Delicacies of the Amazonian culture and cuisine are mysteries and flavours still unknown by Brazilian and foreign tourists in the state of Pará. In the itinerary Secrets and Spices of the Amazon, tour operator Vivejar invites travellers to immerse themselves in the multisensory universe of the Amazon, with significant encounters with the local community and an inspiring approach to the region's gastronomy and crafts.

The 6-day trip takes travellers on a cultural and community-based journey, where local communities are responsible for tourism activities and get from them their sources of income, development and cultural preservation. It is also the opportunity for an incredible exchange of experiences with strong and empowered women who have transformed their opportunities and realities through tourism, handicrafts and gastronomy.

The journey begins in the historic capital of Belém, with the first food immersion in the popular Ver-o-Peso market and its variety of unique regional products. The group also takes a cultural tour through the capital, that still preserves patrimonies and stories from the beginning of its foundation by the Portuguese, 400 years ago.

The trip follows to Cotijuba Island, the main of the 42 islands that are part of the Belém archipelago, and an Environmental Preservation Area with 15 kilometers of fresh and warm water beaches bathed by Marajó and Guajará rivers. In Cotijuba, the local community, organised by MMIB – Belém Islands Women's Movement, is responsible for receiving the visitors, presenting some of the island's traditions, crafts and its reality.

For 4 days, travellers have the opportunity to live close together with strong and leader women, artisans and cooks, farmers and tour guides. The transformative experience and the connection and the bonds created during the journey inspire profound and enduring changes in the travellers.

Through hands on cooking and handicraft workshops, tourists discover how to make bio jewellery with typical seeds of the region. To get even closer to the culture of Pará, activities include a scented bath ceremony and a lot of Carimbó dancing. MMIB guides also take visitors through a trail in the middle of the incredible Amazon Forest and free time can be spent on a river beach bath.

Celebrating 10 years in existence, a charity supporting disabled children, young people and their families headed for the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOMG) Meeting in London for the first ever  Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable Event as part of the ‘Commonwealth Include Me 2’ joint project represents 1.2 billion young people from across 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

Include Me TOO with the Commonwealth Youth Council organised the roundtable event at The House of Lords to increase the inclusion, rights and participation for disabled children and young people from the Commonwealth.

Hosted by The Hon Baroness Uddin and The Hon Lord Chris Holmes it was held as an official side event for the Commonwealth Forums Summit 2018.

Baroness Uddin said: “It was a privilege to host the first ever Commonwealth Disabled Youth Event on behalf of CHOMG, given that 60 percent of the Commonwealth population is under the age of 30 years.

Include Me TOO were instrumental in bringing together youth delegates from different parts of the world to the House of Lords as the event marked a step in the right direction for disabled youth to have a seat around the table and discuss issues that matter to them.”

“The presentations given by the young people from across the Commonwealth were excellent and packed with insight,” said Lord Holmes. “It was a privilege for me to attend.”

Covering topics which mattered to them and their peers, the roundtable highlighted key issues impacting on disabled young people from their respective Commonwealth member countries.

Include Me TOO Executive director, Parmi Dheensa, said: “The Commonwealth roundtable presented young people as change makers who have a clear understanding of the issues which impact them and their peers and solutions to increase disability inclusion, rights and participation for all.

We are looking forward to working with disabled young people across the Commonwealth strengthening their voices, plus impacting on local and global issues. We will be working with our young ambassadors, disabled young activists and partners to establish the Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable as a key component for future CHOMG’s summits.”

Severn Trent is looking for bright ideas that could change the way the company works in partnership to improve the water environment across the region in the future.

The company, which serves more than eight million people across the Midlands and mid-Wales, has launched a new scheme called ‘Cash for Catchments’ which will provide funding to support water environment improvements.

Applications are now open to landowners, farmers, community groups and non-governmental organisations to submit ideas that could make a real difference in the future.

Zara Turtle, who is leading the scheme for Severn Trent, explains: “We hope that the best of the ideas will be real game changers that can have a massive positive effect on the water environment right across our region.

“Submissions could cover anything from natural flood management and river restoration to improving river water quality and preserving the region’s biodiversity.

“We’re really excited that the window for ideas is now open and we’re looking forward to reviewing some really innovative projects that we can collaborate on in the future.”

The groups with the best ideas will be invited to Severn Trent’s Coventry HQ to present them to a panel of experts, ‘Dragons Den’ style, and they will then be allocated funding to take the projects forward.

The holiest month Ramadan has fast approached us. Based on current predictions, the 1st of Ramadan is most likely to be May 16 in the UK.

The ninth month of the lunar calendar, Ramadan is when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (saw). In celebration of this, Muslims around the world will embark on a month of fasting and sacrifice, regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

‘The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.’ (Qur’an 2:185)

The Muslim lunar calendar consists of 12 months, six of which have 29 days and six of which have 30 days. As a result, the lunar year is 354 days long; meaning the start of Ramadan varies by around 11 days each year. Also, since the sighting of the new moon varies from country to country, the dates of Ramadan can differ all around the world.

Join Great British Bake Off winner and author of three cook books, Edd Kimber (@theboywhobakes) for a special charity brunch of sweet and savoury bakes on Sunday 13th May at Good & Proper Tea in Clerkenwell.

The deliciousness begins at 12:45pm with a still-warm sticky pecan bun and a cocktail created by Our/London. Unlimited premium tea and filter coffee will flow as you feast on his signature baked eggs, sourdough and spreads, chocolate babka and then complete your meal with a seasonal fruit crumble served with clotted cream or yoghurt. You'll also go home with a tote and a treat.

All of the profits of the event go to raise money for awareness and care for people with mental health challenges, a cause close to the heart of Taste Tripper founder Jennifer Earle. The Taste Tripper team have chosen the Hackney Centre for Better Health as a local charity making a big difference on the ground in their community. The bread will come from bakers they've trained as part of a programme to get people back in employment.

This Baker's Brunch is part of a series of events to be hosted by Taste Tripper throughout the year as part of their mission to help connect people to delicious food and makers in the most enjoyable and sustainable ways. Look out for feasts by cookbook authors Chetna Makan and Georgina Hayden later in the year.

Amongst the runners who were pushed to the limit in the hottest marathon on record, was animal-lover Lucy Williams. She was shocked to receive a proposal from her partner Gary Mitchell when she crossed the finish line.

Lucy, who lives in Solihull, said: “I had no idea it was going to happen. Gary had an injury beforehand and I kept telling him to defer but he was convinced he was going to do the marathon no matter what - and now I know why.

“All my family knew already and he’d picked the ring from the jewellery quarter in Birmingham in January.

“When we finished he was so jumpy and adamant we had to meet up with our family and friends right away. He was limping so when he dropped down on one knee I thought he was about to collapse - and then he proposed!

“It was very emotional, we were both crying!”

Gary added: “I carried the ring around for the whole race constantly thinking I would drop it or lose it.

“The idea of carrying it around was a symbolic gesture of relationships. There will be times you’re loving it and certainly times where you would rather be somewhere else but with perseverance and commitment anything can be achieved.”

Lucy decided to run and raise money for the RSPCA as she has always been an animal lover and had dogs in the family ever since they found their first dog Patch, a collie cross, who was in need of a home.

Lucy, who passed the finish line in 4 hours and 47 minutes, added: “It was an amazing experience and I raised a lot of money for a really good cause.”

Nicky Ifould, head of events at the RSPCA said: “A huge congratulations goes to Lucy and Gary after their heartwarming proposal after crossing the finish line. The atmosphere on Sunday was incredible and we would like to thank all of our 20 runners for putting themselves to the test and raising so much money for the RSPCA.

“It was a huge achievement, especially in such tough conditions. We'd also like to say a huge thank you to Liforme for supplying the yoga mats for the stretch zone at the post race reception, and to their wonderful yoga instructor Sarah for helping our runners stretch out after the race.

“Thanks also to all our volunteer cheerers, which included staff from DogBuddy, for coming down and supporting our runners at our cheer point.”