Grace Clift shares some uplifting news stories to keep you remembering that wonderful news stories are happening every day, even if they don’t always make the headlines.
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in Iceland at sunset by Robert Lukeman via Unsplash.
We’re all desperate for some positive news. Times are tough, and in the winter months, they can feel even harder to deal with. More than half of the UK population reports feeling worse in the winter months, with only 6% saying they feel better. In times like these, we need to actively seek out positivity, wherever we can find it. We need to remember that while reporting tends to focus on the worst of the world, wonderful things are happening every day that go under the radar. With that said, this article will run through some positive stories from 2025 so far, and share some sites to keep up with positive news.
An uplifting story from a new restaurant in London
First up, a new restaurant in North London is staffed solely by people who’ve experienced homelessness and is transforming lives as well as tickling taste buds. Home Kitchen in Primrose Hill is making waves as the “world’s first fine dining restaurant entirely staffed by homeless people”, and is changing the lives and perceptions of both employees and customers. All employees are paid a London Living Wage and receive catering qualifications to help them pursue a career in the catering industry.
Positive News spoke to Chef Mimi about how the restaurant has helped her throughout her battle with depression and homelessness. “[There’s] a lot of support, a lot mentally. If someone’s upset, straight away they’ll take them to a corner and be like: ‘Talk to me, what’s happening?’ It’s really, really, really nice,” Mimi says. Read the full story here.
Cumbria Geltsdale Reserve levels up for nature
Environmental news inevitably has to take a place on this list of positive stories, and this one launches your mood sky-high. Cumbria’s Geltsdale Reserve, the largest bird sanctuary in England, is soaring to new heights as it expands its land by over 30%. The new land will provide more space for ospreys, owls and nightjars to spread their wings without threat.
“This is going to be a reserve on a different scale from many of our other sites in England,” said Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive.
“We are going to achieve an abundance of species and a size that will be unmatched for bird reserves elsewhere. It is going to demonstrate what is possible when it comes to rewilding and protecting birds.” Read the full story here.
4 Day Working Weeks for the Future
Workplaces across the UK are prioritising freedom and mental health in the new year. Two hundred companies have adopted a permanent four-day work week with no loss to staff pay to “give people the freedom to live happier, more fulfilling lives.” The companies collectively employ over 5,000 people, with nonprofits, marketing, and technology firms among the best represented.
The 4 Day Week Foundation aims to run at least three four-day week pilots in 2025, and a survey by Survationfound that 58 percent of the public believe taking a three-day weekend will be “the normal way of working” by 2030. Read the full story here.
The University of York and the Sanctuary Fund
Finally, the University of York is offering refuge to those seeking sanctuary through its Sanctuary Fund. Marking its second anniversary next month, the fund provides critical support for scholars from war zones and supports scholarships to cover tuition fees and living costs. Vice-Chancellor Charlie Jeffrey says, “Being a University of Sanctuary means thinking about how we can support students from asylum-seeking or refugee backgrounds, how we can offer opportunities for the development of human rights defenders from around the world, and how we can support academics who have had to leave their home country.” Read the full story here.
To keep up with the happiest reports across the UK, keep up with these sites throughout the year, and sign up for their newsletters for a gentle reminder that the world can be kind:
Negative news is shared more than any other news, and algorithms are positioned to promote the posts that cause the most outrage – or in other words, engagement. The depiction of the world presented online is often painful, but never the whole story. It’s important not to turn a blind eye to the difficult news stories, but let’s not forget that we must keep up with the wonders of the world too.
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