Wolverhampton will come together to show their support for the men and women of the Army, Navy and Air Force at a series of community events to mark this year's Armed Forces Day.

The national Armed Forces Day commemorations take place on Saturday 24 June, 2017, giving the country the chance to pay tribute to serving troops, veterans, cadets and their families.

Wolverhampton will be marking the occasion with a week of events, beginning on Monday 19 June with a flag raising ceremony outside the Civic Centre during which the Armed Forces Day flag will be proudly flown.

Over the next few days, there will be a range of activities for the whole community at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, in local libraries and at the Mander Centre.

The public will also be invited to join a guided tour around the city centre's many war memorials, while members of the Royal British Legion Riders, the motorcycling branch of the charity, will be riding through the city centre and displaying their vehicles.

On Armed Forces Day itself, the Mander Centre will host a special event featuring performances, demonstrations, exhibits and activities for all the family, hosted by "Winston Churchill" himself and ending with a flag lowering ceremony.

Throughout the week, people will be encouraged to show their support for the Armed Forces through the #saluteourforces social media campaign.

Full details of the events, which are being organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council, are currently being finalised – the full programme will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Barry Findlay said: "Armed Forces Day 2017 will be the culmination of a week of celebrations in Wolverhampton honouring the incredible contribution made by the UK's Armed Forces in the past, present and future. “It is our chance to demonstrate our gratitude to them, and I hope the people of Wolverhampton will turn out in force to show their support."

To find out more about events taking place in Wolverhampton to mark Armed Forces Day, please contact Sam Axtell on 01902 554918 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more details about Armed Forces Day, please visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk.

Wolverhampton is a signatory of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, a pledge of mutual support between the city and its Armed Forces community

It calls on local people to support the Armed Forces community, recognise and remember the sacrifices they have made over the years and encourage activities that help members of the Armed Forces integrate into local life.

It also encourages members of the Armed Forces support the wider community, and promote understanding and awareness among the public of some of the issues faced by former members of the Armed Forces as they return to civilian life.

A strong Alzheimer's Society presence at Birmingham's Grand Central will mark this year’s Dementia Awareness Week (14-20 May) with events being held at the station on 16th and 18th May.

Alzheimer’s Society staff and volunteers will be out and about in Birmingham to encourage residents to unite against dementia. People will be able to put their questions to the experts. Trained staff will be on hand to provide information and advice to anyone worried about or affected by dementia.

Staff and volunteers from Alzheimer's Society will be present at the Grand Central station concourse from 7am-10am and 3pm-6pm on Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th May. Anyone is welcome to come and speak about dementia. 

This year, Alzheimer’s Society is asking people to come together to unite against dementia, forgetting their differences to help urgently find a cure, improve care, and offer help and understanding during Dementia Awareness Week.

Steve Hayward, Services Manager for Alzheimer’s Society in Birmingham and Solihull said:

“We’re calling on people across Birmingham to show their support at any of our events this Dementia Awareness Week.

“Dementia doesn’t care who you are; it could affect us all. It’s set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes, and so many people are facing it alone. We hope these events will help give people a better understanding of the support available to them.

“People with dementia often feel – and are – misunderstood, marginalised and isolated but with the right support and understanding they can continue to live fulfilling lives and make a contribution to their communities.”

Alzheimer’s Society is here for anyone affected by dementia.

This year’s Arabian Travel Market witnessed a 10% increase in visitors from the GCC and a 7% increase in international visitors to the event, which was held in Dubai World Trade Centre from April 24-27.

For the second year in succession, visitor numbers smashed through the 28,000 mark – the show saw a 71% increase in visitors over the last five years.

Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “The continued growth of ATM is testament to the strength of the travel and tourism industry in the Middle East. The event has also built on its quality year on year and the professionalism of exhibitors and stands not only increases the brand value of their own organisation, but also that of Arabian Travel Market.

“Exhibition stand contracts signed during ATM 2017 for next year are up 38% year-on-year, with exhibitors keen to reserve their space for what promises to be a record-breaking event in 2018 as ATM celebrates its 25^th anniversary.”

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, ATM has grown to become the largest event of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world. The 2017 edition, on the theme of experiential travel sponsored by La Perle, boasted an additional hall, with 466 main stand holders representing 87 countries and over 100 new exhibitors making their debut. The number of countries represented at ATM 2017, taken from all attendees, totaled 157.

The show got off to an inspiring start, with an informative discussion on the legacy of Expo 2020. Now just under three years away, it was revealed that plans for the site after the world showcase concludes will see 80% of the plot re-developed with all Expo’s assets and transport infrastructure re-purposed for future use by a range of tenants and major private sector firms.

Commenting on the overall session, Press said: “The seminar also explored the importance of Dubai’s sustainable tourism initiatives, the expansion of the emirate’s airports’ capacity and the engagement of global audiences through partnerships with celebrities and social media influencers.”

National charity Action on Hearing Loss is urging people to abandon any stereotypes they might have about the 11 million people living with hearing loss in the UK and help bridge the communication gap for Deaf Awareness Week.

According to the charity, more than 900,000 people in the UK are severely deaf; 24,000 use sign language as their main language; and due to our ageing population by 2035 it is estimated that 15.6 million people will have some form of hearing loss.

During this week, May 15 to 21, the charity is asking people to help stop the prejudice that many of those with hearing loss still experience when out and about, in the workplace and meeting new people.

Senior audiologist at Action on Hearing Loss, Gemma Twitchen, said: “Hearing Loss affects people of all ages and can be caused by a number of factors, including exposure to loud noises, virus or disease, aging and it can be inherited.

“Small changes in our lives can make a big impact on people with hearing loss, so let this be the week you forget all the stereotypes you’ve heard and just make some new friends.”

Here are some useful tips from Action on Hearing Loss you can use:

• Even if someone is wearing hearing aids it doesn't mean they can hear you perfectly. Ask if they need to lipread.
• Speak clearly but not too slowly, and don't exaggerate your lip movements – this can make it harder to lipread.
• Don't shout. It can be uncomfortable for hearing aid users and it looks aggressive.
• If someone doesn't understand what you've said, don't keep repeating it. Try saying it in a different way instead.
• Check that the person you're talking to is following you during the conversation. Use plain language and don't waffle. Avoid jargon and unfamiliar abbreviations.
• To make it easy to lipread, don’t cover your mouth with your hands or clothing.
• If you’re going on a date at a restaurant, find a suitable place to talk, with good lighting and away from loud speakers and distractions.
• Get the listener's attention before you start speaking, maybe by waving or tapping them on the arm.
• Use natural facial expressions and gestures.
• Make sure you have face-to-face contact with the person you are talking to.
• If someone is working with a BSL interpreter, always remember to talk directly to the person you are communicating with, not the interpreter.
• If you're talking to a group that includes deaf and hearing people, don't just focus on the hearing people.

The Sarojin, Thailand's luxurious 56-roomed boutique residence, is celebrating the start of this year's wedding season with the launch of a new and enchanting wedding package. Offering the highest level of personalised service, in addition to beautiful beach weddings, couples can now join together at the foot of a mesmerising waterfall in the heart of the jungle, the perfect location for a truly unique and intimate ceremony. Inclusive of luxury accommodation, a wedding ceremony, photography, spa treatments, romantic private candlelit dining on the beach and a special Buddhist blessing of love, The Sarojin's 'Wonderful Waterfall Weddings' can be booked year-round.

On waking at The Sarojin a truly luxurious service awaits, and this is especially true of the resort's brand new 'Wonderful Waterfall Weddings' package. Inclusive of three nights' accommodation in one of the resort's Garden Residences – upgrading to a Spa Suite subject to availability – The Sarojin's dedicated team will be on hand every step of the way, perfecting even the smallest of details to make for an unforgettable celebration of love. Joining together with Thailand's natural beauty as the backdrop, couples will choose between a Thai or Western wedding ceremony before making their life-long vows to the hypnotic sounds of a captivating waterfall.

As part of the package, nuptials include tailor-made vows, readings and music; a Buddhist monk or celebrant; an elegant one-tiered wedding cake; venue hire and set-up; venue decoration including luck chains, frangipani and orchids; a bottle of sparkling wine; a personal wedding planner for bespoke requests; and 4-hours of photography, allowing couples to cherish their special day for a lifetime.