In our weekly good news round-up, we feature three positive stories from across the week that showcase remarkable innovation, breakthroughs, and progress within the realms of healthcare, sustainability, equity and inclusion, workplace wellbeing, social impact and more.

Here are three positive stories for the first week of March 2025, reminding us of the positive change happening around the world.

Charities to receive £40m boost from Ofgem’s Energy Redress Scheme

Charities and community energy groups across the UK are set to benefit from a £40 million funding boost, thanks to Ofgem’s Energy Redress Scheme. The energy regulator has launched the latest round of funding using voluntary payments made by energy firms that have breached regulations. The grants will support projects focused on net zero goals and help vulnerable people manage their energy consumption.

This is the 11th round of funding since the scheme’s launch seven years ago, during which nearly 650 projects across England, Wales, and Scotland have received support. Previous funding has helped charities offer energy-saving advice to vulnerable households, fund research into energy-efficient technologies, and support local renewable energy projects.

The latest funding round offers five different streams, including a carbon emissions reduction fund, an innovation fund, and both small and large grants. Projects that directly support vulnerable communities and those struggling with energy bills are set to be prioritised.

Ofgem’s Director of Market Oversight and Enforcement highlighted the scheme’s impact: “Our robust compliance and enforcement work provides justice to customers who’ve been treated badly while generating redress funding for vulnerable customers struggling with their energy bills,” they said. With energy costs predicted to rise, this funding comes at a crucial time for many households.

Graham Ayling, senior project manager at the Energy Saving Trust, which manages the allocation of the grants, expressed the importance of this funding:

“With annual energy bills predicted to rise from April, we’re pleased to offer this funding to support voluntary sector organisations in delivering their vital work, helping households to manage their bills and stay warm. This funding will also enable innovation, carbon reduction and the development of citizen-owned renewable energy projects that benefit households in or at risk of fuel poverty.”

Organisations interested in applying for a share of the funding have until 5pm on 20 March to submit their applications. With millions available to support communities and drive forward net zero ambitions, this round of funding is set to make a significant impact.

Potatoes take centre stage for World Book Day in Northern Ireland

World Book Day is usually marked by children dressing up as their favourite book characters, but this year, schools in Northern Ireland have done things a little differently. In a creative and cost-effective twist, families have been encouraged to decorate potatoes as book characters instead — and the results have been spudtacular.

Classrooms across the region have been filled with potato versions of beloved characters like Matilda, Harry Potter, and Snow White’s seven dwarves. The initiative has not only sparked laughter and creativity but also shifted the focus back to the joy of reading.

A potato creation inspired by the classic children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. (Image: Ballysillan Primary School and Nursery)

Catherine Davidson, Acting Principal at Ballysillan Primary School and Nursery in Belfast, said the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “There’s been a real buzz,” she explained. “I know children reading books is at its lowest in 20 years, and I’m not surprised given the amount families have to work and the rise in screen time. For families to connect one-on-one without a screen is essential, and using a potato for World Book Day facilitates this.”

She added that the simple potato project has encouraged children to engage more deeply with the stories and characters they love, rather than just throwing on a shop-bought costume. “If we had just done dressing up, someone would order a costume and put it on their child, and there wouldn’t be as much engagement with the depth of reading, the characters behind it, the story, the understanding — the buzz about the book,” she said. “I think decorating the potato really heightens that and engages one-on-one reading.”

The move has been welcomed by parents, who appreciated the affordability and simplicity of the idea, and see it as a refreshing and memorable way to celebrate the magic of books.

Jaguar Land Rover launches new foundation to empower young people

In a positive step forward for young people, Jaguar Land Rover has announced the launch of the JLR Foundation, dedicated to helping children and young people unlock their full potential. The car manufacturer has pledged millions in funding each year to support charities that focus on improving the lives of those in disadvantaged communities.

Backed by an initial £2.5 million in funding for its first year, the JLR Foundation aims to break down barriers and create opportunities for young people through education, skills development, and support. The move is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Reimagine Strategy,’ which commits the company to setting new benchmarks for both environmental and community impact.

The foundation, which will officially launch later this year, will be led by Laura Brown, former chief executive of PEAS, a charity focused on expanding access to education in Africa. Brown will take on her new role as JLR Foundation director next month.

Andrea Debbane, JLR’s chief sustainability officer and a trustee of the foundation, emphasised the importance of investing in young people. “Today’s young minds are tomorrow’s engineers, designers, and innovators. And they are the leaders and creators of our future society,” she said.

By providing access to skills, knowledge, and opportunities, the JLR Foundation hopes to inspire confidence and ambition in young people who might otherwise lack the support to pursue their dreams. As the foundation prepares for its official launch, there’s a sense of optimism about the positive impact it could have on the next generation.