In a bid to help those who have been affected by the Manchester bombings, TOA taxis have raised just over £2000. Half the amount was raised by collecting donations from every black cab driver on the ranks in Birmingham City Centre and Birmingham International Airport. The other half of the money has been kindly donated directly by TOA Taxis, matching the total amount collected by all of the black cabs in Birmingham.

On May 22^nd 2017, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande. The blast killed 22 victims and left 116 individuals injured. The deceased include 10 people under the age of 20, the youngest an eight-year-old girl.

The whole nation has been shocked by the attack and communities are coming together to support those affected by the dreadful event. Birmingham based taxi firm, TOA Taxis, have been doing their best to collect as much money as they can for the victims and families of those who were killed or were injured. Ram Singh, TOA taxi driver and member of the TOA board of management, has been leading the collection and has been taking time out of his day to walk down the ranks throughout the City and Birmingham International Airport, gathering funds with TOA staff from all black cab drivers to raise as much money as possible in support of the devastating aftermath of the attack.

TOA first formed in 1961, starting initially with circa 25 cabs. The company now boast an impressive 380 cabs, covering the whole of Birmingham.

Imran Akram, Secretary at TOA Taxis, comments: “The Manchester cabbies did a valiant job in taking people from the stadium home for free. This is the least we could do to support the victims of the tragedy.”

Hundreds of pupils from across Wolverhampton took part in a spectacular musical performance in Queen Square.

Around 500 children from 16 primary and special schools in the City joined the free concert, performing songs in a wide range of styles and traditions led by Paul Wilcox from Wolverhampton Music Education Hub.

The performance marked the culmination of a six-month project organised and delivered by Wolverhampton Music Service. Teachers from schools around Wolverhampton took part in regular workshops, learning songs which they could subsequently teach in their own schools in preparation for the performance.

Sarah Tulley, Wolverhampton Music Service Assistant Headteacher, said: “The concert was an enormous success. There was an amazing atmosphere as the children sang and there was even some audience participation.

“The weather was kind this year, so the children only wore waterproof ponchos for their performance of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, unlike last year when there were downpours.

“The children really enjoyed themselves and were a huge credit to their schools. Wolverhampton is very proud of them.”

She added that Wolverhampton Music Service plans to repeat the event again next year.

Claire Darke, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This performance demonstrated once again just how talented our children and young people are, and I would like to say a huge well done to everyone involved.”

Wolverhampton Music Service provides tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with its flagship groups, Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.

To celebrate the 5th anniversary of Pop In The City, Geneva will be hosting the first unisex edition of the urban adventure race on 7th October 2017. Traditionally, this race has been exclusively for women, but with popularity growing at an exponential rate, event organisers couldn't resist inviting men to join in the fun as well!

Having been voted against Lisbon and Toulouse in by previous 'Pop In' participants, Europe's leading city break destination is set to offer a fantastic location for this special edition of the urban adventure race. Participants will have to complete a range of Genevan inspired challenges dotted around the city which guarantees to push people to their limits, whilst creating an exciting and rewarding experience. Challenges will include mastering the workings of a clock, rafting along the Rhone and negotiating peace at the UN.

City of Wolverhampton Council was crowned Council of the Year at the ‘Oscars of local government’ and also scooped three other awards at a ceremony in London.

The council was the star of the show at the Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards held at London’s Hilton Park Lane Hotel and hosted by television star Joanna Lumley.

The MJ Awards are open to all councils across the country and are judged by a panel of leading experts.

This year City of Wolverhampton Council was a finalist in seven out of the 14 categories – which was more than any other council.

As well as winning the top accolade of Council of the Year, City of Wolverhampton Council also took home Most Improved Council, Senior Leadership Team of the Year and Excellence in Governance and Scrutiny.

It was also highly commended in the Impact and Learning in Children’s Services category.

Winning four awards is believed to be a record.

Heather Jameson, Editor of the MJ, said: “Judges praised City of Wolverhampton Council for delivering consistently excellent services across all key areas and the council was described as an outstanding example of modern local government where the resident is at the heart of sound commercial decision-making.

“It was a truly fabulous night and congratulations to all our winners and particularly City of Wolverhampton.”

City of Wolverhampton Council leader Cllr Roger Lawrence said that the outstanding success was independent recognition of the transformation of the authority over recent years.

He added: “Receiving these four fantastic accolades is a testament to the hard work we’ve invested into putting our residents at the heart of all we do, improving services and making our city a rising star within the local government world.

“I am delighted that we took home the top prize of the night, ‘Local Authority of the Year’ after being runner up last year.

“It shows the huge strides we have made on our transformation journey to become a confident, capable council. – and I would like to thank all those involved for helping make this possible.”

Managing director Keith Ireland said: “To be finalist in seven of the 14 categories and win four of those awards is absolutely fantastic. This is a real achievement for the city council, its residents. employees, councillors and partners.”

Staff and volunteers at Galton Valley Pumping station in Smethwick will celebrate the building's 125^th anniversary with a free family and community fun day next month.

The wildlife themed event is on Saturday 8 July between 10am and 3pm and will be at the station itself and further down the canal.

Jane Hanney, Sandwell's museum services manager, said: “Staff from Dudley Zoo will be at the event with some of their smallest animals, as well as representatives of the RSPB and Birmingham and Black Country wildlife trust with information and activities to get involved with.

“There will be a heritage boat and an arty and crafty boat with loads to have a go at. Visitors can also enjoy the live music, craft activities and trails along the canal,” she added.

"There is something for all ages and a great opportunity to take a walk along the Galton Valley canal and spot the wildlife and nature."

Councillor Richard Marshall, cabinet member for leisure, said: “The Galton Valley pumping station  is a truly historic building and was built to regulate water levels between the old and new mainline canals.

“It is wonderful that after 125 years visitors can get along and learn about life on the canals and how they were built and played such a big part in the industrial development of the area.”

The building is opened once a month staffed by our brilliant volunteers who help Sandwell Museums look after this building.

Spectators will line the Canals of Birmingham this Saturday as the 18^th annual Brindleyplace Dragonboat Race sponsored by Deutsche Bank returns to the City with a record-breaking target of raising £100,000 for Birmingham based blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia.

Teams from across the region including Nandos, Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, GVA, West Midlands Combined Authorities, Siamais, Kind Group, Colliers International, The ICC, Jaguar Land Rover, Middleton Foods, Genting Casino, Harvey Nash and not forgetting the event sponsors Deutsche Bank, will battle it out in fancy dress to find out who will be crowned Dragonboat Champions!

The monumental target of £100,000 has been set to help fund 10% of Cure Leukaemia’s £1million Centre Appeal to fully fund the expansion of the Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Work started on the transformational £3.2m project last month and when complete, the capacity of the globally significant Centre will be doubled meaning double the number of patients treated and hopefully more lives saved, just like that of 28-year-old Elizabeth Dean from Birmingham.

Back in 2014, Lizzie was happily enjoying life.

She had a successful job as a mechanical engineer and had recently moved in with her boyfriend Phil. Lizzie had been suffering from tonsillitis and after a visit to her GP, was prescribed antibiotics. The antibiotics cleared the tonsillitis but Lizzie continued to feel ill, tired and was suffering from a high heart rate. After phoning the NHS helpline who were alarmed by her high heart rate, Lizzie was referred to A&E.

The next morning, as Lizzie sat in the waiting area, she found herself too ill to walk and as her name was called to go through to triage, she stood up and passed out immediately.

She was taken up to the Ward, before blood tests revealed she had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and her course of treatment started that very day.

Lizzie said, “After being diagnosed, I lay on the bed with my partner sat next to me and it dawned on me that in the snap of my fingers, I had gone from being normal to being ill. Everything had changed.”

“When the Doctor told me I had blood cancer, my first question was – am I going to have a normal life?”

“She simply replied, I don’t know.”

“I accepted it pretty fast. I told myself, it is what it is and being sad and upset isn’t going to change it. I made that decision very early on. Not to be sad, not to cry and to be as happy as I can each day. That way it would be better for me and everyone visiting me.”

“Working as a mechanical engineer, I fix things. And I told myself if I did exactly what the Doctors told me, then they would fix me too.”

After the first four cycles of treatment, Lizzie was told she was in remission and went back to work.

Just a few months later, she then received the dreaded news that her cancer had returned and shortly after, she underwent a bone marrow transplant and once again went in to remission.

Despite being in remission, Lizzie continued to suffer from side effects and her vision became blurry due to a leukaemic mass behind her optic nerve. The leukaemia had returned for the second time and she lost the sight in her eye as a result.

She was told that there was nothing more they could do for her and she had just months to live.

Despite hearing this, Lizzie was placed on a world first clinical trial (VIOLA), run by the team of Doctors and Nurses at the Centre for Clinical Haematology, Birmingham.

She said, “I wouldn’t be alive now without the Centre for Clinical Haematology and the fact that I was referred to Birmingham for my bone marrow transplant after the first relapse.”

“The Centre is always crowded and the new expansion is so important. By doubling the capacity, they can treat more patients and hopefully keep more people alive, just like they’ve done for me. If the nurses at the Centre weren’t funded by Cure Leukaemia, they wouldn’t be able to carry out these life-saving trials and treat the patients.”

Lizzie kindly agreed to feature in Cure Leukaemia’s £1m Centre Appeal brochure to share her story.

“I feel like I’m helping a little bit” she said.

“People are doing incredible things for Cure Leukaemia - cycling, running, triathlons and all those taking part in the Dragonboat Race this Saturday. I can’t do any of that as I’m not strong enough but if I can help in this little way (by sharing my story), then it’s a fantastic way to raise funds for the Doctors and Nurses who helped me since my diagnosis three years ago.”

The first race begins at 11am with the final taking place at 16.15pm. There will be a host of family activities taking part in Brindleyplace including a children’s fancy dress competition, arts and crafts market, face painting, Punch and Judy show and so much more. Spectators are being invited to wear red to turn Birmingham a sea of red and all races will be broadcast LIVE on a giant screen in the square thanks to Elonex Outdoor Media.