“Choose life. Choose a job.” Fans of novelist Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting will instantly recognise the famous opening lines of anti-hero Mark Renton’s damning tirade against ‘the straight life’. And now that the author has chosen to offer his support to the Vodafone Group Foundation’s World of Difference programme he’s given us an opportunity to interpret those same words in an altogether more benign context. Nearly two thirds of people in the UK say they’re not satisfied with their jobs. Many of us think that taking a break from work to pursue other interests or offer our time to charity would give us not just a greater sense of satisfaction but also the opportunity to do something genuinely worthwhile. Nearly a third of us are sufficiently moved by media reports about less fortunate people that we want to do something to help, according to a new survey by The Vodafone Group Foundation. As for Irvine Welsh, the depth of his social conscience is immediately apparent to anyone who’s ever opened one of his books. Nowadays, by his own admission he’s a somewhat mellower man than the one who constructed Trainspotting’s brutal portrait of Edinburgh’s underground culture back in the ‘90s. Perhaps that is part of the reason he’s lending his support to the World of Difference programme, which is based around the concept that individuals and community organisations should identify what they feel passionate about and then be provided with the resources to make changes happen. This year, four lucky Brits will be given the opportunity to put their job on hold for a year whilst earning up to £25k working for a charity of their choice. “Choose life, choose a job”indeed. Click here to watch Irvine talk about his commitment to the scheme... For more information visit www.vodafonefoundation.org

In this podcast Ben Thompson from Coronation Street talks about his involvement with ChildLine, the free helpline for children and young people in the UK. We hear from some young people struggling with exam stress and we meet Matt, now a volunteer counsellor at Childline, who used the service when he was young.

The “CHANGEit” scheme assists youngsters who want to get their campaigning idea off the ground and to celebrate the success of those who have already made change happen. It encourages youngsters to campaign about any topic that may affect their lives and will then take nominations for the best campaigns. The judges are looking for achievable ideas and determination to make them happen, or evidence of a campaign that has had an impact and the way it has been delivered. CHANGEit launches on 10 October 2007 and is open for nominations until 15 December 2007.

The illegal trade in protected wildlife is booming and is second only to drugs in volume and money. The world’s rarest and best loved species are most at risk; caged bears milked for their bile, tigers hunted for their skins and bones for tiger wine, elephants poached for their ivory, gorillas killed for their meat and sharks butchered alive. Shamefully, the industry is worth over £5billion a year and until now, any conservationist standing in a poachers path was likely to be shot dead. Ruthlessness is rife and animals with no means of defending themselves are tortured and slaughtered to the very brink of extinction. What this merciless mob don’t know is that they will soon be on the run themselves, as special agent Steve Galster sets out on a mission to hunt them down. His new TV show on Animal Planet, “Crime Scene Wild” sees him patrolling poaching hotspots, hunting down dealers and serving up some long overdue justice alongside an armed team. Steve’s quest is a renewed effort to awaken people to some disturbing truths, and to finally hit back at those responsible for countless acts of atrocious animal cruelty. Foremost in his arsenal is the cutting-edge application of forensics and DNA technology. Steve has teamed up DNA experts around the world, who are spearheading the new techniques, crucial in taking the fight against wildlife crime to the next level.

Lenny Henry discussing Comic Relief 2007, things he has done this year for example visiting homes for children. He is also promoting the Book of Light by npower, donations from the purchase of the book will be given to Comic Relief. He is encouraging people to think big and increase their donations!

Black and south Asians are three times more likely to need a kidney transplant than the general population but make up less than 2% of deceased organ donors - so patients from these groups have to wait twice as long (up to four years) for a suitable donor than white patients. Only black and south Asian people can help solve this escalating problem. Hear comedian Curtis Walker's plea.

Receiving the award on behalf of Jake was PC Bob Crawford. Jake's actions on 7/7 saved the lives of many people and so the panel of judges awarded him The Blue Cross Medal, presented by actress Felicity Kendal.

According to a survey by the NSPCC and Sugar magazine, nearly half of teenage girls have been pressurised or forced into a sexual experience, but one in three didn't tell anyone what had happened. The NSPCC has launched a campaign called Don't Hide it to encourage young people to tell a friend or parent or someone else who can help them. Hear what actress Lauren Blake from TV's Totally Frank has to say

Concerns are raised as the British Lung Foundation reveals our very close proximity to the cause of mesothelioma exposure to asbestos

The Grenadier Guards regiment has fought in almost every major campaign of the British Army, since its formation to the present day, forging a proud and costly heritage. Now the hunt is on to find 10000 former guardsmen to help the regiment celebrate a very special event.

16 to 24 year olds are the age group most likely to lay awake at night wide-eyed with worry, for this generation the stress strikes before bedtime, causing over a third to suffer from insomnia according to new research just released.