The PM is proposing three ways of increasing jail capacity – but none offer a quick or straightforward solution

Prison governors have reported not having enough money to fix broken security equipment.

Changing lives through therapeutic horticultural at Hodge House Allotments in Nelson.

A watchdog has highlighted concerns about security and high levels of violence at HMP Millsike.

Research finds minor changes in physical activity could hugely reduce number of premature deaths Just five extra minutes of exercise and half an hour less sitting time each day could help millions of people live longer, according to research highlighting the potentially huge population benefits of making even tiny lifestyle changes. Until now, evidence about reducing the number of premature deaths assumed that everyone must meet specific targets, overlooking the positives of even minor increases in physical activity. Continue reading...

The BBC drama – about a young philosophy professor who takes a job in a men's prison – picks up the conversation where Adolescence left off

Exclusive: NHS clinicians will sit in on appointments in pilot scheme in four areas aimed at reducing reoffending About 4,000 offenders in England will get targeted healthcare sessions during their probation appointments as part of a new pilot scheme. Offenders are far more likely to have poor physical or mental health or addiction issues, which increases the likelihood of reoffending. Continue reading...

From Parliament to Prison, how can people find calm in chaotic environments? How does one cope with grief during the festive period? What are some successful ways to combat depression? Rory and Alasta...

As places such as Walworth Living Room step in to help people in need, charities lament lack of government help When Fatma Mustafa began attending Walworth Living Room, a community project in south London, a few years ago, she began to feel like it was her second home. The registered “warm space” is designed to feel like a living room: comfy sofas, a communal table, activities and food in a warm environment. Mustafa, 48, says that on universal credit (UC) it is hard to cover bills and easy to fall into debt. Attending three days a week, she says, cuts costs on energy and groceries. Continue reading...

As antisemitism and Islamophobia rise, a community centre brings people together over shared meals, offering an antidote to food poverty, social isolation and division * Donate to the Guardian Charity Appeal 2025 here * Communities are our defence against hatred. Now, more than ever, we must invest in hope It’s 2.30pm on a Wednesday afternoon and the Himmah Hub, a community centre in Nottingham, is abuzz with activity. Crates of leftover supermarket food are being carried inside, trestle tables assembled, and volunteers are arriving to prepare meals that will be served in a few hours’ time to anyone who needs one – a queue has already begun to form outside. This is the Salaam Shalom kitchen, known as SaSh, a joint Muslim-Jewish project set up in 2015, and based on one of the core tenets of both faith groups: bringing people together through food. It also draws on a north Indian tradition of community meals, with food prepared collectively and duties shared across the village, Sajid Mohammed, director of the Muslim-led social justice initiative Himmah, explains. Continue reading...

Performed by an exceptional cast, Sophia’s Griffin’s debut play paints a vivid picture of men – and a system – in crisis

Whether it’s nightclubs banning phones or a drop in online dating, there are signs that we’re rediscovering the joy of being in the moment, says Guardian columnist John Harris

In 2025 we reach the significant milestone of 30 years. In that time we have supported thousands of people in prisons and the community to make positive life changes through the joyful process of c…

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Book tickets online for After Sunday by Sophia Griffin at Bush Theatre today! Part of our 2025 Season.

One in 10 people unwilling to live next to someone who has been mentally ill even if they have recovered, Mind reports The number of people in England who are frightened of living near people with mental health problems has nearly doubled to one in seven, which experts warn reflects an “alarming rise in stigma”. Even if the mentally ill person had recovered, one in 10 people said they would be unwilling to live next to them, according to new research from the mental health charity Mind. Continue reading...

Since our early ancestors came down from the canopy, we may think we have learned how to live without trees. But our lives remain intertwined in incredible ways

Report finds black offenders less likely to receive mentoring to help them avoid getting criminal record at early age Black children detained by police are 15% more likely to be “criminalised”, that is charged and put into the criminal justice system, than white children detained for similar types of offences, a study has found. The report by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), which tackles youth violence, found that black children were 14.8% less likely to be offered diversion, which can include mentoring or counselling, that usually results in them avoiding getting a criminal record at an early age. Continue reading...

The heatwave media formula is still extravagantly weird: all stock photos of ice-creams and suns with their hats on. It is time we recognised this extreme weather for exactly what it is, writes Zoe Williams