Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

King becomes patron of leprosy charity

Lepra works for the treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients in India and Bangladesh. They also fight the prejudices and social stigmas faced by the patients

King becomes patron of leprosy charity

Charity organisation Lepra has welcomed the announcement that King Charles will provide patronage in its fight against leprosy.

The organisation, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, received a letter in this regard on May 7.


Lepra’s relationship with the royal family began in 1924, when the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, became patron of the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA) and his successors have remained its patrons. BELRA was renamed as Lepra in 2008.

Lepra chief executive Jimmy Innes said, “His Majesty’s patronage will be a source of great motivation across the world for Lepra and will inspire us to keep delivering our vital work supporting people affected by leprosy and lymphatic filariasis."

Lepra works for the treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients in India and Bangladesh.

The organisation has specialists who diagnose and treat patients using modern methods. Lepra also fights the prejudices and social stigmas faced by the patients.

Leprosy is a communicable disease, caused by bacterium, which affects the skin and peripheral nerves. If left undiagnosed or untreated it can cause severe disability to patients.

Over seven million people across the world are affected by leprosy and nearly 600, including 50 children, are diagnosed with the disease every day.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less