The University of Buckingham and the Leicester Dental Teaching Academy (LDTA) have reached an amicable agreement to end their joint venture to establish a dental school in Leicester to complement a new medical school. A joint venture agreement was signed in April 2012, but delays to the anticipated start date for the medical school and the large amount of resource required for this project alone has left the university with no choice but to delay the dental school until the medical school is established. As the university is unable to commit to a start date, this has made it impossible for the LDTA to complete contracts for the provision and construction of facilities.

The BDA has produced a series of short podcasts called 'In 10'. The podcasts combine a news angle with some of the advice and services the BDA offers to members and feature interviews with BDA experts and officers. The hot topics covered so far include tooth whitening, the CQC, the NHS pilots and most recently, dental care professionals. Members can access the podcasts at www.bda.org/news-centre/podcasts/in-ten/.

National Smile Month is due to take place 19 May-19 June 2014. In 2013, around 3,000 organisations supported the campaign and reached over 50 million people with a positive message to improve oral health. Organisers, the British Dental Health Foundation, are launching a new-look website for 2014. To register your interest in taking part and to receive your free Smileys, visit www.smilemonth.org.

Dog-lover Julie Cross is asking for BDJ readers to donate absolutely any medical/dental equipment, tools, medication or dressings they can spare to improve the lives of stray dogs. Registered charity Love UnderDogs work to improve the lives of stray dogs in Romania and rehome some of the most unwanted animals in the UK, such as those that are old, disabled, too big, the wrong colour or 'not pretty enough'. Discontinued and out of date products are welcome. www.loveunderdogs.org