Community News

Staff from a leading Black Country law firm have pledged their support to help Birmingham Children’s Hospital carry out its life-saving care.

Talbots Law named the UK’s leading specialist paediatric centre as its ‘Charity of the Year’ and has already presented it with a £10,000 donation to help it deliver treatments, complex surgical procedures and cutting-edge research to young people up to the age of 16.

Employees from across the company’s seven offices were invited to nominate their preferred good causes and, following much deliberation, the three most popular choices were put forward for a final vote that was made at the business’ annual party.

“There was a lot of personal stories of families and friends that have been helped and supported by Birmingham Children’s Hospital so the decision was a comprehensive one in the end,” explained Mary Mocklow, Chief Executive of Talbots Law.

“We always kick-start the year of fundraising by donating an initial sum and then we hope to build on this through a host of different activities that will be organised by the firm and our employees. The emphasis is on getting as many people involved as possible.”

“Ian Bond and I visited Eloise Davidson and Paul Moore at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity to present the cheque and find out a little bit more about the amazing care they provide every day of the week, every week of the year.”

Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital, which was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the CCQ in February 2017, looks after 90,000 children and young people from across the country every year.

It operates a national liver and small bowel transplant centre and is a global centre of excellence for complex heart conditions, the treatment of burns, cancer, liver and kidney disease.

Talbots staff have already taken part in the ‘Big Bandage Day’ and are looking forward to embarking on a London to Paris bike ride and a daunting Snowdon Challenge.

Eloise Davidson, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are truly thankful for all of the hard work Talbots Law has put into raising such a fantastic amount of money for our patients.

“The funds they have raised will go a long way to making a huge difference to the lives of our brave children and their families as we continue our plans to improve our facilities – enabling us to treat even more children from Birmingham, the West Midlands and around the country.”

His Honour Judge James Burbidge QC received the scroll appointing him the first Honorary Recorder of the City of Wolverhampton at an extraordinary meeting of the Full Council yesterday evening (Wednesday).

The Honorary Recorder is a ceremonial role, created to maintain and develop close links between council and the judiciary as well as to encourage an understanding of the judicial system among the community.

Kevin O’Keefe, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Governance, said: “We are delighted to appoint His Honour Judge James Burbidge QC as the first Honorary Recorder of the City of Wolverhampton.

“In his role, he will be an important link between the council, the people and the courts, and will become a familiar face at Civic events around the City.”

The Honorary Recorder will attend ceremonial and civic functions as well as inviting members of the council to attend judicial events. He will also be the most senior Judge to sit at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

In the future, the title will pass automatically to the Senior Resident Judge of Wolverhampton Crown Court upon their appointment by the Lord Chief Justice.

Become a pirate, crew a canal boat, learn the boating lingo, watch wildlife and discover the amazing places to visit on the nation's beautiful waterways for FREE. On Sunday 15 April 2018, 11am to 4pm, Drifters Waterway Holidays and the Canal & River Trust are offering people the chance to try canal boating for free at 19 locations across England and Wales.

The taster sessions will include free trips on skippered narrowboats, as well as boat tours and holiday discounts. No advance booking or experience is required, with people of all ages encouraged to just turn up.

Gareth Stephens, National Boating Manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “We believe that waterways have the power to make a real difference to people's lives and that spending time by water makes us all healthier and happier. Thousands of people already enjoy boating holidays on our beautiful 2,000-mile network of inland waterways, and these free canal boat taster sessions are a great way to know that this sort of holiday is for you, before committing to a weekend or longer break.”

Tim Parker, chairman of Drifters Waterway Holidays, explains: “Last year, over 3,800 people got afloat at our one of our open day events and we look forward to welcoming thousands more visitors this year, to discover why canal boat holidays are so special.”

Tiny tots are getting ready to take on muddy puddles at a special Peppa Pig sponsored walk next month.

The children at Smarty Pants Nursery based at Lightwoods House in Bearwood will be taking part in the Muddy Puddle Walk in aid of Save The Children at Lightwoods Park on 23 April.

The children will be doing a circuit of the park helped by Peppa Pig characters along the way - before a splash in muddy puddles outside the nursery and some stories.

The little ones have also been learning about the plants and herbs in Shakespeare Garden at the house - which features plants and shrubs all mentioned in the playwright's work.

Nursery owner and manager Lydia Browning said: "Now the spring is here it's lovely for the children to get out in the garden a bit more. They're all very excited for the Muddy Puddle Walk and seeing the Peppa Pig characters and we're hoping to raise some money for a good cause while we have some fun."

Lightwoods House opened in January 2018 having been extensively restored thanks to a £5.2million project funded by the council, Big Lottery fund (BIG) and Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The nursery opened last September in a brand new building next to the house, designed to look like the old stables.

To find out more about Lightwoods House and Park, go to the website www.lightwoodsparkandhouse.co.uk

Discover a quintessentially British affair at Blenheim Palace this summer; witness iconic characters brought to life, fabulous live music, delicious food and drink and an exciting firework finale at the new Great British Garden Party.

Taking place between 13-14 July from 6.30-10pm at the historic Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site, this glorious outdoor event allows visitors a unique opportunity to discover the Palace, Park and Gardens with spectacular entertainment.

Explore the magnificent Palace and its Capability Brown landscaped Park, walk in the footsteps of our greatest Briton, Sir Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim, take a spoonful of sugar listening to storytime with Mary Poppins in the Secret Garden and come face to face with Britain's very own Bond, James Bond.

Laze in a deckchair as Test Match Special icon Henry Blofeld commentates live on a charity cricket match featuring the star-studded Lord's Taveners (13 July) on the South Lawn.

Enjoy a glass of Champagne with sumptuous strawberries and cream, or tuck in to the South Lawn BBQ* whilst a resident string quartet plays. Watch and join in while a troupe of energetic professional dancers lindy hop, jive and waltz the evening away.

As night falls, visitors will congregate in the Great Court for a spectacular red, white and blue fireworks finale set to the stirring words of Sir Winston Churchill, along with resounding renditions of Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and Elgar's Nimrod.

This exclusive experience is an extended ticket offering which includes after-hours entry into the Palace and Gardens, fabulous entertainment and free parking.

Customers of The Rajdani Indian restaurant in West Kingsdown, near Sevenoaks in Kent, raised £1185 at a special charity lunch.

The restaurant which was named Best Indian Restaurant in the South East at last year's prestigious Asian Curry Awards, served a selection of its acclaimed dishes, for which 69 regulars paid £15 each.

A further £150 was raised through a prize raffle.

The proceeds will be divided equally between the St Edmund's Church in West Kingsdown and Rohingya refugees through Global Aid Trust.

Rajdani owner Rob Khan said the lunch was a great success, raising money for two excellent causes.

Rohingya people are one of the most persecuted minority groups in the world, according to Khan, who points to the genocide which has led to over 600,000 refugees to flee their homes in Myanmar, in fear of their lives.

St Edmund's is the centre of a vibrant Christian community within the village and is involved in many charitable works.

“People often say charity should begin at home, which it should – but it should not end here,” said Khan, whose restaurant, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, has long been involved in fund-raising for good causes.

In October last year the restaurant raised £1700 for ABF The Soldiers' Charity, which supports soldiers, veterans and their families.

The Rajdani is looking to host another event involving St Edmund's Church later in the year.

The restaurant hopes to feature again in the Asian Curry Awards which is being held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 18th November 2018. In a bid to retain his titles, Head Chef Jimmi Shab, has recently returned from a culinary tour of the sub-continent and is redesigning a shorter, gourmet menu where current favourites will be complemented by a greater choice of fish, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Nura Ali, Executive Director of Allies Network and Charlotte Holmes of Birmingham Museums Trust Collecting Birmingham Team held an afternoon knowledge sharing event and celebration of the First Somali Cultural Artifact ‘Xeedho’ to be displayed in a West Midlands museum.  People came from across England and Wales included artists, activists, community workers, curators and leaders of the City of Birmingham to explore issues around material culture, power and untold stories of the Somali Community of the West Midlands.

This event marked the close of Collecting Birmingham a unique project that has, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, significantly developed the relevance and accessibility of Birmingham’s collections. During this three-year project we worked with Nura Ali and her mother Fatumo Shabele to consult with them about the Somali cultural artifact ‘Xeedho’’ and understand the history behind the artifact. Also understand the family story behind the artifact before the museum acquired it, giving the family direct influence on the acquisition of artifact ‘Xeedho’. Nura Ali said The ‘Xeedho’ is at Birmingham Museum now and is accessible to the citizens of Birmingham for many years to come.’’

Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Elmhurst Ballet School are inspiring music students to experience the working life of a professional ballet pianist with its Placement for Pianists Programme.

Due to overwhelming interest and a successful inaugural first year, launched as a pilot scheme in September 2017, organisers of the initiative are pleased to announce it will continue with a second cohort in the 2018–2019 academic year.

The programme provides a very rare opportunity for music students to explore the highly specialised artistry and technique of ballet pianism during mentoring, observational and practical sessions with pianists working full-time at Elmhurst Ballet School, the associate school of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Following initial meetings between Mikael Petersson, Elmhurst’s Music Planning Coordinator and pianist, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Luan Shaw, Head of Pedagogy and Community Engagement and Katharine Lam, Piano Tutor and Pedagogy Lecturer, Petersson and Jeanette Wong, a pianist from Birmingham Royal Ballet, were invited to speak to over 100 Conservatoire music students with the aim of introducing them to the fascinating world of ballet pianism.

Uptake to join the Placement was large and after an audition process, piano students Connor Wilcox and Yung-Li Chen were selected to take part in the scheme – marking the first collaboration between the two Birmingham-based educational establishments.

Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said: “Royal Birmingham Conservatoire pays care and attention to musicians as entrepreneurs, preparing our students for the opportunities and challenges presented by the future of the profession, and with the intention that they leave us as employable music professionals. Unique partnerships such as this one with Elmhurst Ballet School ensure that we are continually fulfilling our promise.

“I am delighted that this partnership with Elmhurst has come to fruition – the combination of some of the country’s best young dancers and pianists working together is simply electrifying, and exemplifies our joint ethos of wanting to further embed ourselves within the city we serve. It is fantastic that the Placement will continue next year and I am excited to see in which other directions our partnership follows.”

Over the last four months, Connor, from Burntisland in Fife, and Yung-Li, from Yilan County in Taiwan, have attended ten programme sessions at the Edgbaston-based ballet school, have observed and played for ballet classes, have spent a day observing pianists at Birmingham Royal Ballet and have benefitted from one-to-one tutorials with Elmhurst’s pianists Mikael Petersson and Elaine Li – both also graduates of the renowned Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, which was granted its Royal title by Her Majesty The Queen in 2017.

Mikael Petersson, Elmhurst’s Music Planning Coordinator and pianist, said: “The art world needs to be accessible to more people, so it’s vital for arts venues, training establishments and artists to reach out to wider audiences. It can begin with projects like the Placement Programme for Pianists, where young musicians meet with young dancers and new ideas are born.

“As a former Conservatoire student, I realised during my student years the importance of establishing a professional network well before the completion of the degree. Finding work is increasingly dependent on an individual’s ability to take initiative and reach out to work places. This scheme facilitates taking those first steps so entering the profession is a little easier. I hope by working together in this way, two of the world’s leading performing arts institutions and their talented students will continue to inspire each other.”

There's a cracking selection of eggciting activities on offer at Wolverhampton's libraries this Easter.

There will be Easter egg hunts with the Code-a-piller – a toy which children can programme to move forward, left, right, wiggle or dance – at Penn Library on Tuesday 3 April from noon-1pm and Wednesfield Library on Wednesday 4 April from noon-1pm, both of which are suitable for children aged four to eight.

Warstones Library will be hosting an extended Easter storytime session for pre-school children on Tuesday 3 April from 2.30pm-3.30pm, while Central Library is offering a creative writing workshop for seven to 12-year-olds on Thursday 5 April from 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Central Library is also the venue for a Spring Code-a-piller session for four to eight-year-olds on Thursday 12 April and Fun With Numbers for children aged eight and over on Friday 13 April, both of which run from 2.30pm-3.30pm.

Spring into Spring story and craft sessions for children aged four and over are taking place at Bilston Library on Thursday 5 April from noon-1pm, Spring Vale Library on Friday 6 April from 10.30am-11.30am, Ashmore Park Library on Tuesday 10 April from 2.30pm-3.30pm and Central Library on Wednesday 11 April from 2pm-3.30pm.

All events are free but please contact the venue in advance as places are limited. In addition, free tickets are required for all events at Central Library.

Robert Johnson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Chief Librarian, said: “If you’re after something to keep the children occupied during the Easter holidays, then look no further than our libraries which have something for everyone, from Easter egg hunts to stories and crafts.”

It is free to join Wolverhampton's libraries. To find out more, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries.

A three-part toolkit which cuts through the confusion and political rhetoric surrounding Brexit is launched today by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) – exactly a year before the UK leaves the EU.

The first part, which calls on businesses to get Brexit ready and “Communicate, Research, Prepare and Seek Support”, is on the GBCC website today.

It includes straightforward tips on how businesses can start identifying areas of their business that may be impacted by Brexit and get thinking about their response, alongside a “Brexit dictionary” and case studies from local businesses already preparing for Brexit.

Part Two, a “fact pack” on the potential impact of Brexit on the region and businesses views on Brexit, will launch in one week.

Part Three, a manifesto for stakeholders, will launch the week after that.

Henrietta Brealey (pictured), director of policy and strategic relationships at the GBCC, said: “There is a whole lot of jargon, political positioning and confusion around Brexit.

“With part one of our Brexit toolkit, we want to cut through this uncertainty to give businesses straightforward information about Brexit and what it means for them.

“As of today, we are 12 months to Brexit and 33 months until the end of the transition period (based on the current timeline). Any business should start pinning down areas of their organisation that are exposed to Brexit-related risks (and opportunities) and be thinking what they are going to do about them.

“Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, there is no denying that Brexit will bring change. With change comes the need for businesses to adapt in order to remain as competitive as possible.

“The resources that we have published today are designed to give businesses the information they need to get thinking practically about how they can get ready for Brexit.

“We may not know what the final deal will be but we do know a lot about the areas most likely to be affected by Brexit which for many businesses is enough to get started on their Brexit strategy.

“The most forward thinking businesses we’ve spoken to are seeing Brexit as a catalyst for getting their business as fit and healthy as possible.

“While the initial impetus for action was Brexit, the steps they are taking make business sense regardless and are all helping them gain and maintain a competitive edge. We are publishing some of these case studies today as part of this resource, which we hope will help inspire more businesses to get Brexit ready.”

A special exhibition celebrating the work of Sandwell-born cartoon artist Charlie 'Chas' Grigg as an illustrator for The Beano and The Dandy is to be launched in Wednesbury.

The exhibition at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery, which will highlight his work as illustrator of Korky the Kat and Desperate Dan, will start on Wednesday 4 April and be open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

It will contain artefacts, original drawings, letters, unseen and unpublished images, plus a chance to see video interviews with Charlie who lived in the Rood End area of Langley as a young boy.

Arts officer Alex Howell said: "This is an opportunity for fans of The Beano and The Dandy to find out more about Charlie, the man who drew some of their favourite cartoon characters.

"Visitors will be able to admire some of his brilliant work, including drawings in cartoons and comics and in caricatures."

The exhibition will run until November 2018 before touring in a smaller form around local libraries.

It will be open at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery on Wednesday and Thursdays from 11am-4pm and on Saturdays from 2-5pm. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

During the exhibition run, there will be many other events, such as the launch of the book Our Best Kept Secret written by Billy (Dr Brian Dakin) which tells the story of Charlie's life as well as the project itself.

There will also be an opportunity to buy exclusive commemorative T-shirts produced by Black Country T Shirts.

The exhibition is the latest move to mark the work of Charlie and follows the installation of a blue plaque at Rood End Primary School where he was a pupil in his younger years.

The plaque for Charlie, which describes him as a children's comic illustrator,  celebrates his work for the two comics and describes him as one of the best illustrators in British comics.

Local people have helped to raise over £8,500 so far for YMCA Sutton Coldfield at a fundraising event last Friday night that saw people spending the whole night in a DIY cardboard bed in the Gracechurch Centre.

More than 50 people took part at the event on 23rd March including local Cllr Clare Horrocks, helping to raise money for the local youth and children’s charity YMCA Sutton Coldfield. Participants included students from local BMET college and children from the Deanery Primary School as well as lots of local business owners.

Jack Dromey, MP for Erdington, also attended the fundraiser to offer encouragement to participants and raise awareness of homelessness suggesting that “in the 21^st century, there should be no such thing”.

With jazz music from The Five Knights of Nectar, and performances from YMCA’s own KKats Disability Group, there was something for everyone at this community event. Participants were also treated to hot soup later on in the evening courtesy of the nearby Ramada Hotel as well as Nando’s chicken.

It was all part of the national YMCA Sleep Easy series of events that saw YMCAs across the country come together to raise awareness and funds to prevent youth homelessness.

Kate Davarzadeh, 36, who attended the Sleep Easy for the first time, tells us more about the impact of the experience “The experience of sleeping rough for the night made me think a lot about what homeless people have to endure every night. It was cold, noisy and uncomfortable. I hope that the event will raise awareness about youth homelessness and that the money raised will help to provide somewhere safe to sleep for those in need.”

The total amount raised is still being calculated and the local charity is hoping to beat last year’s fundraising amount of £10,000. With a donation of £700 from School Farm Townswomen’s Guild and a cheque for £250 presented by Care Watch, all money raised will be used to support YMCA Sutton Coldfield’s services for children and young people.

Clive Yates, YMCA Sutton Coldfield’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled about the event’s success and I’d like to thank each and every one of the people who took part and spent the night out with us as well as all the local businesses who donated raffle prizes and food for the event.

“As an independent charity, we rely heavily on local support so we’re extremely grateful to the people of the Sutton Coldfield community who made this event possible.”

“Thanks to your support we can now help even more young people than before and support them to realise their full potential.”

YMCA Sutton Coldfield which has provided services to residents of Sutton Coldfield since 1900 and changes the lives of hundreds of young people and their families each year, not only provides accommodation to prevent youth homelessness but also supports disadvantaged young people and young carers as well as children and young people with disabilities.

If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering for YMCA Sutton Coldfield please visit www.ymcasc.org.uk

The Sick Children’s Trust is asking you to join in its choc-tastic fundraising campaign, Big Chocolate Tea, to support families with seriously ill children in hospital with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation.

Big Chocolate Tea is The Sick Children’s Trust’s biggest annual fundraising event for chocolate, tea and baking lovers – and is back this May for a whole month! Last year, chocola-tea enthusiasts held hundreds of show-stopping events which raised enough money to support 1,167 families with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, just minutes from their critically ill child’s hospital bedside.

The Sick Children’s Trust runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, located at leading specialist paediatric hospitals. Every year the charity provides much-needed emotional and practical support to around 4,000 families with seriously ill children in hospital. Although the accommodation is free of charge to families, the charity relies entirely on voluntary donations to run its houses and is calling for the nation to join in with Big Chocolate Tea so it can continue to help thousands of families stay together with their sick child when it matters most.

Jane Featherstone, Chief Executive at The Sick Children’s Trust, says: “Big Chocolate Tea is our biggest and most exciting fundraising campaign of the year! It’s all about getting together with friends and family over the nation’s two loves, cake and tea, while pledging to raise £30 which will support a family with a ‘Home from Home’ for one night when their loved one is in hospital.

“Whether you bake every Sunday or it’s your first time popping on a pinnie, Big Chocolate Tea is something everyone can get involved in. We will even give you a starter pack full of recipes, fundraising ideas and much more to help you on your way. Join us this May and help raise money for families who need a ‘Home from Home’ so they can be there with their critically ill child, supporting their recovery.”

Familiar faces Heart Radio presenter Sian Welby, Channel 5’s Milkshake! presenter, Jen Pringle, and Irish Soprano, Margaret Keys, are already getting involved in the chocola-tea fun. Sian Welby, an ambassador for The Sick Children’s Trust, says:

“After a busy week, there’s nothing I enjoy more than a night in with friends, watching a movie with a hot cup of tea, and indulging in my favourite chocolate treat!

“And what could be better than doing that while raising money for a fantastic cause? If you can help The Sick Children’s Trust by joining in Big Chocolate Tea and raising at least £30, you will be giving a family with a child in hospital the best gift of all. You will be keeping them together, just minutes from their child’s bedside.

“I’ve seen first-hand how much this charity makes a difference to Mums, Dads and kids across the country. You never think about someone you love being ill, but if they are, The Sick Children’s Trust comes to the rescue and makes sure you can all be together. Time is priceless, so please have a biscuit and a brew and help us change lives.”

While the campaign runs during the month of May, supporters can choose to take part in Big Chocolate Tea at any point during the year and will receive a pack full of goodies to help host their event. If participants raise at least £30 during Big Chocolate Tea, they will be able to support a family with ‘Home from Home’ accommodation for one night.

Dance fans are invited to take part in an afternoon of Ballroom, Popular Sequence and Latin at a Spring Gala Dance at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall next month.

The event, which will be held on Sunday 15th April from 1.30pm will use both of the Edwardian venue’s maple dance floors in the grand interior of the Town Hall’s Vesey Ballroom.

John Wallis, who organises regular dances at the Town Hall, has been dancing since the end of the Second World War. Originally trained as an engineer, he helped run the Erdington Youth Club at St Barnabas Church as a teenager, and built an amplifier for the dances at the Church House, Erdington.

“After running the youth club dances I taught myself to play the trumpet and formed a band called ‘The Maestros’” he remembers. “We used to play weddings and dances all around this area, and I’ve organised dances for most of my life.”

John regularly works with Arthur Barrett, known as ‘The Umbrella Man’ for his Gala Dances. “The Umbrella Man is a fabulous DJ, with a good range and tempo of music” added John.  “These events are always popular and he always makes it a memorable occasion. Shows such as Strictly Come Dancing have really encouraged a resurgence in the popularity of ballroom and the NHS highly recommend dance as a way of keeping active too.”

A 19-year-old terrier - the oldest the RSPCA has ever taken in to rehome - has found his paw-fect match with a retired widow from Coventry.

Stormy was rescued by RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal earlier this month after he was spotted collapsed in a snowy garden in temperatures as low as -3C.

The animal welfare charity received an anonymous call on 2 March and inspector Boal was extremely concerned for the terrier - who is 92 in dog years!

His owners signed him over into the RSPCA’s care and Stormy was taken to the charity’s Birmingham Animal Hospital for a check-up before going into kennels at nearby Newbrook Farm Animal Centre.

Elizabeth Sidgwick, from Coundon, had been thinking about getting another dog when her daughter spotted Stormy’s story in the local press.

“I’d been looking for a dog for a while. I didn’t want a puppy, I wanted an older dog and I felt like I’d know when it was the right one for me,” she said. “And he is the spitting image of my previous dog, Barney, who I had for 15 years.”

She went to meet the senior pooch and knew he was the one for her. Stormy came home with Elizabeth on Sunday and is settling in brilliantly already.

“He is lovely - especially considering what he’s been through. He just wants to be loved,” she said.

“He can be a cheeky boy though. When you’re eating he thinks he should have some so he sits, stares at you and barks!

“He is just great. Everyone loves him!”

Despite a minor heart murmur and cataracts in both eyes - which have left him with poor sight - the plucky terrier is relatively healthy.