NEWS EXTRA

Parentalk crowns Sheila Ferguson Queen of the Jungle 
 
Singer and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here …! contestant Sheila Ferguson’s recent time in rat and crocodile-infested waters didn’t go unrewarded; her feisty resilience and gutsy performance earned her both the love and respect of the British public, and in turn, led to her raising more than £60,000 for Parentalk – the national charity dedicated to inspiring and equipping mums and dads.
 
Bush tucker trials aside, Sheila, mum to now twenty-something twins Alicia and Alex, admits that she’s also had her own fair share of challenges as a parent – especially when the toddler tantrums and teenage traumas kicked in - but she wouldn’t have it any other way:
 
"Being a mum beats the thrill of performing any day," says Sheila, "My daughters are my inspiration and I supported Parentalk in the jungle because I passionately believe that every mum or dad needs a little bit of support from time to time. And let’s face it, compared with getting to grips with parenthood, wrestling a crocodile would sometimes feels like the easier option!"
 
"Sheila was absolutely fantastic,” says Tim Mungeam, Parentalk’s Chief Executive, "Parentalk initiatives are all about inspiring and equipping mums and dads from every walk of life who are doing their best as they ride the roller coaster of parenthood.  Sheila’s generosity, combined with her grit and determination means that we can reach even more families than ever before."
 
www.parentalk.co.uk

'Abandon failing sexual health policies' say campaigners

The Christian Medical Fellowship has called on the government to abandon its 'ambulance at the bottom of the cliff' policies on sexual health in the wake of a Brook survey showing that only one-third of 16-18-year-olds having sex bother to use a condom.

CMF general secretary Peter Saunders said: "The government has persistently clung to promoting condoms as the main plank of its policy to counter the highest rates of teenage STIs (sexually transmitted diseases) in Europe, when what is really needed are policies aimed at behaviour change."

Church weddings fall by 50%

Marriage Care has released new figures that show the number of couples who chose to marry in Anglican churches has almost halved in just over 10 years, with more opting for civil ceremonies in venues ranging from registrar offices to exotic beaches.

Graham Flynn, Marriage Care's statistician, blamed the "silent acceptance" of ministers for the decline in the traditional church service, alongside ugly church buildings and elderly ministers with poor microphone technique.

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