Community News

Buckingham Palace has admitted that it has to start employing a more diverse workforce after the number BAME (Black & Minority Ethnic) employees working in the House was published for the first time.

In its annual financial accounts for 2020-2021 the Royal Household revealed its proportion of employees from ethnically diverse backgrounds stands at being 8.5% - short of its 10% target for 2022. According to a 2018 Race Disparity Audit commissioned by the UK government the percentage in the UK as a whole is around 14%.

A source said that the Palace published the figures so that they would be held accountable if no progress is made on the issue. This comes after the accusations made on the Oprah Winfrey Show, by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, of racism existing in the Royal Family.

Palace sources did, however, stress that changes in the Household towards diversity predated the allegations made by Meghan and Harry, but admitted that it (the Palace) needed to do more on diversity.

"We are not where we would like to be despite our efforts," the source said. "And we recognise that we must do more, we are engaging with the relevant grassroots organisations who sit on our steering committee, people who are able to give us a different voice, a different perspective, as well as other advisers.

"We felt that there is no place to hide following voluntarily publishing the statistics. We fully expect to be held accountable for the progress that we made and if we do not make the progress, we'll have to explain why." The Royal finance report says in early 2020 the diversity strategy was actively changed to emphasise the importance of inclusion.

During the Oprah Winfrey interview, the Sussexes claimed that questions were raised concerns with Harry about how dark their son Archie's skin tone might be before he was born. Following the interview, the Queen issued a statement saying that the issues raised especially around racism were being taken seriously but that some recollections may vary.

A Solihull couple are planning their first caravan holiday after winning a Swift Basecamp 4 SE and Vango porch awning worth over £22,000 in a Camping and Caravanning Club competition.

Susan Gray from Knowle, along with her husband, Iain, collected their prize at Broad Lane Leisure in Kenilworth.

Susan, a lunchtime supervisor at a local school, who entered the competition online, said: “It’s unbelievable really as you go in for competitions but never believe you will win something as big as a caravan. You might get the odd bottle of wine, but a caravan is something else!”

“When I met Iain we enjoyed a bit of tent camping and then the kids came and we started going camping in France. Now I’m looking forward to pitching up somewhere and going for a few walks with the dog before sitting in the van and unwinding. Our dog, Riley, will love being able to join us.

“We didn’t go away last year so it will be nice to enjoy some weekends away. We plan to start off with somewhere local and then go a little further afield.”

Susan and Iain will be joining many new staycationers that have chosen camping as their preferred holiday accommodation. The Camping and Caravanning Club is reporting a 99% increase in bookings for July and August on its network of 103 UK Club Sites compared to what it would typically expect, while caravan and motorhome dealerships are reporting high demand for new and used units. 

Husband Iain, a civil servant, added: “If we’re visiting places across the Midlands we usually just do it from home but with a caravan it becomes quite an attractive idea to pitch up somewhere for a couple of nights.

“The prize has come at completely the right time as our plans are to holiday in the UK and this offers the opportunity for us to go away for midweek breaks at short notice.”

Nick Page, Group Commercial Director at Swift Group, the manufacturer of the Basecamp range, said: “The Basecamp 4SE is a well-equipped caravan and the perfect size for Susan and Iain as they plan their summer of adventures. The caravan features a fold away bunk bed if any of their kids wish to join them and a touchscreen panel from which you can control onboard heating, lighting and power.”

“I hope the couple enjoy lots of great touring holidays in the years to come.”

Sabina Voysey, Director General at the Club, said: “I’m so pleased for the winners - caravanning is such an amazing past time and this year we’re helping more people than ever enjoy it. We’ve got hundreds of Camping and Caravanning Club sites across the country that are ready and waiting to be explored.”

Bristol, Reading and Manchester are Britain’s most caring places — punching above their weight with the number of people willing to help the lonely and vulnerable, reveals Companiions, a new app that connects people with trusted, vetted companions.

The West Country city has the highest proportion of vetted and rated companions when the figures are adjusted for population size. Reading and Manchester are second and third.

Users of befriending network Companiions can book a visit from a companion for a chat or for help with tasks around the house for themselves or a loved one.  

Table: Cities with highest amount of companions

Source: Companiions

Manchester leads the way when it comes to the cities with the most companions per user, meaning that loved ones in the North West have the biggest chance to find someone best suited to them. Both Leeds and Coventry, like Manchester, have more than eight companions available per user.

Table: Cities with the most companions per organiser

Source: Companiions

Companiions is a befriending network that enables friends and relatives - ‘organisers’ - to create a profile for a loved one or themselves, detailing any health issues, plus their likes and dislikes. They can then create a calendar specifying when they would like a companion to pop round to visit their loved one.

Organisers can select the companion most suited to their loved one’s needs, picking from profiles that detail experience levels, occupation, and skills like first aid.

All companions on the platform are carefully vetted using some of the world’s leading AI-powered identity verification tools. Loved ones meet their prospective companions by video call initially, allowing both sides to get to know each other.

Ratings and reviews allow organisers to make informed decisions and pinpoint the companions most likely to get on well with their loved one.

Organisers pay as little as £12 an hour for visits, and companions can donate any or all of their fee to charity if they wish.

Marguerite, of Walton on Thames, Surrey, lost her husband recently. She has 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchilden whom she sees regularly, but knows that they can’t visit as often as they would like. She was brought up in India, and likes to teach her companions traditional recipes, as well as getting help in the garden. 

Organiser Faye, of Thames Ditton in Surrey, booked companions to share a cup of tea and cook for her mother. One companion, Sue, of East Molesey, Surrey, enjoyed talking about line-dancing with a former professional ballroom dancer. She is using the money she earns from visits to save for a holiday.

The launch of Companiions comes after millions of people suffered loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nearly four out of five (77%) people in Britain say they’ve become more aware of others’ loneliness since the pandemic began, and over two thirds (69%) are now more conscious of those who require support with everyday tasks, a nationwide poll of more than 2,000 British adults conducted by YouGov for Companiions reveals.

Lisa Robinson, CEO of befriending network Companiions, said: “We’ve been amazed by the number of compassionate people across the country who have come forward to be companions.

“The residents of Bristol, Reading and Manchester have really led the way, and it’s a testament to the community spirit in these cities.

“The last year and a half have been immensely difficult for many people, and lockdown has seen loneliness and anxiety levels soar.

“For those people missing that vital human contact, Companiions can help find a trusted, vetted person who’s willing and able to spend some time with your loved one.

“The enforced separation we endured during the pandemic revealed what a difference simple things, like having someone to chat to, can make. Our research shows four fifths of us are now more conscious of the loneliness of others.

“Companiions is on a post-lockdown mission to end loneliness by bringing easy-to-arrange, trusted, convenient companionship to every community in the UK. 

“If you know someone who will still be lonely or unable to cope with everyday tasks when life returns to normal, wherever you live, you can organise a little bit of help or companionship securely and affordably via Companiions.”

People in many parts of Northern England and the Midlands face an ‘avalanche’ of debt as Covid-support is phased out this summer, according to new research from Centre for Cities think tank in partnership with Clarion Housing Group, that challenges the idea that people’s finances have benefited from lockdown.

They warn that the Government’s roadmap for withdrawing Covid-support will hit people in the North and Midlands disproportionately hard and, in a blow to the levelling up agenda, risks leaving the UK more divided than ever. Division between homeowners and people in social housing are also likely to increase, with social housing residents and people on low incomes far more likely to have fallen into debt during the pandemic.

During the pandemic people in richer neighbourhoods in predominantly southern cities cut down on luxuries and reduced their outgoings more than people in poorer neighbourhoods in – mostly northern – cities who spend proportionally more on food, bills and other essentials. As a result, for every £1 that people from less affluent areas saved, people in richer areas saved £12.

Because of this, people in around half of neighbourhoods in Hull, Bradford, and Liverpool are likely to have been pushed into debt trying to meet the cost of essentials due to pandemic job losses, furlough and a lack of savings.

On the other hand, cutting non-essential spending has helped people in wealthier places save money. People in Exeter and York are the biggest financial beneficiaries of lockdown, with those living in eight in ten neighbourhoods being more likely than not to have boosted their savings.

Four of the five cities where people are most likely to have saved money during the pandemic are in Southern England while the top five places where people are most likely to have fallen into debt are in Northern England – three in the Red Wall.

Pockets of southern England are also struggling, particularly London and cities reliant on the aviation sector such as Slough, Luton and Crawley where people in both richer and poorer neighbourhoods have seen their financial situation worsen in the last year.  

So far people have been shielded from the worst economic effects of this debt crisis by furlough, eviction bans and delays in the court system. But the problem will come to a head later this year when most Government support is withdrawn and the courts clear their case backlog.

The Government needs to get ahead of this problem and unveil a package of support for people facing financial hardship due to Covid-19. It should:

·         Create a specialist debt relief scheme for people who have incurred Covid-related debt. This debt should also not affect people’s credit scores.

·         Keep the £20 Universal Credit uplift. This will support local economies by keeping money circulating. Research shows this measure would also be popular with the public.

·         Retain the Job Retention Scheme for sectors that still cannot operate at full capacity such as travel and aviation. This will be essential in supporting people in places such as Crawley, Luton and Slough where the local economy depends on their airports.

A failure to introduce further support measures will worsen the North-South divide and set back the Government’s levelling up agenda.

Centre for Cities’ Chief Executive, Andrew Carter, said: “The pandemic has left this country more divided than ever. While people in mostly prosperous southern cities and towns have accumulated £150 billion of savings, many less affluent people in the North and Midlands will face an avalanche of debt as Government support ends later this year.

“The Government is withdrawing financial support far too quickly for people in places that have been hit hard by the pandemic. Not only will this set its levelling up agenda back significantly, it also risks levelling down many previously affluent parts of southern England such as Crawley.

David Orr, Chair of the Clarion Housing Association Board, said: “This research confirms that existing inequalities have deepened as a result of the pandemic. Many social housing residents were already in a precarious financial situation before the pandemic and are likely to have been disproportionately affected.

“As the largest social landlord in the country we do a significant amount of work to support our residents, but this needs to be complemented by government action. To ensure a fair and equitable recovery our residents need extra support to get back on their feet and a permanent £20 uplift in Universal Credit would make a significant difference to those in greatest need.”

Thousands of EU nationals living and working in Birmingham may remain undocumented just days before the deadline for the Government's EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). And Birmingham City Council Deputy Leader Cllr Brigid Jones today urged the Government to extend the 30 June deadline, following reports that 130,000 EU citizens settled in the UK could be on the verge of losing access to healthcare and other benefits.

Councillor Jones has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel MP, outlining serious concerns about the looming deadline and requesting an urgent on the number of Birmingham residents that have applied. She said: "Like other cities across the UK, Birmingham has seen higher than expected application numbers. But gaps in national data mean it’s not possible to accurately say how many more people are yet to apply. 

"What we do know is that the Covid pandemic has significantly impacted the level of outreach, support and advice available and has exacerbated existing challenges for people, as well as their ability to access face-to-face services. This predominantly affects households with dependent children, women, survivors of domestic abuse, older people.

“Surely it's reasonable to extend the deadline for these and other vulnerable groups. We’ve worked very hard to reach out to them through Adults and Children’s Services and Schools, but there’s a limit to who you can reach during a pandemic."

Cllr Jones added: “Birmingham is a wonderful diverse city and we are proud to offer a warm welcome to all who want to make their home here, including our friends from across the European Union.

“They play an important part in city life, helping to deliver our public services, enriching our culture and running and supporting businesses. Brexit has not changed this; we are still the same welcoming city and we want our EU citizens to stay.

“So, my message to EU citizens is this: I’m so sorry you are having to go through this but it is so important that you apply so you can stay here with the same benefits you currently have. I have written to the Home Secretary asking that government extends the deadline for people to apply.

“However, there is no guarantee this will happen, so please do apply no if you haven’t already.”

A West Midlands charity working to tackle youth violence and build mental health resilience has moved into its first office location.

First Class Foundation has taken 274 sq ft of serviced office accommodation at the former Carillion House building in Salop Street, Wolverhampton.

The charity, which delivers services on behalf of West Midlands Combined Authority, Sandwell Youth Offending Service and the Youth Justice Board, has been home-based since its inception in 2019.

Chief executive, Sabrina Dennis, said that the move will provide enhanced facilities for the charity’s seven employees and facilitate its future growth.

She said: “We’re thrilled to have moved into a new home in the heart of Wolverhampton. It means that we have a shared space for meeting and collaboration, rather than exclusively operating remotely, which will be even more important as we bring new people into our team.

“Although we have proved that virtual working can be successful, our practitioners are increasingly undertaking sensitive work involving issues of youth violence and mental health. The new office space provides sound proof booths and private meeting space to guarantee client confidentiality.”

First Class Foundation is best known for its delivery of Kitchen Table Talks, a six-month self-funded community pilot programme for the parents of young people aged 13-25 in Sandwell. The project has since expanded to become a successful and established vehicle for tackling issues including youth violence, knife crime and county lines.

Last year the charity was awarded a new regional ‘pathfinder’ project, focused on reducing serious youth violence in the West Midlands by engaging with the parents of young people involved in the youth justice system. The pathfinder is being delivered collaboratively between seven Youth Offending Teams in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton in conjunction with their local Violence Reduction Unit.

“We’re very proud that what started off as an idea to support parents in Sandwell, is now a regional service giving people a strategic voice about youth offending services in their area,” said Sabrina.  

“It will encourage parents to know that they are not alone and that with access to support, education and mentoring from relatable role models, they can overcome the many challenges that arise during a parenting journey.”

First Class Foundation also delivers the Dear Youngers project, a mental health and resilience programme for young African Caribbean males. It was profiled in the National Lottery Community Fund’s Voices from the Pandemic publication and featured on ITV News during this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

As part of its delivery of the project, First Class Foundation was consulted by Dr Justin Varney, head of public health at Birmingham City Council, regarding the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black and Ethnic Minority communities (BAME).

City of Wolverhampton Council’s new housing allocations policy will come into force on September 28, 2021. Prior to the new policy going live, all applicants will have to re-apply to determine their eligibility to join the Housing Register.

The council has started the process of contacting all current applicants over the coming months to provide them with instructions on how to reapply so that their circumstances can be reassessed under the new policy. Until then all current applications are still valid, and no action is required.

The Council consulted with customers about changes to its housing allocations policy. The changes are designed to ensure that council homes in Wolverhampton are let to those in the greatest housing need. All current housing applications will be closed after September 2021.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, said: “This is a crucial piece of work focusing on how we allocate our limited council housing stock.

“The consultation enabled people to have their say and addressed the challenges being experienced by residents, which is reflected in the new housing allocations policy. The Council remains committed to the objective of giving people in the greatest housing need the greatest opportunity to access suitable housing that best meets their needs.”

Marking the anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship in Tilbury Docks in Essex, in 1948, today, June 22nd, celebrates the contribution of the ‘Windrush Generation’ – the moniker used for the ship which brought the first group of people from countries in the Caribbean to live and work in the rebuilding of the UK, following the Second World War.

Introduced in 2018 - the 70th anniversary of the Windrush migration - today is the fourth national Windrush Day. It was brought in following a campaign by Patrick Vernon, an activist and a former Labour councillor in the London Borough of Hackney, who called for a celebration of the contribution of people from the Windrush Generation and migrant communities to UK society.

The day that the Empire Windrush discharged its passengers at Tilbury was not the first-time black people arrived to live in Britain.  Black people were here before 1948. The Empire Windrush ship is the first to be given such publicity and is more widely known because it was the first visible mass migration of black people to Britain; this noteworthy occurrence changed Britain forever.

The new arrivals were met with unease by some. It prompted complaints from some Members of Parliament. One MP remarked the new immigrants would be on the first boat home once the British winter sets in. The Empire Windrush ship was followed by other ships such as the SS Auriga, the SS Orbita, the SS Reina del Pacifico, the SS Castle Verde and the SS Georgic.

One of the Windrush projects is the Back to Eden Community Allotment Project which is based at the Heath Town Allotments, situated on the New Park Village estate in Wolverhampton.

The project initiated by Churches 4 Positive Change will focus on using horticulture and gardening activities, encouraging all age participation to grow fruit and vegetable crops, adopting healthier lifestyles, improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, whilst providing community social interaction for seniors and others to share Windrush stories in a relaxed natural environment.   To get involved in the project email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit them at 2343ec78a04c6ea9d80806345d31fd78-gdprlock/C4PCWolverhampton.

Birmingham Museum Trust West Midlands is commemorating the Windrush Generation through 4 short films and interviews, including a schools learning resource supported by the digitisation of The Birmingham Black Oral History Project, and an online lecture as part of the Museums on Demand programme, whilst the Equality and Inclusion Partnership (Equip) West Midlands, is set to have a series of workshops to gather creative materials that celebrate, share & illustrate the journey of the Windrush generation to the UK, culminating in an exhibition and event.

Citizens for Change West Midlands, a community allotment project to enable the Windrush Generation to pass on knowledge and skills about plants, cultivation and cooking, are marking the Day with their own celebratory events whilst wider afield organisations throughout the UK, including the Leicester Caribbean Cricket Club East Midlands, who will be documenting stories from the local community there who established cricket activities and developed resources for local schools and youth clubs from those stories. Open Doors Forum East Midlands is capturing Windrush stories via a podcast and videos/short films to produce a ‘mixtape’ alongside music and photographs for publication online, with a magazine, school resource packs and community outreach events.

Telford African & Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre is producing specially designed thank you cards to Windrush elders, a Windrush Day celebration, a Windrush themed art competition and school workshops documenting Windrush oral histories whilst the Vine Community Centre East Midlands will be documenting Windrush stories through film & photography, a church service on Windrush Day, costume workshops for Nottingham Carnival and other creative workshops with a legacy day in October.

Leeds City College Yorkshire and Humber, ESOL and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) learners interacting with the Leeds Caribbean community through creative workshops, a letter-writing campaign and creation of life storybooks, who will be presented to the Windrush Generation at a celebratory event and shared digitally as an educational resource. Hull Council Yorkshire and Humber are partnering with Museumand, The National Caribbean Heritage Museum to print the online book ‘70 Objeks and Tings’ for distribution to schools, libraries and community venues; producing a new book on Caribbean culture in Hull with an online version and an interactive trail, and a Caribbean cultural exhibition to tour community venues.

At Ipswich Borough Council East of England, an Ipswich Community Radio programme and a town centre event will include interviews with key Windrush Generation leaders, which will become archived for use beyond the event.

Leading a host of events in the capital, the National Maritime Museum London, presents the Windrush Generation’s histories in video and music to complement digitised photographic collection; creation of reminiscence packs for Windrush people experiencing dementia; school workshops and a webinar to share learning.

The 492 Korna Klub London are presenting a virtual project of 4 online events, accessed either 1:1 or in groups, at which 30 Windrush volunteers will appear as an interactive ‘human library.’ The Blackfriars Settlement presents a creation of a digital archive & soundscape exploring the experiences of and contributions by immigrants from the smaller Caribbean islands, and then touring local schools with the product, Evewright Arts Foundation South East, has a production of monographs as a legacy resource to preserve Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories, an art & sound installation to commemorate the Windrush Generation, whilst the Bernie Grant Arts Centre presents their 3rd Windrush Festival with 25 creative events championing a wide range of Caribbean diaspora artists, including an ‘An Evening With Lovers Rock.’

Harmony Youth Project North West has a 3-month creative exhibition focussing on Windrush with smaller creative projects leading to a final event with a Caribbean church choir, a performance at residential homes by school pupils, live Caribbean music, a seminar on the history of Windrush, and a disco for young people.

The UK Government has backed the day with the Windrush Day Grant Scheme, with grants for projects commemorating the unique day in history. Highlight all of the events and activities that will be happening across the UK to celebrate and educate the day, the events have been largely funded by the government’s Windrush Grant Scheme to get wider recognition and understanding not just from the Caribbean community but all communities in the UK about the Windrush Generation and their contribution to our country.

In 2018 Kingsway Project commissioned the Royal Mail Windrush 70 Stamps. The group continues to produce informative booklets, calendars and short films to inform people about Windrush. For information visit windrush70.com.

Oldbury and West Bromwich are the latest towns to be added to the growing West Midlands Cycle Hire (WMCH) network following the launch in Sandwell today.

More than 60 of the distinctive grey and green bikes are now available across ten docking stations at popular destinations around the area including Sandwell Hospital, Dartmouth Park, Sandwell College and Sandwell and Dudley Railway Station. This follows successful launches earlier this year across the West Midlands which have seen tens of thousands of riders clock up more than 150,000 km on the bikes.

Now the people of Sandwell will be able to try the bikes for fun or for their daily commute simply by downloading the West Midlands Cycle Hire app and following the instructions to find and unlock their nearest bike. First time riders can enjoy their first 30 minutes free of charge. Among those keen to give them a go this morning was Cllr Jackie Taylor, cabinet member for sustainable transport at Sandwell Council.

She said: “It’s incredibly exciting to launch the new cycle hire scheme in Sandwell. The scheme has been popular in other areas and I know Sandwell residents will welcome this new mode of transport to help them get around the borough.

“There will be cycling docks across the six towns in Sandwell and I encourage people to take this opportunity to reap the benefits of the cycle hire scheme. Cycling is also one way of staying fit and healthy and will also help lower carbon emissions by reducing the number of cars on our roads.

“But important as cycling and this scheme are, this is only one part of a truly sustainable transport system for Sandwell. That’s why I am committed to ensuring that people with physical disabilities and women who are survivors of female genital mutilation have access to cycling. I will be working closely with our partners at WMCA to ensure that everyone has access to the transport links we all need.”

The cycle hire scheme has been developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in partnership with local councils. The scheme is run by Serco – the operator of London’s famous Santander Cycles – using bikes, docks and locks manufactured in the West Midlands - part of the locking mechanism is made by West Bromwich engineering firm PHA Europe.

Investment in cycling facilities is a key part of the region’s plan to provide more alternatives to the car for shorter journeys around busy towns and cities with a view to reducing congestion, improving air quality and helping the region achieve its #WM2041 net zero-carbon target. Next month the region hosts the UK100 International Net Zero Local Leadership Conference meeting of city leaders to share best practice on climate change.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “With the addition of Sandwell today, we now have our cycle hire scheme up and running across all seven boroughs of the urban West Midlands.

“Our bikes have proven to be very popular across so far, with more than 150,000 kilometres already clocked up by riders across the region. I am delighted we’ve now launched in Sandwell where I am sure they will prove just as popular.

“Not only is cycling good for people’s health and wellbeing, but it also helps us reduce the number of cars on the road as we look to tackle air pollution and the climate change emergency. So, if you haven’t already then please do give our bikes a go – and remember your first 30-minute ride is free!”

Sam Jones, Serco’s micromobility director, said: “We are delighted to be working with TfWM to introduce the West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme for the residents and visitors to Sandwell.

“Serco is using its experience managing the successful cycle hire schemes in London and Edinburgh to bring the new cycle hire scheme to the West Midlands and we have successfully launched the scheme in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Solihull, Stourbridge and Walsall. The new cycle network is already becoming part of the transport infrastructure in the West Midlands and we look forward to working with our partners Pashley and Beryl as well as TfWM to ensure that the scheme goes from strength to strength.”

When fully rolled-out later this year there will be 170 fixed docks and 1,500 bikes for hire across the region, of which 150 will be powered e-bikes. The pedal cycles have three gears to cope with hills and are fitted with high quality laser safety lights.

As an introductory offer everyone who signs up will get their first 30 minute bike ride for free. The normal cost of unlocking a bike is £1 with a 5p per minute charge after that, which means a 20 minute cycle will cost £2 and an hour £4.

With sizzling hot summer days already upon us and pandemic restrictions on travel abroad still a concern, most of us will be planning to spend a lot more time in our gardens over the coming weeks.

With this in mind, Rob Smith – allotment gardener and regular on Channel 4’s Packed Lunch – has shared his Top Ten Tips on how to get the most out of your garden this summer:

1.      Get ready for summer by decluttering the shed, tidying the garage or sprucing up the garden and finally getting rid of all those broken or cracked plant pots, old bricks and other bits of garden waste.  HIPPOBAGs are the responsible way of getting rid of garden rubbish with over 95% of your waste diverted from landfill; and don’t worry if you don’t think you’ll fill your HIPPOBAG straight away as you have up to 6 months to fill it!

2.      Make sure you keep your potted plants and baskets well-watered in the warmer weather.  Placing a large saucer under each pot will help reduce the need for watering and you can add water retaining crystals to baskets and troughs, saving you time and money, leaving you to enjoy the garden.

3.      Sow tasty salad leaves little and often to keep you cropping home grown veg all summer; perfect for BBQ’s and alfresco dining.  Try sprinkling mixed lettuce seeds into old buckets every 2-3 weeks, then within a month or so you’ll be harvesting sweet cut-and-come again leaves; it really is that easy!

4.      If you’re growing veggies in a greenhouse, make sure to keep the doors and windows open as the temperatures rise, after all it can get hot in there and you don’t want your plants to scorch.  Consider using shade netting to give your plants some protection from the sun in the height of summer.

5.      If you’re growing tomatoes inside or outside, remember its best to water the soil at the base of the plant rather than watering over the leaves as this can encourage blight, which in turn will ruin your plants and your harvest.  Removing leaves which cover the fruit will also encourage your toms to ripen and taste super sweet.

6.      Any plant that fruits or flowers will benefit from a feed during summer.  You don’t need to buy lots of specialist plant feeds; using a good quality tomato food will work on anything from tomatoes to cucumbers, through to strawberries and raspberries.

7.      If you are growing flowers in the garden, be it dahlias, begonias, cosmos or anything in between, the more you dead-head (remove the old wilted flowers), the more they will flower!  By doing this you are encouraging the plants to put energy into producing beautiful blooms rather than setting seed.

8.      All gardeners end up with lots of old plastic plant pots after they have planted out their flowers or veg in the garden, so why not wash them, save them and re-use them next year when you sow your seeds?  Instead of piles of pots, why not store them in a HIPPOBAG Midi Bag, it's the perfect size to put behind the shed or garage and its only £12.49, plus it folds up flat when not in use; this makes it great for storing stuff on the allotment too!

9.      Annual weeds should be removed from your garden by hoeing or digging them up and adding them to your compost heap.  However, if you have lots of problem weeds like nettles, dandelions or dock, why not put them in a HIPPOBAG to dry out so they won’t spread, then at the end of the summer you can add the desiccated weeds to the compost or simply book HIPPO to come and take the bag away, weeds and all! (Try the handy new HIPPO app for a really easy way to buy HIPPOBAGs and book collections.)

10.   Courgettes are a great veg for hardened gardeners or newbies to have a go at. They’re quick and easy to grow, they crop by the bucketful and it can be griddled on the BBQ, made into courgette spaghetti, added to curries and pasta sauce and even made into chutneys and jams.  Just remember to keep picking the fruit every couple of days or you’ll end up with a giant marrow; then again at least you’ll be ready for the village show if you grow a whopper!

From June 17 applications have gone live for Birmingham 2022 Creative City Grants – an extraordinary opportunity for community groups in Birmingham to apply for a grant of up to £20,000 to deliver creative projects that impact positively on their community.

Thanks to funding from Birmingham City Council, the projects will be a part of the upcoming the six-month festival of culture accompanying the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Up to 150 individual community groups will benefit from grants, with the goal to ensure that every ward in the city benefits from the £2m fund. To submit an application, or to find out more about Creative City Grants, visit: birmingham2022.com/culture/creativecitygrants.

A full breadth of community groups based in Birmingham are encouraged to apply, from local sporting teams and youth groups through to disability groups and LGBTQI+ networks who want to create arts as part of the six-month festival of culture accompanying the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Those who have never applied for grants of this kind before are welcomed and the Birmingham 2022 Culture Programme are ready to provide support and advice.

Encouraging artists and communities to work in partnership, the programme aims to be fully representative of the people of Birmingham with a panel of community leaders involved in the selection process. Thanks to generous investment from Birmingham City Council, the grants will provide an opportunity for Birmingham residents to come together to co-create artworks, creative works and performances to occupy the high streets, neighbourhoods, parks, waterways, venues and civic spaces of the city.

Lydia Harrington, Grants Programme Manager (Cultural Programme), said: “We want to build a programme of creative projects that showcase the people that make Birmingham so special. We’re a diverse and young city so we want to see that in the people who lead and participate in the projects. Successful applicants will also be offered training to increase their confidence in applying for further sources of funding in the future.”

Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture at Birmingham City Council, said: “We always said the Games are more than 11 days of fantastic sporting competition. These grants will enable groups and organisations with their roots in Birmingham to showcase the very best of the city’s creativity to an international audience, and prove what we have always known – Birmingham is a great place in which to live, work or visit.”

Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games said: “Birmingham City Council’s significant commitment to the Games culture programme will see the work of residents and organisations from across the city standing proudly and equally next to that of major cultural and artistic institutions from across the region.”

To submit an application or to find out more about Creative City Grants visit birmingham2022.com/culture/creativecitygrants. Applications close at noon on Thursday 1 July 2021.

A group of art students have created a striking new mural to welcome back thousands of returning passengers to London Euston station. The public artwork was officially unveiled yesterday (Friday June 18) after a team of 16 painters spent 392 hours* brightening up Euston's entrance.

Local artists ‘Artmongers’ from the Lewisham School of Muralism were posed the question ‘how far can your ticket take you?’ as a starting point for the piece of art. Their response: a painted mural of iconic orange rail tickets folded into origami shapes.

Their canvas: hoardings at the main entrance to the major London transport hub. The artistic concept is that each ticket each has its own different story, but once folded a new space is made creating another dimension where 'anything is possible'.

The work was commissioned by Network Rail to brighten up the station with increasing passenger numbers returning to rail travel after Covid-19 lockdowns.

Gareth Parry, Station Manager for London Euston, said: “We’re blown away by the Artmongers mural and we hope that passengers are as impressed as we are.

“We’ve been working really hard during the pandemic to get the station in the best possible shape for passengers. This mural is another example of how the rail industry is committed to building back better from the pandemic so people can travel in confidence on the railway.”

Director of Artmongers, Patricio Forrester, said: “It’s been a real pleasure for our artists to work at Euston. Our work is a provocative space for everyone who wants to find inspiration by being on the move.

“The students have worked together, inspiring each other, pinching from each other and elevating each other’s games – and in this way, we came up with the reversible orange ticket idea. Each ticket has a different story and a wider meaning – we hope passengers will be inspired by our work and will enjoy working out the meanings behind the tickets”.

Meanwhile passengers are urged to keep following government advice around the use of public transport. People should wear face coverings on trains and in stations unless exempt for medical reasons and make space for others where possible to maintain a safe distance while travelling.

Carers enjoyed a socially distanced stroll around West Park and a cake and cuppa in the Tea Rooms to mark the culmination of Carers Week on Friday.

They were joined on the ‘walk and talk’ by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Councillor Linda Leach, who paid tribute to their incredible efforts in providing care and support for their loved ones.

She said: "We have over 27,000 unpaid carers in Wolverhampton who look after family members or friends who have a disability, mental or physical illness or simply need extra help as they grow older, and it was a privilege to meet just a few of them on our stroll around West Park and listen to their inspiring stories.

"Each and every one of our unpaid carers is doing an incredible job, often in the most trying of circumstances, and Carers Week was a chance to highlight the help that is available to them through our Carer Support Team.”

Wolverhampton’s Carer Support Team offers a range of help to people who care for a friend, relative or neighbour, ensuring they are supported in their caring role, have access to the services they need and are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

Meanwhile, a weekly social group for carers takes place over Zoom every Friday from 2pm-4pm, and Friday’s event at West Park was so successful that the team hope to launch a regular carers group at the Tea Rooms in the near future.

Councillor Leach added: “If you are an unpaid carer, and you need any help at all, please don't hesistate to get in touch with the Carer Support Team – they are ready and waiting for your call."

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

The theme of this year’s Carers Week was to Make Caring Visible and Valued – recognising the fact that many people have taken on more caring responsibilities for relatives or friends as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

As the weather starts to warm up, Severn Trent is encouraging customers to put on their metaphorical capes and become water saving heroes this summer.

As part of the campaign, the company is also offering its water saving customers the opportunity to win a day out. All customers need to do is upload a photo, video or drawing/design of their top tip to Facebook or Instagram and explain the idea or top tip in the description – by using the hashtag #STWaterSavingHero they’ll be entered into a free prize draw to win a £200 gift card for use in a variety of restaurants, theme parks and hotels.

Doug Clarke, water resources manager at Severn Trent, said: “We noticed a huge increase in water demand during the hottest period last summer, especially as more people were spending time at home and in the garden. With another summer of staycations ahead of us we’re asking for customers to help by leaving the car and jet washing for another day and just enjoy the good weather.”

The company has revealed that demand increased by a whopping 40% during the hottest period last summer when everyone was at home, and while its reservoirs often remain full of raw water, the challenge is treating and pumping it out fast enough to meet demand - especially when temperatures increase and more people head into their gardens.

Doug added: “We’re really excited to see our customers tips and tricks for saving water, whether it’s swapping from a garden hose to a watering can, jazzing up their water butt to make it a garden feature or turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, there are so many easy ways to save water and we cannot wait to see what everyone comes up with.”

Severn Trent’s top water saving tips:

·         Always use a watering can instead of a hosepipe when watering the garden

·         Try switching from a hosepipe to a bucket and sponge when washing the car

·         Be proud of your yellow lawn, it’ll bounce back in no time once it rains

·         Sprinkle Swell Gel in your pots, planters and hanging baskets - these clever granules store water and then slowly release it as your soil dries out, keeping your plants happier for longer

·         Use recycled water wherever you can - collect rainwater in a water butt, empty pets water bowls in the border when you refresh them, you could also use leftover paddling pool water to water your plants

·         Don’t forget that you can also get free water saving devices to help save water in your home too!

Residents, landlords and business owners will have their views heard on how housing conditions can be improved, and anti-social behaviour can be reduced in the borough.

Haringey Council have launched a 12-week public consultation for a new property licensing scheme that will cover properties that are privately rented to single households or two unrelated individuals in parts of Haringey. The consultation runs from 17 May 2021 to 8 August 2021.

Haringey is a vibrant, diverse borough where people want to work and live. 

As a result of this the increased demand for housing has seen a growth in our private rented sector. 

Unfortunately, not all privately rented property is of a good condition or managed effectively by landlords and agents, and this has resulted in various housing issues. 

We are aware of some housing conditions that do not meet our required standards and have led to an increase in anti-social behaviour, but the Haringey community are now being given the chance to address these issues and improve the standards across the borough.

Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Planning, Licensing and Housing Services said: “We are an inclusive council and continually strive to put community first and work for the best possible outcomes and this is why we a proposing change that will make a difference to people’s everyday lives. 

“Haringey has always worked closely in partnership with landlords and this proposed licensing scheme will provide a much-needed framework to enable us to ensure our high standards of accommodation requirements are applied and met across the privately rented sector in the borough.”

The council is proposing a scheme that will cover 14 wards within the borough and run for a period of five years. All properties in the area that are privately rented to single households (or two sharers) will need to have a licence to be legally let.

Areas proposed may be subject to change as a result of this consultation, as your views matter to us. See the survey link below for a full list of the areas included.

All are welcome to attend one of our online events where you will have the opportunity to find out more about the proposed Additional Licensing Scheme and share your feedback.

•    Workshop 1 – Today (Wednesday 16 June) 2021, 7pm to 8.30pm
•    Workshop 2 - Monday 5 July 2021, 6pm to 7.30pm
•    Workshop 3 - Friday 16 July 2021, 3pm to 4.30pm 

Due to the size of the areas included, approval to have such a scheme will need to be agreed locally by the council’s Cabinet and then by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). If approved, the scheme could be introduced in 2022.

Families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire say they are angry the government has failed to fix thousands of other dangerous buildings four years on from the disaster. An estimated 700,000 people are still living in buildings wrapped in flammable materials.

What started as a small kitchen fire in the early hours of 14 June 2017, engulfed the entire tower in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and killed 72 people. The type of ACM cladding on the 24-storey council block has been blamed for helping to spread the flames.

Safety checks on thousands of other high-rise buildings in the wake of the tragedy revealed not just dangerous cladding but other fire safety faults, including defective insulation, missing fire breaks and flammable balconies. Leaseholders across the UK now face bills of up to £100,000 each.

Last month, there was a fire at a development in east London with the same type of cladding used at Grenfell. Ventilation systems and fire doors did not respond to sensors at the New Providence Wharf building when a blaze broke out on the eighth floor, according to a report by the London Fire Brigade.

"It's really shocking in this day and age in a first world country we have buildings like this - and people living in death traps," warns Mariam Chaudhary, one of 35 people rescued.

"It's the last thing you expect when you are buying a place," adds the accountant, who is originally from Canada. "You expect to be safe. We are coming home and having to be super vigilant. It's so scary."

New Providence Wharf is eligible for money from the government's Building Safety Fund for the removal of dangerous cladding and since the fire, the developers have agreed to pay for the remaining work to make the building safe. The Bishop of Kensington is also backing a campaign, led by leaseholders, for new laws to compel developers to act and not pass on costs to leaseholders.

"We need legislation that will force the hands of developers and those responsible for putting up buildings that we now know not to be safe," Dr Graham Tomlin says. "People in Grenfell needed to feel safe in their homes and they weren't safe, and people around the country are facing mental and financial stress as a result of the cladding scandal. We need urgent action."

Churches across London will be lit up green and toll their bells 72 times later to mark the anniversary of the tragedy. The Prime Minister tweeted his "thoughts are with the survivors, the bereaved and the wider community affected by this devastating fire".

He added: "This government is committed to ensuring this never happens again." Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick echoed those words, saying: "The government will continue to stand with the community to honour those that lost their lives and ensure justice is delivered." The Grenfell United campaign is warning the tragedy will be repeated if the government's efforts to fix the crisis are not better funded and faster.

Mr Daffarn says there is growing frustration that no one has been held accountable for the disaster.

He believes the tower should, for now, stand as a monument.

"The tower must remain there as a symbol of what happened," he adds.

"The lack of progress. If I had my own way I would rip the covering off the tower and expose it in its full horror until we get some form of justice."

The government has allocated £5.1bn to remove dangerous cladding on the highest risk blocks over 18 metres. Those in lower-rise buildings will be able to access a loan to help pay for cladding removal, with repayments capped at a maximum of £50 a month.

Ministers have repeatedly said that building owners have a responsibility to make buildings safe.