Community News

West Midlands Cycle Hire is proving to be popular in getting the region’s residents and visitors on their bikes since its launch two years ago, with riders now having cycled a combined 850,000 miles – the equivalent of 30 times around the world. The Transport for West Midlands’ (TfWM) scheme launched in 2021 to encourage people to become active and healthy, and to offer a convenient and more environmentally friendly alternative to the car for shorter journeys.

A commemoration is due to take place at the National Memorial Arboretum to remember all National Service veterans.

It will be held to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of National Service, which began in 1947 after World War Two and ended in 1963. During that time, more than two million men aged 17 to 21 were conscripted.

Analysis from West Midlands law firm Shakespeare Martineau has revealed that 4 out of the 5 largest price comparison websites reference a common law spouse – perpetuating the myth that such a relationship status exists and putting people at huge financial risk.

MoneySuperMarket, Go.Compare, Compare the Market and Quote Zone – which have a combined estimated 22 million visits each month – allow users to select that they are in a “common law” relationship, despite the concept having no legal recognition or protection. Expert family solicitor Kit O Brien has warned that the incorrect language used on price comparison websites adds to the potential pain and heartbreak someone could suffer through believing they were protected by a “mythical relationship status”.

The launch of the RHS Show season across the UK was marked with the much-anticipated start of RHS Malvern Spring Festival at Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire.

Boasting five newly-created show gardens, alongside three feature gardens, this year’s festival had the theme of ‘Gardening For Everyone’ and offered something for the emerging green fingers right through to plant aficionados. Top of the award-winning designers for 2023 was Jamie Langland from Oxford Garden Company, who scooped not only a Gold Award, a Best Construction and the top accolade of Best Show Garden for The Wildlife Trusts: Wilder Spaces.

A bold masterplan to transform Birmingham into a greener city of more jobs, better transport options and higher quality, energy efficient new homes, is set to be unveiled at a conference next week.

The draft Our Future City: Central Birmingham Framework 2040 has been hailed as the most important strategy written for the city this century ahead of its launch by the council at UKREiiF 2023. Shaping the next 20 years of development this is a plan that will deliver unprecedented levels of new jobs, homes and green space.

Hundreds of hardy competitors battled their way across a muddy riverbed to raise money for charity.

The Maldon Mud Race sees participants run, leap and crawl across a 400m (1,312ft) stretch of the River Blackwater in Essex at low tide as they look to be crowned the winner.

Rugby League legend Kevin Sinfield OBE stopped short of the finish at the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to carry his friend over the line.

The event named after former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019, saw more than 12,000 people take part. It was inspired by Sinfield, who pushed his former team-mate around the course in a specially-adapted wheelchair.

The former Archbishop of York has been forced to step down from his Church of England role after a review into how he handled a child sex abuse allegation. Lord Sentamu has already rejected the report's findings which said he failed to act on a claim made by a victim. He had been an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Newcastle.

The Bishop of Newcastle has asked him to step back from active ministry "until both the findings and his response can be explored further". The Church has apologised to retired vicar Matthew Ineson, who was 16 when he was abused in the 1980s and has waived his legal right to anonymity.

Events have been held around the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of the biggest loss of life of British servicewomen in World War Two.

The 26 women were killed in a bombing raid at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on 11 May 1943. Only one woman survived.

Local people affected by the Covid pandemic will now have a dedicated green space where they can rest, reflect and find comfort, as Telford & Wrekin Council opens Telford’s Covid Memorial Garden in the Town Park today.

The memorial garden, designed by the council’s biT team and installed by contractors Welch and Phillips and Brewood Landscapes, is located within Telford Town Park, behind Withy Pool (beyond the Visitor Centre), near to the Dark Lane car park.

Analysis of Google search data by customised jewellery experts at Glamira has discovered that searches in the past week for ‘Camilla necklace’ in the UK exploded by 2,400% on 6th May. The term received the highest number of searches in comparison to other items of jewellery worn by the Royal Family at the King’s Coronation, and nearly 16,000 tweets in the past week have mentioned the Queen Consort’s jewellery. 

With thoughts turning to summer and potential holiday jobs for young people, employers and parents are being advised of the rules regarding the employment of children who are still of compulsory school age.

The City of Wolverhampton Council is reminding people who employ children aged between 13 and 16 that they need permits to comply with employment laws. These permits are free of charge from the council local to the place of employment.

Leeds Children’s Charity at Lineham Farm has launched a campaign to raise £30,000 to put towards a brand-new camping facility for the young people, schools and local families who access the charity.

The challenge is in celebration of 30 years of Lineham Farm, which was transformed into a centre for children in 1993. Since then, it has become a safe haven and a place for adventure for over 2,000 children a year. The charity hopes to provide for even more young people from across Leeds each year with the new campsite facility.

Staff and veteran representatives got together to see their Veteran Aware plaque unveiled by Chief Executive Paul Calaminus and Chris Tyson, Functional Skills Coordinator at ELFT and an ex-serviceman.

The unveiling of the Veteran Aware plaque symbolises the Trust's commitment to military families. ELFT (East London NHS Foundation Trust) is one of 147 NHS Veteran Aware NHS provider trusts that have been accredited as exemplars of the best care for veterans, helping to drive improvements in NHS care for people who serve or have served in the UK armed forces and their families. Veteran Aware trusts aim to improve the care of veterans within the NHS, as part of the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).

The Archbishop of Canterbury has attacked the government's migration plans, saying they risked "great damage" to the UK's reputation.

Justin Welby said that the Illegal Migration Bill would not stop small boat crossings, and it failed in the moral responsibly towards refugees. He was speaking as the bill begins what is expected to be a rocky passage through the House of Lords.

A Hall Green family is holding an online raffle to raise funds for their severely disabled children.

Aiza Ellahi, 12, and her brother Subhaan Ellahi, 8, from Hall Green, in Birmingham, are both non-verbal full time wheelchair users and require 24-hour care at their home. They both require fully committed care teams with the ability to care for them both closely and are supported by the NHS Children Complex Care team and Pallative Care team.