Schools and youth groups across the city have until 31 January 2017 to secure their very own Big Sleuth bear cub to decorate and see on display this summer. Blank sun bear cub sculptures, one metre tall and made of fibreglass, are available as part of the Learning Programme, The Big Sleuth’s creative education initiative for Birmingham’s young people.

School support workers who go that extra mile have been honoured by the Mayor of Wolverhampton. Mayor Councillor Barry Findlay hosted a reception reward the winners of Unison's search for the Stars in Our Schools, a celebration of the wonderful work Wolverhampton's school support workers do day in, day out. Support staff were nominated by schools across Wolverhampton, with the winners invited to the Mayor Parlour for this week's celebration.

The founder of Europe’s largest vegan campaign ‘Go Vegan World,’ Sandra Higgins, will be in Birmingham this Friday to give a talk on ‘making veganism easy.’  At the Purely Vegan Store, on Alcester Road South in Kings Heath she will be discussing the pros of a vegan lifestyle - despite veganism often being portrayed as daunting and extreme, she will put forward that a vegan lifestyle can in fact be easy, healthy and enjoyable.

A groundbreaking vegan poster campaign launched this month, with Go Vegan World ads now appearing on buses, taxis and billboards. Go Vegan World launched in the UK last June and their current campaign is targeting people for the New Year! The campaign directs viewers to research the issues for themselves by downloading the campaign’s Free Vegan Guide.

With increased pressure on health and social care services expected throughout 2017, millions of older people plan to step in and help ease the burden by gifting their time. New research from older people’s charity, Royal Voluntary Service, reveals 4.7 million people aged 55 and over plan to volunteer in 2017. And the study shows they want more people to follow suit - nearly two fifths (37%) of 55s and over surveyed say the country needs more volunteers in the wake of health and social care service cutbacks.

2^nd Generation of Barbadians & Friends (Birmingham) and the BCA (Birmingham Community Association) are jointly holding a Cancer Awareness Day, on Saturday, January 28, in aid of The Teenage Cancer Trust and the Macmillan Cancer Trust on a day that will provide fun for all the family which includes a bouncy castle and face painting for the children, soca aerobics massages with food on sale.