A newly-merged alcohol and drug service for Sandwell will launch on 1 February.

The service, which is funded by Sandwell Council’s public health department, will be run by Cranstoun Sandwell.

The service will offer treatment and recovery services.

A key focus of the new service will be to prevent alcohol and drug misuse through promoting a self-help approach.

Cranstoun has merged with Swanswell to run the service – both Cranstoun and Swanswell have been supporting people in Sandwell for some time.

Peter Glass, director of operations for Cranstoun, said: “Cranstoun are very excited to continue to deliver the substance misuse services in Sandwell. We will keep developing our partnership approach and build on the already excellent relationships we have in Sandwell.”

Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “This will make sure we continue giving excellent levels of support to help people recover from alcohol and drug dependence.

“It will also help prevent people developing habits that can affect their health and wellbeing.”

Leading student property company Purple Frog is looking to leap across to Worcester, after signing a contract with PFHD Worcester, which has set in motion plans for a 149-bedroom Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme. Due to complete in the summer of 2020, the project will see the reinvigoration of a Grade II listed building on Henwick Road, preserving the historic Gothic-façade, while revamping and extending the interior to include a gym, study facilities, communal spaces, en-suite rooms and studio flats, perfect for the city’s growing student community.

The project will add to Purple Frog’s impressive portfolio, extending its presence beyond Birmingham, Nottingham, and Bristol, where it already manages properties for over 2,500 students nationally.

The decision by Purple Frog to look to Worcester as its next site location was an easy one: in the past ten years, the number of people applying to the University of Worcester has grown at a much higher rate than the national average, and it currently has over 10,000 students, contributing to the West Midlands’ higher education institutions total of £2.2billion to the regional GVA.

What’s more, the percentage of students studying at the university who come from outside Worcester is growing, meaning it’s more important than ever for quality, affordable student housing to be established close to the university. As it stands, the University of Worcester currently subcontracts 500 bed spaces in the private sector, as it does not have enough accommodation to supply its students. This latest development will tackle this problem head on, providing self-contained university accommodation, which in turn equally reduces the strain on local residential properties.

Speaking about Purple Frog’s expansion into Worcester, Managing Director Patrick Garratt, commented:

“This is an incredibly exciting time for us at Purple Frog, as Worcester is a city we’ve had our eye on for a while now: its prominent student population and its growing recognition as one of the region’s leading higher-education institutions means that there has never been a more exciting time to get involved with the university. There is clearly demand for high quality student accommodation and we’re looking forward to meeting that demand and providing a proper level of service to the tenants, the landlords, the investors and being good neighbours within the local community.”

The site being renovated has a rich history, as a former orphanage and more recently, the site of the YMCA. Both PFHD Worcester and Purple Frog are working closely with the Planning and Conservation Officer for Worcester City Council, as well as the planning consultants Malcolm Scott Consultants Ltd and DJD Architects, to ensure that the history of the building is kept alive, preserving its significance to the city in the process. Should the planning permission be approved, a handover period has been agreed with the current occupants to ensure that they are fully relocated to their new site before works begin, with both parties actively working together to ensure no loss of provision or service to its users occurs.

In order to ensure that both the historical significance and the future functionality of the building is upheld, both the planning consultants and the architects involved have been paramount. James Pugh from DJD Architects has been at the forefront of this part of the project, and stated:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to secure the future of one of Worcester’s most notable Victorian buildings while at the same time contributing to the growing success of the university.  The investment in the historic fabric made possible by the contribution of additional new accommodation will put the building in good shape for many years to come.  It will be rewarding to see the building continue to help shape the lives of the young people who pass through its doors, as it has done for more than 150 years already.”

Tracy Hubbard from Malcolm Scott Consultants added:

'This is an exciting opportunity for the City of Worcester, which continues to flourish as a University City.  The project will ensure a long-term viable use for this important historic building, whilst providing much needed purpose built student accommodation in a highly sustainable location’.

The sale of the building has been facilitated by Andrew Grant Estate Agents. Commenting on the process, Andrew Grant said:

“Purple Frog have provided a great opportunity for the YMCA site to be put to very good use providing dedicated student rental accommodation for the University of Worcester. I am so pleased that the Grade II YMCA building is being given an extended life to support Worcestershire and the county. Purple Frog were a very professional firm to be involved with and to hopefully bring things to a satisfactory conclusion”.

The Worcester site is still awaiting planning permission, and a drop-in public consultation has already been scheduled to take place at the YMCA, on Thursday 21 December 2017 between 3pm and 6pm. Local residents and businesses will be welcome to pop in to discuss the scheme. If the project receives the green light in 2018, the next stage will be to finalise the YMCA’s relocation plans to ensure no service is lost to those benefiting from the YMCA’s great work.

“Here at YMCA Worcestershire we believe that all young people should have a safe place to live, and we are delighted that the sale of Henwick Road will enable us to diversify and work with a wider range of young people,”  concluded, Duncan Berry, CEO of YMCA Worcestershire.

To have your say on the project, please feel free to attend the public consultation and present your views.

The UNESCO International Memory of the World programme has recognised the immense significance to world culture of the ‘Shakespeare Documents’ – the key archival sources for William Shakespeare’s biography. This material now has equivalent status in the documentary sphere as the pyramids have for the world’s built heritage.

The successful nomination was led by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in partnership with The National Archives, Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology Service, the College of Arms, the British Library and London Metropolitan Archives in the UK, and the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C, USA. Together these specialist archive and library repositories care for the precious ‘Shakespeare Documents’.

Their inclusion on the International Memory of the World register recognises the universal cultural and historical value of 90 documents relating to Shakespeare’s baptism, burial, family matters, property records, legal actions and business dealings.

Amy Hurst, Collections Archivist at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said, “The documentary trail left by Shakespeare during his life time provides a rich narrative of his life, giving unique insights into his personal circumstances and how these may have influenced his creative work. We hold 31 of the hand-written documents from Shakespeare’s lifetime that mention him by name and provide a vivid insight into his life as an Elizabethan gentleman and businessman. This material allows audiences to connect with Shakespeare, getting closer to the world’s most celebrated poet and playwright.”

The international registration follows the successful collaboration between the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and The National Archives, since their ‘Shakespeare Documents’ entered the UK UNESCO Memory of the World programme in 2014. This led to a special exhibition to mark the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 2016, and the return of Shakespeare’s will - loaned by The National Archives - to Stratford-upon-Avon for the first time since it was written. “The attention and excitement this generated demonstrated the vibrancy and draw that documentary heritage can have,” said Amy Hurst. “Our mission as a charity is to promote the enjoyment and understanding of Shakespeare’s works, life and times. It is tremendously exciting to be working with our international registration partners to open up even more opportunities to promote these documentary treasures and engage with international networks and audiences.”

UNESCO’s International Memory of the World initiative works specifically with documentary heritage - manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual materials and publications – that have “universal value” which transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. While the first principal of the programme is to safeguard material, from neglect, disaster or deliberate destruction, the internationally recognised status also opens up funding opportunities for conservation, digitisation, and use of innovative technologies to widen access.

Dr Katy Mair, Head of Early Modern Records at The National Archives, said, “You often hear it said that we don’t know much about Shakespeare; the personality behind the plays. But it is possible to piece together a substantial amount about his life. The Shakespeare documents held by The National Archives form the largest collection of its kind and feature nearly half of all known contemporary references to his life – including four of his six known signatures.

“Our collection provides a priceless perspective on Shakespeare’s life in London. It shows him appearing as a resident in the Elizabethan city, with the documentary trail then charting his rise in fortune, both professional and financial, reaching the heady heights of success at the court of James I and ending with his famous will. Paper and ink analysis of the three-page manuscript conducted in 2016 has forced scholars to reassess many of the assumptions about Shakespeare’s family life and death. He was a canny businessman who revised his will several times during his lifetime to provide for his family.

“We are pleased to see the global significance of these 400-year-old documents being recognised by the UNESCO International Memory of the World Programme.”

Dr Lisa Snook, User Services Manager, Worcestershire Archives and Archaeology Service, said, “Three documents in our collections at The Hive, Worcester, help to tell the story of Shakespeare's personal life in Stratford rather than his literary life.  The bond for the marriage of William and Anne, and the subsequent recording of the marriage licence in the Bishop of Worcester's register of 1582 are part of the vast Diocese of Worcester collection.  They show the process through which Shakespeare sought to marry, and in turn they reveal much about his circumstances at the time.   The will of Thomas Whittington gives a fascinating insight into his personal networks and connections in Stratford, as well as the connections of his wife and her philanthropic work.  Thomas names Anne Shakespeare and specifically requests that she distributes money to the poor of Stratford.  We are very proud of our Shakespeare connections, and are delighted that the collective documents relating to his work and his life are being recognised in this way.”

Dr Lynsey Darby of the College of Arms said, “Our archives have for centuries preserved official records of grants and confirmations of coats of arms, as well as records of genealogy and state ceremonial. Among the treasures of this archive are records of the grant of arms made to William Shakespeare’s father John of Stratford upon Avon in 1596. This application for a coat of arms on his father’s behalf shows the value the playwright placed on a visible symbol of his family’s gentry status, and the importance of having this status confirmed by the heralds of the College of Arms. We are delighted that these and other vital Shakespeare documents have been granted this special recognition of their significance.”

William Frame, Head of Modern Archives and Manuscripts at the British Library, “The British Library is delighted that UNESCO has chosen to recognise the importance of these documents.  The four British Library documents, which all date from the last 15 years of Shakespeare’s life, shed light on his financial affairs and provide tantalising glimpses of the views that Shakespeare’s contemporaries had of the man and his work.  We have digitised all four documents and hope that registration will bring these documents to a wider audience.”

This half term at World of Wedgwood, Stoke-on-Trent, there's plenty going on from themed creative activities where children can make a unique gift ready for Mother's Day to Factory Tours where you can learn about the processes behind production, and our children's Museum trail with a prize for every child! Plus, free Museum entry for everyone and free Factory Tours for under 12's!

Explore the Factory Tour and Museum Trail

The award-winning Factory Tour is available Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm with last entry at 3pm and is free for under 12's! Take a guided or self-guided tour to discover how Wedgwood is made.

The Wedgwood Museum; free entry, every day 10am to 5pm. Discover the history of over 250 years of ground-breaking design and production. Younger visitors can take the Pottery Spotters trail which will guide them through the UNESCO recognised V&A collection, with a prize for every completed activity sheet.

Create: Pot Throwing, Pottery Painting and Ceramic Design

Three creative activities for Children (and adults!) to choose from, available every day from 10am. Come and make a unique Mother's Day gift that will be treasured forever.

Throw a pot on the potter's wheel in our Master Craft studio, with help from our skilled team choose from 7 different styles to produce your own pottery masterpiece!

Get creative and draw your own design to be transferred onto a piece of Wedgwood, choose from plates, mugs, cups and saucers. Using pencils, crayons and felt tips you can let your imagination go wild, using inspiration from Wedgwood designs, to create a piece of art to be treasured forever.

Younger visitors especially will love our Pottery Painting activities, choose from clay cut out shapes including hearts, flowers and stars; and plant pots, vases and tealight holders to paint and give to your mum on Mother's Day.

The independent charity Crimestoppers is urging anyone who has information about those carrying a gun to tell us 100% anonymously what they know. The appeal is part of a 4-week campaign to make Birmingham’s streets safer.

Throughout 2017, the charity’s UK Contact Centre received nearly 500 pieces of information about gun crime from the public in the West Midlands who trusted us to pass on information. They did so in the certainty that they would always remain anonymous.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that gun crimes are up in England and Wales by 27% in the year to June 2017. Last year a surge in gun crime across Birmingham included incidents such as a drive-by shooting.

Pauline Hadley, West Midlands Regional Manager at the Crimestoppers charity, said: “Like all major cities, Birmingham has its fair share of gun crime and last year saw a particularly worrying rise in gun-related incidents. Join those 500 people who are already helping to keep our streets safe from gun crime, by telling us what you know.

“We urge anyone who has information to come forward and speak to us 100% anonymously. We are a charity giving people the power to speak up to stop crime. We won’t ask your name and we won’t judge. We’ll just listen to what you know. Please speak up and stay safe.”

If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through the non-traceable Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.