Community News

Her Majesty The Queen thanked people around the world for their kindness and support following the death of her husband Prince Philip, ahead of his funeral.

The Queen sent a message to well-wishers who offered messages of condolence and tributes following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said that The monarch, 94, and her family were said to be grateful for the kindness and support shown by people from around the world and were touched by the tributes.

"Her Majesty and the Royal Family are grateful for all the messages of condolence from around the world and have been touched to see and hear so many people sharing fond memories of the Duke in celebration of his life,” the spokesperson said.

"The tributes received from young and old are truly a testament to the remarkable life and lasting endeavours of His Royal Highness." At the ceremonial service, The Queen will sit by herself and wear a face mask throughout. Princes William and Harry will not walk shoulder to shoulder during an eight-minute procession before the funeral.

Buckingham Palace went on to say: “The Queen faced some very difficult decisions as she selected the 30 guests permitted under Covid-19 rules, from the original 800-strong congregation, and had tried to ensure all branches of the duke’s family were there.

The Countess – Penelope ‘Penny’ Knatchbull, previously known as Lady Romsey and later Lady Brabourne – will join the Queen and the duke’s four children and eight grandchildren, as well as their respective spouses, at the service in St George’s Chapel. Countess Mountbatten is the wife of Earl Mountbatten, Norton Knatchbull – the grandson of Philip’s beloved uncle the 1st Earl Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979.

Three German relatives – whose ancestors were denied a place at Princess Elizabeth and Philip’s wedding because of anti-German feeling after the second war – have been included.

They are Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden; Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse; and Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.

Downing Street has revealed how Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to observe and mark the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.

It comes as the Archbishop of Canterbury says he hopes the nation would offer their prayers and condolences to the Queen during the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, rather than speculate on her wellbeing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson left a wreath for the Duke of Edinburgh and said that the nation owes more than words can say. A handwritten message was placed with the PM's tribute outside St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. It read: 'In grateful memory of a man to whom the nation owes more than words can say.

'Sent on behalf of the nation. ‘From the Prime Minister'.

Mr Johnson will watch Prince Philip's funeral from his Chequers country residence, after indicating that he will not attend in person to allow more space for family.  Mr Johnson left London to relax at the 16th century Buckinghamshire mansion, complete with a tennis court and indoor heated swimming pool. The Prime Minister turned down an invitation to Prince Philip's funeral at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to allow more members of the Royal Family to attend.

The ceremonial funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh will see his coffin being transported to Windsor Castle chapel by a bespoke Land Rover Defender TD5 130, partially designed by the prince himself.

The specially-built hearse was in the works at Land Rover’s factory, in Solihull, in the West Midlands, since 2003, when the duke first approached Jaguar Land Rover with the idea. The vehicle is now ready to fulfil its intended function – albeit with the pandemic having altered original plans for the hearse to be driven to the castle from London.

The Defender has always been designed for functionality - from conflict zones to humanitarian disasters, far-flung research projects to domestic farmsteads. Because it was designed to operate in all terrains and all weathers, the SUV has come to represent a vision of an industrious, intrepid Britain.

Commentators believe it symbolises Prince Philip’s passion for engineering and practicality – but it’s also a vehicle that belongs to the same era, possessing something of the same aura, as the departing duke.

The duke saw to it that his funeral hearse would bear several features of his own choosing. Most significantly, he reportedly designed the Defender’s open top rear section, including the rubber and silver fittings that will secure his coffin on its journey to St George’s Chapel.

The military also feature. On the duke’s behest, the livery has been changed from the original Belize Green to Dark Bronze Green – the shade of green used by the military. Other details, such as the matching green hubs and black front grille, give the Defender a further stripped-back, martial quality.

The last royal funeral was held for the Queen Mother back in 2002, during which a more familiar horse-drawn hearse transported her coffin. So the duke’s funeral will certainly be distinctive, swapping hooves for off-road tyres, and mourning black for military green.

In a follow up to their History, Heritage and Identity Symposium series launched in the autumn of 2020, three churches in the United Kingdom with predominantly large, black congregations, are staging another public conversation, this time interrogating the present-day health and wellbeing of people of Caribbean descent living in the UK.

“As pastors and counselors in our churches, we are acquainted with the stories of hurt and pain faced by many our congregants, who feel disadvantaged and disenfranchised from the best of the health care system because of perceived stigma and racial bias”, asserts Bishop Tedroy Powell, who presides over the Church of God of Prophecy, UK.

“This is not an anachronism, it is present day reality for not just our members on record, but for so many people of colour in the African Caribbean Diaspora, who still feel disadvantaged in a proclaimed multiracial society”, maintains Bishop Powell, who leads the planning for the virtual Symposium being staged in collaboration with the University of the West Indies and scheduled for April 22 at 5pm GMT.

The UWI, ranked by Times Higher Education as among the Top 20 best universities in Latin America and the Caribbean, will present research data and perspectives from its Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR) on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their prevalence and impact on the people of the Caribbean and its Diaspora.

CAIHR is the largest research entity in The University of the West Indies (UWI), with roots dating back to the 1950s when the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC) commissioned pioneering research in severely malnourished children in the Caribbean. Today, CAIHR is the focal point of The UWI’s growing strength in health research innovation and interventions in nutrition, child development, chronic lifestyle diseases and sickle cell disease.

Professor, Sir Hilary Beckles, the Vice Chancellor of the UWI is confirmed to deliver another riveting dissertation on the unique ‘burden of disease’ borne by Caribbean people and their descendants, to be followed by a star panel of medical experts from the UK and the Caribbean Institute for Health Research, who will provide scientific perspectives and insights to guide how they overcome persistent health challenges.

Event Details

The media and general public are invited to attend this virtual symposium:

When: Thursday April 22, 2021          

Time: 5:00 pm GMT, 11:00 am Jamaica time.

Where: Streamed online via YouTube:  https://www.14dd5266c70789bdc806364df4586335-gdprlock/embed/wJfk6KiAeNU

REGISTER for the event at this link: https://bit.ly/3cy5HSc            

ABOUT THE HISTORY, HERITAGE AND IDENTITY SYMPOSIUM SERIES:

The History, Heritage and Identity Symposium series was initiated by the Church of God of Prophecy (UK), The New Testament Church of God and The New Testament Assembly in 2020 out of Christian conviction, and a transformative vision aimed at empowering people of African Caribbean descent and ancestry to be confident in their cultural heritage, and to lead fulfilling lives in the United Kingdom. These public symposia are therefore designed to construct the “intellectual infrastructure for a high-quality conversation” on the following touchpoints:

·         Education for Transformation

·         Race Relations and Social Justice Advocacy

·         Health and Wellness through Research and Knowledge Sharing

·         UK-Caribbean Trade and Business in the Post-Brexit Environment.

The central and local Government of the United Kingdom, companies and organisations in the Private, Public and NGO sectors, as well as individuals are welcomed to partner with this effort to build bridges of understanding and harmony in British society.

Five vehicles have been impounded in Hornsey and Wood Green for Blue Badge fraud following a joint operation by Haringey Council and the police.

One badge was being used by an individual even though the actual badge holder is deceased whilst four further stolen badges were identified. In addition, a fake Blue Badge and one that was lost were also picked up in the sweep that took place last week across various streets in the area. 

All those caught received a £130 penalty whilst those whose cars were impounded received a further £200 fine. Blue Badges offer a permit for those with mobility problems or hidden disabilities, allowing them to park closer to their destinations. 

Haringey Council, in London, works hard to ensure those that are entitled to a badge receive one, but it is also determined to crack down on Blue Badge fraud.

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “We will not tolerate the misuse or fraudulent use of Blue Badges. Doing this makes it more difficult for those that are not able bodied to park as it takes up their spaces.

“If you are aware of anyone using a Blue Badge who should not, please contact the council.”

Anyone who has had their Blue Badge stolen is exempt from parking restrictions for three weeks whilst they wait for a replacement badge. This exemption is applied automatically once the council is made aware of a replacement badge application.

As part of its preparations for the launch of the Clean Air Zone on 1 June 2021 Birmingham City Council has to date issued just over £1 million in Clean Air Zone grants to Birmingham-licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers.

The grant scheme, which aims to support Birmingham-licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers to upgrade or replace vehicles that do not meet the emission standards for the Clean Air Zone, is part of a larger £35 million package of financial incentives to support Birmingham’s transition to cleaner air. 

Almost £15 million of this funding is dedicated to supporting Birmingham’s taxi community. To date Clean Air Zone hackney carriage and private hire scheme has supported 816 vehicle owners with grants to the value of £1,139,740. 

Stephen Arnold, Head of Clean Air Zone at Birmingham City Council said: “We recognise the challenges Birmingham’s taxi drivers and some other groups could have in getting ready for the introduction of the Clean Air Zone on 1 June.  The package of support available, which includes temporary exemptions and financial incentives, will help to make this change easier. 

“We are pleased with the progress made so far.  But with the launch of the Clean Air Zone just a few weeks away we are urging drivers and fleet operators to visit the Brum Breathes website to check whether or not they will need to pay the Clean Air Zone daily charge.  And if they do need to pay the charge they can also find about the various packages of support that they may be eligible to apply for.”

Owners of Birmingham-licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles may be eligible for a financial incentive if they are the registered owner or keeper of a hackney carriage taxi that will be charged and are licensed by Birmingham City Council as a Hackney Carriage driver.

Support measures include:

·         £5,000 (spread over four years) towards the running costs of an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) taxi

·         £5,000 (one off payment) towards a Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) solution for an existing vehicle

·         £5,000 contribution towards a Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel (or better) compliant vehicle, unless eligible for the government’s plug-in grant.

Private Hire drivers may also be eligible for financial support if they are the registered owner or keeper of a private hire vehicle that will be subject the Clean Air Zone charges. They also need to be licensed by Birmingham City and be the registered owner/keeper of that vehicle since before 10 September 2018.

Support measures include:

·         Up to £1,000 towards an upgrade to a compliant Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel vehicle or better. The vehicle must be no more than three years old as of January 2020

·         Up to £2,000 towards the purchase or lease of a hybrid vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that is not eligible for the Government’s plug-in car grant and meets the Birmingham Taxi Licensing age requirements

·         Subject to purchase up to two annual payments of £1,250 towards running costs of a fully electric vehicle or long range plug-in hybrid vehicle

Drivers are encouraged to first check if they will be subject to Clean Air Zone charges before applying for support. This can be done with help from the Government’s Vehicle Checker tool.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has been awarded the Investors in People silver standard, demonstrating its commitment to investing in local people and excellent management practice.

Since 1991 Investors in People has been a nationally recognised accreditation, demonstrating employer excellence and outstanding places to work. In line with the charity’s dedication to continuous improvement, the organisation has yet again been accredited, this year achieving the silver standard.

Employees of the charity were once again overwhelmingly positive about their experiences with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and the assessor’s report noted a clear passion, enthusiasm and pride for working for the lifesaving service, which tends to more than 4,500 critically ill and injured people annually whilst also undertaking significant community outreach programmes to support with health and disease education.

Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “People are at the heart of everything we do. As well as providing the very best advanced pre-hospital care to patients, the welfare and support of the aircrew and charity team are our top priority.

“Everyone has their part to play in helping to save lives across the region, and we are exceptionally proud this has been recognised once again by Investors in People.”

There is overwhelming public support for more devolution to the West Midlands according to Centre for Cities’ polling by Savanta ComRes ahead of next month’s election.

Just four years after the establishment of the West Midlands Mayor, 80% back giving more power to the office holder. Almost half (46%) support giving the Mayor more responsibility for providing affordable housing, while significant numbers back the Mayor having a bigger role in supporting business (42%) and providing access to skills and training (40%).

Just 5% of the public oppose further devolution to the West Midlands Mayor.

The polling was commissioned to understand the impact of devolution and the new office of Mayor since the elections in 2017. Seven in ten (70%) people polled in the West Midlands were aware that the city region has a mayor.

30% could correctly identify Andy Street has the incumbent Mayor – an eight percentage point increase in the past year. At 30% Andy his local public recognition in the West Midlands is higher than the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region (22%) and lower than the mayors of London (60%) and Greater Manchester (63%) in their respective cities.

People in the West Midlands were also asked to consider how the West Midlands Mayor, their local council and the Government have handled of pandemic. People in the West Midlands are largely approving of the performance of all three.

The UK Government has a net approval rating of +28, councils in the West Midlands have a net rating of +27 and the Mayor of the West Midlands has a net rating of +21 (the proportion approving of their handling of the outbreak, minus the proportion disapproving).

The public’s top priorities for the West Midlands Mayor’s next term are health care provision (45%), schools (43%) and emergency services (30%).

People’s priorities have shifted significantly during the pandemic. Schools (+15), support for businesses (+9) and colleges (+6) have all risen in importance. Meanwhile, transport (-10) and housing (-14) have both fallen in importance.

Centre for Cities’ Chief Executive Andrew Carter said: “People in the West Midlands overwhelmingly support shifting power out of Whitehall and down to the city region. Devolving more responsibility for providing affordable housing, supporting businesses and running adult education schemes are all popular with the public in the West Midlands.

At the 2019 election, the Government backed the principle of more devolution in England yet, more than a year later, we are still waiting to see what its plans are.

“As the West Midlands looks to recover from the pandemic, it is vital that the Government listens to demands for more devolution and gives the next mayor the powers and resources to build back better. People want Whitehall to do less, it’s time for it to listen.”

The tables for Dementia UK’s annual cake and tea event have been completely reset; backyard brews, driveway cake sales, and takeaway cuppa and slice deliveries are some of the brûléent ideas families, businesses and communities up and down the country have to raise funds and awareness of Dementia UK’s dementia specialist nurses, whilst keeping safe during the pandemic. 

Dementia UK is the only charity dedicated to supporting the whole family through dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. The event takes place May 1-8.  

When things get challenging or difficult for people with dementia and their families, Admiral Nurses work alongside them; giving compassionate one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions which can be hard to find elsewhere. They are continually trained, developed and supported by Dementia UK. 

The charity’s annual fundraising event has raised over £1 million since its launch, with the support of fundraisers, Dementia UK staff and celebrities. One of the highlights from last year’s event included celebrity supporters dressing up as much-loved characters to recreate tea party scenes from the world of film; Phyllis Logan was Mary Poppins, music producer Naughty Boy was Jay Gatsby, Emma Barton was Holly Golightly, and Jess and Natalya Wright were Alice in Wonderland and the Queen of Hearts.         

Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and CEO of Dementia UK, says: “Families with dementia have been adversely affected by lockdown for just over a year now. Care home visiting restrictions, the closure of support and respite services, and the resulting social isolation and loneliness, has disproportionately affected people living with dementia and their family carers.  

“Whilst Time for a Cuppa will be slightly different this year, we know that dementia support is needed more than ever. We are so grateful to all of our fundraisers who will be whipping up treats, enthusiasm, funds, and who are giving their time for others – in a socially distanced way, of course – in what will be a very special and important Time for a Cuppa.”   

Karen Houghton, whose mum Christine lives with dementia, is only too aware of the toll that the pandemic has had on people with the condition. With the support of her Admiral Nurse, Marie, the family has felt less alone: “Marie is so personable and has developed a great relationship with my dad, who had been struggling to cope with all the support services closing down.  

“We needed to move mum into residential care, but this was hard to do in the middle of the pandemic as we couldn’t really get a feel for the homes. Marie  picked up the phone and knew exactly what questions to ask the care homes so we could be confident that we were placing mum in the best place possible. Without her, we just would not have felt supported or valued as a family.”  

Dementia UK currently has 307 Admiral Nurses who have supported families throughout the pandemic across a range of care settings. The charity also has its Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline, which is busier than ever before with responding to calls from families who have no one else to turn to.

Residents in the London Borough of Waltham Forest are still mourning the passing of its Mayor, Councillor Chris Robbins CBE.

A staunch servant to his community since 2002, as a ward councillor, cabinet member, Leader of the Council and then Mayor, he went about his daily business with immense dignity, grace, and compassion in every way.

Born in Bethnal Green in 1945, he lived in east London for his entire life, serving as ward councillor for Grove Green in Leyton since 2002. A Waltham Forest Labour Councillor for over 18 years, he was a Councillor there since 2002 before becoming Leader, for eight years - from 2009 – 2017.

Supportive of all efforts of humanitarian works – both at home and overseas – as equally and effortlessly, especially in his community, with his unerring work with the interfaith community; he was on the Queen's Birthday Honours – when he received his CBE for public service – in 2017.

Having served as a councillor for 15 years, he became leader of the Labour group in 2009 and led the party to win a majority, which it has not lost since, in the 2010 local election – after eight years of no overall control. He stood down in 2017, when Cllr Clare Coghill took the helm.

She said: “Chris loved the borough and its people. His motto as leader was ‘residents first’. Above everything, he was utterly devoted to his family and my heart goes out to them, and all of his relatives.

“We all lost a great man, a great leader and a great friend.”

A “giant” who led Waltham Forest Council for seven years, he is survived by his wife Shelley, and daughters Emma and Victoria. 

He was 76.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Community Town Hall Trust, the charity which runs Sutton Coldfield’s Town Hall, is marking a year of collections of food for local food banks. The Food Bank Donation Station, open twice a week in response to additional need during the COVID-19 crisis, is run by volunteer Terry Dockery, with support from the Town Hall’s team. 

It has collected over £50,000 worth of donations since opening its doors last March.

The collections began when other centres had to close due to volunteer shortages during the first lockdown in Spring 2020.

When shows at the theatre stopped on March 15, the building went into partial hibernation, opening just for food and blood donations, and later in the year as a temporary dance school and examination centre. Since February 2021 it has operated as Sutton Coldfield’s central vaccination centre for the town’s NHS Group Practices, but has continued with collections of food twice a week.

The Town Hall’s Food Bank volunteers work with The Trussell Trust Foodbank Network, which runs Six Ways Baptist Church and George Road Church Food Banks in Erdington. It also supplies Sutton Baptist Church, Sutton Coldfield United Reformed Church and St James’ Church Mere Green.  Food donated at the Town Hall is distributed to each of these centres to help those in need.

Food and household items are still urgently needed by all of these centres, as more families than ever are hit by the economic impact of the virus. On a Monday and Friday, 10am – 2pm, locals can bring donations to the collection point at the far end of the town hall on foot.  Alternatively, neighbours and businesses have clubbed together with donations, allowing larger loads to be brought by car to a loading bay at the side of the venue.

The Town Hall also launched ‘Town Hall Tara’s Dog and Cat Food Bank’ in a response for more pet food support, using the venue’s own Staffordshire Bull Terrier mascot to lead the campaign. This has proved to be both successful and in constant demand.

Terry Dockery, the lead volunteer on the project said “Any non-perishable foodstuffs are appreciated, but our current priorities are toilet rolls, deodorants and soap, pasta, rice, feminine hygiene, sauces, drinks and tinned foods.”

It took just 15 seconds to steal a Merseyside family’s nifty Ford Focus ST from their home driveway at 10pm on a Saturday night. Undeterred by the CCTV camera, brazen thieves smeared one of the lenses to try to obscure the view, while using sophisticated equipment to hijack the vehicle’s keyless technology. Thanks to unique stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) technology from Tracker, the prized Ford with sports technologies was quickly recovered undamaged by the police and returned to its owner.

Commonly known as a “relay attack”, the car’s system was remotely fooled into unlocking the doors and starting the engine, enabling the gang to simply jump into the car and reverse off the driveway. Although the family was at home at the time of the theft, it wasn’t until the following morning they realised the car was gone. Fortunately, the vehicle was fitted with a Tracker device, hence once notified, Tracker and the police were able to take immediate action. Despite quickly locating the vehicle, the three thieves were nowhere to be seen.

A couple of weeks later, the same car was stolen again by a different group of thieves, this time when it was being used by a family member out making errands.  However, once Tracker was alerted for the second time, the police were able to locate the vehicle and again were able to return it undamaged.

Martin Loftus, the owner of the Ford Focus ST, commented: “We were really unlucky to have the vehicle stolen twice in very different and unrelated circumstances and within a relatively short time frame. The first time round we didn't hear a thing.

“It wasn't until the morning that we realised the vehicle was gone, and even then, we simply thought the car had been moved by one of the family; after much confusion, and a friendly family row, we realised it had been stolen. After the car was stolen the first time, we invested in a Faraday pouch to keep the key fob in at home, to prevent its signals from being intercepted again.  However, opportunistic thieves were quick to exploit the key’s technology when we were out and about, and hence the car was stolen again.

“We are very grateful for having a Tracker fitted, which meant our car was found and returned. Tracker has more than proven its worth, so we're getting Tracker devices fitted to our other family cars for extra peace of mind."

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison for Tracker, commented: “Not that long ago, thieves would typically break into homes to steal keys to retrieve cars. But as these thefts clearly show, technology - despite being extremely sophisticated - enables thieves to take cars within seconds using kit they can buy easily from the internet. Watching the CCTV footage from the first theft, before the camera lens was smeared, you can clearly see one thief waving a laptop bag by the front door, while two others leap into the vehicle once the key fob in the home had been triggered.”

Relay attack theft has risen to an all-time high. Recent analysis of how criminals stole cars in 2020 found 93% of all recovered vehicles had been stolen without the thief having possession of the keys. This has nudged up from 92% in 2019 but represents a 27% increase over the last 5 years.

Clive Wain continued: “The good news is there are simple precautions people can take. Whilst the relay devices can receive signals through walls, doors and windows, metal is its enemy, so putting keys in a metal tin or the microwave is a cost-effective way to outsmart the criminals.  Alternatively, like Martin did, invest in a metallised signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday wallet. These are designed to shield electronic keys from relay attacks, but as the second theft clearly shows, it’s important these shielding devices are used.”

“We also encourage drivers to use traditional visual deterrents such as crook locks and wheel clamps to frighten off criminals and protect their car. However, in the event of a theft, stolen vehicle tracking technology will significantly help police quickly close the net on thieves and return the vehicle to its rightful owner.”

Tracker is the only SVR provider offering vehicle tracking systems that are supported nationwide by UK police forces. Tracker SVR solutions work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t know it’s there. The combination of VHF with GPS/GSM technology, unique to Tracker, makes its units resistant to GPS/GSM jamming, confirming Tracker as a superior security defence against determined thieves. 

The Council’s Corporate Committee have deferred their decision on the proposal to rename Black Boy Lane and announced that more engagement needs to take place with residents following a meeting that took place on March 17.

The renaming consultation is part of the council’s Review on Monuments, Building, Place and Street Names, aimed at ensuring that our public spaces across Haringey are reflective and respectful of our wonderfully rich and diverse borough. 64% of those who participated in the consultation exercise (mostly Haringey residents from across the borough) supported the proposed change, although 72% of respondents living on the street itself objected to the specific proposals.

The Corporate Committee, which has a legal obligation to take into account any objections, particularly including the residents and organisations who live on the street, agreed that, in the light of the anticipated easing of the COVID restrictions, the Council should undertake further engagement with the local residents, before it makes a final decision on the renaming of Black Boy Lane. Councillor Diakides, Chair of the Corporate Committee, said: I” extremely grateful for your response during this difficult time and I want to assure everybody that the council takes seriously all the views expressed.

“I know that many Haringey residents and councillors, are keen to see progress made as soon as possible and, also, to properly respond to any concerns expressed.

The renaming consultation has prompted a number of important discussions about race, equality, diversity and representation across the borough. These issues, and conversations, matter.

“This would be the first initiative of its kind and scale in the country, with other councils working on similar proposals and watching us to learn from our experience; it is therefore imperative that we get it right and maximise public support and consensus, in order to minimise the risks of misunderstandings, unnecessarily alienating people, or doing more harm than good.

“The Committee members are aware that, despite the heroic efforts of our staff and the fact that the council has gone well beyond the minimum consultation and support requirements of the legislation, it proved impossible to carry out direct face-to-face communication with the affected residents, due to the current lockdown restrictions. This is why we took the view that we should allow some more time for further engagement, using the opportunity created by the forthcoming easing of the COVID restrictions.”

There is additional time for people to have their say about community day activities for some of the Wolverhampton’s most vulnerable residents.

The City of Wolverhampton Council commissions services to provide meaningful activities and social opportunities for adults aged 55 and over who are socially isolated or are physically frail, have dementia or poor mental health, or have a physical or sensory impairment.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the delivery of these services with provision suspended for much of the last 12 months. The requirement for many services users to shield has also meant that the number of people attending services that have been running has been low. In addition, take up of traditional day services for older adults have been in decline for several years, both locally and nationally.

A survey asking for people’s experiences of, and thoughts about, these services is currently open and the closing date for comments has been extended to Friday 23 April. To take part, please visit: https://consultation.wolverhampton.gov.uk/adults/community-activities-for-adults.

Emma Bennett, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Adult Services, said: “We need to ensure community services are delivering the sort of activities that people want and need, and so we want to hear from people who have used or are using these services here in Wolverhampton.

"This is a chance for you to tell us your experiences of receiving support from these services and to help shape provision going forward. Please take a few moments to complete the questionnaire or you can ask a family member or relative to complete it on your behalf."

Is there anything more joyous than watching a group of yappy dogs playing together and enjoying endless treats? Nothing quite compares to it, according to UK cleaning expert Dr. Beckmann, the manufacturer of the hugely popular Pet Stain & Odour Remover.

Dr. Beckmann loves dogs and after the company saw reports from experts claiming the end of lockdown could prove particularly tough for Britain’s pooches, they decided to act – partnering with Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home and arranging a special Lockdown Quaran-tea party (or Pawty in dog’s speak) to give a group of abandoned dogs some much-needed lockdown cheer. Puppy ownership surged during lockdown as two thirds of people described their new four-legged friend as a lifeline, but now pet rescue centres are worried about a potential deluge of dogs forced into their care because owners have less time at home as lockdown ends and Britain goes back to the office.

“Many people have either adopted dogs or have been spending all their time with their dogs for months because of lockdown,” says Anna Stansfield, Home Manager of Cheshire Dogs’ Home. “Dogs will of course have loved the company, but people do now need to start preparing their dogs for life post-lockdown, especially if they’re going to be returning to work.

“Dogs who are used to spending extended periods of time with their human families can suffer from separation anxiety when owners are suddenly away from home. This is distressing for the dogs but can also be very upsetting for their human families – but the great news is, good preparation now can really help. 

“As of now, dog owners who will at some point be going back to work should try to spend some time away from their dogs each day, even if it’s just an hour in a different room or in the garden where your dog can’t see you. Make sure the dog has toilet time and a walk first. ‘Alone time’ should have something positive around it for your dog, such as a filled chew toy or a long-lasting chewy treat.

“The practice absences can be extended and built up to simulate your work routine. If you’ll be working in the evenings, make sure these practice absences are in the evening too. Dogs have been such a comfort to people during lockdown, but now we all need to make sure that a return to work isn’t a really stressful time for our four-legged friends.” 

To bring some much-needed relief to the dogs in lockdown in kennels at Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home, Dr. Beckmann threw an afternoon tea party complete with paw-secco, doggie treats, party hats and plenty of bones. The dogs had an afternoon of unbridled fun as Staffordshire Bull Terriers played with Border Collies and indulged in a tug of war with the tablecloth! 

And Dr. Beckmann has now partnered with the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home to raise awareness of the potential post-lockdown dogs’ plight.

Dr. Beckmann spokesperson Susan Fermor said: “It’s been a hard time for all of us over the past few months and we wanted to help support Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home who have felt the impact of not being able to have the doors open as usual.

“It’s been fantastic to see wagging tails of the dogs enjoying themselves as many have been on lockdown longer than they should’ve been.” Dr. Beckmann Pet Stain & Odour Remover is available at a wide range of retailers and online.