Advice, guides & articles

School's out, the cost of living is through the roof and you've got children to entertain...this year it may be harder than ever to keep the family amused through the summer holidays. A wise woman once told me that children don't want money, they want time. Time is as rare a commodity as spare cash in some households so whether you're looking for things to do on a weekend or a day off, or you've got to plan a full weeks worth of activities, our guide on things to do for free (or cheap) this summer might just help.

Dogs do a lot for their owners throughout their lives, from the warmth and comfort we get from having a furry companion by our side, to the mental and physical health benefits we get from all those long walks. That’s why many people choose to ask for donations to Dogs Trust when they pass, so that a legacy of love can be left for man’s best friend.

Studies have shown that listening to music releases dopamine in our brains, which makes us feel good. The amount of dopamine can increase up to 9% if you’re listening to music you enjoy. Who doesn’t feel better after singing and dancing to their favourite song? As well as improving your overall mood, here are some more benefits of listening to music:

Every 10 seconds, Samaritans respond to a call for help. Their vision is to see fewer people die by suicide and can boast over 65 years of being there for anyone who needs someone. The organisation was founded by Vicar Chad Varah who, on 2nd November 1953, answered the first ever call to a brand new helpline for people contemplating suicide. According to Samaritans.org, Chad Varah said: "In an emergency the citizen turns to the telephone and dials 999. There ought to be an emergency number for suicidal people, I thought." From that first call, Samaritans grew. In December 1953 the Daily Mirror referred to Chad Varah as 'Telephone Good Samaritan', the name stuck. Samaritans is not a religious organisation and it relies on volunteers to do its good work. In February 1954 Chad handed over the running of the organisation to volunteers and thus Samaritans was born. To speak to Samaritans about your struggles and worries, or if you're concerned for somebody else, contact them by phone on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

Death is something that everyone is familiar with, yet it is something rarely spoken about. The one thing that is certain about life is that it ends - everyone will die someday. It seems silly not to talk about something that happens to everyone eventually. It also makes it difficult when we’re grieving someone we’ve lost, as we feel like we can’t talk about it.

Music sits side by side with our experiences, forming emotive connections that stay with us throughout our lives. Research shows that listening to a song that was played during a significant life event, such as a wedding or funeral, can trigger a deeply nostalgic emotional experience. Even a seemingly insignificant time in our lives can be recalled in a meaningful way when associated with a particular piece of music. Whenever I hear Uptown Girl by Billy Joel., I am transported back to my dad’s car as a child. I can recall small details like the grey leather seats, and the rickety window levers, that otherwise would surely be lost forever. As we age, our explicit memory fades, but our implicit memory is more enduring and can last a lifetime. Implicit memories are our unconscious and automatic memories. For example, playing a musical instrument, or recalling the words to a song when someone sings the first few words. A large part of memory takes place in the unconscious mind.

Commonly known as “Man’s best friend”, owning a dog comes with many benefits. While owning a dog can be a lot of work, it is also one of the most rewarding things you can do. Here are a few reasons to get a dog:

If you’re looking for a day out, why not go on a church walk? There are thousands of churches to be found across the UK, each with their own unique history and architecture. Below are just a few of the churches you could visit.

It's nice to put a face to a name, our Meet the Team blog series does just that. As part of Reach Plc, funeral-notices.co.uk have been publishing notices in local newspapers for over 100 years. Denise Steel has been part of the team for more than 14 years, gaining a wealth of experience in the funeral industry as well as becoming something of an IT expert. Denise is a proud mum and grandma and manages to juggle work and home life well - so much so she finds time for a pretty impressive list of hobbies. Denise enjoys gardening, dressmaking, cooking and 'wine-ing', she said: "I love to make my own clothes and have just finished a coat for myself. "I grow fruit and vegetables from seed in the greenhouse that I recently bought. I love cooking the food I grow and I like wine too." Denise is Team Leader on the Funeral Notices team, managed by Sarah Welton. The Funeral Notices team is part of the Contact Centre, overseen by Director Darren Minns.

The Grand Appeal have been the official charity for the Bristol Children’s Hospital since 1995, using Nick Park’s beloved animated characters Wallace & Gromit as their figureheads.