As children across the UK go back to school and Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has identified an alarming trend which sees some families hand their dogs into rescue centres as soon as their children go back to school.  Last year, on September 5th, the start of the new school year, the charity recorded one of the highest number of calls on any one day of the year. Dogs Trust were asked to take in 220 dogs; double the number of calls the charity usually receives from struggling dog owners on an average day.

With some owners giving up their dogs due to the return to the working routine and juggling the school run after the summer holidays, Dogs Trust is encouraging owners to bring their dogs to training classes, to help overcome any issues. Sadly, the welfare charity is also seeing instances of dogs being  given up because they have been bought to entertain the children over the summer and are no longer needed when the new school year begins .

Maria Wickes, Head of Dogs Trust Dog School, explains: “Sadly it does seem to be a recurring trend that we see more dogs handed into us as soon as  children go back to school. In many cases dogs are not equipped to deal with this change in routine and may start displaying undesirable behaviour. We hope that anyone struggling to control their dog’s behaviour after the summer holidays will consider giving them up a last resort and instead send them “ Bark to School” and sign up for training classes.”

Maria adds: “In extreme cases we are finding people even buy dogs simply to keep their children occupied during the holidays . Gus, a nine-month-old Cockapoo, was handed into us because his owners bought him to entertain the children during the summer holidays and then passed him to us for rehoming when the kids weren’t around during the day anymore.  Whilst the majority of dog owners regard their dogs as valued family members, it appears some may be using dogs as four-legged nannies over the holidays and disregarding them come September. We hope people will remember that a dog is for life and carefully consider this lifetime commitment before purchasing a dog.”

Visitors to the City of Wolverhampton will this year be able to enjoy a Victorian Christmas Market. The festive three-day market will be delivered by the council’s approved market operator LSD Promotions, and will take place on Friday, December 15 (10am-9pm), Saturday 16 (10am-9pm) and Sunday 17 (10am-5pm).

It will be located on Wulfruna Street, the Civic Centre Ceremonial car park, St Peter’s car park and the pedestrian area outside the University of Wolverhampton’s Ambika Paul building.

More than 100 stalls are expected to fill the streets at the heart of the city with the colours, sounds and irresistible aromas of Christmas.

Set to the backdrop of a Victorian funfair the offer includes a variety of traditional and international street food, local produce, seasonal handcrafted and home-baked goodies, bespoke Christmas decorations and holly wreaths, festive novelties and exclusive gifts, accessories and jewellery.

Entertainment will include street artists, choirs, vocalists, instrumental performances, chimney sweeps, dance displays, and Victorian themed stilt walkers.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “We anticipate this will be the largest festive market the city has seen.

“There will be a variety of stalls offering festive goodies, plenty of food and drink, and fun activities for families to enjoy at this special time of year.

“It is also the ideal opportunity to make a day of it and visit Wolverhampton’s attractions, range of independent retailers and High Street names, or take the weight of your feet and relax in one of the city’s cafes, pubs and restaurants.”

Organiser Dermot McGillicuddy, LSD Promotions Director, added: "This will be an exciting event for the city and we are proud to be working in partnership with the council to provide this special market at Christmas time.”

Birmingham has been chosen ahead of Liverpool as the recommended city for England’s bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Having won in a tight race to win the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s backing, the UKs second city must now convince the government to approve the bid and underwrite the event’s costs.

The Department’s backing of the West Midlands city means it now has to convince the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) that it should stage the event.

In a statement, Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch, said: “I am grateful to the bid teams from both cities for their hard work in making the case as potential Commonwealth Games hosts.

Now, after a comprehensive assessment process, the government will look at the final bid proposal from Birmingham and decide if a formal bid will be submitted to the CGF.

The UK has fantastic expertise in hosting the biggest events in sport, as recently showcased at the London 2017 World Para Athletics and IAAF World Championships, and if we are to bid and are selected to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022 I have no doubt that Birmingham would host an excellent sporting spectacle.”

Former BBC athletics commentator and Commonwealth gold medallist Brendan Foster said he was "delighted but not surprised" Birmingham had been chosen.

"It's the right time, in the right place, in a city that has all the facilities in place," said the founder of the Great North Run, who was part of the bid team.

The city's proposal to create the UK's largest permanent athletics stadium supplemented by four indoor arenas was central to its bid.

The plan is for the Alexander Stadium to be expanded from its current capacity of 13,000 to 20,000, with 25,000 additional seats for the Games itself. This will make the Perry Barr venue, already the home of UK Athletics, the largest, permanent athletics track in the country, and it is also intended to be used for other sports, concerts and conferences.

In a statement, the chair of Birmingham’s bid committee said: “This is a great endorsement by the UK government of Birmingham’s credentials to host the Games and recognition of the city’s resolve to deliver a memorable event.

However, this is not the end of the journey and we look forward to working with the government as it makes its final decision to support a UK candidate city.”

Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is likely to be the main rival after Durban was stripped of the event in March.

The South African city originally won the bidding process in 2015 but the CGF was not convinced it could successfully host the event and started a search for a new host city.

Submissions from candidate cities need to be received by September 30 and its executive board is expected to make its decision by the end of the year.

Homeowners currently thinking about selling their property have been offered a golden chance to sell quickly and at a great price by taking part in an upcoming open house event.

Estate agents Leaders is hosting a special day of open houses on Saturday 23rd September in which it will hold open house events at a selection of properties it is currently offering for sale, providing buyers with a chance to view properties in their local area on this day.

It will also benefit sellers, who will typically find their home attracts a high number of viewers all within a two-hour window that is designed to minimise disruption.

Kevin Shaw, national sales director at Leaders, says: “Open houses are an incredibly convenient and effective way to buy or sell a property. Our statistics from previous open house events show 96 per cent of properties sold at or above the asking price, helping sellers to get the best price for their home.

“Our history of open houses also proves they are the best way to generate interest and encourage offers for a property. Some 80 per cent of properties we hold an open house at receive more than one offer, while open houses typically lead to a 62 per cent increase in viewings.

“There is no doubt that open houses are a great way to sell your home and by hosting open houses across the country on 23rd September we expect to welcome a record number of buyers, making this an opportunity not to be missed.”

Figures also show open houses are incredibly effective when it comes to enhancing online interest in a property, with homes that are advertised for such an event enjoying 58 per cent more clicks on Rightmove and Zoopla.

Anybody wishing to take part in the open house event must instruct Leaders to sell their property by 18th September. Simply contact your local Leaders branch to take your first step towards an open house and a successful sale.

Keith Stokes – Smith, Chair of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association expressed delight at the city`s successful bid to be the UK`s preferred host of the 2022 Games.

Whilst attending a Commonwealth conference on India Keith said “It`s great to see Birmingham being recognised as a major sporting venue and potential host to high calibre athletes from across 71 nations. Hosting such a prestigious event will be good for Birmingham and the Midlands, its profile, business and the highlighting of our world class sporting facilities”

Subject to UK Government endorsement Birmingham will now move to the next round competing with the likes of Kuala Lumpur.

“In partnership with business and the sporting movement Birmingham can hold an event of which 2 billion Commonwealth citizens will be proud” said the head of the region’s leading Commonwealth body.

A student from Sandwell is delighted to have won a state-of-the-art laptop after winning a prize draw he entered at a careers event.

Kameran Hussain, age 16, came along to a careers event, organised by Connexions Sandwell, to help him decide about his future options after leaving Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy in Tividale.

The careers event attracted more than 700 young people and Kameran's name was selected at random from the hundreds who entered the prize draw.

Kameran is delighted with his new laptop. He said: "I came along to the event so I could get help to decide what subjects I wanted to do and where I wanted to study. I really enjoy science so am thrilled to be going to Sandwell College to study A Levels in maths, physics and chemistry. I hope to go on to a career using science or possibly engineering.

"It's great to win the laptop and it will really help me with my studies."

The laptop was donated by Sandwell College who were also at the careers event in July promoting courses they have on offer. Principal of Sandwell College, Graham Pennington said: "We are happy to support Connexions with these events and help young people in choosing their next steps.

"I am sure the laptop will support Kameran in his studies and am delighted he's chosen to come to Sandwell College to study for his A Levels."

Councillor Ahmadul Haque MBE, the Mayor of Sandwell and Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children's services were both at the prize-giving ceremony. Councillor Hackett said: "I want to wish Kameran well at Sandwell College and I'm sure the new laptop will really help with his studies.

"Kameran is a great example of how these events can help young people make choices about their future studies or training.

"I would urge all young people to get in touch with Connexions if they need any help or advice on qualifications, training or careers.