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

Here are our favourite positive stories of the week, 8 to 14 July, 2024.

1.  Young cancer patient keeps presence at school through robot technology

A pupil from south-west London who’s currently battling cancer has found a way to stay connected with school life. Howard, a 12-year-old student from Twickenham, faced a significant drop in school attendance after beginning intensive chemotherapy. However, thanks to an interactive robot named ‘AV Howard’, it’s been possible for him to stay involved in lessons from the comfort of his home or hospital bed.

The robot was sourced from Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust by the charity Momentum, which offers support to children and their families facing serious illness.

‘AV Howard’ serves as Howard’s electronic proxy, enabling him to participate in class activities and keep up with his studies despite being physically absent.

The school community, including teachers and students, has fully embraced the technology, undergoing “robot training” to integrate the avatar seamlessly into daily lessons.

AV Howard’s camera enables him to read textbooks and worksheets, while an in-built speaker allows him to talk to the class.

“For students who can’t access education for whatever variety of reasons, this is going to be the future,” said Headteacher Martin O’Sullivan.

Read more of the story here.

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2. Ireland reports lowest CO2 emissions in 30 years 

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions have reached their lowest levels in three decades. The latest figures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have revealed a remarkable 6.8% reduction in emissions in 2023, marking the most substantial decrease outside of recession years and the second consecutive annual drop.

This is testament to the country’s concerted efforts in climate action and decarbonisation measures, which have permeated across the economy and society. The energy sector has experienced a dramatic 21.6% fall in emissions, attributed largely to a surge in imported electricity, a greater share of renewable energy, and a notable reduction in the use of traditional fuels like coal, oil, and peat.

World famous Cliffs of Moher, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland.

Laura Burke, the EPA director general, has lauded the results as “significant,” highlighting the positive impact of these initiatives. Read more of the story here.

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3. Openreach partners with charity to create career pathways for disadvantaged young people

Openreach, a leading broadband network company, has partnered with the education charity IntoUniversity to create a pathway for disadvantaged young people to explore career opportunities in the telecoms sector. This collaboration is opening doors for youths aged 12 to 18, who have been engaging in ‘Dragons Den’ style exercises to hone their teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

The partnership has already hosted two ‘careers in focus’ events in Leeds and Liverpool, and an upcoming event at an Openreach site will offer training in communication skills, with more activities planned in Leeds and Southampton later this year.

“Young people facing disadvantage are full of potential, but circumstances mean they are underrepresented across many sectors, including telecoms,” said Belinda Bagge, Openreach’s general counsel and Diversity & Inclusion lead. Read more of the story here.

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