Community News

Many dog owners in the UK view their four-legged friends as members of the family and the thought of their pets going missing, even for a short time, is enough to cause great panic and worry. Such a turn of events, however, is sadly a common occurrence in Cheshire – which new research by MORE TH>N shows is the missing dog capital of Great Britain.

Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC began her first day in office as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations last week. Nominated for the post by Dominica, she is the first woman to hold the post. To the rhythm of a steel band, the sound of a gospel choir, and the flair of Quadrille dancers, hundreds of guests welcomed the new Secretary-General at Commonwealth headquarters in Marlborough House. They included well-known figures from the world of politics, sports and broadcasting.

Midlands Housing Association Nehemiah UCHA is pleased to announce that it has appointed Jimmy Ogunshakin to succeed Kwadwo Owusu Darko as its new Chair. Jimmy is the Director and Founder of Mayflower Solicitors, in Birmingham. The law firm specialises in employment, commercial and corporate law. Jimmy has extensive experience of the Nehemiah UCHA Board.

Future Faces - the young professionals’ arm of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce – is to stage its second annual dinner in September following an outstanding debut event last year. The second Future Faces Dinner and Awards to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of its diverse membership will take place on Friday, September 16, in a return to Edgbaston Stadium following last year’s successful inaugural ceremony.

A new free service is being launched in Haringey to help local people become healthier. Haringey Council is teaming up with the NHS ‘One You’ initiative to provide up to 3,000 Haringey residents every year with a range of health advice and support due to inequalities in well-being in the local area. 

Scientists and campaigners are encouraged to submit nominations for an annual prize that has already awarded over one million pounds to ‘outstanding’ non-animal testing initiatives around the world. With £250,000 available, the Lush Prize – a collaboration between Lush Cosmetics and Ethical Consumer Research Association – is the largest annual global prize fund in the non-animal testing sector.

Help for Heroes (H4H) Patron, Lorraine Kelly recently visited Tedworth House Recovery Centre to launch the 2016 ‘Bake for Heroes’ campaign and to meet some Band of Sisters; the families of our Heroes.

The Caribbean Diaspora turned-up, sang their hymns and choruses and Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ as thousands in Toronto said farewell to former mayor Rob Ford, including a joyful moment at St. James Cathedral when his daughter Stephanie, 11, told mourners, “He’s the mayor of Heaven now.”

Health chiefs in Wolverhampton are considering a package of measures aimed at helping to improve the health of children and young people in the city. They are looking at expanding the range of activities which take place in schools and the local community as the city seeks to address high rates of obesity among residents, particularly children.

Birmingham’s annual Zombie Walk returns for its eighth year this Saturday 18 June, organisers have announced. Back by popular demand, over one thousand ‘living dead’ are expected to take to the city’s streets to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. The cadaverous crowd will gather on judgement day to weave in and out of the backstreets of Birmingham, making eerie groans and showing off their best zombie slow walks.

Analysis of the driving behaviour of more than 4,300 motorists over a period of 18 months has revealed for the first time, the direct impact mobile phone use at the wheel has on the risk of an accident – whether hand held or hands free.  Analysing speed, road type and hard braking activity when they are using a mobile phone, Wunelli, a LexisNexis Risk Solutions company, with insurance broker Drivology has found that drivers who use a phone hand held at the wheel almost double their risk of an accident as hard braking increases by three quarters (75%), while those on hands free increase their risk by a fifth.

The Beat the Street challenge created a ‘hullabaloo’ in more ways than one across Wolverhampton, as more than 24,000 people who signed up to play the seven week walking, cycling and running game the city clocked up more than 141,000 miles. Instead of the normal double beep which players became used to when they tap their special Beat the Street cards against Beat Boxes around the city, the boxes heralded the start of spring by making different noises – from bells to cuckoos.

A successful Residents Week 2016 wrapped up with a celebration of volunteers in the city at the Civic Centre. The Mayor, Councillor Ian Brookfield, hosted 80 volunteers in his parlour to recognise their contribution to Wolverhampton. City of Wolverhampton Council staff also got into the spirit of volunteering during the week as members of Corporate Leadership Team swapped the office for a city centre soup kitchen.

Wishing all of our readers, advertisers and friends a Happy, Safe and Blessed Easter.

New analysis from Direct Line Car Insurance reveals drivers in England and Wales clocked up 28 million fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in a 10 year period for motoring offences. Many of these penalties were easily avoidable; 2,030,100 motorists received a fine for the most basic of driver fails, not wearing a seatbelt.