Local people have voted for six Sandwell heroes to be commemorated in the Raise a Glass to a Local Hero project 100 years on from the Battle of the Somme. History groups nominated three First World War heroes from each of Sandwell’s six towns to be put to a public vote. The six heroes chosen will be commemorated on specially-designed beer mats which will be distributed in pubs across the borough. The poll was organised by Sandwell Council’s libraries and archive service as part of the local commemorations of the Battle of the Somme.

The independent domestic violence service, delivered by Birmingham LGBT has recently received confirmation of funding from the Henry Smith Foundation enabling the service to run beyond the pilot stage. The campaign supported by Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, hopes to continue to promote this service to encourage more members of the LGBT community to seek help and is the only one of its kind in the Midlands.

Yesterday saw the launch of the Superkart Charity Challenge – a Le Mans style race, open to teams from the community as well as corporate, raising money for some important charities including Love Brum, Birmingham Childrens Hospital, Radio Lollipop, Cure Leukaemia, The National Autistic Society, Include Me Too and the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and in association with Teamworks Karting.

The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) has opened applications for a new Non-Executive Director (NED) that will represent and inspire young people across the region.  The GBSLEP is the first LEP in the UK to create a youth representative role on its Board, reflecting the area’s uniquely youthful profile. Birmingham is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in Europe - 40% of its population are aged under 25. Across the wider region, 38% of the population are aged between 18 - 30.

Despite the popularity of smartphones, traditional handwritten Christmas cards top social media messages and text messages as the West Midlands’ favourite festive greeting by far. A survey by fair trade pioneer Traidcraft, found that more than 8 in 10 (85%) people in the West Midlands prefer to receive their Christmas greetings in a card, while only 8% appreciate a festive text and no-one thinks highly of a social media message.

The wild bird was found on Moseley New Pool on Swanshurst Park, Swanshurst Lane, by a passer-by and inspectors rushed it to RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital for emergency treatment. RSPCA Insp Boris Lasserre said: “The bolt has gone right through the lower part of the goose’s head. Incredibly he was still alive! He was taken to the RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital for treatment and X-rays to establish the damage that has been caused by the bolt and the safest way to remove it."