Community News

Over the Christmas period we’re all bound to divulge in a few Christmas movies and holiday specials, however do you know if your friends and family are actually enjoying themselves? A study conducted by AO.com & Liverpool John Moores University has identified that people will often say and think one emotion but their body may be reacting in a completely different way.

A group of 21 participants claimed to experience only the slightest increase in happiness (just 13%) when watching a movie, but their bodies showed an increase of ten times that rate. So the question is are these participants aware they’re enjoying the movie and are just too embarrassed to say?

The human body has a number of giveaways to reflect someone’s emotion meaning you’ll be able to tell if they’re lying when they say “I didn’t enjoy that EastEnders special”. AO,com’s new study reveals how to do this.

Zygomaticus Major

This is a muscle that is located slightly above the cheek and is associated with positive emotions; almost like a secret smile. A twitch can indicate someone is enjoying something even if they won’t say they are. This is a great giveaway if someone is watching something they claim to dislike. Keep an eye on your partner, brother or dad when you’re watching Frozen, a twitch of their mouth will tell you that they’re singing “Let It Go!” on the inside.

Corrugator Supercilli

A muscle that sits across your eyebrow, the movement of the Corrugator can indicate when an individual is having a negative experience. The movement of this muscle is a huge red flag when watching most Christmas entertainment, however if you prefer your programming to make you anxious or scared then this is the muscle you should look for. Notoriously scary movies such as Krampus and Gremlins should have your eyes twitching.

Skin Conductance Levels

Skin conductance is essentially how sweaty or clammy an individual becomes during an emotion response. If you are watching Home Alone this Christmas, look out for any signs of anxiety during the scenes with Kevin, Marv and Hank, as this can be a key factor in producing this response. You’ll be able to see just how scared they are for Kevin, no matter how many times they’ve seen it.

A new community centre in Tottenham Hale has just opened featuring the first purpose-built Anglican church in London for 40 years.

At the heart of Hale Village is The Engine Room which will serve the community in a number of ways by offering a community centre, St Francis church, a nursery and a café.

Run by the Diocese of London it aims to be the ‘engine of the community’ and is named after the site on which it is built - a furniture factory, requisitioned during World War Two to build engines for fighter aircraft.

“Our strapline is ‘the community starts here’, said The Engine Room’s operations manager Andrew Johnston. “And we really want to get all sections of the community involved in what we are doing. We already have an incredible diversity of bookings – from children’s birthday parties to Christmas fairs to corporate bookings – and we have three spaces for people to hire at reasonable community rates. We are looking for people to bring in their ideas and their enthusiasm because a place like this really can make a difference.”

Walk into St Francis’ main hall and you are instantly struck by the huge, colourful piece of artwork behind the altar created by acclaimed artist Graeme Mortimer Evelyn. Called The Eternal Engine it is the UK’s largest contemporary altarpiece and is open to a variety of interpretations.

“Graeme lived in our community for over a year and we talked about connectedness, which is reflected in this piece, and how connectedness is key for our work here in the community,” said the Revd Andrew Williams, priest at St Francis. “It is hugely exciting to be a part of this and the community is the absolute focus of what we’re about. We also have the lease for 250 years so everyone knows we are here for the long haul.”

Loven bakery is a community focused cafe, bakery and wine shop which runs in collaboration with The Engine Room as part of the new community centre. It hosts events, promotes local businesses and organisations as well as providing appren­ticeship training schemes and affordable, healthy, high-quality food and drink.

For Martina and Andrew Kwapong the opening of the new building is a particular cause of celebration. For the past four years the church community workers have been helping locals from a small flat around the corner.

“We also worked from a shipping container and a park and now we’re here!” said Martina, laughing. “We wanted something different, something where the church and the community really does live side by side, and this is what we have in The Engine Room. The community love this place and people have already made friends through this.”

For more details, or to make a booking, call The Engine Room in Eagle Heights, Hale Village on 020 8808 5490 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. St Francis holds services every Sunday at 11am and on the last Sunday of the month there is a ‘shared lunch’ where members of the congregation can bring food to share.

Eating chocolate for breakfast, Christmas coffee cups and time off work are some of the nation’s favourite things about the festive season, according to a new study by Ladbrokes Casino.

The research, which polled more than 2,000 Brits, looked into our favourite things about Christmas including traditions, food and drink, films and music.

Some of the more unusual Christmas traditions included; one in 20 said ‘an excuse for a kiss under the mistletoe’, 10% voted for ‘post-Christmas dinner naps’ and more than one in 10 felt one of the best things was that ‘it’s the time of year you don’t feel guilty about gaining weight’.

The Christmas football fixtures get the nation excited every year and the poll revealed the biggest hot spots around the UK that are most excited about tuning in to watch the nation’s favourite sport during December.

The cities most dedicated to the Christmas football fixtures:

1. Cardiff (20%)
2. Liverpool (20%)
3. Nottingham (13%)
4. Leeds (11%)
5. Birmingham (10%)

When it came to festive food ‘Boxing Day leftovers’ proved to be more popular than a ‘Christmas Eve buffet’ or a ‘Christmas Day breakfast’ (26% vs 17% and 15% respectively).

The study also aimed to rank our favourite Christmas movies, songs and carols:

The Top 5 favourite Christmas movies are:

1. Home Alone (24%)
2. It’s a Wonderful Life (21%)
3. Miracle on 34th Street (18%)
4. Elf (16%)
5. The Muppet Christmas Carol (15%)

The nation was more sure of their favourite Christmas song as almost a third (30%) voted for Fairytale of New York by The Pogues overshadowing second and third place, Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade (24%) and Last Christmas by Wham (23%).

Kaidi Kuusk at Ladbrokes Casino said: “The nation has voted on what the best things about Christmas are and the list reveals we look forward to Boxing Day leftovers more than Christmas Eve buffets or Christmas day breakfasts.

“Home Alone’s an all-time classic so it’s no surprise to see it top the list as the nation’s favourite Christmas film. It looks safe to say Cardiffians and Liverpudlians can’t wait to stop watching the likes of Mrs Brown’s Boys and get stuck into the Boxing Day fixture list.

“Whether you agree with our list or not, it’s clear the nation has an opinion on what the best things about Christmas are.”

A delegation from the Chinese government was recently invited by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities to visit Sandwell Valley Crematorium to find out about the UK's approach to burial and cremation.

Sandwell Council cabinet member Councillor David Hosell welcomed the party from the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Rick Powell, secretary and executive officer with the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities, said he was delighted that Sandwell had been willing to host the meeting after he had been asked by the Chinese government to provide a training session.

Delegates wanted to have a better understanding of the UK’s approach to laws and regulations regarding burial and cremation, the structure of UK burial and cremation services, codes of practice and service delivery.

Councillor Hosell said: "It was a pleasure to welcome delegates from China, who were all experienced senior officials.

"Given the extensive breadth of excellent services and facilities provided by our bereavement team, the Federation felt there was no better place than Sandwell for the delegation to visit to see how this should be delivered."

After dinner board games are still as popular as ever, as more than five in six adults will rummage around in cupboards to dust off board games over the Christmas period, according to new research by Coral Casino.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by Coral Casino, asked the public to rank a series of board and card games to find the nation’s favourite ‘after Christmas dinner’ game. The research found that across the UK, 84% of adults will sit down to play one with friends and family after their Christmas dinner, with people in Edinburgh the most partial to a game – 91% will be playing a board or card game this Christmas.

The research by the online casino operator found that Monopoly is by far the country’s most popular game, with 31% of the 2,000 adults polled saying it was their favourite. Board games dominated the top ten most popular games, with Cards Against Humanity the only card game to make the cut.

The UK’s top ten favourite after dinner games for UK adults to play this Christmas are:

1. Monopoly
2. Trivial Pursuit
3. Scrabble
4. Pictionary
5. Cluedo
6. Draughts / Checkers
7. Cards Against Humanity
8. Chess
9. Battleship
10. Yahtzee

Although the popularity of different games remains roughly the same across all ages, with Monopoly always the favourite, almost twice as many young adults prefer Cards Against Humanity as 25-34-year olds do, with almost nobody over 45 choosing it.

Blackjack also appears to be making a resurgence with the younger generation, being more popular with those aged between 18 and 24 than anyone else. Meanwhile Scrabble and Cluedo, typically two of the country’s top choices, lose out among the younger adults.

John Hill, PR Manager at Coral said: “Our research shows that, however popular high tech gifts have become at Christmas, the long standing tradition of sitting down with friends and family to a good board game after their Festive feast is alive and well.”

“It is no surprise to see that Blackjack is becoming more popular with young adults as this is something that we’ve seen with our own games.”

Over the past five years, Romans has supported Alexander Devine, a local children’s hospice, raising over £100,000 through their fundraising efforts.

This year, Romans’ Directors challenged the three teams in their Training Academy to see who can raise the most money for Alexander Devine. Spin Masters Toys kindly donated over 1,000 brand new, packaged toys and on 15th of December the three teams went head to head in Romans’ Reading, Maidenhead and Wokingham branches. A grand total of £5,381 was raised across the three branches, the winners of the event were the Persians who were selling toys from the Maidenhead branch raising £2,500!

Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service was set up by Berkshire parents John and Fiona Devine in memory of their eight year old son Alexander, who died after four years of treatment for a brain tumour, with the aim of building Berkshire's first dedicated hospice for children with life threatening illnesses. The first hospice opened earlier this year in Maidenhead, providing much needed care and support for families around Berkshire.

Fiona Devine thanks the staff from Romans, “A huge thank you from all of us at Alexander Devine to Romans, you have been with us since the inception of our journey and we are phenomenally grateful for the donation we have received from Toy Wars. You have been an integral part in our journey and without you we wouldn’t be in our purpose built hospice today!

The donation of £5,300 from Toy Wars will go towards funding our care team which needs to grow exponentially next year to enable us to open our day care centre in Maidenhead. This donation will go towards the costs of employing more carers and nurses to support 6 children per day to use all our facilities. Thanks again to Romans, please know that you are making such a difference to our local children.”

WaterSafe, the UK body for approved plumbers, is urging homeowners in Gloucestershire to wrap up their homes this Christmas to avoid frozen and burst water pipes putting a damper on festivities.

The national accreditation body, which is backed by water companies including Wessex Water and Severn Trent Water, is supporting the Met Office’s Get Ready for Winter Campaign. The campaign includes advice on keeping homes warm and safe during the festive season and beyond.

Derrick Ryall, Executive Head of Public Weather Services at the Met Office, said: “People in the UK are resilient and severe winter weather is something we’re all used to, so we sometimes underestimate its impact on our everyday lives.

“Our research shows that many people are too relaxed, however, and are confused about what they need to do to prepare. This is why we have created the comprehensive winter checklist, so households can ensure they are fully prepared this winter.”

As temperatures drop below zero degrees, frozen and burst water pipes can cause flooding, damage and leave homes without water. New figures from the Association of British Insurers say claims to repair a burst water pipe can reach £7,500.

Despite this, new Met Office research shows that 75% of people it surveyed are unsure if their pipes are insulated and protected against freezing.

WaterSafe is advising homeowners to check water pipes in draughty areas such as attics and garages and outside taps. If they aren’t wrapped in lagging (a foam material designed to prevent freezing) it’s time to act. Insulating pipes not only protects them from winter weather but keeps the heat in, saving money too.

WaterSafe is also encouraging homeowners to fix leaky taps before temperatures drop, as even a trickle can result in a frozen tap. Dealing with leaks as soon as you discover them is also an important water-saving measure as every drop counts. Fixing a dripping tap could save 5,500 litres of water a year, not to mention £18 off water bills.

Top tips for a winter-ready home include:

• Make sure you know where your stop tap is and check it’s working.
• Make sure all pipes in unheated areas and outside taps are insulated.
• Fix any dripping taps or toilet cisterns – this will also save water.
• Check your central heating boiler has been serviced.
• If you’re going away, consider leaving your heating on and set the thermostat to 14°C. Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your property.
• Keep the name and number of a WaterSafe approved plumber to hand for emergencies.

“However, ‘prevention is better than cure’ so following our tips now will help homeowners enjoy peace of mind and a safe festive period during colder weather. If you’re not confident about insulating water pipes or fixing dripping taps yourself, a WaterSafe recognised plumber can help and offer advice.”

Statistics show an estimated 350,000 trees will be bought in the West Midlands this Christmas, yet only 3,500 of those will be recycled. Local charity, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is challenging residents to help increase that figure by recycling their festive firs in the largest tree collection the city has seen.

Volunteers from the Hospice are expected to collect 3,000 trees from residents’ doorsteps on 13 and 14 January across the city, in return for a donation.

The ‘Treecycling’ scheme will reach out to a range of postcodes across Birmingham and Solihull, where all collected trees will be recycled into compost and biomass fuel.

All funds raised from Treecycling will go towards Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, which provides vital care and support to local families living with terminal illness across Birmingham and Sandwell.

Richard Green, Treecycling volunteer at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “After all the festivities are over, getting rid of the tree can feel like a post-Christmas chore. With Treecycling though, we can save you both time and hassle by picking up the tree right from your doorstep, saving you from getting needles in your car and queuing for the tip.

“Not only is this scheme a fantastic way to be eco-friendly in the New Year but it will also help raise crucial funds for our Hospice. All of our services – whether they are provided at the Hospice, in people’s homes or in the local community – are completely free of charge and so we rely on the generosity of local people to help us provide our vital care to everyone who needs it.”

Treecycling is supported by the civil engineering contractor, Fitzgerald, who has generously provided staff for the collection weekend, vans and financial support since the scheme’s inception.

Nick Coley, managing director at Fitzgerald, said: “We have a long-standing partnership with Birmingham St Mary’s and it’s fantastic to be able to work together on the Treecycling campaign. Our employees always enjoy helping out during the collection weekend and it’s brilliant to know that every penny raised goes directly towards the Hospice. I know our staff are already looking forward to this year’s event and want to make it its biggest collection yet.”

Treecycling is part of the Hospice’s ‘Care at Christmas’ campaign – a festive appeal to boost support for individuals and families living with terminal illness. It will cost £22k to run the Hospice on Christmas Day so every penny raised will ensure that the best hospice care is available to people and their loved ones, wherever and whenever they need it.

The postcodes that Treecycling will be collecting from, are: B13, B14, B15, B17, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31, B32, B38, B90 and B90. To book your collection, head to: www.careatchristmas.org/treecycling

Pouring turkey fat and other festive leftovers down the plughole is a recipe for disaster that could make it a costly Christmas for unsuspecting households.

As millions of people prepare to tuck into their Christmas dinner, the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) is urging everyone to stop and think about what they pour down the sink and not run the risk of a blocked drain or seeing their home flooded with sewage.

Fatty substances put a huge strain on the sewer network and can create giant pipe-blocking ‘fatbergs’ which feast on our festive leftovers, enabling them to grow up to 250 metres long.

Blockages are one of the main reasons the number of properties across England and Wales flooded with sewage increased by almost a third in 2016/17.

Greasy leftovers can also clog up a property’s drains, landing the householder with a callout charge for someone to clear up the mess.

Steve Grebby, CCWater’s sewer expert, said: “We all love a surprise at Christmas but seeing your home flooded with raw sewage isn’t one of them.”

“There are lots of simple ways to safely dispose of leftover fat or grease, including letting these substances cool in a container before scraping them straight into the bin. It might cost you a little more time but it could save you a lot of money.”

Consumers can protect their pipes and drains by keeping a ‘fat trap’ or container in their kitchen to collect leftover fat, gravy and grease before emptying it into the bin.

The water industry currently spends up to £100 million a year clearing blockages caused by inappropriate items being put down the sink, drain and toilet, with customers footing the bill through their sewerage charges.

City of Wolverhampton’s inaugural Victorian Christmas Market has been hailed a success – and will return next year on December 14, 15 and 16.

More than 15,000 people attended the event in the heart of the city from Friday to Sunday – generating around £200,000 for the local business economy.

Families enjoyed the festive fun and snapped up Christmas goodies from more than 100 stalls during the three-day market, delivered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s approved market operator, LSD Promotions.

The whole event was set to the backdrop of a Victorian funfair and the offer included a variety of traditional and international street food, local produce, seasonal handcrafted and home-baked goodies, bespoke Christmas decorations and holly wreaths, festive novelties and exclusive gifts, accessories and jewellery.

Entertainment included street artists, choirs, vocalists, instrumental performances, chimney sweeps, dance displays, and Victorian themed stilt walkers.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Environment, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “This was the largest festive market the city has seen and it was wonderful to see it attract thousands of visitors – and boost the local economy.

“There was a great atmosphere around the market over the three days with people of all ages enjoying a variety of stalls offering festive goodies, plenty of food and drink, and fun activities at this special time of year.

“We now intend to build on the success of this year when the market returns next winter.”

Organiser Dermot McGillicuddy, LSD Promotions Director, added: "We are proud to have helped the council deliver such a fabulous event, which we hope will be the first of many over the years.”

New artist’s impressions showcasing the future of City of Wolverhampton’s railway station as part of the wider Interchange area have been revealed.

The images come with contractors, Galliford Try, having started early site works before Christmas to prepare for the start of demolition of the existing railway station in May.

Galliford Try - one of the UK’s leading construction groups, responsible for Birmingham’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire - will also build the new railway station.

This phase of the £150 million Wolverhampton Interchange project also includes the already-completed new railway station entrance from Corn Hill and multi-storey car park extension, as well as the continuation of the Midland Metro line extension works to the railway station.

The development news comes in addition to the announcement last week that the West Midlands railway network has been put in the hands of West Midlands Rail – a consortium of 16 local councils, working in close collaboration with the Department for Transport.

This will bring a near £1 billion investment in regional services over the next eight years that will mean more space on trains, more frequent services and better facilities for passengers.

The Wolverhampton railway station development will put the city in the best position to capitalise on the new franchise, and, prior to Christmas, Galliford Try will continue enabling works, including the removal of trees at the bottom of Railway Drive.

The loss of these trees will be mitigated by the installation of a giant green wall in front of the existing multi-storey car park and new tree planters, with plans for further planting on site.

The Banana Yard, which train companies staff previously used for staff car parking, will also be fenced off in readiness.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: “The Wolverhampton Interchange Partnership has worked hard to get to this point.

“Everything is now in place to begin the main station works early next year and people will soon start seeing big changes on site.

“We can all look forward to the emergence of an iconic railway station befitting of the city.

“There is £3.7 billion of investment currently on site or in the pipeline across Wolverhampton.

“As part of this regeneration it is crucial visitors to our city get the best first impression possible and their travel experience is enhanced - this new state-of-the-art station will deliver that.”

The new station building is expected to be completed in 2020.

It will benefit from an enhanced Birmingham New Street-style ticket office, larger passenger concourse, ample ticket barriers to ease flow onto and off platforms, and much improved retail and café facilities.

Steve Parry, Managing Director of ION Development, added: “As the work at the railway station gets underway, it is a pleasure to unveil the vision of the full masterplan through these new images.

“They depict how the transformation of the railway station and surrounding area will offer a brilliant first impression - welcoming those arriving by train to Wolverhampton and showcasing this entrance to the city.”

Melanie Bryett, Interchange Project Manager for Virgin Trains, added: “The new images really bring the plans for the new-look station alive. There’s a real sense of excitement as we work together to give the city a station to be proud of.”

The first phase of the Wolverhampton Interchange project included the construction of a new £22.5 million state-of-the-art bus station on Pipers Row to replace the old one.

A social media star from Turkey, famous for his colourful portraits of some of the world’s biggest celebrities, has been sharing what it’s like to spend Christmas for the first time in the UK since moving for his studies at Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC).

Nineteen-year-old Emre Süner, known online as Mr Creative, has more than 85,000 followers on Instagram, his how-to-draw tutorial videos on YouTube have been streamed hundreds of thousands of times and the artist counts popstar Rihanna among his fans. Furthermore, an abstract picture he drew of musician Taylor Swift went truly viral in 2015 when it was shared by her friend and actress Sarah Hyland and model Dominic Sherwood – who appeared in Swift’s ‘Style’ video – on Twitter.

Born and raised in the small southern Turkish city of Antakya, Emre moved with his family to live in Doha, Qatar in 2009, where he first discovered his talent for art. Earlier this year, Emre moved to the UK to study an Undergraduate Pathway in Architecture before he plans to embark on a degree in Architecture at Birmingham City University.

Emre Süner said: “I know I come from a warm country and my family now live in the Middle East, but I really love the cold! The festive period is always a special time of year no matter where you are in the world, but with the recent snowfall in the UK it has truly felt like Christmas here in Birmingham.

“I am really enjoying all the food that accompanies this time of year in the UK too! The BCUIC campus is situated in the beautiful Birmingham suburb of Bournville, right next to the world-famous Cadbury chocolate factory, so I am literally surrounded by sweet treats all day long.

“I’m certainly not getting homesick though, as the Christmas lights here in the UK are just as big and bold as the ones used to decorate Turkish homes at this time of year, and the displays in Birmingham remind me of my childhood and how we still celebrate New Year back home.

“Being in the UK, it still feels like a dream. I am loving my life at Birmingham City University and, getting to explore the history and culture of the UK in my spare time, is really inspiring for my art.”

In order to keep his online fans in-the-loop, Emre has been documenting his first Christmas in Birmingham, along with his other offline adventures in the UK, on his YouTube channel.

Self-taught, Emre spent six months crafting his abilities before he first posted one of his pencil drawings – a human eye – online in 2011. Since then, he has developed a distinctive style which reflects his interest in popular culture, music and movies – with his art depicting stars such as Justin Timberlake, Cara Delevingne and Eddie Redmayne, or paying homage to films such as ‘Jurassic World’, ‘Interstellar’ and the ‘Star Wars’ saga.

On his growing popularity online, Emre Süner said: “I think people enjoy my art because it reflects my personality as much as it showcases a skill. I take inspiration from pop culture and everyday experiences, so lots of people can relate to it, no matter where in the world they come from.

“There’s lots of hidden messages peppered throughout my work and I think people like to find the Easter eggs I’ve added as well and try to work out what they might mean.”

Thinking about his plans for 2018, Emre wishes to continue his art alongside his academic studies and hopes in the future he gets the chance to collaborate with some of the artists he has drawn.

He added: “I would love to design tour merchandise for someone like Justin Timberlake, but in the meantime, I will continue to draw, write and direct videos, as my creative outlets give me such joy personally and I am just blessed that others enjoy it so much too.

“As well as preparing me for a successful career, my studies at BCUIC are also helping me develop my skills and absorb new experiences, and I am truly grateful for all the exciting opportunities my life in Birmingham is providing me with.”

This time last year, 6,339 people in the West Midlands spent the colder months homeless. In an effort to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness during winter – and the Christmas season - the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has joined forces with property industry charity, LandAid to launch a campaign to deliver more bed spaces for young homeless people in the region.

As part of RICS’s 150th anniversary in 2018, the campaign known as Pledge150 will see RICS - alongside those working in the region’s built environment - raise £2.25 million by December 2018 for LandAid. This money will be used to fund the creation of at least 150 bed spaces for young people at risk of homelessness.

Matthew Howell, RICS Managing Director, UK & Ireland commented: “The winter months are often the most difficult for young people who are homeless, and sadly, as temperatures plummet those who are forced to sleep rough are at an even greater risk of harm, and even death. It is our hope with this campaign that we can make a real positive change to young vulnerable people’s lives by providing them with a safe, secure and affordable place to live.”

Over the last five years, LandAid has raised over £7million to fund accommodation projects for young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, giving them the chance to rebuild their lives after gaining safe and secure accommodation.

One such person is Chaleka who despite working could not afford local rent. The lack of affordable housing in Birmingham means that many young people, like Chaleka, simply can’t find anywhere suitable to live. Local Charity, St Basils is working to change this situation with their Live and Work Scheme.

The scheme, aimed at young people like Chaleka, looks to help young people who are homeless even when they are in work or education. Now living in a shared flat with other people just like her Chaleka has been given the support network she needs, help to learn valuable life skills and because the rent is affordable the opportunity to save for a deposit for her own home.

Chaleka commented: I’ve lived in St Basils Live and Work for over a year and think this scheme has really worked for me. There is always honest support if and when I need it and the staff her are amazing. I share my flat with other young professionals so we all have similar goals. The Live and Work Scheme is a great scheme for any young professional that has determination and wants to succeed.”

Paul Morrish, CEO LandAid adds: “There are thousands of young people living in overcrowded accommodation or sofa surfing – just like Chaleka, but no one counts them, or keeps records of how many people are suffering as they were. Homelessness is a much bigger issue than rough sleeping – especially for young people. We aim to get as many young people without a safe place to call home, in to secure, affordable accommodation. So, we are delighted to be teaming up with RICS in what is our biggest ever fundraising campaign to end youth homelessness.”

RICS plans to raise funds for the Pledge150 campaign at a variety of corporate events and challenges in the West Midlands, and through staff and partner university initiatives in the region. Those working in the West Midlands’ land, property and construction sectors are also being encouraged to join in and think big, in terms of their fundraising activities and in helping to publicise the campaign.

Matthew Howell of RICS commented: “Individuals as well as companies can get involved with fundraising, or even make Pledge150 their ‘giving something back’ initiative. As part of this campaign, property professionals are also being encouraged to consider providing pro bono property advice to help local charities supporting disadvantaged people, including those experiencing homelessness.”

Stephanie Bloxham, 34, has spoken of the kindness her family received from Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice as she backs an appeal to fund care services on Christmas Day.

The Gift a Christmas campaign hopes to raise £15,000 – enough to fund hospice running costs on 25 December. Stephanie, from Sutton Coldfield, is lending her support to the festive fundraising appeal to say thank you for the comfort John Taylor staff brought to her father Peter.

Stephanie was only 16 years old when her father, Peter Bloxham, was diagnosed with lung cancer after discovering a lump in his neck. Following the devastating news that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes Peter, a registrar at Birmingham Register Office, was referred to John Taylor Hospice in Erdington for palliative care and practical support.

Stephanie explains: “He received hospice care at home and was also an in-patient several times including at Christmas in 1999. The hospice staff were incredible and they made a very difficult time as bearable as possible.”

Dad-of-three Peter died at John Taylor Hospice surrounded by his family in April 2000, aged 42. “Dad was an amazing man, so lovely, friendly, kind and caring,” said Stephanie, a Development Worker with Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC). “He was always cheerful and fun. We shared many special memories and our Christmases together were always wonderful. He was devoted to his family and had a really big heart.

“We’ll always be grateful to John Taylor Hospice as they were fantastic, especially in the last few days. They were so understanding, very supportive and caring. They always ensured Dad was looked after and made as comfortable as possible. Nothing was ever too much trouble – they’re fantastic people and that’s why I’m supporting the Gift a Christmas campaign.”

Earlier this year, Stephanie and her brothers Mark, 39, and Andrew, 36, raised an impressive £2,536 for the hospice by hosting a fundraising birthday party to commemorate what would have been their dad’s 60^th birthday.

“We’ll continue to support the hospice as much as possible,” added Stephanie. “We want to make sure other families, just like ours, are able to receive this excellent care and emotional support at a time when they need it most. I really hope in sharing our story people can see what an incredible difference the hospice makes in our community and choose to get behind the Gift a Christmas appeal.”

Kerry McGrath, Community Fundraising Manager at John Taylor, said: “Christmas is a special time for many people and, just like we do every day of the year, we help make every moment matter for families. Our care is free to people who need it but it costs £15,000 a day to provide these services. That’s why we rely so much upon the kindness and generosity of wonderful supporters like Stephanie and her family.

“We’ve set up a Gift a Christmas JustGiving page where people can make a donation and leave a message. We understand that the festive season is an expensive time but any amount people can afford to donate will make a lasting difference to those living with a terminal illness and their families.”