Community News

Climate change is an existential threat that requires action from all people of faith.  Care for the planet is an ethical responsibility and embedded in the scriptures of all faiths and religions.

Faith provides a moral compass at this critical juncture. 

In a bid to exemplify the core Islamic values of volunteer service, good citizenship and caring for those in need including the environment, members of the Ismaili Muslim community in Birmingham organised a clean-up and litter picking at Canon Hill Park. Along with the clean-up the volunteers organized a host of activities for children including making bird feeders from old milk cartons, musical shakers using recycled kitchen towel rolls and growing tulip bulbs and vegetables in biodegradable pots. 

These activities form part of a new initiative – Ismaili CIVIC – aimed at improving the quality of life of the communities in which the Ismailis live, regardless of faith, gender and background. In the UK, it is the Ismaili Muslim community’s ambition to engage 10,000 volunteers to deliver 100,000 hours of service, accounting for over half of the Ismaili community in the UK, showing their faith in action.

Elahi Dhanani (16) from Birmingham, says: “I am a student in sixth form and I'm going to be volunteering to help clean cannon Hill Park and help students make bird feeders and share some vegetarian recipes. I think it’s really essential we look after our environment and leave the world a better place for future generations.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Says Margaret Mead. “I work for the Ismaili council as a Family Liaison Officer for families who need support with upskilling, financial issues, housing, educational needs, domestic violence, substance misuse to mention just a few, says Karima Gangji from Birmingham. 

“My hobbies include quite simply enjoying life in any manner, chilling in the garden, spontaneous BBQ's, dining out and more enjoyable eating the amazing dishes my hubby cooks at home. Love watching documentaries especially connected to our planet.

“We recycle, try not to use plastic and just be socially responsible. Looking forward to our vegetarian weekend and sharing our recipes.”

Sunday 26 September marked an inaugural Global Ismaili CIVIC Day, bringing together a community of Ismaili volunteers from more than 20 countries worldwide under the theme of Environmental Stewardship. Activities across the UK include litter picking, tree planting and personal pledges of time.  

September 22nd 2021 marked the Autumn Equinox and the astronomical start of the fall season. Natural changes are not the only kinds of changes that are happening at this time of year: Children are back in school; fashion designs are refined; and people change summer bedding to autumn bedding.

Wolverhampton's libraries will be open for longer from next week as the service continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. From Monday September 27, libraries will be open as follows:

Homelessness charities St Basils, YMCA Heart of England and Cyrenians have come together as part of the City of Culture ‘HOME’ festival to host the Coventry sleepout taking place Saturday October 9th going into Sunday morning October 10th which is world homeless day.

Steve Rainbow, St Basils events manager said: “St Basils, YMCA Heart of England and Cyrenians are working tirelessly in Coventry to prevent homelessness and support people who are experiencing hardship.

New polling from Scope charity shops reveals the average adult from Birmingham has on average 25 unworn items of clothing and footwear in their wardrobe. That’s potentially 1.5 billion items taking up valuable space throughout the UK.

Tops top the list of unworn items as people from Birmingham have an average of six in their wardrobes and a foot-stomping 30 per cent have more than five pairs of unworn items of Footwear.

A former government adviser on race relations - with responsible for boosting vaccine take-up – especially within the Black, Asian and Multi-Ethnic communities in the UK is now undertaking a new programme to tackle racism in healthcare.

Samuel Kasumu is now behind the Transformational Leadership Programme to improve public health outcomes for Black and Minority Ethnic people in the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark in London. 

The Commonwealth Secretariat and NO MORE Foundation are launching a new “Join The Chorus” initiative to help the 54 member countries tackle an alarming rise in domestic and sexual violence during the COVID-19 pandemic while urging leaders to make prevention a top priority in rebuilding efforts.

Unveiled today at a virtual event on the margins of the 2021 UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, the initiative, part of the Commonwealth Says NO MORE campaign, offers governments, non-profits and the public new tools and strategies to expand coordinated action to prevent and stop domestic and sexual violence in their countries, communities and homes across the world.

With 45 per cent in the Midlands admitting to picking up bad habits generally during the pandemic, dog experts are warning that these are translating to puppy buying and creating a damaging long-term legacy.

New research released by The Kennel Club as part of its #BePuppywise campaign, shows that post-lockdown, more than a quarter (28 per cent) of those in the Midlands admit that it’s ‘normal’ and ‘easier’ to meet a puppy virtually, rather than in person, enabling more scammers and rogue breeders to disguise horrific breeding conditions and dupe owners, resulting in a backwards step for dog welfare.

Organisers have announced the first details of the Birmingham 2022 Festival - a six month celebration which will spotlight creativity and culture in the West Midlands. Running from March to September 2022 as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the festival will feature hundreds of creative commissions across the region including art, photography, dance, theatre, digital art and more. 

Members of the public are urged to register at birmingham2022.com/festival to be amongst the first to discover the full programme when it is unveiled in January.

This year’s Yo! Summer Festival, organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council, was a great success with thousands of children and young people taking part in a wide range of fun days, sporting activities and holiday clubs across the city.

Held over the summer holidays, visitors enjoyed over 500 different activities ranging from the unique walking, running and rolling game Beat the Street, which saw nearly 10,000 residents travel a combined 60,000 miles in total, through to meeting dinosaurs from Jurassic Earth as part of the Relight Festival in West Park.

The West Midlands Metro network will be extended in Walsall, Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton under a wide-ranging plan to revolutionise transport across the region.

Further investment would see rail stations opened, new rapid bus services launched, lower fares, more zero-emission vehicles, a very light rail line in Coventry and miles of safe cycling routes created to support the region’s economic growth and its #wm2041 net-zero carbon targets.

For five years, the Meadway Sports & Social Club has generously fundraised for the Heartlands Children's Wards. The team have contributed a total of £2,067 by hosting an annual dominoes tournament and a lottery to raise funds to help support children whilst they stay in hospital.

Birmingham’s celebration of Black History Month was launched with a special event where, as well as reflecting the city’s diversity and heritage, this year’s programme also reflects on the continued impact of Covid-19 has had on the Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. This year’s launch marks a return to live events, taking place at the Legacy Centre of Excellence, in Aston, in Birmingham.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out the government’s ‘COVID-19 Response – Autumn and Winter Plan 2021’(external link)  for managing COVID-19.

The publication outlines the government’s plans for autumn and winter 2021 for England. It includes the government’s ‘Plan A’ – a comprehensive approach designed to steer the country through autumn and winter 2021/22.

A new online exhibition focuses on a number of the evocative artworks created by artist Arthur Lockwood, dating from the 1990s to the 2000s. Arthur Lockwood: Documenting the Black Country, aims to highlight the various subject matter that Lockwood portrayed and his individual interpretation of areas and themes, including his birthplace Birmingham and the wider Black Country.

Working in watercolour and pen, Lockwood captured the changing urban landscape, including depictions of demolishment, redevelopment and derelict buildings.