Izzy Judd is swept off her feet by charity Mary's Meals

MUSICIAN and celebrity Mum Izzy Judd says she has been swept off her feet by international aid charity Mary's Meals. The mother of 3; who is married to McFly star Harry; is encouraging families across the UK to support the charity by giving a Mother's Day gift that will help to feed children living in the world's poorest countries. She says:- "As a mother to Lola, Kit and Lockie, I know how important it is for children to be happy, healthy, and well educated. And that's what Mary's Meals is all about. Its life changing School meals attract little ones into the classroom, where they can learn their way to a better future. I have been swept off my feet by this incredible charity; and you should be too!"

Mary's Meals serves nutritious School meals to children living in some of the world's poorest countries. The promise of a good meal attracts hungry children into the classroom, where they can gain an education that that can be their ladder out of poverty. The charity feeds more than 2.4 million children every School day; and it says this simply wouldn't be possible without the love and dedication of mothers all around the world.

Dan McNally, head of grassroots engagement at Mary's Meals, explains:- "Here in the UK, we are lucky to be supported by amazing women, like Izzy, who fundraise and volunteer so that we can feed desperately hungry children. And in the countries where we work, it is most often mothers who volunteer to prepare, cook, and serve the food. They do this so that their children, and the children in their communities, can have the chance of a better life."

To mark Mother's Day, on Sunday, 19 March 2023, Mary's Meals is offering a range of beautiful gift cards. Priced from just £19.15, each of these special cards will feed a hungry child with Mary's Meals every day for a School year. Izzy continues:- "I will be dropping some hints to my children for a Mary's Meals gift, and I will also be giving 1 of these lovely cards to my own Mum, Gill. I think she will be thrilled to know that, together, we are ensuring that a child is in School, with a full belly, ready to learn."

It costs just:- £19.15, to feed a child with Mary's Meals, for a full School year. To find out more and to purchase a Mother's Day gift card, please visit:- MarysMeals.Org.UK.

If you are not aware, Djigbenon Firmine is a Mother of 2, and volunteer cook, at Adido Primary School, in Benin. She has been preparing and serving Mary's Meals at the School for more than 2 years, and she can see how much the daily serving of maize or rice with beans, vegetables, meat, fish or eggs is helping the children. She says:- "I know how important it is for children to eat well every day at School and it is wonderful to see the joy when our tired and hungry children have full bowls of food waiting for them."
 

TransPennine Express calls for more women to join the rail industry

TRANSPENNINE Express (TPE) is celebrating International Women's Day by highlighting some of the fantastic women working for the operator and encouraging more to join the rail industry.

In the last year, 27% of TPE's new hires and 31% of internal promotions are women, as the operator continues to embrace equity and break the perception that the rail industry is male dominated.

To mark International Women's Day, TPE has released a video highlighting some of the amazing women leading the way and is encouraging more to join the industry.

The video showcases women from across the business including Human Resources Director Nicola Buckley, Head of On-Board Services Alison Murray, Fleet Support Engineer Alice Callaghan as well as frontline colleagues Kate Holmes (conductor) and Joanna Collins (trainee driver).

Nicola Buckley, Human Resources Director at TPE, said:- "We're extremely proud of the women working throughout our business and we're encouraging more to join the railway industry by offering a diverse range of opportunities, from apprenticeships, to frontline roles and management positions. We're delighted that 41% of our Directors are women and 37% of our senior management team are women, but there's still more work to be done. We're delighted to be celebrating International Women's Day and proud to be able to shine a light on some of the fantastic women leading the way in the rail industry."

Georgie Young, Regional Customer Experience Manager, at TPE, who joined the operator 22 years ago, said:- "If you can't see it, you can't be it, and so it's important that we show off the incredible talent we have on board. It's even more important for us to encourage women, especially young women, to join the industry as we could be missing out on a wealth of expertise and skills."

Joanna Collins, a trainee driver for TPE, is hoping she can be 1 who breaks the status quo when it comes to train drivers:- "My dad, 2 of my great-grandads and my great-great grandad were all drivers, and I'm the 1st woman in the family to follow in their footsteps. I broke the mould in my family and I'm hoping we can do the same throughout the industry. In my depot I will be the second woman driver in a group of 25. When it comes to trains, there's no gender bias and I'm hoping that I, along with my co-workers, can inspire more women to become drivers."

Alison Murray, Head of On-Board Services, said:- "There is a belief when it comes to the railway that it's a male-dominated environment, that is changing. I would say to any woman, please have no fear. There are so many options within the industry and so many journeys women can take. We want to educate every woman who may be interested in joining the railway that the opportunities are here for you."

TPE is showing it is leading the way when it comes to diversity and inclusion after winning the Diversity and Inclusion in Rail award at the prestigious Rail Business Awards ceremony last week. The award recognised some of the incredible schemes and programmes TPE has available, especially to women.

The Step Up and Step Forward programmes are in place specifically to promote professional development of women and the Reach Up and Reach Forward programmes focus on TPE's continued commitment towards supporting under represented groups to reach management roles.

The rail operator also has increased development opportunities with 2 new offerings, the Women in Rail Mentoring Programme and a Senior Women's Development Programme.

Nicola added:- "It's simple, the women who work for us are a leading light in the industry and we want more to join the incredible team we have here. The rail industry is changing and we want women to be a part of that change."

To find out about careers and job vacancies at TPE, visit:- TPExpress.Co.UK.