Children’s Parliament (in memory of David Amess MP)

Carla Daly

The Children’s Parliament is presently campaigning to rescue 15 Gentoo penguins, stuck in a dingy basement at London zoo. It has 60 MPs (and a Child Prime Minister!) founded in memory of Sir David Amess, an MP stabbed to death in his Essex constituency a few years back (and who campaigned tirelessly against trophy hunting of lions and other creatures).

A huge campaigner for animal welfare (one of the few Conservative MPs to vote against hunting and trophy hunting), he used his Catholic faith to call for a better world for animals and the planet.

A quick note: on writing this post, it becomes clear immediately that two wonderful people who did so much good for the world – were both murdered in cold blood. For no reason whatsoever.

The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation

Many people often assume that Conservatives don’t care as much about animals. But in fact, there is a Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, packed with Tories who do care and want to change policy for the better welfare of all creatures.

The Good News Post (in memory of Jill Dando)

The Good News Post is an online digital newspaper, packed with good stories. It’s a lovely story, powered by an ‘expanding army’ of young journalists age 4 to 21.

All trained by professionals, inspired by the memory of BBC TV reporter Jill Dando, in her manner of kindness, empathy and positivity (her brother who is also a journalist helps out).

Already some have interviewed MPs and the site has its own mental health and disabilities correspondents. There are now an expanding group of Good News Rooms across the UK and around the world (including Malawi), and the Jill Dando Garden (first planted with Alan Titchmarch on Ground Force 26 years ago) is looking to be revamped.

What an exciting project that the Good News Post now has a mission to go global, especially in our negative news world. Her brother is over the moon that the project hopes to inspire one million children to be ‘positive reporters’ within a few years, with a blue plaque honouring her home town of Weston-super-Mare.

Not only was Jill a fantastic journalist, but as everyone said who knew her, she always did it with a smile and she loved the positive stories. Everybody just had so many nice things to say about her. Shane Dean, Good News Post editor