School’s out… for lots of half term fun at Birmingham Museums this February! Transport the little ones back in time across the different sites, from putting your building skills to use recreating the Great Fire of London skyline at Blakesley Hall, to becoming a Victorian sleuth at a murder mystery trail in Aston Hall. There’s also plenty of 21^st century fun to be had with the cutting edge, hands-on Operation Earth at Thinktank and you can sprinkle a touch of rainbow magic to your week at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery!

Marvel at the latest research on our natural world at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, with Operation Earth

Ever stopped to think about how mind-blowingly wondrous the world around us can be? You’ll bet your little ones (and adults alike) will be sufficiently mind-blown indeed by the launch of Operation Earth this February half term. Exploring the latest research from cutting-edge scientists who study the natural environment, this hands-on, environmental science programme will ensure you’re the first in the know about the latest discoveries of the crazy planet we live on. Open daily from 10am-5pm, Thinktank has plenty to offer over the half term week.

Look out for fun workshops in Thinktank’s new LEGO® Education Innovation Studio throughout half term too!

Colour and create with a sprinkling of rainbow magic at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Celebrating the ground-breaking Arts Council Collection Coming Out exhibition which is currently on display at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, light up your little ones’ lives with some rainbow magic this half term. The exhibition was conceived by Walker Art Gallery National Museums Liverpool and celebrates the LGBT community. The theme has inspired these fun family friendly activities.

Get arty with plenty of crafting opportunities throughout the week. Stand open-mouthed and mesmerised by the Round Room bathed in a rainbow, by creating your own using kaleidoscopes and rainbow glasses. Become a photography whizz by using the colours of the rainbow to make a special light drawing. Wave the big rainbow maker in the air, get it captured on camera by one of the museum workers and you’ll have your own special print to take home.

Become the author to your own rainbow story by joining in on some interactive storytelling: your drawings on the floor will piece together your own special story. And for just £3.50, design and build your own rainbow robot. This, plus even more colourful crafts, Rainbow Animations workshops and more make for a fun-packed half term week.

Rebuild the building blocks of history by stepping back to the Great Fire of London with Blakesley Hall

For just £1.50, on 20^th and 22^nd February, kids can craft their way to the London skyline by creating and decorating their very own 17^th century London buildings. Immerse the whole family in history by taking part in some Great Fire of London themed trails and competing in fun, fact-filled themed quizzes.

And with pre-booking being essential on this one, the family friendly 30 minute drama “From Pudding Lane to Pie Corner” is destined to be a firm half term favourite on 21^st February. Samuel Pepys makes a special trip to Blakesley Hall and recounts his fiery memories of London burning! The event is included in the normal admission price and there are two performances throughout the day at 12pm and 2pm.

And the fun doesn’t stop there. Make the most of the week off at our other sites:

Aston Hall sends the little ones time travelling, with a family friendly murder mystery trail. Visit the Hall between 11am and 4pm to sleuth your way to cracking the mystery of preventing a would-be assassin from 2048 stopping Victorian England’s Aston Hall from becoming a museum. Pre-booking is advisable, however you can turn up and pay for your entrance on the day and usual admission prices apply.

Pre-book your half term day trip to The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter on Thursday 22^nd February, where your own guided tour of the Smith & Pepper jewellery factory is waiting for you, followed by an exciting craft activity!

At Sarehole Mill, there’s a scrummy day planned on Pancake Day, with a drop in baking session to whip up your own tasty pancakes! Just £2 for the baking sessions, held at 12.00-1.30pm and 2.00-3.00pm. Family craft and trail activities will also take place 20^th – 25^th February too.

Soho House is celebrating those who keep us safe, with a 999 Emergency Day on Thursday 22^nd February. With a day of jam-packed activities, take part in a meet and greet with Fireman Sam, talk to the Handsworth Fire Fighters and Police, and join in on plenty of 999 family craft activities and activity trails.

Less than a month after Birmingham was confirmed as the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, students from across the UK city will be gathering to debate the role of the intergovernmental organisation in the modern era.

In the first in a series of debates held in cities across the country, the event, taking place on Wednesday 17 January at Birmingham City Council House, wants to challenge received opinion about the Commonwealth. The event aims to position the Commonwealth as an organisation of significance in international affairs among the city’s 65,000 students and a positive force for change across the world.

The Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted in 1949 and today represents 2.4 billion citizens across the world – more than one quarter of the world’s population in 52 countries. It works to help create and sustain an organisation that is mutually respectful, resilient, peaceful and prosperous, and that cherishes equality, diversity and shared values, which is inscribed in the Commonwealth Charter.

Professor Louise Toner is Associate Dean at Birmingham City University and Chair of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association Education Focus Group, which brings together eight major universities and colleges in the West Midlands to celebrate and recognise the significance of their Commonwealth connections. She said:

“The Commonwealth has its roots in the British Empire and for that reason it remains controversial. However, unlike the British Empire, the Commonwealth focuses on harmony, modernisation and the establishment and maintenance of democracy among the former colonies. Plus, research shows that trade between two partner nations is likely be a third to a half more than when one or both trade partners was non-Commonwealth.

“Here in Birmingham, we are already looking ahead to the ‘Friendly Games’ in 2022, but in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games in Queensland this year and the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, also in April, it is more imperative than ever that young people consider what the Commonwealth means to them and how it can help shape their future.”

The Commonwealth is of particularly relevance to Birmingham due to the international complexion of the city, where 42 per cent of its citizens are from ethnic groups other than white and many of whom maintain contact with their countries of descent.

Organised by the Birmingham Commonwealth Association and journal ‘The Round Table’, the upcoming debate will argue the motion: “This House believes that the Commonwealth prevents the UK from moving on from the past and dealing with the future”.

It will be chaired by Jaspreet Singh, President of Birmingham City University Students’ Union. Jaspreet hails from Jalandhar district in the state of Punjab, India and is Birmingham’s first non-British student union president.

He said: “The Commonwealth is very important as it gives a platform for the former colonies of the British Empire to have their voice heard at an international level. However, we young people are living in a very interesting times, where things like trade often take a priority in big debates and toxic nationalism is acting as a curtain to disconnect peers from each other. The future of the Commonwealth, therefore, needs to find a balance between the colonial mind-set and the aspirations of young, enthusiastic global citizens. Within the framework of the Commonwealth, I believe that the future will bring many opportunities and greater experiences for those students who have their own global aspirations.

“It was a blessing for me to come from my rural village in Punjab to Birmingham City University. My University and Birmingham in general has acted as an incubator to equip me to work with and learn from the experiences of people from all different backgrounds, but specifically from origins within the Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth should be a way through which young people from the diaspora can shape international discussions and relations, while still keeping in mind the experiences and sacrifices made by their ancestors. I certainly feel a greater sense of belonging to Birmingham after hearing the news about the Commonwealth Games 2022 taking place here in the city.”

Proposing the motion will be Nicholas Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy and student Alana Tomlin, both from the University of Birmingham. Opposing the motion will be Founding Chairman of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association, Keith Stokes-Smith, along with Darrel Blake, a Black Studies undergraduate student at Birmingham City University.

In 2017, Birmingham City University became the first university in Europe to offer a degree in Black Studies.

Junior Builder Week returns to the Legoland Windsor Resort's Hotels this February half term (9-17 February 2018) for a brick-filled week of fun.

Junior Builder Week 2018 sees a takeover of Lego Minifigure in celebration of the 40th birthday of the Minifigure. Little builders can join in the fun, with an overnight stay and breakfast at the unique LegolandHotel or, or for the first time, the new Legoland Castle Hotel.

Junior builders will be given their very own Minifigure to add to their collection, or trade with other junior builder guests, before meeting all their favourite Lego Minifigure heroes who will be on hand for meet and greets throughout the day. Budding builders can put their building skills to the ultimate test with a Lego speed build, take part in a Lego Minifigure hunt around the hotel, and receive a Lego gift and certificate to take home for all their building achievements.

The excitement continues into the evening, with three Lego themed restaurants to choose from, the Movie Den screening a host of Lego themed movies, and evening entertainment for all the family to enjoy, before settling down in one of the Resort's themed rooms. With a choice of Lego Friends, Pirate, Adventure, Kingdom, Wizard or Knights themed rooms, there's something for everyone. Guests will also have access to the splash-tastic Lego Pirate themed pool during their stay.

Businesses from across the West Midlands have the chance to explore global export opportunities at a major, free event in Birmingham next month (February 2018).

New Year, New Markets will see trade specialists from more than 20 countries and networks representing more than 40 countries attending the event at the ICC on Friday, February 9.

Organised by the Department for International Trade (DIT), the trade event is open to all small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) based in the West Midlands region – from experienced exporters looking to expand their global reach to those that have never traded outside of the UK before.

Andy Smith, International Relationships Manager for DIT West Midlands, said it was a rare opportunity for businesses to meet specialists from so many markets in a single day, to join interactive market seminars and learn of real time export opportunities across the world.

“Getting so many experts under one roof at the same time is a fantastic opportunity for ambitious SMEs based in the West Midlands,” he said. “They’ll be able to target specific markets by setting up one-to-one meetings, browse in our expo zone to see if there are potential leads in markets they’d not thought of before and gain valuable insights into the global outlook for their sector.

“It’s open to any SME across all sectors – it doesn’t matter if it’s a very small business offering a niche service and wants to test the overseas market or an established company that is already trading globally.”

Experts from Africa, South East Asia and Central Europe, the Balkans and Scandinavia will join trade advisers from Western Europe and countries such as USA, Canada, UAE, China and India at the event.

Tim Buisseret, Head of DIT Bulgaria, said: “This is a great opportunity for businesses to speak to us about the potential in Central & Eastern Europe. CEE offers fast growing market opportunities, with rising disposable incomes and over €100 billion in EU investments, all within a three-hour flight of the UK. We are looking forward to exploring how we can benefit from the expertise in the West Midlands.”

Emma Wade-Smith, UK Trade Commissioner for Africa, added:  “The young, dynamic and fast-growing population of Africa presents enormous business opportunity. The UK is already a major investor and trading partner with Africa, from traditional sectors such as infrastructure, mining and oil & gas through to other areas of UK expertise such as education, healthcare and services. Whatever your company does, you can do good business in Africa and we want to help you grow your business, too.”

The event will also feature an Expo Zone, where visitors can learn more about each market and the DIT Hub will enable businesses to connect to local advisers.

Celebrate the International Year of the Coral Reef by discovering just what is so great about Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is the only place in the world where you can swim with Dwarf Minke Whales, float over colourful giant clams and look for six of the world's seven species of turtle.

Whether you like your Reef adventures big or small, wet or dry; exceptional visitor experiences can be found in Tropical North Queensland, the gateway to this World Heritage area.

Those wishing to tick bucket list boxes will look for the Great Eight – Clownfish, Potato Cod, giant clams, Manta rays, Maori wrasse, sharks, turtles and whales.

But don't stop there! The Great Barrier Reef has the “Magic Millions” – coral chomping Parrotfish, colour-changing Cuttlefish, and so much more.

With 1625 species of fish, one-third of the world's coral species and a mosaic of different reefs along its 2300km length, every day and night on the Great Barrier Reef delivers a different and memorable “David Attenborough” moment.

These days you are spoilt for choice with the way you experience the Reef. There are better boats, the latest equipment and knowledge shared by passionate crew to make the experience even better.

Tropical North Queensland's eco-accredited Reef operators offer diverse ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef with diving, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding, helicopter flights, island getaways, helmet diving, kayaking, sailing, citizen science projects, live-aboard expeditions, semi-submersibles and marine biologist guided tours.

Several new vessels have joined the Reef fleet, an additional outer Reef pontoon has been installed, another has been refurbished with the addition of the Reef's first waterslide and a dive centre will soon open in Port Douglas adding even more ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland.

Public Health England (PHE) in the West Midland is urging people to help the region ‘stay well this winter’ by preventing the spread of flu across the region.

Dr Helen Carter, Deputy Director at Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands, said: “Our data shows that more people are visiting GPs with flu symptoms and we are seeing more people admitted to hospitals with the flu. We are currently seeing a mix of flu types, including the A(H3N2) strain that circulated last winter in the UK and then in Australia. The vaccine is the best defence we have against the spread of flu and it isn’t too late for people to go to their GP or pharmacist and get vaccinated – especially those in risk groups including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women or those with a long-term medical condition.

“Symptoms of flu include sudden onset of fever, cough as well as sore throat, aching muscles and joints. The best advice is to rest, keep warm and drink plenty of water. We also recommend people take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve aches if necessary.

“People suffering with flu-like symptoms should catch coughs or sneezes in tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean regularly used surfaces to stop the spread of flu. It is also important to avoid unnecessary contact with other people if you have symptoms of flu, and that includes not just going into your GP surgery or the local A&E department.

“Anyone concerned about their symptoms should stay at home and contact their GP or call NHS 111 to seek further advice. For most healthy people, recovering from flu can take roughly a week. However, for those that are more vulnerable, it can be more severe and it is important to be aware of this.”