Inside The Box: Issue 3

THE MAGAZINE BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

CULTURE LIFESTYLE SPORT

Student Success

Celebrated At Film Festival

The ‘Hats On For Mind’ Mental Health Campaign

How Saudi Arabian Money Has Changed Sport

Art: Edward Peacock

VISIT OUR SITE

Creativity is at the heart of this award-winning blog produced by our students across all Inspire Education campuses, including University Centre Peterborough, Stamford College and Peterborough College. We accept submissions from students, including written features, news articles, as well as videos, podcasts, photography and artwork of any kind. On 23/1/23, we were named the best newcomer at the Student Publication Association Regional Awards for the Midlands. Currently, we are nominated in the National Awards for Best Newcomer!

GET TO KNOW OUR EDITORS

Meet the rest of our editorial team on page 3!

Trinity Barnatt: Year 2 Editor In Chief

To be writing my first letter from the editor is a real ‘pinch me’ moment! Being made Editor this semester has been a dream come true but it wouldn’t be possible without my predecessor Molly. Without her hard work and commitment over the last three years, there would not be a publication to produce. It has been a great pleasure to work alongside Molly these past two years and an honour to follow on from her incredible work on Inside the Box. I know you will all join me in wishing her all the best in her future beyond UCP.

I have had the privilege to work on both previous editions of this publication and each edition is growing in quality and sophistication. Our amazing designer, and my right-hand lady, Jen, does a spectacular job at producing the incredible pages that lay before you. None of that would be possible though without the beautiful words carefully crafted by each of our contributors.

Sometimes I think I forget how lucky I am to be at a university that has incredible opportunities such as this. Inside the Box is a very unique publication in that there are no limits or constraints to the creativity that students can produce. This can be seen within this edition more than ever before. UCP can often be overlooked or undermined but I hope that insightful articles within this edition will help to show that our university is bursting at the seams with individuality and innovation. Without further ado, I present to you the Spring 2024 edition of Inside the Box. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as the team has enjoyed putting it together.

Molly Woodthorpe: Year 3 Editor In Chief

Inside The Box’s editorial team want to wish our editor, Molly, all the best for the future as she prepares to leave University Centre Peterborough. We thank her for all of her hard work and dedication as editor for Inside The Box, having seen the re-launch of our website, and also managing and creating content for our social media pages.

Molly has helped to build our online presence through sites such as Instagram and Twitter, while leading our editorial team meetings too. She has had a hand in helping our publication go beyond University Centre Peterborough, and we cannot wait to see what she achieves in her next chapter.

Friendship

Misfit

Hannah

The

Jen Ramm speaks to Laura Collins, a mental health activist.

Creativity is at the heart of this award-winning blog produced by our students across all Inspire Education campuses. This includes University Centre Peterborough, Stamford College as well as Peterborough College. We accept submissions from students, including written features, news articles, as well as videos, podcasts, photography and artwork of any kind.

OUR EDITORIAL TEAM & WRITERS

I’m Jen, a Year 2 Journalism student at University Centre Peterborough. I am so proud of the creative community we have built through Inside The Box; it goes far beyond the classroom. Designing the print magazine and running our social media has been a great experience so far, and and I am excited for the future of our publication alongside our new editorial team members, listed below! Outside of university, I work with local arts organisations in community-based projects.

Year 1 Writer & Team Member

MALEEHA IQBAL

Year 1 Writer & Team Member

HANNAH WALKER

Year 1 Writer & Team Member

LAUREN SHIELS

Year 1 Sports Editor & Team Member

DAN HUNT

JEN RAMM: Deputy Editor & Head of Social Media

This 3D render is actually a video, created by Edward Peacock, a Level 3 Creative Media Production student at Stamford College. Edward said: "This is my 3D render "Secluded Cottage". It was made in the software Blender and After Effects and was purely made for fun outside of college."

STUDENT SUCCESS CELEBRATED AT FILM FESTIVAL

By Rachel Pishhorn - Media and Journalism Course Leader

Acelebration of future filmmakers took place at the Student Film Showcase, hosted at University Centre Peterborough.

A red-carpet arrival greeted guests at this year’s Film Festival held in partnership for the second time with Peterborough’s Gateway Film Festival.

Attendees included students from across the IEG group, including nominees from Stamford College, Peterborough College and University Centre Peterborough.

Out of the 11 nominees who had their films shown on

the big screen, there were three worthy winners who were awarded trophies by the two judges, Emily Steele, Organiser of Gateway Film Festival and Ryan Gilmartin, a former Peterborough College student who is now a successful filmmaker, actor and writer.

This year’s winners included Jen Ramm, a Level 5 Journalism student from UCP who produced a spoken word film titled ‘I’m Glad You Stayed’. She was commended on her use of words and the piece really struck a chord with the audience.

Joe Hollick, a Level 4 Media Production student from UCP and Amelia Eberle, a Level 3 Creative Media student from Peterborough College won an award for their ‘wacky’ short film about a ‘Sentient Teabag’! The judges were impressed with their storytelling, and were excited to see what other stories they might come up with.

The final winner was Oscar Cutmore, a Level 3 Creative Media student from Stamford College, who produced a heart warming animation called ‘Lost and Found’. This piece received great audience reaction and was commended on its use of cinematography. Oscar also dedicated this piece to his Grandad.

A special commendation was also awarded to Lauren Watkins, a Year 1, Level 3 Creative Media student from Peterborough College who created a music video for ‘Not My Responsibility’ by Billie Eilish.

All of the winning entries and nominees will be showcased in our video gallery - go check it out! Congratulations to all of the winners and here’s to making new creative content for next year’s festival!

Photos: Lauren Irving-Cooper

THE ERAS TOUR MOVIE

A BEJEWELLED SPECTACLE

Friendship bracelets were traded, and popcorn was bought and inevitably spilt. Song lyrics were screamed at the highest possible volume, glitter got everywhere. It was Friday the 13th which could’ve added to the chaos. Jen Ramm looks at what happened when the Eras Tour movie arrived in cinemas.

Filmed over three sold-out performances at LA’s SoFi Stadium, Taylor Swift takes us on a journey across all ten of her albums, which are lovingly referred to as eras. Her music career, adorned with accolades and scandals alike, spans seventeen years. Taylor, with her usual bubbly persona and immaculate, intimate crowd work, shares with us that a tour in which she gathers all her albums into one performance was inevitable.

It’s impressive, really, that an artist so young has such a sweeping collection of songs and albums. Taylor doesn’t represent the modern pop star; she defines it, setting the curve. Each era represents a time in her life, whether that be the heartbrokenness of Red, the thirst for revenge on Reputation, or the wide-eyed newness of Fearless. Except Taylor tells us that now, these songs are ours. Ours to cry to, scream to, assign exes to. She welcomes us in, not only to her discography but to parts of her life. And wow, does she do it with style!

Visually, The Eras Tour does not disappoint. Between aerial shots of the stage in all its glory and close-ups of fans singing their hearts out, you become a part of the experience. Veering into musical theatre territory, Taylor and her bevvy of fiercely talented dancers and backup singers don’t just put on a show, they become storytellers. We see this mostly in the Folklore and Evermore eras, her more understated, folk-inspired albums. A table is meticulously set for dinner then trashed, and a cosy cabin appears for Taylor to live out her woodland fairy fantasies.

The stage, with its changing design corresponding with the themes of the eras, becomes a place for Taylor to pummel passion into. She lets the flowing fabric of her dresses guide her through the emotions of songs like Illicit Affairs and August. Then she sparkles and shines while performing her ‘glitter gel pen’ songs like Shake It Off and Cruel Summer. I think for many people, she’s living proof that you can survive heartbreak and pain and make something beautiful out of it.

The Eras Tour is a bejewelled spectacle, a testament to Taylor’s dedication to her craft. Now, it belongs to fans worldwide.

Photos: Paolo Villanueva via Wikimedia Commons

BOYGENIUS: STANDING IN UNITY, SINGING IN UNISON

Jen Ramm discusses the musical magic this indie pop supergroup is making.

Indie supergroup, boygenius, comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, have returned to their folk roots on their EP, the rest. It feels like a more serene, understated take on similar topics featured on their album, the record. As always with this trio, the talent for lyricism shines through; Dacus’s power to take you on a journey through her storytelling is central, as is Baker’s unceasing honesty and Bridgers’ haunting metaphors and openness.

The celestial theme is strong on this EP, beginning with Black Hole. Baker has explained the meaning behind this song, saying ‘when we were recording, Lucy showed me a tweet that was a headline that was like, ‘Black Hole Creating Stars,’ instead of just sucking them up and destroying them.’ Black Hole reckons with the idea that there is good and bad in everything and everyone, and this concept is swept along by a build-up of organic guitar and piano sounds, as well as the layering of each singer’s vocals. Subsequently, Afraid of Heights follows the speaker (in this case Dacus) into a relationship laced with danger and clashing aspirations. “I want to live a vibrant life, but I want to die a boring death,” she explains, which contrasts with her counterpart in this song – someone who takes risks because ‘we’re stuck in entropy’. Safety is seemingly traded for adrenaline. The song, which is relatively upbeat in comparison to the rest, ends with Dacus expressing her fear of the future, and how hope, a sometimes scary concept, dangles in the air. The moon is something Phoebe Bridgers has been chasing throughout her music career. It started with wanting to be on a spaceship with her canine best friend in Me And My Dog, on Boygenius’s debut EP. In Moon Song, from her solo album Punisher, she faces a destructive relationship and the impossible quest to give someone the moon, or in simplified terms, being enough. The moon has become an extended metaphor for Bridgers, it seems. Her fascination with all things stellar continues onto the rest.

“They show us that there is strength and support in numbers.”

In Voyager, her moving on is cocooned in her bandmates’ comforting harmonies. Baker and Dacus’s ethereal vocals provide the backdrop for this phase of Bridgers’ life. Perhaps that’s the true meaning of friendship, which boygenius captures immensely; revisiting what’s bygone, just like how Bridgers revisits her moon motif, is made easier by supportive friends who let you frequent your past, even if it’s done tirelessly. Except, the moon, as a concept, has always symbolised something deeper; the unknown greatness of space lends itself to the idea of a broken relationship you desperately try to patch up, or the compelling desire to want what you can’t have. In Voyager, Bridgers feels ‘like a man on the moon’ while she’s ‘walking alone in the city’; perhaps this is a sense of acceptance. There is always something or someone, we will always be moving on from. It’s music, and companionship, that make this process easier.

The EP ends with Powers, which begins with repetitive guitar strumming and a short sigh from Baker as she sets out to unfold what seems like a villain origin story that explains her makeup: ‘How did it start? Did I fall into a nuclear reactor? Crawl out with acid skin or somethin’ worse/ A hostile alien ambassador? Or am I simply another of the universe’s failed experiments?’ But Bridgers and Dacus come in shortly, with match-made-inheaven harmonies; they’re by her side as she unravels the meaning behind our existence in a wider sense, and ‘the force of our impact, the fission, the hum of our contact, the sound of our collisions’. Powers suggests that what breaks you can end up being the making of you; Baker’s vulnerability might be the true source of her ‘powers’. In an interview with the Grammys, she described the context behind Powers, saying, ‘I read this book Cruising Utopia by José Esteban Muñoz and he talks about the idea of the lived experience being its own work of art, and then that art needing a witness to be savoured and appreciated.’ After all, boygenius has shared how creating music together is another way of witnessing one another. No song on the rest feels like an off-cut; if anything, it’s an enchanting continuation of the record, just with a more cosmic, whirling vibe, which is reflected in the cover artwork. The trio appear as silhouettes, their hair caught up in the wind, against a sunset sky. These artists are powerful when standing alone, but when combining their abilities, they become something greater; they show us that there is genuine strength, and support, in numbers.

‘Busy Bee’

By Jen Ramm

REVIEWS

BLACK

SHEEP

COFFEE: A GEM, HIDDEN IN NOT-SO-PLAIN SIGHT

Sally-Anne Rogers reviews some local coffee.

From frothy lattes to espresso shots, coffee comes in all shapes and sizes. I bring you a review of Black Hoof: a new and revolutionary type of coffee.

I waited in Black Sheep Coffee, a small cafe within the lively Queensgate Shopping Centre, where anybody from parents to the elderly could relax after a long day of retail therapy. Black Sheep Coffee is a company with numerous cafes around the local area and a unique selection of coffees, teas and hot chocolates as well as colourful smoothie bowls and eye-catching Norwegian waffles. I needed my coffee fix of the day so I chose the mysterious Black Hoof coffee, which is a blend of coconut oil, cinnamon, milk and roasted coffee beans. Black Hoof is similar to the caffeinated

beverage lauded by the health-conscious: Bullet Coffee. This drink takes the form of a frothy coffee, however, instead of giving you a buzz straight away, it slowly increases throughout the day. The cost is a little high at £4.99, but it is definitely worth it, with ethically sourced coffee beans, friendly baristas and even student discounts. The main ingredient of Black Hoof is coconut oil, which has been claimed by many to have a long list of health benefits, however there has been controversy surrounding this ‘healthy’ oil. It could affect heart health and according to cardiologists, it could raise both good and bad cholesterol levels. Black Sheep Coffee is open from 8am-6pm, except on Sundays and Thursdays.

BOOK REVIEW: MISFIT IN LOVE

Maleeha Iqbal reviews S.K Ali’s book, ‘Misfit In Love’.

Misfit In Love is a heartwarming story with multiple layers, exploring different types of love and relationships. Janna (the protagonist) had me smiling, cringing, laughing, and crying as she went on a journey to seek romantic love as she prepared for her brother’s wedding. Her romantic journey has some turbulence along with heartache. However, Janna has some kind-hearted people to help her up when she’s down including her devoted mother, her childish yet warm brother, and Janna’s amazing friends who she can always count on to make her laugh.

At the beginning of the book, we see Janna as an easy-going and helpful daughter as she is staying at her dad’s to organise her brother's wedding. Yet as we are introduced to different characters the interactions between friends, family, and love interests, Jannah discovers a lot about herself as she sees the imperfections of those around her. She does a lot of growing over the wedding weekend.

When I saw the cover, the brightness of pink, purple, and yellow shouted feminine energy, especially with the flowers on each corner of the book. I admire the picture of Janna along

with the three boys on each corner but you can’t see their faces as they appear in shadows which adds mystery to who is going to be the main love interest. As I am reading from a Muslim perspective, I appreciate seeing the characters practise Islam by praying and having loving characteristics that a good Muslim person should carry with them. It’s heartwarming to see Janna connect to God when she goes through these hardships. Religion is not the main conflict or point of the story but it is an integral part of Janna’s life and many of the people who are close to her. It’s refreshing to see the spiritual lives of young people being represented accurately. Reading Misfit in Love has taken me through an uplifting and wholesome experience watching Janna grow into a woman who had some difficult moments, but she persevered and cherished the relationships with her family and friends.

THE CREATOR : IS SCI-FI BECOMING OUR REALITY?

Sally-Anne Rogers looks at if AI truly our friend, in this review about a modern fear.

RATING: 15 LENGTH: 2 HOURS

This feature-length movie opens with a 1940’s style film sequence, describing the usefulness of Artificial Intelligence. Then we, the audience, are shown the catalyst for the film’s plot: a massive nuclear explosion that rips through an American city, which is believed to have been caused by AI.

This sparks a violent war between the American faction and the AI-friendly ‘New Asia’ faction and the ensuing hunt for a weapon which could turn the tide of the conflict. The protagonist is a soldier on the American side, however, he struggles through his turmoil as he searches for his lost love interest.

The plot reads as an exploration of Artificial Intelligence, war and American imperialism (with America using its NOMAD superweapon to subjugate the land of New Asia). Whilst watching The Creator, I was amazed by the futuristic special effects, with NOMAD’s ‘death ray’, laser weapons and alien architecture. It showed a dystopian future, which could easily become a reality if AI spirals out of control. The audience is left questioning if the American faction is truly the good guy as it is the film’s main aggressor, with

“The film had a broad anti-war message.”

it committing numerous war crimes including bombing villages, killing unarmed hostages and intimidating civilians.

This film subverts the commonly used trope of the protagonist, or their faction, being the beacon of morality and the antagonist, and their faction, being irredeemably evil. It critiques war and shows its effects on both parties. It is revealed that AI was not behind the nuclear attack that sparked the conflict and the weapon happens to be an AI, in the form of the daughter of the protagonist. The film’s climax is sombre, with the protagonist sacrificing himself for his daughter.

However, the film also shows that the future is bright for both factions. The film had a broad anti-war message that also explored the dangers of AI and imperialism.

PEACE & UNITY: THE MESSAGE OF BOB MARLEY

Hannah Walker delves into the rich history and legacy behind the late star.

If you’re a film buff, you may have heard about the Bob Marley biopic. Even if you’re not a fan of Bob or reggae music, this epic retelling of his inspirational story is worth a watch and here’s why.

Political unrest is nothing strange or uncommon, especially throughout history. In Bob Marley’s day, there were similar ordeals and hardships taking place in a post-war world. It’s easy to succumb to the darkness of the endless stream of bad news, such as the tragedy of the Ukrainians, the conflict in the Middle East, skyrocketing poverty levels, the mental health crisis and so much more. As the world is entering a period of great tension and conflict worldwide, we need a Bob Marley more than ever. His message is one that all should be reminded of in times like these.

Bob Marley was a man whose spirit was unbreakable and whose presence truly rose above the hatred in the world – when you listened to his music, you just felt good. You didn’t want to hate. You wanted to love life and lose yourself in the swinging beat.

“When the music hits you, you don’t feel no pain.” Bob famously said.

Bob had that effect on so many in his lifetime and he spread the joy to millions of people worldwide. Through song, he encouraged people to “get together and be alright!” Even as some rejected his pure message and even tried to take his life, Bob never gave up on us – he instead went up on stage to play one of the most memorable concerts in the world during what was a chaotic and violent era in Jamaican history.

“The people trying to make the world worse are never taking a day off, why should I?”

Why do people hate? What breeds hate and conflict and violence? Well, typically, hatred is brewed from hardships and ordeals suffered by frustrated people. And you can believe that Bob Marley endured his share of hardships. At a time when racism was still rampant in Jamaica, where he was born in 1945, Bob received it from both sides. Being mixed race with a white father who was over three times his mother’s age, Bob was taunted by members of his community for being half white.

Nonetheless this didn’t break his spirit. “I’m not on the white man’s side, or the Black man’s side. I’m on God’s side.”

But this was also a time of severe inequality for black people on a worldwide scale, who endured poverty at much higher rates than their white neighbours and were given far fewer opportunities in life. Bob was also a victim of this institutionalised racism, growing up in the seriously deprived Trenchtown, which would influence Bob’s band to call themselves the “Wailers” as a reference to their difficult upbringing as “ghetto sufferers, born wailing.”

As a boy, he found music and thank God that he did! Though he didn’t know it yet, he had exceptional talent in his day and age, and the young Bob, who played music with friends on a guitar made from a bamboo staff, a sardine can and electric wires, had no idea he would become one of the world’s greatest musical legends.

His father died when he was just ten years old, though the two were not close. Bob would find a best friend in Neville Livingston, better known as “Bunny Wailer”. The two boys would share their musical journey together and Bunny would become a member of Bob’s band, the Wailers. They also met Peter Tosh, an aspiring guitar player, at a music club in Trenchtown, and the three of them together formed the original line-up of the Wailers, who are still today regarded as one of the greatest reggae bands of all time.

Bob would go through hardship all his life. Suffering through homelessness in his early years, being lured to the strange and intimidating city of London with the Wailers by money-minded record producers, who were quick to capitalize on the band’s success, and eventually abandoned by them; none of this would taint his positive outlook on life and on society. Even when he fell out with his band members, who had become annoyed with all the attention being placed on Bob as the band’s frontman, he would continue making music with his wife, Rita, and her music group. Bob and Rita married in 1966 and

were truly soulmates – they stayed together and were very much in love until the end.

In a black-and-white world that embraced prejudice, sanctioned violence, became plagued by economic strife and saw many people’s rights violated, Bob chose to sing about the light in the world. His songs were very much themed about love, “One Love, One Heart” “Three Little Birds,” “Sun is Shining,” and more. But fortunately, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, at least not for the arts of this era. It was a time of great exploration and pioneering in the world of music, art, literature and expression. Reggae was only just emerging in Jamaica as artists were now searching for new styles to excite fans and revive the music industry. It was a good time for Bob to make his stamp. It would seem that different cultures of the world would first combine their music before they would combine in friendship – for at this time, many American artists actually travelled to Jamaica as talent scouts to learn the new reggae style. This was actually how Bob was discovered, by an American singer, Johnny Nash.

His entire life is an inspirational rags-to-riches story but a few key moments towards the end really stand out in modern history and make him so much more than just a reggae singer. His actions would leave the entire world in deep thought and reconsideration. As the most beloved reggae artist of his time, Bob was summoned by the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Michael Manley, at a time of great political unrest in the country. Even he saw Bob as a source of salvation, for none could so enthral an audience and inspire peace and happiness as much as the world-famous Rastafarian legend. “Me only have one ambition, y'know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together - black, white, Chinese, everyone - that's all.”

Of course, ever the optimist and lover of humanity, Bob took this chance to spread peace and love, the message he always believed in. But it would seem that Bob’s fighting wasn’t over yet and now he even fought for his life – in the days leading up to the concert and as Bob and his Wailers were rehearsing, the band was targeted by gunmen sent by the political opposition to stop the concert from taking place. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, though most of them, including Bob himself, did take some minor bullet wounds. They would go on to perform nonetheless and the concert, known as Smile Jamaica, would electrify the crowd of 80,000, consisting of opposing political followers. “The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I?”

In 1978, at the similar One Love Peace Concert, Bob delighted his crowd and stunned the world once again when he invited the political leaders of the opposing parties onto the stage and had them all hold up their hands together, the ultimate symbol of peace, unity and love. If even enemies can come together (to the beat of the music), then anyone can. It will remain one of the greatest inspirational moments in history.

Sadly, Bob wouldn’t live much longer after this but what a memory to leave the world with!

After a football injury to his foot, Bob would begin a downward trajectory in his health but not in his wellbeing. In spite of the injury and in direct violation of the advice from his doctors, Bob continued to perform on stage to the point that his boot would fill with blood by the end of shows. Eventually, this injury was diagnosed as cancer that would spread throughout his body. His final concert was held at Pittsburgh in the US. The frailer he became, the more apparent the unspeakable doom would become and as he asked to be flown back to Jamaica. He found fame worldwide but in the end, his homeland was where he chose to be. Bob finally succumbed to the cancer and died at age 36 in 1981.

The Legend of Bob Marley will never die. On the day of his funeral, 40,000 people visited his coffin in the National Arena in Jamaica, just a handful of the lives he touched. More than 75 million of Bob’s albums have been sold in the last two decades alone.

It is apparent that there is a harrowing, echoing repeat in history. The dreary times of today feel as bleak as they did in Bob Marley’s time. So let’s remember him and his message that is still more than relevant today.

HOW SAUDI ARABIAN MONEY

Dan Hunt looks at how one of the biggest financial powerhouses in the world, Saudi Arabia, has altered the landscape of sport completely - something that has prompted mixed reactions from fans across the world.

Whilst their takeover in sport has been most notably over the last 12 months, there has been a history of sporting events prior to this.

In 2019, former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua regained his heavyweight belts in the city of Diriyah against Andy Ruiz. Three years later, the Brit again had a chance over there to regain his world titles, this time against Oleksandr Usyk, on the headlined “Rage on the Red Sea” in Jeddah.

In January 2023, football club Al Nassr secured the signature of global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The player came under a lot of scrutiny after having played at the highest level of European football for 20 years, settling for a much less competitive and less known league in the middle east. This would, however, be the start of their domination over sports.

Athletes were seen as ‘money grabbers’ by competing over there, and it’s clear to see why they’ve been branded this way. Back in 2019, Anthony Joshua reportedly made a staggering £67 million for the 12 round fight. His rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022, saw a base total purse of £150 million being split evenly between the two boxers. When Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr, he saw himself become the highest paid athlete in the world, after penning a contract worth around £200 million across two years.

A month after Ronaldo’s move to the country’s capital in Riyadh, the city’s neighbouring town of Diriyah hosted the highly anticipated boxing match, between reality TV star Tommy Fury and social media personality Jake Paul. Despite this being Paul’s first crack against a ‘real opponent, he’d made himself £30 million richer in the process. In the summer of 2023, the football takeover started to take shape.

“The overall consensus is a love-hate relationship towards the Saudi vision.”

Neymar, Karim Benzema, N'golo Kante and Sadio Mane are some of the many players who signed contracts to play in the

country’s domestic league. But things looked to be even more serious when a team made offers to sign the two best players in the world today.

Al Hilal, the club which eventually signed Neymar, had also tried to sign his fellow PSG teammates the month prior to him joining. The club had first tried to sign Argentine international Lionel Messi. Their offer was extremely tempting; a three year deal which would total upwards of £1.5 billion by the end of it. Although he was interested in signing, he eventually opted to play for David Beckham’s Inter Miami in the USA.

Despite not playing in the country, the World Cup winning megastar has a deal with Saudi’s tourism agency, which will see him net around £25 million across three years to promote and take pictures of his adventures to the country, which are all fully paid by the Saudi government. The other player who had been offered to move over was French striker Kylian Mbappe. Currently set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer, the elite forward could’ve moved from second to first last summer in the biggest transfers in football history. Al Hilal offered PSG a transfer offer of nearly £300 million to buy him, with a one year contract on the table. This one year would’ve not only made Mbappe the most expensive player in history, he’d have also become £1 billion richer, and would’ve easily become the biggest star to step foot into the kingdom.

Should Al Hilal have signed Messi and Mbappe, they’d have not only signed PSG’s entire attacking lineup, but have also signed them to the biggest contracts in the sports history. Their only successful transfer was Neymar, who signed in August to a guaranteed £300 million across two years, but this number could rise by a further nine figures via commercial deals. His deal also saw him receive a luxury mansion, car collection and private jet, all expenses paid by the club.

Come autumn, it was boxing’s turn again to be the forefront of sports and entertainment in Saudi. October marked the beginning of the annual Riyadh Season, spearheaded by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in the country. October 28th saw the matchup between lineal boxing world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and lineal MMA world heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The “Battle of the Baddest '' saw the two biggest (literally) names in combat sports put it all on the line on a dramatic night in Riyadh, where Fury unconvincingly won a split decision victory over his Cameroonian rival. This would be the start of four giant boxing events that his Excellency would put together. Despite losing the fight, Ngannou left the ring with a

MONEY HAS CHANGED

career high £10 million, far more than the six figures he made in his last fight under the UFC banner, and Fury left with a black eye and £50 million.

Turki has spoken a lot about his love and passion for the sport of boxing, and his love showed as his next show would be the biggest in the sports history. Co-headlined by Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, the “Day of Reckoning'' on December 23rd, saw the biggest names in the sport go up against each other.

Every fight alone would be a headliner on a typical boxing show, with the likes of Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, Dmitry Bivol and Jai Opetaia all featured on the immensely stacked card. The two biggest names on the card, Joshua and Wilder, made at least £10 million each despite not fighting each other, nor competing for a world title.

Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season is still not over yet, as the undisputed heavyweight championship between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Uysk in February, and “Knockout Chaos” between Joshua and Ngannou in March, are still to unfold.

But how has Saudi Arabia changed the landscape of sports? When it comes to boxing, Alalshikh has managed to put some of the biggest fights together, a feat which has eluded other promoters who have failed to put together the fights fans have wanted to see. By the end of the entertainment festival, he’ll have had the four biggest names in the sport headline events in five months, and he’s planning for more to happen, with the undisputed light heavyweight championship being planned to take place in the second half of the year.

For football, the country has a vision and a plan to host the 2030 World Cup, which would attract many tourists and spectators to the country, which is ultimately the main reason they’ve been so demanding of high level sport being held over there. A lot of the money Saudi has is because of the massive oil industry, but when that oil’s gone, they need to look at new ways of generating cash. By hosting the biggest sporting events there, they’ll be able to lure tourists from around the world to travel to see the many spectacles, bringing in massive amounts of revenue. The country has taken a dabble into other sporting fixtures, including golf, tennis, Formula 1 and WWE, which all have large followings across the world. Saudi Arabia isn't just taking over sports, they seem like they’re taking over the world. But some people aren’t happy about this from a humanitarian standpoint. The 2022 World Cup hosted in Qatar faced a lot of scrutiny due to that country’s bad human rights record. And ultimately fans see it as a cash grab for everybody. However it has meant that some of the biggest fixtures in sport have been made due to the pay days on offer, which does sway the opinions from fans, but the overall consensus is a love-hate relationship towards the Saudi vision.

“It’s not so important what people think when you come in, it’s much more important what people think when you leave.”

These were the words of Jurgen Klopp as he first stepped into the press room at Anfield in 2015. Nine years later, he is set to depart Liverpool, leaving a legacy behind.

Klopp’s reign at Liverpool has produced some of the most exciting and memorable football that I have ever seen and followed at Anfield in the 25 years I’ve lived. From trophies to academy graduates, he’s delivered success on and off the pitch. He’s given excitement back to not only the club but the city. Quite rightly, he was rewarded the honorary title ‘Freedom of the City of Liverpool’ in 2022. In Klopp’s words: “I couldn’t be more proud to have been honoured with a Liverpudlian. I am home here and I will be grateful forever.”

Back in 2015, Klopp inherited a squad lacking in potential to succeed at the highest levels. He took over in October of that year and by the end of the season, the squad were runners-up in the League Cup and Europa League. There wasn’t a sudden overhaul at the club. Instead, Klopp made his mark steadily, buying relatively unsung class players like Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum who came from lower down the Premier League.

As Klopp’s team began to climb up the table, hope was restored in the Kop End that decades without a league title would soon end. It’s not just his management on the pitch that gets noticed. His engagement with the Liverpool faithful is distinctive, with trademark fist pumps to the Kop end after a game, sending personal letters to fans who needed a positive lift. I recall Klopp lining the whole squad up in front of the home end, having battled to a 2-2 draw with West Brom – not the finest of results but one that nonetheless brought the team, and the club, together as one.

As Klopp reinstated Champions League football at Anfield, Liverpool made world-class additions to the squad. Klopp and the recruitment team were mindful of who to sign and delicately went about their transfer business. They cherrypicked players who hadn’t quite set the world alight, such as Andy Robertson from a relegated Hull side for £10m and Mo Salah, who was signed for £37m and had ripped the Liverpool defence to shreds the season before. If you

DANKE SCHON, JURGEN!

Lauren Shiels recollects Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool Football Club.

look at the squad now, not many were high in value like Manchester City and Chelsea can afford. Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson were the exceptions: £75m and £65m respectively. These signings helped fine-tune and transform the squad, elevating the team instantaneously.

The focus on youth has always been an important aspect of Liverpool’s work. Klopp had continued to keep that pathway open during his tenure. When it was clear that Nathaniel Clyne would never reach the heights and levels expected as a Red, Klopp put his faith and trust in developing a young emerging Trent Alexander-Arnold.

In the long term, what a move that was. He is now vicecaptain and has accumulated over 300 appearances for his boyhood club. He is also renowned for his crossing ability. When Klopp started his reign, he maintained the prestige of the club. No player could touch the famous ‘This is Anfield’ sign until they had earned it. They needed to succeed - they needed a trophy.

There was heartbreak at the 2017/18 Champions League

Final when the Reds were thrashed 5-2 by Real Madrid: a final to forget for goalkeeper Loris Karius. However, Klopp rejuvenated the side, and made a few signings before the following season. In most seasons, 97 points would be good enough to win the title but this time, it would leave Liverpool in second place. Justice was rewarded though, as the club lifted their sixth Champions League trophy in Istanbul against Tottenham Hotspurs at the end of the season - a dramatic Champions League campaign, one bookended by strikes from Mo Salah and Divock Origi. Success continued as Liverpool lifted their first title in 30 years, albeit in an empty stadium due to Covid lockdown. Burnout was a result. Injuries piled up and the makeshift defence of rotation players Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips ensured a 3rd place finish, a CL place only confirmed on the season’s final day thanks to a last-gasp header from goalkeeper Alisson. Nevertheless, Klopp reenergised his squad as they fought on all fronts for the elusive quadruple (winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League in the same season). Lifting the FA and League Cup was all they could manage as they lost out to Manchester City on the final day of the season before succumbing to defeat at the hands of Real Madrid once again.

It is only fitting that Liverpool enjoy a successful season, as it is Klopp’s last. As the man himself says, “This wonderful book we have wrote together, I would love to put a few more chapters in it.”

“Managing Liverpool is a fairytale, you dedicate your whole life to it.” It was quite a shock when Klopp announced his departure. He said, “I am running out of energy,” which worries me despite his downplaying any rumours of illness. What I do know is he will be remembered as a Liverpool legend. As was the case when Bill Shankly left, there are certainly big shoes to fill in.

Photo: Sky Sports

By Adam Young

CHOOSE UCP?

EXPERT TUITION

Peterborough is a diverse city with a wide range of careers available 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 strongly encourage our students to gain practical experience in their chosen fields.

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

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 as students.

EMPLOYABILITY

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 the decision making process.

UP THE GARDEN BATH HELPS BUSINESSES BLOSSOM

Lauren Shiels speaks to Dave Poulton from Up The Garden Bath, to find out how local businesses are thriving as a result of creative initiatives and shared spaces.

Local businesses are blooming as they generated £100,000 in sales within the permanent Unity store in Queensgate, which was started by Up The Garden Bath. Queensgate Shopping Centre handed owner, Dave Poulton, the keys for a permanent shop in November 2023.

Previous pop-up shops within Westgate Arcade and the old Next unit were a success, having opened in October 2021 where they began to welcome and support fellow local businesses, gaining £60,000 worth of sales in twelve weeks of operation.

Dave Poulton says, “The store has something for everyone,” with over 50 local start-up businesses selling within the former Paperchase unit in Queensgate Shopping Centre, including crafters and artists. When asked about plans for the future, Dave Poulton said: “We want to help the local businesses get to the next level of their journey.”

“We are also looking at utilising the giant window in the store to advertise sponsors - we want to extend the mile

radius of businesses welcome to trade at the shop too.”

“We have large ambitions too, including working with Queensgate to create a plant wall in the car parks, and have plans to create a community garden within the East of England Showground.”

The company was originally set up in 2019, when Poulton struggled to get back into work after recovering from illness.

One upcycled bath transformed into a herb garden soon turned into hundreds, as they visited an abundance of schools and care homes around the city. Many schools benefitted from the project as students gained an understanding of the importance of healthy eating and supporting the environment.

The Coronavirus pandemic abruptly halted the plans for the company; they were forced to think smaller. Up The Garden Bath created a planter-turned-envelope and was supported by Dragon’s Den’s Theo Paphitis as they won the ‘Small Business Sunday’ award after a month of trading.

“We want to help the local businesses get to the next level of their journey.”

- Dave Poulton

THE VR PROJECT SUPPORTING STUDENTS ACROSS THE UK

In a time where students are more restricted than ever with the technology they use, some UK Universities are trialling VR (virtual reality) as a tool to support their students in their academic journeys.

In a cross-Atlantic research project, launched this year by Carnegie Mellon University, 25 other universities (as well as 25 healthcare organisations) across the UK and US will be testing out new Bodyswaps VR headsets. One of these Universities is the University of Suffolk, which began the 6-month project, at the end of November.

The University will be using this technology to support their students in presentations and interview practice. The headsets will help their students in areas such as public speaking, communication, employability and job interview skills. The use of VR has allowed students to practice giving presentations, being interviewed for jobs, and even the idea of public speaking, without the pressure of having to do this in front of other people.

This has the potential to assist students struggling with anxiety or confidence, in a safe environment, and has already helped students identify poor communication behaviours, which has allowed them to grow in confidence when it comes to more complex situations they may find themselves in as they move into the working world.

Head of Careers, Employability and Enterprise at the University of Suffolk, Amy Carpenter, says, “Embracing VR technology has been a great way of developing the soft skills of our students who need more support and complements the wider advice and guidance our Careers and Enterprise team offers.

“We are beginning to embed this technology within our courses to provide professional development options, and we have already seen the transformative impacts it has on our students who have used the headsets.”

One of these students is a second-year BSc Computing Student, and Peterborough College Alumni, Conor O’Leary. In response to trying out this tech, Conor says, “I found using the Bodyswaps technology to be really useful and it has helped me hone my skills in presentations and interviews, which will be invaluable for the future. It’s really a bit of a blend of career support and new technology which I think works really well.”

Bringing this back to the focus of Inspire Education Group, when we asked Conor about how he thought this could impact the transition from FE to HE, he says, “It'd be nicer to go to a university that has those things and does it, knowing that those services are there is going to make students more comfortable when it comes to their future lives than going to a uni that doesn't.”

Speaking more generally, he adds, “I think having the opportunity for students will make them more comfortable when it comes to leaving university or finding their career because it's very unique, it's very new.”

“It stands out so much more than say if you were taught from a presentation because it's so different to what you would normally get.”

Molly Woodthorpe speaks to students about a new VR project.

Photo: Pexels

FROM FOOTBALLS TO DOUGH BALLS:

Local PE Teacher Wins Bake-Off

Lauren Shiels talks to Peterborough PE teacher, Matty Edgell, about his time on the Great British Bake Off.

Former UCP student turned PE Teacher, Matty Edgell, won the 2023 series of Channel 4s ‘Great British Bake Off’!

Matty, who teaches at Hampton College, admits that he didn’t apply to go onto the show - it was in fact his fiancée Lara who was the catalyst for applying, “You have to send off photographs of your bakes, that’s how I clocked on to what Lara was doing."

The 28-year-old speaks about how he got into baking, “My nan passed away when I was five so I don’t remember much about her, so I guess in a way baking as a youngster was a way of subconsciously being closer to her.”

Matty baked Black Forest and banoffee eclairs for his final Signature Bake before coming third in the lardy cake slice technical.

It was his final Showstopper cake which was the deciding factor for the judges.

Botanicals week was a low point and as close as I got to leaving. They didn’t think my Showstopper looked like one, which is valid as I don’t have much in the way of creativity and imagination.

“I’m not making another steamed pudding – I’m glad that the bake coincided with others struggling also with the technical.”

Matty says that he is open to what happens next in his career, “I’m going to bake my wedding cake for next year! Myself and Lara will probably make some content on the process, but so far all we know is it’s going to be three tiers.”

He continues, “I’m in the fortunate position where I never applied so I never had any kind of ulterior motive as to what I wanted to achieve off the back.

“The experience was so unique, it was like venturing into the unknown!”

Paul Hollywood spoke about crowning Matty champion, “I have never met a more smiling, uncomplaining and willing baker, he was just having a good time learning as much as he could, taking on board anything on us and he’s got just better and better."

Matty continues, “If you’re going to smash it in the last challenge, that’s what you do - that chocolate cake was one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve had for a long time.” The Stanground Sports footballer admitted he is a far better baker than a footballer: “I’m definitely more confident in myself now.”

He spoke at the end of the final episode, saying: “People say you should go on Bake Off and I thought it was like a throw away comment. I never thought I would be on this let alone win it.”

Matty says his proudest moment was the handshake from Paul Hollywood, “In that moment, it's complete validation from an opinion that matters so much to you in that process.

“The two star bakes that I won came at the right time for me. In terms of a confidence boost, the handshake coincided with that.”

The 28-year-old admits that there were a few times in the series where he felt he was in danger of leaving: “The

“Overall, the experience was so unique, it was like venturing into the unknown, I didn’t really know what to expect. The people that you never get to see behind the scenes are so attentive and so aware of how out of normality it is for you.”

Looking back at his time on the show, he adds, “That final cake probably encompasses the whole journey that I went on; it showed from the start till the end with the things that I learned and I think that final Showstopper cake embodies it all.”

Aristotle saw that you can tell the spherical shape of Earth by watching ships sail away.

Photo: Impulse Nine Media

You’re probably familiar with the concept of flat earth as a model of the world that ancient peoples used to understand their planet. If you sailed to the end of the world, you would most likely fall to your death off the edge like a rolling glass off a table.

Well, you would be half right.

Some ancient people did believe this, based on the idea of a heavens belonging to gods above the human world which was, in their view, a flat plane.

The ancient Egyptians believed in Ra, the sun god who sailed across the sky over a flat earth every day; in ancient China, they believed that the earth was a flat, square shape with a spherical heaven; and as recently as the early Middle Ages, the Vikings believed their world was a disc surrounded by a body of water (the oceans).

But did you know that the concept of flat earth is not lost to the ages? It did not die with

modern technology and science. While it is uncontroversial that the earth is spherical to the vast majority of people, there is an entire community (who call themselves the Flat Earth Society) claiming that the world is flat and many are dedicated to proving that their extraordinary theories are correct.

Founded in 1956 by Samuel Shenton and catapulted into the public eye by the daringly outspoken Charles K. Johnson, the Flat Earth Society has gathered quite a following throughout its history and at its peak, reached 3,500 members. Now, the theory is not just confined to the group but is circulating the web and gathering followers everywhere.

A recent study in the USA shows that as many as one in six Americans are not sure they believe the earth is round.

So what do flat-earthers actually believe? According to Conor, a landscaper whose father is a dedicated flat-earth believer, their core beliefs involve the

Where On Earth Did The Flat Earth Theory Come From?

Hannah Walker speaks to Conor, a landscaper who was raised by a flat-earth believer. How do his views differ and just what is the story behind the flat earth theory?

The ancient Egyptians believed in Ra, the sun god who sailed across the sky over a flat earth every day.

Photo: World History

earth being a plane surrounded by the Antarctic ice sheet which keeps people penned in.

Flat-earthers believe that there may be land beyond Antarctica, based on the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. This Treaty was created to stop nations from claiming territories in Antarctica (the only continent in the world without a human population) but it is commonly cited by flat-earthers as evidence that the world ends at the ice sheet and that the government must prevent people from going there. Other evidence used by modern flat-earthers include Bible descriptions of the earth, small-scale laser experiments conducted on small budgets and glitches in NASA video footage (although this has been attributed simply to video compression).

Conor criticises the arguments constructed by the flat-earth community. He describes their tendency to change their argument as “mental gymnastics” and explains that he has found no model of a flat earth that can fully explain all aspects of our celestial system while the spherical earth model can. While Conor acknowledges that flatearthers do put in their research, he demonstrates the presence of confirmation bias; this is the process of a researcher ignoring views and arguments that go against their own.

Conor’s father posts regularly on social media about flat earth theory, from amusing to serious. Conor explains that his father’s posts lack context (for example, a photograph with a caption and no explanation) and so he sees that they can be easily misinterpreted. Posts created by flat-earthers also appear to use complex language that might make them sound technical but be wary that this doesn’t always make something correct.

The flat-earth theory has been entertained by many influential and intelligent figures, from a scientific background to the military to engineering and more. However, the theory has become a gateway to other conspiracy theories and it has come to be associated with these. People who believe in flat earth also tend to believe that the NASA moon landings were fake (of course, to cover up the fact that the world is flat), that Covid was a hoax and according to Conor’s father, that the government create the weather from within the skies by sending aircraft.

“They claim to be open-minded but they are not,” says Conor. Additionally, he points out that different theories from flat-earthers are inconsistent with each other, showing that there is little organisation and communication between these theories.

“Well, who can really know for sure?” - the final argument of a flatearther who had just rejected the concept that the earth is round. Flat-earthers believe that biblical descriptions of a flat world are correct. It is possible that there may be a religious agenda driving some of the theorists. However, even this is disputable. Aristotle perceived that you can see the spherical shape of Earth’s atmosphere by watching a ship sail away and observing that only the bottom of the ship shrinks and that the sail remains visible – proof of the curvature of the planet. Christopher Colombus was more worried about having enough provisions to get him around the globe than he was about falling off it. Christians have, for most of the history of their faith, believed in a round earth. By 3,000 BC, the idea of flat earth was debunked.

Where is this theory coming from then? Conor believes that flatearthers are “lost” and that they “have a mistrust of authority” contributing to misinterpretation. For example, flat-earthers believe that spherical earth is a fabrication of the government to fool the world and blind them to the truth that the world is flat. But why would the government go to all this trouble to fool people? Some believe they use it for their own agenda. Others believe it is linked to other conspiracy theories.

Everyone has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of thought/ religion/belief. Nonetheless, when searching for facts, it’s important to check your sources. Examine the evidence thoroughly, because nothing can win an argument like evidence at the end of the day.

WHEN VULNERABILITY BECOMES A STRENGTH: The ‘Hats On for Mind’ Campaign

Jen Ramm speaks to Laura Collins, an online mental health activist and Mind charity volunteer, about the significance of the Hats On For Mind campaign.

Mental health advocacy through social media is a relatively new phenomenon, but it’s gaining momentum. The fast-paced nature of the online world lends itself to the growing need for mental health awareness; infographics detailing the ins and outs of social anxiety, or Instagram story re-posts of mental health hotlines all become a part of a wider story. A powerful network of activists, sharing their own stories as a means of fighting mental health stigma, can be found across multiple platforms. One of these people is Laura Collins, who recently took her activism to new heights by participating in the Hats On For Mind campaign.

“I'm really open and I've come to a point in my healing journey where I'm

happy to talk about those things and happy to use it to help other people feel less alone,” Laura explains. Amassing around 7700 Instagram followers, it’s safe to say that she has a substantial platform for mental health activism, which is one of her main missions. With a gutsy, unapologetic approach, Laura shares some of the most personal parts of her life with a considerably large group of (mostly anonymous) people. Although, she humbly says, “I might not have thousands of followers, but what I do have is a story to tell and a message that I want to put out there.”

Alongside her Instagram account, Laura also raises awareness through point-of-view pieces written for charities such as YoungMinds and Mind. Her media-specific volunteer

work with these organisations has led her into a world of opportunities - one of these being the Hats On For Mind Campaign, which she says has given her “the ability to make connections with other people and feel less alone and help them feel less alone.”

Given her prior experience with the organisation, Mind contacted Laura directly and asked to be involved. Mind would be partnering with brands such as Go Outdoors, Blacks and Millets to promote the wellbeing benefits the great outdoors has to offer. It turns out that an outdoors-based campaign couldn’t be more up Laura’s street; growing up in the countryside, looking after farm animals, and riding horses are aspects of her identity that made the project all the more appealing

Photos: Mind

“I’ve seen people getting outdoors and sharing snaps; it’s just so lovely to know that I had a part in influencing that meaningful change.”

to her. “I advocate for mental health anyway, with my own lived experience, but also, I am a proper country girl!”

Within the campaign, a handful of celebrity ambassadors for Go Outdoors designed a range of hats and flasks, with the proceeds going to Mind. Among these celebrities were David Seaman, Helen Skelton, Sean Fletcher, Gethin Jones and Julia Bradbury. The campaign also featured five Mind media volunteers: Paul, Dhermika, Laura, Hameed, and Dalia. Each volunteer was paired up with the celebrity they had the most in common with, as another feature of this campaign was a series of candid video interviews surrounding mental health - for Laura, this was television personality, Helen Skelton. “I was like, I can't believe I've never heard of this woman. She's incredible. So, I was excited, but also a bit nervous to speak to her because it was just an incredible opportunity and I wanted to be able to tell her my story. I also wanted her to be able to tell me some of the stuff she's done in her own words,” Laura recalls. By partnering the volunteers with like-minded celebrities, Mind created a pathway of connection for all those involved, which was crucial given the sensitive nature of the campaign - a safe space was surely tantamount to the Hats On For Mind’s very cause. Between photoshoots and wardrobe fittings, organic connections were nurtured. “Gethin and I talked about Welsh culture because I have a Welsh background and so does he. I spoke to Helen about my horse riding, and it was just really lovely to be able to connect with them on a human level before we went into that.”Campaigns like this chip away at the preconceptions we might have, showing that celebrities aren’t indestructible machines. “These people have panic attacks, these people have anxiety, these people suffer with depression and trauma and they're no different to us in that sense.”

What sounds like a daunting task - speaking openly in front of a camera about your mental health struggles with a stranger who happens to be famousended up being very freeing for Laura. This is partly because the project was in no way perfunctory or tokenistic; these were real people with real stories, and there were no exploitative undertones from Mind. It’s all too common that mental health struggles, particularly concerning celebrities, are sensationalised in the media for shock value; the Hats On For Mind campaign is a breath of fresh air (quite literally). “I could have my voice represented authentically and sufficiently, without feeling like I'm uncomfortable in any aspect.” Laura found that a culture of care was sustained when she was on and off-set, by steering the interview away from any triggering topics and also being the one to give the final seal of approval for her recorded interview with Helen. “I did put some boundaries in place and say, ‘I don't want to talk about the hospital admissions because that's not something I feel comfortable talking about to anyone, let alone putting out publicly’, whereas my experience with OCD rituals or panic attacks - totally happy to talk about that.”

Sharing your mental health journey is a balancing act, though. There’s a fine line between being vulnerable and running the risk of oversharing and regretting it, which is something that Laura has learned the hard way. “Unless you are 100% sure that you would be happy with what you put out there being seen by everyone - then don’t put it out there.” Now, posting online and enabling herself to be transparent about her struggles has made Laura feel “empowered” more than anything else. The significance of the Hats On For Mind campaign and everything it represented - being outdoors for wellbeing purposes, the sharing of stories which would have once been taboo - is something that cannot be underestimated. As for Laura, she is planning to continue with her mental health activism journey following on from partaking in the campaign; “I've seen people getting outdoors and sharing snaps about what they've been up to, just getting out in nature, even just for 5 minutes; it's just so lovely to know that I had a part in influencing that meaningful change.”

Laura Collins, a mental health activist.

Laura and Helen Skelton

By Baylee-Rose Fallon

DATING APPS AND MODERN ROMANCE:

For Better Or Worse?

Jen Ramm presents the perils of modern dating.

I’m encouraging any singletons not to worry about their missing ‘other half’ and instead recognise that they are whole already. I’ve surmised that the dire state of online dating helped me to reach this level of inner peace; I realised how disillusioned with dating I’ve become. Call it apathy, call it exhaustion, but let’s unpack the gruelling (overhyped) battle that is modern dating.

On sites like Hinge, Her, and Bumble, I was able to present a perfect, clean copy of myself. For some reason, talking to people felt inorganic and a little bit contrived. I know that you have to start somewhere when getting to know someone new, but I think the fact that we were all lumped in together on this little app was just an unnatural phenomenon for me! It goes to show the power of social media; you can form a relationship with just about anyone, as long as you have internet access.

I’ve got friends who have dating app success stories - and I love that for them - but I feel that the overriding view is that dating apps can be soul-destroying. According to a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, there is a link between using dating apps and feeling lonely and dissatisfied. We’re social creatures; is it any wonder why swiping endlessly on profiles leads to a feeling of disconnect from the wider world?

Just like any other social media platform, they’re addictive, and so disappointment tends to ensue.

It doesn’t help that we live in a society that conditions women to believe that they have to find that special someone - a predominantly patriarchal society that chips away at their selfesteem through unrealistic body expectations among other ways.

If we instil in women the belief that they aren’t enough, then surely one way to remedy this is to also promote the suggestion that being in a relationship will complete you: something that dating apps promise to deliver on!

Does my feminism-infused sarcasm come across as bitterness towards that February 14th date on the calendar?

Not when women’s safety is a key issue here. Unsolicited pictures, harassment, and revenge nudes are among the many threats that online dating poses. The entitlement some men believe they have comes to light once they’re behind a screen; in a post #MeToo world, we find that nothing has changed. In a 2019 survey by ProPublica and Columbia Journalism Investigations of 1,200 women who were dating app users in the past 15 years, “more than a third of the women said they were sexually assaulted by someone they had met through a dating app”.

So yes, this is very much a feminist issue. I firmly believe that these apps should be making a lot more effort to create a safer space for their female users, making for a more enjoyable experience.

Needless to say, after a rocky year of dating, I found that the world didn’t end just because I was going out into it solo. If you’re working through something similar, you’re not alone, even if you feel it. Being a feminist, I’m all for women making decisions that are right for themselves; if dating apps are your thing, by all means, go for it and play the field but be sure to take care of yourself in the process. We need to show girls that finding yourself - connecting with the music you love, spending time with friends, discovering your favourite pastimes - can also be a really beautiful love story, that manifests from within.

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT

“According to a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, there is a link between using dating apps and feeling lonely.”

Photo:

DOES BRITIAN’S JUSTICE SYSTEM CARE ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS?

Trinity Barnatt looks at whether Britain’s justice system truly cares about sexual assault victims. Between July 2022 and June 2023, 68109 rapes were recorded by police. Within that 12 month period charges had only been brought against just 2.2% of cases. This does not necessarily mean they were convicted. Of these cases, victims face record waiting times of over 2 years to be completed in court.

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT

The British Justice system is consistently failing sexual assault victims and the statistics speak for themselves. Recorded numbers of rape complaints continue to soar and yet the convictions never seem to rise despite the promises of the British government. Victim support charities have been crying out for reform on this issue for years yet without government action the words of representatives prove to be nothing more than empty.

In an attempt to push up the number of convictions, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has resulted in making fewer referrals for cases that are considered ‘weak’ with evidence. This means even with the illusion of higher conviction rates, police are referring half as many cases for prosecution.

With 5 out of 6 women and 4 out of 5 men not reporting their experiences due to a lack of faith in the police and the justice system taking action to deliver them justice. This decrease in referrals for prosecution does nothing to help aid in this problem. Even more survivors are withdrawing their complaints once the process has begun due to an extreme invasion of privacy in what the CPS is calling ‘appropriate collection of evidence’. This includes handing over all mobile devices and being subjected to a full download of content. If victims refuse, their case is almost immediately dropped, essentially meaning that police deliver an impossible ultimatum to these already traumatised individuals - allow yourself to be violated all over again without the promise of convictions or be complacent to never receive justice. Invasion of privacy does not end there, compliance for ‘third party materials’ to be reviewed is also imperative for many cases to be referred for persecution. These

“The whole process has been more traumatic than the actual rape. I have zero belief in the justice legal system.”

- Victim response to Victims’ Commissioner Survey 2021

include but are not limited to medical and social services records. All of these invasions of personal information essentially boil down to finding something to question the credibility of the victim’s report.  Now let’s say that victims endure all of that and get their case into court, after a long wait time which no doubt was spent desperately trying to heal and recover from their traumatic experiences, victims then face reliving their experiences in the courtroom where they will find little sympathy or delicacy in the handling of their trauma. In the courtroom, victims might expect to see the investigation of the defendant, yet often they find that the trial is more of an investigation of themselves. Rape and assault myths are thrown around the courtroom including questioning of what the victim was wearing and how much alcohol they had consumed.  Cases where the victim knew their assailant or worse they were in a relationship with their assailant often face even more scrutiny as the culture of the criminal justice system still views rape as mostly commonly occurring in dark alleys with strangers. Charities have fought long and hard to dispel this myth, producing statistics to show that 6 out of 7 women being raped by someone they know and 1 out of 2 women being raped by someone they are in a relationship with. Even with this proven evidence, justice systems are still uncomfortable accepting this narrative.  Ultimately, with such a lack of convictions for rape and other sex crimes, offenders have little to discourage them from re-offending. Thus, the cycle continues as rapists roam the streets free from fear of retribution.  Campaigns from charities continue to soar in hopes of evoking change within the broken system, as the public cries out for reform, but after reviewing the evidence there is little to suggest that most victims will receive the justice they so truly deserve.

6.5 MILLON WOMEN IN ENGLAND HAVE BEEN RAPED OR SEXUALLY ASSULTED SINCE AGE 16

11697

SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES WAITING TO GO TO COURT

1 OUT OF 2

ADULT SURVIVORS EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT MORE THAN ONCE

38% OF SURVIVORS DON’T THINK POLICE COULD HELP

1 OUT OF 3

ADULTS ARE RAPED IN THEIR OWN HOME

Photo: Trinity Barnatt