January 2019

Students at the University of East Anglia in Norwich are to have dog walking made available to them to help relieve the stresses of study and exams.

To improve student well-being through physical activity £12,000 of funding has been allocated to pet therapy that will include taking dogs for walks at Cromer beach and Thetford Forest. The dogs are to be loaned by members of the public and some of the UEA’s academics.

Sport England, a taxpayer funded body, is providing the money for the scheme.

Professor Andy Jones of the Norwich Medical School researched the subject and found that dog walking has mental health and social benefits as well as helping individuals to maintain physical activity levels.

The director of Sport and Commercial Services at the university, Phil Steele, said: “Many students live away from their family pets, so having contact with animals can be stress relieving for them.”

The university provides other welfare initiatives, including talking therapies, exercise schemes, well-being advice sessions and workshops.

This is an important scheme because student suicide rates in the UK are increasing alarmingly.

Source: Daily Telegraph 12/01/19

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I have received an email from the National Trust promoting its holiday accommodation for 2019. There are several delightful properties available in North Norfolk.

Hopefully when you visit any snow will be a distant memory

Many National Trust properties are located on the coast and in the lovely parklands and gardens on NT estates. In North Norfolk, access to the Norfolk Coast Path is convenient from holiday cottages at Blakeney, Cromer, Felbrigg and Upper Sheringham. The range of NT holiday accommodation available is wide in terms of the number of people that can be catered for. At some properties dog lovers are permitted to bring their pets to enjoy the holiday with them.

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