West Midlands Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Lynnette Kelly has announced that she is seeking the Labour Party nomination to be Police and Crime Commissioner for the county.

Dr Kelly said: “I care passionately about the West Midlands. I was born here, I’ve raised my children here, and I want my family and yours to grow up in safety, and with confidence in the local police.

“I will make sure West Midlands Police work with all our communities to reduce crime and prevent reoffending. For that to happen, the police need strong leadership and the public need to have confidence in the police and the police and crime commissioner. I believe I am the person to deliver the strong leadership that is needed, informed by Labour values and co-operative principles.

“The cuts to policing in the West Midlands have gone too far. I will fight the cuts, and campaign to get fair funding for the West Midlands. “

She has pledged to: Fight police cuts and ensure the West Midlands gets its fair share from government.

Expand the public health approach to tackling violent crime in the West Midlands. She will announce her full set of policies in the coming days.

Dr Kelly has drawn support for her candidacy from across the region and across both wings of the Labour party. Labour figures from the Black Country, Birmingham and Coventry have helped launch Lynnette’s candidacy.

Coventry councillor Mal Mutton said “I’ve known Lynnette for many years, from when she first began campaigning for the Labour party before she became a councillor. She is a strong leader, and is able to unite people across the party, both left and right, to work together for Labour principles. I know that as Police and Crime Commissioner she would do a great job.”

Birmingham councillor John O’Shea said: “Lynnette has dealt with the tough issues as Assistant PCC. She’s not dodged the difficult questions and has been an excellent Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner. I’m backing her to win in 2020.”

Wolverhampton councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “Lynnette is a worker - she doesn’t just sit in an office, she gets out and engages with people across the West Midlands. She has actively supported myself and others in our election campaigns, but is also around in between elections giving support where needed and listening to people’s concerns.”

Joe Connor, chair of Coventry Momentum, said: “Lynnette is a hardworking and dedicated person who cares so much for the community. I believe she would make a fantastic Police and crime Commissioner, someone that would get things done that mattered and work hard to change things for the better.”

The old adage ‘waste not, want not’ has become a thing of the past, as a new survey shows that thousands of parents are regularly binning toys in perfect condition.

From Buzz Lightyear to Mr Potato Head, the British Heart Foundation’s survey found that nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of parents in the West Midlands, admit to throwing away toys in perfect condition.

It also revealed that toys’ days are numbered from the moment they leave the box, with the majority of kids losing interest in just over a month (36 days).

One in five (20 per cent) of parents in the West Midlands said their children lost interest in a toy in the first 11 hours of play.

Furthermore, the figures showed children have an average of four toys they’ve never even played with. This means there could be a staggering 162 million toys that have never been played with in the UK.

On the upside, over two thirds of UK adults (73 per cent) would buy a second hand toy for their child or children, although just over half (53 per cent) have ever donated a toy to charity that their child or children no longer play with.

According to the survey, over two thirds (68 per cent) of children’s toys in the region are predominantly made of plastic.

In light of these stats, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging the public to take part in its ‘Toy Amnesty’ over the Easter break. Donating to one of the BHF’s 550 shops nationwide couldn’t be easier, with the charity offering a free toy collection service between 8th and 12th April.

Generous donors can use the #MyToyStory hashtag on social media to tell the BHF a bit about the toy they’re donating. Or why not label up your item and tell the new owner a bit about where it came from.

With the survey suggesting that 66 per cent of the nation’s children’s toys are predominantly made of plastic, the charity say the campaign could prevent many toys ending up in landfill and give them a new lease of life. Last year the BHF enabled 70,000 tonnes of items to be re-used thanks to donations to its shops.

The proceeds of all toy donations will help fund research into beating heart and circulatory disease.

Allison, Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “As a parent I know how easy it can be for outgrown toys to be piled everywhere, with some not played with for months. The British Heart Foundation’s Toy Amnesty is here to help clear out those toys that are ready for a new home and a new adventure. Call the BHF for a free collection or pop in to one of our 550 shops and donate in person – you could even pick up a donated toy at the same time. Every item sold in a BHF shop helps us to raise funds for our life-saving heart research and prevents thousands of once loved items ending up in landfill.”

eBay Toy Expert at the British Heart Foundation, Chris Walker, gives his advice on which toys make the best donations: “Your old toys, which you may just see as outdated bric-a-brac, could be worth hundreds or even thousands. If they’re still unopened or even if you have the original packaging, your donations could raise vital funds for charity.

“Items such as Polly Pocket, Subbuteo, Corgi cars, Transformers, Star Wars and Lego, are all big sellers on our eBay shop. They often have cult followings and are in high demand from collectors. Toys from the 80s and early 1990s are popular too, as a lot of people who were children then are parents today and are keen to share the nostalgia from their childhood with their own kids.”

The inspection of some of the Trust’s services took place during the period 4^th September to 11^th October last year, with publication of the findings today which reveal the overall rating for the Trust remains the same.

The Trust has committed to continuing to make improvements and has already made changes to ensure that patients receive high quality care across all parts of the Trust. As well as making recommendations, the CQC report notes a number of outstanding practices with the overall ‘outstanding’ rating for being caring.

In urgent and emergency care across both City and Sandwell hospitals, the services were rated as ‘requires improvement’ with an ‘outstanding’ rating for the critical care service.

Good practice that the inspectors singled out for praise included:

-       The domestic violence advocacy service in our emergency department

-       An initiative to cut pressure sores that has been successful in winning local awards

-       Dedicated listening time for stroke rehabilitation relatives and patients

-       Conversation cards in the infant feeding team to provide vital information for new mums

Toby Lewis Chief Executive commented: “We are pleased that no safety concerns remain in our ratings table.  Obviously our work to achieve a Trust-wide Good rating continues, and our community services for both children and adults reach that mark already.  We know that for acute services we have more room for improvement.

“Most pleasingly, we have maintained our Outstanding rating for Caring.  This is a tribute to the hard work and compassion of our teams across the organisation.

“Since the CQC inspectors visited the Trust last year we have made a number of improvements including:

-       A focus on recruitment to fill vacancies

-       New resuscitation trolleys that are more secure

-       Supporting all our staff to be compliant with mandatory training requirements

“We continue to make improvements in the services we provide to our patients and we will:

-       Ensure that all our staff are fully aware of the requirements under the mental capacity act

-       Continue to encourage an open culture so that all colleagues feel supported in  raising any issues of concern through our many speak up routes

-       Focus on clear ways to share learning across the Trust

-       Make sure that the way we understand and manage risks is well-understood in all services and departments

“We will work with the Care Quality Commission, and with our partners within the STP, to adopt best practice across our Trust, and I look forward to welcoming the inspectors in 2020.”

The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has today called on the Government to apologise on the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh, or Amritsar, massacre.

The Mayor visited the site of the incident in October last year following a trade visit with the Midlands Engine to Maharashtra.

MPs will discuss the massacre at a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament. The Mayor is asking the Government to issue a public apology in response to the debate.

Mayor Street said: “This week, 100 years ago, a terrible incident took place in Amritsar.

“Many people lost their lives. Families and communities were shattered by the 1650 bullets fired by British troops on innocent civilians.

“When I went to Amritsar in October it was even clearer to me that this incident is a stain on our history, but it was also clear that it should not be forgotten.

“Let us remember this day and the people - 379 Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus who lost their lives. Sir Winston Churchill rightly called it ‘a monstrous event' and David Cameron described it as a ‘deeply shameful event in British history’.

“It is now time for a formal apology by the British Government as a mark of respect, so that our progressive relationship with India is no longer dampened by this aspect of our past.

“I know that for many people in the West Midlands of Punjabi heritage a formal apology would be a sign of good faith and would enable us to build even stronger relationships between our two countries.”

Wolverhampton’s Carer Support Team will be marking Carers Week 2019 with a series of events, including craft sessions and celebratory lunches for carers and the people they look after.

The week of activities begins with the Carer Support Team’s monthly Carers Café at Light House Media Centre on Monday 10 June.

The café is open to all carers, and to celebrate Carers week they will also get 20% off meals at the Light House café and discounted cinema tickets on production of their Carers Emergency Card.

Also on Monday, Information Officer Melinder Kaur will be hosting an information stand at Waitrose from 2.30pm-4pm, where people will be able to find out more about the help and support available from the team.

The first of two Carers Celebratory Lunches takes place on Tuesday 11 June at the Nickelodeon, Bentley Bridge Way, Wednesfield, from noon-2pm, with carers and the people they care for invited to enjoy a carvery lunch.

On Wednesday 12 June, there will be a Craft Taster session, with carers invited to learn how to make felt to create beads or venture into the art of hat making by designing a fascinator. The session takes place at The Maltings, Herbert Street, Wolverhampton from 1pm to 3pm.

The second Carers Celebratory Lunch takes place on Thursday 13 June from noon-2pm at The Gatehouse Hungry Horse, Donington Grove, Wolverhampton.

The week of events wraps up on Friday 14 June with another Craft Taster session, with people able to explore their creative flair while learning how to make a fantasy film flower which can be displayed to catch the sunlight. This session also takes place at The Maltings from 1pm-3pm.

David Watts, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Director of Adult Services, said: “Caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, but at the same time it is often challenging for carers to be able to look after their own well-being.

"These Carers week events are an excellent opportunity for carers to enjoy a bit of well-deserved ‘me time’, meet other carers and find out more about the help that is available to them as they carry out their vital role."

Carers provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.

The Carer Support Team offers a range of services to carers, ensuring they are supported in their caring role, have access to the help they need and are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

They provide practical information, guidance and advice on a range of matters including benefits and short breaks for carers, and offer a range of other services including carer assessments, the Carers Emergency Card and training in skills such as first aid.

Carers Week runs from 10-16 June 2019 and is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges that carers face and recognising the contribution they make to families and communities. Around 6.5m people in the UK are carers, looking after a parent, partner, child or friend.

The Churnet Valley Railway has announced that Class 31 31271 ‘Stratford 1840-2001’ will be visiting them this springtime.

31271 is visiting the railway for their Diesel Gala for 2019.

This visit is thanks to A1A Locomotives, and to the Llangollen Railway Diesel Group, who have altered their roster ahead of the locomotives visit.

It will be the first time a 31 has worked on the Churnet Valley Railway in preservation, though a tour did continue onto Ironbridge in 1984.

31271 was initially bought by A1A Locomotives as a source of spares in 1998 for their other Class 31s. It was purchased by them from EWS Railways and transferred from Toton to the Midland Railway Butterley where the locomotive was placed on display.

In 2000 it was decided to restore the locomotive, return to service happened in April 2002 and following bodywork repairs, the locomotive was named at the National Railway Museum at their RailFest 200 in 2004. Since repairs, 31271 has performed well at the Nene Valley Railway, though now she is moving to the Llangollen Railway on a 2 year period.

The only opportunity for the members of the public to travel behind the locomotive will be during the diesel gala over the May Bank Holiday of the 4 – 6 May.

As part of her visit, 31271 will be being used on Driver Experience courses. This is a must for any 31 fan and will encompass the whole 14 miles. The experience will last for approximately 2.5 hours and includes a meal plus an invite to bring up to six guests to join you for your experience who can ride on the carriages as you take the controls.

Driver Experience courses are available 09 April 2019, 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00.