In the eighteen years since this incident occurred, the case has rarely been out of the press. Despite the absolute tragedy that has occurred, it is hard to argue that the continued fascination on this case is uncommon. Similar cases of children going missing are not unheard of, but none have had a similar impact on the public and the media, especially in the UK. So, why is this the case?

And here-in, I feel, may be the issue and the answer.

People view those that depend on benefit schemes as lazy, as leeches on society, as a drainage on taxpayer money, but what you don’t know is this - many of these people who are on benefits, who are unable to work, would give absolutely anything to be able to do so.

In my role as a homelessness housing officer and hostel worker, I regularly interact with people who are going through the worst moments of their life. When I meet clients for the first time, although in a professional capacity, I feel it is my duty to be a kind, welcoming stranger that they are faced with. I am meeting them at their most vulnerable, and it is required that they share details with me so that I can help them. It is through the moments I share with these clients that I truly recognise the impact of small things. I’ve realised most of the impact I make is through being kind, smiling and not judging them. I wanted to translate the benefits of interacting with strangers into my hobbies, and began pursuing street photography.

In a time where things like the cinema, theatre and live music are becoming increasingly expensive, why make museums inaccessible too?

We’re all very familiar with the ongoing mental health crisis (the cultural one, yes, but perhaps our own one, too). We’ve never had more access to wellbeing tools, yet we’re still aching. Still searching.

The call to prayer rings out as the sun rises out of a rose gold sky and lights up the minaret of Koutoubia Mosque. I sip my mint tea on the rooftop of my riad and watch the city of Marrakesh float out of the dawn haze, the peaks of the Atlas Mountains soaring in the distance.

The idea of a four-day week has been front-page news since the 1960s. With more companies introducing pilot experiments utilising a reduced-hour working model, could this finally signal a shift in the modern workforce or is it just another continuation of the saga?

Culture has long been considered a vital part of society; a shared experience that brings people together through music, film, theatre, creative endeavours and art. However, as ticket prices soar and the cost-of-living crisis tightens its grip, a question arises: is culture becoming a luxury that only the privileged can afford?

Silence is unsettling.

It’s why we fill every pause in a conversation with half-thought-out words. Why we scroll mindlessly while watching TV. Why we blast music, stick on a four hour podcast, or declare we “need background noise” as we get on with our day.

We talk about slowing down, mindfulness and presence, but we’re constantly going, go, go - mentally, digitally, audibly.

We've been together for five years. We have a baby…so why does the world make me feel silly for wanting a Valentine’s Day gift?

An exploration into how viral clips of a Ukrainian rendition of the musical Cabaret led to blissful ignorance amongst TikTok fans.

Do we destroy the places we love by sharing them on social media? Are we inadvertently contributing to the demise and over-development of destinations? Simply put, are we loving places to death?