Community News

People, businesses and groups across Birmingham are being urged to have their say on a bold vision for the city as Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 consultation enters its final fortnight

Shaping our City Together outlines a blueprint for the future of Central Birmingham, which includes inner city neighbourhoods, focusing on making local areas greener and more people-centred, with improved access to green spaces and improved cycling and walking routes. The proposed vision and consultation were launched on 26 January, and people can still contribute to the consultation, which closes on 26 March 2021.  

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The responses we have received so far as part of the Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 consultation have given us a real insight into what direction the people of Birmingham want to see their city move in over the next 20 years. The quality of the responses and the diversity of opinion has been fantastic.  

“There is still time for anyone who hasn’t taken part to do so.  Anyone wanting to find out more about our plans can do so through a series of webinars, which bring together insight and opinion from business and community leaders from across the city.”  

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside wider environmental, societal and economic challenges has prompted the launch of this project, which will replace the Big City Plan, the existing city centre masterplan launched in 2010. A key aim of the proposals for the Central Birmingham area is to strengthen the links between the city centre and surrounding inner city suburbs such as Aston, Nechells, Balsall Heath, Small Heath, and Sparkbrook.    

The feedback received during this public consultation will be used to help inform the Draft Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 Framework, due to be released autumn 2021. Full details of the Our Future City Plan: Central Birmingham 2040 Shaping our City Together public consultation document, details of consultation events and activities that will be taking place can be found on the Our Future City Plan webpage and Birmingham BeHeard. 

A Warwickshire resident has joined thousands of determined Alzheimer’s Society supporters, all conquering their own Memory Walk to raise vital funds for the UK’s leading dementia charity.

Debbie Hopkins, from Atherstone, will be completing a Memory Walk in her local area in March to support Alzheimer’s Society’s vital work supporting families affected by dementia. Debbie will be walking in memory of her mum, Ann, who passed away from dementia in October 2020, aged 74.

Debbie will join thousands of supporters, all marching out and completing their own Memory Walk, sponsored by Santander, throughout March. Anyone can sign up for free and choose a location and date to suit them at alzheimers.org.uk/events

Debbie said: “My wonderful mum, Ann, sadly lost her battle to dementia last year. She was a selfless person who had dedicated most of her life to helping others as she’d worked in the care sector. After seeing how dementia affected people and their loved ones, she always said it was her biggest fear. Looking back, I think mum suspected for many years before her diagnosis in early 2018 that she had dementia, but she wanted to keep her worries to herself to protect her children, and the grandchildren.

“Mum had helped so many people as part of her job and people in the community were always stopping her in the street to say hello. As she became more forgetful because of the dementia, she started to distance herself because she didn’t know who people were anymore, and as a result she became more isolated.

“During the lockdown last year, mum deteriorated quickly. She couldn’t grasp why our big, close family suddenly weren’t getting together anymore, and she concluded that it was her fault. She was ashamed, which is hard for the family to reflect on because she was such a good and loving person.

“My nan, who is 97, couldn’t see mum during lockdown because she was shielding. I will never forget the look of pure happiness on my mum’s face when she saw nan for the first time after lockdown.

“Mum was the most positive, selfless person I ever knew, and it’s heart-breaking that she had to endure this tragic disease. My children were the ones who originally wanted to do a Memory Walk to remember their nanna and to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. We’re currently in training for our walk and have managed five miles so far. We’re getting t-shirts made with mum’s face on and we want to make it a fun day to remember her.”

Janice Le Tellier, Alzheimer’s Society’s Area Manager for West Midlands, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for families affected by dementia. People living with the disease need us now more than ever, but the pandemic has hit us hard financially, despite an unprecedented demand for our services.

“We want to thank Debbie and her family, and everyone taking part in Memory Walk for us across Warwickshire. The money raised will help Alzheimer’s Society reach and support more people through our vital services, like our Dementia Connect support line, which has been used almost three million times in the UK since March 2020. It’s also in huge part thanks to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised £2.3 million for Alzheimer’s Society, that the charity can continue transforming the lives of people affected by dementia.

“We are in awe of the resilience of supporters like Debbie, whose dedication to fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society ensures we are able to support those who need it most during this difficult period.”

A collaboration of small grassroots organisations in Wolverhampton are taking a different approach to the free school meals debate by launching a campaign to feed the whole family for less than £45 per week.

The WV10 Consortium, which covers Low Hill, The Scotland’s, Bushbury Hill and surrounding neighbourhoods, has launched a budget cookbook, developed by local families and volunteers on the WV10 HeadStart programme. It shows families how they can provide three meals a day using fresh produce and a bit of creative thinking for between £35 and £45.

There are food facts, meal plans, budgeting help and lots of different meal ideas covering breakfast, lunch and dinner across the 82-pages and these include anything from toad in the hole and fish curry, to potato, onion and carrot bake and apple and blackberry crumble. This latest project is much more than a cookbook and will be used to engage local people to improve their life skills, such as money management, budgeting and improving health and wellbeing.

Run by local people to support local people, the WV10 Consortium is hoping to secure funds to support local families who are in receipt of free school meals to cover the Easter and Summer holidays and are now looking at a variety of funding measures and corporate partnerships to help top this up.

“The areas we cover are some of the most densely populated in Wolverhampton and among the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country,” explained Kim Payne, Director of Community Action & Training Services and Partnership Manager at WV10. “Rather than just providing the child with one meal a day we want to be a little more creative and look at delivering a solution to feed the entire family with three meals per day, whilst supporting them to move on to a better situation and, therefore, become less reliant on assistance going forward.”

She continued: “We are firm believers in giving people the skills and the tools to improve their own lives so they can live independently and progress in life. It’s not a case of just giving out handouts, it’s about giving everyone a fair opportunity.” The cookbook forms part of a larger WV10 initiative called ‘Life after the Foodbank’, which is designed to prevent people having to queue up at a food bank by providing a programme of support to address the root cause of why they need to do this in the first place.

Under the current Covid-19 restrictions, this is being delivered via food parcels and online resources, coupled with befriending, wellbeing calls and signposting to other essential services. Post-pandemic, the programme will be delivered across all WV10 Community Hubs and will involve healthy cooking sessions and families taking home food items that will provide ingredients for the recipes featured within the cookbook.

Kim concluded: “This is another example of the power of local people working together. We know we can achieve more than just a food parcel and everyone appreciates the massive impact this approach could have on some of the most vulnerable families in our area.”

WV10 Consortium is made up of a number of strategic partners, including Big Local Venture Centre, Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board, Bushbury Community Action Group, Low Hill Community Hub, Park Village Education Centre, SBH Partnership and The Women & Families Resource Centre.

It provides a broad range of support via peers with lived experience and, over the last six years, has delivered nearly £3m of funded projects, ranging from HeadStart and Bushbury Buddies to Rock School and Community Hub funds.

Helping more people remain independent in their own home for longer and supporting patients to leave hospital as soon as they are able to are two of the key achievements highlighted in the City of Wolverhampton Council's 2019-20 Local Account.

The annual report for the City of Wolverhampton Council's Adult Social Care Services details successes and challenges in 2019-20 and priorities for the year ahead. It shows that 4,552 people received adult social care services in Wolverhampton during 2019-20, with the council spending just over £75m on adult social care services in that time.

It highlights the impact that the Telecare monitoring service, the Independent Living Service and the Home Assisted Reablement Programme are having in helping people to remain independent at home for longer. And it showcases the role of Trusted Assessors who ensure that people who are ready to be discharged from hospital are going to the place that best meets their needs. As a result of their good work, waiting times have been reduced meaning people are spending less time in hospital unnecessarily.

Another innovation has been the introduction of the Three Conversations model in adult social care – which aims to ensure good conversations happen between professionals, service users and their families to find out what people need to live the life they want to live and to connect them to the people and places that can help them. As well as achievements over the previous 12 months, the Local Account identifies areas the council is prioritising in the year ahead. These include continuing to support timely discharge from hospital, helping have more choice and control over their lives and supporting people to live independently.

Councillor Linda Leach, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “This report showcases the fantastic work that took place in 2019-20 with adults with care and support needs, their families and carers. It is wonderful to see the continuing progress that is being made in adult social care and I’d like to pay tribute to hard-working colleagues at the council and our partner agencies for their continuing dedication.

"While the report highlights many positives, for which we are very proud, we do recognise that there is still more we can do to support people in our city. For example, we want to ensure that more people are living the life that they want to live which might include having their own home or having a job that they enjoy.”

Failure to support the nation’s pubs return from lockdown risks imperilling the government’s levelling up agenda for economic and social renewal, the think-tank Localis has warned. In a report issued entitled ‘The Power of Pubs – protecting social infrastructure and laying the groundwork for levelling up’ Localis argued it was vital that the lockdown roadmap is not allowed to slip back further for pubs, and that the commitment to end all trading restrictions by 21 June must be delivered to return all pubs to viable trading.

Without such assurances and medium-term support to help place the pub sector at the foundations of a strong recovery, the authors warned local economies and community resilience in left-behind parts of the country - including ‘blue wall’ former industrial heartlands, rural and coastal areas - would be particularly hit. Among key recommendations, the report authors urged central government to further reduce the tax burden on the pub sector to aid the recovery and called for an extension to the Business and Planning Act 2020.

Local councils should be directed to help pubs by issuing licence fee refunds – paid for by the Treasury - for the six months to June 2021, through business support grants, the study advised. Additionally, where premises have been put to new community purposes during the pandemic, councils should offer a diversification grant to pubs looking to retain or expand the services they provided during lockdown.

Localis chief executive, Jonathan Werran, said: “The case for treating Britain’s pubs with fair consideration in exiting lockdown measures is, at core, as simple as it is heartfelt. Where there’s a pub, there’s a community. As one of the biggest contributors to the UK economy, the sector has a vital role to play in the recovery and levelling up journey of the country as well as in maintaining community cohesion and social resilience well beyond the pandemic.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive, British Beer and Pub Association, said: “The Pandemic has fractured our communities economic environment and frayed our social ties. The pub is a powerful embodiment and symbol of both, woven into the fabric of our society and it is one we need to support and strengthen as we rebuild our trade as well as reconnect our communities.”

The West Midlands will see police officers being equipped with handheld scanners to undertake stop and search, under plans revealed by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate Jay Singh-Sohal.

The announcement is one of a number of robust and proactive measures being proposed by the candidate in this May’s PCC election.  It comes as communities affected by rising knife crime demand action to tackle the problem.

Now, Jay Singh-Sohal says he will introduce more robust measures to tackle rising knife crime, if he is elected PCC in May 2021.

His plan includes:

●        Introducing airport-style hand-held scanners for officers to conduct stop and search in a   

       less invasive manner:

●        Ensuring more use of S60 powers (stop and search), with authority delegated down to

       local commanders to be able to react quickly to local intelligence and community

       concerns. 

●        Increasing community engagement and better communications within our diverse

       region, to proactively share information with those affected by crime in order to build

       trust and understanding about police activity.

●        Recruiting a new generation of Special Constables drawn from underrepresented black

       and Asian communities, to help tackle gang violence

●        Increasing partnership working through the VRU, particularly with the Mayor's office, to

       fund grassroots organisations offering diversionary activities for young people as well as

       introduce workshops within schools

Jay Singh-Sohal says: “We can no longer afford to be soft on those who carry weapons. I’ve been listening and seeing the effect rising violent crime has in our communities and on our young people.  They demand a robust and proactive response from a PCC who is attuned to the needs of our residents as well as how through innovative methods the police can be more effective.  I’m drawing from my Army experience to offer solutions and not excuses.  ‘Stop and search’ is an important tool for getting weapons off our streets, and I’ll be working with our communities and empowering our police with a raft of measures to ensure we get crime down.”

Analysis of crime figures show that under a Labour PCC, the past five years have seen violent crime gone up by 170% and knife crime is increasing at a higher rate than in London. 

Total recorded crime has also increased by 33% over the past five years under a Labour PCC, from 242,553 cases in 2015 to 322,797 in 2020.

A comparison of total recorded crimes in 2019 and 2020 show violence is up 26% while weapons possession up 8%

In response, the government has given the region a second year of budget increases in the 2021/2 funding settlement boosting the West Midlands Police to £655m a year.  This was an increase of £35.9m from the previous year and the second highest in England after London.

On top of this, the Home Secretary Priti Patel recently announced £3.37m for the West Midlands Violence Reduction Unit.

A petition launched by Jay on www.GetCrimeDown.co.uk is encouraging residents to pledge their support for his plan.

WaterSafe is encouraging the use of qualified approved plumbers, supported by their local water company, this World Plumbing Day - particularly when it comes to older households.

The UK’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is in full swing and most over 60s have now received a first dose. This is good news for older homeowners, many of whom have been reticent about hiring a plumber to tackle plumbing work during the pandemic.

A survey* by WaterSafe, the UK register of approved plumbers, with 2,000 UK homeowners showed only 11% of those aged 65+ had hired a plumber since the first lockdown in March 2020, compared to nearly 40% in younger age groups. These were urgent jobs, such as fixing toilets, boilers and leaks.

As plumbing jobs now move up the priority list, WaterSafe is encouraging households to trust their work to approved plumbers listed on its free online register, which is supported by the UK’s drinking water regulators. WaterSafe is also supported by all UK water companies, who promote its members to their customers – giving peace-of-mind for those looking for a qualified, insured professional.

All plumbers approved on the WaterSafe register have specific training in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Scottish Byelaws, to ensure they meet the strict legal requirements for installing water pipes and fittings.

Julie Spinks, Director of WaterSafe, said: “With more people being vaccinated every day, we hope older homeowners will feel more confident about hiring a plumber for those niggly jobs they’ve been putting off.

“While all tradespeople must continue to follow government safety guidelines, using a plumber approved by WaterSafe and supported by their local water company also gives homeowners extra reassurance about their qualifications and competence.”

WaterSafe’s survey revealed the safety actions the over 65s most appreciated plumbers taking if working in their homes are social distancing (82%), wearing a mask (76%) and using hand sanitiser (70%).

World Plumbing Day falls on March 11.

A community project aimed at empowering Birmingham women, helping them find their voice and play an active role in their communities, was launched on International Women’s Day (March 8).

Get Families Talking – a pilot scheme commissioned by Birmingham City Council’s equalities and cohesion team, and run by Smartlyte, a training provider based in Balsall Heath – will initially deliver free conversational English language sessions, online for women in Balsall Heath, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill and Highgate.

Supporting women from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, the project also aims to help local women grow in confidence, build friendships and encourage them to get involved in their local communities.

By developing their English skills and increasing their confidence to engage in community activities, it is hoped participants will continue their learning and seek employment or volunteering opportunities.

Councillor John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Social Inclusion and Equalities, said: “Social isolation has become a real issue during this pandemic, so initiatives like this which will help empower women while they learn, by building confidence and friendships can help bring communities together.”

As Covid-19 restrictions remain in place, the six-week pilot scheme will be run via Zoom sessions, but women can get involved at any stage.

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has called for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran on spying charges, to be released "permanently" so she can be reunited with her family in Britain. She has had her ankle tag removed at the end of her five-year sentence.

However, her husband Richard Ratcliffe has been told a new court case against her is scheduled for next Sunday. The PM said he was pleased about her tag, but her continued confinement remains totally unacceptable. He wrote in a tweet: "She must be released permanently so she can return to her family in the UK, and we continue to do all we can to achieve this."

The charity worker had been under house arrest in Tehran since being moved from jail last March. She has always denied the charges against her. Speaking after her ankle tag was removed, Mr Ratcliffe said: “It was a mixed day for us and Nazanin is genuinely happy to be free of her electronic bracelet.

"I'm a bit more guarded - it feels to me like they have made one blockage just as they have removed another, and we very clearly remain in the middle of this government game of chess." He said that his wife had gone to see her grandmother and was determined to enjoy the afternoon and not think about what it all means. "I don't think we expected something clean but how muddy this is I'm not quite sure yet," he said.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Iran is continuing to put her and her family through a cruel and an intolerable ordeal. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 42, had been out of prison since last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic but had been confined to her parents' house. Her sentence was due to end on Sunday.

She was arrested in April 2016 while travelling to visit her parents in Iran with her young British-born daughter, Gabriella, who is now six years old. The dual national was sentenced to five years in prison over allegations of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, which she denies.

She has not yet had her British passport returned to her, according to Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency in London where her family live.

"She does have to go back to court and we don't know what awaits her there,” Ms Siddiq said. However Ms Siddiq said the removal of her ankle tag meant she could visit her elderly grandmother - which is the thing she mentions every time I speak to her".

Robert Smith, of alternative rock band The Cure, is selling off prints of his original artwork to raise money for Heart Research UK. He became a patron of the charity in 2020, following his involvement with the charity’s anonymous heART project over the past 2 years. The project, now in its 4^th successful year, sees pieces of art from celebrities and artists auctioned on eBay. The twist? Though a full list of contributors is available, buyers don’t know who produced which piece until they receive it.

The artwork for sale is a piece Robert produced for the 2020 anonymous heART project and is titled ‘I WILL KISS YOU FOREVER...’ It features lyrics from The Cure hit ‘The same deep water as you’ and the original sold for over £5,000 in the initial auction. 

In response to a large number of requests from fans to buy prints of his work, Heart Research UK are selling high quality A4 and A3 prints of the artwork, for £25 and £50 respectively. The prints will be on sale from the1-14^th March 2021, and will then be printed to order. All of the money raised will support Heart Research UK's life-saving work, funding pioneering research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

Robert said: ““More than a quarter of all deaths in the UK are caused by heart and circulatory disease - I have very sadly seen too many friends and family fall victim over the years. Continuing support for research into the understanding and treatment of coronary heart disease is absolutely vital - for everyone.

“Before the anonymous heART project, I hadn’t picked up paint with purpose for almost 30 years. My favourite creative medium has always been sound, but making these has inspired me to start drawing again.

“I’m so thrilled to be able to support a charity that means a lot to me, and also share a little bit of myself with The Cure’s passionate and generous fanbase.”

The prints are being sold on eBay until the 14^th March 2021.

Census Day 2021 is fast approaching and households will soon receive a 16-character access code in the post which they will need to complete the document online.

The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. This year’s Census will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said: “A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed. This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”

Chief executive of City of Wolverhampton Council, Tim Johnson, said: "The Census really matters. It provides essential information which is used to make decisions which affect us all. It will play a big part in the amount of Government funding Wolverhampton receives in future and the more resources we have, the easier it will be to recover and relight our city after the pandemic.

“The Census is your chance to ensure you and your household is represented in statistics which are then used to paint the most accurate picture of the nation, making sure the needs of communities are understood and resources are allocated appropriately. Therefore it is so vitally important that everyone completes the Census so that the data gathered is accurate and reflects the true picture."

Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March. The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

With so many different special occasions on the calendar, it can be difficult keeping up with them all. But if there is one date in the diary you want to make sure you remember it's Mother's Day - for a clear mind and the sake of your eardrums.

The last thing anyone wants is a phone call on Mothering Sunday asking if you'd remembered to send your well wishes and the customary card and flowers. So when does Mother's Day fall in 2021, what are its origins?

In the UK, Mother's Day takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent, meaning the date changes each year depending on when Easter Sunday falls. The dates are all connected to the lunar calendar, which has around 354 days in a full year compared to 365 days in the solar calendar.

In recent years, Mother's Day has become another name for Mothering Sunday but the two have different origins borne from the US and UK respectively. Mothering Sunday was traditionally a day when Christians were encouraged to visit their mother church - the main church or cathedral in a family's area. It was originally an opportunity to show thanks to the Virgin Mary in church and reunite family members who had been working away.

Over the years the day has maintained that aspect of families reuniting and has in recent times seen mothers showered in love and appreciation. Though Mother's Day is celebrated on Mothering Sunday in the UK, other parts of the world mark the occasion on a different day.

In the US, where the idea of Mother's Day originated, they show their gratitude for mums on the second Sunday in May. The holiday was formed much later than Mothering Sunday. An American woman named Anna Jarvis, in honour of her late mother, petitioned for a holiday to celebrate all mothers after their deaths. It took some years but her determination paid off when president Woodrow Wilson made it an official holiday in the US in 1914.

As the holiday became more established and grew in popularity, Jarvis is thought to have disapproved of the commercialisation of the day. Mother's Day remains a popular date in the diary and one which sees a big spike of sales of flowers and cards all over the world. Cards, flowers and chocolates remain popular choices for Mother's Day gifts but if you're looking for something different then look no further. Personalised items always go down well and have a wide scope, meaning you're bound to find something that's going to appeal to your mum.

From mugs, t-shirts and gift boxes to portraits, books and family trees - there's a lot of choice out there on various sites such as Etsy and Amazon. The thought of doing something ‘normal’ might appeal to you both, so why not spring for a lunch out when restrictions allow or a voucher for a spa day? It might be just what you both need.

Whatever you decide to do, there’s only one thing that counts - and that’s the thought.

Birmingham: The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) along with the Arbor Day Foundation has named Birmingham as a Tree City of the World for the second year running.

This international programme celebrates cities across all continents that are committed to growing and maintaining their urban trees and forests and recognise the importance of trees in building healthy, resilient and happy cities. To achieve recognition, Birmingham met the five programme standards – establish responsibility, set the rules, know what you have, allocate the resources and celebrate achievements – to show its dedication towards planting and conserving trees.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: “The role that trees play in mitigating for and adapting to the effects of climate change is well known; because of this, trees are a priority in our Route to Zero Plan and emerging planning documents. Being recognised as a Tree City of the World for a second year in a row is a great achievement and shows that Birmingham is dedicated to the sustainable management of its. Urban Forest for the benefit of its citizens and the environment”.

Cllr John O’Shea, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Parks, added: “We know our parks and open spaces are some of Birmingham’s greatest assets, but this award also recognises the important work done by volunteers.

“Birmingham Tree People, our tree warden group, act as champions for trees, working with local communities and council officers to monitor, manage and raise awareness of the importance of trees in the landscape. Likewise Birmingham Trees for Life engage with local groups and schools to plant trees in the city and since 2006 have planted over 90,000, and a network of friends groups across the city support this work by helping look after our parks”.

Tree Cities of the World aims to create more green spaces in urban areas by recognising the cities that do it well. Planting more trees is the quickest and easiest way to improve a city’s tree canopy and invest in a brighter future.

Sandwell Council was sending out a heartfelt thank-you to borough faith leaders who paused congregational worship in a bid to halt rising Covid-19 infection rates. Places of worship for a variety of faiths closed voluntarily to protect people – despite the fact that, for most, the decision would mean a severe loss of funding.

Deputy Council Leader Councillor Maria Crompton and Director of Public Health Dr Lisa McNally said they wanted to put on record their appreciation for the decisive action by faith leaders in a bid to protect the community. She said: “Government’s lockdown guidance does not prohibit congregational worship and there was no legal requirement for them to close.  

“However, they took the decision to close, fully aware of the financial risks and our communities should be very proud.”

Dr McNally said: “I have so much respect and admiration for our faith leaders here in Sandwell and the outstanding leadership they have shown throughout the Covid-19 pandemic so far. They sought out public health advice over concerns about hosting congregational worship in the light of the rising Covid-19 rates.

“We were very keen to support any faith sector organisation deciding to pause services at this time, especially thinking of their members who are older and more at risk of severe illness and death. They have clearly prioritised protecting the health of their own and the wider community over financial worries and I sincerely believe their action has saved lives.

"I do hope their communities will support them in return and they will all come through the pandemic stronger." Some of the faith leaders who took the decision to close to congregational worship have provided comments:

Imam Ghulam Rasool, Bahu Trust Sandwell, Langley Mosque said: “With high rates of infections in Sandwell and following discussions with the DPH it felt prudent to shut down. I hope we can get to some degree of normality as soon as possible, as the face-to-face disconnect will have long lasting irreparable effects.” 

Reverend David Gould, of Holy Trinity Church Smethwick: “Closing public worship was a hard decision and, as with the others, there have been financial implications for us but the most important thing is the safety of people.”

Harmohinder Singh Bhatia, Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan (Centre for Oneness) in Wednesbury commented: “Although there are financial difficulties the safety of our congregation is important so we have closed our place of worship since March last year.”

Pastor Peter Spence, Warley Baptist Church added: “The pandemic has seen a drop in our income that has at times been 80% of the normal monthly levels, however the safety of our community is more important than money.”

Reverend Nutan Sandhya J Suray, West Smethwick Methodist Church said: “West Smethwick Methodist Church has been hard hit financially due to closing the church and no letting rentals. However, the health of our people is more important so we must take care of ourselves and each other.”

Nasir Zameer, Chair of Trustees, The Abrahamic Foundation also said: “Despite the financial loss, we chose to voluntarily close after all our staff, volunteers and trustees felt it had to be done to help save our NHS and country in reducing the spread of Covid-19.” 

Hema Patel, President of the Shree Krishna Mandir Hindu temple in West Bromwich added: “It is a great concern for Trustees and working committee as to how to sustain and maintain our place of worship but the focus is to keep our community safe.”

Residents and community groups now have the chance to apply for money from a £2million fund to help people in all 69 of the city’s wards feel involved with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Celebrating Communities Small Grants Funding Scheme has been assembled by Birmingham City Council to maximise the benefit and legacy of being the Proud Host City for the Games. Grants will be available to run initiatives which deliver against one of three themes: ‘Get Active’, ‘Ready, Steady, Fun’ and ‘Celebrating Culture’ - which are described as follows:

Get Active – encouraging communities to get out and get active by participating in sports and recreational activities. The overriding aim should be to encourage residents, of all abilities and ages, to engage in physical activity and improve their health and wellbeing. This could, for example be anything from running to gardening and walking – it isn’t restricted to traditional/organised sport.

Ready, Steady, Fun – delivering community projects to ensure a local area is Games ready (e.g. by improving communal space, and hosting community celebrations to connect people and foster civic pride).

Celebrating Culture – developing community-led cultural events and initiatives that encourage intergenerational activities. Proposed schemes should harness the power of culture to bring people together, celebrate their identities, Birmingham’s place in the Commonwealth and the culture, heritage and stories of their communities.

The scheme will allocate funding across the city’s wards using a formula that takes into account local deprivation data and the size of the ward. Wards with one councillor will receive between £11,100 and £17,500. Wards with two councillors will receive between £22,200 and £35,000.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We're determined that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be a Games for everyone, bringing people and communities across the city together.

“Of course, not every district and neighbourhood will have a venue for the main competition, but through this fund residents and community groups can play a big part in a city-wide celebration. We want everyone to embrace our status as a Proud Host City and, thanks to this funding, there are lots of ways for communities to get involved. We hope Celebrating Communities will help unlock some of the local excitement and help make the events of 2022 memorable for the people of Birmingham.”

The deadline for Round One applications is 1 June 2021. Ward Forums and community voting will then take place to select the successful bids between July and September, with projects then commencing in October.

An application process for Round Two will then get underway with projects being selected and going live in early 2022.

There will be dual celebrations this year on March 8 when both Commonwealth Day and International Women’s Day take place. A series of virtual events are planned to mark these important annual occasions, accessible to audiences across the Commonwealth.

Leading up to the celebrations, the Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “This year particularly is vitally important for the Commonwealth, as our member countries and communities face multiple interconnected global crises, including a horrific pandemic, a worldwide economic crisis and the continuing threat of climate change.

“It is during such times of challenge that we must uphold ever more resolutely our shared values, commitment to cooperation, and unique sense of connection. As a family of nations, we have the opportunity through mutual support and encouragement to overcome the issues we face together by connecting, innovating and transforming to deliver a brighter, more prosperous, more sustainable future for all.” On Sunday March 7, the BBC will broadcast a special programme to replace the usual Commonwealth Day Service at the UK’s Westminster Abbey.

The Queen will share her annual message in 'A Celebration for Commonwealth Day', to be broadcast on BBC One in the UK. Presented from the Abbey by Anita Rani, this programme will also feature messages from members of the Royal Family as well as musical performances and readings from around the Commonwealth.

The theme for Commonwealth day, 'Delivering a Common Future', highlights how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve some of its biggest goals, such as  fighting climate change, promoting good governance and boosting trade.

As Commonwealth Day and International Women’s Day approach, the Commonwealth Secretariat is launching a social media campaign #SheLeadsTheWay which ties with the official International Women’s Day 2021 theme: ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’. This campaign will provide an opportunity for audiences to recognise women leaders across the Commonwealth, during COVID-19 and beyond. All are welcome to contribute by posting their video on social media.

The following virtual events are also open for public registration:

March 5 – 1-2pm GMT: Sea the She: Recognising women’s contributions to ocean science. This event features inspiring stories of women from across the Commonwealth who are challenging gender norms through their work in ocean industries.

March 8 – 2-4pm GMT: Enabling Women’s Leadership in a COVID-19 World to Build Back Better for the Commonwealth. This event will put a spotlight on women’s leadership in responding to COVID-19 and charting an equitable recovery. 

March 10 - Commonwealth Youth Awards. The winners of the annual Commonwealth Youth Awards will be announced. Twenty finalists from 18 countries are up for five regional awards.

A speech from the Secretary-General to commemorate Commonwealth Day will be made available soon.