World Hearing Day is held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. This year the World Health Organisation has decided upon the theme 'Hearing care for all!' to raise awareness of how hearing loss can be prevented through protection against loud sounds, good ear-care practices and immunisation. Hearing can also be rehabilitated, if caught early and appropriate care and treatment is sought. World Hearing Day serves as a reminder to all that are at risk of hearing loss to make sure that they attend regular hearing checks with a health care provider.

We are thrilled to announce that the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has today launched in the Netherlands and Belgium, our first stronghold in mainland Europe.

This means that people living with a hidden disability in these regions will now have easier access to the Sunflower. With both a local representative and a dedicated, country specific website, which can be accessed in Dutch, we are better equipped to support both our Sunflower wearers and the organisations that support the initiative in these areas.

Following on from the success of our Sunflower Stories video series, we've launched a new podcast – the Sunflower Conversations.

The Sunflower Conversations delve into the depths of the issue being discussed and offers an understanding of the Sunflower's role in supporting people with hidden disabilities. Our hosts discussions with our guests not only offer a personal account of disability, disposing of myths and correcting public perception, but they also expose the affect that disability can have on education, employment and relationships.

Monday 8 February was International Epilepsy Day. A day when organisations, charities and individuals from around the World joined together to highlight epilepsy and draw attention to the need for better public awareness and understanding, improved diagnosis and treatment services and increased research in order to better the lives of all those affected by epilepsy. In collaboration with Epilepsy Society, here's what the team at Hidden Disabilties did to mark the awareness day. 

Effective from the 15 February 2021, the price of the Sunflower lanyard and the Sunflower wristband will be increasing as a result of recent increases in costs. This means that the cost of a Sunflower lanyard will be £0.60p (£0.72p including VAT) and the Sunflower wristband will be £1.05 (£1.26 including VAT). 

Counterfeit sales and profiteering were a problem long before digital marketplaces emerged. However, online sales of fake merchandise is a growing problem as digital marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon have made it much easier for profiteers and sellers of counterfeit goods to establish an online presence with a far and wide-reaching customer base. Sadly, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has found itself tackling this problem head-on, with our products being resold for profit and the emergence of counterfeit designs claiming to be the real thing. 

Watchdog on the BBC One Show

Watchdog looked into the sale of hidden disabilities sunflower lanyards on platforms including Amazon and eBay. Find out what the companies told them about it.