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Bira Urges Chancellor to Safeguard Independent Retail in Upcoming Autumn Statement

24 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is set to address critical issues facing the UK's high streets at its upcoming Annual Conference, marking the event's return after a six-year... Read more…

Independent Retailers Association says steady inflation at 2.2% provides stability, but calls for interest rate reductio

19 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said the inflation rate holding steady at 2.2% in August provides some stability for the high street - but stresses the Bank of England... Read more…

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cash Processing – A Guide for Businesses

17 Sep 2024

UK Finance and others who form the Cash Industry Environment Charter have been discussing best practices when it comes to cash deposits, and as a result have produced a short guide on reducing... Read more…

Local crafters band together to sell handmade goods in new shop

17 Sep 2024

A group of crafters have banded together to open a new store in Wickham, Hampshire selling their own handmade goods.
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New data - pharmacies, pubs and banks made up half of the closures on Britain's High Streets in the first six months of 2024.

17 Sep 2024

New data has revealed that a total of 6,945 stores have closed so far in 2024 - the equivalent of 38 shops per day, although if you balance this with new store openings, there's only a net... Read more…

Town becomes hotspot for Taylor Swift fans with themed cafe and shop.

17 Sep 2024

Nestled in the Anglesey community of Beaumaris, a shop and café have built their business around all things Taylor Swift, and fans seem to love it. The Mock Turtle in Beaumaris,... Read more…

Investment in convenience sector hits record high of £1bn

17 Sep 2024

Over the last year, convenience retailers have spent a combined £1bn (up from £646m in the previous 12 months) refitting their stores, installing new energy efficient refrigeration... Read more…

Bira responds cautiously to encouraging trends in KPMG Retail Sales Monitor report.

3 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has responded to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for August 2024. The report, which can be downloaded here, has highlighted:
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Pet Shop owner nominated for award for food bank donations

2 Sep 2024

Rebecca Harrington, owner of Purdy's pet shop in Coventry, has been nominated in the animal category at BBC CWR's Make a Difference awards for providing pet food parcels to food banks
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Standardised witness statement developed for retailers submitting CCTV evidence to the polic

2 Sep 2024

The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police forces, has developed a standardised witness statement for retailers submitting... Read more…

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Barbers to test blood pressure to fight inequality

Posted on in Business News

Two barber shops in south London are offering customers free blood pressure tests to tackle undiagnosed health issues amongst black and Asian men.

Barber

The project, run by London South Bank University (LSBU) and Croydon BME Forum, has trained barbers at Finishing Touches and Jul's the Hair Klinik in Mitcham to provide on-the-spot blood pressure checks. 

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), high blood pressure is more common in black people.

The barber shops' owners hope the tests will raise awareness and save lives.

High blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

But the symptoms are not always obvious.

About 30% of all men in the UK have high blood pressure, according to ONS data from 2023.

Roughly half of them are not yet diagnosed or receiving treatment.

Younger men with high blood pressure are also more likely to be undiagnosed; with 66% of males aged 16 to 24, and 55% of males aged 25 to 34 not having a diagnosis.

LSBU's scheme was inspired by a similar initiative in Los Angeles, which led to 68% of those diagnosed with high blood pressure in barbershops leaving the study with healthy blood pressure levels.

More than 230 individuals received blood pressure tests in a previous pilot in 2021.

LSBU said the new project aims to follow up with men who have high blood pressure to see if it can be controlled in the longer term.

One of the barbers taking part in the scheme, Hugh Benain from Finishing Touches, said: "As barbers, we not only provide our customers with fresh cuts, but provide them a channel to vent or share opinions or life challenges.

"I'm very happy for the opportunity to add even more value to the community - especially something as important as blood pressure, which is an underlying cause of so many other poor health conditions.

"I'm so privileged and so happy to be a part of this project.”

Julian Appiah-Koduah, barber and owner of Jul's the Hair Klinik, said: “I think the project is brilliant, because we are able to create great awareness and also most importantly save lives."

Prof Nicola Thomas, project lead at LSBU, said: “Following a successful pilot project, we are pleased that barbers will once again offer testing to their customers to find out if they have high blood pressure and then give advice about how to reduce it."

She said thanks to LSBU's partnership with Croydon BME Forum the new project "will enable us to do this follow-up by offering further checks and health advice in their wellness centre in central Croydon".

Shawon Gonzales, project lead at Croydon BME Forum said: “The Croydon BME forum is wholeheartedly committed to reducing disparities in the Black and minority ethnic population at a community level, and this project is one initiative aimed at achieving that.

"Besides the high prevalence of high blood pressure in men in the UK, there is a known correlation between physical health and mental health."

She added by tackling high blood pressure there will also be an "impact on the associated mental health conditions, essentially killing two birds with one stone”.

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