Community News

Young bookworms are being invited to celebrate World Book Day 2021 with a week of events and activities organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Community Language Learning team.

They are being urged to put down their screens and read on World Book Day, which takes place on Thursday March 4. And throughout the week, the council has organised a series of live events with children's authors via Microsoft Teams which schools and families are encouraged to join.

They include Elizabeth Laird who has written numerous books, mostly set in Africa and tackling issues such as war, the life of a refugee, courage and perseverance. Her session takes place on Monday from 1.30pm-2.30pm.

Lela Burbridge was born in Uganda and now lives in Britain. Her first book is about a little girl who gets a book for her birthday but can’t yet read. It is aimed at younger children and promotes the great importance and value of education.

On Wednesday from 10.30am-11.30am, there is a session with stand-up comic, author and poet Ian Billings. He has written lots of fiction and poetry books for children. Also on Wednesday, there is a Teams session with Natalie Pritchard, the author of the Sea School Stories. Her books aim to develop emotional intelligence in children while being fun and magical at the same time. Her live session takes place from 1.30pm-2.30pm.

Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "Getting into the reading at an early age instils a life-long love of books.

"It's great that we've been able to arrange these sessions which will enable children and young people to meet inspiring authors over Teams, and we're encouraging schools and families to get involved. And if you can't join one of the sessions, please make time to take a break from the screen and settle down with a good book.

"If you are inspired to read this World Book Day, why not become a member of Wolverhampton's libraries? It's free to join and will give you access to a huge range of books, DVDs, eBooks and eAudiobooks." To find out more about World Book Day, visit: www.worldbookday.com. 

Representatives from Coventry City of Culture Trust, city and national partners and community representatives will announce further programmes, initiatives and moments that will form part of Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, which begins in May this year.

Coventry is a city of welcome, a city of activists and pioneers, a city of peace and reconciliation, a city of innovation and invention, and now a City of Culture. Coventry has always been a symbol of regeneration. Of movement. Of hope. Coventry is the city that rose from the ashes of the Second World War, a city that rallied through music when others were divided. This year, of all years, we will summon that same spirit.

Starting in May 2021 and running for 12 months, the 365-day Coventry 2021 programme will reflect Coventry as a diverse, modern city, demonstrating that culture is a force that changes lives, moving the city and the region forward. It is one of the first major cultural programmes of its scale, breadth and length to commence since the arrival of the pandemic. This will include announcements and updates from:

·       Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director for Coventry UK City of Culture

·       Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive for Coventry UK City of Culture

·       Cory Barrett, Cultural Leader on the Coventry Leadership Programme

·       Cara Pickering, Visual Arts Producer for Coventry UK City of Culture

·       City Hosts: Dennis Brittain, Vijay Lakhanpal, Zowie-Jade, Si Chun Lam

·       Laura McMillan, Director of Audience Strategy for Coventry UK City of Culture

·       Cllr David Welsh and Cllr Jim O’Boyle from Coventry City Council

·       Stuart Thomas, Head of Midlands at BBC

·       Gaby Wood, Literary Director of The Booker Prize Foundation

·       Lee Child, Author, 2020 Booker Prize Judge

·       Tania Mahmoud, Cities Programmes Lead at the British Council

·       Simon Vaughan, Director, Creative Giants

·       Heather Peak Morison and Ivan Morison, Co-Founders, Studio Morison

·       Sue Bent, Chief Executive, Central England Law Centre

·       Clare Wightman, CEO, Grapevine

·       Lorna Couper, Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre

·       Susie Murphy, Senior Manager, Positive Youth Foundation

·       Corey Campbell and Balisha Karra, Co-Artistic Directors, Belgrade Theatre

·       Doreen Foster, Director, Warwick Arts Centre

·       Jen Davis, Associate Director, Royal Shakespeare Company

·       Dom Breadmore and Anne Forgan, Creative and Programme Director, Ludic Rooms

·       Mark and Sarah Worth, Company Directors, Highly Sprung

·       Ruark Jon-Stevens, Marketing and Communications Manager, Culture Coventry

Event format - The programme briefing will last for approximately 45 minutes – followed by a media Q&A session.

A media Q&A session will take place from 10.45am approx. and will last for 15 minutes. Journalists will be able to submit their questions via the chat system available during the broadcast (name and outlet will be required).

Interview opportunities - Media interested in one-to-one interview opportunities (via video or email) should get in touch with Four Communications to co-ordinate.

To commemorate Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s milestone 30th anniversary in 2021, heritage Midlands jewellers, Deakin & Francis, has exclusively crafted a limited edition of cufflinks, which are now available. 

Just 100 sets of the meticulously crafted cufflinks have been created by the seventh-generation jewellers, which display the charity’s distinctive and popular ‘pulse’ design. In addition, just 100 lapel pins carrying the distinctive pulse have been crafted to complement the cufflinks.

Henry Deakin, managing director of Deakin & Francis, states: “The limited edition pulse collection, made in the Midlands for the Midlands, is a design we are particularly proud of as the sale of every pair of cufflinks or lapel pin will directly help fund lifesaving air ambulance and critical care car missions in our region.”

Fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity,Emma Gray, adds: “While our heritage is two centuries behind that of Deakin & Francis, this is a fitting partnership for two organisations founded in the Midlands. We are extremely grateful to Henry and James Deakin and the whole team for supporting our pre-hospital emergency service by crafting such a beautiful collection to commemorate our 30th anniversary.

Their support and that of our buyers will help fund future vitally important missions in our area as each pair sold will fund one of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s critical care car missions.” 

On the reverse, all cufflinks and lapel pins will display their individual number in the limited edition, making them a collectors’ piece from day one.

Awards season is well underway… but the Oscars, Baftas and Golden Globes have nothing on the Virtual BHF Heart Hero Awards 2021. Nominations for the 2021 awards have just launched. And, as the BHF celebrates its 60^th anniversary, we are looking for health professionals and members of the public going above and beyond to save and improve the lives of those battling heart and circulatory diseases.

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic hit the BHF hard in 2020 – cutting their research budget by half. So, this year we are adding a special award – Innovative Fundraiser – to acknowledge those who found new and creative ways of raising money, despite events like the London Marathon and the BHF’s London to Brighton Bike Ride being cancelled.

A ‘Heart Hero’ can be anyone: From a nurse or doctor working in the field of heart disease that may have helped you or your family, to a young person with heart disease who has shown incredible courage and determination or a fantastic fundraiser. All nominees and winners will be invited to our glitzy star-studded online awards ceremony premiering Live on YouTube on World Heart Day on September 29th when the winners will be announced. There are three categories to nominate in: My Healthcare Hero, Innovative Fundraiser and Young Heart Hero (under 18).

Some of last year’s inspirational winners included: 104 year-old Joan Willett, a double heart attack survivor who raised more than £60,000 with a daily hill climb outside her care home during the pandemic; Toddler Sophia Marshall who was born with 11 complex heart defects and  survived against the odds to raise awareness of congenital heart disease and raise funds for the BHF with her family; Dedicated couple June and Jim Machin who channelled their grief from losing their two sons to congenital heart disease to raise over £600,000 for the BHF over 45 years.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Following the huge success of last year’s Virtual Heart Hero Awards, this year’s event will again be virtual. It has been an incredibly challenging year for heart patients and their families, the heart research community and the BHF which has seen its research budget halved due to the impact of Covid-19.

That is even more reason to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our supporters who have gone above and beyond – despite the pandemic - to help the BHF Beat Heartbreak Forever.”

Development work has started on a £30 million package of bus priority measures to improve reliability and journey times on commuter routes covered by some of the region’s busiest bus services between Birmingham, Sandwell and Dudley. The measures will include new bus lanes, priority junctions and bus gates, with brand new state-of-the-art bus stops offering real time information along a cross-city corridor from Druids Heath to Dudley via Birmingham City Centre.

It will allow buses, including the 50, 82 and 87 routes in Birmingham, Sandwell and Dudley – primarily following the A435 and A457 - to cut through traffic congestion and offer passengers more reliable journey times. Improving bus reliability and services will also contribute to the region’s #WM2041 plan to become carbon-neutral over the next 20 years by making public transport an even more attractive option.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is currently working with partner councils to plan the package of bus priority measures. Public consultation on proposals for Birmingham City Centre has launched this week, and further consultation on the wider measures will take place later in the year.

Construction on some early measures will begin this summer and the entire project will be completed during the second half of 2023. That will open opportunities for a new cross-city bus route providing better connections to bus, tram and rail services including the new state of the art Dudley bus and metro interchange, due to be opened in 2023.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “This cross-city bus route will enable buses using the Alcester Road and A457 Dudley Road to beat traffic jams and offer commuters a convenient and reliable alternative to the car. It will also come on stream around the same time as our Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension and our new Dudley Interchange, transforming public transport for people and businesses living in that part of the Black Country.”

Improving the region’s public transport infrastructure better connects people to jobs and leisure opportunities which is seen as crucial for the region’s economic recovery from Covid-19, as well as helping the region in fight against climate change

Measures could include:

·         Improving bus journey times through Cape Hill 

·         Improvements to Burnt Tree junction in Sandwell and Dudley

·         Safety improvements on Waterloo Road

·         Dudley Road improvements alongside works planned by Birmingham City Council

·         Bus improvements  on Alcester Road South through Druids Heath, Highter’s Heath, Billesley and Kings Heath.

·         Brand new shelters with RTI at key locations

The investment is backed by a grant of more than £24m from the Department for Transport, topped up with funding from West Midlands Bus Alliance partners, which includes Birmingham City Council and TfWM.

Councillor Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio lead for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “These bus lanes and junction upgrades will improve services for the many thousands of people who use the number 50, 82 and 87 bus routes every day.

“It is also being developed in parallel with the reopening of the Camp Hill rail line stations to transform public transport and better link the people of Moseley, Kings Heath, Stirchley and Druids Heath to the city centre and wider West Midlands region.”

Cllr Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “We welcome these improvements, which come on board at the same time as the Metro extension and the new bus interchange in Dudley town centre.

“The net impact of all of this is that it will be easier than ever for people to get to Dudley town centre and into our borough.

“The increase in footfall that will bring will be massive for our shops and businesses looking to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a game changer.”

Cllr Jackie Taylor, cabinet member for sustainable transport for Sandwell Council, said: “The introduction of highway improvements along this cross-city bus route will not only benefit bus passengers but also other road users and this investment in Sandwell is most welcome.

“It comes at a time when we already have significant investment in transport projects across Sandwell with the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension on its way and the recent announcement of funding for the improvement of Birchley Island to name but a few.

“This will provide better connectivity between the Black Country and Birmingham, including for the residents of Sandwell.

“This is another great example of how we are working together with partners to provide sustainable transport routes in and around the borough and wider region.”

Consultation over the first phase of bus priority measures in Birmingham city centre has been launched this week. These measures are set to be introduced later this year, benefitting hundreds of thousands of residents and bus users daily.

These include:

·         a bus lane on Bristol Street between Wrentham St and Lee Bank Middleway

·         bus lanes on Summer Hill Road between Newhall Hill and Ladywood Middleway

·         a bus lane on Snow Hill Queensway

·         passenger improvements around Margaret Street; and

·         improvements to the junction of Newhall Street with Great Charles Street Queensway

With raising sufficient money for a deposit often the biggest stumbling block to homeownership, new data analysis from Key shows that older home owners gifted an average of £42,500 to younger relatives to help them get on or move up the property ladder in 2020.

Gifted Almost Two-Thirds of the Average First Time Buyer Deposit: This is almost two-thirds of the average first time buyer deposit (£57,278**) and will have gone even further than before due to the stamp duty holiday announced in July 2020. Older homeowners in London (£102,826), South East (£61,500) and Wales (£44,200) were the most generous while those in the North West (£23,467) and Yorkshire (£25,217) were less so [see table below for full analysis].

That said, more modest house prices in these regions meant that first time buyers still benefitted from 76% of the average deposit needed in Yorkshire (£33,313) and 67% of the average deposit required in the North West (£34,347).

Interestingly in four areas - Wales, the East Midlands, Northern Ireland and the North East - the average gift from property wealth was higher than the average needed by a first-time buyer.  This seems to suggest that in these regions some people who relied on family funding were able to put down a larger deposit, purchased a more expensive property or undertake renovations.

Helping family is a major motivation

Helping younger family members is a major motivation for equity release customers with £755 million of the £3.4 billion in property wealth released last year used for gifting.

The Stamp Duty holiday on all purchases up to £500,000, currently scheduled to end on March 31^st, was a major driver with 43% of these gifts used for housing deposits and 26% for an early inheritance – some of which was possibly used for other types of property costs.

Will Hale, CEO at Key, said: “Finding almost £60,000 to use as a deposit for your first home is tough – especially in the current economic environment - and therefore it’s not surprising that many younger people have looked to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday.   In 2020, older homeowners released almost £755 million of equity in order to help younger members of their family meet a range of costs including supporting them with an average of £42,500 to use for a house deposit.

“For many people, these gifts will have been the enabler to them buying their first home and is a perfect example of how intergenerational wealth transfer can deliver positive societal benefits.  The stamp duty holiday has certainly been a catalyst for more activity in this area but helping family is always a major motivation for older homeowners exploring their equity release options.

”That said, it is vitally important that homeowners get specialist advice if they do decide to use some of the value tied up in their home to help their families.  Balancing generosity with their own financial security is vital and a good adviser will help them explore all their options.”

The picture across the country

Gifts for house deposits were highest in London at £102,826 and lowest in the North West at £23,467 as the table below shows.  However in Wales the average gift at £44,208 was the biggest in comparison with the average first-time buyer deposit with Northern Ireland at £34,167 the second highest proportionally. Gifts in the North East and the East Midlands also exceeded the average first-time buyer deposit.

A Wolverhampton community group is helping local people discover the fun of cycling after setting up its own cycling hub using a Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) funding grant.

The Park Village Education Centre in Low Hill used its Better Streets Community Fund grant to create secure cycle storage and workshop facility, cycle parking and a safe training area.  And it is working with the Whirling Wheels Cycle Training to offer lessons and bike maintenance services to help local people get out and about on two wheels.

Park Village Education Centres' Dr Yusuf Shafi said: “We used the funding to purchase two 20ft containers for cycle storage and repair and set up a secure cycle shelter for Centre users and locals.

“In partnership with Whirling Wheels we were then able to engage 86 young people and 37 adults in a variety of cycling training, cycle repair and safety training sessions. It has been an absolute pleasure and delight to see so many people getting on their bikes and realising the fun of cycling.”

The hub covers an area with a rich and diverse community and high levels of social deprivation and has not only promoted healthy activity but also provided emotional and social support during lockdown.

The £2 million Better Streets Community Fund was set up for groups and organisations to apply for funding for small scale active travel infrastructure such as bike racks, cycle clubs or safe road crossings.

The group was among 34 projects throughout the region to benefit from grants of between £10,000 and £250,000 for projects to improve cycling and walking in their areas.

These include:

·         An inclusive cycling project run by Midland Mencap at Woodgate Valley Country Park in Birmingham to provide adapted bike and wider cycle paths for their use

·         New toucan crossings at Stevens Park in Dudley to allow children from Old Park School and Thorns Primary School to safely cross the Thorns Road and better enjoy the park

·         Secure cycle parking facility at the YMCA in West Bromwich town centre

·         A Wheels for All inclusive cycling centre, including adapted bicycles, at Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton

·         Creation of a community cycle hub at Walsall Rugby Club, which included balance bikes for young children

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, who launched the Better Streets Community Fund in 2019, said: “These community led projects can make a real difference to people, particularly children, by giving them a lifelong love of cycling.

“Encouraging more people to cycle and walk, especially for those shorter journeys, is a key part of our plans to reduce traffic congestion and improve our environment and health.

“That is why we have put unprecedented investment into active travel, including our region wide Starley Network of safe cycle routes and our new West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme rolling out across the region from next month.”

TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is currently investing £40 million, including £23 million from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund and £14 million from the Active Travel Fund, into cycling and walking infrastructure.

Encouraging more people to cycle and walk for shorter journeys can play a part achieving the #WM2041 target of becoming net zero carbon region over the next 20 years.

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “These community led projects, such as pedestrian crossings, better cycle paths and bike training can make a real difference to a neighbourhood by giving people the confidence to walk and cycle and make streets safer for children.

“As well as backing these smaller projects we are also investing in larger cycle routes and a region wide cycle hire scheme because getting more people to cycle, either for their commute or leisure is healthy and good for our environment.”

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made her announced of the reopening of the country's economy - including shops, bars, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers - is expected to start from April 26. She said it was hoped that the country's ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions could be lifted on April 5.

With four people from two households being allowed to meet outdoors from March 15, all primary pupils and S4 to S6 secondary students could return to school from that date. But pupils in the first three years of secondary school are unlikely to return until after the Easter holidays.

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government's strategic framework was deliberately cautious at this stage. "But in the coming weeks, if the data allows and positive trends continue, we will seek to accelerate the easing of restrictions," she said. However, opposition parties said the statement "fell short" of expectations and lacked clarity on its "ultimate goal", while business leaders called for more detail.

Prime Minister Johnson announced that shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality in England could reopen on April 12. Under a four-step plan to ease lockdown south of the border, all legal limits on social contact could be lifted by 21 June if strict conditions are met.

The First Minister said the aim in Scotland was to move fully back to a levels system of restrictions from the last week in April. She said: "At that stage, we hope that all parts of the country currently in level four will be able to move out of level four and back initially to level three - possibly with some revision to the content of the levels."

Ms Sturgeon said that from April 26, the government would expect to see a phased but significant re-opening of the economy, including non-essential retail, hospitality and services like gyms and hairdressers. The aim is for a progressive easing of the level four restrictions at three-week intervals.

She said schools were the immediate priority with the country's youngest children and some senior pupils having returned to the classroom on Monday. It is hoped that the next phase will see the remaining primary school pupils return from March 15, with more senior pupils back in the classroom "for at least part of their learning". Deputy First Minister John Swinney said that this would not just be senior pupils studying for qualifications, and that he wanted to see all S4 to S6 pupils "back into the school system" on this date if the data allows.

The rules on outdoor mixing would also be relaxed on that date, with up to four people from two households allowed to meet, and non-contact sports for under-18s resuming. The final phase of the return to school would take place from April 5, a date when school pupils will be at the start or middle of their Easter holiday break. It is also hoped to lift the stay at home restrictions from that date. At least six people from two households should be able to meet together outdoors, and communal worship will be allowed to resume.

The timing of major religious festivals - such as Easter - will be taken into account when deciding the exact date. The levels system of restrictions would then be reintroduced from April 26, along with a more substantial reopening of society and the economy.

Ms Sturgeon said: "It is important to stress, of course, that all of this depends on us continuing to suppress the virus now - and continuing to accept some trade-offs for a period, for example on international travel. However, if we do so, I am optimistic that we can make good progress in returning more normality to our lives and the economy."

Police have handed a £10,000 fine to the organiser of a church meet-up in a pub car park. Officers from Nottinghamshire Police said the Church on the Streets service, involving about 30 people in Bardney Drive, Bulwell, Nottingham, broke lockdown rules.

They said when officers arrived, at around 12:15 GMT on Saturday, there were tents, food and a sound system. But the church's pastor, Chez Weir, has said she will contest the fine.

Insp James Walker, from the force, said they had been advising the group for a number of weeks about how and where they could worship during lockdown. He said: "Over the last week in particular, we have absolutely clarified these events are not allowed."

"Whilst the rules state you can attend places of worship, this car park is evidently not a place of worship. Despite the warnings given over the last week in particular, this event continued to go ahead and that is why we have implemented our last resort of enforcement."

The pastor said those attending Church on the Streets gatherings stayed in their cars and the food, tents and sound system were all part of the service. She said she had worked with the police throughout and had recently been advised against using a different car park for worship but did not realise the restriction also applied to the pub car park.

"We've looked at the guidelines and they are very vague," she said. "I'm really disappointed. I'm going to challenge it because I don't believe I've done anything wrong." People are allowed to gather at places of worship under current lockdown rules.

Government guidance states a place of worship can be somewhere used for religious gatherings, even sites usually used for other things. But it adds they must be permitted to be open during lockdown and "additional guidance may be applicable".

It also recommends that, where possible, places of worship continue to stream worship or other events to avoid large gatherings.

Key members of West Midlands faith and community groups are coming together to help improve the lives of all residents.

Organised by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) the new Faith Strategic Partnership Group is bringing together 19 representatives from five religions. They were chosen from 84 applicants who applied to join the group back in October.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “The work of local faith groups is highly valued, especially the strong contribution they have made during the pandemic. They have helped spread the word to their communities about everything from safety messages to support available to businesses. A very strong field of applicants was received for a small number of places so I am sure this new group will make a significant contribution to the recovery of the West Midlands.”

Members of the group will identify priority areas and strategies to tackle these from a faith perspective. These areas are expected to include homelessness, education, employment, poverty, community relations and leadership. The group’s members will be expected to network within and beyond their communities and collaborate with other faith groups. Their priority will be to support the WMCA’s Covid-19 response, especially around the issue of health inequalities highlighted by the recent Regional Health Impact of Covid report.

The first meeting was held on December 15 and was attended by the Mayor and Councillor Brigid Jones, WMCA portfolio lead for inclusive communities and deputy leader of Birmingham City Council who said: “The new Faith Strategic Partnership Group represents a balance of religious affinities, gender, age and geography to create the right mix of members which is truly representative of the faiths in our region. I look forward to hearing from them on some of the key issues facing our communities in the West Midlands.”

Just over three years ago a faith steering group was created to work with the Mayor’s office and the WMCA and over the past nine months the group has supported its faith briefings which bring together faith groups by holding weekly online meetings. The virtual round tables provide faith leaders and representatives with updates on Covid-19 from local authorities and public health experts, and on funding and support available and the opportunity to hold to account each week’s panel about issues that directly affect their communities. The new group will start off with 26 members, seven of which are from a previous steering group, who will develop and support the new group and stand-down in 12 months.

Chair of the Faith Strategic Partnership Group and chair of the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras, Birmingham and centre director at the Nishkam Centre, Amrick Singh Ubhi said: “The new members were chosen on the basis that they have the strategic capacity and foresight to ensure faith makes a strong contribution to the work of the region. We were particularly keen to include younger faith representatives so we can contribute to the development of the faith leaders and advocates of the future.

“We are passionate about calling upon all the amazing individuals who expressed an interest to join and involve them in future discussion. We are also indebted to the outgoing Faith Steering Group who have to pave the way for this next phase.”

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, with support from the West Midlands Combined Authority, vital voluntary services were set up by the wide range of faiths in the West Midlands to help those affected by the current crisis - regardless of belief.

The successful applicants are:

1. Amrit Kaur Juss
2. Bhuvnesh Shah
3. Cheryl Hawkins
4. Ghulam Vohra
5. Hannah Stanton
6. Hikmah Muhammad
7. Jaspreet Singh
8. Jatinder Singh
9. Jessica Day Pollard
10. Julian Sampson
11. Kuljeet Takhar
12. Mahmooda Qureshi
13. Matt Lambert
14. Maxine Douglas
15. Nasir Akhtar
16. Nisha Patel
17. Ruth Jacobs
18. Sheikh Mohammed Nuru
19. Tarang Shelat

Members of a business networking group have helped to organise a Charity event in aid of the Stan Bowley Trust, which raises money for cancer radiotherapy treatment and was instrumental in bringing the revolutionary CyberKnife machine to the UK.

The charity is named after Alan “Stan” Bowley, a Staffordshire Police officer who died in 2011 from cancer but who had benefitted from CyberKnife therapy in Washington DC, USA, after a successful fundraising appeal. Now, to mark the tenth anniversary of his death, the charity is launching Best Foot Forward and inviting people to collectively as a group run, walk, cycle – or climb the stairs – 7088 miles (the distance of the return journey from Congleton, Cheshire, where Stan lived, and Washington DC, where he was treated) over 18 days.

Event Organiser Stuart Bravington, said already 45 people had signed up for the challenge, which will take place from March 31 to April 17. Between them, they have pledged to cover nearly a half of the total distance. He’s calling on local people to sign up and help the Trust in meeting its target.

“I’m hoping to walk or cycle every day for the 18 days of the challenge and would love others to join in,” he said. “With charities unable to do their usual fundraising because of the pandemic, we were keen to do something and came up with this idea. We’re hoping to have as many people take part and raise as much money as we can for the Trust.”

Stan’s brother Ian Bowley, who is a founding member and Trustee of the charity, said: “This is a great initiative organised by Stuart, Gary Williams and Darrell Smith. It will be a fitting tribute to my brother Stan, who worked tirelessly to raise funds for CyberKnife prior to his untimely passing.

“As an event-based charity, our fundraising has dropped by approximately 90% during the lockdown, so to have this opportunity in getting as many people involved as possible and also to raise the awareness of what CyberKnife can offer is fantastic, and the best bit about it, the event will be suitable for anyone, as you can either be an athlete or just clock the miles up by walking the dog or mowing the lawn.”

The daughters of assassinated US Black civil rights leader Malcolm X have requested that the murder investigation be reopened in light of new evidence. They cite a deathbed letter from a man who was a policeman at the time of the 1965 killing, alleging New York police and the FBI conspired in the murder.

Raymond Wood wrote his responsibility was to ensure Malcolm X's security team were arrested days before he was shot dead in Manhattan, his family says. Three men were convicted of the murder. The men - all members of the Nation of Islam political and religious movement - were each sentenced to life in prison. One of them has since died, while the other two have been paroled.

By the time he was gunned down, Malcolm X - who was at one time seen as a public face of the Nation of Islam but then left the movement - had moderated his militant message of Black separatism. However, he remained a passionate advocate of Black unity, self-respect and self-reliance.

In 2020, the Manhattan district attorney launched a review of the convictions after meeting representatives of the Innocence Project, a non-profit legal group campaigning for justice for individuals it says have been wrongly convicted. The letter says the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) covered up details of the assassination on 21 February 1965 in Harlem's Audubon Ballroom, Upper Manhattan, according to Wood's family and their lawyer.

Wood alleges that he was tasked with making sure that Malcolm X would have no door security in the building where he was due to speak in public. At a press briefing on Saturday, Wood's family members provided no details about how and when Raymond Wood died. But they said he did not want to make the letter public until after his death, fearing repercussions from the authorities.

"Any evidence that provides greater insight into the truth behind that terrible tragedy should be thoroughly investigated," said Ilyasah Shabazz, one of Malcolm X's daughters. In a statement, the NYPD said: "Several months ago, the Manhattan district attorney initiated a review of the investigation and prosecution that resulted in two convictions for the murder of Malcolm X.

"The NYPD has provided all available records that’s relevant to that case to the district attorney. The department remains committed to assist with that review in any way." The FBI has so far made no public comment on the issue.

Following his announcement, under plans set out by the Prime Minister, shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality will reopen on April 12 in England if strict conditions are met, with up to six people from separate households able to meet in beer gardens from that date.

The new four-step plan to ease lockdown could see all legal limits on social contact lifted by June 21. It requires four tests on vaccines, infection rates and new coronavirus variants to be met at each stage.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs the plan aimed to be cautious but irreversible and at every stage decisions would be led by data not dates. But he warned there was no credible route to a zero-Covid Britain nor indeed a zero-Covid world.

It comes as the first data on the UK's coronavirus vaccine rollout suggests it is having a spectacular impact on stopping serious illness.

As part of the first step of the plan for easing lockdown in England:

From March 8: All schools will open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed. Recreation in an outdoor public spaces - such as a park - will be allowed between two people, meaning they would be allowed to sit down for a coffee, drink or picnic

From March 29: Outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed. It is understood this will include gatherings in private gardens. Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis or basketball courts will reopen and organised adult and children's sport, such as grassroots football, will also return

Secondary school pupils can access tests and will be required to wear face coverings in classrooms and shared spaces like corridors. The second step from April 12 would see major parts of the economy permitted to reopen:

·         Non-essential retail opens, hairdressers and some public buildings like libraries

·         Outdoor settings like alcohol takeaways, beer gardens, zoos and theme parks

·         Indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms

·         Self-contained holiday accommodation, such as self-catering lets and camp sites

But wider social contact rules will continue to apply in all settings - meaning no indoor mixing between different households will be allowed.

Mr Johnson confirmed the end of hospitality curfews - and requirements to eat a substantial meal alongside alcohol. He said a review of international leisure travel restrictions would be announced by April 12 at the earliest.

Funerals continue with up to 30 people, and weddings with up to 15 guests.

The third step will come from May 17 - if the data allows - and will see the "rule of six" abolished for outdoor gatherings, replaced with a limit of 30 people:

·         Two households can mix indoors - with the rule of six applied in hospitality settings like pubs

·         Cinemas, museums, hotels, performances and sporting events reopen - though social distancing remains

·         Up to 10,000 spectators can attend the very largest outdoor seated venues like football stadiums

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions, funerals and wakes. Mr Johnson said this step would also "consider the potential role of Covid status certification" - which could refer to so-called "vaccine passports" - in helping indoor venues to reopen safely.

Before the fourth step, ministers will carry out a review into social distancing and other "long-term measures" designed to reduce transmission, including the "one metre plus" rule and the wearing of face coverings. They will also consider whether to lift the "work from home" guidance, which the government says people should continue to follow until the review has been completed.

The fourth step from June 21 will potentially see all legal limits on social contact removed, with the final closed sectors of the economy reopened - such as nightclubs. The government hopes that - from this date - restrictions on weddings and funerals will also be abolished.

A London-based radio project focussing on the descendants of the Windrush generation living in Tottenham has won Best Arts Project, in the 2021 Hearts for the Arts Awards. N17 radio programme was created by Chloe and Kane, two sixth form students at Harris Academy Tottenham, in partnership with Haringey Council, Kick it Out, Threads Radio, RoughHouse Theatre and playwright, Dougie Blaxland.

With the support of the Windrush Day Grant – the partners worked collaboratively to produce and broadcast a radio programme – N17 – to coincide with Black History Month. N17 celebrates the extraordinary contribution made to British society by descendants of the Windrush generation who settled and brought up their families in Tottenham.

Chloe and Kane conducted online interviews with a wide range of members of the Windrush community who were raised in Tottenham. Their stories were then edited together and broadcast via Threads Radio Station and social media to coincide with Black History Month in October 2020. Some of those interviewed included David Lammy MP, BAFTA-winning actress Letitia Wright and former England cricketer Mark Alleyne MBE.

The Hearts for the Arts Awards are an annual initiative by the National Campaign for the Arts, celebrating local authority and cultural trust arts champions and creative community projects. The judging panel included broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, comedian Frances Martinez and Paul Hartnoll of dance music duo Orbital. 

Councillor Mark Blake, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “This award is a testament to the amazing creativity and industry of our young people in Haringey. Congratulations to Chloe and Kane for their hard work on this project, which shines a light on the immense contribution of descendants of the Windrush generation to Tottenham life and culture.”

A national statistician has revealed this year’s UK census could be the last one ever to be carried out. The census, which has been conducted for almost 200 years, provides valuable population information to help councils and the government plan services. But Professor Sir Ian Diamond said he was hopeful that data from other sources could replace it.

He said: "The census is frankly as good as it is possible to get. Let's just see if we can get to a similar place, more quickly, using different strategies." Sir Ian said he was examining cheaper alternatives to the 10-yearly compulsory questionnaire delivered to every UK household.

Although the roots of census-taking in Britain can be traced back to the Domesday Book in 1086, it was not until 1801 that an official census was conducted, when the population of England, Scotland and Wales was recorded to be nine million. However, statisticians regard the 1841 census as the first modern census. It has stood the test of time - with more questions about the characteristics of each household member added over the years - but costs have ballooned.

The Office for National Statistics, which has responsibility for the census in England and Wales, said an estimated £906m would be spent next time - nearly double the figure for 2011. The censuses for Scotland and Northern Ireland, which are conducted at the same time, are administered separately.

Sir Ian acknowledged that costs had been rising, though he pointed out that a drive to get most people to complete next year's census online would allow resources to be targeted at those who were less likely to respond. The former University of Aberdeen vice-chancellor said his officials would undertake research, alongside the census, to find out if accurate information could be obtained via other means, such as the Ordnance Survey, GP lists, council tax records and driving licence details.

He said that such administrative data - combined with regular, large-scale population surveys - could provide better and more granular information in a cheaper and more timely way, though he said no decisions had been taken. “We would only move away from the census if we can replicate that richness of data," he said.

He added that the government would have the final say after the census results and research had been evaluated, in 2023. In a 2018 white paper, the government said its ambition was that other sources of data would be used after 2021, though it did not explicitly say that the census itself should be scrapped.

The Davis family from Bromsgrove who couldn’t be together this Valentine’s, won the chance to be part of a national photography competition that brought them together digitally, courtesy of OPPO.

Susan, Rebecca and Rhys Davis were remotely captured on their OPPO smartphones prizes, by acclaimed photographer, Pixie Levinson, as they cooked up a storm for Valentine’s Evening. Rebecca entered the OPPO competition, with a request to have a Valentine’s picture with her brother (Rhys), who missed her birthday because of lockdown, along with their Mother (Susan), who they hadn’t seen for over a year as she was high risk / shielding.

Research from smartphone brand OPPO revealed that Brits wanted time with friends and family (78%) this Valentine’s, compared to just 10% who said their partners as lockdown continued to keep our wider social circles socially distanced. Many Brits haven’t seen friends or family since Christmas, staying in touch via social media, video or phone calls and as a result, nearly half (49%) now feel more positive about technology now than before the pandemic.

In a series of quirky remote photoshoots with separated Brits from across the UK, Pixie digitally bought all kinds of couples together from friends, family members to long-distance lovers. Friendship was captured between best mates Katie, from Epsom and Shannon, from Banstead, as well as Matt and Alice (both from Plymouth) who have spent lockdown playing Call of Duty. 

Lockdown love was in the air between Grace from Kidderminster and Matthew from Liverpool, Alia from Rotherham and her boyfriend Hashim from Cheshire, as well as Joanna and Adrian (both based in London), who met in Warsaw seven years ago.