10 things to do in January

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The days are dark, the exciting mayhem of Christmas has passed, the bank balance is looking pretty sad and your trousers are feeling tight…

Ugh, feeling the effects of the January blues? Not now that that we are here to give you a list of things to do for the first month of 2017!

Ok so some of them are on the ‘sensible’ side (who said ‘boring’?), but what better time of year to refresh, reboot, get organised, and try some interesting new things?

  1. Get organised. (So let’s get the slightly less-riveting ones over and done with first). Whether it’s school, college, uni or work, there’s nothing quite as revitalising as a bit of tidying up and organisation using folders, files or whatever other stationery takes your fancy (come on, who doesn’t like a nice bit of stationery?). No more stressful hunting under the bed for that important assignment!
  2. Sort out your personal documents. Where are your bank statements, phone bills and more importantly your passport?? Oh yes, your pass to discover the world is down the sewer system of your local pub after one too many drinks? Apply for a My ID Card, supported by pubs, bars, clubs, retailers, police and government – this is the most reliable way to prove your age. It costs just £15 to apply, and will only cost the same to replace (rather than £80+ to replace your passport).
  3. Go and see a film. True, the cinema isn’t THAT cheap these days, but go on a deal day and smuggle in your own snacks (shhh). Don’t forget your ID card, depending on what rating your film is.
  4. Go to a free museum or exhibition. Get your culture on and go see some paintings, photographs or historical artefacts; there are so many cool exhibitions that are totally free and totally inspiring.
  5. Meet up with friends for a coffee. Everything always seems so much better after a good old chat and laugh with your mates. Even in January! For just the cost of a drink you can have a lazy afternoon together in one of the many lovely cafes and coffee shops in your area.
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Festive dating blunders and how to avoid them

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Romantic yuletide songs are playing everywhere you go already and it feels like wherever you look there are loved-up couples buying heart-shaped gingerbread in their matching knitwear.

Meanwhile, you’re left feeling like you’re just stuck in one long queue of bad dates with nothing special to buy except a lavender talc gift set for your nan. Just like last year.

Where do you keep going wrong? Maybe you just need a bit of friendly dating advice to have yourself that merry little Christmas with a bit of extra magic…

Make mine a mocktail of cringe (with a big red face on top)

Of course, you don’t have to get the drinks in to have a good time, but going out for a flirty Christmas cocktail or two can be fun. Read more

Don’t let your fireworks party plans go up in smoke

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Ah, who doesn’t love a fireworks party? Remember, remember the 5th of November… For most of us, it’s been a special date in the calendar since we were knee-high to a grasshopper; covering our ears with our bobble hats when the bangs got too loud, nibbling on a toffee apple and asking our parents for just one more sparkler before bedtime.

Now you’re all grown-up, you might be thinking about planning your own fireworks party, so here are a few things you need to know to make it truly banging…

Remember, remember…your photo ID

You can’t buy fireworks if you’re under 18, so make sure you have official proof of age such as My ID Card, accredited by PASS, the UK’s national proof of age accreditation scheme and fully endorsed by the Home Office and The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

If you don’t remember your photo ID card, you’ll basically be limited to party poppers…Yeah, imagine the silence in the crowd. Read more

A serial killer, Guy Fawkes and an elf walk into a bar… My ID Card says don’t be the punchline this party season

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The season of parties and nights out is officially here, but are you ready to hit the town?

Vampire teeth? Check. Zombie mask? Check. Sparklers, check? Santa hat. Check? My ID card? What?

Whether you’re ghouling about with your buddies Dracula and Frankenstein on Halloween, heading to a fireworks party or donning your poshest garb for a festive do – you need the new official proof of age, My ID Card.

What’s My ID Card?

My ID Card is an official proof of age card, accredited by PASS, the UK’s national proof of age accreditation scheme. As well as your photo, it has the official PASS logo and hologram and it’s fully endorsed by official organisations such as the Home Office and The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

Because PASS carries these endorsements, people like the security staff at festival venues and doormen at clubs and bars will recognise that your My ID Card is the real deal and let you in.

As well as nights out, you can also use My ID Card as official proof of age for loads of other things:

  • purchasing alcohol and e-cigarettes in supermarkets and shops
  • entry into gigs and festivals
  • buying age-restricted computer games and videos
  • watching age-restricted films at the cinema
  • placing bets in the bookies and playing in casinos and bingo halls
  • getting a tattoo
  • using a sunbed

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Don’t ruin your A-level celebrations by forgetting your photo id

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You’ve waited all summer to open that envelope and see how well you’ve done in your A-levels. Maybe you aced it, well done! Grades weren’t quite what you were expecting? It’s not the end of the world. One thing’s for sure, after all that blood, sweat and tears, it’s definitely time to let your hair down.

Are you planning to escape to a festival field with your tent and wellies? Some of you might just want to shake it off on the dancefloor or in the mosh pit, or throw a party complete with celebratory fizz and fireworks. Or perhaps you’re off to get a tattoo to remember this moment forever, and ever.

After weeks of stressing over what you wrote on that maths paper, you might feel 100 years old but you’re probably only 18 so, don’t forget your photo id…

Over 18s with ID card enjoying summerDon’t get left at the festival gates
There are still a few major festivals left to enjoy this summer: Reading & Leeds, Creamfields, Bestival, The End of the Road. Proof of age in the form of recognised photo id may be required on entry and in order to purchase alcohol. The advice from some festival organisers is to bring PASS approved ID so that you don’t risk losing official documents such as passports. Photocopies are not accepted.

My ID Card is an official photo id card, accredited by PASS, the UK’s national proof of age accreditation scheme. As well as your photo, it has the official PASS logo and hologram and it’s fully endorsed by official organisations such as the Home Office and The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

184213130Who’s in the club?
Not you? Oh dear. It’s not only the security staff at festival venues that recognize My ID Card, doormen at clubs and bars will also ask for photo id as proof that you’re over 18 before they let you in. It’s not nearly as much fun dancing around your bedroom by yourself.

Remember that amazing gig we missed…
…said no one, ever. Chances are that you and your hometown buddies are going to be heading off in different directions this autumn, be it moving away to university or starting new jobs and apprenticeships.
Make some brilliant memories by going to watch the bands you love, rather than enduring the humiliation of rolling out the old “I must have left my photo id in my other jeans” line in front of an impatient queue of fans (that’ll be the band’s fans, definitely not yours).

Baby, you’re a firework
If you’re saving for uni (or just blew all your cash this summer already), maybe you’re planning on keeping it homely with a house party or BBQ at your place. No celebration is complete without champagne and fireworks, but you will be asked for photo id before anyone will sell these to you.

photo-idCome on, let your colours burst
Some people see their tattoos like a map of their life. If you’ve knocked it out the park with your A* grades and love the inked-up look, getting a tattoo can quite literally mark your great achievement forever. You can even get an A* tattoo if you really want to!

Tattoos can also symbolise the beginning or end of a significant chapter in your life, such a finishing school or moving away for new adventures. But before you settle into that chair, remember you’ll need to show the tattoo artist your photo id.

How to apply for photo id
It’s easy to apply for My ID Card (PASS accredited) and it only costs £15. Other forms of photo id such as passports can be more expensive to obtain and replace and they take longer to apply for. Waiting for your A-level results may have seemed like an eternity but the good news is that you can get your My ID card in as little as 5-10 days.

Over 18s with ID card enjoying summer

Got an ID card? One stupid mistake to avoid this summer

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Whether you’ve been waiting ages for the holidays to arrive after a punishing round of revision and exams, or you’ve been properly busting a gut at your job (or both!), there’s only one thing that matters right now – and that’s your summer. But don’t forget your over 18 proof of age ID card.

Hello, summer

Your plans might include endless days of tanning your pasty bits down the beach (whether that’s Ibiza or Margate) with a BBQ and some beers, clocking-up frequent flyer miles with your festival fairy wings or superhero cape, or sweating the night out in a neon nightclub glow.
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