Community News

Flying rats, pests, vermin… seagulls don’t get the best press - but their savage attacks on bewildered binmen have sealed their reputation.

Refuse collectors across the UK are reporting being dive-bombed by starving gulls, desperate to get their talons on morsels of food. It sounds shocking, but this isn’t new behaviour for seagulls - many terrified residents of coastal towns report being terrorised by the local wildlife, often due to their reliance on human food. One man, appearing on ITV’s This Morning, even reported being ‘held hostage’ by birds living on the roof of his bungalow, adding: “I was struck on the back of the head by a fully-grown gull… It chased me up the road and had three more goes at me.”

Another man in Scotland was attacked so viciously by a gull that it drew blood - all because he was eating a sandwich, which he sadly noted [he] “ended up throwing it in the bin after it had tried to get it out of my mouth. What a lose-lose situation”.

The problem is so severe that some towns have published guides on what to do if you’re attacked by one of these angry birds.

So why are these airborne attackers now turning on bin collectors?

Part of the problem is the dramatically reduced footfall in previously busy areas as city centre footfall fell by 75% in some areas: and with far fewer shoppers and workers comes a reduction in litter and dropped food. Many gulls have adapted to live reliant on human food waste to survive, leading East Riding of Yorkshire Council to warn residents that “seagulls may be more hungry than normal and may behave aggressively”.

Liverpool Divert.co.uk binman Charlie agrees. “I’ve had them swoop at me while I pull bins up to the truck, try and pull half eaten food out of open bins while we’re emptying them, diving at the lorry… they’re absolutely feral. They’re always quite scary because they’re huge, but now it seems like they’re out for blood if you take any scrap of food away.”

“I’d cull them if it were up to me,” added his colleague, Adam. “They’re an absolute menace - there are certain routes I won’t do now unless I’m giving a hard hat and a chance of protecting myself against them.”

A cull seems drastic, but is it what’s required?

Mark Hall, spokesperson for rubbish disposal experts Divert.co.uk, said there are other options.

“While wildlife culls are used when a particular species becomes a nuisance, this behaviour is hopefully temporary, and gulls are protected by law - so we discourage anyone from taking matters into their own hands. What will help more than anything, however, is households properly disposing of waste to discourage the birds in the first place.”

Residents are advised to:

• Ensure bins are closed, with a proper lid, to stop birds getting into any waste food and becoming dependent
• Never litter - it provides a food source
• Don’t leave bin bags on the street overnight: they’re easily ripped by gulls and cause a huge headache for rubbish collectors if that happens
• Do not encourage the gulls by feeding them - this creates a vicious circle where birds will return for food

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), a national environmental charity, is offering £100,000 to community groups across Birmingham to support citywide low carbon sustainability projects.  Applications open on 7 June and more information is available on the 3D website.

Successful projects will support Birmingham’s net zero carbon targets by using data from the 3D hub, a pioneering free platform using local data to understand the needs of communities. The ten winning projects will receive up to £10,000 each. Applications for funding can focus around a wide range of areas including behaviour change, air pollution, transport, energy and health.

Bridget Newbery CSE project manager said; “We’re excited to support the decarbonisation of Birmingham by working with communities using data. We know local people can achieve the most change because they understand their local area and people best. Our 3D Hub supports this understanding with expert data across a huge range of areas; from understanding how many people are in fuel poverty or able to access broadband in a particular postcode, to looking at air quality or electric car charging points in a specific area and so much more!

“Citizens must act together to ensure the cities we live, work and socialise in are built for the future. Innovation and community are two important aspects, and through this funding competition we’re looking for people with big ideas to create new ways to reduce carbon emissions across Birmingham.” 

 
The 3D hub offers a range of data sets including open data on housing, travel, waste, energy, and emissions. The data includes statistics on regional and sub-regional fuel poverty, air quality, electric car charging points, buildings emissions, cycle routes and more. It's all fully anonymised and meets latest privacy guidance and legislation. This data is specific to the Birmingham City region and can be downloaded and used for free.

Successful projects will use data in some way, for example to engage with communities, to identify opportunities for targeting work, or in the delivery of local environmental initiatives.

Examples could include:

• A community energy group wants to install more solar PV. The 3D Hub data will help identify suitable rooftops using information on energy consumption, rooftop solar PV potential and conservation areas to identify potential sites and inform a targeted plan to engage with local installers and home owners.
• A health charity want to install outdoor gym equipment in parks working with communities with high levels of obesity. They will use data on air pollution and health outcomes overlaid with green spaces data to identify potential sites for the project.
• A foodbank is looking to start some vegetable growing projects for their customers. They will identify priority areas using data on food emissions and income levels. Potential sites will be identified using data on land use and open space.

This project is proudly supported by Birmingham City Council’s The Route to Zero (R20) Taskforce and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a global network working with more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development.

CSE is offering pre application support and has a checklist to enable community groups to decide areas they may need to work on before submitting a full application.

Yesterday marked the launch of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone with a colourful exhibition at Library of Birmingham. Smoke was emitted from the viewing platform and roof of the iconic Library of Birmingham building, representing the average amount of NOx that will be saved every 10 seconds through the introduction of the Clean Air Zone.

The Clean Air Zone is within the A4540 Middleway (but not the Middleway itself) and will be used to encourage the drivers of the most polluting vehicles to upgrade or replace their vehicle.  People are also being encouraged to think about walking, cycling or using public transport more – especially for shorter journeys.  And it will encourage this change by applying a daily fee to vehicles that do not meet the emission standards for the zone.  

Birmingham City Council announced that it will introduce the zone through a ‘soft launch’ of the scheme.  From 1 June 2021 through to 11:59:59pm 13 June 2021 the Council will not require drivers to pay the daily fee and they will not pursue enforcement.  From the 14 June 2021 the owners of non-compliant vehicles will be required to pay the daily fee (unless a valid exemption is in place).  If they do not pay the daily fee after this date the registered keeper of the vehicle will be issued with a penalty charge notice.  By adopting this approach the Council is providing with a little extra time to get ready, review the support available and to consider the alternatives to driving through the Clean Air Zone

Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE has said:

“Whilst we have agreed on a two-week soft launch period where people won't have to pay, I would encourage everyone to use this time to check their vehicles, familiarise themselves with the charging process and check out the support that is still available through the Brum Breathes website."

Cars, taxis and LGVs which do not meet the Clean Air Zone emission standard will be charged £8 a day and non-compliant coaches, buses and HGVs will be charged £50 per day.

The Clean Air Zone charge runs midnight to midnight. Drivers can pay six days in advance of their visit, the day of their visit and six days after the day of their visit, giving a total payment window of 13 days. Payments can be paid online using the Government's payment system or over the phone by calling 0300 029 8888 (Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm).

A range of support measures have been brought in to support those immediately impacted by the changes.. This includes temporary exemption permits and financial incentives as well as the Heavy Duty Vehicle (HDV Fund).

The council recently launched a short film on clean air and why the zone is needed: https://www.14dd5266c70789bdc806364df4586335-gdprlock/watch?v=Dd_MYX8fAp8

Two local partnering organisations, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and Tipton & Coseley Building Society are celebrating the success of their affinity scheme in addition to their two milestone anniversaries. To commemorate the partnership, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity will also be holding a silent auction of an official signed Wolverhampton Wanderers FC shirt, kindly donated by Tipton & Coseley Building Society.

Whilst Black Country-based Tipton & Coseley Building Society is turning 120 this year, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is a quarter of the way there, celebrating its Air30 30^th birthday this year.

The silent auction of the official signed Wolverhampton Wanderers FC shirt opens on Monday 31^st May with the winner announced on Friday 11^th June ahead of the first Euros 2021 match. To enter, email the amount you would like to bid to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – the deadline for entries is 5pm Thursday 10^th June 2021.

Jon Cottrell, senior partnerships executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “2021 is shaping up to be an exciting year for our partnership with Tipton and Coseley Building Society.

“As a football fan myself, I’m excited to get our silent auction launched to raise vital funds for our pre-hospital emergency service and strengthen the partnership.”

As part of the Tipton’s support of the charity, the building society launched the 30-Day Notice Midlands Air Ambulance Saver in 2020. It is a socially responsible savings account for those that want to save lives as well as their pennies. Not only will customers earn 0.40% gross/AER on their balance, but the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s rapid response emergency service will earn funds at no additional cost to the account holders.

Stephen James, from the West Midlands, a Midlands Air Ambulance savings account holder, said: “The Tipton’s Saver has allowed me to have a realistic interest rate and has resulted in further funds for the charity’s essential work.”

Terms and conditions apply. For further details about The Tipton and Coseley 30-Day Notice Saver, visit: www.thetipton.co.uk/midlandsairambulance

To find out more about the lifesaving work of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, visit: midlandsairambulance.com and follow the service on social media.

The introduction of the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Birmingham must be supported by cheaper and more efficient green transport, a regional economist has said ahead of the rollout w/c Monday May 31.

Dr Steven McCabe said: “Though exemptions are possible, anything making life more financially challenging to Birmingham’s poorest citizens is unwelcome.

“Launching the CAZ whilst the city is still dealing with the fallout of the global pandemic is questionable, particularly for the retail and the night time economies in the city centre, Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter.

“However, a cleaner Birmingham, especially in the city centre is undoubtedly one that’s far more attractive to inhabitants and visitors.

“The health benefit of reduced levels of harmful emissions is axiomatic.

"And CAZ may, it’s hoped, result in increased inward investment creating jobs in services and allied industries so desperately needed to improve prosperity and prospects for current and future generations.

“Crucially, what needs to accompany implementation of the CAZ is vastly improved, cheaper, more efficient, green transport to enable citizens to move around Birmingham.”

Cinemas may be open, but MADE.COM and Curzon are helping those who can’t make it out. In their latest MADEover, the brands have partnered with Allison Sadler (@allison_sadler_) to help those who aren’t able to head to their local cinema, by bringing the home movie experience to them instead. Allison has joined forces with online design brand MADE.COM to create a Home Cinema at Nehemiah Housing Association’s retirement scheme Charles Pearson Court in West Bromwich, with the help of Curzon's Home Cinema Membership. 

The project is part of MADE.COM's latest community support initiatives, transforming spaces to encourage people to come together after a year of disconnect and was designed by Birmingham based influencer Allison Sadler whose grandmother Mrs Theresa Powell lived at Charles Pearson Court for many years before passing away in June 2020.

Working virtually with the Nehemiah team throughout the whole project from photos, samples, measurements and Zoom calls, Allison and the Made.com designers created a scheme to suit the residents of Charles Pearson Court from both comfort and practical needs.

Charles Pearson Court Scheme Manager Lorraine Martin commented: “It was fantastic to have this opportunity, it will I am sure become the hub of activity now. In a time where everyone is facing their own individual challenges, we really appreciated the designers and brands donating products to Nehemiah and the residents of Charles Pearson Court.”

A new report from Which? has revealed that fewer than half (46%) of fraud victims who’ve unknowingly transferred money into scammers’ bank accounts are being reimbursed. The consumer watchdog is subsequently calling for strengthened standards to be put in place by banks to make the process fairer and more consistent. These scams, which affect thousands of customers each year, occur when a fraudster tricks the customer into transferring their money into another account in the belief that it is legitimate – for example to pay off an outstanding bill or for security reasons. 

In 2019, a voluntary code of conduct was introduced by high street banks. The code was designed to offer increased protection from scams, especially for vulnerable customers, by ensuring banks paid people back in the event of fraud. But, more than two years on, this type of fraud is still affecting honest Britons and personal finance experts at money.co.uk are urging people to remain on the high alert against criminals.

James Andrews, senior personal finance editor at money.co.uk, said: “Changes aimed at getting more people their money back are always welcome, but it’s still essential people know how to spot a scam when they see one, and how to protect themselves against it.

“There’s a real danger that announcements about new fraud rules or protections put in place by banks will see people relax and assume they are safe. Sadly, criminals are smart and all too often adapt to new rules and protocols almost as fast as they are unveiled.

“Worse, money transfer scammers use the customer themselves as a way past banking security. If a criminal can convince you to log in legitimately then get you to transfer money to a ‘safe’ account, or even withdraw it as cash, there is no technological solution that can prevent it.

“The good news is that banks are doing more to help, from ‘confirmation of payee’ - which puts extra blockers up against people impersonating others when asking people to transfer money - to warnings flashing up on screen all the way through to training for staff in branches and on the phone to help customers stay safer. Criminals often try to apply psychological pressure to get people to push past these barriers - posing as officials and telling customers they have already been scammed, are being targeted or even the subject of a criminal investigation from the police or HMRC.

“To stay safe, it’s essential you put in your own barriers too. If you get a call or message from someone saying they are from your bank or the police, get them to tell you their name, then call back - ideally from a different phone line - using the number you have on your bank statement or from another official, offline source. If it’s real, you will quickly be put through to the right person.

“Do not trust numbers or click on links sent to you as part of the warning - even if they look like they’ve come from your bank - as criminals can fake links, websites and even the number they appear to be calling or texting from. Despite these precautions, it’s still possible that even the most security conscious person will fall prey to a financial scam. If this does happen, it’s essential that you know what steps to take to get your money back and prevent a similar scam from happening in future. 

“The first step is to contact your bank directly using the methods outlined above as soon as you suspect you’ve been a victim of fraud. Even if you’re not 100% certain at the time, your bank can increase security on your account as an interim measure while you investigate.

“Several banks also have the ability to temporarily freeze your credit and debit cards without cancelling them, so if you are mistaken you don’t have to wait for new cards to be set up. If the scam is to do with online banking, you should be able to get a direct refund under the Payment Service Regulations (2009) and The Lending Code. If the scam is credit card related, you should be protected on transactions of up to £30,000 under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act – so whatever the scam, there’s always a way of getting your cash back.  

“If you’re still unsure of the steps to take following an instance of fraud, check out money.co.uk’s handy guide on what to do if you’ve been scammed.” 

Renowned figures and highly respected members of the West Midlands business community have been revealed as the first charity champions to join acorns children’s hospice as part of an exciting new ambassador programme.

CEO and business founder, Jas Rohel; Entrepreneur, Personality and Hospitality Operator Phil Oldershaw; CEO Petro Nicolaides; Chartered Accountant and Managing Partner Johnathan Dudley; and Channel Partnership Manager Amy Deakin have been announced as the charity’s very first Business Ambassadors. The fab five will play a key role in raising awareness of Acorns within the business community and help raise vital funds towards its lifeline care for local life limited and life threatened children and their families.

Each of Acorns Business Ambassadors is joining the charity in a two-year partnership and has committed to raising £5,000 each year.

Libby Kaluna, Partnership Fundraising Manager at Acorns, said: “We’re extremely excited to launch this brand-new initiative and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have some of the region’s very best in business join us as our first Ambassadors.

“Their influence, passion and expertise will help us reach even more people within the business community and grow local support, which will make a massive difference to the children and families that need us.”

Acorns Business Ambassadors will represent the charity at various events during their tenure, from cheque presentations and networking groups to attending public engagements within the business community. The group will come together for quarterly meetings chaired by Paul Cadman, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Birmingham University and Acorns Vice President.

Libby added: “Each Ambassador will add their own voice and experience to help us raise awareness, campaign and fundraise. Together, they will help us continue to be there for some of the most vulnerable children and families across the region who rely on our lifeline care and support.”

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened children and support for their families from its three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community. In the past year the charity has cared for more than 800 children and over 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.

It cost Acorns £27,000 per day to provides its lifeline care and support, the bulk of which comes from fundraising and partnerships.

Noori Awan, the daughter of a Birmingham-based Pakistani businessman recalls, “We didn’t know what was happening.

How could a strong healthy man like my father be suffering from Covid. We just could not understand what was going on and we couldn’t get to see him.” Mr. Awan died, and like many others across Pakistan and the UK, Covid-19 has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands.

Songs Of Solitude (SOS), conceived and directed by Mukhtar Dar and Arieb Azhar, is an online digital collaboration that combines testimonials, spoken word, soundscapes, music, and movement to share stories of two Pakistani families - a Christian minority family in Pakistan and a Muslim minority family in Birmingham, whilst grieving for their loved ones, share hope for a better tomorrow.

The Emanuel family in Faisalabad, and the Awan family in Birmingham share heart-wrenching accounts of life and loss under the pandemic lockdowns. This international collaboration between Art Langar (Pakistan) and Kalaboration Arts (Birmingham), with a dynamic range of artistes, reflects on the isolation and loss during the liminality of the lockdowns. From Pakistan, Zohaib Hassan (Sarangi), Anna Hafisba (Gospel), Arieb Azhar (Spoken word) and Zain Ali (Composer) join forces with Waqas Choudhary and Waqas Malik (Bansuri) Muki aka Mukhtar Ahmad (Urban Singer) and Aishani Ghosh (Dancer) from Birmingham, to affirm that there is hope for a better tomorrow.

Covid-19 pandemic, climate catastrophe and the unprecedented global inequality are ravaging the lives and lands of the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities. The arts play a powerful role in any crisis, allowing us to reflect and express sadness and hope and to bring people and ideas together and contribute to challenging the status quo. In our challenges of the ‘new norm’, we must engage with the root cause of visceral injustices that the pandemic has exposed and draw together a plurality of experiences, visions and solutions from the Global South and North to bring about justice for all.

SOS is our expression, our collective voice of what it means to be human. It has allowed us to communicate across continents during this liminal moment, generating positivity, appreciation and hope amidst this ongoing crisis.

SOS world premiere and post-screening Q&A with the directors takes place as an online live stream

Dedicated pop-up vaccination clinics in Wolverhampton have protected some of the city’s most vulnerable people from coronavirus.

A partnership of local organisations and agencies including City of Wolverhampton Council has been working together to engage with and offer vaccinations to eligible people who were homeless or sleeping rough but may not have been able to access the vaccine. People experiencing homelessness face reduced access to healthcare services.

Many from this group are also likely to have health conditions that put them at higher risk of death or serious illness caused by Covid-19. Last month the council, in partnership with Black Country and West Birmingham Combined Commissioning Group (BCWB CCG), local GPs, support agencies and voluntary sector organisations, held a pop-up vaccination clinic at The Good Shepherd Ministry, led by Dr Kamran Ahmed, local GP and Clinical Director at BCWB CCG.

As a follow-up to a clinic held in February, homeless people and rough sleepers from across the city were joined by their support providers to get their second doses of life-saving jab in an environment they were familiar with. Over 150 people, including those experiencing homelessness and their support workers received their first vaccination on the day.

Dr Kamran Ahmed said: “Offering vaccines this way protects some of our city’s most vulnerable residents who are most at risk and ensure fewer people become seriously ill or die. By offering the vaccine, along with the right support, in a setting that people are familiar with, we were able to overcome some of the barriers stopping people from having their jab and saw good levels of uptake”

A range different levels of support were on offer to encourage people to have their vaccine, help them get to clinic and provide advice and reassurance on the day. These vaccination clinics followed partnership work at The Good Shepherd earlier in the year to raise awareness of coronavirus and the vaccine within the local homeless community and encourage regular testing.

Tom Hayden, Head of Operations at the Good Shepherd, said: “We were really pleased to link up with the council, CCG, and several other charities and agencies whom we already work closely with to host this second day of vaccinations.

“People who are homeless face additional barriers to accessing healthcare, so it was fantastic to be able to welcome them to the Good Shepherd and provide access to the vaccination, advice around Covid, and to do it amongst people they know and in a venue they feel comfortable. Service users were able to attend with their support staff who could talk them through the process and the benefits of receiving the vaccination and the added protection it can give them against the virus.”

Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, John Denley, added: “Outreach clinics like this are helping to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

“The vaccine is proven to reduce serious illness caused by coronavirus by up to 85%, and evidence shows that is reduces transmission too. Whilst infection levels are falling across the city, we still need to make sure that everyone can have the vaccine as soon as it is their turn.

“By holding pop-up clinics in familiar surroundings, providing support and the right information we are making sure some of the city’s most vulnerable residents can access the vaccine and benefit from the protection it provides.”

For the third year running, Ecclesiastical Insurance Group is giving away £1million to charities with the return of its Movement for Good awards.

As of now, people in the West Midlands can nominate a cause close to their hearts for a potential £1,000 award to help make a difference. 500 charities will each receive £1,000 during the first phase of the campaign. A second phase of giving will happen later this summer.

Since the initiative began in 2019, over 3,900 West Midlands residents have nominated causes they care about, leading to the Movement for Good awards gifting £29,000 to charities across the county. Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity, The Birmingham Dogs Home and The Lily Mae Foundation were amongst the beneficiaries, following overwhelming public support.

The nomination process is open until June 13. Winners will be drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected. It’s quick and easy to nominate, you can vote for your favourite charity online at: www.movementforgood.com

Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, says: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good awards for the third year running. Our Movement for Good awards will continue to help charities at a time when they need it most and we know that for many charities, £1,000 can make a real difference.

“We were thrilled to receive so many nominations from the public last year and this year we are encouraging even more people to nominate a good cause. Ecclesiastical, the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK, is a unique financial services group. We are owned by a charity which means all available profits can be given to the good causes that are so important to our customers. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of our business.”

A woman has been barred from Birmingham as an investigation continues after she was arrested on suspicion of racially abusing a pub doorman

Sharna Walker, who is 24-year-old, was released with bail conditions, including not to enter the city after clip of her swearing at a bouncer in the city’s Broad Street had been viewed more than three million times. West Midlands Police said it was gathering witness evidence before handing a file to prosecutors. They said that the woman, attended a police station at the force's request.

She is alleged to have used racist language towards the doorman outside Wetherspoon's The Figure of Eight pub, police said. A police spokesperson added: "She's also accused of racially abusing another man who was stood near the pub entrance and earlier damaging furniture inside the premises."

She was denied entry to the bar and was seen pushing the bodyguard, calling him a “Black Fist” and “f *** ing n *****” Turn around and spit in his body.

Tristan, 26, said he wants to be brought to justice for his abuse. He said: “I have had some incidents, but the use of racist language did not happen often.

“As a Black man and a doorman, I realize that both things are stigmatized. I feel that I must remain calm because I know that the colour of my skin may magnify my movements. In this case, I make sure that I can treat myself correctly.”

The footage of Walker’s prank was shared on social media. Wetherspoon said Miss Walker, from Worcester, had been escorted from the pub and cracked the glass door by kicking it.

"This behaviour is completely unacceptable and the woman is barred for life,” said spokesperson Eddie Gershon. "We will also be pursuing her for criminal damage and passing on the CCTV and bodycam footage to the police."

Regional manager, Heath Curley, praised the doorman, who is employed by an agency and works regularly on, for acting "calml." Mike Olley, who runs the Westside Business Improvement District, which covers the Broad Street entertainment mile, said that they would also be seeking to ban the woman from all city centre venues.

Residents in Birmingham fearing the loss of their playing fields have criticized the guardians of the estate for a “betrayal of trust”. The Yardley residents have been campaigning for six years against plans for housebuilder Persimmon to build on the land in Barrows Lane whose use for healthy recreational purposes has been protected for over a hundred years.

Having defeated a planning application in 2016 to build 82 homes on the site with a 1,500-word petition, the Yardley Community Trust is now embroiled in a renewed battle to prevent the Council from allowing an even bigger development of 110 homes. The residents have criticized Central England Co-operative (CEC) for wishing to sell its Sports & Social Club on Barrows Lane after ignoring all offers to discuss the future of the pitches, which are used by junior football teams.

Fay Goodman, Yardley Community Trust Spokesperson, said: “When they were a Municipal Co-operative in 1920, Central England Coop were appointed as trustworthy guardians of the Barrows Lane site under a covenant issued by the Cadbury/Barrows family to protect and manage the site for the benefit of the local community.

“The clear intention of CEC is to relinquish their responsibility and to profit from the exercise. Yardley residents are outraged by this betrayal of trust.” Fay claimed that offers made by local football clubs to maintain the pitches in exchange for using them have been ignored by CEC, and that an approach for dialogue by Birmingham City FC’s Community Trust has been rejected.

“The recent U-turn on the proposed European Super League showed the strength of feeling by grass roots football clubs and fans. We need the same support for football pitches for youngsters to play on, yet we have nationally lost over 34,000 pitches in a 13-year period between 2005 and 2018.

“This scandalous statistic demonstrates the veracity of green fields being covered with concrete by greedy builders – supposedly to satisfy our housing need. We know there are enough brownfield sites throughout the UK to accommodate that need, yet builders Persimmons want virgin land to make the most profit and CEC are willing providers.”

Fay continued: “It is estimated that we have enough space on derelict industrial land to build around 1.5 million properties in the UK. The number of brownfield sites continues to grow, outstripping the demand for houses on green land. There is absolutely no justification to concrete over any green land.

“Green spaces and parks generally act like the lungs of the city, cleansing and improving air quality in its proximity. The Covid-19 pandemic is teaching us the value of open spaces for air quality, tackling obesity and addressing mental health issues through physical activities. She added: “Yardley is already over-subscribed with houses by at least a third. We are already below the recommended apportionment amount of green space raising serious health concerns.”

Yardley MP Jess Phillips has expressed her on-going support: “I fully support the Yardley Community Trust’s aim of retaining the Barrows Lane sports fields for the community. We have been fighting the development on this site for years, as building on this site would both deprive residents of local open space, and also overdevelop an existing residential area without supplying adequate additional amenities for the community. 

"I sincerely hope the Central England Coop will give serious consideration to the Trust’s alternative plan for the site and engage constructively with residents to find a mutually acceptable outcome.”

Yardley East Councillor Neil Eustace, who has also been a strong supporter of the Trust’s cause, said: “Yardley needs its remaining green spaces protected for future generations. These fields are rich in rare wildlife and greenery. Future generations of local children need facilities for organised sport.”  

Over 250 individuals pitched their tents and camped out in support of Birmingham’s leading homeless charity, SIFA Fireside. Held on Early May Bank Holiday, the BIG Brummie Camp Out saw hundreds camp out raising vital funds for a local charity.

The annual event brought families, friends, students and colleagues together who spent a night under the stars, in their own homes, in support of Birmingham’s main day centre for vulnerable and homeless adults, SIFA Fireside. So far, more than £4,500 has been raised with donations still being received by the charity.

Leading local organisations and businesses also joined forces in support of the charity, contributing to the exclusive camper’s activity pack. For a minimum of a £5 donation, campers received recipes from restaurants, such as award-winning Carters of Moseley and OPUS, plus activities from ThinkTank Birmingham, and established ‘Brummie’ brand Punks & Chancers.

The event also included live entertainment from Birmingham’s Poet Laureate, Casey Bailey and finished with local nightclub The Night Owl’s DJ set. The Digbeth-based charity works to provide long term solutions for vulnerable adults; responding to individuals in crisis, standing by them in their recovery and working to prevent homelessness within Birmingham.

The aim is to get people off the streets and back onto their feet, giving them an opportunity to work towards a brighter future. The organisation is committed to supporting long term and sustainable routes out of homelessness, working closely with partners such as Birmingham City Council and Shelter UK.

The number of individuals requiring help has risen due to the Covid-19 pandemic and donations are now needed more than ever to help keep SIFA Fireside’s doors open.

Carly Jones, SIFA Fireside CEO, said: “Last year the BIG Brummie Campout was about SIFA Fireside surviving and providing hope during a very tough year for us all. This year, we focused on not only celebrating SIFA Fireside but also our amazing city and the fantastic independent businesses and creative communities that surround us and support us each year.

“Money raised enables us to continue our vital services and as the restrictions continue to ease, we’re able to do even more with our clients to support their journey working towards a brighter future. We have been overwhelmed by the support, of not only individuals who took part in the Big Brummie Campout, but from many local businesses that came together in support.”  

The UK is still yet to see the full extent the impact a year of lockdown has had on people’s relationships – according to an expert divorce lawyer at law firm Nelsons.

With couples couped up in lockdown due to the coronavirus, many law firms across the UK have reported an increase in enquiries from spouses wanting to split from their partners.

Emma Davies, partner and divorce solicitor at Nelsons, said that while law firm has experienced continually high levels of enquiries since April 2020, the divorce spike may yet be still to come.

Emma said: “We’re still yet to experience the full impact a year of lockdown has had on people’s relationships. No one anticipated the pandemic would last as long as it has. Every time restrictions have eased, some sort of tightening of the rules followed. Once the Covid restrictions are significantly and permanently eased, if they do happen in the summer as expected, I imagine we’ll experience another busy season – people will begin making longer-term decisions once more, which includes divorce.”

Has the pandemic caused a spike in people filing for divorce?

“Divorce rates over the course of 2020 increased and we experienced busy periods throughout the year. While we have been consistently busy, I wonder whether we are yet to see the true spike everyone was anticipating at the start of the pandemic. What is interesting is that we have seen different trends compared to a typical year.

“For example, from summer to the end of the year was busier than normal because restrictions eased. January is usually our busiest period but this year, while we still had a number of enquiries, it wasn’t perhaps at the level we would have expected to see. Schools closed and the country went back into a lockdown so there was a lot for people to deal with before taking action on any longer-term decisions they may have been thinking about before the Christmas period.

“During the first, full lockdown back in March 2020, we were quieter, mostly because it was really difficult for people to find a private space to speak to a divorce lawyer while working from home with their spouse. We had clients calling us from supermarket car parks, or the end of the garden – having a conversation about divorce when there’s the possibility of being overheard in the other room made it difficult. However, as lockdown restrictions eased towards the end of the spring, we noticed a high level of enquiries.”

Have the reasons as to why people have been filing for divorce changed over the past year?

“There hasn’t been a massive shift, but we have had clients who said the initial lockdown made them realise what it would be like to be retired together, and that spending that amount of time in close proximity was very difficult. Tensions ran high and people found themselves in the house all the time with their spouse, without the social release they could turn to beforehand.”

How have divorce proceedings changed as a result of the pandemic?

“From March 2020 through to the summer, there were huge delays, with some divorces taking 50 weeks at one stage. However, now everything has settled and more have access to the online system, the divorce process is much quicker. We have experienced divorces taking three to four months for the first time in many years where there are limited financial matters to be resolved or separating couples have reached an agreement, in one case, with the Christmas break intervening.

“Financial and children matters are mostly conducted remotely, either over the phone or via a video call; some are still carried out in person, particularly final hearings if evidence is required as the quality is better face to face. This is definitely more efficient and streamlined – you don’t have to travel to court and whereas previously, there would be a block list of several hearings from 10am, now you’re given a time for your remote hearing.”

With the negative impact Covid-19 has had on the economy, is now a good time to get divorced?

“Many people may have found themselves in a financially less advantageous position as a result of the pandemic – they may have been placed on furlough, for example, or their businesses could have suffered. However, the court is really mindful of people’s circumstances and the financial impact of the pandemic; every case is different and turns on its own individual facts, so it’s important to seek advice tailored to you.”