In the new year, we all consider different resolutions to improve our lives. There are the usual get fit, quit smoking, cut down on alcohol or take up a new hobby. We all know them and we’ve all probably tried one of them at some point in our lives, but what about resolutions for our pets? We’ve had a think at our end on some ways to improve your pet’s new year and hopefully you’ll be able to benefit from it too.

The last few days have seen freezing temperatures, frost and ice and the Met Office is predicting a frozen start to 2017.  Yet many of us still don't have our water pipes protected against the cold weather - with a few days of the Christmas break left, now is a great time to get things done. As the temperatures drop the ground freezes and then later thaws, and it’s when we have these swings in temperatures that we often see more leaks and burst water pipes.

Children are being encouraged to start 2017 with a bang by taking part in a popular weekly run for young people. The Wednesfield Junior Parkrun, launched 18 months ago, gives four to 14-year-olds the chance to run, jog or walk a 2km circuit around Wednesfield Park every Sunday morning. Parents can also join in if they wish. Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "The Junior Parkrun is a fantastic way for children and young people to get exercise, enjoy some fresh air and make new friends.

In the series of Winter Package distribution among needy and poor people of Pakistan, Alkhidmat Foundation Punjab arranged a winter kits distribution ceremony at Child Protection Centre, Rana Town, Lahore. Mr. Ikram Ul Haq Subhani, General Secretary AKF Punjab and Mr. Tayyab, Individual Donor from Germany, distributed winter kits among street children.

Hopefully you have exciting plans for 2017, a year that will be the most important in Cure Leukaemia's history and we hope you will be a part of this transformational period for the charity. Cure Leukaemia has made a commitment to raise an additional £1million towards the £3.4million expansion of the Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Once established, the Centre’s capacity for research nurse positions, clinical trials and patients treated will be doubled and over 100 jobs will be created.

Birmingham City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council have successfully bid for £400,000 of government funding to help get people new to the streets the rapid support that they need. The Rough Sleeping Grant will be used to support people by offering them a safe place to sleep, physical and mental health checks and substance misuse screening.  Work will be co-ordinated through a team of nurses, substance misuse workers and housing and support officers and will link to existing outreach and other service providers.