Headlining the Jam House this February and considered one of the most successful bands ever to come out of the 70’s, Hot Chocolate. The only band ever to have had a hit every year in the UK charts during the 1970’s.

The five-piece band started their recording career with a reggae cover of John Lennon’s ‘Give Peace a Chance’ which John himself highly rated. During the disco era Hot Chocolate boomed, their tight vocal harmonies presented success with big hits such as ‘You Sexy Thing’ and ‘Everyone 1’s a Winner’ which also peaked in the US. The band’s enduring popularity ensured that two of their compilation albums reached No. 1 in the UK Albums chart. In 1986 the group disbanded only to reform in 1992 and they are now touring with Kennie Simon as vocalist.

Hot Chocolate said “We love the Jam House and are genuinely looking forward to be playing here! There’s always so much energy, the people are fantastic! Overall such a good atmosphere. We love it.”

Derby man Phill Alcock has backed Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) Charity’s appeal to bring the revolutionary Heart in a Box to the hospital, saying that it has the potential to change the lives of people like him who are waiting for a heart transplant.

Heart in a Box keeps a heart waiting to be transplanted alive outside of the body, greatly increasing the window of time that surgeons have to transplant it into the recipient before the organ begins deteriorating. QEHB Charity is fundraising to bring Heart in a Box to the hospital and doctors estimate that it will increase the number of heart transplants carried out at QEHB by up to 50%.

This will make a world of difference to patients such as Phill Alcock who is currently awaiting a heart transplant. Sadly, 20% of people on the waiting list for a heart transplant will die before an organ becomes available.

Phill has had four heart attacks in the past ten years, with the first occurring in 2007 whilst playing football. He made a swift recovery and was playing football again within seven weeks however; a year on Phill was once again playing football when he was hit by a second heart attack.

Phill went on to recover from this second heart attack only to have a third, two years on in 2010 after coaching his football team Holbrook Sports to the fifth round of the FA Vase. Phill said: “I started to feel unwell during extra time of the match and the next day I had a heart attack, my third in only three years.”

After being taken to Papworth for tests, Phill was told that he was not healthy enough for a heart transplant due to high pressure on his heart and lungs. He then faced years of waiting for his health to improve to the state where he could be considered for a transplant.

In 2015, Phill had a fourth heart attack whilst playing walking football and was taken to QEHB where Dr Lim decided that Phill required an LVAD machine to be installed. An LVAD is an artificial pump that keeps a patient with heart failure alive. It works through battery packs that the patient carries around with them, and can also be plugged into the mains.

The decision to fit Phill with an LVAD was taken around his50^th birthday and this proved to be a tough time, he said: “I thought that I was going to have to say goodbye to everyone and that I wouldn’t make it. This was especially tough on my daughter Olivia who was only 15 at the time.”

Phill had separated from his wife over the previous years and said that he was “determined to carry on for my daughter’s sake.” He decided to take a trip to Liverpool with his friends and family before being admitted to hospital for his procedure.

On the Sunday night before his operation, Phill went to see a local band, The Modest, with friends when he happened to get chatting to a woman called Sarah, telling her of his reasons for going to see the band and the procedure that awaited him the next week.

Sarah said that this first encounter came out of the blue: “He initiated our first-ever conversation and came and sat down next to me. We chatted lots and made each other laugh. I remember he touched on the fact that he was going into hospital the next day, I was impressed as I would have chosen to be at home, worrying, rather than out having a good time.

“I had no idea just how inspirational to my life I would find this man in the future and when I found out the extent of the operation I was blown away by his attitude to life.”

The LVAD operation was a success and two months later Phill was well enough to leave hospital. Upon leaving, Phill returned to see The Modest, where again he bumped into Sarah. Sarah said: “He had only just come out of hospital and I was struck by how he had chosen to ‘live’ the rest of his life, his determination to live and not choose to lie on the sofa all day.”

Phill said: “I never intended to find love, I was focused on my health and taking care of Olivia but it was wonderful to meet Sarah.”

In November 2015 Phill received some wonderful news at his six month assessment; he was told that the valves in his heart and lungs had recovered sufficiently that he could go onto the list for a heart transplant. “I finally had a plan B” Phill said, “I decided that it was high time that I asked Sarah out on a date.”

Sarah said that Phill asking her out was “The best birthday present ever. Life definitely began at 40!”

However, following a couple of incidents including the bag carrying his LVAD batteries being pulled by a bystander at a gig, and falling and hitting his head on the counter at home, Phill had a bleed on the brain and went into a fit.

Phill’s family were told that he was unlikely to survive the ambulance journey. Against all the odds, Phill made it to hospital and received life-saving surgery to remove the pressure on his brain and spent the next two weeks in a coma.

Whilst Phill was in a coma, Sarah was in contact with his sister-in-law who told her that Phill had confided in her some time ago, saying that he was in love with Sarah.

He spent weeks in hospital surrounded by his family and Sarah, who said: “These weeks went by very slowly, everyone was really supportive of me, telling me all the lovely things that he had said about me. His family and friends kept me strong. I refused to believe that I had found my one and that he was going to be taken away from me.”

Phill recovered well and upon leaving hospital they were finally able to go on a date. Phill said: “It was a little surreal; she had met my entire family by this point so it was hardly a traditional first date!”

Since then, Phill and Sarah’s relationship has gone from strength to strength as Phill’s recovery has continued. Phill said: “Sarah is a wonderful person; she is always there for me and has given me a confidence and hope for the future.

“She’s had a positive impact on the whole family, especially taking the pressure off Olivia and my mother when it comes to caring for me. She is able to help me with my LVAD machine, helping to charge the batteries and plug me into the mains!”

Sarah is glad to have been able to make a difference not only to Phill’s life, but to Olivia’s too, saying: “I recognised from early on that Olivia, his daughter, had put all the pressure of keeping her father alive on her own shoulders because she wanted her father in her life for as long as possible.

“I wanted to give her the support and security that she had been without for so long.  At the same time, she had been used to being Phill’s main carer for so long that I couldn’t expect her to give up this role straight away.

“Between us we shared the responsibility and Olivia grew confident to know that she could spend time away and her father would be cared for and that I would contact her for help if I needed her.”

Phill’s recovery continues, saying: “I’m in a much better way physically, I’m back up to 11 stone from a low of just eight, I’m back doing some DJ-ing and even coaching the occasional football match. My life use to revolve around my health to the point where every conversation I had was about it. Now, I just want to talk to people about things that I like. Sarah and I are planning on going on holiday next which proves how much better I am now!”

Speaking of life with an LVAD machine, Phill said: “It can be tough. Every time I go to Sarah’s house I have to take two suitcases full of batteries and other things to keep me going. Whenever I’m on the road I’m worried about my batteries, we all hate it when our phones die on us but I’ve got even bigger things to worry about!”

Phill knows that the long term plan has to include a heart transplant and is still waiting on the call to come through to say that there is a heart ready for him. One thing that keeps him going is the thought of competing in the transplant games: “I love to play sport and I really miss that aspect of my life, it would be amazing to be able to compete again if I have a heart transplant.”

Speaking of the difference that Heart in a Box would make, Phill said: “It sounds like an incredible invention. At the moment it’s hard to stay positive whilst waiting for a transplant, I know that the chances of a suitable heart becoming available for me are slim.

“A lot of the difficulties come from basic factors like geography. If a heart becomes available in Glasgow it’s going to take a long time to get to where I need it and during this time it’s going to be deteriorating. The longer it’s out of the body the less chance you’ve got of it being accepted by the recipient’s body.

“Heart in a Box can change this, and I know that it will have such an amazing impact on people like me who are waiting for a heart to become available.”

Justine Davy, Head of Fundraising for QEHB Charity said: “Phill has been through such a lot and his story of survival is frankly incredible. It means a huge amount to have his support for the Charity’s appeal, Phill’s story highlights the need for this amazing piece of equipment and demonstrates the difference it will make to people’s lives.”

“The generous donations that the Charity receives will make it possible to bring Heart in a Box to QEHB, changing lives and increasing the number of transplants carried out at the hospital.

“I look forward to hearing the stories of patients in the future who have benefitted from Heart in a Box and I wish Phill and Sarah the very best for the future.”

To find out more about Heart in a Box and to donate to the appeal, go to qehb.org/heart

One of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s largest annual fundraising events, Big Bandage is back for 2018, and the charity is looking for it to be BIGGER, braver and better than ever with its Big Bandage Day on Friday 9 March!

Urging supporters to be brave in bandages, the charity is asking people to step out of their comfort zone and take on a brave challenge in support of the hospital’s many courageous kids. From taking on our sponsored abseil on the 10 March, to braving the shave and going bald in aid of the charity, there are many ways to fundraise and help the 90,000 sick children fight another day.

Miranda Williams, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Big Bandage Day is back, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever! And all we’re asking is for people to be brave. Of course, we’re not expecting everyone to jump out of a plane or scale the side of a building (although you’re more than welcome to!). We’re just looking for people to take on a challenge which tests their nerve and pushes their comfort zone.

“However people decide to fundraise, all money raised will support Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity in our mission to raise the vital funds needed to make a real difference to all our incredibly brave children, offering them the best experience possible when treated at our hospital.”

One inspirationally brave patient in particular is four-year-old Penny Powell, who is a regular visitor to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Sutton-born Penny underwent a renal transplant in June last year after she was born weighing just 1lb 7oz and diagnosed at birth with renal failure.  First time parents Michelle and Stuart were keen to be Penny’s donor, but after tests revealed they were unfortunately not a match, Granddad John Powell stepped in.

Since her transplant just over six months ago, Penny is doing extremely well and Mum and Dad describe her as ‘the bravest little girl they know’.

How can you get involved in Big Bandage Day?

All it takes is three easy steps!

1.       Save the date – Friday 9^th March

2.       Register to get your free fundraising pack at www.bch.org.uk/bb18

3.       Start planning your Big Bandage Day!

Get your work place or kids involved too and boost your fundraising by getting everyone to pay £2 and wear a bandage in support of our extraordinarily brave children.

Some of the images from the Celebration of Life of Cyrille Regis MBE at West Bromwich Albion Football Club

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The University of Wolverhampton has secured an additional £460k funding to deliver training for Degree Apprenticeships to non-levy paying companies.

The allocation of money was approved by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) recently and means that the University can widen its support for local businesses looking to upskill their workforce.

The University is already offering Higher and Degree Apprenticeships in Chartered Management (CMDA), Higher Apprenticeship in Construction Management with pathways for Civil Engineering & Built Environment, Chartered Surveying, Chartered Legal Executive and Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeships.

Future Higher/Degree Apprenticeships will include Digital Technologies, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Design & Engineer, Civil Engineering, Policing, Social Work, Nursing, Nursing Associate and Paramedic Degree Apprenticeships.

Having been awarded £250,000 funding from the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) in 2017 to develop its Apprenticeship offer, over 150 apprentices are already studying for Higher and Degree level qualifications at the University.

Michele Roberts, Head of the Apprenticeship Hub at the University, said:  “This is fantastic news for the University and will really help us to build on the work that has already gone into developing our industry-standard Degree Apprenticeships.

“Companies with a wage bill of under £3 million are eligible for 90% funding for Degree Apprenticeships and this additional money will allow us to increase our offer and support more and more businesses looking for Higher/Degree level Apprenticeships for their employees.

“For example, companies will only pay 10% of the course fees, with the other 90% being funded by the government through this allocation. Other incentives will mean that for SMEs with less than 50 employees and who recruit a 16-18 year old the training/course element of the Apprenticeship will be fully funded.”

Winnipeg may not be the first place you think of for a city break but one that will not disappoint.   A small compact city where you will find arts and culture with world-class museums, live music, dance and theatre. Winnipeg is the type of city visitors need to get underneath the skin of to find hidden gems that the locals know.

For a romantic getaway you need a place to stay, and the one Winnipeg hotel tailor made for romance is Mariaggi's Theme Suite Hotel, a highly rated hotel where every room is an exotic, worldly location. TripAdvisor has li

sted Mariaggi's as one of the 10 most-romantic hotels in the world.

Start the day exploring the city on tandem bikes. With two locations in the city, including The Forks, The Forks and Assiniboine Park, these bike rentals (Bee-2-Gether) are ideally situated to see some of the best, and romantic, spots in the city.

Select The Forks route, to explore all the curves along the river and then pedal over the Esplanade Riel, Winnipeg's stylish pedestrian bridge, to St. Boniface, Winnipeg's Francophone neighbourhood which is oozing with French culture and flavour.

On a quiet street corner tucked-in behind the St. Boniface Cathedral you'll find La Belle Baguette . The bakery itself smells like heaven, while the pastries, breads and baked goods that come out of its kitchen are guaranteed to be love at first sight.

St. Boniface is teeming with delightful patios, and one of the best is found at Promenade Café and Wine, which provides stunning vistas of the downtown. Promenade itself is an excellent restaurant for French cuisine.

From here take a trip along Winnipeg's winding rivers with Splash Dash Guided River Tours. These river taxis take off and pick up passengers at multiple stops throughout the Assiniboine and Red rivers while providing stunning perspectives of Winnipeg's riverbanks and architecture.

For a leisurely stroll through gardens and past wondrous works of art head to Assiniboine Park , Winnipeg's verdant 1,110-acre masterpiece. From the abundance of flowers in the Formal English Gardens to the tree lined paths leading to the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden. This tranquil garden contains more than 300 awe-inspiring works from Mol, the renowned Ukrainian Canadian sculptor. Throughout summer free jazz performances are a regular occurrence here, adding to the ambiance.

Have a picnic amongst Assiniboine Park's expansive green spaces. Pick up lunch from The Park Café at the Qualico Family Centre then take a seat in one of Assiniboine Park's six other gardens where floral fragrances hang in the air.

For another way to relax try Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature , a Scandinavian spa in the Fort Garry neighbourhood, All you need is a bathing suit, a robe and some flip flops, and this place will do the rest with its hot thermal pools, steamy and dry saunas, and cold pools and waterfall, which are all meant to use in a hot-cold-hot cycle. Thermëa is ideal for couples, as you'll need someone to rub the invigorating and exfoliating lavender salts on your back between steam room sessions. Plus, they have tantalizing cuisine for lunch and dinner where dining in robes is mandatory.

The Inn at the Forks' Riverstone Spa is cited as one of the best hotel spas in Canada. Riverstone has three different couples packages — Spa for Two, the Aaaaahhh Package and Together We Will Escape — that involve massages, hand and foot therapy, an overnight stay in the beautiful hotel, and breakfast in SMITH restaurant, the ultimate 24-hour pampering treat.

As night falls, head out to one of Winnipeg's celebrated tapas restaurants because nothing entices like sharing bites. In Osborne Village you can savour Spanish flavours at Segovia — Winnipeg's most acclaimed restaurant. If you get there early be sure to get a seat on the charming little patio where you can sip some cava and enjoy delectable bites.