Community News

Horticultural expert and plantswoman extraordinaire Carol Klein will officially open the Blenheim Palace Flower Show on Friday, June 22nd.

The hugely popular BBC Gardener's World presenter will be on hand to launch the 5th annual show, which runs from June 22nd-24th at the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A multi award-winning gardener, Carol is a much-loved television personality whose own Glebe Cottage gardens were made famous in a six-part TV series and accompanying book.

As well as opening the show on the Friday, she will also be giving two talks over the weekend on her favourite plant-based subjects.

The Grand Floral Pavilion forms the centrepiece of the Show and features the UK's finest nurseries and growers giving expert advice and gardening ideas. It is guaranteed to be a riot of colour, fragrance and weird and wonderful plants.

A highlight for 2018 will be the brand new 'Orchid Tunnel' which leads into the Pavilion. Visitors will be able to walk through the tunnel and see over 1,000 orchids from all over the world.

With workshops, talks and demonstrations taking place throughout the event, you'll be guaranteed to learn something new and take inspiration for your own gardening project.

Visitors can also enjoy fabulous food and drink as well as an outdoor Plant Village and live entertainment throughout the weekend.

Visit the shopping village featuring over 250 stands selling everything from unique garden gazebos, greenhouses and arbours to beautiful flowers, gardening sundries and hundreds of other products.

The Home and Country Living Pavilion showcases a selection of original, handmade giftware, jewellery and luxury goods.

Enjoy fabulous samples and tastings at the Food and Drink Pavilion with a wonderful range of artisans and purveyors from Masons Gin, Truckle Cheese Sausages to Dips and Marinades – there will be something to tickle all taste buds!

Admission to the show includes entry to the Park and Gardens so visitors can also make a day of it exploring Blenheim Palace's Formal Gardens and 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown Parkland.

A unique proof of age card scheme has launched for students in Sandwell aged 16+.

The card – developed by Sandwell Council in partnership with Citizencard UK – will be recognised nationally as official photo identification.

What’s different about Sandwell’s card is that it also has the applicant’s National Insurance number on the back. This helps students keep the number handy for applying for jobs and bank accounts and to register to vote.

The launch was part of the national #Vote100 campaign run by the Electoral Commission to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the first women getting the right to vote.

Students should ask their head of Year 11 or 12 to check if their school/college has joined the scheme. If so, they can apply for a card free of charge through their school/college.

Councillor Steve Trow, cabinet member for core council services, said: "This a wonderful example of innovation and teamwork between our electoral services, trading standards and the officers who work to tackle under-age drinking and smoking.

"Our unique card offers a single solution to help young people stay safe, apply for jobs and bank accounts and make sure they'll get their right to vote as soon as they reach 18."

Students from Oldbury and George Salter academies attended the launch to help celebrate the benefits of their new proof of age Citizencard.

Anne Bill, 62, from Dorridge lived with an undiagnosed, rare and dangerous heart condition for over 30 years, during which time she had two children and pursued a career as a primary school teacher.

Anne received a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition where the left chamber of the heart becomes stretched and muscles weaken reducing the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently, when she was in her thirties, however, Anne didn’t fall ill until almost thirty years after.

“I had been feeling short of breath for a while, but while we were away I started to get chest pains so we drove back across France to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham’s Accident and Emergency Department where I was admitted straight away.”

Unfortunately Anne’s heart was so damaged by the condition that the only option for her was to have a heart transplant, and so, after four weeks in hospital a heart was found. However, when a heart is removed from a deceased patient there is a very short window where the heart remains in a good enough condition to be transplanted, and even then, each heart is rigorously tested to ensure its suitability for transplantation. In Anne’s case, two hearts were found to be unsafe for transplantation and she was not able to have her transplant until a third heart was found.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is strongly linked to genetics and there is a 50% chance that if you have the condition your children will also have it. For Anne, both of her children, Paul and Nick, who were teenagers at the time, were found to have the condition.

Paul Bill, Anne’s eldest son also needed a heart transplant, and at age 19, Paul became ill whilst studying Computer Science at Oxford Brookes University and after being admitted to his local hospital, he was brought to QEHB’s specialist cardiac centre to await the transplant. Paul, like his mother was lucky to have a suitable heart found in a matter of days.

Paul said: “Not everybody is able to receive a heart as quickly as I did, my mum and I are so grateful to the families whose loved ones were able to help us continue to live life to the full. Just four days after my operation I was back on my bicycle, and I was able to play tennis again, something that is really important to me.”

Paul’s younger brother Nick was also struggling with his heart condition, however due to the damage to his heart being less severe than his brother’s and mother’s doctors fit him with an LVAD machine, a device which acts as an artificial heart pump to increase blood flow around the body.

Anne explained: “The LVAD machine did limit Nick’s life in many ways, he couldn’t go swimming, and he would worry about it running out of battery on long journeys, but on the whole he was just a normal 21 year old. In those days, an LVAD machine wasn’t believed to be a safe long-term solution, and doctors believed that Nick’s heart had been recovered, so after nine months the hospital removed it.  Sadly, Nick’s body couldn’t cope with the shock of the operation and he developed septicaemia and eventually passed away from a brain haemorrhage. It all happened so quickly.”

Now, the family are passionately fundraising to bring Heart in a Box to QEHB, this revolutionary technology will allow twice as many people to receive safe and timely heart transplants, supporting families such as the Bills to live long and fulfilling lives.

In 2016, Paul’s wife, Kim, who he met at University, underwent Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis with a specialist teams at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, this meant they able to isolate the gene that causes dilated cardiomyopathy and only use healthy embryos and freeze the other healthy ones for future use.

Paul explained: “Kim and I didn’t want our children to go through what my family have gone through, and whilst we are extremely grateful that my mum and I are still here, but for others, like my brother, cardiomyopathy can be deadly. In October 2016 our son, Joshua was born; he brings us so much joy.”

Until September 3, 2018, the Canadian Museum of History will present the travelling exhibition, Picturing Arctic Modernity - North Baffin Drawings from 1964. Through 50 original drawings - created in 1964 by Inuit men,women and youth of North Baffin Island - this exhibition explores a transformative era for the people of Canada's eastern Arctic. The drawings offer rare first person perspectives on daily life and memory during a time when Inuit communities were transitioning from traditional nomadic hunting camps to permanent settlements.

"These drawings reveal a tremendous amount about Inuit culture and the impact  social change had on North Baffin Island Communities in the mid 1960's. Those who participated understood that their way of life was changing dramatically," said Jean Marc Blais, Director General of the Canadian Museum of History. "As a museum committed to preserving and presenting the history of Canada and its people, we are proud to safeguard and share this collection for the benefit of all".

The 50 drawings are parts of the Terrence Peter Ryan Baffin Island Drawing collection, which the museum acquired in 2014. Terry Ryan was resident art advisor at the Cape Dorset  Print  studio for almost 40 years. In 1964, fearing the loss of traditional Inuit culture in the face of social change, he travelled by plane and dogsled to the North Baffin Island communities of Clyde River, Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay. There, he distributed paper and pencils and invited Inuit men, women and youth to draw. More than 150 people completed 1842 drawings. Ryan acquired the completed drawings on his return trip.

Diverse in theme, style and subject, the drawings depict scenes of hunting practices, traditional knowledge, interactions with outsiders, landscapes and daily life. The Baffin Island Drawing Collection has been designated as one of outstanding significance and national importance by the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board.

The entire exhibition (text, videos , website and in gallery booklet) is presented in Inuktitut, French and English. The exhibition also features 42 video clips of the artists, their families and community members who provided their interpretations of the drawings.

Located on the shores of the Ottawa River, in Gatineau, Quebec, The Canadian Museum of History attracts over 1.2 million visitors each year . Work of the Museum of History is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada. For more information visit. www.historymuseum.ca

In March Birmingham will once again prove that it loves sport when the city hosts three major sports events in three Commonwealth sports, all in one venue - Arena Birmingham.

The city centre venue has a rich sporting heritage and has been hosting sports events for over 26 years and next month will play host to the IAAF World Indoor Championships from the 1 to 4, the All England Badminton Open Championships from 14 to 18 and the Gymnastics World Cup on the 21 and 22 March.

The IAAF World Indoor Championships is returning to Arena Birmingham following a triumphant staging of the event 15 years ago, when praise was heaped on the venue and the city. With around 600 athletes from 150 countries taking part, the event will be the largest indoor sports event that has been staged in Birmingham for many years and it is the biggest global athletics event to be held in 2018.

The opening session on March 1st will see the men’s and women’s high jump being held simultaneously for the first time ever and with the world’s best expected to compete it will provide a spectacular opening to the Championships.

British number one, Robbie Grabarz, was at Arena Birmingham today, to celebrate the city’s love of sport and said: “I love competing at Arena Birmingham. The atmosphere is always fantastic as the spectators are so close to the action. I know the high jumpers will do their very best to put on a great show to kick start the Championships and with some fantastic performances already this season it’s definitely going to be an exciting competition.”

Claudia Fragapane, recently announced as one of the British gymnasts who will compete in the Gymnastics World Cup on the 21 and 22 March was also at Arena Birmingham this morning and is excited about coming back to the venue in just over a month: “The Gymnastics World Cup will bring the best gymnastics nations and gymnasts to Birmingham. I’m really excited to be part of a strong British team and I can’t wait to perform in front of local crowd. This is an amazing time to be a sports fan in Birmingham with so many great events coming up and the Commonwealth Games happening here in four years’ time.”

The hat-trick of sporting events in March will be completed by the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships which returns to the city for the 108^th edition of the Championships. With 155 matches and over 50 hours of live badminton to enjoy, the 2018 event will serve up five days of world class action.

Birmingham has long been known as a city of sport, a label which it has truly earned after staging a multitude of international sporting events, as well as major participation events, in and around the city and with the Commonwealth Games having been awarded to Birmingham for 2022, this reputation is set to be further enhanced in the coming years.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council said: “Birmingham loves sport and it’s something which this city is extremely passionate about. Hosting major sports events puts Birmingham in the spotlight, brings thousands of visitors to the city and helps to inspire young people from across the city and beyond.

“March is going to be a special month for Birmingham with three major events in three Commonwealth sports and it will give local people a taste of what’s to come in four years’ time.”

Phil Mead, Managing Director for Arena Birmingham added: “These prestigious events will not only bring the world’s best athletes, but will also attract audiences from across the globe.  All of them provide a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase what the Arena and Birmingham has to offer to sport and the live events industry.”

The sporting action will actually get underway this weekend when Arena Birmingham will host the Spar British Athletics Indoor Championships, when Robbie Grabarz will be joined by hundreds of other British athletes attempting to gain selection for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

A University of Wolverhampton lecturer is crowdfunding to get a unique art project off the ground to raise awareness of migration and settlement in the UK.

Gavin Rogers, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art in the University of Wolverhampton School of Art, has set up a crowdfunding page to bring a flock of migrant red stork sculptures to the West Midlands.

His idea is based around the migration of storks from the East African Savannah towards Southern, Central and Eastern Europe.

He said:  “Many people across mainland Europe welcome these multi-continental migrants each year as they are the bearers of good luck, life, health and vitality.  Once nested, pairs of storks will return for the same nest every year for the rest of their life.

“Interestingly, storks have not nested in the UK for over 600 years until, in 2014, a pair found their way to Great Yarmouth and they are now starting to settle in the UK in small numbers.”

Gavin is offering individuals, venues and businesses across the West Midlands the chance to buy, host or adopt a migrant stork sculpture during Spring 2018, from March to June, for display on buildings or grounds.

Gavin said:  “I am currently working with cultural venues and workplaces across the West Midlands, with some great venues already confirmed from galleries to builders’ merchants – all of whom employ migrant European Union workers.  I’m hoping for a really positive response to ensure this project has a good regional impact.”

All the money raised will contribute towards the manufacture of the 2D storks and there will be community events, talks and workshops surrounding the project.  The aim of the project is to bring all of the storks together in one place in Spring 2019 to coincide with the UK’s exit from the European Union.

“The stork re-appropriated as a silhouette in multiples has the potential to provoke debates and conversations about belonging, nostalgia and migration for both for home and/or migrant citizens,” Gavin said. “This is a topic which really resonates in the recent political landscapes.”

Progress on delivering a new eye-catching modern office development at the heart of the City of Wolverhampton Interchange reached a major milestone.

A planning application has been submitted by Interchange partner and leading property developer, Ion, for the proposed i9 building on Railway Drive

It has emerged as a scheme following the success of the award-winning i10 complex on the opposite side of the road, which was fully let within nine months of its doors opening.

i9 will provide 50,000 sq ft of stunning Grade A office space for a national or regional headquarters for a major business when completed in 2020.

The proposals were well received at a public consultation event at the city’s Light House last month.

It is the next step in building a thriving commercial quarter at the heart of Wolverhampton Interchange - bringing further investment and jobs.

City of Wolverhampton Council and Ion selected Glenn Howells Architects’ design for i9 as the winner from a strong field of ten UK leading architects and urban design practices.

They are the architects behind the Paradise Birmingham scheme - one of the biggest city centre development projects in the UK.

Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Since i10 was completed we have seen increasing demand for quality office space in that location of the city, particularly from large space users.

“i9 was always envisaged to satisfy that demand, and it is great news that the official planning application has now been put forward for consideration.

“We want this building to become the design and quality benchmark for future developments in the city and to demonstrate our ambition for the city centre.

“This important site ideally lends itself to a distinctive, high-quality headquarters building. We know there are inquiries swirling around the market for that kind of building.”

Steve Parry, Managing Director of Ion, said: “The i9 competition attracted some excellent submissions, but Glenn Howells design stood out as an iconic building that is sympathetic within its environment, whilst still demonstrating City of Wolverhampton’s ambition to compete as a prime city centre office location.

“The development of this quality of building will broaden the appeal of City of Wolverhampton to a range of office occupiers who are seeking the highest standards. The proximity of transportation hubs and availability of cafés and restaurants on the ground floor will reinforce this part of the Interchange as a place to spend leisure time.”

Keith Pryce-Jones will travel to Atlanta, Georgia in the USA to compete in World’s Toughest Mudder. This is a 24 hour timed event with Keith aiming to do 24 laps, covering 60 miles raising money for Muscular Dystrophy UK. Keith has the condition Type 2 Myotonic Dystrophy.

Keith became a regular on the Tough Mudder scene after taking on the challenge of completing 10 laps of UK Tough Mudders in 2016 to help raise funds to fight muscle-wasting conditions. Last year he really showed his love for the event, completing another 15 events, all whilst proudly wearing his Muscular Dystrophy UK top.

Whist this would be a huge challenge for anyone, it is an even bigger one for Keith as he explains;

“A few years ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 Myotonic Dystrophy following the confirmation of my father suffering the same condition. I am trying to raise money for the charity as a whole to support people who suffer from muscle-wasting conditions, as well as helping fund research into treatments and cures.”

“The symptoms of my condition include an elevated risk of heart disease, degeneration of skeletal muscles, and Myotonia which means certain muscle groups don't relax properly. I get this symptom most frequently in my legs.”

Taking part in World’s Toughest Mudder with a muscle-wasting condition makes this an extraordinary challenge. Keith is very aware of how challenging any Tough Mudder can be and he has come together with other members of the community to form the Vagabond Legion.  This is a team that welcomes anyone new to the mud obstacle event or who has no one to run with.

“It doesn't matter if it's your first or 50th Tough Mudder, but anyone is welcome to join provided they adhere to the Tough Mudder principles: teamwork, camaraderie, and light-heartedness.”

Rachael Voss, Regional Development Manager for Midlands and Anglia said: “We feel proud that Keith has chosen to rise to this challenge for Muscular Dystrophy UK and to help us change the lives of thousands of families living with muscle-wasting conditions for the better. We hope that people will show him all the support he deserves. Keith is aiming to raise £1000 which would fund almost four full days’ work for a scientist developing treatments for muscular dystrophy.”

Keith can be supported here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/keith-pryce-jones1

The story of The Shepherdess has been set to music with narration by Conservatoire composer Cam Athanasiades and additional music by Soul Zisso.  Paintings and animations by Birmingham City University Visual Communications student Daniella Allen, based on the originals in the book, have also been created as part of the project.

The Shepherdess will be performed on the final day of the Festival by 70 young players from across the UK and marks the 30^th anniversary of the death of the recorder player and early music scholar Walter Bergmann.  It was to Bergmann that the original, unpublished, book was dedicated.

Walter Bergmann (1902-1988) escaped to England from Germany in 1939 and spent the war years interned on the Isle of Man.  His associations with Michael Tippett and the countertenor Alfred Deller led to a revival of the countertenor voice.  He was a key figure in the Society of Recorder Players encouraging playing by amateurs, and his role at Schott’s publishers enabled the publication of arrangements and new editions for recorder.  He is remembered not only as a fine music editor and scholar, but also for his tireless and generous support of young recorder players.

The concert will also feature Bergmann’s final (unpublished) recorder and piano quartet arrangement of Mozart’s piano sonata for four hands K381, plus his solo recorder sonatas and other music for children.

The Festival, which takes place over four days, features over 30 different events and includes headline performances by Birmingham’s own folk-world outfit the Bonfire Radicals, Synth-Bach with The Art of Moog, marking the 50^th anniversary of Wendy Carlos’s seminal album Switched-on Bach, and   Baroque music and dance from the London Handel Orchestra in Baroque Rebellion.  As well as concerts, the Festival includes workshops, masterclasses, an Early Music market and demonstrations such as Tim Cranmore Makes a Recorder from a Carrot – sure to be one of the tastier sessions.

Birmingham International Recorder and Early Music Festival runs from 15-18 February at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.  The Walter Bergmann 30^th Anniversary Concert, featuringThe Shepherdess, is on Sunday 18 February at 3pm.

“Rock Form”, the much-loved sculpture by renowned artist Barbara Hepworth, will go on temporary display at Wolverhampton Central Library while the city’s art gallery undergoes a refurbishment.

The popular piece was being moved out of the Lichfield Street gallery today ready for its move to the main foyer of the library in Snow Hill.

“Rock Form” has been housed at the art gallery since 2015 after its owner, Royal Bank of Scotland, agreed to keep it on long-term display in the city.

The bronze sculpture has a long association with the City of Wolverhampton having been on public display in the Mander Centre since the 1968 after being donated by the Mander family.

The art gallery is undergoing significant improvement works which means “Rock Form” requires a new temporary home.

Cllr John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for city economy, said: “Rock Form has a long history with the City of Wolverhampton and the art gallery has been proud to house this iconic piece for the last two and a half years.

“We need to move it temporarily for the next year or so while improvement works are carried out at the gallery and Central Library is the perfect venue. It means it will still be very much on public display where lots of people, including children, will be able to appreciate this magnificent work of art.”

Rock Form will be installed in the library next month after some minor works are carried out to its plinth.

Barbara Hepworth created Rock Form in 1964. It is one of 6 similar bronze castings - the others are held in the at Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens, Truro, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, The Association for Public Art in Philadelphia and the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.

Hepworth is considered one of the most significant sculptors of modern times. Her work is internationally famous and during the 1950s and 60s she was one of the most successful artists in the world.

West Midlands-based motor sport, automotive supply chain, transport technology and plastics and composites companies have the chance to join a trade visit to Le Mans, home of the world’s oldest active motorsport endurance race.

Organised by West Midlands Chambers of Commerce, the visit will take place between Tuesday, June 12, and Friday, June 15, and is aimed at small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

Andy Smith, International Relationships Manager for the EU/ DIT co-financed SME International Growth Project, said funded places were available for eligible West Midlands SMEs, which have the opportunity to win business through a series of high-profile B2B meetings with some of the Europe’s leading automotive and transport companies firms.

“This is the perfect opportunity for the innovative motor sport, automotive and supply chain companies in our area to showcase their expertise to a global market,” he said.

“The West Midlands has a long and proud heritage in this industry and we’d love to see more businesses introducing their products to markets across the world. These B2B events around the iconic Le Mans race provide an excellent platform for them to do so”

The programme includes up to 12 timetabled one-to-one meetings as part of the International Business Days Le Mans 2018, networking opportunities and conferences covering topics such as additives and automotive / mobility innovation. There is  also a parallel one-day multi-sector plastics and composites event Plasti-Ouest, which will cover aerospace, packaging, construction, medical and automotive usage of these materials.

Places are strictly limited and to receive a funded place, applicants must be eligible under the DIT’s SME International Growth Project (IGP).

Returning to Birmingham’s NEC from 20 to 25 February, the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018 is the family-friendly event to visit this half-term, with children aged 15 and under going free and a host of activities for all of the family. The show brings together over 370 exhibitors as part of the UK’s largest showcase of caravans, campervans, motorhomes, caravan holiday homes and lodges as well as new season tents, trailer tents and folding caravans.

Throughout the six-day show, fun and free activities are on offer. Children can learn basic survival skills at bushcraft workshops, challenge themselves on the climbing wall with guidance from experienced instructors, clamber over the assault course and enjoy the new-for-2018 skate rink. Adults can take advantage of free campervan test driving sessions, with opportunities to brush up on motorhome manoeuvring and caravan towing skills*. The Top Dog Arena also provides a variety of entertainment, with performances from four-legged friends.

Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and female adventurer Anna McNuff take to the stage to recount tales of their latest journeys and show support for the event’s ‘24 hours outdoors’ initiative, encouraging people to spend more time with nature in 2018. The campaign aims to motivate people and raise awareness of the mental and physical health benefits of being outdoors. A study by The Camping and Caravanning Club also shows 55% of people agree camping is a great way to re-engage with old friends and family^.

The Discovery Theatre’s line-up of celebrity names includes wildlife presenter Gordan Buchanan, who officially opens the show on 20 February, and Chelsea Ladies FC captain Katie Chapman. Renowned cooks such as Rustie Lee, Paul Da Costa Greaves, Dean Edwards and Eat Well For Less’ Chris Bavin host live cookery demonstrations, sharing their top tips and favourite camping recipes.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Chinese New Year 2018 as we enter the Year of the Dog!

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Fed up with the same old walkies? Stuck for ideas on how to keep your hound happy in the winter months? Well worry no more… pet insurer MORE TH>N has developed a free ideas generator for days out with dogs - owners simply pop in their postcode and push the button, and hey presto, the tool will recommend dog-friendly holidays and days out for dogs in the UK.

So whether you and your faithful friend want to explore the paw-fectly named Roundball Woods or Barky Beach, or you’re simply looking for a nearby dog-friendly beach, dog-friendly pub or a new walking route in the countryside, town or a new dog-friendly park – all the information is at a touch of a button.

The generator has a number of filters enabling owners to select a location and the distance they are willing to travel with a dog for some new fun. The results page also includes testimonials from other dog owners who use the recommended places regularly.

MORE TH>N’s vet Andrew Moore said: “No matter what the weather, dogs need to be walked and go out every day. This new dog days out tool is the perfect solution for owners stuck in a rut, as new smells, sights and sounds are very stimulating for dogs and a paw-some antidote to the rainy day blues.”

Owners can click here for the generator and to find the perfect dog-friendly holiday or day out.

Youngsters are on the career ladder thanks to an imaginative initiative between Haringey Council and a range of companies and charities. Called the Tottenham Charter it aims to ensure Tottenham residents get the most from the regeneration in the area in terms of jobs, health, education and training.

The organisation signs up to the charter and pledges, in their own way, to improve the quality of life for residents in the area.

One of these is leading engineering and construction company VolkerFitzpatrick, currently working to improve Northumberland Park’s railway station. Thanks to the charter, VolkerFitzpatrick’s Anglia Rail Skills Academy was brought together with Haringey Play Association which runs a popular adventure playground in north Tottenham. A ‘pre-apprenticeship programme’ was launched which saw a group of 16-19-year-olds build a new sandpit and water play area in the playground, aided by VolkerFitzpatrick staff who also organised a site tour and a construction workshop.

Indeed, the programme has been so successful that one of the group, 16-year-old Asha Clarke, has recently secured a job at the company as a trainee engineer.

“I did the pre-apprenticeship programme and then came on a week’s work experience at VolkerFitzpatrick,” he said. “I think they liked my attitude and how I performed but I was shocked when I was phoned to be told the good news. I couldn’t stop smiling for the whole day!”

Asha admits his life could have turned out very differently. He had fallen in with a particular crowd at school and found himself on a final warning.

“Six months ago I never would have dreamt I would have a full-time job in engineering. But this is my time to shine.”

Asha’s ‘mentor’ at the adventure playground in Somerford Grove was Tam Carrigan who encouraged Asha to apply for the programme.

“I’m so proud of him,” said Tam, beaming. “He still comes in to see us every week and tells the younger kids to think about their future and he is also a constant encouragement for his peers, just by the example he has set, which is wonderful. The charter is a great idea and it gives big companies like VolkerFitzpatrick the opportunity to give something back to the community.”