Charlie Jones

I'm a journalist and writer with 18 years' experience, currently working for the BBC website.

News

Explore a selection of my writing work below.

BBC News •

'I thought I'd never get to have a Mother's Day'

"This is my first Mother's Day with him, I am so excited. It is something that I thought would never happen for me," said Mrs Guyan, who lives in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire.

"My stomach was so inflamed that I looked six months pregnant on some days, which was even more traumatic because I couldn't seem to fall pregnant. One of my neighbours congratulated me because she saw my bump, which was very upsetting," she said.

She and her husband Alex spent several years trying for a baby after they got
BBC News •

Paramedic let down by mental health services, mum says

"Her GP then also threw her out because she was moving," her mother said. "There was a real lack of support from the start of her diagnosis, despite Rebecca desperately trying to access it.

At times the support was so bad that she took it upon herself to increase her own medication when she was struggling, her mother said, because she could not get advice.

"Rebecca was desperate not to go on that drug, she was worried it would change her whole personality, but she was told it was that or nothi
BBC News •

Government school attendance campaign criticised by parents

"Parents can struggle to get their children to school for many valid reasons. This campaign comes across as very patronising and ableist and I think the money could have been spent on much better things to support children to get back in school," she added.

"I think that it will be the biggest single issue, outside outcomes, that schools and heads will be worrying about when Ofsted starts again. If you are not issuing loads of fines then you will be downgraded as that seems to be the only appro
BBC News •

Scientists make pregnancy sickness cure breakthrough

"I had a real sense of an inability to exist, I couldn't be around my family," she said. "I considered not carrying on my pregnancies because it was so terrible and that is really common when you have HG.

The new research, published in Nature and involving scientists at the University of Cambridge and researchers in Scotland, the USA and Sri Lanka, found that the degree of sickness was related to the amount of hormone produced in the womb - and prior exposure.

They studied women at the Rosie M
BBC News •

Teen artist who raised £250k for charity dies aged 15

Noah, who lived in Dedham, Essex, first collaborated with artists across the world for a painting project three years ago and raised money for the NHS hospital that treated him.

"It has been extremely special sharing our little legend with you all," said Mr Jones, writing on Facebook.

"You've all helped produce so many special moments and memories over the last three years. Moments we will cherish forever.

"He had a blast, made his mark and we are so proud of him."

He started painting on car
BBC News •

Mum paints stretch marks on Barbie for daughter

A mother who developed stretch marks while pregnant has painted some on her daughter's Barbie "so she can grow up knowing they are normal".

Her daughter, now three, is a fan of Barbies but Mrs Claxton could not find any she felt represented her own body.

"I would love the manufacturers to make some Barbies with stretch marks to spread the message that they are nothing to worry about."

The 35-year-old had already bought her daughter a diverse range of the dolls, including one with a prosthetic
BBC News •

Cancer patients welcome NHS drug policy change

Before the rule change, if a patient took a treatment break for longer than six weeks they would have to reapply for NHS funding, with no guarantee it would be approved.

Mr Marsland, who has incurable cancer, needed to pause his treatment for a hernia operation last year. He had to take a shorter break due to the policy and was left worrying he might have to fund cetuximab himself in the future.

The father-of-two, who works as a principal technologist for BT, has been through 93 rounds of chem
BBC News •

Egg freezing rises as more women look to preserve fertility

"I remember having counselling explaining the reason why I wanted to freeze my eggs and being given the opportunity to donate as well. I took that option as I wasn't just doing it for myself.

"After donating I started to feel quite guilty. I wasn't sure that I had done the right thing. What if the mother of the child isn't a good one? What if the child ends up in foster care? What if it's neglected?

"This will be an ongoing conversation with my two children that they have a genetic sister out
BBC News •

Flesh-eating bug nearly kills new mum

After a scan revealed pockets of gas underneath her tissue, they realised it could be necrotising fasciitis. Doctors said she needed immediate surgery to remove a large amount of dead tissue to stop the flesh-eating bacteria from spreading.

Miss Chatterton was kept sedated for three days and woke up to two large wounds on her stomach, which had to left open for six days to help her body recover until they were able to fit a vacuum pump.

"I'm still finding it quite difficult psychologically, bu
BBC News •

Hundreds take to the water for clean river campaign

The S.W.I.M (Safe Water in Manningtree) team has to count the number of people who use the water on 20 different days over the summer to prove it is a popular bathing spot.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs considers how many people bath there, whether the site has suitable facilities and where investment would have the most impact when making its decision.

Manningtree Beach is impacted by three sewer storm overflows which spill into the Stour, but only one has been monito
BBC News •

Nurse burned in fire proud of bodybuilding debut

Ms Charlesworth had always dreamed of taking part in a bodybuilding contest, but put her plans on hold while she recovered from the fire, which happened not long after she had bought a house in Cornard and moved out of her father's house in Colchester.

"My bikini was inspired by the 'girl on fire' vibe and that's why it went from red into orange. I wanted to encompass it within the show as it's a part of me," she said.

"I felt quite nervous beforehand and was messaging the federation and the t
BBC News •

Bereaved mum devastated by new baby son's cancer

A mother whose baby son died last year said she could not understand how life could be so cruel after her new baby was diagnosed with leukaemia.

"I don't understand how life can be so cruel and my baby has now got to go through this," she said.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page for the family to help pay for their accommodation while Ralphie has chemotherapy for the next five months at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

"If we haven't already been through hell and back here we are agai
BBC News •

'Seeing Matt Hancock on I'm A Celebrity will bring back heartache'

Despite widespread criticism about appearing in the ITV show, the West Suffolk MP said it was the job of politicians to engage with people.

Mrs Bibby said her son felt like he was "in prison" while in hospital with leukaemia and begged to see his family, but they were "barely allowed in".

She said she was "disgusted" that the man who set the rules had broken them, while her son lay dying.

"I have spoken to many bereaved families and we all feel so angry that Matt Hancock is going into the jun
BBC News •

'We've only got 30p left on our prepayment meter'

Research suggests the energy crisis has pushed more UK households on to prepayment gas and electricity meters, with 60,000 new meters installed in the six months to March.

'What else can I sacrifice?'

Mrs Jefferies-Wilkin said the family currently had 22 pence in their bank account and 30 pence-worth of electric left on their meter, which was installed in the summer by Scottish Power.

"I'm constantly running out of money. I'm having to borrow money just to ensure I've got enough for the meter
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