Don’t miss the party this Easter weekend

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The weather is getting sunnier, the Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies are out in force in all the stores, which tells you that the Easter weekend is fast approaching. Although traditionally the bank holiday tends to be a washout, you won’t want your social plans to be a washout too, so it’s well worth making sure that you’ve got your proof of age ID PASS card in your wallet for every eventuality.

After all, the last thing you’ll want to do is stay home eating the leftover chocolate when all your friends have got into the bar or club – and you haven’t.

Whatever your Easter plans over the weekend, you’ll need proof of age to get into the clubs and bars. Not forgetting any alcohol or e-cigarettes. Plus, if you’re planning on getting in to watch an 18+ film if the weather does turn as a bank holiday often does, you won’t want to be turned away for forgetting your ID.

At only £15 for your My ID PASS card, it’s a small price to pay when there’s some serious pre-exam Easter partying coming up over the next weekend. Read more

Now you can get a proof of age card that doesn’t ask you to identify as male or female

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Do you identify as non-binary? Now you can apply for a proof of age card without having to state your gender.

My ID Card recently changed its application form and provides a non-gender specific proof of age card for those who identify as pangender, intergender, androgyne, genderfluid, agender or any other non-binary group. My ID Card is an official, PASS-accredited proof of age card that’s fully endorsed by the Home Office and The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

A positive change for everyone

The change has been introduced following a recent request from the father of a teenager who is non-binary. Keith Farnish was frustrated that other ID card providers asked for gender or a gendered prefix such as Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms on their application form, and that this might appear on the card itself, possibly alienating non-binary individuals. Mx – the preferred title of some non-binary people – is not commonly offered as an option.

Gender boxes have now been removed from the My ID Card application form in order to become more inclusive and gender does not appear on the proof of age card itself.

Speaking in a recent interview with Buzzfeed, Farnish said: Read more

Don’t be a loner this summer – remember your photo ID card

/0 Comments/in , /by

Whoever says that winter is the loneliest time of year has obviously never felt their heart freeze over like a polar bear’s windscreen as they hang out with their single self, seeing couples high on summer love in every park, on every beach and on every dancefloor.

To make matters worse, from Summer Love by Justin Timberlake and Summertime by Beyoncé, to that old classic Summer Nights by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, just about every song we hear serves to remind us that ‘summer’ and ‘love’ go together like ice cream and chocolate sprinkles.

We know it’s only March but the days will be hotting-up sooner than you can say “factor 50” so check out our advice on finding your summer romance. Feel your heart thaw and your spirits soar.

Say “¡Hola! stranger” with a BBQ

Once the clocks change at the end of this month, the time is officially right to get the BBQ back out of the garage (even if you might need to huddle around it for warmth after sunset). There is no faster way to get a gang of mates round your house than to send out those three magic words, “BBQ round mine?”. Why not add “…bring a friend” to that message?  Sometimes good things happen when you’re daring (undercooked sausages being the exception).

Before you head to the supermarket, make sure you’ve got a photo ID card with you if your shopping list includes alcohol as well as burgers and baps, to make sure that you can prove your age.

My ID Card is easy to apply for and it only costs £15. This official, PASS-accredited photo ID card is accepted by most supermarkets and shops across the UK, as well as cinemas, bars and restaurants. Plus, it’s fully endorsed by the Home Office and The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) – so everyone is safe in the knowledge that it’s the real deal. Read more

Revision tips to put Spring back into your step

/0 Comments/in , /by

Ah, the joys of Spring! Flowers will soon be poking their sleepy heads up through the soil, fresh leaves will fill every branch in green technicolour, the evenings will seem endless and the days will be warmer. Just in time for…exam season. Great.

It’s one of life’s cruel jokes that just as the first flush of fine weather hits, along with its associated social life – BBQs, days at the beach, chilling in the park with friends, festivals, general fun – those studying must remain chained to their books and screens, indoors and in misery.

Sigh.

Hey, listen – it’s not all doom and gloom. Yeah, exams are very important but so is balance and it is possible to get fantastic results without turning into a hermit/vampire/cave beetle/all of the above. In fact, a smart revision timetable with proper downtime built in to it means you’re even more likely to achieve your best marks.

We’re here to share some revision tips with you to help you feel more sunny and hopeful than a bright spring dawn (…well, almost). Read more

One less thing you’ll need to do for your teenagers…

/0 Comments/in , /by

Teenagers, who’d ‘ave ‘em? For those who thought parenting would become easier once their kids hit double figures, it doesn’t take long to realise it’s still a full-time job – or should we say jobs. Yes, your job titles may range from chauffeur, to personal chef, to PA, to cleaner. And let’s not forget personal shopper. How many times have you been called to the shopping mall or cinema because your beloved teenager has forgotten their ID card and has no photo proof of age to buy themselves games or tickets?

Proof of age

Age restrictions apply on a variety of things and range from 12 years of age, to 16 years, to 18 years old. Your child will be asked to show their ID card to buy age-restricted video games and to watch 12- or 15-certificate films at the cinema. Did you know they also need to show their ID card to show they’re over 16 if they buy petrol, lottery tickets and ‘instant win’ cards.

Got an artist in your midst? Even supplies like aerosol paint are not permitted for sale to those under 16. Celebrating something? Seemingly innocuous items such as party poppers and Christmas crackers are subject to a 16- and 12-rating respectively.

Get them an ID card

Chances are your child will want to purchase at least one of these items at some point. By making sure that they have an ID card at the ready, you could save yourself yet another ‘emergency’ call to Mum or Dad’s fix-everything, buy-everything hotline.

Why not get them My ID Card – an official proof of age card, accredited by PASS, the UK’s national proof of age accreditation scheme? As well as a photo of your child, 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, venues and shops will recognise that your child’s ID Card is the real deal, meaning they’ll be able to sell age-restricted goods to them (saving you a whole heap of ear ache and hassle!).

Yet another thing to fork out for?

My ID card only costs £15, which is lot less than the £80 it’ll cost you to replace other forms of ID, such as their passport. Plus, it fits neatly in their purse or wallet. Teenagers have a habit of losing things, as you may be all too well-aware! Home Office figures estimate an average of 250,000 passports are lost every year and you can bet a fair few of those fell down the side of a cinema seat along with some leftover popcorn and sweet wrappers.

Remember that applying for or replacing other forms of ID can also have a long application processes, yet you can get your child’s My ID card in as little as 5-10 days.

Half-term isn’t far away, so apply for a My ID Card today for peace of mind (and a slightly more peaceful life…).

Valentine’s Day survival guide (…and the one card you mustn’t forget this year)

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Do you remember the first Valentine’s Day card you ever received? Perhaps it was a wonky heart fashioned from red playschool crepe paper, or a portrait sketched in charcoal in the back row of GCSE Art. What about the first valentine you ever sent? Did you wear a groove in the carpet of the card shop as you paced to and fro’ trying to find the perfect way to say “be mine”? Or maybe you were the secret admirer, hand-delivering a poem incognito by moonlight.

One thing’s for sure, no matter what age you are, how many cards you have (or haven’t!) sent and received, or what your relationship status is, Valentine’s Day can be tricky territory. Here’s a few things you can do (or not do!) to make sure yours is all hearts and flowers…

Don’t even think of going on a first date

Yes, we know it’s supposed to be the most romantic night of the year, but it’s not a wise idea to line that initial date up for February 14th itself. You’ll just be surrounded by couples smooching and cuddling, while you’re still at the awkward early conversation stage of finding out where they grew up and what their favourite pizza topping is. Go out the following week instead (we know you’re keen, but playing it cool works better anyway).

Do spend the evening with your buddies

No date on February 14th? No problem! Celebrate the joys of freedom, independence and friendship instead. Cook up one of those delicious dishes you’ve been pinning, dig out your favourite board games or vinyls, rent a non-rom-com, and invite all the single ladies (and/or guys) round to yours. Moping around alone in a onesie with a family pack of Wispas never did anyone any good. Read more

Cinema

New year, new movies, new photo ID card

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

With the Golden Globe awards happening last weekend and the Oscars and BAFTAs just around the corner, there’s a definite movie buzz in the air. But the cinema’s not cheap these days, so you’ll want to spend your cash wisely (and still have some pennies left over for snacks). Why not take a look at our rundown of some of the latest movies to help you decide what takes your fancy…

Oh, but before we get started, don’t forget your proof of age photo ID card if you’re going to see an age-restricted film. At just £15, My ID Card costs hardly any more than your average cinema ticket. This official, PASS-accredited photo ID Card is accepted by many cinemas across the UK and fully endorsed by the Home Office and The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

Ok, shh, who’s whispering at the back? Let the show begin…

Read more

10 things to do in January

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by
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.
    Read more

Over 25 and proud of it: ID rules for parties and celebrations this festive season

/0 Comments/in , /by

Money [check], lippy [check], ID [But I’m over 25!]

When you’re over 25 and you get asked for ID on a night out, you may feel like all your Christmas’ have come at once. It’s obviously your youthful glow…right?

Hitting the clubs and pubs this festive season, you may experience more venues than usual asking for your ID – regardless of whether you look your age, or not.

Security staff can now request your ID before they’ll let you in, using their scanning machine to verify its authenticity. It’s even more hi-tech than those face creams you’ve got stashed in the bathroom cupboard…

Read more

Festive dating blunders and how to avoid them

/0 Comments/in , , /by

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