association Regional Awards early next year.For now please enjoy the wonderful work that lies in these pages, ensuring to remember that everything you see in this magazine is produced by students, from every word to the designs on the pages.

Without further ado, I present to you the Autumn 2024 edition of Inside the Box. I hope you enjoy it and pass it on to others. If once you have finished reading you crave more, then head over to our website for more incredible content.

- Trinity Barnatt

Heading into my final year as a student at University Centre Peterborough, I couldn’t be more excited for the future of Inside The Box as well as the future of journalism as a whole, taking into account some of the incredible talent we feature in this magazine and on our website. Having the opportunity to work on this publication, through designing this very magazine, running our social media and writing alongside my peers, has been a privilege.

Trinity

Jen

- Jen Ramm

CONTENTS ISSUE 4

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TRADITIONAL CELEBRITES VS YOUTUBE SENSATIONS

Maleeha Iqbal looks at how YouTube and social media are redefining what makes a celebrity.

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DOES PETERBOROUGH MEET YOUNG PEOPLE’S NEEDS?

Daniel Logue speaks to former Youth MP Eva Woods about youth services across the city.

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MADE IN PETERBOROUGH: CELEBRATING LOCAL ARTISTS Jen Ramm speaks to artists who participated in the Made In Peterborough exhibition.

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WILL PALMER: THE LOCAL ENGLAND DEAF FOOTBALLER

Lauren Shiels speaks with local England footballer Will Palmer about his career so far.

WHO ARE THE SEPHORA TEN YEAR OLDS?

Is this phenomenon a product of the online influencer result or something deeper? Jen Ramm looks at what is driving the TikTok trend.

BY JEN RAMM

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ikTok has brought forth a new phenomenon: Sephora ten-yearolds. The phrase, which feels like the embodiment of a huge, deep sigh, describes the influx of social mediasavvy preteens taking up lavish skincare routines, hoarding retinol bottles and treating the American beauty store chain Sephora like it’s the holy land. What has accumulated is a multitude of TikToks, created by these mini-adults, most of which are centered around makeup and the quest to perfect what is already baby-soft skin. One of these videos cropped up on my feed, and I was filled with existential dread; it seems that social media is still playing its role in nourishing the dichotomy in which women in particular are told to stay youthful while being forced to grow up all too soon. Playing around with makeup as a means for fun and self-expression is healthy for children, don’t get me wrong, but watching a tenyear-old outperform me in the makeup department feels unnerving.

Skincare is sold under the premise of self-care but has evolved into something that TikTok creators capitalise on, through filming aesthetically pleasing nighttime routines and ‘get unready with me’ videos.

At this point, I wonder how much of the self-care we are shown is true to the original message; if selfcare is reduced to digital content - and is potentially lucrative as a result - is it even self-care anymore, or is it just a means of creating generating income and feeding into TikTok capitalism, and why are children a part of the target demographic?

Let me paint a picture: self-described influencer Natalie, 24 years of age, living in a trendy American city (let’s say Boston), shares her 5-9 routine with us mere mortals who didn’t go to Pilates or refill their Stanley flask with frozen fruit ice cubes that day. She oozes elegance with her ten-step skincare routine, consisting of high-end brands like La Mer and Drunk Elephant. In true girl-boss fashion, she relays to us how essential taking time for yourself is.

Natalie’s got her shit together (or so we presume), so naturally, the comment section is a battle zone,

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flooded with accusations of her tone-deaf privilege. Regardless of this, the Sephora ten-year-olds, with their impressionable minds, have found a new inspiration. Of course, there is worse content children could be consuming, and perhaps these kinds of videos give them something to aspire to. The makeup industry has experienced a similar fate; what should be used as a means to celebrate self-love and creativity is now being farmed for content, for vanity’s sake. Our girl Natalie has all good intentions, but she’s unfortunately associated with a wider issue. There is now a mini-Natalie who, instead of playing Barbies with her friends, is

the world; there are approximately 64 million Instagram influencer accounts across the globe (TrendHero, 2023).

But we have to remember that social

“The makeup industry has experienced a similar fate; what could be used as a means to celebrate self-love and creativity is now being farmed for content.“ media, and all of its shortcomings, is easily within the grasp of children’s hands. And God, even just talking like this makes me sound like an ancient and decrepit 21-year-old, but I can’t help but worry about these kids.

Anyone can view your TikToks, and follow you on Instagram - as long as you have social media, you are putting yourself on public display.

Not all content is suitable for children, yet most of it is visible to children, so who and what are you ‘influencing’?

In a way, I think that skin care is becoming the new diet culture.

Social media is a breeding ground for vanity anyway, but these two things seem to have become intertwined with unrealistic beauty expectations.

Should kids and young people be exposed to such standards so directly? Are they becoming targets?

My only hope is that the Sephora tenyear-olds don’t grow up too quickly, and instead head to the park with their friends instead of a beauty store.

“Not all content is suitable for children, yet most of it is visible to children, so who and what are you ‘influencing’?” doing cut crease eyeliner on TikTok live - just like all her idols do.

Children today are unique, in the fact that it’s they are a part of only generation to be born into the age of the (fully-realized) internet, so is it any wonder that they are becoming social media moguls already? The modern ‘influencer’ craze seems to be appealing to young people, and as much as older generations bemoan it, it’s making headway in

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TRADITIONAL CELEBRITIES vs

YOUTUBE SENSATIONS Maleeha Iqbal looks at how YouTube is redefining the modern “celebrity.”

BY MALEEHA IQBAL

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When thinking about traditional celebrities, my mind goes to who I see on television, like Adele and Julia Roberts. For many decades, television was the primary medium for people to consume news and entertainment. The marketing was strategic in showing off these celebrities in every advertisement, promoting their new upcoming movies or television shows and updating the public on who’s kissing who, brutal breakups and the latest fashion trends. But the rise of YouTube has contributed to the downfall of television and people’s distaste for advertising is prompting a redefinition of the word “celebrity.” Now, you can click on YouTube videos and see common folk share their opinion and what is going on in their life and are setting the trends. Youtubers are now seen as celebrities due to their overwhelming influence and hold over Gen Z. But why are people obsessed with YouTube personalities?

From my perspective, YouTube stars are better at developing relationships with their viewers. Some traditional celebrities put on this illusion that their

friends who give you advice, make you laugh, teach you something, and warm your heart. For example, YouTuber Gabriella Lindley documented her battle with her mental illness in her video, ‘The Honesty Diaries: Finally Fighting Back’. This was eye-opening to watch; she is candid about what went on behind closed doors and she advocates for other YouTubers to speak up about their mental illness battles to raise more awareness. Traditional celebrities tend to team up with organisations that support mental health, but this isn’t to say they don’t share their mental health journey. A prime example of this is Selena Gomez’s documentary from 2022, where we saw snippets of her struggles with bipolar disorder and how it affected her mentally and physically. She showed her fans the realities of living with bipolar disorder and what she gets up to in her everyday life, creating a deeper connection with her fan base.

70% of subscribers say that YouTube personalities change and shape pop culture and 60% of them say they would make buying decisions based on the recommendations of their favourite YouTube star over the recommendation of a television or movie star (Forbes, 2017). This shows just how powerful and influential YouTuber stars truly are; this is why brands collaborate with them. KSI (Olajide Olatunji) and Logan Paul, two YouTubers turned businessmen, created the sports drink PRIME, which has gained enormous market traction since its launch in January 2022. PRIME’s incredible success can be attributed not only to its tasty beverage but also to its smart partnerships with major players in the sports and entertainment industries. This is a shining example of two popular YouTubers joining forces to dominate a specific brand they know their fans will go crazy for.

Needless to say, the brand sold out within hours of them releasing it.

YouTube stars drive more engagement, meaning you can leave comments under videos, thumbs up the video, and share videos making interactions engaging more likely than not YouTubers will respond to comments or like the comments making their viewers feel seen and appreciated for all their

70% of subscribers say that YouTube personalities change and shape pop culture. (Forbes, 2017) life is perfect; they always seem to act according to their PR strategies rather than of their own free will, meaning that people can’t relate to them. It is hard to understand where a carefully staged image ends and the real person starts. YouTube personalities connect better with their audiences, as their audience views them as real people because they show the good and bad. They are not afraid to speak on personal issues such as divorce, mental health, racism and sex. In a way, some YouTubers can feel like

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YouTuber Gabriella Lindley opened up about her battle with her mental illness in her video, ‘The Honesty Diaries: Finally Fighting Back’. support and love. On the other hand, reaching out to traditional celebrities and receiving a personal reply isn’t something you can imagine. The relationship YouTube content creators develop with their fan base leads to higher engagement and viewership due to many factors, one of these being the consistency of content.

Some YouTube stars make their sole income on YouTube, so to have the money rolling in, they need evenness of content creation. Traditional celebrities will come out with movies, television shows, and new albums which take a lot of time and dedication and they can’t inform their fans until it’s ready or they might release a teaser, and even then, do you still feel they could do more to connect with their fan bases? Traditional celebrities often have a wider reach and larger fan base due to their exposure to mainstream media. They also have access to bigger productions.

On the other hand, Youtubers have a more direct personal connection with their audience, allowing for a more interactive and engaged community.

The influence of YouTube personalities may fall flat with older generations, who tend to prefer traditional media such as television and newspapers where traditional celebrities still steer the conversations. But with Gen Z, this new influence is at an all-time high. Both have a place in the entertainment industry and continue to shape popular culture in their own ways.

In Selena Gomez’s documentary ‘My Mind & Me’, we saw snippets of her struggles with bipolar disorder.

Photos: Gabriella Lindley, Apple TV

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GENTLE PARENTING: LOVE IT OR HATE IT?

Self proclaimed gentle parent, Trinity Barnatt explores emerging parenting style ‘gentle parenting’. She tackles some of the criticisms of the parenting method head on and provides an alternative viewpoint.

BY TRINITY BARNATT

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s gentle parenting grows in pop ularity among this generation’s parents, as does the growing controversy over the parenting style. Claims that this parenting technique produces ‘a generation of indulged and self obsessed brats.’

Media headlines brand this parenting style as a ‘trend’ fuelled by social media influencers. Per haps this isn’t completely untrue but it does be little the style. The spread of gentle parenting is most likely due to parents stumbling upon it on social media but that doesn’t mean that parents are simply hopping on the bandwagon.

Parents view this online content, find value and interest in the style and decide to adopt various elements of what they have seen to their own parenting.

Much of the controversy surrounding gentle parenting is likely due to the abundance of misconceptions about the style. Even resources considered ‘expert or professional’ standards are misconstrued. Health News claimed that gentle parenting sat under the umbrella of permissive parenting where parents “have little expectations from the child and rarely use discipline”. As a gentle parent myself I have incredibly high expectations of my child, particularly in him growing up to be a kind, empathetic individual.

Those quick to criticise this parenting style often seem to disregard the negative impacts of the alternative parenting they are referring to. While no parent follows the same rule book, much of the previous generations parenting would be classified as authoritarian parenting. If phrases like “Stop crying or I’ll give you some thing to cry about”, “Because I said so” and “Don’t talk back to me” sound familiar, your parents probably used elements of authoritar ian parenting. Authoritarian parenting often is the most effective in terms of immediately stop ping bad behaviour but this is only out of fear. It creates a barrier in the communication between child and parent. Have you ever heard the phrase “Strict parents raise sneaky kids”? This is why. Authoritarian parenting stunts communication, meaning children grow into teenagers who lie and sneak around. They would never come to their parents when they had a problem or were in trouble because they didn’t expect any compassion from them, only ridicule and consequences.

It’s hard to say what children brought up on gentle parenting will be like as teenagers and adults because they majority of children being raised this way are still relatively young but if we look at how children raised the authoritarian way grew up, perhaps we can infer that gentle parented children will emulate some of the opposite characteristics.

Psychology Today suggests that authoritarian parenting can increase risk of anxiety and depression in adulthood. 1 in 5 millennials and Gen Z are currently in therapy, according Gentle parenting is a parenting style that relies on to a recent survey by empathy, understanding and respect. While ‘traditional The Thriving Centre of parenting’ focuses heavily on pun­ishment and reward Psychology.

Another strategies, gentle parenting shifts the focus onto source suggests that these children grow up helping your child become more self-aware, improving to have intimacy issues their understanding of their emotions and in turn in adult relationships, their behaviour. Es­sentially, with gentle parenting you often have a fear are creating a relationship with your child based on of attachment and mutual respect, they feel validated in their feelings thus trust issues making creating a better line of communication between you dysfunctional romantic connections. These issues both as they grow.

WHAT IS GENTLE PARENTING?

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“MUCH OF THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING GENTLE PARENTING IS LIKELY DUE TO THE ABUNDANCE OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE STYLE.”

are reflected in the statistics surrounding Gen Z and millennials dating habits.

Almost 3 quarters of Gen Z and millennials are currently single, and less than half of millennials are married.

While optimism about the long term outcomes of gentle parenting are promising, the criticisms are still soaring.

One of the cornerstones of this method even for the most willing of parents is what it requires of you. Children inherently copy their parents, that’s why sometimes when you say something to your child, you might think to yourself “Oh God, I sound like my mother!” As children raised from authoritarian parents, it is instinct to imitate their parenting. That means gentle parenting requires you to rework your own brain and responses. When your child misbehaves, it is instinctual to explode and shout. Gentle parenting means completely overriding this part of your brain and like any changes to behaviour this takes time, discipline and practice. For many parents, this is too challenging and can deter them from attempting this parenting style, for others they may give up on it and return to more traditional methods.

If there is one criticism that I agree with regarding gentle parenting, it is the expectations that are set. It could be argued that online content creators display unattainable expectations and don’t take into account daily challenges.

It is important to bear in mind that these ‘influencer’ parents are well practised and more importantly sharing a small snapshot of their lives (the better side). Losing your patience and shouting at your child doesn’t mean you’ve failed at gentle parenting, it means you’re human. Parenting is hard and we can’t always get it right 100% of the time.

Often when I reflect on my own parenting, my mind tends to highlight the bad bits.

It will remember how I lost my temper and shouted, but forget the 10 minutes of gentle parenting that happened prior to the shouting. Try taking a cou ple tricks from gentle parenting and applying it to yourself. Your feelings are valid.

So, gentle parenting - love it or hate it, it seems like this method of parenting is a little bit like Marmite. There will be some parents that are forever critics but if you’re sitting on the fence ask yourself this: How did your parents make you feel when you were younger? If the answer is on the negative side, consider gentle parenting.

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BEATING THE WINTER BLUES

With the weather turning colder and the nights getting shorter, Jen Ramm looks at how to beat the winter blues.

BY JEN RAMM

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ne day after a writing session, I looked out of my frosted window and was met by the moon hanging over the sky. I know I tend to get lost in my writing for hours, but much to my surprise, it wasn’t nighttime.

A quick scan of my iPhone revealed that it was only five o’clock, and I slumped back into my chair. It appeared to me that summer was well and truly over.

As the days draw in sooner and the sun sets in the early evening, it’s easy to lose sight of hope during the winter. This feeling, generally referred to as ‘the winter blues’ or ‘depression-lite’, can be linked to seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. This is primarily caused by a lack of sunlight, leading to more melatonin production and lower serotonin levels. One common misconception about SAD is that it is a standalone disorder. In actuality, it is a subtype of major depression that includes a recurrent depressive phase that comes and goes with the changing seasons. Society has made

considerable strides in mental health awareness in recent years, so why is it that SAD is just shrugged off? The main reason could be stigma driven by a lack of understanding, but there are many ways to cope with these challenging feelings.

During the colder months, it’s easy to shy away from the elements and stay indoors in the warm – but research has shown that being out in nature has genuine benefits for mental health. From personal experience, I have found that a brisk walk, braving the cold, can boost brain power and revitalise.

Feeling a harsh wind on my flushed face wakes me up, anyway. We’re often told that exercise is good for our mental health, and as tough as this may be – it’s correct. Bundle yourself up in layers, put on your favourite woolly hat and get outdoors! From icy, intricate spider webs, to bright berries on bare branches, to wild primroses blooming, the natural world during winter is something to behold. Write your name in frost that has settled on a wall, or even observe and look out for foxes and squirrels since winter is their mating season. Remember when

Photos: Jen Ramm

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you were little and had the time of your life making snow angels and snowmen; there’s nothing to say you can’t make that happen again, the next time it snows. When it comes to nature, we often tend to disregard anything other than a flower-blooming springtime or a warm summer, but getting outside in any season is always sure to greatly improve your mental health.

With mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, research has shown that being out in nature helps. If you are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, or even just feeling a bit down as it gets chillier, natural light and getting your vitamin D is highly recommended. The science behind this was explored in a 1996 clinical trial led by Dr Anna Wirz-Justice, a neurobiologist and professor. In this study, half of the patients suffering from SAD were treated with an hour’s outside walk in natural light, the other half only being exposed to artificial light, which was essentially a placebo. The results showed that natural sunlight can be effective in treating the depressive symptoms of SAD, something we most

likely already knew – but it was backed up by science.

Our brains are powerful organs, but sometimes we need a little support from outside sources – in this case, the sun – to help them to function better.

As well as what’s referred to as ‘light therapy’, ecotherapy is another useful tool to maintain your well-being. By implementing some time outdoors into your routine, whether that be gardening, a short walk or a bit of cycling, you are reconnecting with nature while also reaping its benefits.

I acknowledge the fact that the sun bids us farewell at an earlier time of day, but this time around I want to look at the changing seasons from another perspective. Instead of wishing away the winter months and longing to trade them in for some sunshine, I bask in whatever sunlight I can; it turns into gold dust. I look out of my window the next morning and see a tiny robin perched on top of my patio table. It’s vital that we hold onto flickers of hope during this time, and being out in nature and getting to know wildlife very well could be the key to this.

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BY DANIEL LOGUE

YOUTH MP’S WORK AGAINST EATING DISORDERS

The former Peterborough Youth MP, Eva Woods, spoke to Daniel Logue about the work she did on tackling eating disorders in schools.

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ating disorders are a topic Eva Woods pupils’ well-being through an understanding of feels deeply passionate about, having had their own and others’ emotions,” justifying Eva’s anorexia at 14. She believes that eating approach to her extension of the curriculum she disorders are “almost nurtured in a school devised. environment,” and this is because of the Eva’s goal was also to make the way eating disorders “really close scrutiny on the way you look,” are taught about “more human,” by using “real such as on “the amount of space you take experiences,” whilst making students aware of local up when you’re a young person in school.” support networks they could turn to. This was to The NHS website states that people with anorexia make seeking help for an eating disorder, “less of a “often have a distorted image of their bodies, scary thing.” thinking they’re fat when they’re underweight.”

The scheme Eva devised was a four-week lesson Eva believes this distorted self-image can be plan, ”drafted with the help of people from “poets exacerbated in schools because of “this roasting who talk about eating disorders and empathy, culture of, everybody’s constantly insulting one and activists, and clinical professionals.” However, another,” adding, “You have “that kind of draft curriculum is no idea what impact that has not able to be used because on the way somebody sees school curriculums go themselves.” through a lot of testing,” and Eva devised a plan to “highly evidence-based.” tackle this likely catalyst for Irrespective of this, Eva’s eating disorders in schools. draft lesson plan questioned, “What I wanted to do was “What does our curriculum to create an extension to need to do better?” in terms the PSHE curriculum and of what she believes still get Peterborough schools needs to be taught about to adopt it because schools eating disorders in PSHE. can decide for themselves Eva shared the “needs to some extent what they assessment,” she createdw teach with PSHE.” Schools “with PSHE and public health are given that freedom by the stakeholders across the central government, so she sector,” which is how “being a - Eva Woods tried to create some materials Youth MP works,” in her words. that went beyond what is already She explained, “A lot of it comes taught about eating disorders in PSHE. Beforehand, off your own back. It’s not the easiest role in the PSHE has taught children about “what is in the eating world,” without a team of “30 civil servants,” working disorder, what kind of eating disorders are there.” on what a Youth MP would like to see happen.

Eva looked to improve people’s understanding of The work Eva Woods did to try and enhance the way “how eating disorders can affect people, which eating disorders are taught in PSHE has opened the thought processes can be linked to disordered door for tangible change with the help of public eating, to try and allow people to stop thoughts that health stakeholders - even though schools couldn’t aren’t healthy in themselves.” use her draft lesson plan itself. Eva’s dedication The former Youth MP hoped that an extension to to tackling eating disorders will be worthwhile if the PSHE curriculum could have led to students or when PSHE accepts her recommendations and learning the dangers of an eating disorder they have changes the curriculum for young people. In which had themselves, “before it gets to a point where it’s case, “you’re able to, in two years, say, ‘This is what really impacting their lives.” The PSHE association I delivered for young people.’” says that PSHE teaching material should “promote

“This roasting culture - you have no idea what impact that has on the way somebody sees themselves.”

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SELF CARE: TOP TIPS

Identify Your Needs:

Take time to reflect on your needs and desires.

What activities bring you joy and fulfilment? What makes you feel relaxed and rejuvenated? By understanding your unique needs, you can tailor your self-care routine to suit your preferences and lifestyle.

Establish Boundaries:

Cerys Law creates a comprehensive guide to self-care practices that sets out to nourish your mind, body, and soul.

Setting boundaries is an essential aspect of self-care. It can be beneficial to learn to say no to commitments that drain your energy or compromise your well-being. Prioritise activities and relationships that nourish and support you and don’t be afraid to enforce boundaries to protect your time, peace and energy.

BY CERYS LAW

Nurture Your Body - It’s A Temple:

Physical self-care is vital for maintaining overall health and energy levels. Make small adjustments to give yourself time for regular exercise, nourishing meals, and adequate sleep. Listen to your body’s signals and honour its need for rest, movement, and nourishment.

Practice Mindfulness:

Practising mindfulness is imperative in bringing greater awareness and presence to each moment.

Mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga can help you stay grounded and centred despite life’s challenges. Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine to help reduce stress and enhance your mental well-being.

Unplug And Disconnect:

In today’s digital age, it’s easy to become consumed by technology and constant connectivity. Take regular breaks from screens and digital devices to recharge and reconnect with yourself. It can be tough as a Uni student to tear yourself away from the screen but it is important to spend even a little bit of time unplugged, engaging in offline activities that bring you peace, happiness and relaxation.

Engage In Activities You Enjoy:

It is important to try and make time for activities that bring you fulfilment. Whether it’s pursuing a hobby, spending time in nature, or connecting with loved ones, engaging in activities you enjoy is really important for helping your mental health improve.

In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the demands of daily life. From work or university deadlines to family obligations, it can feel like there’s never enough time to prioritise your own well-being.

Practising self-care is essential for maintaining balance, reducing stress, and nurturing our overall health and happiness.

Be Gentle With Yourself:

Finally, remember to be gentle with yourself as you practice self-care. Progress is not always linear, and there will be days when self-care feels challenging.

Be patient and compassionate with yourself, and trust that each step you take toward self-care is a meaningful act of self-love and self-preservation.

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IS SUSTAINABILITY THE ANSWER TO THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS? Jen Ramm looks at how adopting more sustainable practices can help mitigate the effects of the cost of living crisis.

BY JEN RAMM

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n Britain, the growing cost of living crisis in Britain has significantly affected the daily lives of many individuals. Simply put, the cost of everyday essentials is rising faster than the average household income. Unsurprisingly, this has caused a plethora of issues. For example, food banks have seen an uptake in those in need of support, while people are cutting back on meals and heating to survive this period of economic uncertainty. It’s understandable that many people have found themselves at a loss coping with this.

“The cost of living crisis is having an impact on how people shop, get around, and live. Sustainable practices often align with what’s best for both people’s wallets and the environment,” says Stuart Dawks, Chief Executive Officer for Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT). Right now, it’s safe to assume that most people are focused on just getting by – rather than ensuring that their shopping is ethical or sustainable, they’re more concerned that it is as inexpensive as possible. As it happens, the two can go hand in hand. Conscious consumerism involves making informed shopping decisions and inadvertently benefiting the economy,

the environment, and society. It could be argued that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, but organisations such as PECT are keen to enforce the idea of conscious consumerism and show that it is more than a trend. “We work to protect and enhance the environment – making a difference now and for the future,” as PECT pledges on its website.

In order to afford rising energy bills over the past few years, many families across Britain were forced to sacrifice warm, heated houses. The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee found that from 2022 – 2023, there were “4,706 excess winter deaths caused by living in a cold, damp home in England, Scotland and Wales.”

Energy prices have since fallen, but remain relatively high in comparison to prior years. Putting forward quick fixes to such an extensive problem could be unreasonable; members of the general public who are suffering, as a result, should not be expected to find the solution. Still, Dawks explains that there are a handful of methods that will help people to manage. “Being mindful of energy consumption, individuals can save on both carbon emissions and financial costs. Simple steps like turning off lights when not needed, using energy-efficient appliances, and insulating homes properly can lead to substantial savings.”

UK fuel prices have dramatically increased too. Figures from RAC Fuel Watch have recently

“By championing sustainable practices, we can leave a lasting legacy for future generations while creating greener, happier, and healthier places for all.”

- Stuart Dawks, PECT

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Photo: Jen Ramm

crisis exist symbiotically; the two issues, unfortunately, go hand in hand.

On a global level, the cost of living is escalated by climate change since the side effects of the climate crisis, such as extreme weather conditions, floods, and wildfires, all disrupt supply chains and even food production. But fast fashion is one of the main contributors to the climate crisis; excessive and quick clothing production is known to provoke global warming and plastic pollution. Shopping second-hand could be a remedy for this. “Charity shops, online marketplaces for used goods, and community swaps are excellent ways to find quality products at lower prices,” Dawks explains. Almost half (48%) of people in England and Wales are shopping more in charity shops or considering doing so due to the rising cost of living (Civil Society Media, 2023).

‘Thrifting’ is now in vogue; people are no longer embarrassed to wear, upcycle and repair preloved items. It’s widely accepted that Generation Z (born from 1997 – 2012) has spearheaded this movement. They are not only being internet savvy and consistently sharing their outfits or charity shop clothing hauls on social media, but they also have a grasp on the climate emergency.

Their online activism in this area is often belittled as ‘wokeism’; figureheads such as Greta Thunberg receive patronising messages. Ultimately, it is up to the younger generation to future-proof our planet as best as possible. Similarly, Dawks highlights that “initiatives like the Peterborough Repair Cafe encourage people to repair and reuse items rather than buy new ones. Repairing electronics, clothing, or household goods not only extends their lifespan but also reduces the need to purchase replacements.”

The narrative that sustainable products and services are on the more expensive side isn’t always correct, and more people, of all ages, are beginning to realise this. Once prices balance out and people’s wages are changed to match, there are hopes that the effects of the cost of living crisis will be lessened. But until then, sustainability – using what you already have, and considering your own environmental impact – could serve as a panacea in the meantime. “By championing sustainable practices, we can leave a lasting legacy for future generations while creating greener, happier, and healthier places for all.”

shown that “petrol prices increased by 4p per litre to 144.76ppl, which means the cost of a full tank of an average 55-litre family car now stands at £79.62 – £2 higher than in January 2024.” There are ways to combat this though, as Dawks says, “walking, cycling, or using public transportation are greener alternatives to driving alone in a car. Not only do these options benefit the environment by reducing emissions, but they also promote better health for individuals.”

Interestingly, the climate crisis and the cost of living

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DOES PETERBOROUGH MEET YOUNG PEOPLE’S NEEDS? Daniel Logue speaks to former Youth MP Eva Woods about local youth services.

BY DANIEL LOGUE

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he role of a Youth MP is to champion the importance of young people and to take on board what they would like to change about their city. Not only are Youth MPs “a focal point for your voice,” says Eva Woods, but they connect young people to decisionmakers who may not know how to improve young people’s lives. Having recently stepped down from her role, Eva reflects on the lived experience of young people in Peterborough and whether the city serves them.

An aspect of Peterborough that Eva is particularly passionate about is its youth services. She explains, “There are some pots of money that have come out recently from central government which the Council has been working hard to try and make the most

of, to create more physical space for young people around the city centre.” This includes community centres and hubs. Eva makes it clear that funding is not only allocated to creating new physical space and services for young people - existing youth services are also improved so that they continue to be fit for purpose.

“We’re always looking at new software to do that,” she says, recognising that young people are increasingly using their mobile phones and other devices to access support services online. There is a new online social prescribing software called The Joy App, which, despite its name, is only available as a website at the time of writing. Eva portrays The Joy App website as a “directory of support services in the city.” Although Eva praises the impact youth services in Peterborough have on the lives of young

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Photos: ARU Peterborough, Queensgate Shopping Centre people, she expresses concerns about young people’s awareness of these services. “There are lots of support services, but young people don’t necessarily know they exist.” Eva believes that youth support services aren’t “communicated or shouted about,” enough. However, it is one of the responsibilities of a Youth MP, Eva says, to help increase the visibility of youth services. “Another key role of the Youth MP is communicating what the Council and stakeholders are doing for young people.” That said, Eva describes the quality of some of Peterborough’s youth services as “not good enough,” and that there are not enough physical spaces around the city for young people. The former Youth MP hastens to add that countless cities around the UK also aren’t able to provide youth services to the quality they would like, often due to funding constraints. Peterborough City Council has provided the following response: “We are fully committed to working with partners to help develop and enhance youth services across Peterborough. Like all councils, we have funding restraints to work within but are always looking at ways that we can improve our service offer for young people.”

“One exciting project we are working on is bringing a Youth Zone to Peterborough. We are actively working on these plans and developing a strategic outline business case and outline planning application with our partners OnSide.”

There are numerous leisure facilities around Peterborough, from Queensgate Shopping Centre and Showcase Cinema de Lux to Weston Homes Stadium, home to the Peterborough United football team. However, Eva claims that not all young people can freely access these leisure facilities. “We’ve got a catch-twenty-two situation where everything needs to be central because young people can’t travel, but actually a lot of young people can’t travel to the centre either.” This makes it “really difficult to know

Peterborough. Each club is another opportunity for young people to meet like-minded people

“There are lots of support services - young people don’t necessarily know they exist.”

- Former Youth MP Eva Woods

“It’s about making skills and futures here.”

- Former Youth MP Eva Woods

where to put public money,” into leisure facilities.

“I know we have a massive amount of grassroots leisure provision,” Eva adds.

For young people specifically, the former Youth MP mentions an abundance of youth football clubs in

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and to be part of a community. The Peterborough Panthers speedway team was also an inspirational sports team for young people, but since the closure of the East of England Arena to make way for a development project, young fans have been deprived of supporting Peterborough’s much-loved motorsports team without a home stadium.

In terms of opportunities for young people in the city, Eva is optimistic about young people’s future prospects in Peterborough. “I’m a perfect example of it,” claims Eva, adding, “I was supposed to go away to Manchester to do a degree, and since I started working in Peterborough, I have decided that I’m not going to,” instead staying in her home city to embark on an apprenticeship. “The more brilliant people we can keep (in Peterborough), the better. It’s about making skills and futures here.”

The former Youth MP argues that the alternative is the city suffering what Eva calls “brain drain,” where young talent chooses to study elsewhere. This is a problem she’s confident the new ARU Peterborough university will help resolve. “Obviously we’ve had higher education here for a long time, but we’re getting to a stage where we’re voting Peterborough as a university city.”

Youth services, leisure activities, education opportunities and many other factors all contribute towards a young person’s lived experience of Peterborough. Eva wishes for “young people to get involved and feel passionate throughout their experience of growing up in the city,” but recognises that not all young people share this sentiment. “It’s hard to engage people and move forwards to try and improve Peterborough if they’re just clinging on to the fact that they finally get to leave in 4 years’ time.” Whilst it’s still too early to determine the extent to which the new university has impacted young people’s perceptions of the city, the upcoming Youth Zone sites, along with the new swimming pool and leisure centre, promise to only further enhance young people’s relationship with Peterborough.

A

HOOVERS, RABBITS & LAUREATES:

Lauren Kendrick’s Debut Performance As Peterborough Poet Laureate

BY KIRSTIE MARFLEET

“I got the hoover and sellotaped it up so I had a fake microphone in my house like some demented Freddie Mercury...” Feature writer Kirstie Marfleet gets Lauren Kendrick to open up about her poetry life.

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s everyone slowly makes their way out of the ‘Unleash Your Voice’ poetry open mic night, hosted by University Centre Peterborough at the Key Theatre, Lauren and I are left sitting in the front row.

Lauren looks as though she is buzzing with adrenaline and rightly so - her first live performance as Peterborough Poet Laureate was an undeniable success.

Lauren is really enthusiastic about “words and stories: the ones we keep inside, tell others, and tell ourselves.” This passion really comes across in Lauren’s poetry.

After congratulating Lauren on her performance, I asked how it felt to step into such a prestigious role. Her face lit up as she simply sighed and said, “Amazing!

It was actually really daunting at first, I felt like a rabbit stuck in the headlights for a while.” She shifted around in her seat and carried on, “I’m getting more comfortable with it. Although, I don’t mean that it has gotten any less special! A really great piece of advice that I got after winning (Poet Laureate) was to remember this feeling and to hold onto it. Now it’s like I keep the feeling locked away in a little locket. I open it up every now and then to be reminded of that wow feeling.”

Lauren then went on to tell me about her journey as a poet and how she got to be Poet Laureate. “This is going to sound a bit like I’m a tart but I’ve been around the scene,” Lauren laughed. “I don’t mean that the way it sounds, just that I’ve been here for a while. I was still really nervous about putting myself forward for it. However, I realised that you aren’t meant to be a final polished piece. It’s not meant to be this shiny trophy to say here you’re finished, It’s meant to be a part of your journey.”

Lauren also divulged her secret of how she came to practise her microphone skills.

“I hadn’t had any experience really, I got the Hoover and sellotaped it up so I had a fake microphone in my house like some demented Freddie Mercury.”

I asked Lauren if her first performance as Poet Laureate felt any different. She pondered for a second, “I felt quite pressured by it! I was a bit like”, Lauren laughed as she mimicked a gasp, “but I think there is something beautiful about the poetry community within Peterborough and they are so supportive. I think really for a first performance it was kind of like a welcome home party, where we were all here together. It was really special.”

A SCRUMPTIOUS JOURNEY THROUGH THE BEST CAFES IN PETERBOROUGH Maleeha Iqbal looks at where to go for a quiet and peaceful environment with some amazing hot or iced beverages and delicious pastries.

BY MALEEHA IQBAL

Teefee

Nata Lisboa

Gossip

BE. AR.

Nata Lisboa was born to bring the delights of traditional recipes from Lisbon to the four corners of the world. Providing us with fresh pastries, cakes, and authentic Portuguese food, not to mention cultivating the locals to immerse themselves into a different culture and have the best experience at the cafe.

Located: 10 Midgate, PE1 1TN

Teefee is a family-owned cafe specialising in Spanish lattes and prides itself on having the best toasties in town. Tee Fee opened last year. Since then, they have been ringing in business left, right, and centre. The cafe interior makes you feel like you have exported to a little town in Spain where you feel the calm and welcoming energy vibrate through each wall.

Located: 47 Burghley Rd, PE1 2QA

Bean Around Coffee is a locally owned, operated, coffee-obsessed, family-run business with a Zimbabwean and Sicilian heritage. Sicilians are renowned for their love of a good espresso, whilst Zimbabweans have a do-it-right or don’t-do-it approach to life - this is a great melding of these two ‘groundings’. Renowned for their delicious coffee beans and sweet treats, come over for an enjoyable and tasty experience.

Located: 2 Cathedral Square, PE1 1XH

If you are looking for a quiet place to study or a cute girly place to gossip look no further as Gossip’s atmosphere caters to all. Gossip is a Turkish/Balkan restaurant concentrating on authentic Turkish pastries and breakfast.

Located: 4 Midgate, PE1 1TN

Museum Cafe

Peterborough’s Museum cafe is set in a beautiful and relaxed environment on the ground floor of the museum, the Coffee House is a great destination for anyone needing a break and something to eat and drink. With great-tasting coffee and speciality tea bags, delicious homemade cakes and sandwiches, all available to eat in or take away, Squire’s is the perfect place to take a break from shopping or work, or after a tour of the museum’s collections and galleries.

Located: 51 Priestgate, PE1 1LF

Be sure to give these cafes a visit to experience your main character moment and endless treats.

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DOUGLAS IS CANCELLED:

A Powerful Social Commentary On The Inaction Of Men

Trinity Barnatt reviews ‘Douglas Is Cancelled’, which is streaming now on ITVX.

BY TRINITY BARNATT

D

ouglas Is Cancelled is described as a ‘punchy new comedy drama’ and while comedic and definitely dramatic it is so much more than that, it is a powerful feminist message. Starring Hugh and Bonneville and Karen Gillian this four episode drama explores cancel culture, citizen journalism and sexual harassment in the workplace.

Bonnieville’s character, Douglas and Gillian’s character Madeline are co-presenters on the fictional news show Live at Six. The series is framed around a tweet claiming Douglas made a sexist joke at a wedding.

As the drama unfolds we follow Douglas‘s friends, family and colleagues as they aim to minimise the damage of the tweet. In the initial two episodes, Madeline remains an ambiguous character and the audience are unsure where her loyalties lie or what her intentions are.

However, in episode three we are given an insightful flashback to 3 years prior of Madeline was interviewing for her presented job at live at six. This episode is just incredible.

Invited to a job interview at the producers hotel room we are instantly hit with a number of red flags. Subtle, yet obvious we see Madeline approached

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with inappropriate advances.

The way this flashback is performed convey an eerily accurate representation of sexual harassment and gaslighting. For example Madeline is repeatedly encouraged to drink with the producer despite multiple refusals and when finally convinced to take a small sip it is later thrown back at her in a comment of ‘we’ve both been drinking’. The advances continue an escalate with a producer undressing and preparing for a bath which he later invites Madeline to bring him his drink in. The episode ends with Douglas knocking on the door of the room. When he notices do

Photos: ITV not disturb sign on the door which the producer placed earlier, he makes an assumption and leaves.

In the final episode we find out that the sexist story Douglas told at the wedding was a one liner he frequently used when asked “When did you know Madeline was going to be such a big star? When I found her in my boss’s hotel room.”

Gillian’s character Madeleine performs a powerful monologue when Douglas asks why she is attacking him instead of the producer because he didn’t do anything wrong. Madeleine responds with saying “I know you’re not a shitty person, I’m sure there are thousands of not shitty men but if there are so many of you where are you?”

This is when this series truly opens the door for a feminist conversation. It reminds me of the #NotAllMen trend.

Women are fully aware that sexual harassment another inappropriate advancements are not conducted by all men, but if there are so many ‘innocent’ men out there why aren’t they stopping the guilty ones? Why don’t they hold their male friends families and colleagues accountable for their actions?

When Madeleine asks “where are you” I felt a sense of camaraderie with her. This is a powerful message which attempts to draw the focus of the male audience to their own actions and potentially their own inactions.

To ensure the audience message was not lost Douglas admits that Madeline looked terrified that night in the hotel room and it is highlighted that he still did nothing.

We are given a happy ending for Madeline as we discover she was not assaulted that night in the hotel room and she acted as a strong woman refusing to succumb to the intimidations of powerful men. The last few minutes of the series reveal that Madeline has taken Douglas‘s place as lead presenter at Live at Sux proving no woman requires a man to save the day.

That being said we do need men as allies, we need men to hold other men accountable, we need men to prevent men from acting inappropriately.

I strongly recommend this series not only to enjoy but to reflect on.

“We do need men as allies, we need men to hold other men accountable, we need men to prevent men from acting inappropriately.”

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MADE IN PETERBOROUGH: CELEBRATING LOCAL ARTISTS

Jen Ramm speaks to artists who participated in the Made In Peterborough exhibition that took place earlier this year.

BY JEN RAMM

P

eterborough Cathedral showcased a variety of artwork to celebrate the city’s creative scene. Featuring a diverse array of artwork ranging from multicolour patchwork quilts to photo-realistic oil paintings, the display follows the success of the Made In Lockdown and Made In 2022 exhibitions. What emerged was a platform for artists of all backgrounds and experience levels to share their work collaboratively.

The Cathedral’s stunning architecture served as a backdrop for all kinds of art; it is interesting to see contemporary pieces, such as digital artwork, housed in such a traditional setting. Hannah Shingle, who is also known as Dragonfly At Sunset, created a digital painting inspired by Gothic architecture. Hannah has since joined local organisation Up The Garden Bath’s UNITY project, which is a unit in the city centre where Peterborough residents can sell their creations in a community space. In this year’s exhibition, Hannah believes that “It’s really nice to see so many

pieces of art and so many artists in this city that you otherwise wouldn’t know how much creativity there is in Peterborough. This exhibition brings all of that together in one place that shows just how much creativity there is in this city.” Everyone’s creative process will vary depending on personal preferences, but it is the end result that matters, as that is where the story lies. “I wanted to capture that as well as the strong sunset lighting in a piece because lighting is something that I enjoy in painting. In terms of digital, I like how it lets me play with light in my paintings in a different way from traditional painting because I do traditional paintings as well. I can’t get the same quality of lighting in them as I can with my digital work,” Hannah elaborates.

Another up-and-coming artist who took part in the exhibition was Laura Collins. An avid enjoyer of literature and the arts in general, she displayed two original poems, each printed and formatted onto a digitally created design. Laura is already fairly involved with the local arts scene, having qualified as a finalist in this year’s Poet Laureate competition

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while working on projects alongside local organisations such as Jumped Up Theatre and Peterborough Presents.

“I’ve found that the creative scene in Peterborough is really special. I wanted to just really be a part of that and make the most of it.” Each piece of artwork shines on its own but subsequently becomes part of Peterborough’s wider narrative, which is something that Laura is keen to contribute to. At the same time, she is able to form a deeper sense of self through the mediums of poetry and the arts.

The exhibition also provided an opportunity for hobbyists, such as Elizabeth Wilkinson, to have their creations go somewhere further than just their living rooms. Having reignited her love for embroidery and needlework during her retirement, Elizabeth exhibited a hand-sewn gold brocade piece of Saint Peter coming to the Cathedral in Peterborough. During her school days, she rather impressively embroidered a tray cloth for Princess Margaret. “We were told we had to do our best work because Princess Margaret was coming to the school,” she recollects. These days, Elizabeth finds that her hobby has a therapeutic aspect to it; it’s now a little less stressful than making something fit for an actual princess. “It helps with mental health and keeps your brain active, helps with your mental health. There’s nothing worse than sitting watching too much Coronation Street, EastEnders or whatever else is on, but I enjoy being productive and creative.” While she reaps the personal benefits that crafting brings, Elizabeth also found a real sense of community from taking part in the Made In Peterborough exhibition, saying “it gives people something to aim to, like, ‘I’ve got an exhibition coming up six months. Can I do something in time?’ and you then try and do something, and then other people come to look around and you feel some enjoyment and feel better.”

Peterborough Cathedral is arguably the city’s main attraction, making it all the more ideal as a space for home-grown talent to exhibit their work. Amassing over 200 unique pieces created by the many artists who responded to the exhibition callout, Made In Peterborough highlighted the flourishing arts and culture scene within the city.

Photos: Jen Ramm

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Artwork created by the Inclusive Learning Department of Peterborough College, as part of the Made In Peterborough exhibition.

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WHY CHOOSE UNIVERSITY CENTRE PETERBOROUGH? SUPPORT

Our small class sizes allow the lecturers to get to know you personally and our students will be the first to agree that your knowledge and opinions are valued.Student Ambassadors, the Student Council, and a Student Experience Officer ensure that we respond to your needs and involve you in decision making.

EMPLOYABILITY

Peterborough is a diverse city with a wide range of careers just waiting for talented people to discover and one of our major aims is to grow that talent for the city. We have excellent links with local and regional employers and encourage our students to gain experience in their chosen fields.

EXPERT TUITION

At University Centre Peterborough you will learn from approachable and supportive lecturers, highly qualified and experienced in their fields, who are dedicated to helping you achieve your ambitions. The latest Institutional Review gave us 5 commendations, proving that we maintain academic standards and manage the quality of your learning opportunities.

FIND OUT MORE AT UCP.AC.UK

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BEN FRANCIS: FROM PIZZA BOY TO BILLIONAIRE Lauren Shiels looks at Ben Francis’s success at GymShark.

BY LAUREN SHIELS

B

ack in 2012, fitness fanatic Ben Francis was studying international business and management at Aston University whilst working as a delivery man for Pizza Hut. He created several start-up businesses including an online website selling car number plates, but they failed to make an impact. Ben applied his work ethic in the gym to other aspects of life, which was the catalyst for Gymshark’s success. Gymshark was originally a website selling supplements via dropshipping, taking over six weeks to make the first sale. Unhappy with the gym clothes currently in the market, Ben and his friend Lewis Morgan branched out as they began designing and printing their fitness apparel, using a sewing machine and screen printer in Ben’s parents’ garage.

Gymshark took a unique approach to marketing.

They supplied online influencers with free products to promote on their channels and social media.

Sales began to soar from £450 to £45,000 daily, as Gymshark’s name began to rise.

In 2016, Gymshark was named the fastest-growing business in The Sunday Times’ Fast Track 100. The company opened a new HQ in Solihull in 2018, and the following year opened a Gym and Innovation Hub across the road. The business has continuously kept on growing. With a combined 140,000 square feet, the campus-like business park includes garment production centres, photography, film and podcast studios and a cinema. More importantly, it is only a few miles from Ben’s parent’s house where it all started, enabling Ben to give back to his community by creating jobs and improving the business’ sustainability.

It’s clear from the start that Gymshark is a heavily community-based business. Ben would instigate meet-ups at gyms after every event they want to. In 2018, he started to organise his own across global cities known as ‘We Lift The City.’ These events allowed consumers to purchase products but also collaborate with fellow gym enthusiasts. Via his YouTube account, Ben says, “I’m generally interested and fascinated by talking to people – and I learned more from the people at these events than anyone in business. Those people started following us on social media and we started to build a following.” At one event in Los Angeles, a consumer spoke about his desire for a camouflage range. Ben took this idea

on board and ensured a camouflage range was on the agenda. It became an instant hit with consumers globally.

In 2020, a year after Gymshark generated over £200 million in revenue, General Atlantic purchased a stake in the business. It was at this moment that the world went into lockdown due to coronavirus. With gyms being closed, you’d be forgiven for thinking Gymshark was about to take a decline. Ben took the opportunity to pay personal trainers to do online workouts via Gymshark’s social media accounts, and with this, sales grew.

In October 2022, Gymshark’s flagship store opened in Regent Street, London. In 2023, with a net worth of £1 billion, Ben was awarded an MBE for services to the business sector and also featured on Forbes Youngest Billionaire’s List.

When Ben outlines his plans for the year, it’s clear Gymshark continues to head in the right direction.

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WILL PALMER: THE LOCAL ENGLAND DEAF FOOTBALLER Lauren Shiels speaks with England footballer Will Palmer to discuss his career so far and his ambitions to become a deaf advocate.

BY LAUREN SHIELS

W

ill was born profoundly deaf and has had a cochlear implant since being a toddler. Like most young boys, Will first got into football at his local park playing with his dad. “I was absolutely obsessed with it, and I never wanted to leave to go back home knowing I had school the next day.” Will’s dream of playing football became a reality with his career so far taking him to Peterborough United, Stamford AFC, Yaxley FC and more recently Farsley Celtic DFC. “Playing at this standard is hugely demanding especially when I was just approaching 18 years old and playing amongst player who are in their 30s! It was physically demanding but I knew it was the right challenge I needed to prepare for senior football, and I always liked a challenge.”

Will’s career has also seen him compete internationally for England’s Deaf Men and Youth football teams. “I have been involved with the England Talent Pathway since the age of 11, and was with the senior team from 18 years old – I’m now 22!

The amount of investment in support, coaching and

mentoring the FA has given me is unbelievable and it is something I’ll be incredibly grateful for. I wouldn’t be the player I am today. The amount of advertising and promotion the FA has given to the para football teams is brilliant. We are getting recognition for our ability to perform on the pitch however that may be done, and it is deserved.”

Despite being with the England senior set-up for four years, due to coronavirus restrictions, Will only made his major tournament debut last year in the World Cup; where England bowed out prematurely to the USA before the quarter-final stages. “The standard of the deaf team is rapidly improving, that might not have been the case at the World Cup, but each player and staff individually are getting better, and it will only be a matter of time before it starts paying off. This wouldn’t be happening if it was for the world-class facilities at St George’s Park where there are over 30 football pitches.” Will has played both deaf and general football and gives his insight into deaf football and how it compares. “Deaf football has the same rules with a few additional conditions. It requires a hearing loss to participate,

“I always want the best for myself and England.”

- Will Palmer

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Photo: Signature and that level has to be more than 55dB in your best ear to become eligible to play. The referee has a linesman flag, so when they blow for a foul or halftime, they must wave the flag at the same time for us to visibly see and stop the game otherwise we’d be running around all day not knowing the game has stopped! The main condition that impacts us the most is playing with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Some of my teammates for England play with it on in general football so in a deaf game it shocks them at times!”

In addition to playing football, Will aims to become a role model for the deaf community. As an international footballer, Will had the opportunity to promote deaf awareness with the Football Association and collaborated with well-known players Jack Grealish and Ben Chilwell. “I think having the opportunity to film with the England players was surreal, especially when it’s to raise awareness for the deaf community and British Sign Language. They all seemed so excited and keen to learn BSL as well, which was nice. The amount of support I received from doing that collaboration was astonishing and it is something that I will continue to do.”

Will explains his ambitions for the future.

“Personally, I am quite ambitious, and I always want the best for myself and England. I would like to become a leader within the squad and take this team to the highest level possible; as well as becoming a key and reliable player who performs consistently. We want to win every trophy we set our sights on.”

“Off the pitch, I have a big ambition of raising awareness for the deaf community and across deaf football. I want to be able to inspire the next generation of deaf footballers and provide a better insight

“Off the pitch, I have a big ambition of raising awareness for the deaf community and across deaf football.”

- Will Palmer

to those who are unaware of the struggles and difficulties deaf individuals go through in their everyday life, and to make things more accessible to the deaf community.”

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I S

M O N E Y

R U I N

Lauren Shiels looks at the current state of football and what the future could hold.

BY LAUREN SHIELS

E

nglish football is the most lucrative sport in the world. But is money ruining the game? With FA Cup replays scrapped from next season, and more clubs than ever before facing points deductions, we take a look at how money is affecting clubs around the English pyramid.

So, what are the rules? Clubs in the top flight can lose no greater than £105m over three consecutive seasons. Teams must make 90m of that from secure funding, predominantly from their owners. The remaining £15m is from transfer fees, wages etc.

Clubs must break even over a rolling three-year period. In other words, over continuous threeyear segments, club total expenses cannot exceed total revenues. Financial Fair Play requires all clubs to post their annual financial figures. If clubs are in breach, they may face fines, transfer bans, competition exclusions and points deductions.

Last season, most clubs ran at a loss before tax, with the Premier League running a combined loss of £500m. Only five clubs recorded a profit with Brighton bringing in record profits of £133m primarily from selling star players such as Caicedo and MacAllister. Chelsea had a transfer ban in recent years and a ban from European football for one season for breaching academy rules over 150 times. They had recorded academy players as trialists during competitions. One player had played 75 times under a trialist name between September 2013 and February 2016. Leicester City are likely to face a points deduction next season when they return to the top flight as they recorded losses over three seasons. The club in the limelight the most though is Manchester City.

In 2023 they were charged with over 155 breaches dating back to 2009 including for not cooperating with the league and publishing misleading account details. They had a Champions League expulsion overturned recently, with a verdict not expected to be reached until 2025. The argument here is that during this time, they became Premier League champions three times, the FA Cup twice, the EFL Cup four times and the Community Shield on four occasions. With profit and sustainability thresholds becoming more of an issue in recent seasons, it has led to stranger business in transfer windows.

Teams like Wolverhampton Wanderers held back in the transfer market, despite needing to add depth to their squad. Chelsea have prevented

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I N G

T H E

G A M E ? rule in place but there are several loopholes to the rule. A player currently counts as homegrown if they have been registered for an English club for three seasons before their 21st birthday. So players like France’s William Saliba count as homegrown because he has played for Arsenal’s academy.

Homegrown players are vital in developing the next generation of talent for the England senior squad.

The more domestic talent nurtured in the Premier League and EFL, the stronger the national team will become. Clubs would need to focus on their academy but any player making a breakthrough into the senior squad wouldn’t cost a transfer fee.

I therefore believe it would be beneficial for clubs to have 3-5 players in their squad that have come through their academy, not poached from others.

A final idea is to follow the NFL business model. This is split into two forms of revenue; national and local.

National revenue involves TV deals and licensing contracts which are divided among clubs equally.

Currently, in the Premier League, 50% of broadcast revenue is split equally, 25% is based on the number of matches broadcasted per club and 25% is based on where the club finishes. Although it is fair that clubs are paid somewhat equally, there is still a large proportion of revenue that will automatically go to the bigger clubs. This is without taking into consideration these bigger clubs participating in European competitions and thus gaining more money from them. I would therefore propose that clubs are paid 75% of broadcast revenue equally with the remaining 25% based on ratios of being broadcast. Local revenue includes the likes of ticket sales, local sponsors and merchandise. This money is solely for that club.

With the gap widening between the wealthy clubs are ones struggling, we are at risk of the premier league table picking itself before a ball is even kicked. It is clear that something needs to be done regarding money in football, otherwise, we are going to see more cases of administration.

their billions of pounds of spending from causing an issue by finding a loophole. In the Summer of last year, they signed Moises Caciedo for a combined fee of £155m over an 8 year-deal. Signing this long contract enables the club to pay the transfer fee over these eight seasons; consequently, Chelsea only pays £22m a season. These cheaper chunks ensure the club is not in breach of FFP. Putting these rules in place has forced a divide between the bigger clubs and the rest of the league.

As mentioned earlier, Wolverhampton Wanderers couldn’t add to their squad in the transfer window despite suffering from injuries. They will likely have to sell their big players – like Pedro Neto, Ati Nouri and Gomes - this summer to comply with FFP rules.

Likewise, Premier League clubs earned a total of £6 billion in broadcast revenue alone. Typically, the ‘big 6’ equated to nearly 60% of this figure with £3.5 billion of this revenue. This only divides the bigger teams from the rest of the pack as they can poach on these players to improve their squad. How are smaller clubs ever going to break into the ‘top 6’ if they have to continuously sell their most high-profile players?

So, how do we ensure that money doesn’t ruin football going forward? I’ve come up with some suggestions based on both business and football perspectives.

First up, squad cost control. In other words, clubs are limited to the amount they can spend during transfer windows. This is based on a percentage of the club’s revenue. Clubs would be able to spend 70% of their revenue on wages, transfer fees and agents.

It would be beneficial for the Premier League to take some inspiration from the running of America’s NFL. The implementation of salary caps has been drafted by the Premier League. A vote was recently taken with 16 clubs in favour; Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa all opposed. The use of salary caps would limit wages to five times the broadcast revenue of the club that finishes in 20th place. For example, Southampton finished last place in the 2022/23 season. They earned £94.5m from broadcast revenues therefore the salary cap for all clubs would be £471m. It is clear that with rising wages, this could be difficult for some of the bigger clubs but would reduce the divide between them and the rest of the Premier League.

A homegrown player programme would also be beneficial for the league. This has been debated for over a decade; I remember reading this in a MATCH! Magazine as a child. There already is a homegrown

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