Alconbury Community Information Portal

1. How to live well. Living well isn’t about adding years; it’s about adding energy, clarity and purpose to each day. Researchers say your morning routine could hold the key. How you start the day shapes how you lead it. Here’s how to lead your day,  and your life, with longevity in mind: READ MORE

2. When the buck stops. A double resignation at the BBC has sent a powerful message about responsibility. When the Director General and Head of News step down amid an editorial crisis, it’s more than a media story; it’s a leadership lesson. Tim Davie and Deborah Turness resigned after acknowledging serious failings in judgment, with Davie stating he “has to take ultimate responsibility.” For anyone in public office, the message is clear: authority comes with accountability. It doesn’t matter how lofty the title or how broad the mandate. For trust to hold, the person at the top must deal with the mistakes below. Leadership isn’t just about making decisions, it’s about owning them when they go wrong. If you’re in charge, accountability isn’t a badge. You’re the one who wears it.

3. Pencil, paper and parole. According to the Ministry of Justice’s own website, staff at HM Prison and Probation Service still calculate prisoner release dates by hand, using “a combination of paper copies, a calculator and the relevant calculation sheet.” If true, it’s astonishing. In an age of AI and automation, the system determining a person’s liberty is still running on biro and binder paper. Leadership failure? Without question. Modernisation isn’t about shiny technology, it’s about accuracy, accountability and trust. When leaders ignore the basics, they don’t just risk mistakes; they invite chaos. Leadership insight: Fix the foundations before chasing innovation. If the basics aren’t right, everything built on them will eventually crack.

4. Where wellbeing thrives. In a year when city life can feel like an endurance event, The Telegraph has revealed Britain’s healthiest places to live outside London - with St Albans and Cambridge leading the pack. What sets them apart? A strong mix of green space, community spirit and opportunities to move. Health, it turns out, isn’t just about gym memberships or step counts. It’s about access to nature, a sense of belonging, and regular chances to recharge - whether that’s walking the dog, cycling to work or playing tennis under the floodlights. The healthiest cities remind us that wellbeing is the foundation of leadership. Energy, clarity and connection don’t happen by chance; they’re cultivated daily. Choose where - and with whom - you spend your time carefully.

5. Preparing the next generation. The British government has announced a new school curriculum, due in 2028, designed to help young people “thrive in the modern world.” Pupils will learn to budget, understand mortgages, and recognise fake news - real-world lessons that have been missing for far too long. It marks the first major curriculum review in over a decade and aims to shift focus from exams to life skills. Leadership isn’t just about inspiring today; it’s about preparing tomorrow. Schools shape citizens as much as scholars, and this change feels overdue. Teaching young people how to think critically, manage money, and navigate misinformation is not only good education - it’s good leadership. Leadership insight: The greatest legacy any generation can leave is one that equips the next.

6. When the shelf looks more appealing. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce a 4% rise in the minimum wage in this month’s Budget - welcome news for many, but causing quiet panic in the City. Some bosses warn it could make graduate roles in law, finance and accountancy less appealing. “Why would young people take on £45,000 of student debt if they can earn the same stacking shelves?” one executive told the Financial Times. With tuition fees climbing, graduates earning over £25,000 repay 9% of their salary, meaning some could take home less than minimum-wage workers, reports CNBC. Leadership insight: When incentives flip, leadership must rethink value - not just what work pays, but what it’s worth.

7. The digital welcome mat. When it emerged that the password for the Louvre’s surveillance system was reportedly “LOUVRE”, The Times called it “the digital equivalent of the welcome mat”. Yet most of us aren’t much better. “123456”, “qwerty” and “password” remain the world’s most common logins - each crackable in a single second. Updating passwords is such “torture” that many people simply give up. But leadership demands better. It’s about doing the unglamorous things consistently: setting boundaries, protecting assets, and maintaining vigilance when no one’s watching. The real lesson isn’t digital - it’s behavioural. Whether managing a system, a team or a self, shortcuts invite intruders. Leadership insight: True security isn’t about secrecy; it’s about self-discipline.

8. A little footwork goes a long way. Forget the 10,000-step myth, new research from Harvard shows that even a couple of short walks each week can do wonders for your health. In a decade-long study of more than 13,000 women with an average age of 72, those who managed just 4,000 steps on one or two days a week were 27% less likely to develop heart disease and 26% less likely to die prematurely. Hitting that target three times a week cut the risk of early death by 40%. Beyond that, extra steps offered only modest benefits. The lesson? You don’t need a marathon mindset, a few purposeful rallies with your feet are enough to keep you in the match. Game, set, and walk!

9. The science behind the winter blues. As daylight fades, millions experience a dip in mood known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), reports The Washington Post. First identified in the 1980s, it affects around 2% of Britons, while one in five feel the milder “winter blues.” Scientists believe reduced sunlight disrupts our circadian rhythms, leading to poorer sleep, lower energy, and that unmistakable mid-afternoon slump. Psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, who pioneered light therapy, says exposure to bright or natural light - especially early in the morning - can make a marked difference. Exercise, meditation and outdoor walks also help. Leadership insight: Even the best leaders need light. Structure your day to maximise energy - seek daylight, move often, and remember that leading well begins with recharging well.

10. The bottom line. More Britons than ever (84%) feel the country is divided – up from 79% two years ago, according to an Ipsos survey of 4,000 over-16s for the Policy Institute at King’s College London. National pride has dipped in most age and ethnic groups, with levels lowest (29%) among 16 to 24-year-olds.