Community News

Leaders from coastal nations and small island developing states from the Commonwealth will surf a wave of optimism this week at a major United Nations summit which aims to deliver on a global promise to conserve and sustainably manage the seas.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland leads a delegation from the Commonwealth Secretariat, which is working with its member states – who represent a third of the world’s population and much of its ocean space – to champion a new sustainable approach to growth centred around the blue economy.

Secretary-General Scotland said: “This conference presents an historic opportunity to deal with the great magnitude of threats to the ocean including climate change, overexploitation and competition for resources. At stake is a new settlement for the seas which will deliver a positive and enduring legacy for generations to come.”

Between 5 and 9 June 2017, the high-level Ocean Conference brings together governments, international and financial institutions, civil society, academics, scientists and representatives from the private sector. The conference in New York aims to be “the game changer that will reverse the decline in the health of our ocean for people, planet and prosperity”.

The government of Fiji, a Commonwealth member state, is co-chair of the conference alongside the government of Sweden. “We in the Commonwealth family are bursting with pride and offer our wholehearted support,” the Secretary-General said.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister of Fiji J.V. Bainimarama will join the Commonwealth Secretary-General at a ‘A Blue Commonwealth’, a high-level roundtable hosted jointly by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the government of Seychelles, represented by Vice President Vincent Meriton.

The Commonwealth Secretariat helps coastal and small island member countries to claim national maritime territory, sustainably manage the marine environment and realise its economic potential. Forty-five of our 52 members are ocean states and 24 are small island developing states.

The roundtable on Tuesday will examine the role of the Commonwealth in supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14, in maximising innovation and economic opportunities in the development of blue economies. The side event will also look at ways to ensure fairness, equity and women’s empowerment and how to mobilise partnerships and support.

Prime Minister of Grenada Keith Mitchell will join Vice President Vincent Meriton and ministers from Bangladesh, Barbados, Cyprus and Tonga, plus speakers from UNCTAD and the Commonwealth Foundation for the roundtable. Speakers will discuss their experience of blue economy successes and hurdles and explore how individual country needs can be best aided.

During the roundtable, Secretary-General Scotland will discuss the proposed development of a ‘Blue Charter’, a set of guiding principles for sustainable, fair and equitable ocean economic development based on the Charter of the Commonwealth.

The Secretary-General will also participate in two panel discussions organised in partnership with UNCTAD on the trade in fisheries and innovative Pacific approaches to the oceans economy.

During the conference, initial findings will also be presented from A Sustainable Future for Small States: Pacific 2050, a forthcoming report from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Things are hotting up as the opening of BBC Gardeners’ World Live, at Birmingham’s NEC, gets ever nearer.

The Show is at the centre of the 50th anniversary of BBC 2’s Gardeners’ World so it’s going to be a Golden Jubilee summer garden party!

With wall-to-wall garden inspiration, top experts, unbeatable shopping and magic moments around every corner, a taster of what’s so special this year include; Stepping back in time at The Nostalgia Garden (Paul Stone, plants supplied by St Andrews Healthcare), a village scene set in the ‘60s complete with garden centre overflowing with the plants of the decade, and the prices to match! Stroll by a babbling brook, spot the vintage `1967 Mini Austin and Nuffield Tractor famously constructed in Birmingham and the plants named after Gardeners’ World presenters!

You can then journey through five decades of glorious gardening, from the crazy paving of the ‘70s to naturalistic planting of the ‘00s, at The Anniversary Garden: A Brief History of Modern Gardens (Prof David Stevens and Peter Dowle). The Beautiful Borders are also all themed around 50 years of Gardeners’ World.

Returning to their roots, Barnsdale Gardens and Birmingham City Council recreate their acclaimed exhibits from RHS Chelsea Flower Show, plant for plant, in the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Floral Marquee.

More floral tributes to the anniversary include a three-tier birthday cake made of Peonies (Primrose Hall Nursery) and a garden party scene of British cut flowers and table set for the Gardeners’ World presenters (Flowers from the Farm), plus the spectacular Jubilee Bedding Display (Allensmore Nurseries). From the most recent presenters of BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World to some of the most famous faces from the past, the nation’s best-loved gardeners take to the stage, including: Monty Don, Carol Klein, Joe Swift, Adam Frost, Nick Bailey, Flo Headlam and Frances Tophill from the current line-up. Plus Alan Titchmarsh, Toby Buckland and Peter Seabrook from series of old.

Marking this extra special year, the BBC team will film the Show highlights for a one-hour anniversary programme.

As part of this, the winning Golden Jubilee Plant will be unveiled to much delight, with visitors able to explore a fantastic display of all 10 Golden Jubilee Plant varieties in the Changing Face of Gardening feature, which also includes a look back at the revolution in Grow Your Own, the emergence of container gardening and the changing attitudes towards wildlife since the ‘60s.

Topping off the anniversary antics the Show will be packed with entertainment including live music, vintage tea tent, Spiced Beetroot birthday cake created exclusively by TV presenter and BBC's ‘The Great British Bake Off’ winner, Nadiya Hussain, Michelin masters Tom Kerridge and Michel Roux Jr taking to the stage, queen of baking Mary Berry back by popular demand, firm Show favourite James Martin, the fantastic Two Greedy Italians, Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo,  plus family fun including face painting, making bird feeders, creating Father’s Day cards and craft sessions, picnics, street food, Pimm’s and fizz!

BBC Gardeners’ World Live takes place June 15-18.

The Kings Heath Street Food Market returns to Kings Heath Village Square on Saturday June 10, in collaboration with award winning circus school CircusMASH.

This month sees the third 2017 event, which returned in April this year, and offers another great selection of street food traders, music, seating and quirky outdoor bar.

The food line-up includes... returning trader Libertine Burger, juicy burgers made with grass fed beef... Bare Bones Pizza, a Midlands based pizza favourite whose menu options include vegan and gluten free options... and Uncle Samwich, a brand new trader offering dishes inspired by cities across America. Additional food traders are being announced daily.

Since arriving in Birmingham five years ago, CircusMASH has become hugely popular with adults and children alike. Their latest show, Manöken, is described as “exploring identity in the unidentifiable” and welcomes you to “place yourself in displacement and lose your senses.” CircusMASH will perform five separate shows during this event.

Kings Heath Street Food Market, sponsored by Birmingham Brewing Company, is open from 11am to 5pm and CircusMASH take to the square from 1pm. There will also be a handful of children’s rides and activities available on the day.

In short, yes!

Michael Cook, Romans Lettings Director explains: “It is a landlord’s responsibility to ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is fitted in any room within their rental accommodation which contains an appliance which burns solid fuel. Whilst gas and oil boilers do not fall within this category, it is still best practice to install alarms.”

Landlords who fail to comply with these regulations could face a fine of up to £5,000. As part of our landlord services, Romans Lettings Agents ensure we are fully up-to-date on all changes to legislation and will advise landlords on the laws with which they must comply.

It is a landlord’s responsibility to ensure alarms are fitted on the first day of the tenancy, thereafter it becomes the responsibility of the tenants to regularly check they are in full working order. It is also the responsibility of the landlord to replace the alarms every 5-7 years in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Michael continues: “ARLA now suggests that there are over 160 pieces of legislation landlords have to comply with. Many find this to be overwhelming and seek the support of a professional agent to help keep meticulous records and to stay up-to-date with ever-changing legislation.”

It is important that landlords maintain a legal record of the carbon monoxide checks on the day the tenancy begins showing that the alarms are in full working order. Keeping this record can help protect landlords against any unfounded claims and help them to avoid a costly fine. Romans’ landlords benefit from our detailed inventory and check-in services and through our online landlord accounts can access all of their important documents and records at the click of a button.

A Qatar Airways Cargo Airbus A330 freighter touched down at London’s Heathrow Airport yesterday, marking the start of freighter services to the carrier’s second airport in London.

Qatar Airways Cargo currently operates freighters to London’s Stansted Airport and also transports cargo on passenger flights to and from Birmingham, Edinburgh, London Heathrow and Manchester. With the new freighter service, the carrier’s total cargo capacity out of the United Kingdom increases to more than 1,500 tonnes each week. The new freighter service departs weekly from Doha on Saturdays and returns via Basel.

Mr. Ulrich Ogiermann, Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, said: “The commencement of the freighter services to London Heathrow marks our sixth new freighter destination for 2017 and boosts our current belly-hold capacity available on 72 passenger flights to the United Kingdom every week. We are expanding our network globally, offering customers direct access to major trade markets such as the United Kingdom via our state-of-the-art fully-automated hub in Doha.”

The cargo carrier offers air freight services to the principal industries in the United Kingdom, including electronics and telecoms, vehicles and auto parts, engineering, information technology, pharmaceuticals, biotech and health, and perishables, providing speed of delivery, flexibility and security for high-value products. Customers globally will benefit from more capacity to transport their cargo to London.

Qatar Airways Cargo recently commenced five new freighter destinations to the Americas and Asia: Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Quito, Miami and Phnom Penh, while also increasing frequencies to Brussels, Basel and Hong Kong in response to growing air freight demand in these regions. The cargo carrier has seen a 21 per cent increase in tonnage from 2015 to 2016, despite the air cargo industry remaining competitive due to an underperforming economy.

In February this year, Qatar Airways Cargo was awarded the highly-acclaimed ‘Global Cargo Airline of the Year’ award at the Air Cargo Africa event, recognising its continuous growth and emphasis on delivering the highest level of service within the air cargo industry. The carrier has made significant investments in fleet, network, and its hub and products, as part of its strategy and commitment to improve and enhance its product offering for the benefit of customers globally.

Trading Standards officers in Wolverhampton will be out and about throughout Child Safety Week (5-11 June, 2017) to warn parents and carers about some of the hidden dangers lurking in the home.

Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Trading Standards team will be at various locations in Wolverhampton from Monday to Friday, sharing information and top tips on all aspects of child safety and handing out action packs to parents and carers.

Children will be able to get their hands on their own activity packs, as well as meeting Trading Standards Ted and taking away a sticker, fridge magnet and balloon to remember him by.

Among the issues the team will be highlighting are the risks posed by looped blind and window cords, which can lead to strangulation, and the danger presented by button cell batteries found in toys, musical books, key fobs and other small electronic devices which, if swallowed, can get stuck in the throat or cause severe burns and even death.

They will also identify other products found in the home which pose a risk to young children, and highlight some of the simple steps parents and carers should take to keep family members safe.

The Trading Standards team will be at Wolverhampton's Central Library on Monday 5 June, Waitrose on Penn Road on Tuesday 6 June, Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre, Wednesfield, on Wednesday 7 June and at the Crafty Kids Café, Springhill Lane, Penn on Thursday and Friday 8 and 9 June. They will be at each location from 9.30am, and will also be calling into WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams on Wednesday 14 June.

Run by the Child Accident Prevention Trust, Child Safety Week takes place from Monday 5 June to Sunday 11 June and seeks to raise awareness of the risks of child accidents and how they can be prevented.

The theme of this year's campaign is Safe Children: Sharing is Caring, with the Child Accident Prevention Trust asking families, communities and professionals to share their experience and knowledge of keeping children safe – not just about the horrors of accidents, but also the practical, simple things they do to prevent them.

A Birmingham volunteer has been praised for supporting a children’s charity for 30 years. Sylvia Hetherington has been working at the Barnardo’s store in Chelmsley Wood since 1987.

The 73-year-old started volunteering to help her search for employment but continued to help even after she found a job. Now she is sharing her story as part of national Volunteers’ Week which runs from June 1-7.

She has also been presented with a series of gifts from colleagues, including an engraved wooden long-service award in the shape of a 'B' for Barnardo's. Barnardo’s manager Robyn Phillips said: “Sylvia is one of the charity’s longest-serving volunteers in the region.

“It’s amazing that someone would donate so much of their own time over so many years. Few people stay in paid employment for that long, which makes it all the more remarkable that she has done it without any financial reward. She’s fantastic. She’s brilliant with the customers and we love having her as a member of our team.”

Sylvia, a mother-of-two, had never worked until she started at the Chelmsley Wood store.

She said: “In the old days the women were often expected to stay at home and look after the children, so I suffered from a lack of work experience when I needed to start looking for a job.

“The job centre suggested that volunteering would help so I joined Barnardo’s and found that it really boosted my self-confidence. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I decided to carry on supporting them even after I found part-time employment.

“Everyone is really friendly and I like meeting people, and it’s nice to know that I’m helping such a good cause.”

National estate agents Leaders raised £15,000 for its charity partner Together for Short Lives during the recent Children’s Hospice Week.

Staff from all of 124 Leaders branches across the UK took part in a variety of fundraising activities, including cake sales, coffee mornings, raffles, car washes, cycling challenges, marathons, sponsored walks, games, competitions and a sponsored silence.

Leaders also invited its landlords to donate a day’s rent in support of Together for Short Lives and hundreds did so, raising thousands more for the charity.

The £15,000 raised in just seven days from 22nd-29th May will contribute to the company’s fundraising total for the year, when it is aiming to raise £50,000 just as it did in 2016.

Allison Thompson, managing director at Leaders, says: “Hundreds of our staff combined imagination and hard work to hold a plethora of fundraising events during Children’s Hospice Week, raising more than £15,000 in the process.

“Having worked with Together for Short Lives since 2015, we know exactly how important this money is and the difference it will make. The charity supports children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and we are delighted to be able to help.

“All of the money raised by our branches will go to their local children’s hospice service, so people know they have had a positive impact helping seriously ill young people and their families in their home county

“We would also like to thank everybody who attended our fundraising events and contributed to our appeals.

Together for Short Lives is an umbrella charity for all 54 children’s hospices in the UK. Each Leaders branch is paired with its local hospice and raises money on its behalf.

Nick Appleby, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Together for Short Lives, said: “The incredible support shown by Leaders, their staff and customers during Children’s Hospice Week has been truly inspirational!

“We were really delighted to hear about all the fundraising activities that took place and we want to say a massive thank you to everyone involved. The money raised will make a huge difference to the local children’s hospices and the lifeline services they provide for seriously ill children and their families.”

World-renowned cellist Jian Wang has taken up a new role at Birmingham Conservatoire as International Chair in Cello.

Born in Xi’an, China, and today splitting his time between Shanghai and London, Jian Wang has an international career that has seen him perform with many of the world's leading orchestras.

On taking up his new position as International Chair of Cello at Birmingham Conservatoire, Jian Wang said:

“Birmingham Conservatoire is one of the leading institutions in the world for learning music and it attracts many talented students and wonderful teachers.

“The UK is one of the most vibrant centres for music and I am very excited and looking forward to working with the cello students at Birmingham Conservatoire, and to collaborating with and learning from my colleagues.”

The appointment will see Jian visit Birmingham Conservatoire on a regular basis, where he will lead a class of both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as they seek to lead the next generation of great cellists.

Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal, Birmingham Conservatoire, noted:

“I am delighted to welcome Jian Wang to Birmingham Conservatoire as our International Chair in Cello. Jian Wang is one of the finest solo cellists in the world today and he will be a great inspiration to all our students.

“Jian’s appointment is another step on our journey as we head towards opening the first purpose-built conservatoire in a generation in September!”

Part of Birmingham City University, the new Birmingham Conservatoire will be a unique contemporary building, incorporating five public performance spaces including a new 500 seat concert hall for orchestral training and performance, private rehearsal and practice rooms, and teaching spaces for musicians from a variety of disciplines.

Furthermore, as the first purpose built conservatoire in the UK since 1987, it will be the only one of its kind in the country designed for the demands of the digital age.

Following the news of Jian Wang’s appointment, Dr Louise Lansdown, Head of Strings, Birmingham Conservatoire, commented:

”We are thrilled to welcome the iconic cellist Jian Wang to our staff and cannot wait for him to begin work with our cellists just in time for our new Conservatoire opening later this year!”

Eighty per cent of drivers really do enjoy driving and at least half of all drivers will drive to their holiday destination this summer, according to an AA Populus poll of 21,850 members.

But the renewed love affair with the car is not about what is under the bonnet but more about what goes on inside the car.

The comedy, the singing, the quiet contemplation. The games, the rows, the entertainment, gossip and the quiet confessions in this private space. In a world constantly on display, with every thought and emotion analysed on a smart phone, and social media intruding even into one third of children’s meal times, the car has become the last great social space.

Due to social interactions in the car, almost one half (49%) admit they have a strong emotional attachment to their car. The car is not about mundane journeys as three quarters (76%) like exploring new places by car. It is as much about the journey as the destination.

The AA/Populus research also found:

• Half (47%) of families taking their car into mainland Europe this summer consider the ferry to be ‘a part of the holiday’ rather than just a means of reaching their destination
• 58% drive when on holiday
• 50% drive to the holiday
• 45% take a holiday in the UK that involves driving there.

New research from the AA shows that over a third of us feel being in a car allows for quality bonding time, with nearly 41% saying some of their fondest memories are of family road trips. Important conversations are somehow made easier on car journeys, with more than 1 in 5 admitting to making up after arguments in cars.

Many life changing moments have happened in a car. Indeed, 1 in 20 Brits have proposed or been proposed to in a car, 14% have shared their first kiss in a car, and 2% of the nation have even given birth.

Cheryl Calverley, head of group marketing at the AA, said: “As drivers enjoy their time in the car we want their journeys to flow smoothly so that they never miss a beat.

“Our job, if we are needed, is to keep our Members on the road with first in class repair rates, our breakdown app and even our new Car Genie device that can predict and prevent up to one third of breakdowns.” ***

To illustrate how the AA helps members ‘never miss a beat’ a new ad by the multi-award winning agency of the year, adam&eveDDB, features a strong soundtrack by Tina Turner and a quite incredibly clever singing baby, and maybe, just maybe a small amount of post-production magic from the Mill (of John Lewis fame).

Calverley added: “We are sure our new ad will inspire the nation to look at their journeys a bit differently. They can stop worrying about traffic jams, petrol prices and potholes, and start to really enjoy those precious, precious moments.”

A Birmingham care provider has revealed its plans for an £8 million dementia-friendly nursing home for the elderly in Erdington, which will provide up to 80 new jobs in the area.

MACC Care has submitted a planning application to Birmingham City Council to develop an 80-bed care home on the site of the Hare and Hounds public house in Marsh Hill.

The provider, which already runs five high-quality care facilities for the elderly across the city, said the much-needed home would be the only purpose-built residential home for the elderly and vulnerable within a two-mile radius.

Dr Naz Nathani, director of MACC Care and MACC Living, said as well as residential care, it will offer rehabilitation care, which will help to relieve pressure on hospitals by reducing bed-blocking. This, in turn, will enable recuperating elderly patients to get better quicker so they can return home.

“We are a small, local company that specialises in providing superior, evidence-based care and dementia-friendly accommodation that caters for the elderly and vulnerable and our research has identified the need for a purpose-built facility in Erdington,” he said.

“We want to work closely with the council, councillors and the local community to assure them about our proposals and to listen to them about their needs. We pride ourselves on our values, which are consistent with maximising the quality of care for elderly, vulnerable people from all sections of society – not just the privileged.”

As part of its plans for the new Erdington care home, MACC Care will incorporate a hub that will include a gym specifically designed for the elderly; a library/quiet area with a cafe; a hair salon; cinema; and chapel-prayer area – all of which will be open to local residents over the age of 65.

“We are acutely aware that local residents want to have replacement facilities open to them, following the closure of the public house, and we have proposed a number of options that we would be happy to discuss with community leaders,” said Dr Nathani.

“These will enrich the lives of the local elderly people and enable them to socialise, meet or make friends in safe, modern surroundings, and somewhere that will have a significant positive impact on their wellbeing.

“Our investment in Erdington is not just in providing exceptional care for local elderly people, it will also bring about jobs and training positions. We are committed to making this a community facility and look forward to engaging with local people and councillors about our plans.”

As well as the immediate employment opportunities that the new MACC Care home will provide, the organisation will also be in a position to offer health care worker training and nursing training by linking up with nursing schools to provide nurse assistant placements and training. A training/seminar room within the facility will also provide regular professional development seminar and assessments for the staff and trainees.

MACC Living, the organisation’s development arm, would also deliver excellent apprenticeships for up to six local people during the construction period.

MACC Care, which acquired the former public house site in April – eight months after the premises was put on the open market – runs two other care facilities in Erdington: Abbey Rose in Orchard Road, and Priestley Rose in Bromford Lane – both of which were rated good by the CQC when inspections were carried out earlier this year.

It aims to create a facility similar to its Austin Rose care home, in West Heath, which will open in August.

With an array of activities on offer for all guests, Lane Head is a Lake District home like no other. A fantastic & unique base to come together and enjoy outdoor education courses, activities, celebrations and much more. Perfect for corporate and independent groups, friends and families alike (stag and hen groups are more than welcome). In essence a large and versatile space in an amazing setting.

Standing in an elevated position overlooking Coniston Water, the village and the dramatic fells beyond, Lane Head, is superbly situated for those who wish to explore the delights of the UK's #1 holiday destination. Lovingly refurbished, Lane Head offers its guests simple, spacious, comfortable & practical accommodation, adequately sleeping up to 35 within eight roomy en suite bedrooms.

Historically this impressive home was once owned by William Collingwood, secretary to John Ruskin and a renowned artist in his own right. Furthermore it is believed that Arthur Ransome, a close friend of Collingwood and author of the world famous Swallows & Amazons, spent much time at Lane Head and taught Collingwood's grandchildren to sail on the lake.

We are coming to that time of the year again to dust off our toolboxes and get spring cleaning. A new report from Satsuma titled ‘Room for Improvement’ suggests that quite a few Brits will be putting their DIY skills to the test.

The survey quizzed 1,850 Brits about their knowledge of DIY and the financial implications of getting DIY wrong.

With the average DIY disaster costing £63 it raises the question of where budding DIY wannabes learn their skills, if they do at all!

Is DIY a dying trait?

With 28% of the UK admitting to not owning a toolbox, it would appear that the modern home would rather pay a professional than get their hands dirty. However, when asked where respondents learnt their DIY knowledge, a surprising 76% said YouTube or Google.

25% of the UK admit to guessing when it comes to DIY tasks with less than half (42%) saying it was a knowledge passed on from their family.

DIY disaster’s costs

With the above knowledge on DIY, it’s no wonder that it can sometimes go wrong.

Brits have been found to have an average of 4 DIY failures per year at an average cost of £63 per task. This means that the average house in the UK can expect to spend £239 per year in fixing their home improvement attempts!

Regions that know how to DIY

When asked if respondents knew how to do the following DIY tasks, it was clear that not all regions of the UK were as DIY savvy!

% of population who know how to fix the following:

Full data and information can be seen here

A Kings Heath volunteer has been praised for more than a decade of dedication to a children’s charity.

Yvonne Yates was a store associate at the Barnardo’s store in Kings Heath for ten years, until her retirement in 2007.

But she enjoyed her work so much that she returned as a volunteer for a further ten years.

Now she is sharing her story in advance of national Volunteers’ Week which runs from June 1-7, after being presented with a certificate of appreciation, a badge, a celebratory cake and flowers on Tuesday afternoon.

Barnardo’s manager Julie Collins said: “Yvonne is very committed to the charity and to the Kings Heath team of staff and volunteers.

“It’s so heartwarming that she believes so passionately in our work that she continues to support us even after retiring from the store.

“She’s always smiling and always happy, and such a help to the rest of us.”

Yvonne, aged 70, was a teacher for 29 years, working at Billesley and Alston primary schools.

She said: “After retirement I wanted to volunteer to help others. I went into Kings Heath and walked up and down the street looking at the charity shops.

“I was really impressed by the amazing window display at Barnardo’s, and I liked the idea of continuing to support children, so I went inside and applied to join.”

Yvonne was soon promoted to the role of sales assistant and spent the next years in a paid role with the charity.

When she retired from Barnardo’s she wanted to return to volunteering again, and decide to stay at the Kings Heath store.

She said: “I wouldn’t have dreamed of going anywhere else. Obviously I don’t get paid anymore but I enjoy not having the responsibility of helping to manage the shop.

“There’s a lovely atmosphere, we’ve got lots of really nice customers, and we all get along so very well.

“Every day is different. You never know what you’re going to find among the donations – I remember one of the volunteers opened a cardboard box and found a glass eye staring back at her!

“It’s great fun, and it’s good to know that we’re all working together to raise money for such a worthy cause.”

The Barnardo’s store is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm and on Sunday from 10am-4pm.

The team always welcome donations of good-quality clothes, books, toys, games, homeware and accessories, as well as offers of help from potential volunteers.

Birmingham Hippodrome’s annual free festival Summer in Southside returns on Sat 17 & Sun 18 June with country capers, animal encounters and free farmyard fun presented by local, national and international artists.

Escape to the countryside on the streets of Southside this June in a two-day celebration of the great outdoors, where wildlife roams, adventures are born and live music fills the air.

Watch in wonder as Hippodrome Square is transformed into a temporary Village Green complete with live Sheep Racing, Mini Farm, live performances and a host of colourful country characters. Say "ooh arr" to Farmer Giles on his travels through Southside, enjoy storytelling, music and song in the company of The Fabularium’s Reynard The Fox, the woodlands’ most infamous scoundrel – and move your hips to the beat of Bhanghra with Midlands based dance troupe; The Lions of Punjab.

Visitors to The Arcadian can look forward to a live performance from Folk Dance Remixed, a colourful and quirky collision of maypole, clog dancing, breakin’ and street dance. Bringing a taste of the South Asian subcontinent to Southside are Jaivant Patel Dance with a high-energy dance piece incorporating Gujurati and Raas Garba folk, performed to a soundtrack of contemporary Bollywood dance. Joining them are the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band with their vibrant celebration of the music and dance of rural Rajasthan and Secret City Arts Country Fayre Picnic – an interactive storytelling adventure inspired by Olde English folk takes with a contemporary twist.

Festival-goers are invited to carry on celebrating into the night-time with live music from Birmingham mega-folk band The Destroyers who will be bringing their trademark energy and madcap performance style to The Arcadian on Saturday evening.

Russian performance-artists Cardboardia will be taking over Ladywell Walk with their amazing cardboard farmyard display complete with animals, fences and tools and the opportunity to create your own cardboard sculptures inspired by your favourite country-scape.

Returning to Summer in Southside for the second year running, Highly Sprung are back with their daring and imaginative live staging of Roots, telling the story of two refugees living in the branches of a towering tree. They will be joined by Imagineer Productions who present Operation Migration, a beautiful and heart-warming tale of one man’s extraordinary endeavour to teach a gaggle of geese to fly, told through a combination of puppetry, dance and inventive design.

On Sun 18 June, visitors can take a stroll through the country without leaving the Hippodrome Foyer with free activities, arts and crafts, miniature petting farm and a costume exhibition from Birmingham Royal Ballet. VR experts from Freemotely and South and City College will also be on hand to guide visitors through the landscapes of virtual reality.

This year’s festival will also feature a special performance from resident partners Birmingham Royal Ballet who present 'The Chicken Dance’ from La Fille Mal Gardee, the sunniest of summer ballets. They will be joined by The Black Eagles from Tanzania who present their high-impact acrobatic show set to a lively soundtrack of African music and Rogue Play with Taking Flight, an enchanting aerial display set to a soundscape of word and music.

Alongside a jam-packed programme of live events, festival-goers can also take advantage of a Vintage Fairground complete with swing-boat rides, coconut shy and hook-a-duck, animal-themed Face-painting  and a mobile brasserie serving freshly made crepes, galettes, gourmet burgers, ice creams and barista coffee.

Seeing Summer in Southside off in signature style on the Sunday, visitors to the Showground can look forward to an action-packed Grand Finale featuring the most hotly-anticipated event in the countryside calendar, the Southside Sheep Race!

Fiona Allan, Chief Executive Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We’re very proud to be a part of Southside district and relish bringing the theatre’s surrounding streets to life with a whole two days of free activities and family-friendly fun. This year, we’ll be getting to grips with all things countryside, from welly-wanging, to sheep racing, cardboard tractors to giant maypoles. As ever, we’ll be welcoming artists from across the globe to join in the festivities, giving people from all areas of Birmingham the chance to experience the fun of the great outdoors right here in the heart of our wonderful city.”