Singles Awareness Day: Celebrating Independence, Self-Worth and Living Life Your Way

While the world is awash with roses, heart-shaped chocolates and candlelit dinners in mid-February, 15th February quietly marks something a little different: Singles Awareness Day.

Far from being a gloomy afterthought to Valentine’s Day, it has grown into a celebration of independence, friendship, resilience and self-love. Whether you are single by choice, circumstance, or simply focusing on other priorities, this day offers a chance to reframe the narrative.

What Is Singles Awareness Day?

Singles Awareness Day (often shortened to SAD — though thankfully in an ironic way!) takes place on 15th February. Originally seen as a tongue-in-cheek response to Valentine’s Day, it has evolved into a positive celebration of:

Personal growth

Independence

Friendship

Self-care

Freedom from social pressure

It’s not about being anti-relationship. It’s about recognising that being single is not a “waiting room” for life.

Why It Matters

Society can sometimes place heavy emphasis on romantic partnership as a marker of success or fulfilment. From films to advertising campaigns, the message can be subtle but persistent: happiness equals coupledom.

But in reality, single life can offer:

Greater flexibility and autonomy

More time to invest in career or creative pursuits

Stronger friendships and community ties

Financial independence

Personal development opportunities

Being single is not a gap in your story — it is part of your story.

Healthy Ways to Celebrate Singles Awareness Day

1. Invest in Yourself

Book that course. Start that fitness goal. Launch that side project. Use the day as a personal reset button.

2. Celebrate Friendship

Gather friends for dinner, a film night or even a pub quiz. Platonic love deserves just as much celebration.

3. Practice Intentional Self-Care

This might mean:

A long countryside walk

A favourite takeaway

Switching off social media for the day

Finally reading that book on your bedside table

4. Reflect on What You Truly Want

Singles Awareness Day can be a useful moment to assess your values. If you do want a relationship, what does a healthy one look like for you? If you are content as you are, what makes that fulfilling?

There is power in clarity.

Reframing the Narrative

Instead of viewing singlehood as “alone”, try reframing it as:

Self-directed

Unrestricted

Independent

Whole

Your value is not defined by your relationship status. Confidence grows when your sense of identity comes from within rather than external validation.

The Business and Cultural Shift

Interestingly, retailers and hospitality venues are increasingly recognising that not everyone is celebrating Valentine’s Day as a couple. Promotions aimed at “treat yourself” experiences, solo travel packages, and friendship-focused events have become more common.

It reflects a broader cultural understanding: modern life is diverse, and so are relationships.

A Final Single Thought

Whether you are happily single, newly single, or somewhere in between, Singles Awareness Day is an invitation to celebrate yourself — not in defiance of romance, but in recognition of your inherent worth.

Love is important. But so is self-respect, independence and joy in your own company.

And those are worth celebrating every day of the year.

International Childhood Cancer Day UK: Awareness, Support and Hope for Families

Every year on 15 February, International Childhood Cancer Day shines a light on one of the most challenging diagnoses a family can face. 

It's a day of awareness, but also one of courage, resilience and collective responsibility.

For readers of That’s Health, this is an opportunity not only to understand childhood cancer more clearly, but to consider how we, as communities across the UK, can offer meaningful support.

Understanding Childhood Cancer

Childhood cancers are different from adult cancers. They are rarely linked to lifestyle factors and often develop without warning. The most common types include:

Leukaemia

Brain and central nervous system tumours

Lymphomas

Neuroblastoma

Wilms’ tumour (a kidney cancer affecting children)

Thanks to advances in medical research and specialist care, survival rates in high-income countries such as the UK have improved significantly over the past few decades. However, treatment can be intensive, lengthy and emotionally draining for both children and their families.

The Reality for Families

A diagnosis does not just affect a child. It affects siblings, parents, grandparents and friendship circles. Many families face:

Long hospital stays

Time off work and financial strain

Emotional trauma and anxiety

Educational disruption

Long-term health effects from treatment

Paediatric oncology teams across the NHS provide extraordinary care, but families often rely heavily on charities for additional emotional, practical and financial support.

UK Charities Offering Support

Several organisations provide invaluable help to families navigating childhood cancer:

Young Lives vs Cancer/CLIC Sargent– Offers specialist social workers and financial guidance. 

https://www.younglivesvscancer.org.uk

Children with Cancer UK – Funds research and supports affected families.

https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk

The Brain Tumour Charity – Provides tailored support for children and young people with brain tumours.

https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org

Supporting these organisations, even in small ways, helps extend care beyond hospital walls.

The Importance of Early Awareness

While childhood cancer is rare, knowing potential warning signs can help prompt earlier medical attention. These may include:

Persistent unexplained pain

Unusual lumps or swelling

Ongoing fatigue or pallor

Frequent unexplained bruising

Persistent headaches or vomiting

Sudden vision or balance changes

These symptoms are usually caused by less serious conditions, but persistent concerns should always be checked by a GP.

Life After Treatment

Survival is not always the end of the journey. Many children who complete treatment experience long-term effects, including:

Learning difficulties

Hormonal issues

Heart or organ complications

Emotional and psychological challenges

Long-term follow-up care is essential, and awareness days like this remind policymakers and healthcare providers of the need for sustained investment in survivorship programmes.

How You Can Mark the Day

You do not need to organise a major fundraiser to make a difference. Simple actions include:

Wearing a gold ribbon

Sharing accurate information on social media

Donating to a UK childhood cancer charity

Supporting families in your local community

Encouraging open conversations about serious childhood illness

Small gestures of solidarity matter deeply to families who often feel isolated.

A Message of Hope

Medical research continues to improve outcomes year on year. Scientists are developing more targeted therapies designed to reduce harsh side effects and improve long-term quality of life.

International Childhood Cancer Day reminds us that behind every statistic is a child with dreams, hobbies, favourite foods and a family who simply want them to thrive.

Awareness brings understanding. Understanding builds compassion. And compassion, when turned into action, can help ensure that every child facing cancer receives the best possible chance at a healthy future.

Asbestos still present in 83% of state schools in England, experts warn

Image Courtesy BOHS

Occupational health experts are warning that asbestos exposure in schools continues to put teachers, pupils and staff at risk of fatal disease, after the Government’s latest school estates strategy failed to meaningfully address the hazard.

Asbestos remains present in 83% of state schools in England, with official UK statistics indicating around 15 school workers die each year from asbestos-related disease caused by past exposure. US research also suggests that up to 135 pupils may be fatally exposed each year.

Despite this, the Government’s Schools Rebuilding Programme and Education Estates Strategy make no substantive reference to asbestos, relying instead on the Condition Data Collection (CDC) process, which explicitly states that it “does not report on hazardous materials (principally asbestos).”

The Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM), the professional body for those managing asbestos risks, and the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) are concerned that this approach risks leaving schools ill-equipped to manage one of the most widespread and dangerous legacy hazards in the education estate.

National oversight of asbestos in schools has effectively ceased following the discontinuation of the Government’s Asbestos Management Assurance Programme (AMAP). The programme was intended to provide accurate national data on asbestos risks across the school estate, but its removal has left policymakers without a clear picture of the scale or condition of asbestos in schools.

Last year, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served improvement or enforcement notices to one in every 15 of the 421 schools inspected over asbestos management failures. While the regulator has emphasised this does not necessarily mean staff or pupils were in immediate danger, experts say it highlights the significant pressures on head teachers trying to manage a hidden and technically complex risk.

Under current policy, asbestos is generally considered safer to leave in place than remove. However, under the Schools Rebuilding Programme, the presence of asbestos is only treated as an “exceptional factor” if it has already caused an exposure risk or would pose a direct risk to health unless parts of a school were closed. As a result, relatively few of the 3,000 CLASP schools, widely recognised as posing the highest asbestos risk, are included in rebuilding plans.

Jonathan Grant, Registrar of the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM), told That's Health: “Asbestos management requires specialist knowledge, detailed risk assessment and constant vigilance. The loss of national oversight has left schools without the support and consistency they need. Expecting head teachers and school staff to manage this risk alone is unrealistic and unsafe.”

Research by the Government in 2019 showed while three quarters of head teachers had read official asbestos guidance, this dropped to 40% of caretakers and facilities managers, and fewer than one in five governors. 

Fewer than 2% of maintenance workers in schools who may disturb asbestos had appropriate training, while 13% had not even received asbestos awareness training.

Schools are also not required to inform parents or pupils about the presence of asbestos, meaning school communities may be entirely unaware of potential risks.

Kevin Bampton, Chief Executive of BOHS, told That's Health: “Prevention is the future of occupational health, yet asbestos – a known cancer-causing substance – is being systematically ignored in national school policy. This is not about expensive solutions; it is about transparency, competence and putting health protection at the heart of safeguarding.”

FAAM and BOHS are calling for immediate, low-cost and cost-free action to bring schools in line with normal asbestos management principles, including:

publishing asbestos management plans on school websites;

establishing a clear right to know for teachers, parents and pupils;

providing governors with accessible guidance on overseeing asbestos risk;

offering centralised specialist support for head teachers and facilities managers;

making asbestos management a core part of school safeguarding inspections; and

setting enforceable training targets for school workers likely to encounter asbestos. 

https://www.bohs.org

Age Concern Hampshire Announces New Foot Clinics to Boost Confidence and Mobility for Older People

Age Concern Hampshire is set to open new foot care clinics in Kingsclere, Farnborough, Lymington, and Bordon, helping older people stay confident, active, and mobile.

Healthy feet are key to balance and independence, yet many older adults struggle to reach their toes due to arthritis, impaired eyesight, or reduced mobility. 

Age Concern Hampshire’s clinics, run by qualified foot health practitioners, provide toenail cutting and basic foot health checks, helping prevent discomfort, falls, and injuries.

Michele Ralph, Foot Care Coordinator at Age Concern Hampshire, told That's Health: "Our Foot Clinics are about more than just foot care, they help older people feel confident on their feet and maintain their independence. We’re committed to making this vital service accessible to everyone who needs it."

Clinics are available across Hampshire, including Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Dibden/Hythe, Havant, Hedge End, Locks Heath, New Milton, Odiham, Overton, Petersfield, Ringwood, Tadley, Winchester, and Yateley. The new clinics in Kingsclere, Farnborough, Lymington, and Bordon will open soon.

To book an appointment, call 01962 868545 or visit their website for more information: https://www.ageconcernhampshire.org.uk/our-services-hampshire/footcare

Great News For Readers of That's Health In London! South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic Launches £30 Dentist Appointment for London Patients

South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic has announced the introduction of a £30 dentist appointment for patients in London, providing a lower-cost entry point into private dental care alongside clear information on treatment options and pricing.

The appointment is intended to support patients seeking a professional dental assessment, particularly those who may have delayed care due to uncertainty around cost or availability. 

Dental professionals continue to emphasise the importance of early assessment in identifying oral health concerns and supporting preventive care.

The £30 appointment includes a clinical dental assessment and a discussion of symptoms or concerns. Where further investigation or treatment may be appropriate, patients are provided with clear explanations and transparent information regarding possible next steps and associated fees. 

No treatment is carried out without patient consent, and all care decisions are made following clinical assessment.

In addition to the entry-level appointment, the clinic offers an optional Dental Membership Plan priced at £20 per month. Membership provides 50% off dental treatments offered by the clinic, subject to clinical suitability and standard terms. The plan is designed to help patients spread costs and support regular attendance, rather than replacing the need for professional clinical judgement.

South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic provides a range of dental services, including preventive dentistry, hygiene care, restorative dentistry, cosmetic treatments, orthodontics, and emergency dental care. 

All services are delivered by appropriately qualified dental professionals registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).

The clinic operates seven days a week, including weekends, supporting access for patients who may find weekday appointments difficult to attend. Flexible availability aims to reduce delays in assessment and encourage timely dental consultations.

Located at 20 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 3DL, the clinic is centrally positioned and accessible from across London. 

The practice reports increasing demand for transparent pricing structures and clearer pathways into private dental care, particularly among patients seeking timely advice without extended waiting periods.

The introduction of a £30 dentist appointment reflects wider changes within UK private healthcare, where providers are responding to patient expectations around clarity, accessibility, and informed decision-making. 

Industry observers note that clearly defined consultation pricing can help patients engage with dental services earlier and make considered choices about their care.

The £30 dentist appointment and optional membership plan are now available to book.

Phone: 020 7183 2362

Email: southken@md.co.uk

Website: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk

Private Dentist Appointment: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk/dental/private-dentist-london

Booking Link: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk/book/dental

Join Their Membership: https://www.southkenmd.co.uk/membership

South Kensington Medical & Dental Clinic is a London-based private healthcare provider offering dental services in line with UK regulatory standards. 

The clinic operates seven days a week and delivers care through qualified professionals registered with relevant regulatory bodies. 

Services are provided following appropriate clinical assessment, patient consent, and transparent communication.

A lifeline for rural amputees: UK charity STAND opens a major prosthetics centre in The Gambia

UK prosthetics charity STAND has renovated and opened a new rehabilitation centre in The Gambia, West Africa, marking a major step forward in providing prosthetic legs to rural amputees.

STAND supplies refurbished prosthetic legs to The Gambia, donated from across the globe. 

Locating this new centre in the heart of the country gives rural amputees direct access to these precious prosthetic limbs, as well as more responsive follow-up care and more reliable rehabilitation services.

The project has been driven by STAND, working in close partnership with The Gambia’s Ministry of Health, with financial support coming from STAND’s key supporters like The British School of Paris. The collaboration reflects a global commitment to strengthening and improving prosthetic care for amputees.

Before the centre, amputees travelled hundreds of miles to be fitted with a leg, as the main rehabilitation centre is located in the capital. STAND and its partners also funded outreach programmes which visited rural towns by car. While these visits were essential, it clearly was not an efficient or sustainable model.

STAND’s Trustee Lucy Gates, The Gambia’s Director of the Department of Social Welfare Allaye Barra, the Gambian press, STAND’s Gambian staff, and the community attended the opening.

Tom Williams OBE, founder of STAND told That's Health: “This centre brings prosthetic and rehabilitation services within reach of people who have been excluded for too long. Distance should never determine who gets to walk again. 

"When mobility is restored, the barriers that once limited amputees begin to disappear, opening the door to walking, working, and truly thriving.”

Giles Bates, Head of Community and Service at The British School of Paris added: “A prosthetic limb can give a child an education, friends and a future filled with hope. We hope that the BSP's contribution towards STAND's new rehabilitation centre in Bansang in The Gambia will help make this a reality for the local community.”

https://www.stand.ngo

Attomarker initiates Acceleration Round to scale immunology diagnostics

Attomarker, a UK-based diagnostics company, has commenced an Acceleration Round to support the next phase of commercial and clinical development of its immunology diagnostics platform.

Attomarker develops multiplex immune diagnostics that deliver clinically relevant immune profiling from a single, small blood sample within a matter of minutes. 

Its tests are specially designed for use in real clinical settings and are already being used by clinicians.

The company’s current focus is immune profiling in patients with Long Covid, estimated to affect more than 65 million people worldwide. 

Attomarker’s COVID Antibody Spectrum Test enables immune classification of patients into one of three distinct endotypes, supporting treatment decision-making and monitoring of disease recovery. Two additional Long Covid companion tests are also in development.

Attomarker recently signed a strategic co-development agreement with EpitogenX to combine next-generation antigen technology with Attomarker’s diagnostics platform, with the aim of extending immune profiling into other immune-mediated conditions that are currently underserved by diagnostic options. Initial target areas include Lyme disease and Hashimoto’s disease.

The company holds a strong intellectual property position, with eight granted patents and a further patent pending, covering its core diagnostics technology and system architecture.

Attomarker’s diagnostics currently operate on a CE-marked benchtop device that is approved and in clinical use. A handheld device is also in development as an additional deployment option.

The Acceleration Round is intended to support commercial rollout, regulatory progress, further clinical validation, and expansion of Attomarker’s immune profiling portfolio within Long Covid.

Retail investor participation is being conducted through Crowdcube, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All eligibility checks, approvals, and investment activity take place on the Crowdcube platform.

https://www.crowdcube.com/early-access/attomarker

Information for non-retail investors is available via a separate information page.

https://attomarker.com/investors