Community News

A new funding scheme to help improve air quality in Birmingham has launched today (Thursday June 1st), with funding available to support schemes in every one of the city’s council wards. The Brum Breathes Fund will support schemes and projects that improve air quality, encourage active travel and, in doing so, also help to raise awareness of the impact poor air quality can have on health.

Ahead of World Environment Day, the contribution of communities across the West Midlands to improving the natural environment and tackling the climate emergency is being celebrated.

The West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Community Green Grants fund is helping to restore waterways, plant trees, create ponds, wildflower meadows and urban parks, as well as to grow fruit and vegetables.

New research has revealed England and Wales’ most tech-savvy areas, with Cleveland coming out on top. The study by cyber security experts CloudTech24 analysed the latest data available from the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre to see which areas had their police force report the lowest levels of cybercrime for every 10,000 people in the past 12 months.

It found that the Cleveland area had the lowest levels of cybercrime, with Cleveland receiving 198 cybercrime reports in the last 13 months, which equates to around 3.47 reports per 10,000 people, making it the most ‘tech-savvy’ area.

A donation of £10,000 has been made to charity PANS PANDAS UK following a successful fundraising drive at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s annual dinner and awards.

Birmingham-based sports hospitality agency Eventmasters made the donation through its charitable foundation after hosting a silent auction at the annual dinner and awards, which took place at the ICC in March. PANS PANDAS UK is the GBCC’s charity of the year, as chosen by president Deb Leary.

New data reveals the areas of the UK Googling for money and financial help the most. The data compiled by CMC Markets, analysed numerous search terms related to financial help across every UK area to establish which areas are the most worried about their money.

Wrexham took the top spot, with 7,767 average monthly searches per 100K residents made in regard to financial help and advice. Interestingly, Wrexham residents Googled the term for financial assistance on student finance more than any other type of financial help. Walsall ranks second. Residents in Walsall search for terms related to financial help at a rate of 7,127 monthly searches per 100K residents. Georgia’s most Googled term in relation to financial help is ‘tax help near me’. 

A blue plaque is to be unveiled to mark the place where Alexander McQueen, the most celebrated fashion designer of his generation, grew up in Newham, east London.

The unveiling is part of a series of events during Newham Heritage Month that will honour the late fashion icon in his home borough for the first time. Along with the plaque unveiling will be a celebratory screening of the Bafta nominated documentary ‘McQueen’ where director/producer Ian Bonhôte will take part in a Q+A with McQueen’s nephew, artist Gary James McQueen.

The Government has confirmed it has lifted the Improvement Direction on the city council after over ten years. This follows the publication last month of Ofsted's report of its inspection of children's services services which saw all rated ‘Good’.

Birmingham Children's Trust has also announced that Andrew Christie intends to retire as Chair of the Trust. Andy Couldrick intends to resign as Chief Executive and has been asked by the Council and the Trust Board to become the next Chair of the Trust.

The cost of food continues to soar and stretch family budgets across the country, but today marked the formal opening of another community shop in Wolverhampton to help all citizens eat well for less. Eastfield Community Shop celebrated its formal opening today with community chefs doing demonstrations and providing tasty food to sample, a chance to try Zumba classes and with experts on hand to give advice on a wide range of issues.

Recent surveys have revealed that many ECRs feel they lack sufficient knowledge and experience to conduct safe fieldwork expeditions to the polar regions. Furthermore, they face limited opportunities to join established scientific programs on polar research ships or bases. The Clean Planet Peninsula project seeks to address these issues by offering cost-effective training both in the UK and in the polar regions through a series of courses, remote fieldwork camps, and future expeditions.

An investigation into allegations of bullying and discrimination at Britain's equality watchdog has been paused. The claims by staff are made against Baroness Falkner, the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and other members of its board.

Details of the allegations were recently reported by Channel 4 News. A spokesperson for the EHRC said it is now seeking legal advice "on the impact of leaked confidential information".

An interim High Court order banning street cruising across Birmingham will remain in place until a final hearing is held following a review at Birmingham High Court last week (19 May 2023).

This injunction, prohibiting drivers or riders or passengers from taking part in a street cruise anywhere in Birmingham, has been in place since December 2022. Any driver, rider or passenger breaching the order could be arrested immediately, and could face up to two years in prison, a fine, or have their assets seized.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral of a forgotten World War Two RAF airman at a church in Westminster after a campaign was set-up for him to have the send-off he deserved. Jamaican-born Flt Sgt Peter Brown was one of the last pilots of the Caribbean, who volunteered as RAF personnel. He died in at his home, in north London, in December.

Citizens have been given the chance to name an iconic animatronic bull that stole the show during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Currently known as the Raging Bull, the 10m (32ft) tall sculpture featured in the opening ceremony last year before going on display in the city centre. Originally destined for the scrap heap, a campaign to save it saw Network Rail commit to giving it a home in the city's New Street Station.

Worcester Cathedral’s famous clutch of peregrines chicks have this week been ringed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) – meaning they are now recorded on the national database and can be identified in the future. 

More than 200,000 people have watched as the chicks, who started hatching last month, have grown in the nest perched on the Cathedral, on a YouTube livestream. On Monday, ringers from the BTO rung the chicks, measured their wing spans, weighed and recorded them on the national database.

Tina Turner, whose death was announced yesterday, suffered a number of health issues in recent years including cancer, a stroke and kidney failure.

The soulful pop icon who rose to fame alongside husband Ike in the 1960s with songs including Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High, was a solo sensation with classic pop hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It made her a superstar. Dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner was famed for her raunchy and energetic stage performances and husky, powerful vocals, with younger stars who have felt her influence include Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Janelle Monae and Rihanna.

Birmingham City Council’s new Cabinet has been announced. At the annual meeting of the council in the Council Chamber, Councillor John Cotton was confirmed as the new Leader of the city council, while Cllr Sharon Thompson was confirmed as Deputy Leader.