West Midlands youngsters can take advantage of a unique and free development programme to grow their employability skills and provide at least 90 hours targeted work experience within some of the city's top creative organisations.

‘Foot in the Door’ has 60 places available for young creative types aged 16-23 and no qualifications or experience are necessary - just an open mind and a willingness to get stuck in.

Applications are especially encouraged from those from a diverse background, whose perceptions may have led them to believe they couldn’t even contemplate a career in the creative sector.

This exciting new scheme is being run by Custard Factory-based Creative Alliance (the leading training provider within the creative and cultural sector in the Midlands) in partnership with 10 organisations keen to help future industry talent get a foot in the door of the city's burgeoning creative and cultural sector – Bareface, Beatfreeks, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Blue Whale Training, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, DanceXchange, Desi Blitz, mac Birmingham and The Old Rep.

Noel Dunne, Creative Alliance Director, explains: “Foot in the Door is structured around a series of bespoke training courses, specifically designed and delivered by the 10 partner organisations and focusing on the skills that employers in this sector require.  Together we’re looking to build a legacy and help future-proof Birmingham’s young creative sector.

It’s not a fast track to performance success and becoming famous, however, rather about gaining insight and access to the myriad of other industry roles in front of house, backstage, technical, event management, design, production, marketing, administration, plus learning and participation, etc.

Project Coordinator Jodie Mason (a recent beneficiary of a similar scheme) adds: “The only cost to the lucky 60 is their time and commitment and in return Foot in the Door will open their eyes to the vast range of creative organisations available and the variety of quality roles they might not have been aware of.

There’s a lot of untapped creative potential out there and disadvantaged youngsters who think this sector just isn’t a viable option, but I know otherwise so why not give it a go?”

Creative Alliance will be undertaking a series of outreach sessions and targeting schools, colleges, youth groups and job centres, alongside ongoing social media campaigns using young creative industry ambassadors who have recently managed to get their foot in the door for that crucial first break.

A series of 90-minute briefing sessions will commence on April 27 and 28 and conclude on May 4 and 5, with at least two of the partner organisations presenting at each one. The final deadline for applications is May 15 and the lucky 60 will then attend a launch event in early June where they will meet all the partner organisations and declare their favourite three to work with. The actual skills courses commence end June to December ’17.

For Foot in the Door application details visit http://creativealliance.org.uk/fitdbrum/ where you can ‘nominate a mate’ too.

Two London-based clubs - Croydon Domino Club and Cosmopolitan Sports & Social Club – have announced their support for a major blood donation drive, in association with Kiwanis Brixton, a children's charity raising money, through raffles and events, to fund a children's hospital, Saturday Supplementary School, contributing to schools in Africa. As well as hands-on projects at community centres for adults and children alike.

#EveryCaribbeanDonorMatters, a collaboration between RAFFA International Development Agency, Blood4Life and NHS Blood & Transplant, with support from UK Caribbean High Commissioners and MCW Ltd. are working together to raise awareness and improve Caribbean Diaspora communities understanding about blood donation and it’s life saving contribution to helping people of all ages lead healthier lives.

The overall goal is to increase the number of people from the Caribbean population group to register to donate blood and get involved in health promotion and self-care activities.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has announced a new partnership with Park Regis Hotel. The four star hotel in Five Ways will be a corporate partner of the Birmingham-based hospice and will be holding exclusive fundraising events throughout the year.

The partnership follows on from the ‘ Fright or Flight’ challenge, a breath-taking corporate event which saw members of the local business community abseil down the front of the prestigious hotel, and race back up 17 flights of stairs in November last year.

The Hospice, which is based on Raddlebarn Road , needs to raise £8 million each year to provide vital care and support to individuals and families in Birmingham and Sandwell who are living with terminal illness.

Charlotte Anson, Corporate Partnerships Manager commented:

‘We are thrilled to be working  in partnership with the  team at Park Regis. Their support will help us reach even more people who need end of life care and support.  Last year’s Fright or Flight event was made a great success by the Park Regis team’s generosity and we can’t wait to build on this success. Thank you to all involved in helping us to showcase our local Hospice in a fantastic venue with great hospitality’.

Robin Ford, General Manager said ‘It is an honour to be supporting Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice this year. I know what a difference their services make to people in Birmingham and Sandwell so we’re delighted to have them as our chosen partner this year. We’re looking forward to hosting some great events at the Hotel this year to support all the work the hospice does. “

Birmingham’s Broadway Casino have announced that they will be sponsorship one of the UK’s best-loved boxers when, on Saturday April 22, Birmingham-based Tommy Langford enter the ring at Leicester Arena to face Avtandil Khurtsidze for the WBO World middleweight title.

Just three years after turning professional, Langford claimed his first regional championship, (the WBO Middleweight title), which led seamlessly into a stellar 2016 which saw him claim the British strap in and reclaim his Commonwealth title.

On the sponsorship, Broadway Casino’s Managing Director, Denis Dowling, said; “We are sure that our sponsorship of Tommy will see avid fans flock to the casino. He has bags of talent and we are honoured to be able to associate our brand with him.”

The Leicester Arena will be filled with BT Sport cameras documenting the monumental fight between the pair.

Ryan Richards, a seventeen year old from Great Barr in Birmingham, received a charity award and wide acclaim on Saturday for his significant contribution to the work of a national children’s charity.

The young volunteer was nominated for taking on a leadership role and being a positive role model in his work at The Children’s Society, a charity working to support vulnerable teenagers who experience abuse, neglect and poverty in the UK.

Ryan joined The Children’s Society’s participation group, The Hub Squad, a year ago to get involved in mental health projects and be the young people's voice for Pause, the mental health drop-in centre in Birmingham.

He went onto accompany his project workers to give talks to schools and colleges in the local area and also came up with the idea of a drama project to spread mental health awareness. The teenager worked above and beyond to get the project up and running and recruit and inspire professionals and other young people from the Hub Squad to take part.

Dave Guard, Ryan’s project worker, worked closely with Ryan and nominated him for the award. He said: “Ryan has been instrumental in his local project to gain funding and appoint a drama practitioner to work with young people.

“He is determined and gives a lot of time and energy to his youth group to highlight issues that they are passionate about. He is a natural leader with a ‘can do’ attitude that inspires others.”

Ryan was shocked to receive this national recognition, he said: “I feel honoured to have been nominated, let alone to actually receive an award. Thank you for the opportunity to try and make the world a better place.

“Being involved in this initiative has brought me to a better place than I was in before. It brought me out socially and gave me an opportunity to make change.

“This project is about allowing young people to be seen and understood. We have made a great start but there is still a lot of work to be done. I hope to continue working with Hub Squad to see this through.”