Sparking curiosity with Twinkle, Twinkle Arti

Posted by Nicola Aldridge, Research Associate, and Cassey Muir, Research Associate / Co-lead of the Fuse Early Life and Adolescence Research Cluster, both from Newcastle University

We were recently given the exciting opportunity to showcase the Twinkle, Twinkle Arti project at Discover Festival, a free, one-day festival organised by Newcastle University that brings together families, communities, and researchers through interactive activities and inspiring ideas.

Nicola and Cassey

Discover Festival is designed to spark curiosity, build connections, and encourage people of all ages to explore new ideas. Each year, the university creates a packed programme of family-friendly events, and this year, we were delighted to be part of it as members of the Twinkle, Twinkle Arti research team.

Bringing Arti's story to life

Throughout the day, we invited families to step into Arti’s world through the Twinkle, Twinkle Arti storybook. Developed by Fuse researchers at Newcastle University, with funding from the NIHR School for Public Health Research, the book was created and co-produced with families to support the wellbeing of children experiencing challenging family circumstances, such as drug and alcohol use. While these experiences inspired the story, its themes of feelings, belonging, resilience, and hope resonate with all children.

Visitors to our stall in the Great North Museum had the chance to watch a CBeebies Bedtime Stories style video of it being read aloud by the author. They could also explore puppets and original illustrations from the book, and view artwork created by primary school-aged children who had participated in a pilot study of classroom lessons based on the story.

Families were also able to take home a free copy of the storybook, along with a link to the online read-aloud video and a set of simple conversation prompts designed to encourage creativity, emotional expression, and meaningful family time at home. We handed out nearly 80 copies on the day!

Conversations that matter

Beyond engaging with families, it was equally exciting to see the conversations that the project sparked among professionals attending the festival. We spoke with people from a range of sectors, including teaching, school governance, clinical psychology, and general practice with social prescribing links. Their curiosity about the project and enthusiasm for its potential applications highlighted the broad relevance of Twinkle, Twinkle Arti and the importance of creating accessible resources that support children's emotional and social wellbeing.

One particularly rewarding conversation was with a family who shared their personal experience of the impact of alcohol on family life and how they might be able to use the book. Hearing their reflections was both moving and affirming. It served as a powerful reminder of why the project began in the first place and reinforced the continued need for resources that help children navigate difficult experiences. Moments like these bring the research to life, reminding us that behind every study, storybook, and activity are real families whose experiences matter and whose voices continue to shape our work.

Creating a community star mural

Another highlight of the day was our evolving community star mural. We invited children to create their own star by drawing, colouring, or writing ideas about what they or Arti could do when they felt sad or worried, with 114 stars being created on the day. It was wonderful to see children enthusiastically embracing the activity, and even more special to watch parents, carers and grandparents join in too, talking to their children about the messages in the book. The excitement on their faces as they added their stars to the mural was a lovely reminder of the power of creativity to bring people together.

A colourful celebration of hope and resilience

By the end of the day, the mural had grown into a colourful display of hope, kindness, and imagination. It was a privilege to share the Twinkle, Twinkle Arti project with so many families and to see first-hand how children connected with Arti’s story and messages of hope, resilience and belonging. Events like Discover Festival provide a fantastic opportunity to bring research into the community, and we were grateful to be part of such an inspiring day.

Find out more about Twinkle, Twinkle Arti

• Read this Fuse blog about the development of Twinkle, Twinkle Arti
• Read about Twinkle, Twinkle Arti as a NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR) case study
• Read about piloting Twinkle, Twinkle Arti in primary schools
• Listen to this Fuse podcast to hear Cassey discussing her research on social and emotional resilience in children and young people affected by parental substance use.
• Download the book for free.
• Watch a video of the book being read aloud.

Sun safety this summer: from UV apps to sun protection tips that actually work

Posted by Angela Rodrigues, Associate Professor in Psychology, Northumbria University and co-lead of the Fuse Behaviour Change Cluster

The UK has already seen unusually hot weather this year, with temperatures high enough to make sun safety a live issue well before many people have packed for their summer holidays.

For many of us, the instinctive response to good weather is to get outside while it lasts. But sudden bursts of hot, bright weather are also a reminder that sun protection needs to start before we are already on the beach.

UV exposure is not only a problem on foreign holidays or during peak summer. In the UK, UV levels can reach 3 or above from as early as April – this is the point at which many public health bodies advise taking sun protection seriously, especially for people who burn easily.

Abroad, particularly in southern Europe or long-haul destinations, levels commonly reach 8, 9 or 10 in summer. That is a significant jump from what most people living in the UK are used to at home, and one reason holidays are often when their skin is most at risk.

My research with holidaymakers suggests that people want to manage sun exposure better – especially when they are given clear, location-specific information about UV levels, plus practical reminders about when to protect themselves.

Staying safe in the sun works best as a combination of habits: seeking shade, wearing a hat, covering up, limiting time in strong midday sun, and using sunscreen properly.

Not just sunscreen

One of the most effective things you can do is seek shade during the middle of the day, when UV levels are at their highest – typically 11am-3pm in the UK and during similar peak hours abroad. A wide-brimmed hat, a long-sleeved layer for the hottest part of the day, and sunglasses that offer UV protection all add meaningful protection that sunscreen alone cannot provide.

Planning ahead makes this much easier. Before you head out, check the UV index for your destination. Most weather apps now include this. Then plan the highest-exposure parts of your day around it.

Think of sun protection as part of your morning routine: apply sunscreen before leaving the house, just as you would brush your teeth, and pack a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen in your day bag. It is also worth taking a light cover-up such as a T-shirt, kaftan or sarong to protect your shoulders and chest.

When you stop for lunch, that is your natural cue to reapply sunscreen. Many people on holiday take a midday break anyway. A shaded lunch, and even a short siesta during peak UV hours, is not just a pleasant holiday habit. It is good sun safety.

By the time you head back out later in the afternoon, you’ll have rested, cooled down and reapplied sunscreen, and you are making better use of the lower-UV part of the day.

Simple “if-then” plans can help too. If the UV index is forecast to be 3 or above, then I will cover up and seek shade. If I am heading to the beach, then I will reapply sunscreen as soon as I arrive and again after swimming.

One thing our research consistently shows is that most people underestimate how quickly their skin can burn, particularly in strong sun. Rather than trying to calculate a safe window, treat the UV index as your guide. If it is 3 or above, cover up and seek shade during the strongest part of the day.

Sunscreen works best when applied generously and reapplied regularly, but guidance on how much to use can feel vague. Our research suggests a helpful rule of thumb: for your face, neck and ears, aim for around a teaspoon’s worth. For a full body application, you need considerably more than most people use, roughly the equivalent of a golf ball.

Applying more than you think you need, and reapplying every two hours when you are outdoors, makes a real difference to the protection your skin gets. You should also reapply after swimming, sweating or towelling off, even if the product is labelled water resistant.

Apps are useful – if they change what you do

Studies of sun protection apps suggest these digital tools can help when they give people specific, usable information rather than vague warnings. In my research into holidaymakers’ views of these apps, participants valued UV index information and location-based reminders because these helped them to plan their day, rather than simply reacting once already in strong sun.

Personalised guidance can make sun protection feel less like guesswork by taking account of your skin type, where you are and how strong the UV is at that moment.

If you use a sun protection app, look for one that provides real-time, location-specific UV forecasting and concrete, practical advice, rather than general reminders. Even a basic UV index tracker can help you decide when to cover up, when to seek shade and when UV levels are lower.

The SunSmart Global UV app (supported by the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the UN Environment Programme and the International Labour Organization) shows what this can look like. It gives users location-specific UV information and indicates when sun protection is needed.

That is the kind of practical guidance holidaymakers in my research said they wanted: advice that helps them make decisions in the moment, not just general messages about staying safe in the sun.

Enjoy the good weather

Sun protection does not mean staying indoors. It means making the sun easier to enjoy: checking the UV index, packing a hat and sunscreen, seeking shade when UV is strongest, and reapplying before your skin reminds you.

Skin cancer is largely preventable, and small habits add up. The aim is to make sun protection part of the day – not an afterthought once you are already hot, tired and turning pink.



Image: Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels

Adapted with thanks to The Conversation