Almost 460,000 children in the West Midlands live in families facing cuts to their tax credits, research by The Children’s Society shows. The charity is warning that the cuts, targeted at 230,000 mainly low-paid families across the region, risk pushing many more children into poverty. Last month the House of Lords voted to delay the changes and Chancellor George Osborne agreed to come back with measures to soften the impact on families.

Birmingham City Council's latest budget consultation gets underway next month when detailed proposals for 2016 onwards are published. And, even before the formal consultation begins, residents from across the city are already helping to shape the future of council services.

This November, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice officially launched their Memory Tree- a beautiful piece of artwork situated in the Hospice reception. The wooden structure which is made up of 600 leaves offers a unique and special way for people to keep memories alive. Families can choose either a gold, silver or bronze leaf to inscribe with the name of their loved one; each colour has a different donation value.

Food, glorious food, is central to the Christmas experience but the opportunity for feasting and sharing festive fun and laughter can be thin on the ground for older people who live alone. This year’s Abbeyfield Society Coping at Christmas campaign is putting the spotlight firmly on food and is inviting over-55s who live alone into its 500-plus homes and houses around the UK to share free Christmas meals, cake and of course companionship, laughter and warmth.

Pope Francis condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris, forcefully condemned the terrorist attacks saying in a telephone call to TV2000, the television station of the Italian Episcopal Conference: “There is no justification for such things, neither religious nor human. This is not human. It is difficult to understand such things, done by human beings.” He said he was praying for the families of the victims, for France “and for all those who suffer.”