a minute of kindness
This building charity transformed the home of a man who was left paralysed after a fall at home. Rob Lamb of Solihull suffered a severe spinal cord injury in October 2020. He expected to be sent to a care home because his house was inhabitable, but Band of Builders heard his story and transformed his home for him in just over a week.
Darius Brown started producing bow ties for cats and dogs in the wake of Hurricane Irma in 2017, when he discovered many of them were set to be euthanised unless they found new owners. The teenager hopes the ties will help them stand out to their potential new owners.
With more than 70 countries in the world where homosexuality is illegal, facing discrimination could be likely when travelling or globetrotting. After an experience with her girlfriend, journalist and historian Paula Akpan, decided to create an app to safely guide others like her when planning trips.
The first official national lockdown began on 23 March 2020. As we mark a year in and out of restrictions, we look back at the events that defined our shared experience and the personal stories that HuffPost UK were proud to help tell.
Luke Grenfell-Shaw was diagnosed with cancer at 24 and now he’s cycling 30,000 kilometres on a tandem bike from Bristol to Beijing, to show that everyone can create opportunities for a fulfilled life, despite the odds. He’s sharing the journey with other people and raising £300,000 for five cancer-related charities.
70-year-old Frank Rothwell raised over £1 million for Alzheimer’s research by rowing across the Atlantic. The retired businessman from Oldham set off from the Canary Islands and rowed unassisted until he reached Antigua in the Caribbean, raising more funds than any previous contestant.
Former Stoke City manager and Manchester United player Lou Macari, has adapted his homeless centre to make it Covid safe. The individual pods house more than 40 people, complete with bed, TV and heating. They also have their own door number, which helps them to provide an address at the job centre.
13-year-old Oliver Voysey decided to take on multiple challenges to save the disability centre he loves - managing more than seven times his original target.
Langar Aid focuses on fighting hunger, providing food and water in emergencies and after natural disasters. The mission in Coventry is to serve the homeless, vulnerable and those struggling with poverty, delivering over 150,000 hot meals and food parcels since the pandemic began.
Val and Nigel Elvin united their neighbours with a simple WhatsApp group in Coventry. From leaving unexpected surprises on doorsteps to birthday parties, repainting street signs, shopping for self-isolators, planting flowers and arranging a coffee van.