Community News

Wye Valley Brewery has received a visit from Professor Julian Lloyd Webber to discuss brewing a bespoke bottled beer for the Birmingham Conservatoire’s brand new facility.

Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire and a long-time fan of Wye Valley Brewery’s ales, including Butty Bach and Hereford Pale Ale, Professor Lloyd Webber plans to serve the bespoke bottled beer, as well as a cask ale, in the bar of the new building.

The internationally renowned cellist and conductor will be returning to brew the bottled beer alongside Head Brewer, Gareth Bateman, this August.

Commenting during his visit last week, Professor Julian Lloyd Webber said:

“I am very excited to be brewing a bespoke Wye Valley Brewery beer. It will be a real treat for students and visitors at the Conservatoire to have this popular local brewery create something special for them.”

Part of Birmingham City University, the new £57 million home for Birmingham Conservatoire will open in September 2017 as part of the institution’s £280 million investment in its facilities.

Games such as ‘i-spy’, traditionally used to help pass the time on long car journeys with children, could soon be a thing of the past as more and more children turn to phones and tablets for entertainment on the road, according to new research among parents planning to drive on holiday this year from Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Less than a third of children (31%) now play i-spy in the car. Instead, 45% play games on phones or tablets, while 36% watch TV shows on their technological devices.

When asked what keeps the children amused for the longest time in the car, over half (51%) of parents now say phones and tablets are the runaway winner, and just one in ten (10%) think i-spy or ‘other car games’ (9%) are effective.

This shows a marked increase in the use of technology among children in just the last two years – in 2015 Enterprise conducted similar research which showed over a third of parents (36%) still found car games to be an effective way to keep children entertained.

Four in five parents (79%) say that their children play on phones or tablets for ‘hours on end’, and a third of parents (32%) say they ‘never limit’ how long their children use them. Almost a third of parents (29%) also say their children can use their ‘phones and tablets how they want to’ and they don’t control what content the children have access to.

This includes use of social media; 76% of all parents, including 71% of parents with children aged 10 and under, allow them to access social media – despite age restrictions which are supposed to prevent children under 13 from using most social media platforms. Among the under 10s, YouTube is the favourite social media platform (44%), followed by Facebook (32%), Instagram (22%), and Snapchat.

While some parents are relaxed about their children using phones and tablets for extended periods of time – 22% say ‘they aren’t bothered at all’ and 16% say they ‘don’t care as long as it keeps them quiet’ – others have concerns. When questioned, 20% of parents said they would rather their children engaged with other people in the car, nearly a quarter (22%) say they wish they would play traditional games instead, and almost one in five (18%) are worried this level of tech usage could be bad for their general health.

Tech in the car can also cause friction. Four in ten (40%) parents say phones and tablets cause arguments in the car, with 16% saying arguments are due to their children being glued to it, while 13% say they argue over who gets to use the phone or tablet.

However, no amount of technology is sufficient to stop children saying the dreaded words ‘are we there yet’ and ‘I need the loo’. On average, children now ask ‘are we there yet’ only 37 minutes into the journey and say they ‘need the loo’ after only 44 minutes – making the 37 to 44-minute period of a car journey the ‘seven minutes of doom’ when parents need to rush to find a suitable place for a break.

The research – which was conducted across several European countries – showed British children to be the most impatient in Europe. German children ask, ‘are we there yet’ on average after 45 minutes; French children after 44 minutes, Spanish children after 41 minutes and Irish children after 38 minutes.

On most occasions (64%) parents will wait until the next service station to allow their children to answer the call of nature, although 15% say they pull into the hard shoulder, and a strict 8% make their children wait until they reach the final destination.

It is hardly surprising then that many parents admit to the odd ‘fib’ ahead of a lengthy car journey – half of parents (50%) say they have told their children that a long car journey would be shorter than they expected it to be.

Ben Lawson, Vice President of Rental for Europe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, says: “I have fond memories of playing games like i-spy in the car when I was a child. And like other parents, I still make the effort to play these games with my own children now, even though I also let them use tablets and phones once we’ve exhausted the amusement potential of car games.

“Our research shows that nine out of 10 people find it stressful to drive abroad on holiday – so keeping the children amused on longer trips means the parents can concentrate on the road – and of course, on finding that vital location for a loo break within 45 minutes!”

A year after it opened to the public on August 4, 2016, British Airways i360 will mark its first anniversary by thanking its customers and the city for their support.

As part of the celebrations:

• All customers taking a flight on the British Airways i360 pod on August 4, 2017, will be offered a birthday cupcake. A live band will perform on site in the afternoon and there will be free face-painting for children.
• Customers on the 2pm flight on August 4, which marks the moment the attraction opened to the public last year, will also be welcomed with free drinks from the Nyetimber Sky Bar.
• Any customers born on August 4 will be given a free flight on their birthday, subject to availability*.
• The attraction's 26,000 Resident Members will have their membership extended free of charge, meaning they can continue to enjoy half-price tickets for another 12 months**. Time restrictions on usage have also been lifted so that Resident Member discounts apply at any time of day, year-round.
• In addition to the 39,000 free tickets given to the city's school children in the last year, British Airways i360 will send free tickets to children starting reception classes in Brighton & Hove state schools in autumn 2017.
• The Belle Vue restaurant at British Airways i360 closes today (July 24) for a refit, and will re-open under a new name – the West Beach Bar & Kitchen, in time for the first-year anniversary. Celebrated local neon artist Andy Doig is creating a bespoke piece for the bar area and artwork by other Brighton artists will be displayed for sale year-round. Please see supplementary press release w/c July 31 for full information about the West Beach Bar & Kitchen.

“As we mark our first birthday next week, everyone at British Airways i360 will be celebrating the enormous achievements of the past year and the benefits the project has brought to Brighton & Hove. Most importantly, we will be thanking the city and our customers for their fantastic support.”

British Airways i360 was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, and was part-funded by a capital loan from the Public Works Loan Board via Brighton & Hove City Council. The council earns around £1m a year from interest on the loan, plus additional income from business rates and 1% of BA i360 ticket sales in perpetuity.

British Airways i360 Chairman David Marks said: “Over the last year, British Airways i360 has paid £2.6m to Brighton & Hove City Council in loan repayments, money the council is now using to regenerate the seafront. British Airways i360 has created 150 new local jobs, given away 39,000 tickets to the city's school children and won eight prestigious awards for design and innovation.”

Pupils from dozens of local schools were honoured for their creative talents at a glittering awards bash.

The annual Digital Learning Awards – The Digis – took place at the Grand Theatre earlier this month and celebrated the achievements of children and young people and their teachers in film and digital media creativity.

Around 500 entries were submitted into a range of categories by pupils from schools across Wolverhampton, including animation, publication, music, short film, audio, artwork, photography and design. There were also awards for the best computer game or programme, most innovative practice and a collaborative online writing project.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Elias Mattu, who opened the awards ceremony, said: "The Digis has once again highlighted the immense talent we have in our City's schools.

"We had excellent and deserving winners across all age groups and I know the judges had a tough time selecting them as all the entries were impressive.

"The students, and their teachers, worked hard for their awards, and it was a real pleasure to be part of such an uplifting event."

Councillor Claire Darke, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education, added: "ICT is a very important part of the curriculum and pupils and staff in our schools have access to a range of fantastic software which enables our children to be wonderfully creative, producing animations, artwork, films and podcasts.

"I am delighted to see the hard work of young people and teachers recognised in this way and everyone concerned should feel rightly proud of their efforts."

Among the winners and finalist winners in Early Years and Key Stage 1 were pupils from D'Eyncourt, Perry Hall, Bilston CE, Villiers, Wilkinson, Dunstall Hill, West Park, Oak Meadow, St Stephen's CE, St Alban's CE, Merridale, Stowlawn, St Alban’s CE, St Michael’s CE, Loxdale, Graiseley, St Luke’s CE, St Anthony’s Catholic, Eastfield and Merridale primary schools, Phoenix Nursery, Penn Fields and Green Park schools and Broadmeadow Special School.

Winners and finalists at Key Stage 2 to 5 included pupils from St Stephen's CE, Bilston CE, Dunstall Hill, D'Eyncourt, Dovecotes, Berrybrook, Merridale, Oak Meadow, Wilkinson, Eastfield, Trinity CE, Green Park, Palmers Cross, St Alban's CE, St Luke's CE, Goldthorn Park, St Anthony’s Catholic, West Park, Graiseley, St Michael’s CE, St Patrick’s Catholic, Long Knowle and St Paul’s CE primary schools, Highfields School, The Royal School, Heath Park School, St Matthias, St Edmunds Catholic, The King's CE School, Penn Hall School, Penn Fields School and Tettenhall Wood.

The UK’s largest hearing loss charity, Action on Hearing Loss, is urging GPs and other health and social care practitioners in Ythe West Midlands to ensure that the 433,500 local residents who are deaf or have hearing loss receive the right communication support.

The call comes as a review by NHS England published today (date)  found that almost a year since the Accessible Information Standard became law, more than half of patients who responded to a survey have not noticed any improvement in getting accessible information or communication support from NHS services.

The Standard, which was put into force on August 1 2016, requires all publicly funded health and adult social care organisations to meet the communication needs of people with a disability, impairment or sensory loss, including the one in six people living with hearing loss and deafness.

The review found that more than two-thirds of patients had not been asked about their information and communication needs by NHS services over the last six months. Almost a third of patients also reported that they do not usually get or have never received the communication support they need from NHS services. Many people with deafness and hearing loss still struggled to contact GP and hospital services when they needed to, and felt that staff did not know how to communicate with them.

The release of the review comes ahead of Care Quality Commission (CQC) plans to incorporateadherence to the Accessible Information Standard into its inspection criteria. This is due to come into effect in October.

Roger Wicks, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Action on Hearing Loss, said: “The Accessible Information Standard was an important milestone – for the first time, health and social care organisations have been required by law to record and meet the communication needs of people with hearing loss. It is clear, however, that more work is needed to ensure it is consistently implemented and enforced.

“People who are deaf or have hearing loss have long been denied the fundamental right to have equal access to the full benefits of our healthcare system and we believe that the Standard, properly implemented, will have a great impact. While we know that some patients have seen improvements, it’s vitally important that all patients with communication needs are experiencing tangible, positive change.”

One patient with hearing loss who responded to the survey said, “I am unable to use the phone and my GP and NHS hospital services are unable to communicate with [me] in any other way, SMS, live chat, email, etc. so booking appointments, getting test results, and getting advice from a GP on the phone is impossible. [It is] the same with the NHS 111 service.”

Another patient, who is deaf and has had a positive experience, said, “In the last six months the service has improved with more communication support at the hospital, they always ask if we need British Sign Language support, and I always say yes.”

The charity worked with NHS England on the development of the Standard to address the fact that prior to its implementation, more than a quarter of patients with hearing loss did not understand their diagnosis after visiting their GP and two in three British Sign Language (BSL) users did not get an interpreter.

Following the fatal stabbing of Troy Paul, in Birmingham, in July, a special prayer concert has been organized in his honour and to pray for the city, and support the families whose sons, brothers, nephews and other family members who are victims of knife crimes -100% of the funds raised there going direct to the families.

This comes after the visit of Pastor Samuel Jonathan, who attended a vigil held in memory of Paul – an experience which he found especially moving, which was compounded by the fact that his death was the fourth knife-related killing in Birmingham within one week.

Furthermore, the person charged with the murder of Troy (23), a father of a 10-month-old child, was only 15.

The other knife-crime victims were named as: Alexander Leonard (aged 22), 65-year-old Philip Rolph and Daniel Baird (26).

Seeing prayers change and transform communities around the world, Pastor Jonathan has organised prayer concerts in Atlanta, London and Accra and he firmly believes that prayer can bring godly change - hence the ‘Birmingham Prayer & Benefit Concert,’ a free event featuring an inspiring fusion of live music, poetry, sculpting, fine-art painting, choreography and prayer, to be held at the Sparkbrook Community Centre, on Grantham Road, on Saturday August 5.

Donations are welcomed and will go towards the support of the families.

This is the only organised concert and prayer gathering in memory and honour of the four fatal knife-crime victims!

To donate towards the hosting of the concert, volunteer or further information, visit -www.BirminghamPrayerConcert.org

With so much beautiful countryside up and down the UK, exploring the great outdoors can be enjoyed by everyone, parents, children and even your canine companions. What better time to do this than during National Parks Week, this annual family celebration runs from 24th-30th July and aims to highlight everything that is wonderful about Britain’s breath-taking spaces.

There are 15 National Parks across the UK all of which are free to enjoy and they include many free family events. Responsible dog-walkers are all welcome, so your furry family friends needn’t be left at home. Lintbells, manufacturer of premium natural pet supplements including YuMOVE, the UK’s No. 1 joint supplement; believe in choosing an active life for both dogs and owners and exploring the wonderful spaces on offer at a National Park is a great way to do this.

From Exmoor to North Yorkshire Moors, the UK’s beautiful National Parks can be found across the country, so you and your family don’t have to travel too far to your nearest one. Covering a whole range of landscapes, including moorlands and coastal walks there is plenty of variety for dogs and families to enjoy.

As with many other public walking areas, there are a few important things to remember to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Here are a few simple tips and things to bear in mind when enjoying the National Parks.

• When exploring the beautiful open land, dogs should be kept close by, under control and in sight at all times.
• On open access land in particular, owners should use a short lead, no longer than 2 metres.
• A lead should also be used near farm animals, particularly sheep as they can be sensitive to dogs, and many footpaths cross their grazing land. It’s vital to respect all wildlife and livestock as you are in their habitat, your pooch may be harmless and just excitable but don’t let them chase or disturb the nearby animals.

To keep these wonderful outdoor spaces in the same condition as you found them, please ensure the whole family, pets included, respect the land. This means clearing up after your dog, taking all litter home with you and sticking to designated footpaths where possible.

Alethea Maillard, Marketing Manager at Lintbells said, “We know that it can be hard to think of ways to not only keep the kids entertained during the school holidays, but to keep them (and your furry four-legged friends) active as well. There is so much beautiful land that is free to enjoy across the UK, and National Parks Week is a great way of highlighting this. It encourages parents to get their children and dogs outside exploring the great outdoors this summer. We strongly believe in choosing an active life, for both humans and animals alike, and a trip to a National Park is perfect for this.”

For those dogs that are leading an active life YuMOVE supplement can help support their joints and mobility ensuring they can enjoy adventures for many years to come.

Dazzling photography of some of the natural world’s most astonishing sights is now available to see at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

The Lichfield Street gallery is hosting the Natural History Museum’s 52nd Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition featuring awe-inspiring images capturing fascinating animal behaviour and breathtaking landscapes.

The blockbuster show won critical acclaim when it premiered in London and is running until Sunday, October 1 in the city.

Last year Wolverhampton Art Gallery hosted the 51st Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition attracting thousands of visitors, and it is hoped even more people will take the chance to see staggering images displayed in an ultra-modern lightbox format.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: “It’s no understatement to describe last year’s exhibition as breathtaking and I am so delighted the gallery is hosting the Natural History Museum’s 52nd Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition this summer.

“It attracted lots of visitors last year and I would urge anyone, young and old, to come and make the most of a major London exhibition on their doorstep.”

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography event of its kind, providing a global platform that showcases the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights for more than 50 years.

Founded in 1964 and organised and produced by the Natural History Museum, it is one of the longest and most renowned photography competitions in the world.

Now in its 52nd year, the competition received more than 40,000 submissions from amateur and professional photographers, from more than 95 countries, all of whom were competing for the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Every year, the best images submitted are selected to form the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which tours venues across the world, exhibiting to millions of visitors, and helping to ensure that biodiversity and sustainability remain at the forefront of public awareness.

Whether you are a baking enthusiast, or can just about make an edible sandwich, the picnic is all about getting family, friends and furry companions together for some fun in the sun.

Katie Sutcliffe, RSPCA events manager, said: “While school’s out, it’s the perfect time to get the picnic blankets out and spend quality time with the kids enjoying your favourite treats.

“The RSPCA can help plan the perfect picnic to raise money for animals in need and while you enjoy your sandwiches in the sun, you’ll be helping us continue with our work to improve the lives of animals everywhere.”

The RSPCA relies entirely on donations to do its vital work rescuing rehabilitating and rehoming animals.

So far in 2017 the charity took in 273 dogs and 914 cats in the West Midlands.

Across the centres in June there were 3,260 dogs and 9,832 cats taken into care, more than 1000 rabbits and nearly 500 horses. Our 24-hour cruelty hotline has received more than 500,000 this year so far.

Katie continued: “We need your help now as much as ever and getting friends together for some cake and sandwiches is a simple but fun way to help the charity continue this vital work.”

August Bank Holiday is the ideal time to have a picnic but they can be held anytime and anywhere.

There are free posters, bunting, invites, cake flags and recipes all available to download when you register your picnic with the RSPCA. The fundraising pack also includes face masks to colour in for children, a RSPCA-themed quiz and lots of fun ideas to do on the day.

Why not hold a competition for the best decorated cake or cupcake, collect donations to guess the weight of the cake or the number of sweets in the jar, or have a game of Tug o' War or even an egg and spoon race.

Share the memories by posting a picture of your paw-some picnic using the hashtag #RSPCAPicnic

All the money raised from donations and games can be paid online through the website and will go straight to helping animals in need.

The donations will help the RSPCA continue to rescue, rehome and rehabilitate animals in desperate need of care.

Nearly a quarter of water sample failures taken at customers’ taps didn’t reach quality standards because household plumbing doesn’t reach the mark.

This is one of the findings highlighted in a report launched today by the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water. It shows that despite tap water quality in England being among the highest in the world, of the small proportion of samples that do fail, a number are the result of poor household plumbing.

In its annual report for 2016, the Drinking Water Inspectorate for England confirms that 99.96 per cent of samples passed stringent water quality tests but has highlighted that where failures did occur, many were at customers’ taps.

Of these, 24 per cent were caused by poor plumbing practices, wrongly connected pipework, sub-standard fixtures and fittings and poor kitchen tap hygiene. All of which can cause the quality of drinking water to deteriorate after it has been transferred from the public water mains into private pipes and properties, potentially resulting in contamination.

Lead, nickel, taste and odour are behind some of the failures and these can be caused by legacy pipework, the wrong materials and fittings being used or inadequate protection from water ‘flowing back’ into internal pipework from dishwashers and toilets.

WaterSafe, the national register for plumbers which is backed by the Drinking Water Inspectorate and all the English water companies, is urging homeowners and property managers to use approved plumbers to help keep drinking water supplies safe.

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, said: “Water supplies in England are among the highest quality in the world and we want to ensure that the quality of the water remains high at the point it leaves customers’ taps.

“Many people don’t realise that there are many things which can affect water quality in homes, or other buildings, such as lead pipes, poor quality taps and fittings and even wrongly connected appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and even toilets.

“We vet plumbers before they are allowed to join the WaterSafe register to ensure they have the right skills and knowledge to work safely with water. We also ensure they have insurance and customer care schemes in place so customers can trust they are employing a competent and qualified professional who will not compromise the quality of one of most important services in their homes.”

Plumbers on the WaterSafe register have specific training in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Byelaws, which are designed to preserve the high quality of water that is supplied by water companies, and avoid the risk of contaminated water.

Marcus Rink, The Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for England, said: “Consumers need to be aware of the risks associated with poor household plumbing and sub-standard fixtures and fittings when it comes to the quality of their tap water.

“I urge them not to take any chances and always be sure to employ a reputable plumber. The Watersafe register is there to help people make an informed choice and provides confidence that work carried out in their home is done safely by a skilled and competent plumber using approved materials.

“It is an important part of ensuring that drinking water remains healthy and wholesome right up to the tap and reaches the high standards we all quite rightly expect.”

Each year thousands of samples of water are taken from reservoirs, water treatment works, pumping stations, water mains and customers’ taps by water companies.

These are tested in laboratories to monitor for a range of substances, including metals, pesticides and naturally-occurring bacteria which are measured against required standards.

A silver  trophy presented to lady winners in the Wednesbury Horticultural Society flower shows has come home.

The Society Ladies Challenge Cup was awarded to the competitor who gained the highest number of points in the annual show.

Mrs Lavina Howles of Dingley Road  in Wednesbury won the cup four times and was allowed to keep it when the Wednesbury show was discontinued in 1962.

Now Mrs Howles’ daughter Dorothy, has contacted local councillor Steve Melia after reading articles about Wednesbury in Bloom in the local press.

Mrs Dorothy Hatton has decided to give the cup to the people organising the Wednesbury in Bloom competition.

Mrs Hatton has warm memories of the original Wednesury show which was held in Wood Green. “If I remember correctly it took place around the 16th of August  and there was always a well-known celebrity to open the show and on several occasions John Stonehouse, the local MP attended,” she said.

She said all kinds of entertainment was provided and the culmination of the event was a “big band" which entertained in the evening.

“I am proud to have been associated with the Society and I am sure my mother would have been very proud, after all these years, to know that there still an interest in Wednesbury” she said.

Councilor Steve Melia, a former chairman of Sandwell Horticulture Show and a keen local historian, said he was delighted that Mrs Hatton had allowed the trophy to “come home to Wednesbury” after such a long time.

He added: "We will keep it safe and hopefully will be able to use it some way in the highly-popular competition."

The shortlist has been announced for the third annual awards of Future Faces, the young professionals’ arm of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

The winners will be revealed at Future Faces’ annual dinner and awards ceremony at Edgbaston Stadium on Friday 15 September.

This year’s awards have undergone a shake-up in order to cover a wider range of sectors and better reflect the industries in which the Future Faces members sit.

Among the changes is the introduction of a new category, Arts and Culture, to reflect the importance of this sector in the region.

The overall Future Face of Greater Birmingham award will be handed out to one of the winners of the seven individual sector categories.

This year’s awards attracted a record number of entries.

Chief operating officer at the Chamber, Russell Jeans, who chaired the judging panel, said: “The volume and high calibre of applications received are a sign of how seriously the business community is taking these awards.

“As a region it is more important than ever that we support the development of our young professionals and one way of doing this is to recognise their efforts and achievements.

“The Future Faces awards are a fantastic way of doing precisely that.”

The shortlisted candidates are:

Future Face of Arts and Culture Rachael Magson, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Amrit Singh, Freelance Creative Designer Cynthia Miller, ORB Creative Roisin Caffrey , Stan's Café

Future Face of Entrepreneurship Daniel Bridgewater, Buckt Joe Kibbler, Icarusparts.com Angus Drummond, Limitless Travel Mathew Jones            , Oxbridge Home Learning

Future Face of Technology and Innovation Dan Rice, Hopper HQ Richard Westman, Kaido Group Ltd Tom Charman, KOMPAS Jeremy Lambert, Ononga Limited

Future Face of Industry James Guest, Carney Green Mark Hipwell, CH2M Samuel Boot, Pennycuick Collins Eleanor Pugh-Stanley, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Future Face of Sales, Marketing and Communications Jordan Ladley, Escape Live David Glenwright, JC Social Media Natalie Merrix, Rewired PR Sam Watts, Selfridges

Future Face of Legal Laura Ralfe, Irwin Mitchell LLP Greg Fearn, Mills & Reeve LLP Emma-Louise Hewitt, Standley & Co Elizabeth Mulley, Trowers & Hamlins

Future Face of Finance James Dockerill, Deutsche Bank Hassan Ejaz, Deutsche Bank Jaccy Gasgoyne, Deutsche Bank Ruzwan Boota, Mazars LLP

The nominees were chosen by a judging panel made up of Russell Jeans, chief operating officer at GBCC; Louise Teboul, operations director of Common Purpose; Joe Schuppler, founder of Independent Birmingham; Fiona Allan, artistic director and chief executive at Birmingham Hippodrome; Gary Cardin, senior director at CBRE, and Neil Anderson, head of marketing and events at Millennium Point.

Sales of local and regional artisan gin have grown by 50% in the past year at Waitrose as demand for spirits from local distilleries continues to rise.

To meet customer demand, the retailer has today (24 July) introduced another three new gins from local British distilleries to several of its shops* – Ramsbury Gin (made on the Ramsbury Estate near Marlborough, Wiltshire), Cotswolds Dry Gin (made in Stourton, Warwickshire) and Masons Dry Yorkshire Gin (made in Bedale, North Yorkshire).

In recent years, Waitrose has worked with local distilleries across the UK to bring more artisan gins to its shelves, many of which had never been stocked in supermarkets before.

The retailer has long supported small suppliers and currently sells more than 2,500 locally and regionally sourced products from over 600 producers. Through its support, Waitrose has seen a number of local businesses become nationally-recognised brands, including Warner Edwards, whose Rhubarb Gin was initially sold in 133 Waitrose shops but is now stocked in nearly 300.

John Vine, Waitrose Spirits Buyer, said:

“Gin is now the most popular spirit we sell, having overtaken whisky earlier this year.

“Gin from local and regional distilleries have become particularly popular for several reasons. There's been a shift towards people sipping the spirit before their meal as an aperitif, so artisan gins, which tend to have been infused with unique flavours, really appeal for this purpose. Our customers are also looking for local gins in a bid to support smaller suppliers.”

The first ever plan of action designed to prevent incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity violence was launched on 14 July 2017, at a meeting held in the ECOSOC chambers at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The plan of action was developed by the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, with the support of KAICIID, the World Council of Churches and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.

The event was inaugurated by Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres; Under Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng; and Secretary-General of KAICIID, Faisal Bin Muaammar. Amongst a number of religious leaders of individual communities from around the world, Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman and Religious Leader of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha UK, provided a Sikh perspective on the panel discussing the role of religious leaders in preventing incitement to violence.

Bhai Sahib Ji commented, ““This Plan of Action and the process by which it has been developed is highly commended.

The misuse of religion to provoke violence is a symptom of diseased minds. To eliminate this disease at the source, we must lovingly liberate our minds through empowering ourselves with the values of compassion, truthfulness, selfless contentment, humility and love. Only peace within oneself can lead to peace around us.”

Implementation of the Plan of Action will contribute to the prevention of atrocity crimes, especially in areas affected by religious and sectarian tensions and violence and enhance the respect, protection and promotion of human rights, including the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion or belief and peaceful assembly.

At the launch meeting, religious leaders, the United Nations, Member States, and civil society began discussing strategies for the implementation of the Plan of Action and the coordination between religious leaders and implementing agencies.  Important next steps include the dissemination of the Action Plan among Member States, relevant UN agencies and other stakeholders.

Property Transformation Manager Lizzie Jones has won the City Year UK West Midlands Bridge Builder Award for 2017.

Lizzie had been mentoring 22 year-old Coventry University student Samaira Amin over the last academic year, supporting her as she volunteered full time in Bordesley Village Primary School with youth social action charity City Year UK during her placement year.

Michelle Lester, Community Investment and Engagement Adviser at National Grid, received the award on Lizzie’s behalf from Samaira at the City Year West Midlands Graduation Ceremony, held on the 19th July at mac in Moseley. 54 young people who had been serving as mentors, role models and tutors full-time in schools over the last year graduated from the scheme, and will now go on to the world of work or higher education.

Lizzie said of her win: “The programme has been fantastic, as the structure and guidance given by City Year UK has been exceptional and made the experience so much more rewarding.

“The most important part for me has been having the pleasure of hopefully playing a small part in Samaira’s journey through life.  As a Bridge Builder I’ve been able to explore Samaira’s career development goals  alongside helping her plan for life after City Year.

“Being able to share skills I’ve developed over the years at both National Grid as well as ideas my own mentors have shared with me has been extremely rewarding, as has being able to offer Samaira the opportunity to connect with professionals in the field she’d like to pursue.”

City Year UK Head of the West Midlands site Dave Gibson said: “Our young volunteers get so much out of the volunteering programme through both being mentors to pupils in primary and secondary schools and from being mentored themselves by our supporters and funders.

“Samaira has come far on the programme and I’m delighted that her mentor Lizzie has been awarded for her work over the year.”

City Year UK Volunteer Mentor Samaira Amin said: “Lizzie was a great support this year in developing my career plan and she has helped me realise the potential in me to achieve my goals. Lizzie has got me a lot of contacts to help me get some experience and find out what I would enjoy, and she is always inspiring me to take up opportunities. I appreciate all her support and i'm looking forward to see what the future holds.”

City Year UK’s  Bridge Builder Award recognises supporters who have volunteered their spare time to mentor the charity’s young volunteers, helping to prepare them for the next step - whether that is staying in education or finding a career. The support includes mock interviews, CV workshops and assistance in deciding on their next steps.

City Year UK engages young people aged 18 to 25to serve full-time in schools in disadvantaged communities for a year. The young people are supported to build on their key skills and attributes including confidence, resilience and leadership through tackling some of the UK’s most pressing social issues and supporting pupils to achieve their potential.

Springwatch presenter Chris Packham is calling for young people to get snapping during the school holidays and enter their photos into the RSPCA’s Young Photographer Awards.

Whether it’s a bug, a bird or a big, beautiful mammal, it’s a fun way to spend some time during the holidays, photos of any kinds of wildlife and animals are welcome.

And for the first time there will be a prize given for the best photograph taken on a mobile phone.

TV star Chris will once again be part of the judging panel. He said:  “If you’re under 19, why not head out into the countryside and snap some wildlife?  Or you could get a great shot of your pet, whether it’s your dog, cat or even your hamster.

“Photographs of any animals can be entered into the competition.  We see some incredibly beautiful images and this year I’m hoping to see fantastic pictures of animals taken with devices like mobile phones and tablets as well.

Chris added: “But make sure you send your photos in by the deadline of Friday 18 August.”

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards are a chance for young budding photographers to win amazing prizes.  From the top prize of a weekend photography break ‘Seal Spectacular’ from Natures Images, to up to £800 of photographic vouchers from Wex Photographic.

There are 5 categories:  Under 12 years; 12-15 years and 16-18 years; Portfolio and new for 2017, mobile phone and devices.  Entrants can enter three categories with a maximum of 25 photos.

The new Mobile phone category will provide a fresh challenge, reflecting the important photographic role played by mobile devices in our lives today. Any mobile device can be used in this category, which is aimed at all skill levels, from beginners to complete pros.

Last year’s winner was Kyle Moore from Suffolk.  His photo of a fox on an urban street at nighttime particularly impressed the judges.

Kyle says: “The school summer holidays are such a great time to go out with your camera because you’ve got more time to plan your pictures.

“I would really recommend entering this competition. It’s fun taking photos and trying to find a new angle on an animal you might see regularly.  Why not see what comes through your garden or look under rocks in parks.”

The judging panel for 2017 will include long standing judge, wildlife expert and BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, alongside leading wildlife photographers, Jules Cox, Andrew Forsyth and Elliott Neep.   Also in the judging line up will be aspiring professional wildlife photographers and former winners Catriona Parfitt (2005 and 2010) and Kyle Moore (2016) .

The judging panel will also include sponsors Ellie Rothnie (wildlife photographer and Natures Images representative); Mark Sisson, Natures Images and Philip Warner from Warners Printers Midlands.

Professional wildlife photographer and former RSPCA chief photographer Andrew Forsyth from Brighton, East Sussex said: “It's an honour to be on the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards judging panel again this year.  And I’m so pleased that mobile phones and other devices have also been added as a category.

"We always see so much talent when we are judging this competition. It is great to see so many young people taking pictures of animals and the new category may encourage even more to have a go.”