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Just Walk to school this week to raise money for the British Heart Foundation

THE British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling on parents and pupils alike to mark 'Walk to School Week' by signing up to the charity's fundraiser Just Walk to help raise money for life saving heart research.

Just Walk invites teachers, parents and children to put their best foot forward and challenge themselves to walk to school each day for a week between, Monday, 16 May 2016 and Friday, 20 May 2016.

Not only is walking a great way to start the day, it also encourages a healthy heart for children and parents.

Each day, an average of 12 babies are born with a heart defect. Research funded by the BHF is giving them the best chance of beating it.

Every stride and every pound raised from Just Walk will help the BHF fund vital research so that more children will grow up to become adults and lead full, active lives.

Thanks to research the number of children dying from congenital heart disease has fallen by 80% over the last 3 decades.

Lisa Young, Physical Activity specialist at the BHF said:- "Whether you choose to walk to school one day or every day during Walk to School Week it might help kick start better habits to encourage your school or family to keep heart healthy. Walking is a great way to keep active as it is fun, flexible and free. You can take the walk at your own pace and it's an easy way to raise money for vital heart research that can help save lives."

Sign up to 'Just Walk' today and get a free kit full of everything you need to show heart disease where to going online.

Over 820,000 part time and temporary workers risk losing rights under Brexit

OVER 820,000 part time and temporary employees in the North West, along with over 930,000 parents, risk losing rights at work if the UK leaves the European Union, the TUC has warned. Rights guaranteed for these groups under EU law include time off for parents to spend with their children, and for part time and temporary employees to have equal pay, holidays, pensions and benefits as any permanent or full time colleagues doing similar jobs. If the UK leaves the EU, these rights would no longer be guaranteed. As outlined in a recent legal opinion by Michael Ford QC, a post Brexit government could weaken or entirely remove these rights; something which senior Leave campaigners have already called for. Boris Johnson, for example, has demanded Britain "scrap" the European basis for these rights. He described the protections for workers as a "back breaking" burden on business.  TUC Regional Secretary for the North West, Lynn Collins, said:- "Voting to leave the EU is a massive risk for working people across the North West; particularly women. Women are far more likely to be in part time or temporary work, and many rely on parental rights to look after their children. Brexit cheerleaders have already shown how eager they are to undermine our working rights. Leaving the EU gives them free rein to peel away our protections against bad bosses. Generations of trade unionists fought for workers' rights to be legally guaranteed. A Brexit could gamble them away."