Forces Colchester Community Information Portal

1. How to support Women on International Women’s Day, and beyond. International Women’s Day, which was celebrated globally on Saturday, 8 March 2025, was not merely a day to honour women - it was a call to action. Men play a crucial role in gender equality, from amplifying women’s voices to challenging bias. Real change happens when everyone is involved. READ MORE

2. UK slips on workplace equality. Iceland has ranked first in the OECD for equality in the workplace, according to the Women in Work Index by PwC. It was followed by Luxembourg and New Zealand. Nine of the top 10 countries are in Europe, including Sweden, Slovenia and Ireland. The UK fell to 18th, its lowest ranking in a decade as a result of increasing women's unemployment. Around 68% of women are in full-time employment in the UK, below the OECD average of 78.1%. At current rates, it will take 30 years to close the gender pay gap in the UK. The Guardian

3. US applications for British citizenship break records. Americans applied for British citizenship in record numbers last year, with a historically high volume of applications submitted in the last quarter of 2024 – a period coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s re-election. More than 6,100 US citizens applied for UK citizenship last year, the most since records began in 2004, when fewer than 3,000 Americans submitted an application, according to data from the Home Office. Last year’s numbers also saw a marked uptick from 2023, a year with fewer than 5,000 applications by US citizens. Financial Times

4. Unlocking knowledge through reading. Two in five Britons have not read a book in the last year, according to YouGov research published to coincide with World Book Day last Saturday. The survey of 2,121 adults revealed a gender split, with two-thirds of women having read at least one book or listened to an audiobook in the past 12 months, compared to just over half (53%) of men. To commemorate the event, I recorded a short video message for showing in schools. In it, I talked about the importance of writing as a powerful and lasting form of communication. I also shared my favourite book of all time: Longitude. This bestselling 1995 book by Dava Sobel tells the fascinating story of John Harrison, an 18th-century clockmaker who revolutionised navigation by inventing the first highly accurate marine chronometer. His groundbreaking work solved the centuries-old problem of determining longitude at sea - a breakthrough that dramatically improved safety and helped prevent countless ships from floundering. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. The book was also adapted into a television series starring Michael Gambon and Jeremy Irons. Editor

5. Would you take a pay cut to ditch the commute? A recent Harvard Business School study found nearly half of professionals would, with 40% willing to forgo at least 5% of their salary and 9% accepting a 20% cut. While 42% of men said they’d take a pay cut, only 37% of women agreed—but women were more likely to accept a 20% reduction. With more companies mandating office returns, some up to five days a week, would you trade part of your salary to stay remote? Please vote in our latest poll and share your thoughts in the comments. VOTE HERE

6. Cenotaph to be draped in Union Flags. Across four days of commemorations beginning on the bank holiday of Monday, 5 May, the UK will mark 80 years since Victory in Europe Day (8 May 1945). The VE Day celebrations, which were announced yesterday, will include a new installation of 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, a military procession, a Red Arrows flypast and nationwide street parties. The Cenotaph will be draped in Union flags and a Horse Guards Parade concert will commemorate the war’s legacy. More events are planned to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day on Friday, 15 August. BBC

7. UK house prices stabilise as stamp duty rush eases. House prices remain close to the record highs they reached in January, even if they failed to rise last month as most economists had expected. The average property price in the UK is now £298,602, according to Halifax, one of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders. That is a couple of hundred pounds, or 0.1 per cent, lower than the record of £298,815 set in the previous month, when prices rose 0.6 per cent. The annual rate of price inflation remains unchanged: compared with this time last year, house prices are 2.9 per cent higher. The Times

8. Global sea ice hit record low in February. Global sea ice fell to a record low in February, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The combined area of ice around the north and south poles hit a new daily minimum in early February and remained below the previous record throughout the month. The Arctic saw its lowest monthly ice level for February at 8% below average, while the Antarctic was 26% below average. Scientists described the situation as “particularly worrying” due to the reduced ability of ice to reflect sunlight and cool the planet. Last month was the third-hottest February on record. The Guardian

9. Train delay data displayed. Train stations in England with the worst record for cancellations now have to prominently display their data for passengers to see. The Department of Transport says this will increase transparency, hold operators to account and rebuild trust with customers. Performance information will appear on digital display boards and within QR codes that visitors to the stations can scan on smartphones. The Office of Rail and Road reported that only 62.1% of rail services were on time between 1 October and 31 December 2024, and 217,000 services were cancelled. BBC

10. The bottom line. The number of people who have taken a trip on the London Eye since it opened on 9 March 2000 stands at 85 million: Now an iconic feature of the London skyline, the 443ft tall Ferris wheel was originally intended as a temporary structure. This weekend marks the circle of steel’s 25th birthday. Evening Standard