Community News

In an extraordinary year, we have faced many challenges and have had to modify how we live our lives. We had to adjust to new ways of socialising, worshipping, working and even shopping.

The Coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the world at large and the United Kingdom in particular, taking a particularly heavy toll on our Diaspora with many of us having to say goodbye to loved ones while observing social distancing measures.

I am heartened by the resolve and determination of our people in adjusting to the ‘new normal’. I would like to salute the members of the Diaspora who have worked on the frontline, such as nurses, doctors, bus drivers, teachers and those in other vital support services.

The Jamaican High Commission will continue to work along with the many community groups and individuals to provide support for vulnerable members of our community. Last year also saw the Black Lives Matter protests, which served as a catalyst for meaningful discussion and a commitment to pursue remedial action to arrest the lingering issues of discrimination.

I am pleased that one of these steps will be the inclusion of the contribution of Black people to the development of the UK, as well as more on Britain’s colonial past in the national curriculum. We cannot shy away from the realities of slavery and the resulting institutional racism. We must understand our past and learn from those experiences to prevent its repeat, and instill confidence and a sense of pride in our young people.

As we look forward to a better new year, we can reflect that during 2020 we have faced some of our darkest hours, but we have also discovered the true strength within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.

May God continue to bless you and your families.

The Metropolitan Police's handling of a vigil in south London to mourn Sarah Everard has been widely criticised across the political spectrum. Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked the Met for a report on what happened, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "urgently seeking an explanation" from Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick.

Officers were seen handcuffing and leading women away from the event. Police said four arrests were made at the vigil to "protect people's safety".

Several hundred people gathered on Clapham Common on Saturday evening to pay tribute to 33-year-old - whose death has prompted a public debate over women's safety - despite Covid restrictions. The official vigil had been called off earlier in the day after organisers said the force had failed to "constructively engage" on how it could be held in a Covid-secure way.

One video posted online showed officers removing women who were standing by the bandstand. Cries of "shame on you" and "let them go" could be heard from onlookers. The video showed them being put in a police van and driven away.

Jamie Klingler, from Reclaim These Streets, which had been organising the official vigil, said the event would have been "a lot safer" if it had been held officially, adding the group had 50 stewards who were "trained and ready to go. We told the Met that it was going to be worse if we didn't have the organisation that we already had planned that was Covid-safe," she said.

The group added in a statement that it was "deeply saddened and angered" by the police's actions and criticised officers for "physically manhandling women at a vigil against male violence".

"It is their responsibility to protect public order, public health and the right to protest - they failed tonight on all accounts," the group added in a statement. The Met said it was the "only responsible thing" for them to do to ensure public safety. The force added that a review will be carried out to see if "lessons can be learned".

Politicians from across the spectrum have criticised the Met's response to the vigil. Ms Patel called footage on social media "upsetting" and said she had asked the Metropolitan Police for a full report on what happened.

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins called the scenes; "incredibly upsetting", adding that it was "right" the force "explain their actions - both to the democratically elected politicians and the public". She said the government hopes to be "hearing explanations" from Dame Cressida in the hours and days to come.

Asked whether the Met Police commissioner should leave her post, Ms Atkins added: "I really, really want to support the home secretary in her request to have a report from Cressida.

Labour's Shadow Domestic Violence Minister, Jess Phillips, said the force had "got it wrong at every single turn". She said: "There are a million ways that could have been organised, but the police put their foot down before they put their boot in and at every stage they made the wrong call."

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: “The scenes were unacceptable and I am urgently seeking an explanation from the commissioner. The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from images I've seen it's clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate."

Victims Commissioner for England and Wales Dame Vera Baird QC said there was no real prospect of police successfully intervening in the crowd in Clapham. She said: "Are they really improving the chances of Covid not spreading by putting their knees in the middle of the back of young women and putting their hands in handcuffs?"

Among those who took part in the doorstep vigil were Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, who lit a candle and placed it in front of No 10. Earlier, Mr Johnson tweeted that he would "be thinking of her family and friends", adding: "I will do everything I can to make sure the streets are safe." Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a picture of a candle in her home, which she said was "for Sarah", while Wales's First Minister Mark Drakeford encouraged people to "ignite a fire for change".

Met Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said hundreds of people were "packed tightly together", posing a risk of transmitting Covid-19. "Police must act for people's safety, this is the only responsible thing to do," she said in a statement. "We absolutely did not want to be in a position where enforcement action was necessary. But we were placed in this position because of the over-riding need to protect people's safety."

Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with Ms Everard's kidnap and murder and was remanded in custody to appear again at the Old Bailey on 16 March.

A Birmingham man is celebrating after winning a ‘life-changing’ sum of money in a raffle that also raised more than £43,000 for Alzheimer’s Society.

Web developer, Eli Stone, won £200,000 in the prize draw organised by Martin and Sue Stephenson – and says it will enable him to move from a flat into a house. The draw had been set up by the couple as an alternative to putting their stunning £700,000 property in Snowdonia, Wales, on the market.

They needed to sell 330,000 raffle tickets to be able to give the 150-year-old converted chapel, Capel Jerusalem, and the adjoining Jerusalem Vestry as the prize. And although they did not achieve their target, they raised enough to make the huge cash prize and charity donation possible.

Eli, 28, said: “When Sue phoned to say I was the winner I was stunned – I honestly don’t feel like the news has sunk in yet. It’s a life-changing sum of money that will make a huge difference to me. I’ve been living in a flat for years, but this money means I can now start looking at houses.”

Renovating the building was a labour of love for Martin and Sue, but they decided the time was right to move back to their native Yorkshire to be closer to Martin’s parents. They chose Alzheimer’s Society as the beneficiary of the prize draw because Martin’s dad Ronald, 88, of Sheffield, has dementia. And despite not hitting their target for ticket sales, they have no regrets.

Sue, 53, a former marketing consultant, said: “It has been an amazing journey. The prize draw didn’t quite work out as we expected, but we are delighted we’ve been able to give Alzheimer’s Society a donation of more than £43K.”         

“Working so closely with Alzheimer’s Society has opened our eyes to the number of families affected by this devastating disease. Raising awareness and letting people know that they are not alone has been as important to us as raising funds for the charity. We are already thinking of more fundraising ideas for the future. And, of course, we are delighted for Eli, the prize draw winner, and wish him every happiness for the future.”

Chris Manley, Alzheimer’s Society Philanthropy Manager, said: “We can’t thank Martin and Sue enough for what they have achieved – to have raised more than £43K for us is quite simply remarkable.

“What’s even more incredible, given the amount of hard work they’ve put into this campaign, is that they’re not done yet. We rely heavily on the goodwill of fundraisers to enable us to support people living with dementia, campaign on their behalf and fund research.

“Coronavirus has shattered the lives of so many people with the condition. They have been the worst hit by the pandemic and need our support now more than ever. People like Martin and Sue are helping to make that possible.”

The two luxury homes are now for sale. 

A minute's silence and a national doorstep vigil will form part of a day of reflection to mark the anniversary of the UK's first Covid lockdown. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is backing charity Marie Curie's plan for Tuesday March 23, when those who have died in the pandemic will be remembered.

There will be a minute's silence at 12:00 GMT with people encouraged to light up their doorsteps that night. Prominent buildings and landmarks will also be illuminated across the UK.

The Prime Minister announced the first national stay-at-home order on 23 March 2020, days after warning many families would lose loved ones before their time.

The total number of recorded deaths linked to coronavirus in the UK stood at 335 on that date. There have now been 143,259 deaths, according to the latest figures. Since then there have been three periods of national restrictions, as well as the introduction of levels and tiers of measures in all four nations.

The past 12 months have also seen coronavirus vaccines developed from scratch, with 23.3m people in the UK having now received a first dose. The prime minister said he would observe the minute's silence at noon privately.

Other senior politicians have given their support to the event, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford all saying they would take part. Mr Johnson said: "This has been an incredibly difficult year for our country. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, and who have not been able to pay tribute to them in the way they would have wanted.

"As we continue to make progress against the virus, I want to thank people for the sacrifices they continue to make, and hope they can look forward to being reunited with loved ones as restrictions are cautiously eased." Alongside the minute's silence and doorstep vigil, the day will also see community-led activities take place, such as virtual assemblies, choirs, services and yellow ribbons being wrapped around trees.

A series of free online talks organised by the Good Grief Festival will also take place, featuring experts, bereaved families and celebrities. It is hoped people will help create a nationwide "beacon of remembrance" on their doorsteps by beaming phones, candles and torches into the night sky at 20:00.

Marie Curie chief executive Matthew Reed said that it was important that get together to reflect on a collective loss, celebrate the lives of the special people no longer here, support those who have been bereaved and look towards a much brighter future.

Plans for outdoor Mother's Day meet-ups today are set as a relaxation of Wales' lockdown rules are in force with up to four adults from two households able to meet up in a private garden. The stay-at-home rule has now been replaced by a requirement to stay local.

The new rules mean people can now visit others in their garden and other outdoor areas at home. Many restaurants have diversified during lockdown with some offering takeaway meals and cakes. Also, from yesterday, designated solo visitors can also enter care homes.

Outdoor sports facilities such as golf and tennis have also begun reopening following Friday's lockdown easing. Wales' "stay at home" law switched to "stay local" yesterday and there are guidances on what that means, according to where people live. It is only likely to last for two weeks, however, ending on March 27 if conditions allow.

Dyfed-Powys Police Federation representative Roger Webb said forces had not been given any information ahead of the announcement on how officers should engage on the new rules and enforce them. He said they would use common sense and work in the best way possible to make them effective.

A third of people in Wales have now had their first Covid-19 vaccine dose, according to latest figures. So far, 34.4% of the Welsh population have had a first dose and 7.9% have had a full vaccination, according to data from Public Health Wales (PHW).

The latest day saw 27,542 people get a first dose and 12,672 get their second - so 40,214 people overall on Friday. It means more than 250,000 people have now received their full dose of the vaccine.

A total of 1,084,329 people in Wales have been given a first dose while 250,026 have had the second dose and, therefore, the full course. The data also shows a 34.6% of care home residents and 23.2% of 75 to 79-year-olds have now had both doses.

People, businesses and groups across Birmingham are being urged to have their say on a bold vision for the city as Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 consultation enters its final fortnight

Shaping our City Together outlines a blueprint for the future of Central Birmingham, which includes inner city neighbourhoods, focusing on making local areas greener and more people-centred, with improved access to green spaces and improved cycling and walking routes. The proposed vision and consultation were launched on 26 January, and people can still contribute to the consultation, which closes on 26 March 2021.  

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The responses we have received so far as part of the Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 consultation have given us a real insight into what direction the people of Birmingham want to see their city move in over the next 20 years. The quality of the responses and the diversity of opinion has been fantastic.  

“There is still time for anyone who hasn’t taken part to do so.  Anyone wanting to find out more about our plans can do so through a series of webinars, which bring together insight and opinion from business and community leaders from across the city.”  

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside wider environmental, societal and economic challenges has prompted the launch of this project, which will replace the Big City Plan, the existing city centre masterplan launched in 2010. A key aim of the proposals for the Central Birmingham area is to strengthen the links between the city centre and surrounding inner city suburbs such as Aston, Nechells, Balsall Heath, Small Heath, and Sparkbrook.    

The feedback received during this public consultation will be used to help inform the Draft Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 Framework, due to be released autumn 2021. Full details of the Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 Shaping our City Together public consultation document, details of consultation events and activities that will be taking place can be found on the Our Future City Plan webpage and Birmingham BeHeard. 

A Warwickshire resident has joined thousands of determined Alzheimer’s Society supporters, all conquering their own Memory Walk to raise vital funds for the UK’s leading dementia charity.

Debbie Hopkins, from Atherstone, will be completing a Memory Walk in her local area in March to support Alzheimer’s Society’s vital work supporting families affected by dementia. Debbie will be walking in memory of her mum, Ann, who passed away from dementia in October 2020, aged 74.

Debbie will join thousands of supporters, all marching out and completing their own Memory Walk, sponsored by Santander, throughout March. Anyone can sign up for free and choose a location and date to suit them at alzheimers.org.uk/events

Debbie said: “My wonderful mum, Ann, sadly lost her battle to dementia last year. She was a selfless person who had dedicated most of her life to helping others as she’d worked in the care sector. After seeing how dementia affected people and their loved ones, she always said it was her biggest fear. Looking back, I think mum suspected for many years before her diagnosis in early 2018 that she had dementia, but she wanted to keep her worries to herself to protect her children, and the grandchildren.

“Mum had helped so many people as part of her job and people in the community were always stopping her in the street to say hello. As she became more forgetful because of the dementia, she started to distance herself because she didn’t know who people were anymore, and as a result she became more isolated.

“During the lockdown last year, mum deteriorated quickly. She couldn’t grasp why our big, close family suddenly weren’t getting together anymore, and she concluded that it was her fault. She was ashamed, which is hard for the family to reflect on because she was such a good and loving person.

“My nan, who is 97, couldn’t see mum during lockdown because she was shielding. I will never forget the look of pure happiness on my mum’s face when she saw nan for the first time after lockdown.

“Mum was the most positive, selfless person I ever knew, and it’s heart-breaking that she had to endure this tragic disease. My children were the ones who originally wanted to do a Memory Walk to remember their nanna and to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. We’re currently in training for our walk and have managed five miles so far. We’re getting t-shirts made with mum’s face on and we want to make it a fun day to remember her.”

Janice Le Tellier, Alzheimer’s Society’s Area Manager for West Midlands, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for families affected by dementia. People living with the disease need us now more than ever, but the pandemic has hit us hard financially, despite an unprecedented demand for our services.

“We want to thank Debbie and her family, and everyone taking part in Memory Walk for us across Warwickshire. The money raised will help Alzheimer’s Society reach and support more people through our vital services, like our Dementia Connect support line, which has been used almost three million times in the UK since March 2020. It’s also in huge part thanks to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised £2.3 million for Alzheimer’s Society, that the charity can continue transforming the lives of people affected by dementia.

“We are in awe of the resilience of supporters like Debbie, whose dedication to fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society ensures we are able to support those who need it most during this difficult period.”

A collaboration of small grassroots organisations in Wolverhampton are taking a different approach to the free school meals debate by launching a campaign to feed the whole family for less than £45 per week.

The WV10 Consortium, which covers Low Hill, The Scotland’s, Bushbury Hill and surrounding neighbourhoods, has launched a budget cookbook, developed by local families and volunteers on the WV10 HeadStart programme. It shows families how they can provide three meals a day using fresh produce and a bit of creative thinking for between £35 and £45.

There are food facts, meal plans, budgeting help and lots of different meal ideas covering breakfast, lunch and dinner across the 82-pages and these include anything from toad in the hole and fish curry, to potato, onion and carrot bake and apple and blackberry crumble. This latest project is much more than a cookbook and will be used to engage local people to improve their life skills, such as money management, budgeting and improving health and wellbeing.

Run by local people to support local people, the WV10 Consortium is hoping to secure funds to support local families who are in receipt of free school meals to cover the Easter and Summer holidays and are now looking at a variety of funding measures and corporate partnerships to help top this up.

“The areas we cover are some of the most densely populated in Wolverhampton and among the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country,” explained Kim Payne, Director of Community Action & Training Services and Partnership Manager at WV10. “Rather than just providing the child with one meal a day we want to be a little more creative and look at delivering a solution to feed the entire family with three meals per day, whilst supporting them to move on to a better situation and, therefore, become less reliant on assistance going forward.”

She continued: “We are firm believers in giving people the skills and the tools to improve their own lives so they can live independently and progress in life. It’s not a case of just giving out handouts, it’s about giving everyone a fair opportunity.” The cookbook forms part of a larger WV10 initiative called ‘Life after the Foodbank’, which is designed to prevent people having to queue up at a food bank by providing a programme of support to address the root cause of why they need to do this in the first place.

Under the current Covid-19 restrictions, this is being delivered via food parcels and online resources, coupled with befriending, wellbeing calls and signposting to other essential services. Post-pandemic, the programme will be delivered across all WV10 Community Hubs and will involve healthy cooking sessions and families taking home food items that will provide ingredients for the recipes featured within the cookbook.

Kim concluded: “This is another example of the power of local people working together. We know we can achieve more than just a food parcel and everyone appreciates the massive impact this approach could have on some of the most vulnerable families in our area.”

WV10 Consortium is made up of a number of strategic partners, including Big Local Venture Centre, Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board, Bushbury Community Action Group, Low Hill Community Hub, Park Village Education Centre, SBH Partnership and The Women & Families Resource Centre.

It provides a broad range of support via peers with lived experience and, over the last six years, has delivered nearly £3m of funded projects, ranging from HeadStart and Bushbury Buddies to Rock School and Community Hub funds.

Helping more people remain independent in their own home for longer and supporting patients to leave hospital as soon as they are able to are two of the key achievements highlighted in the City of Wolverhampton Council's 2019-20 Local Account.

The annual report for the City of Wolverhampton Council's Adult Social Care Services details successes and challenges in 2019-20 and priorities for the year ahead. It shows that 4,552 people received adult social care services in Wolverhampton during 2019-20, with the council spending just over £75m on adult social care services in that time.

It highlights the impact that the Telecare monitoring service, the Independent Living Service and the Home Assisted Reablement Programme are having in helping people to remain independent at home for longer. And it showcases the role of Trusted Assessors who ensure that people who are ready to be discharged from hospital are going to the place that best meets their needs. As a result of their good work, waiting times have been reduced meaning people are spending less time in hospital unnecessarily.

Another innovation has been the introduction of the Three Conversations model in adult social care – which aims to ensure good conversations happen between professionals, service users and their families to find out what people need to live the life they want to live and to connect them to the people and places that can help them. As well as achievements over the previous 12 months, the Local Account identifies areas the council is prioritising in the year ahead. These include continuing to support timely discharge from hospital, helping have more choice and control over their lives and supporting people to live independently.

Councillor Linda Leach, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “This report showcases the fantastic work that took place in 2019-20 with adults with care and support needs, their families and carers. It is wonderful to see the continuing progress that is being made in adult social care and I’d like to pay tribute to hard-working colleagues at the council and our partner agencies for their continuing dedication.

"While the report highlights many positives, for which we are very proud, we do recognise that there is still more we can do to support people in our city. For example, we want to ensure that more people are living the life that they want to live which might include having their own home or having a job that they enjoy.”

Failure to support the nation’s pubs return from lockdown risks imperilling the government’s levelling up agenda for economic and social renewal, the think-tank Localis has warned. In a report issued entitled ‘The Power of Pubs – protecting social infrastructure and laying the groundwork for levelling up’ Localis argued it was vital that the lockdown roadmap is not allowed to slip back further for pubs, and that the commitment to end all trading restrictions by 21 June must be delivered to return all pubs to viable trading.

Without such assurances and medium-term support to help place the pub sector at the foundations of a strong recovery, the authors warned local economies and community resilience in left-behind parts of the country - including ‘blue wall’ former industrial heartlands, rural and coastal areas - would be particularly hit. Among key recommendations, the report authors urged central government to further reduce the tax burden on the pub sector to aid the recovery and called for an extension to the Business and Planning Act 2020.

Local councils should be directed to help pubs by issuing licence fee refunds – paid for by the Treasury - for the six months to June 2021, through business support grants, the study advised. Additionally, where premises have been put to new community purposes during the pandemic, councils should offer a diversification grant to pubs looking to retain or expand the services they provided during lockdown.

Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran, said: “The case for treating Britain’s pubs with fair consideration in exiting lockdown measures is, at core, as simple as it is heartfelt. Where there’s a pub, there’s a community. As one of the biggest contributors to the UK economy, the sector has a vital role to play in the recovery and levelling up journey of the country as well as in maintaining community cohesion and social resilience well beyond the pandemic.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive, British Beer and Pub Association, said: “The Pandemic has fractured our communities economic environment and frayed our social ties. The pub is a powerful embodiment and symbol of both, woven into the fabric of our society and it is one we need to support and strengthen as we rebuild our trade as well as reconnect our communities.”

The West Midlands will see police officers being equipped with handheld scanners to undertake stop and search, under plans revealed by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate Jay Singh-Sohal.

The announcement is one of a number of robust and proactive measures being proposed by the candidate in this May’s PCC election.  It comes as communities affected by rising knife crime demand action to tackle the problem.

Now, Jay Singh-Sohal says he will introduce more robust measures to tackle rising knife crime, if he is elected PCC in May 2021.

His plan includes:

●        Introducing airport-style hand-held scanners for officers to conduct stop and search in a   

       less invasive manner:

●        Ensuring more use of S60 powers (stop and search), with authority delegated down to

       local commanders to be able to react quickly to local intelligence and community

       concerns. 

●        Increasing community engagement and better communications within our diverse

       region, to proactively share information with those affected by crime in order to build

       trust and understanding about police activity.

●        Recruiting a new generation of Special Constables drawn from underrepresented black

       and Asian communities, to help tackle gang violence

●        Increasing partnership working through the VRU, particularly with the Mayor's office, to

       fund grassroots organisations offering diversionary activities for young people as well as

       introduce workshops within schools

Jay Singh-Sohal says: “We can no longer afford to be soft on those who carry weapons. I’ve been listening and seeing the effect rising violent crime has in our communities and on our young people.  They demand a robust and proactive response from a PCC who is attuned to the needs of our residents as well as how through innovative methods the police can be more effective.  I’m drawing from my Army experience to offer solutions and not excuses.  ‘Stop and search’ is an important tool for getting weapons off our streets, and I’ll be working with our communities and empowering our police with a raft of measures to ensure we get crime down.”

Analysis of crime figures show that under a Labour PCC, the past five years have seen violent crime gone up by 170% and knife crime is increasing at a higher rate than in London. 

Total recorded crime has also increased by 33% over the past five years under a Labour PCC, from 242,553 cases in 2015 to 322,797 in 2020.

A comparison of total recorded crimes in 2019 and 2020 show violence is up 26% while weapons possession up 8%

In response, the government has given the region a second year of budget increases in the 2021/2 funding settlement boosting the West Midlands Police to £655m a year.  This was an increase of £35.9m from the previous year and the second highest in England after London.

On top of this, the Home Secretary Priti Patel recently announced £3.37m for the West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit.

A petition launched by Jay on www.GetCrimeDown.co.uk is encouraging residents to pledge their support for his plan.

WaterSafe is encouraging the use of qualified approved plumbers, supported by their local water company, this World Plumbing Day - particularly when it comes to older households.

The UK’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is in full swing and most over 60s have now received a first dose. This is good news for older homeowners, many of whom have been reticent about hiring a plumber to tackle plumbing work during the pandemic.

A survey* by WaterSafe, the UK register of approved plumbers, with 2,000 UK homeowners showed only 11% of those aged 65+ had hired a plumber since the first lockdown in March 2020, compared to nearly 40% in younger age groups. These were urgent jobs, such as fixing toilets, boilers and leaks.

As plumbing jobs now move up the priority list, WaterSafe is encouraging households to trust their work to approved plumbers listed on its free online register, which is supported by the UK’s drinking water regulators. WaterSafe is also supported by all UK water companies, who promote its members to their customers – giving peace-of-mind for those looking for a qualified, insured professional.

All plumbers approved on the WaterSafe register have specific training in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Byelaws, to ensure they meet the strict legal requirements for installing water pipes and fittings.

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, said: “With more people being vaccinated every day, we hope older homeowners will feel more confident about hiring a plumber for those niggly jobs they’ve been putting off.

“While all tradespeople must continue to follow government safety guidelines, using a plumber approved by WaterSafe and supported by their local water company also gives homeowners extra reassurance about their qualifications and competence.”

WaterSafe’s survey revealed the safety actions the over 65s most appreciated plumbers taking if working in their homes are social distancing (82%), wearing a mask (76%) and using hand sanitiser (70%).

World Plumbing Day falls on March 11.

A community project aimed at empowering Birmingham women, helping them find their voice and play an active role in their communities, was launched on International Women’s Day (March 8).

Get Families Talking – a pilot scheme commissioned by Birmingham City Council’s equalities and cohesion team, and run by Smartlyte, a training provider based in Balsall Heath – will initially deliver free conversational English language sessions, online for women in Balsall Heath, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill and Highgate.

Supporting women from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, the project also aims to help local women grow in confidence, build friendships and encourage them to get involved in their local communities.

By developing their English skills and increasing their confidence to engage in community activities, it is hoped participants will continue their learning and seek employment or volunteering opportunities.

Councillor John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Social Inclusion and Equalities, said: “Social isolation has become a real issue during this pandemic, so initiatives like this which will help empower women while they learn, by building confidence and friendships can help bring communities together.”

As Covid-19 restrictions remain in place, the six-week pilot scheme will be run via Zoom sessions, but women can get involved at any stage.

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has called for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran on spying charges, to be released "permanently" so she can be reunited with her family in Britain. She has had her ankle tag removed at the end of her five-year sentence.

However, her husband Richard Ratcliffe has been told a new court case against her is scheduled for next Sunday. The PM said he was pleased about her tag, but her continued confinement remains totally unacceptable. He wrote in a tweet: "She must be released permanently so she can return to her family in the UK, and we continue to do all we can to achieve this."

The charity worker had been under house arrest in Tehran since being moved from jail last March. She has always denied the charges against her. Speaking after her ankle tag was removed, Mr Ratcliffe said: “It was a mixed day for us and Nazanin is genuinely happy to be free of her electronic bracelet.

"I'm a bit more guarded - it feels to me like they have made one blockage just as they have removed another, and we very clearly remain in the middle of this government game of chess." He said that his wife had gone to see her grandmother and was determined to enjoy the afternoon and not think about what it all means. "I don't think we expected something clean but how muddy this is I'm not quite sure yet," he said.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Iran is continuing to put her and her family through a cruel and an intolerable ordeal. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 42, had been out of prison since last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic but had been confined to her parents' house. Her sentence was due to end on Sunday.

She was arrested in April 2016 while travelling to visit her parents in Iran with her young British-born daughter, Gabriella, who is now six years old. The dual national was sentenced to five years in prison over allegations of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, which she denies.

She has not yet had her British passport returned to her, according to Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency in London where her family live.

"She does have to go back to court and we don't know what awaits her there,” Ms Siddiq said. However Ms Siddiq said the removal of her ankle tag meant she could visit her elderly grandmother - which is the thing she mentions every time I speak to her".

Robert Smith, of alternative rock band The Cure, is selling off prints of his original artwork to raise money for Heart Research UK. He became a patron of the charity in 2020, following his involvement with the charity’s anonymous heART project over the past 2 years. The project, now in its 4^th successful year, sees pieces of art from celebrities and artists auctioned on eBay. The twist? Though a full list of contributors is available, buyers don’t know who produced which piece until they receive it.

The artwork for sale is a piece Robert produced for the 2020 anonymous heART project and is titled ‘I WILL KISS YOU FOREVER...’ It features lyrics from The Cure hit ‘The same deep water as you’ and the original sold for over £5,000 in the initial auction. 

In response to a large number of requests from fans to buy prints of his work, Heart Research UK are selling high quality A4 and A3 prints of the artwork, for £25 and £50 respectively. The prints will be on sale from the1-14^th March 2021, and will then be printed to order. All of the money raised will support Heart Research UK's life-saving work, funding pioneering research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

Robert said: ““More than a quarter of all deaths in the UK are caused by heart and circulatory disease - I have very sadly seen too many friends and family fall victim over the years. Continuing support for research into the understanding and treatment of coronary heart disease is absolutely vital - for everyone.

“Before the anonymous heART project, I hadn’t picked up paint with purpose for almost 30 years. My favourite creative medium has always been sound, but making these has inspired me to start drawing again.

“I’m so thrilled to be able to support a charity that means a lot to me, and also share a little bit of myself with The Cure’s passionate and generous fanbase.”

The prints are being sold on eBay until the 14^th March 2021.

Census Day 2021 is fast approaching and households will soon receive a 16-character access code in the post which they will need to complete the document online.

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. This year’s Census will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said: “A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed. This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”

Chief executive of City of Wolverhampton Council, Tim Johnson, said: "The Census really matters. It provides essential information which is used to make decisions which affect us all. It will play a big part in the amount of Government funding Wolverhampton receives in future and the more resources we have, the easier it will be to recover and relight our city after the pandemic.

“The Census is your chance to ensure you and your household is represented in statistics which are then used to paint the most accurate picture of the nation, making sure the needs of communities are understood and resources are allocated appropriately. Therefore it is so vitally important that everyone completes the Census so that the data gathered is accurate and reflects the true picture."

Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March. The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.