Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley

Jules Hobbs, an actor from Wiltshire with multiple sclerosis, is hopeful that Fampridine will improve her ability to walk after NHS England made the drug available in England. The medicine helps nerve signals reach muscles but benefits only some patients; clinical trials found improved walking in about four in 10 users. Around 5,000 people a year are expected to qualify among more than 120,000 people with MS in England. Another patient, Emma Richards, said the drug did not help her, although she supports NHS access because it benefits many others. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have offered Fampridine for several years.

Four teenagers from Somerset have been charged following the reported rape of a woman in Weston-super-Mare on 21 June. Tommy Campbell faces six rape charges and additional counts including sexual assault and false imprisonment, while Rio Welling is charged with two counts of rape and false imprisonment. Two 17-year-old boys face multiple charges including rape and assault. Avon and Somerset Police said the victim is receiving specialist support. Campbell and the two minors remain in custody, while Welling has been released on conditional bail. None have entered pleas.

A women-focused creative industry festival called Sistaland will take place at Chew Valley Lake in Somerset from 10 to 12 July, aiming to support women and non‑binary creatives facing isolation, burnout and barriers in the sector. Founded by Bristol-based Nikita Dare, the event has grown from a WhatsApp group into a larger movement featuring panels, workshops and performances. Organisers emphasize the need for community, connection and lasting inclusion within creative fields. The festival, run in collaboration with Lush, UN Women and Media Trust, will also showcase films on women’s health and promote storytelling as a tool for change.