Community News

As students across the country begin a different version of fresher’s week this week, online food portal Foodhub are offering students across Birmingham the chance to bag a years’ worth of free food worth over £750!

Students from universities in Birmingham will be able to apply for the Tastiest job as Chief Student Taste Tester for Foodhub – winning the chance to taste offerings from takeaways and food outlets in their area for free! 

To apply for the dream job, students from universities across Birmingham simply have to visit this link and either show or tell Foodhub why they have the best tastebuds for the job. Students feeling particularly adventurous can upload a video of themselves explaining why they should be chosen for the best job on campus. 

The winning student will be chosen by a panel of food experts and will be expected to write reviews of the local takeaways they visit – getting their weekly supply of free grub from their favourite Birmingham takeaways. 

To be eligible for entry, students simply need to use their university email address when submitting their job application. 

Wil Chung, Foodhub spokesperson, said: “We know that virtual freshers’ week won’t be as fun as previous years so we want to offer students the chance to bag the best job at Uni. “We want to ensure we have the tastiest, best takeaways across the region on our app and know that students are connoisseurs of takeaway food when they first leave home so we couldn’t think of a better person to join our team.“If you’re at university in Birmingham then we want to hear from you, simply tell us – in words or video - why you are the best person to take on the takeaway tasting challenge. In return, that person won’t need to buy a takeaway meal for a whole year!” 

All runners up who aren’t chosen for the taste testing job will receive a 25% discount code of their next takeaway from Foodhub. 

Foodhub, launched its online food website and app in 2017. There are more than 14,000 takeaways currently featured online at foodhub.co.uk and through the apps available for iOS and Android.  

The Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) have today announced a series of online celebratory events throughout Black History Month in the run up to their Awards Ceremony on October 30. This year’s celebration will culminate a landmark year in history for racial equity and showcase the outstanding achievements, resolve and dedication of the Black British community.

The celebration kicked off on October 6th with the Finalist Unveiling event, honouring the long list of incredible individuals who are in the running for this year’s awards. The inaugural event will bring together past winners of the prestigious Black British Business Person of the Year award, including Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE, Andrew Ramroop OBE, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, Gisela Abbam and Roni Savage, to explore the power of Black identity and legacy, and to showcase the depth and breadth of Black British businesses in the UK.

Open to all, the BBBAwards will host a series of interactive Industry Celebrations from October 8 to 27 to recognise the senior leaders, rising stars and companies dedicated to changing the narrative in the categories of Arts and Media, Consumer and Luxury, Financial Services, Professional Services, Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as Entrepreneurs.

Chizzy Akudolu, award-winning actor, film producer and writer, will host the final event where this year’s winners of the BBBAwards will be revealed. In addition to celebrating the achievements and promise of the 2020 winners, the event will also include a special recognition for Black British frontline workers. These key individuals have long provided critical support and service in their communities, but this year’s pandemic has seen them go above and beyond.

Melanie Eusebe, Chair and Co-Founder of the Black British Business Awards said: “The Awards are a fantastic opportunity for the Black British Community and our allies to come together in celebration during Black History Month. The BBBAwards is helping to bring the community, allies and active organisations into a shared space, shining a light on Black excellence and achievements during these challenging times.”

Sophie Chandauka, Co-Founder of the Black British Business Awards said: “Our Finalists remind us of the importance of self-belief despite the odds; the merit of striving for excellence; and the requirement for perseverance and resilience. They are all role models and trail blazers, demonstrating unquestionable commercial impact, defying stereotypes and creating opportunities for those who follow in their footsteps.”

The BBBAwards have the privilege of partnering with J.P. Morgan as Key Partner of the Awards.

Sponsors also include Barclays, Baker McKenzie, Bloomberg L.P., Cisco, the Executive Leadership Council, Facebook, Fortnum and Mason, Freshfields, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Virgin Management, Wellington Management and Wells Fargo.

The Daily Telegraph is the national media partner at this year’s awards ceremony for the fourth year running.

To register for the events visit: www.thebbbawards.com

Town centres will be lit up with Christmas lights and Remembrance Sunday will also be marked in Sandwell, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sandwell Council today confirmed that although Christmas light switch-ons and Bonfire Night events would not be able to go ahead, the council would do everything possible to celebrate events and mark important dates without large public gatherings.

Councillor Maria Crompton, Deputy Leader for Sandwell Council, said: “We’ll be doing all we can to mark Remembrance Sunday in a safe way.

“A decision will be taken in the coming weeks on how best to do this, given that the current high Covid-19 infection rates and restrictions will inevitably prevent large-scale public events.

“We’re awaiting national guidance on commemorating Remembrance Sunday and working on how Sandwell will mark the day in a Covid-safe way.

“It is so important that we still pay tribute to all of those who gave their lives in wars and conflicts – and we are already looking at a series of virtual Remembrance activities as part of our planning for November. We’ll release more details on this later in the month once we have received national guidance.

“Sadly, and it won’t come as a surprise to people that we won’t be able to mark Bonfire Night in the usual way and there will not be a council-organised public fireworks display in Sandwell this year.

“We’re also looking at ways to celebrate Christmas virtually and, although sadly we won’t be able to have Christmas lights switch-on events that people can attend, we will of course be putting up lights in our town centres as we do each year.

“This will help support local traders and businesses after a very challenging year, as well as brightening up our town centres for shoppers and our communities.“Our number one priority is to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in Sandwell and to keep our communities safe – while making sure these important occasions are observed despite the virus meaning we can’t hold physical events attended by the hundreds of people who usually enjoy them.”

Proposals for a £2million programme to engage 200,000 community participants in Birmingham 2022 culture-related activities is set for approval by the city council’s Cabinet on October 13.

The funding will be transferred by the council to the Games Organising Committee (OC) as part of the Creative Communities Grants Programme – which will see at least 110 small grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 delivered to Birmingham-based groups to create artistic projects across the city.

As part of the Commonwealth Games celebrations in 2022, the OC will be delivering a six-month cultural festival across Birmingham and the West Midlands from March to September 2022.

The festival aims to promote and showcase the rich and diverse creative talent of the city and region to a global audience – and to support the local cultural economy to not only recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but to grow and thrive in the future.

It will also provide a key opportunity for Birmingham residents to come together by directly engaging with and participating in the activities surrounding the Games, as artworks, events and performances occupy the high streets, neighbourhoods, parks, waterways, venues and civic spaces of the city over a six-month period.

The £2million from Birmingham City Council for the grants programme to support the delivery of the festival will help connect Birmingham residents and communities of all ages from every ward of the city with artists to co-create new art works and projects.

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. The festival programme is clear evidence of this and a great way for the Proud Host City and other Games Partners to widen the relevance of the event to as many people in the city and region.

“These grants will enable groups and organisations with 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.

“As we look to recover from the devastation and tragedy that the coronavirus pandemic has caused people and businesses in the city, this fund will help support a hard-hit creative sector and give us a programme of events to look forward to in less than two years’ time.”

Separately, the city council has set aside £80,000 to support 20 arts groups to develop proposals that will enable them to take advantage of the £2million fund.

Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games said: “Birmingham City Council’s fantastic commitment to the Games culture programme means that the city's communities will be centre stage. It is timely, welcome news, and will provide important opportunities to a creative sector facing incredibly uncertain times.

“The projects commissioned through the Creative Communities Grants 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.”

The £2million set for Cabinet approval is one-third of an overall city council fund of £6million, approved in the 2020/21 council budget, designed to support Commonwealth Games community engagement, involvement and legacy programmes for Birmingham residents.

Further details on the remaining £4million (which includes a £2million funding package to be distributed amongst the council’s 69 Wards) will be announced in the coming months – along with more information on how organisations can bid for the Creative Communities grants.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region and its people on the global stage.    

The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.    

Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.   

Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com

The Games has five mission pillars which set out the ambitions for the city (and wider region) in hosting the Commonwealth Games:

• to bring people together
• to improve health and wellbeing
• to help the region to grown and succeed
• to be a catalyst for change
• to put us on the map.

These mission pillars link directly back to the fifth objective of the Birmingham City Council Plan – ensuring Birmingham residents gain maximum benefit from the Commonwealth Games.

To mark the beginning of this year’s Black History Month the Royal Mail unveiled four special post boxes to honour leading Black Britons.

The post boxes, in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast, have been painted black, with a gold trim and an image of a notable Black British figure or a piece of work by them.

The artwork, by Yinka Shonibare, amongst others, was commissioned by the Royal Mail to produce original artworks for a set of special stamps issued to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy

One of the figures included on the post boxes include footballer Walter Tull, who became the first Black player to sign for Scottish Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers, who was killed in action in the British Army in World War I.

Tull also played for Tottenham Hotspurs and Northampton Town.

Jamaican-born nurse Mary Seacole who cared for wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War, also features prominently during this series.

Also featuring heavily is comedian, actor, writer and Comic Relief co-founder, Sir Lenny Henry.

Royal Mail's head of diversity and inclusion, Peter De Norville, said: “Black History Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions that Black people have made to this country over many generations.

“We are also using it as an opportunity to celebrate the vital work that our Black employees do throughout the nation, from the mail bag to the meeting room.”

Plans for Moseley Station have been approved by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.

All three proposed stations on the Camp Hill line – Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell - now have planning permission marking a major step forward for plans to reopen the line to passenger services.

The new Moseley Station will include platforms with a canopy, stairs and lifts, a forecourt drop off/pick up area, covered cycle storage, lighting and CCTV installed.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) consulted widely with the community, including the Moseley Forum and Moseley Regeneration Group, before submitting the plans.

Following that consultation a traffic light junction at the station entrance with St Mary’s Row was replaced with a roundabout.

Welcoming the decision, David Isgrove, chair of the Moseley Forum, said: “This is fantastic news after years and years of hoping and waiting. The opening of the railway station will be of great benefit to the community.

“And we’d really like to thank all those involved in getting this decision through, from our own community groups, such as the Moseley Society and the regeneration group, to members of the Moseley Forum and to our councillors and Mayor Andy Street.”

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “The community was overwhelmingly supportive of reopening the Camp Hill line to passenger services for the first time since the Second World War.

“But they did raise some concerns about the traffic light junction and we listened, looked again and found we were able to redesign the entrance.

“The new station at Moseley will provide residents with easier and faster connections to Birmingham city centre and the wider West Midlands and now with planning permission secured for all three stations we can move on to the next stage.”

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) along with rail industry partners including Network Rail and West Midlands Trains are leading the development of the new stations.

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “These long-awaited stations will offer commuters in south Birmingham an alternative to sitting in traffic on the busy Alcester Road and will play a major role in helping us reduce pollution and improve our air quality.

“This is just one part of our unprecedented investment in rail, tram, bus and cycling across the region which will help transform the way we travel.”

Marking the start of Black History Month, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have called for the end of "structural racism".

As they highlighted leaders in the UK's Black community Prince Harry and Meghan have said that there had been changes in the UK in the past 30 years but "sufficient progress had not been achieved".

The couple recently urged voters in the US election to "reject hate".

The duke and duchess have moved to Santa Barbara with their son Archie and agreed a deal to create shows for the streaming service Netflix, having stepped back as senior royals in January.

They said that "if you are white and British, the world you see often looks just like you" and spoke of the importance for young people of seeing role models and leaders who share the same skin colour as them.

"For as long as structural racism exists, there will be generations of young people of colour who do not start their lives with the same equality of opportunity as their white peers. And for as long as that continues, untapped potential will never get to be realised," they warned.

The Duke and Duchess concluded the article by saying: "We cannot change history, nor can we edit our past. But we can define our future as one that is inclusive, as one that is equal, and one that is colourful." Race equality think tank Runnymede describes structural racism as "the set of circumstances artificially created over generations, through European colonialism, which holds 'whiteness' to be superior."

After the article was published, a spokesman for Prince Harry told the BBC: "The Duke believes structural racism exists in the UK and I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who disagrees with that.

"He is not saying that Britain itself is structurally racist or that Britain is racist." The spokesman said the Duke was referring to parts of institutions in Britain.

Adding to that, Meghan said she understood that the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd's murder in the US had been "inflammatory for a lot of people" but said when there is peaceful protest with the intention of wanting community and equality, "that is a beautiful thing".

She added: "While it has been challenging for a lot of people certainly having to make this reckoning of historical significance that has got people to the place that they are, that is uncomfortable for people.

“We recognise that. It is uncomfortable for us."

Harry said he accepted some of their views may be seen as "controversial" but said it was an important time to use their platform. He said it was not about "pointing the finger" but was an important time in British and world culture "that we should be grasping and actually celebrating".

Sandwell Council is thanking Black Country sculptor Luke Perry for the Wings and Scrubs sculpture that has honoured NHS and care workers, as the temporary installation came to an end. The four-metre tall sculpture of a winged medical worker, made from steel and other metals in Luke’s Cradley Heath factory during the spring lockdown, stood in Lightwoods Park in Bearwood since May.

The installation – featuring the inscription ‘Thank you NHS and Care Workers’ – was a private donation in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the outpouring of gratitude to health and care staff.

Luke said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the Wings and Scrubs ‘angel’. It’s unified people and provided a space and a focus for thoughts and conversations about the pandemic and the inspirational efforts of NHS and care workers.Like everyone, I have family members who owe their lives to the NHS and I wanted to create a piece of public art that captured the huge public outpouring of thanks to our health and care workers.

“We always said this would be temporary installation, as the work was not designed to be permanent. It’s therefore best to take down the sculpture now, before it begins to show signs of wear and ahead of the winter. I want people to remember it positively rather than in fading glory.

“Given it has been so well received, the council and I have seen the potential to create a permanent tribute in Sandwell and we are now looking at opportunities for this.”

The details of a potential permanent tribute, including design and location, are still to be developed, and Luke, who lives in Stourbridge, will be discussing ideas with the council and local health organisations over the coming months.

He said the materials from Wings and Scrubs will now be recycled for another project in the Black Country. Sandwell Council Deputy Leader Councillor Maria Crompton said: “We would like to thank Luke Perry for the wonderful Wings and Scrubs sculpture. We have been proud to have it in Sandwell.

“We look forward to discussing ideas for a potential permanent tribute with Luke and our health partners in Sandwell.We owe a huge debt of gratitude to NHS and care staff – as we do to all key workers – for their efforts, their bravery and their sacrifices.We know Covid-19 has not gone away. The virus remains a serious threat and, with rapidly rising infection rates and the winter just around the corner, our health and care workers face another very challenging time ahead.

“Please – I ask everyone – to follow all the rules and all the advice to prevent the further spread of the virus, to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our NHS, our care staff and all our key workers.”

Luke Perry’s long friendship with Oscar Nolan – a paediatric heart consultant at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital – and his conversations with Oscar about those working for the NHS were the inspiration for the temporary Wings and Scrubs installation.

The sculpture was located on the Hagley Road West side of Lightwoods Park due to it being a key commuter route used by many hospital and care workers travelling to and from Birmingham and the Black Country.

McDonald’s and the English Football Associations are inviting parents to sign up for one of over 160 McDonald’s Fun Football Centres, designed to give fun, free physical activity to thousands of children across the country. A new survey shows that over-half (52%) of parents are facing financial difficulties as a direct result of the pandemic, and 72% are desperately seeking  opportunities for their children to be more active - meaning the centres will be more important than ever for families.

From Aberdeen to Yeovil the sessions up and down the country aim to introduce thousands of 5-11 year olds to the nation’s favourite game for the first time regardless of gender or ability. Every session is designed to be as safe as possible, and all activity follows the latest guidance from the Football Associations, government and public health authorities.

The Fun Football curriculum includes introductory activities perfect for children with no footballing experience, helping them develop their all-round skills, get active and make new friends.

Paul Pomroy, McDonald’s UK and Ireland Chief Executive Officer said: “As a dad of two football-mad children desperate for activities during lockdown, I know how important it is for kids to get out and about, socialising and being active. Through our Fun Football programme we are proudly providing 5 million hours of football for children and introducing more than half a million new players to the game by 2022.”

The Fun Football sessions are part of the four year deal between McDonald’s - the longest-standing supporter of grassroots football in the UK - and the four UK Football Associations, which will see the restaurant company provide over 5 million hours of football to 5-11 year olds by 2022, having already delivered 2.8m by March this year.

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The UK government has warned of "tougher measures" if people do not follow the latest coronavirus restrictions. In a television broadcast Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "we must reserve the right to go further" if cases continue to rise.

Tighter restrictions were announced in all four UK nations. Mr Johnson warned they could last up to six months.

In England, people are being told to work from home if they can and rules on face coverings have been expanded. Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close by 22:00 BST, and the number of people allowed at weddings has been halved.

Meanwhile, the fines for breaking the rules will also increase to £200 on the first offence.

Hospitality venues will also have to close early in Scotland and Wales - but Scotland has gone further, banning people from visiting other people's homes from Wednesday. Northern Ireland has also already banned households mixing indoors.

The government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, is understood to believe it is inevitable England will to have to follow Scotland's latest move, according to the Times.

Conservative MPs also expect limits on visits to households to be "the next step".

"They don't like it but they could probably live with it," he said, though he added that if the government went further with restrictions on the hospitality sector "that would really create insurrection on the Tory benches". The PM will face further scrutiny from MPs in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions.

Defending the latest strategy, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said there was no "one silver bullet" but the range of measures introduced in England were "balanced, proportionate and targeted".

"Overwhelmingly the public have responded every time but increasingly there's been a small minority where compliance has frayed," he added.

He said that if people follow all the measures - and no one thinks they are immune - "we will get through this and we will get to Christmas not in a national lockdown".

Mr Johnson's warning that stricter measures could follow comes six months after the UK's coronavirus lockdown - first announced on the 23 March - which saw strict curbs on life to tackle the spread of the virus.

People were told to only leave home for one of four reasons, including shopping for food and medicine, exercise, medical needs and travelling to and from work "where absolutely necessary".

In his pre-recorded address from Downing Street, PM Johnson said he was "spiritually reluctant" to infringe on people's freedoms, "but unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted".

He added that while the vast majority have complied with the measures so far, "there have been too many breaches".

Former Labour home secretary Alan Johnson has since criticised the prime minister for suggesting the public is to blame for rising cases. People have been "extremely compliant and obedient" but the message hasn't always been clear, he said.

Meanwhile, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for more "unifying messages" from the UK's four nations.

"Wherever possible it is much better to stick together, because simplicity of messaging is one of the things that will make the biggest difference in terms of complying with the rules," he said.

The devolved nations have their own powers over coronavirus restrictions, and their leaders made separate televised addresses.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the new rules banning people from visiting other people's homes were "difficult and disruptive" and said they would be reviewed every three weeks.

"No one wants to have this in place a moment longer. The more public compliance, the more successful we will be," he said.

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford urged people not to let the virus "take a hold of our lives again", and Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster said tougher restrictions should act as a "wake-up call" that "we are not out of the woods".

A major new scheme to help people and companies embrace the digital revolution has been launched in the West Midlands with aim of protecting thousands of ‘at risk’ jobs from the impact of Covid-19.

The new Foundation Certificate in Digital Skills, which is being funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will give individuals access to a series of online masterclasses that will equip them with the fundamentals of Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation and Smart Thinking.

Delivered by Scale and Scope and global online learning platform Elevate.ac, the sessions will be delivered by digital expert Omer Atiker, with learners also able to access three more virtual presentations covering anything from Art Means Business and Exceptional Leadership, to Working from Home and an insight into Electric Vehicles.

More than 2000 people from across the region have already signed up, with thousands more free places available for individuals looking to upskill and firms keen to redeploy members of staff to other areas of their business.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in the region at the moment and we want to do everything we can to equip people with the type of skills companies are increasingly looking for,” explained Matthew Snelson, Managing Director of Scale & Scope.

“Digital is where the business world is going and we have been able to secure funding that gives us free access to Elevate.ac, which is one of the leading virtual learning platforms in the world.”

He continued: “It’s like the ‘Netfix’ of digital skills courses, with participants able to log-in and take four mandatory courses and three masterclasses to suit their specific role or interests, in order to secure the certificate.

“We’re targeted two main groups…people out of work and looking to make themselves more employable for new opportunities and companies who are embracing digital transformation and need to upskill workers in order to keep them in jobs.”

The Digital Foundation Skills Certificate can be completed over the next three months and at a time that is convenient for participants, with people encouraged to sign up by the end of September.

Masterclasses are all professionally created and delivered by experts in their field over a series of bite-sized chapters. They will offer practical advice, insights into new trends and how your new-found knowledge can be applied to everyday jobs.

Rob Clarke, Founder of Elevate.ac, went on to add: “For candidates completing the programme, we are also creating pro-memberships of Elevate.ac where individuals can post their video profiles and get coaching from the team to help them gain employment.

“Alongside the Digital Foundation Certificate, the pro-membership package is valued at £2500.

“Our project will create a pool of people ready for employment, as well as a fantastic opportunity for companies and start-ups to become better placed to make the most of digital opportunities.”

He concluded: “The West Midlands Combined Authority has been behind this initiative from day one with support and funding to make it happen. It fits with the organisation’s bid to protect as many jobs from Covid-19 as possible and is part of its desire to make us a world class digital region.”

For individuals in the West Midlands area, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for your fully funded VIP access pass to the Digital Skills Certificate.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is to make an announcement about what happens after the furlough scheme expires at the end of October.

"I will update the House of Commons on our plans to continue protecting jobs throughout the winter," he tweeted.

The move comes after a day of mounting pressure on the government.

He is understood to be looking at options including a salary top-up scheme, similar to those already operating in France and Germany.

At the same time, the Treasury said there would be no Budget this autumn.

"Now is not the right time to outline long-term plans - people want to see us focused on the here and now," it said in a statement.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson was urged to act swiftly by Labour and SNP MPs to prevent what one called a "tsunami of job losses".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned there could be a "wave of job losses this winter" if the government does not provide the right economic support when the furlough scheme ends.

In a televised response to the Prime Ministerial Broadcast, Sir Keir called for a "Plan B" for the economy - "because it makes no sense to bring in new restrictions at the same time as phasing out support for jobs and businesses."

In a recording, filmed just before news broke that the chancellor will make an announcement tomorrow about what happens after the furlough scheme expires at the end of October, he said: "There was nothing in the Prime Minister's statement last night to protect people's jobs, businesses or our town centres and high streets.

The PM said Mr Sunak was working on "creative and imaginative" solutions.

Although the Treasury has declined to comment, possible ideas are thought to include allowing firms to reduce employees' hours while keeping them in a job, with the government paying part of the lost wages.

The German "Kurzarbeit" scheme and its French equivalent have attracted much attention in the UK from employers and trade unions alike, with both the CBI and the TUC in favour.

They fear unemployment could spike when the furlough scheme ends, as firms struggle to keep workers on the payroll.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey called on the government to "stop and rethink" the furlough scheme, although he did not back any particular alternative.

Julian Metcalfe, the boss of the Itsu restaurant chain and founder of Pret a Manger, said the PM needed to show leadership rather than "spouting off some Churchillian nonsense that we'll make it through (the winter)".

"The repercussions of these six months, it's going to be devastating to so many people," he said.

"People in the hospitality industry, people in work in hotels and restaurants and takeaways and coffee shops - a great many are closing down. We're losing thousands upon thousands of jobs here.

"How long can this continue, this vague 'work from home'?"

What are the possible options?

• Germany's Kurzarbeit: The employer cuts workers' hours and the government pays them a percentage of the money they would have lost as a result. It is a long-established scheme, but it has been revised during the pandemic. It can now run for up to 21 months and the percentage of lost wages paid by the government can now be as high as 80%.
• France's "chômage partiel": The French scheme, known as "partial unemployment" or "partial activity", also pre-dates the coronavirus pandemic. Firms are allowed to cut employees' hours by up to 40% for up to three years. Employees still receive nearly all their normal salary, with the government paying a percentage of the cost.
• The CBI's suggestion: A wages top-up from the government should be available provided that employees can work at least 50% of their normal hours. The firm would pay the actual hours worked in full, but the employee would get paid for two-thirds of the lost hours, with the cost shared between the company and the Treasury. The subsidy would last up to a year.
• The TUC's suggestion: A more generous version of the above. Employees could work a smaller proportion of their normal hours and still be eligible, while they would be guaranteed 80% pay for the hours lost, or 100% if they are on minimum wage.

While there are fears that the cost of a replacement furlough scheme could damage the economy further, others argue that continued government support for jobs is needed to stop unemployment surging from November. Advocates of a salary top-up scheme also point to the fact that both France and Germany have extended their schemes to run for the whole of next year.

A short-time working programme could also be cheaper than the furlough scheme, which guarantees 80% of employees' wages up to a cap of £2,500 a month. That scheme has cost £39.3bn so far, while the Germans estimate that the bill for Kurzarbeit during the pandemic will reach €33.5bn (£31bn) by the end of 2021, although that naturally depends on the progress of the pandemic.

During the weekly Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson came under pressure from MPs from all sides to act quickly to help those businesses hit hardest by the new restrictions on economic and leisure activity.

Citing Whitbread's announcement that it planned to cut up to 6,000 jobs in the UK, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the threat to employment was "not theoretical".

"The CBI, the TUC, the Federation of Small Business, the British Chamber of Commerce and the Governor of the Bank of England are all calling on the PM to stop and rethink and don't withdraw furlough," he said. "We have been saying it for months. When is the prime minister finally going to act?"

The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said 60,000 workers in Scotland faced being "sold onto the scrapheap" if the furlough scheme was not extended while Labour's Graham Morris said there was a risk of "a tsunami of job losses in the pipeline within 38 days".

In response, the PM acknowledged many firms faced "very difficult circumstances" and although an "indefinite extension" of the furlough scheme was out of the question, further support was being worked on.

"That is why we are looking at a massive package of investment in jobs and growth in the short, medium and long term," he said. "In addition to the package I set out yesterday, there will be creative and imaginative measures from the chancellor to help people through this crisis."

In response to the biggest threat to heritage in decades, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £11.5m to 235 organisations in the Midlands & East of England. The funding will aid the preservation and safeguarding of the area’s heritage in the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis

The Heritage Emergency Fund was set up at speed in late April in recognition of the fact that the UK’s heritage would need significant help to survive the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. Since then 234 grants have been awarded across the Midlands & East of England to cover costs including core staff, essential maintenance and utility costs and safe reopening, saving swathes of organisations from permanent closure. The fund closed at the end of July, with final grants awarded last week.   

Anne Jenkins, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage across the Midlands & East has faced a challenge like no other seen before in COVID-19 pandemic. As a funder, we knew that those dedicated to safeguarding and preserving our treasured heritage would need substantial support, and we worked extremely hard and against the clock to refocus our funding programme and get grants out the door. We are really proud that our funding has been able to support such a diverse portfolio of organisations and groups to weather the crisis and continue their work at this difficult time. Sadly, we cannot save everyone and we know challenges still exist for many and that obstacles still lie ahead, we are grateful that thanks to National Lottery players we have been able to support so many.”

Grants were awarded across the full breadth of heritage, from historic sites, industrial and maritime heritage, museums, libraries and archives to parks and gardens and landscapes and nature. They also went to charities supporting vulnerable and marginalised communities, and organisations exploring and supporting the UK’s cultural heritage.  

Many green spaces such as nature reserves and parks stayed open during lockdown and grants were used to help keep wardens working, care for livestock and native species, maintain paths and landscapes and deal with litter. Funding was also used to help many museums and historic houses to care for their collections and buildings while they were closed, as well as enable a number of them to safely reopen as restrictions lifted.  

The highest proportion of Heritage Emergency Fund grants in the Midlands & East went towards supporting organisations that manage historic buildings and monuments (28%), followed by groups who explore our culture and memories (23%), and those who care for our museums, libraries and archives (20%).

Examples of heritage in the Midlands and East of England which might have been lost without grants include: 

• The much-loved Wicksteed Park in Kettering was granted £247,000 following the limited company that ran the site went into administration. The funding is being used to continue to support free access to the park and for costs including those to look after its animal attractions, including zoolab and the aviary.
• The Polish Expats Association was awarded £30,000 to adapt their services to continue supporting their increasingly vulnerable community. Funds will also go towards helping them re-open their building, which is home to valuable Eastern European cultural items and artwork.
• One of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the UK, Harwich Electric Palace, were able to purchase PPE and other equipment for a safe re-opening, as well as undertaking business and sustainability planning, thanks to a grant of £11,300. 
• Whittington Castle in Shropshire was awarded £52,400 for recovery and reopening costs, ensuring that the Grade I listed treasure would not face permanent closure.
• Wildlife Trusts across the Midlands & East, from Herefordshire to Suffolk were granted funding in order to continue their important work in safeguarding the nature and wildlife of the area.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund continues to offer support for heritage organisations across the UK affected by the crisis, through continued support for 2,500 projects where funding of £1.1bn is already committed, and an additional £1.2m investment in the Digital Skills for Heritage initiative to help the sector through the crisis and beyond, producing guides and delivering webinars to support organisations pivoting to digital – many for the first time.  

From Israel to Ethiopian, the US to Germany, South Africa, Ghana, the UK, Ukraine, Bahamas, Brazil, Bosnia, China and countries the length and breadth of today’s world millionsthe world's Jewish population will gather to mark the Jewish New Year.

And with those identifying as Jews above all else, the "connected" Jewish population, including those who say they are partly Jewish or that have Jewish background from at least a single Jewish parent, mark Rosh Hashanah, which is traditionally the time for big, family get-togethers.

Representing a time of asking for forgiveness of sins, many Jews believe that God keeps a Book of Life with the names of everyone who is sorry for what they have done wrong. At Rosh Hashanah, Jews hope that they and their loved ones will be written in the Book of Life.

Judaism teaches that God decides on the first day of the year who will be forgiven, so they will ensure they apologise to everybody they have been unkind to during the past year. God makes his final judgement on Yom Kippur which means Day of Atonement.

Yom Kippur is marked by Jewish people in a number of ways:

• some wear white as a symbol of purity
• no food or drink is consumed for 25 hours
• no make-up or perfume is worn
• no sexual intercourse
• no bathing
• no leather shoes are worn

The most important part of Yom Kippur is the time spent in the synagogue. Many Jews who are not particularly religious will nevertheless want to attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, the only day of the year with five services.

The day is spent in continuous prayer for forgiveness. This festival is a time of reflection for Jews. The services end with a long blast on the shofar.

But, of course, this year, through the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and country’s cities under lockdown, pilgrimages to synagogues, and the like, has made the annual two-day celebration which usually takes place in September or October that marks the Jewish new year.

The event, which usually begins at sundown, customarily with the blowing of the shofar, the ram’s horn, which is meant to wake up people from their slumber, is the anniversary of when God created Adam and Eve. Usually, a prayer service is held in a synagogue where an instrument made from the horn of a kosher animal (known as a shofar) is blown.

Marking the occasion, as many look to Israel as the centre of celebrations, equally so those will be going through their own Rosh Hashanah in the most ancient of Ethiopian, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Jews of North Africa Jewish communities in the afore mentioned continent.

But, however, the restrictions around religious ceremonies and access to places of worship, though varying from country to country, and region to region due to the Covid-19 outbreak, could never prevent tzedakah, or giving back to those in need.

Rosh Hashanah (the head of the year in Hebrew) will forever see people carrying out good deeds in the hope that God will mark their names in the Book of Life, which will give them a happy and fruitful year ahead.

With Israel, who, just like too many other countries, currently has one of the highest Covid-19 infection rates in the world - entering its second nationwide lockdown to curb surging coronavirus cases, the new national lockdown is making the powers-that-be widely unpopular, with protests taking place before it came into force.

The nation’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that, if necessary, he will not hesitate to impose harsher restrictions.

The restrictions are the most extensive imposed there since the first lockdown, which ran from late March until early May.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur marks the opportunity for Jews to ask questions about their actions and life throughout the year.

And for that, the most common greeting to hear during this occasion is L’shanah tovah, which means ‘for a good year.’ You can also say ‘Shanah Tovah um’tukah’, which means ‘may you have a good and sweet new year.’

But for that, as everywhere else, it will not stop Shana Tova, which is the shortened greeting for Rosh Hashanah, which cuts down from the traditional greeting of ‘L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem’, which in turn means ‘may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.’

Shanah Tovah!

Four new novels have been included on the shortlist for this year's Booker Prize, with nominees including Diane Cook, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Avni Doshi, Maaza Mengiste, Douglas Stuart and Brandon Taylor - all of whom are based outside the UK.

As the UK's most prestigious literary award, the Booker Prize is open to any novel written in English by an author of any nationality.

The topics covered by the six nominees are wide-ranging, including stories about climate change, the hardship of life in Zimbabwe, dementia, and the women soldiers of 1935 Ethiopia.

Margaret Busby, chair of this year's judges, said: "The shortlist of six came together unexpectedly, voices and characters resonating with us all even when very different.

"We are delighted to help disseminate these chronicles of creative humanity to a global audience."

A surprising omission from the list is two-time winner Hilary Mantel has missed out. Mantel had been tipped for a record third win for The Mirror and the Light. Both previous titles in her trilogy about the life of Thomas Cromwell, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, had won.

On that, judge, Lee Child, said: "We thought it was an absolutely wonderful novel, no question about it... but there were books that were better, that's all I can say personally."

The full 2020 Booker Prize shortlist is:

• Diane Cook - The New Wilderness
• Tsitsi Dangarembga - This Mournable Body
• Avni Doshi - Burnt Sugar
• Maaza Mengiste -The Shadow King
• Douglas Stuart - Shuggie Bain
• Brandon Taylor - Real Life

The winner will be announced on November 17.

Last year saw Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo share the £50,000 prize, breaking the Booker's own 1992 rule of awarding it to only one author.

The City of Wolverhampton Council is planning a phased reopening of the city’s library service. Although the city’s 16 libraries closed their doors to customers at the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March, members have been able to enjoy a host of digital services since then – and physical books and other items were made available once more last month.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "Cases of Covid-19 in Wolverhampton have jumped in recent days and we cannot afford to let our guard down in our fight against the virus.

"That's why we are taking a careful and cautious approach to the reopening of all our services, including the city's libraries. The safety of staff and customers is our top priority, and it should be remembered that a good proportion of library members are older people and at greater risk if they were to contract Covid-19.

"We have been working hard to recommence library services. We launched the We Select, You Collect service at Central Library on 3 August, enabling members to pre-order books and other items online or over the phone and then collect them at a pre-arranged time.

"This was rolled out to Warstones, Wednesfield and Bilston libraries two weeks later and is proving very popular with customers. Over 700 bags of books have been collected so far, and members can request items via the online library catalogue at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling us on 01902 552025.

“Also on 3 August we were able to restart our Home Library Service for vulnerable housebound residents. The service is available to customers of any age who, because of illness, disability or frailty, are unable to visit their local library, and to carers who have difficulty accessing the library service due to their caring responsibilities. It has delivered around 1,500 items and welcomed a dozen new customers in the last month.

"In addition, library members continue to be able to access a wide range of bestselling eBooks and eAudiobooks for free via the BorrowBox library on their phone, tablet or computer. Since lockdown began, nearly 13,600 eBooks and eAudiobooks have been downloaded through this popular service.

"Our considered approach to reopening our libraries is consistent with many other areas and will continue to be informed by professional and government guidelines and Covid-19 infection rates locally.

“We hope to be able to increase the range of services available in the coming months, including reintroducing limited browsing and PC access in due course, and we thank customers for continuing to support our libraries at this time.”

Library members are advised that all books and other items currently out on loan have been automatically renewed until 30 September, so no fines will accrue before that time. Items can also be dropped off at dedicated collection points at Central Library, Warstones Library, Wednesfield Library and Bilston Library or renewed online or over the phone.