A group of celebrities and activists have joined forces for a powerful video for international development charity Tearfund. It shows how working through the local church can bring life-changing benefits to some of the world’s poorest communities.
Bridgerton actor Adjoa Andoh, Friday Night Dinner star Tamsin Greig, climate activist Vanessa Nakate and Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin are among those speaking out about the difference the church can make to those living in poverty.
Actor Adjoa Andoh said: “As a Lay Reader in the Church Of England, I know how a local church can effectively sit at the heart of a community meeting the need to transform lives. In many communities, Tearfund chooses to set itself within the church’s beating heart where people come together, in order to identify their needs, whether that be to build a school, set up a health clinic or to plant drought resistant crops to cope with climate change.”
Actor Tamsin Greig (pictured above) said: “In times of crisis, churches are often the first responder after an emergency but they are also there for the long term. As a Tearfund Ambassador I have seen the holistic change brought about by working through churches in the countries I have visited, creating self-sufficiency, changing mindsets and building resilience.”
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate said: “With 2.6 billion members, the global Church is bigger by far than any national population or multinational corporation. It often holds a position of influence and can be the voice that speaks truth to power, advocating for the rights of a community.”
Tearfund’s work through local churches involves training pastors to look outwards and meet the needs of their communities, using locally available resources. Recent research has shown that this process supercharges donations turning every £1 invested, alongside community contributions, into up to £211 of social value. Tearfund works with 25,000 churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries but has a vision to increase that number to 250,000.
Main Photo Credit: Tamsin Greig, photo courtesy of Sally Hope Associates
As an exclusively electric SUV, it was among the first of its kind and gave us a glimpse into the future.
Style, performance, and sustainability go hand in hand – and that’s certainly true if you opt for the range-topping e-4ORCE model. This edition adds a second electric motor, meaning it’s all-wheel drive.
Like the rest of the range (which comprises two-wheel drive models with 63kWh and 87kWh batteries), the e-4ORCE version is available in a couple of trims: Advance and Evolve.
Nineteen-inch wheels, LED matrix lights, a powered tailgate, a snow driving mode, dual-zone climate control, an around-view camera and SatNav are standard.
The more expensive Evolve version gets part synthetic suede upholstery, a Bose premium audio system, an openable panoramic sunroof, and a head-up display.
All models get a ‘shield’ front grille – this houses the sensors for the ProPILOT driver-assist system.
Inside, you’re treated to a minimalist and modern cabin with two 12.3-inch displays, heated front seats, and a host of high-tech features that make driving a breeze.
The two electric motors that produce a combined output of 306PS and the all-wheel drive system ensure optimal power, traction, and stability in all conditions.
Is this Nissan pretty? Well, that’s up for debate – it’s certainly memorable, with its stocky design and very pronounced mouth.
The car’s sleek lines, coupe-like silhouette at the rear (thanks to a sloping roofline) and futuristic design elements give it a unique and eye-catching look.
The acceleration is fierce in the e-4ORCE versions, taking just 5.7 seconds to get from 0-62mph thanks to a burst of instant torque, ensuring rapid acceleration and seamless power delivery.
For an SUV, the handling is okay, but there’s a bit of body roll in the bends, and some competitors with all-electric offerings offer a dash more entertainment.
The ride comfort is better in the e-4ORCE models compared with the rest of the range, though. This is thanks to a revised multi-link rear suspension setup which helps deal with the additional heft of the second electric motor.
The Ariya includes a feature it calls e-Pedal, which enables one-pedal driving by automatically applying the brakes when you lift off the accelerator. This enables regenerative braking – a common feature on electric cars but, as a new technology, some manufacturers’ creations aren’t particularly intuitive. I’m pleased to report that’s not the case on the Ariya – its deceleration when using the e-Pedal feels consistent and predictable.
The cabin is functional and stylish, with the black and copper colour scheme giving a classy, modern feel. Indeed, the minimalist design gives the Nissan a premium vibe of quality and makes the interior seem spacious and airy.
The infotainment system is a standout feature, sitting alongside an identically sized digital instrument screen. The system is intuitive to use and packed with features like Nissan Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
As you might imagine, practicality is a strong suit, with five seats offering ample space for all occupants, ensuring a comfy ride even on long journeys. The boot space is generous, too – so the family’s shopping will more than fit in.
Being an electric vehicle, the Ariya emits zero CO2 and, depending on trim, offers a range of over 300 miles on a single charge of its 87kWh battery, making it a sustainable and economical SUV.
You will get up to 329 miles of range if you opt for the two-wheel drive edition, though, while a smaller 63kWh battery will get you up to 250 miles on a full charge.
Euro NCAP gave the Ariya a five-star safety rating when it was crash-tested, giving it 86% for adults, 89% for children and 93% for safety assists.
The latter score is due to the breadth of features like ProPILOT, intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent emergency braking, parking sensors, intelligent key, a driver alertness monitor, blind spot intervention and warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
Cruise control, lane intervention, object detection, and lane keep assist are other examples of safety tech – and even that’s not the full list.
The Nissan Ariya E-4ORCE is a car that ticks all the right boxes. It is stylish, powerful, practical, and sustainable.
So, if you’re in the market for a premium electric SUV, the Ariya E-4ORCE is definitely worth considering.
Fast Facts – Nissan Ariya [e-4ORCE, Evolve trim] as tested:
Max speed: 124 mph
0-62 mph: 5.7 secs
Range: 309 miles (87kWh battery)
Engine layout: Dual electric motor with all-wheel drive
Alan and Eric share their experience with grief and bereavement.
“I thought my life was ending when my wife died. I loved her so much and she supported me all the way.” Alan is in his eighties and lost his wife, Audrey, almost two years ago.
Eric, also in his eighties, is an avid gardener and is most proud of the rose tree he planted on his golden wedding anniversary. His wife and daughter passed away within weeks of each other last year.
Alan and Eric have become fast friends at the Pilgrims’ Friend Society housing scheme that they both live in. The more people they meet, the more they realise how many are experiencing grief. And how few people are talking about it. That’s why they’re sharing their insights as part of a new film in the Getting Real about Getting Older series, Discussing Life after Loss.
“We’ve discovered people who lost their partner ten years ago, some even longer, and have still never dealt with it,” says Alan. “We made a list, when we both lost our wives, of all the comments that other people said to us. Some of them were okay but others were annoying. And I’m thinking back, did I ever say that to somebody?”
Alan and Eric found that there just isn’t much out there by way of support for people who have lost someone. So both men started a group where people can come and talk about bereavement, grief and the whole range of emotions that go alongside it.
The group atmosphere allows people to feel free to open up and share some deep feelings, many times when there may be nowhere else to talk about it. They acknowledge that talking about it may be uncomfortable at first, but it is one of the most important steps in processing your grief.
Talking about it may sound simple, but Alan has seen first-hand the power of sharing: “Sometimes people are embarrassed about what they do, after a person that was important to them, dies. You know, like kissing a photograph of your partner every night, and they might feel silly doing this or doing that. But we found when we were talking to each other that we were doing the same thing, things that we previously found quite silly. It was a shared experience.”
Eric says: “Of course, everyone’s got to find their own way through bereavement. You don’t know what loss means until you’ve walked through it. But it’s something that we’re experiencing and should be talking about.”
If there’s one thing that’s certain in life, it’s death. Each of us will die one day, but before that, we probably will experience the death of someone we know. This sad truth should be a reminder to each of us, that we aren’t alone in our grief and our experiences with death.
Groups like Alan and Eric’s enable people to process grief one small step at a time. Eric reminds us that sometimes that happens through seeing things from a different perspective.
“When my wife died I just stared at her empty chair, where she used to be. It made me sad. I thought about removing the chair, but just before I did, I thought, why not sit in the chair? Then it won’t be empty. I sat down and realised that she had a perfect view out to the garden that I went out into every day, with our golden wedding anniversary tree right in the centre. She’d had a much better view than I’d ever had!”
You can watch the full conversation between Alan and Eric on the Pilgrims’ Friend Society website, and access resources about ageing, grief and bereavement, like Coping with Grief and Loss a special resource created by Pilgrims’ Friend Society and other things to guide your thinking about later life.
Main Photo Credit: Courtesy of Pilgrims’ Friend Society
Tis the season to … totally overindulge. While that may be true for many of us looking forward to a break from work, relaxing with the family and indulging this Christmas, it’s definitely not the case for top-level footballers.
Football is a particularly treasured part of British culture and outdates many other well-established Christmas customs. And so Boxing Day remains a staple of the footballing calendar. Beloved by fans as one of the highlights of the Christmas schedule, it can prove to be a tricky time for the players, who will be readying themselves for a heavy schedule of festive fixtures.
Boxing Day football means players must prepare like they would for any other game, and the prospect of training and travelling at some point on December 25th is the reality for many. So, while good food is a huge part of the Christmas festivities, the gruelling, physical demands of the beautiful game leave players and nutritionists counting the calories, and they can soon add up.
“Focus on preparation around the Christmas period is very high,” said Performance Nutritionist Ed Tooley. “It’s a very busy schedule match-wise, so performance and medical staff will be flat out making sure that players physically prepare and recover as best as possible. Injuries are managed, and players refuel after matches to prepare for the next with the short turnaround in games involved.
Tooley, who consults in elite and amateur sports and corporate business, has worked in top-level sports for well over a decade, with teams like Manchester City, Manchester United Academy, West Brom, Brighton, Norwich, and Crystal Palace engaging his services in recent years.
We asked Tooley, a huge advocate for gut health supplement brand Bimuno®, whether footballers enjoy some parts of a ‘normal Christmas’ and whether they can have their fill when it comes to the most epic roast of the year.
“A Christmas dinner happens to some degree at some stage,” added Tooley. “However, it may not be on Christmas Day as these are often days where teams will have some training or perhaps even travelling. So, a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day might be at home or as a squad, but without the trimmings. Or with the trimmings may have to be enjoyed before or after the big day depending on the schedule.”
For most of us, the Christmas period comes with a month full of Prosecco popping, chocolate gobbling and mince pie munching, not to mention your feast of choice on December 25th. Christmas is when we’re encouraged to have too much of everything; TV, food, time with family, and football.
From gorging on roast turkey and crispy roasties to a glass of fizz, a copious number of Quality Street, and many other Christmas non-negotiables, it’s easy to see why Christmas Day can represent a minefield of temptation for footballers.
“The majority of players are well adjusted to the schedule around the Christmas period, but they know the importance of it and how crucial that period can be to the team,” added Tooley. “If a player were to dip into a ‘normal’ Christmas Day during this busy schedule, practitioners like myself from the club often would have advised players on what and what not to do. This advice would include information around quantities, any foods to try to minimise or avoid and what to replace them with so that they can still enjoy a tasty meal but are not hampering their fuelling and/or recovery.”
Tooley added: “Most players now understand how important the Christmas period is and the tolls that a short turnaround can have on their bodies, so most players will be sensible around the Christmas eating and drinking. Some coaches do, of course, bring players in, and they will eat together, which adds a sense of control. However, this is often tied in with training and/or travel, and controlled food at the club ensures they fuel and recover well and enjoy a Christmas meal as a squad for some additional togetherness during a challenging schedule rather than trying to ‘moderate’ consumption. Also, you must remember that many teams now have very impressive teams of performance chefs, so the food isn’t only nutritionally ideal, it’s very tasty too.”
With the fixtures coming thick and fast over Christmas, players can’t afford to indulge to the extent the rest of us do. With that in mind, the prebiotic supplement brand Bimuno® is here to tell you how a professional footballer’s menu compares to your traditional Christmas feast.
YOUR CHRISTMAS DAY V A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER
We start a day of festive feasting with: A family-sized tin of Quality Street, a couple of glasses of Buck’s Fizz and an avalanche of wrapping paper to force into the recycling bin.
They wake up to: A tasty breakfast containing protein and complex carbohydrates, such as poached eggs on toasted sourdough. And perhaps a smoothie alongside their typical tea/coffee. During these periods we would often look to support players’ immunity more than usual as they are susceptible to illness with the high workload and usual seasonal illnesses. This is where a product such as Bimuno® Immunity, a soluble powder that supports immune health might be found mixed into either their hot or cold beverage.
We gorge on: Endless tubs of chocolate and sweet treats! Think Quality Street, Celebrations, Roses, etc. And maybe an After Eight, too. Oh, and some posh crisps.
They snack on: Fresh fruit, yoghurts, nuts, biltong, hummus, or even perhaps some homemade/chef-made snacks like fresh cereal bars, flapjacks, protein balls, and let’s be honest, the odd hand into the sweet tin probably happens too.
We feast on: Roast turkey, pigs in blankets, roast spuds and all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding, Yule Log, or cheese and biscuits, all washed down with a glass or two of wine and maybe even a glass of port to finish.
They lunch on: Something very similar, but much less in quantity and minimal to no alcohol.
We glug: Buck’s Fizz, a couple down the local, sparkling wine to accompany lunch and potentially spirits we’d never ordinarily touch during the rest of the year.
They drink: Water or squash and the odd hydration/electrolyte drink to support pre-match hydration.
We unwind with: Several glasses of Baileys, perhaps a Mulled Wine, a couple of mince pies, followed by the inevitable snooze on the sofa.
They end the day with: A snack containing some protein and simple carbs, preferably some antioxidants in there too. Simple examples include granola with pouring yoghurt, berry fruit and honey (quick way to help refuel glycogen stores and repair muscles). Depending on kick-off times, the pre-bed snack would be similar, but might just be a bit more carbohydrate-dominant.
The Honda Civic Type R takes an otherwise normal family car and adds copious amounts of zing and a touch of oomph into the mix.
Except for one-offs like the famous NSX, the Civic Type R has been Honda’s flagship in terms of bold declarations of its racing prowess.
Not only that, though, it’s a machine that’s as practical as it is exciting.
Buying a Type R is a lifestyle choice as much as it is a car – aimed at those who crave the thrill of a high-performance machine but still need an around-town runabout that can handle the rigours of daily life from commutes to shopping trips.
It is a car that doesn’t just turn heads; it makes a statement along with it.
As the crème de la crème of the Civic range, it boasts many features that make it a standout performer and a hot hatch that’s been given a generous sprinkle of Honda’s magic dust.
The exterior is adorned with a sporty body kit, 19-inch matte black alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler that screams speed.
The LED headlights and fog lights are the cherry on top, illuminating the road ahead with a crisp, clear light.
Front and rear parking sensors, an alloy gear lever and sports pedals, a triple-exhaust, rear-view camera, SatNav with live traffic info, DAB radio, red suede front sport seats and a wireless charger offer many sprinklings of sugar, too.
Civic Type R (2022-)
Its aggressive lines and aerodynamic design give it a predatory look, like a cheetah ready to pounce.
The Championship White paint job is a classic choice. But if you’re feeling bold, the Rallye Red also does the job, along with three Pearl colours: Sonic Grey, Crystal Black and my personal favourite, Racing Blue, which makes it pop.
Indeed, the Type R transforms from an otherwise-mundane family motor to a real head-turner.
The bonnet houses a turbocharged 2.0-litre VTEC engine that churns out a beastly 329PS mated to a slick six-speed manual gearbox – a nod to the purists who crave the tactile thrill of shifting gears.
Slide behind the wheel, and you’ll find that the Type R is as much a performer as it is a stunner.
The handling is razor-sharp, the ride comfort is surprisingly plush for a hot hatch, and the engine performance is nothing short of exhilarating.
It goes from 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds, topping out at a salivation-worthy 171mph.
The gearbox is a joy to use, too, with a short throw and precise action that makes every cog change a delight.
One interesting tidbit is the Type R’s +R mode, which sharpens the throttle response, stiffens the suspension and tweaks the steering for an even more engaging driving experience.
It is like having a racing car at the push of a button.
Despite its sporty nature, the Type R is surprisingly comfortable.
The suspension does a great job of soaking up bumps, meaning it’s great to live with every day, while the engine is also hushed at cruising speeds, adding to the car’s overall refinement.
Civic Type R (2022-)
Inside, the Type R is a delightfully modern-day blend of sporty flair and everyday practicality.
The black and red colour scheme is a nod to Honda’s racing heritage, while the high-quality materials give the cabin a premium feel.
The Type R’s cockpit is driver-focused and designed to keep you in control, with the bright red sporty bucket seats offering excellent support to keep you firmly in place, even when you’re pushing the car to its limits.
Its dual colour scheme extends to the leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear gaiter, adding a touch of sportiness to the cabin.
The infotainment system is a nine-inch touchscreen that’s a breeze to use, with clear graphics and responsive touch controls, and it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Plus, there’s a useful 10.2-inch digital instrument display.
The eight-speaker audio system delivers crisp, clear sound, making every journey a joy, even if that means you’re having your music pulsated through you rather than delivered civilly to your ears.
Space is a strong suit of the Type R, too, offering seating for five, with ample headroom and legroom for all passengers.
However, the convenience extends beyond its airy cabin, as it comes with a host of storage solutions, including a large glovebox, door bins, and cup holders.
The boot space is generous, too, offering 410 litres with the rear seats up and an accommodating 1,212 litres with them folded down.
The boot is easy to load, thanks to a wide opening and low-load lip.
Despite its performance credentials, another feather in the Type R’s cap is that, for a hot hatch, it’s not as thirsty as you might think.
It returns 34.4mpg and emits 186g/km of CO2, which is okay for a vehicle with this much grunt.
A standard Civic was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2022 and earned a five-star rating, scoring 89% for adults, 87% for children and 83% for safety assists.
The model comes with Honda Sensing as standard, which includes a suite of driver-assistive technologies designed to keep all occupants safe. These include collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, as well as lane-keeping assist.
Overall, the Civic Type R is a masterclass in balancing performance and practicality, delivered in a stylish package that’s as at home on a racetrack as on a school run.
Is it worth buying? Yes, without a doubt.
It delivers on all fronts, making it a compelling choice for anyone seeking a hot hatch that doesn’t compromise on convenience or (at least in context) economy.
So, if you’re in the market for a car that can do it all, the Type R should be near the top of your list – as long as you have fifty grand stuffed down the back of the settee.
Fast Facts – Honda Civic Type R as tested:
Max speed: 171 mph
0-62 mph: 5.4 secs
Fuel economy: 34.4mpg (WLTP)
Engine layout: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder VTEC petrol
Rev Andy March writes: I once heard a story about a cockney from the East End of London who had a real dilemma because he was in love with two very beautiful women. And he couldn’t decide. One was called Sharon, and she was blonde and very beautiful, and the other was called Maria, and she was a brunette and also very beautiful. He wasn’t a churchgoer, but not knowing whether it was Sharon or Maria, he thought: “Well, I’ll go into a church and pray.” So, he went into a local Catholic Church and he knelt down by the altar and he said to the Lord, being a Cockney East Ender, he said: “’oom shall I ‘ave?” And he looked up, and he looked at the stained-glass window and he saw in gold letters: Ave Maria!
Mary remains a source of great fascination, devotion and inspiration for art and literature, and yet we know so little about her. In a day and age where we love to know everything about everyone, the gospel accounts are so tantalising; frustrating, even. We know very little about these people who, after all, played such a significant part in world history.
It’s therefore so precious that Luke has recorded these glimpses into the domestic life of Mary and her most famous son, Jesus. In fact, at the beginning of the Gospel Luke writes: “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account” (v3). It is likely that Luke chapters one and two were based on Mary’s own reminiscences, giving us a wonderful insight into the domestic life of Mary and her relatives.
Rev Andy March writes: What an amazing night it must have been 2,000 years ago, especially for those shepherds who were serenaded by those angels and told the most incredible news; today, in Bethlehem, a Saviour has been born for you, and you will find him, in all places, in a manger. The angels chose shepherds to be the recipients of this good news, even though they weren’t very important, in fact, because they weren’t very important. You see, the wonderful news of Christmas is that we all matter to God. Each of us. We are so important to God. This good news of great joy is for you and me too, God became human, giving the world the greatest possible gift of a Saviour, this is good news for everyone, because we all need a Saviour.
There’s so much mess and pain in this world that we don’t know what to do about. The good news is that God saw that the world was in a mess; he saw how we hurt ourselves and each other and that we get so much wrong so often and that there was nothing we could do about it. So He stepped in, became human to do nothing less than save the world. This makes all the difference to us, because we can see that we are deeply loved. God loved us enough to come and save us. That’s the first thing.
The second is that we are never alone, Jesus came to be God with us. Incredibly he gives us the chance to become his children, all those who receive him become children of God, which means we join a worldwide family, the church, we’re just a tiny part of that. The third is that we can have peace. If Jesus is our saviour then all the mess we experience in our lives, all our worries, we can hand over to him.
Once upon a time, if you wanted a hot hatch, you’d go for the Golf GTi – but those days are long gone.
So many manufacturers surpassed the GTi that VW itself decided it needed to introduce a new model called the Golf R.
One of the cars that overtook the GTi’s legendary brilliance was the Ford Focus ST.
While it’s not quite in the same bracket as the full-beans Focus RS, the ST is a smorgasbord of impressive features.
It boasts 19-inch alloy wheels with a Magnetite matte finish, Dynamic Matrix LED headlights, power-folding door mirrors, and an ST body kit. It is also equipped with sports suspension, limited slip differential and dual-zone climate control, plus heated six-way electrically adjustable front seats with powered lumbar support and a heated steering wheel.
You also get a 13.2-inch touchscreen with a DAB radio, voice control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, a keyless entry/start, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The model reviewed includes the Track Pack, which adds Recaro shell seats, lightweight alloy wheels, Brembo brake callipers, larger brake discs and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. But, as you’ll read in a bit, it has even more to offer.
It is a package that screams performance.
The ST is propelled by a 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost lump that pumps out an enthusiastic 280PS and 480Nm of torque.
The blue-badged hatch comes with a six-speed manual ‘box, which will please the purists. But a seven-speed automatic is also available, albeit not with the Track Pack.
It is a beauty to look at, too, with its muscular body kit, aggressive lines, and distinctive fins on the front air intakes giving it a menacing look.
There are several colours to choose from – the default being Racing Red. But Fantastic Red, Frozen White, Agate Black, Magnetic Grey, and my favourite – Mean Green – are also available.
Picking a shade will likely make life difficult for a while.
Sadly, one of the Focus ST’s main criticisms was that it was compromising something in terms of being considered a proper hot hatch.
While reviews were mixed, some felt the kingpin Focus RS got in the way, as it meant the ST was a dumbed-down version deliberately engineered to be slightly inferior in every department.
This is put right with the Track Pack, which, although a £3,000 option, gives the ST the final weapon it needs to complete its arsenal.
While it remains front-wheel drive only, the Ford grips the road exceptionally well, and the engine note sounds pleasingly powerful.
Zero to 62mph is dealt with in 5.7 seconds, topping out at 155mph.
The ST Track Pack adds that extra edge, with weight saving, grippier tyres and improved braking power optimising the overall feel in the bends.
The ride manages to feel firmer and yet more comfortable at the same time, thanks to new dampers which absorb bumps better, yet offer more rigidity where it matters.
This added to the 1cm lower ride height, means body lean is even more limited, and, as a result, the cornering feels enriched.
And, if you’re the sort of person who likes to tinker with cars, the dampers are manually adjustable, with a toolkit supplied by Ford as part of the Track Pack.
The six-speed manual gearbox is exquisite for its simpleness. There is no clever tech around it, but that means it’s blissfully straightforward to shift through the gears.
In truth, the cog-changer can feel clunky, but it’s not a deal breaker, and I’d still recommend it over the automatic (which, as I said earlier, isn’t available with the Track Pack).
Thanks to a recent mid-life facelift, the inside of the Focus ST looks better than ever.
That said, Ford could have made more of an effort to make the ST version stand out from the rest of the range. Why? Well, other than the odd ST badge dotted around, there’s little to remind you you’re not sitting in an ordinary Focus.
At least the Track Pack adds the Recaro seats. Meanwhile, the 13.2-inch infotainment system and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster are both nice to use.
Of course, if you want to go tearing around Silverstone with your brand new flat-pack drinks cabinet in the back of your Focus ST, then you’ll be delighted to know practicality remains one of its strong suits.
Track Pack or not, the seats are comfy, and there’s plenty of head and legroom for everyone, front and back.
The boot space is 358 litres, which isn’t as impressive as some rivals, but it’s good enough. What’s more, folding the rear seats down expands the usable room to 1,320 litres.
Despite its performance credentials, the Focus ST is surprisingly economical. It returns 35mpg and emits 183g/km of CO2.
The standard Focus earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2018, scoring 85% for adults, 87% for children and 75% for safety assists.
The ST comes with emergency assistance, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking.
In conclusion, the standard Focus ST is a decent car, and the individual differences offered by the Track Pack all add up, causing a transformative effect on its handling.
It is spacious inside; it has a nice (if a little too understated) interior, and ticks both boxes: offering a great family car that enthusiastic drivers can also enjoy.
Fast Facts – Ford Focus ST (with optional Track Pack) as tested:
Max speed: 155 mph
0-62 mph: 5.7 secs
Fuel economy: 35.3 mpg (WLTP)
Engine layout: 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost petrol
Five major UK denominations join together for an ecumenical celebration of the birth of Christ, in a Christmas Carol Service led by deaf christians in British Sign Language.
In an unprecedented collaboration, five of the United Kingdom’s major Christian denominations, The Church of England, The Church of Scotland, The Church in Wales, The Methodist Church of Great Britain, and The Baptist Union of Great Britain (Baptists Together), are set to broadcast a special Christmas Carol Service on Sunday 10th December 2023.
This ground breaking event will be hosted on their respective Facebook Pages and YouTube Channels, uniting thousands of viewers for a unique Christmas celebration. Titled The Christian BSL Carol Service this remarkable service is scheduled to be held at 9:00am on the 10th of December 10th 2023, which is the second Sunday of Advent. With its theme of “The Magi”, the service will offer a powerful reminder of the journey of discovery, faith, and the profound wonders that await us all in Christ.
The service will be led entirely in British Sign Language (BSL) by Deaf Christians and aims to bridge linguistic and cultural barriers, demonstrating the universal appeal of the Christmas story. For those who are not proficient in BSL, the service includes captions and spoken English translation, ensuring that everyone can fully participate in this festive celebration.
The distinguished team of Deaf Christians leading the service are: Helen Cottingham, Tony Hawkins, Fatimo O Olubakin, Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford, Veronica Stewart-Holmes, and Janice Silo. With their faith and deep connection to the deaf community they convey the message of Christmas in a way that resonates with people everywhere. Tom Pearson, the spokesperson for ChristianBSL.com, the organisation partnering with the denominations for this service, highlighted the significance of this event: “Having filmed the service it became clear that this was a perfect opportunity for ecumenical unity, celebrating Christmas together. I am delighted that five of the UK’s major Christian denominations have agreed to platform the Christian BSL Carol Service at the same time on the same day.
Pearson continued, “The story of Christmas is universal, transcending languages and borders. In our service the message of Christmas comes to life through British Sign Language, bringing hope and joy to all.”
