Community News

Colors: Blue Color

A popular and much-loved Birmingham councillor has died suddenly, aged 43.

The devastated family of Penny Holbrook, a lifelong Labour stalwart who represented Stockland Green in Erdington, confirmed their tragic loss, whose unexpected death has stunned fellow politicians and community leaders who she represented and supported through nearly two decades of public service, and a lifetime fighting to protect the most vulnerable.

The only Midlands based cryotherapy clinic, Active Clinic - based on Birmingham’s Hagley Road - recently celebrated 5 successful years of business with a lavish party which included VIP guests, celebrities and sports stars such as, Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Muhammad Afzal, Love Island’s Idris Virgo, BBC Radio Presenter/Actor Noreen Khan, BBC Radio London duo Sunny & Shay, Brummie Take Me Out TV Personality Kirsty Lo, former kickboxing world champion Wayne Turner and international female rugby star Heather Fisher.

77% of plants found in the UK’s city gardens originated overseas according to a forthcoming major study by Professor Jane Memmott, Professor of Ecology at Bristol University and President of the British Ecological Society, and colleagues.

Taking this remarkable statistic as inspiration, Trigger Collective has created the major cultural event and installation PoliNations, which has been commissioned as part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, as a way to reflect on the UK’s complex histories surrounding migration and diversity whilst celebrating our differences, our roots, and our future, and emphasising the importance of access to green spaces and a healthy planet for all.

As part of our #WipeOutDiscrimination campaign – which aims to raise awareness about what prejudice looks like so we can work together to wipe it out of Haringey, the Mayor of Haringey, Councillor Adam Jogee, has shared his story about the challenges he’s faced as a black 29-year-old Muslim man.

Since being first elected to the council in 2014, Cllr Jogee has experienced both racism and Islamophobia, as he recalls being called a ‘monkey’ and ‘Jihadi Jogee’ because of his race, and religion.

With dog ownership skyrocketing over the past 18 months, the impact of lockdown on puppy buying may be even more widespread than expected, with certain ‘rare’ breeds seeing their numbers increase during the height of the pandemic in the West Midlands.       

New data released ahead of Discover Dogs by dog welfare organisation, The Kennel Club, shows that, since the start of the pandemic, there has been a rise both regionally and nationally in the popularity of more unusual breeds, suggesting that puppy buyers were using the time spent at home to research more unknown breeds that would best suit their lifestyle.

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall is to receive £34,000 from the third round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.

The heritage venue is among 925 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund. More than £100 million has be awarded to hundreds of cultural organisations across the country in the latest round of support from the fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) is warning drivers to avoid bogus car insurance deals on social media, as it reveals over 21,000 fraudulent motor insurance policies were reported to it by insurers in the past 12 months which could be linked to the scam.

‘Ghost Broking’ is a growing scam, which involves fraudsters pretending to be Brokers in order to sell unrealistically cheap and completely fake policies.

Health for Life, an evidence based, award winning programme funded by Mondelēz International, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

To mark the milestone, the scheme is giving schools the opportunity to receive one of three Health for Life grants of £5,000. The Health for Life programme was introduced in 2011 and helps adults and children in the West Midlands to focus on living a healthier life.

Lozells is the second area in Birmingham where people are being consulted about expanding and making permanent the temporary measures instigated, last year to create Places for People.

Last year, a one-way system was created and streets were narrowed by large planters which made it difficult for cars to cut-through the residential area situated between Heathfield Road, Lozells Road and Nursery Road. 

On 15-21 November 2021, all 45 UK police forces will execute Op Drive Insured in a national effort to reduce uninsured driving levels and protect road users.

The week-long campaign which has been developed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) and NPCC’s National Roads Policing Operations, Intelligence and Investigations (NRPOII), will see an increase in roads policing activity to detect and seize uninsured vehicles.

Three groups across Birmingham and Coventry are urgently seeking support to help them win a share of a £1million prize pot – with a week to go until voting closes.

Sandwell Young Carers, Our Community Foundation and Baby Godiva are all representing Persimmon Homes Central in the housebuilder’s Building Futures competition - and are in with a chance of walking away with up to £100,000 each.

The success of young people in Wolverhampton going on to forge independent lives for themselves was celebrated during the recent National Care Leavers Week.

The City of Wolverhampton Council helped over 30 young people make the move out of care to independent living in the last year, despite the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic – and they, as well as young people preparing to make that next step, took part in a wide range of activities through the week.

More than 3,000 new trees will take root across Wolverhampton this month as City of Wolverhampton Council organises five special planting events to help tackle climate change, boost public health and support nature. Trees will be planted at sites across the city to support the council’s Tree and Woodland Strategy as well as recognising our recently declared climate emergency. 

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