Zita Harrington Biehle, a single mother of six originally from Castletownbere, West Cork, Ireland, has been living in California since 2000. Her family recently lost their home to the devastating fires in California. Despite no initial signs of danger, Zita and her children had to flee their neighborhood as a 'firenado' destroyed their home and possessions. Now living in temporary accommodation, Zita misses the simple comforts of home and is concerned about the impact on her children, who have lost their school and friends. The family is adjusting to their new reality with the help of community support, and a GoFundMe page has been set up to assist them. Zita is taking life one day at a time as she navigates the aftermath of the disaster.

Karen Docherty, a Dublin mother, has endured the tragedy of losing both of her sons to suicide within a span of three years. Her eldest son, Stephen, struggled with drug addiction and ultimately took his life at the age of 30. Her second son, Graham, a successful software developer, died by suicide at 22, just days after his birthday and shortly before his graduation. Karen has since been speaking publicly about the dangers of suicide and the importance of awareness and prevention. She has written a memoir about her experiences and advocates for mindfulness in schools, suicide awareness training, and addressing drug problems. Karen also shares her own battles with suicidal thoughts, emphasizing the need to keep communication open, especially with young men, to prevent further tragedies.

In the Budget 2019 announcement, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe stated that there would be no immediate change to Ireland's carbon tax, despite recommendations for increases from various bodies including the Climate Change Advisory Council and the special Oireachtas committee on climate change. The government plans to invest significantly in climate action, with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable objectives. However, environmental groups, particularly Friends of the Irish Environment, have criticized the decision not to raise the carbon tax, calling it a missed opportunity for effective climate policy. The article also includes the perspective of Mícheál Fleming, a citizen who, despite the financial benefit of no tax increase, is concerned about the long-term impact on climate change and the lack of incentives to switch to electric vehicles.

Adam Harris, inspired by his own experiences growing up with autism, founded AsIAm, an organization aimed at promoting understanding and inclusion of autistic individuals in Irish society. AsIAm works to empower the autism community and partners with businesses to create autism-friendly environments. They provide training, accreditation, and develop frameworks for various sectors, including a partnership with Supervalu that led to autism-friendly shopping experiences and the establishment of Ireland's first autism-friendly town, Clonakilty. Harris discusses the challenges he faced starting AsIAm, the support from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and the local community, and the impact of their work. He advises others in social enterprise to engage with their communities and be strategic. Harris also calls for better support for social enterprises in Ireland to address social issues effectively.

AA Ireland is advising motorists to exercise caution due to an expected increase in traffic and a drop in temperatures to as low as -3C over the Bank Holiday weekend. The organization suggests allowing extra travel time, reducing speed, and checking car batteries, especially for those planning cross-country journeys or not using their cars over the weekend. Met Eireann forecasts colder than average conditions with overnight frosts and a risk of icy patches, with a gradual recovery in temperatures expected the following week.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has initiated a recall of various spinach products, including Oaklands baby leaf spinach, baby spinach leaves, and mixed leaves containing spinach from supermarkets such as Lidl, Aldi, Dunnes Stores, Tesco, and Supervalu due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The affected products have best before dates ranging from 22-26 September. Retailers are advising customers to dispose of the packs, and some products distributed to caterers are also affected.

Gardaí from the Midleton District Drugs Unit seized approximately €32,000 worth of suspected cannabis herb during a search at a house in Magners Hill, Youghal, Co Cork. A man in his 20s was arrested and detained at Cobh Garda Station under the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. He has been charged and is scheduled to appear before Youghal District Court.

Amy Curtis, 26, was attacked twice in one night by two women and a man in Tallaght, Dublin, resulting in a fractured cheekbone and eye socket, a broken nose, and lacerations to the head. The incident has severely affected her work and personal life, leading to anger, sleeplessness, and panic attacks. Gardaí are investigating the August 10 incident, and Amy hopes CCTV footage will aid in bringing her attackers to justice. She had to take over a month off work and rely on family support for medical bills.

The article discusses the growing trend of schools in the UK joining multi-academy trusts (Mats) and the debate surrounding this movement. The government advocates for Mats, suggesting they bring about efficiency and improved standards, especially for weaker schools. However, critics like Michael Wilshaw of Ofsted express skepticism, comparing Mats to Walmart and questioning their focus on quality. The article provides insights from various educational leaders on what schools should consider before joining a Mat, such as ensuring alignment of values, understanding financial implications, and assessing the trust's resources and future plans. It emphasizes the importance of due diligence and strategic planning for schools considering such partnerships. The piece also highlights concerns about the loss of control and transparency in financial matters post-academy conversion. The series is funded by Zurich Municipal but maintains editorial independence.

The article discusses the key components of a successful fundraising strategy for non-profit organisations. Michelle Chambers of Think consultancy and Janine Edwards from the Foundation for Social Improvement emphasize the importance of having a clear vision with a monetary goal, understanding the current challenges, and learning from past experiences. They also highlight the need for conducting external and internal audits to assess strengths, weaknesses, and threats. Ian Wilson from Alzheimer’s Research UK shares insights on mitigating risks in fundraising, suggesting a vulnerable persons policy and close departmental alignment. The article underscores the necessity of aligning fundraising strategies with the wider organisational strategy and being clear about the purpose of fundraising efforts. It concludes with the idea that a fundraising strategy should be informed by the entire organisation to ensure a shared understanding of priorities and objectives.

The article discusses the importance of people in the success and potential failure of charities, as highlighted by speakers at the Guardian Voluntary Sector Network's Charity Leaders Live event. Judith Davey from ActionAid emphasized the need to inspire people through the cause and ethical practices, including sharing stories of impact and paying a living wage. Jonathan Plumtree from Zurich Corporate Savings stressed the importance of connected leadership and strong governance. Helen Giles from St Mungo’s Broadway criticized the underinvestment in people management within charities and called for better recruitment and training. Debra Allcock Tyler from the Directory of Social Change discussed the clarity of roles and the focus on beneficiaries. Stephen Pidgeon, a fundraising consultant, spoke about the importance of treating donors with respect and engaging them in the cause. The article underscores the value of people in sustaining and transforming charitable organizations.