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EU employment chief Vladimír Špidla will today open the first meeting of the new European social dialogue committee in the professional football sector. The aim of the social dialogue committee is, according to Brussels, to bring more legal certainty and stability to footballers’ contracts. Minimum requirements for players’ contracts will be the first topic on the table. A ceremonial opening and signing will take place in the Berlaymont building at 11.00 today.The European commission today holds what it describes as a “major conference” on protecting the rights and dignity of the elderly. The event in the Charlemagne building follows a recent highly critical Eurobarometer survey on health and long-term care that highlighted the abuse of elderly dependent people  The conference is expected to offer policy makers and stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the quality of care for frail elderly people and strategies for preventing elder abuse.

 Advice and information about epilepsy is now available at the touch of a button thanks to a new text message service launched today (March 3). Epilepsy, the UK’s largest member-led epilepsy organisation, has introduced the new service to ensure advice and information about epilepsy is as accessible as possible.  The system allows people to text questions to the Epilepsy Helpline from their mobile phone. A trained member of Epilepsy Action’s advice and information team will then send a reply within 24 hours (on working days). Amanda Stoneman, Epilepsy Action’s advice and information services officer, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of this new service. We recognise that whereas some people may feel more comfortable talking to our helpline advisers over the phone, others may prefer to text.  “We are always looking for new ways to reach people with an interest in epilepsy, and to improve access to Epilepsy Action’s wealth of advice and information services.” 

People who would like to use the new text service should save this number to their mobile phone: 07797 805 390. You will be charged at your usual rate for any texts you send. Replies are free.

1.      For further details about Epilepsy Action, please contact Keeley Eastwood in the press office on 0113 210 8870, or email pressofficer@epilepsy.org.uk.

2.      Epilepsy is the UK’s most common serious neurological condition affecting an estimated 456,000 people. Epilepsy Action is a registered charity. As well as campaigning to improve epilepsy services and raise awareness of the condition, we offer assistance to local people in a number of ways including a national network of branches, accredited volunteers, regular regional conferences, an Epilepsy Helpline freephone 0808 800 5050, and an award-winning website - www.epilepsy.org.uk – which features a new online advice and information service.

Nicholas Newman 18 November 2007 

I challenged the Healthy Bag Company to a test that they could provide me with a bag suitable for my latest press trip to Brussels on the first Eurostar to leave London’s St Pancras station for Belgium on the 14th November 2007. They provided me with a Healthy Back Bag (product code: 6104-NV) in classic distressed nylon. For picture of  Healthy Back Bag (product code: 6104-NV) in classic distressed nylon.as worn by author.

 I packed the bag with everything I would need for my trip. This included: a digital camera, voice recorder, mobile phone, PDA, note book and pens, business contacts book, guide book and map, glasses, in other words everything but the ‘kitchen sink’.  

The bag’s exterior holds 4 pockets which all fasten differently; I found them extremely useful for storing odd shaped things like my daily paper, woollen gloves and hat. Being water and stain resistant it the bag kept the contents dry.  

 The interior was quite different from what one usually experiences from such a travel bag, well finished to high specifications. The six internal pockets provide a variety of storage spaces. The handy key hook, proved ideal for securing my mobile. Consequently, there was no need to rummage around the bag when my phone rings.   

The interior space, generously supplied enough room for me to carry a pullover, to wear later and keep me warm as I made my rounds of Brussels on business on what proved to be an extremely cold winter’s night.  

As for future improvements, I would find it very handy if the interior zipped pocket was made of a semi transparent material, so I could see at a glance the contents of that particular pocket. Possible other design features that the Healthy Bag Company should consider are making their bags more easily identifiable from a distance.  

In many cities like London, Paris and Brussels, mass transit has introduced travel passes that can be scanned from a distance. It would be useful if the Healthy Bag Company added a secure pocket to store such travel passes on its exterior.  

For business suits wearers,the Healthy Bag Company provides a solution to the problem of storing all those gadgets we have to carry around today. Their range of bags compliment business suit wearers, by providing a smart bag to hold all ones gadgets. I look forward to the Healthy Bag Company bringing one out in pin stripe.   

Overall, I found wearing the loaded bag on my back extremely comfortable, handy, and kept my gadgets secure, as the Healthy Bag Company promised. I will certainly use it again on my next press trip.

The Healthy Bag Company certainly met my challenge. 

To find out more http://www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk/  SCORE 4/5

Red Alert and Royal Navy

Red carpet approved bags for festive season

 For Picture Click Here

November 2007, The Healthy Back Bag Company (HBBC) launches a collection of striking lipstick red and navy back bags in soft, supple and the highest quality leather in time for the Autumn/Winter party season.

Worn either as the ultimate glamorous day bag or for casual evening chic, the soft leather HBB’s went straight onto the backs of our favourite a-list celebrities and are the first option in arm candy for Helen Mirren who exclaimed:

“A great bag. You will be seeing me out and about with it. I love it. Utilitarian and chic”

In tune with this season’s trend for intense bright colours, they are key pieces to update your current look.  Vibrant and beautifully detailed, the range is a great way to inject some colour into your Autumn/Winter wardrobe. 

The traditional teardrop-shaped bag is both uber-hip and practical, contouring naturally to the body. The signature silver interior ensures stress-free rummaging, and the cleverly thought-out pockets for mobile, blackberry, pens, keys, documents, cosmetics etc deliver hidden functionality, providing the wearer with their own personal piece of organized luxury.

Priscilla Chase, UK director of The Healthy Back Bag Company, said:  “Our Red’s and Navy’s are a fantastic way to punctuate your look and are proving to be a ‘must have’ for this season making them the ultimate gifts for Christmas”

The Red and Navy Healthy Back Bags retail in two sizes for £85 and £99 from independent stores across the country and in branches of Fenwicks and are also available online at www.thehealthybackbag.co.uk or by telephone 020 7812 9800

The Healthy Back Bag® is the world’s first “backbag” and does for bags what the likes of Birkenstock and Crocs have done for footwear in making it cool to be comfortable.   Developed with the help of a chiropractor, the patented teardrop design efficiently distributes weight across key touch points through the length of the whole bag and the “non-slip” strap lining prevents the annoying slippage common to most shoulder bags.

Available in