Community News

The night of 22 to 23 August 1791, in Santo saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

It is against this background that the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is commemorated on 23 August each year.

This International Day is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples. In accordance with the goals of the intercultural project “The Slave Route”, it should offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of this tragedy, and for an analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

The Director-General of UNESCO invites the Ministers of Culture of all Member States to organise events every year on that date, involving the entire population of their country and in particular young people, educators, artists and intellectuals.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was first celebrated in a number of countries, in particular in Haiti (23 August 1998) and Goree in Senegal (23 August 1999). Cultural events and debates too were organized. The year 2001 saw the participation of the Mulhouse Textile Museum in France in the form of a workshop for fabrics called “Indiennes de Traite” (a type of calico) which served as currency for the exchange of slaves in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Audrey Azoulay, Director General, Message on the occasion of the International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition said: “This  August 23,  we  honoured  the  memory  of  the  men  and  women  who,  in  Saint-Domingue  in  1791,  revolted  and  paved  the  way  for  the  end  of  slavery  and  dehumanization. We honour their memory and that of all the other victims of slavery, for whom they stand.

“To  draw  lessons  from  this  history,  we  must  lay  this  system  bare,  deconstruct  the  rhetorical  and  pseudoscientific  mechanisms  used  to  justify  it;  we  must  refuse  to  accept any  concession  or  apologia  which  itself  constitutes  a  compromising  of  principles. 

“Such  lucidity  is  the  fundamental  requirement  for  the  reconciliation  of  memory and the fight against all present-day forms of enslavement, which continue to affect millions of people, particularly women and children.”

Marking this year’s World Homeless Day and emerging from online discussions between people working to respond to homelessness from various parts of the world, English Premier League club Aston Villa will be holding its Big Villa Sleepout – which, this year, will be held virtually. And they are encouraging fans to get involved and take up the challenge from home by sleeping out in their gardens or even camping out on the living room floor, in aid of supporting the homeless community of Birmingham.In return they will be providing an evening of content on their social channels as fans will be encouraged to share selfies on social media throughout the night, using the hashtag #BigVillaSleepout.Fans will also be able to donate through an online donation link and proceeds from the fundraising event will help fund their Villa Kitchen, which provides hot meals to the homeless community in Birmingham.

The Villa Kitchen provides local organisations including Outreach Angels, Helping Hands and the Birmingham Support Group with pre-packaged meals, which are prepared by a team of staff volunteers, and the organisations distribute these across the city.

They will be running their annual Big Villa Sleep Out virtually on Aston Villa social channels, with proceeds going towards funding the Kitchen.

“Everyone should have a safe, secure and stable home”, the club says. “However we have seen far too often how easy it is for someone to fall into the cycle of homelessness.

“The current coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on all our lives, but the homeless community are continually facing challenges”.

World Homeless Day, which aims to draw attention to the struggles the homeless community face and inspires ways in which people can look to end homelessness.

The inaugural World Homeless Day was marked on 10 of October 2010 and since its founding, it has been observed on every continent except Antarctica, in several dozen countries.

Use of the idea of it is open for all to use... anywhere in the world.

The Big Villa Sleep Out will be returning on Saturday November 14.

An award-winning charity, whose continuing work with schools during the pandemic has been widely applauded, has been awarded £250,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.

Services For Education, which in normal times teaches music to some 38,000 school children each week, is amongst the first to receive funds in the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. The Birmingham-based charity is one of the 28 cultural and creative organisations based in Birmingham and one of 1,385 across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today (12 October) with further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector being announced over the coming weeks.

Sharon Bell, Chief Executive of Services For Education, said: “The award of the grant, in a highly competitive environment, is a huge endorsement of the work that our team delivered – and continue to deliver - during lockdown. We are delighted to have secured this additional funding from the Arts Council that will help us continue our invaluable work - using music to support vulnerable children and young people across Birmingham.”

Services For Education employs more than 200 people in the city and uses the power of learning and music to create and build confidence in local children, young people, adults and communities. During the pandemic it embarked on a major programme of on-line tuition and concerts – including the first ever Virtual Youth Proms Festival that included streaming live 30 new performances created during lockdown over four evenings and involving 500 young people. More recently, it has resumed music lessons in Birmingham schools whilst continuing its on-line support for both schools and individual school children.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery. 

“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”

Chair of Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”

Sharon added: “We are delighted that we have been successful in our application for a grant under the Arts Council Recovery Fund. We are enormously grateful to the Arts Council for supporting us for enabling us to continue to do what we love doing – which is bringing music and music teaching to the children of Birmingham. We are now able to look forward to continuing our work with our schools and other cultural education partners across the city over the weeks and months ahead and keeping music alive at a time which we all know is really difficult for the sector.”

Letter from Doug Wright, Chairman Ronald McDonald House Charities, Birmingham

Dear Phoenix Readers

I hope you are well. I’m personally reaching out for some help from you to support our very special Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham where we provide a vital home away from Home.

In 2019, we kept 982 families together at our Birmingham house, totally free of charge, whose children were being treated at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The emotional and financial burden of a sick child in hospital has increased exponentially since Covid-19.

We are proud that we kept our House open throughout the lockdown with the staff brilliantly coping with all the complex operational challenges. Sadly, we’ve had to cancel our annual gala dinner this year (which raised £253,000 profit in 2019 - in excess of 25% of the cost of keeping the House open all year round). As such, we urgently need to raise funds in an alternative way.

In its place, I’m delighted to announce we are holding a virtual RMHC Birmingham fund raising event on Thursday the 12th of November at 8pm.

This inaugural event is to bring RMHC to you with an update on the charity. We will hear from a very special family who stayed with us whilst their son was receiving treatment at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. I can also exclusively reveal that during this event I will be interviewing a real Comedy legend and Charity icon in Sir Lenny Henry.

He will share a personal insight into how we can all give back and create societal impact within our own communities. We’ve priced tickets so that each one sold can cover the cost of a family staying with us for one night (which is £25).

Every penny raised will go to the House here in Birmingham.

So, how can you help? There are three ways;

1. Buy tickets for this virtual event at £25 (there’s an option to upgrade to a £50 ticket and receive a box of goodies to enjoy during the event).

2. Sponsor part of the virtual event. Cost £1000 or £2000.

3. Donate any amount you can. You can use this link to book https://rmhc.org.uk/event/theres-no-place-like-home/

I totally understand how tough life is right now for absolutely everybody but with your help we can make a significant difference to the lives of families staying with us here in Birmingham.

Thank you.

Doug

The building of a new £17.5million National Brownfield Institute (NBI) in Wolverhampton has moved a step closer after a planning application was submitted for it on the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus with the City of Wolverhampton Council supporting the University with its plans and final evaluations and, subject to planning approval being granted, it is hoped works will start on site later this year.It comes just two months after the announcement the scheme is to receive £14.9million of funding from the Government’s Get Building Fund for the West Midlands.

The city council worked closely with the Black Country LEP and West Midlands Combined Authority to secure the funding for what will be the flagship of the University of Wolverhampton’s ongoing £120million Springfield Campus development.

The NBI, designed by Associated Architects, will research and develop new construction methods and ways of regenerating contaminated land.A request for the remainder of the funding required forms part of the city’s bid to the Government’s Towns Fund.

The 12-acre Springfield Campus is already home to the Thomas Telford University Technical College, Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills and the School of Architecture and Built Environment.These facilities combined with the NBI will lay the foundation for the delivery of a National Centre for Sustainable Construction and Circular Economy, which will focus on sustainability and the climate change emergency.

The NBI will be a world-class institute that provides the facility to develop advanced skills, technologies and methodologies through innovation and partnership with the construction industry; focuses on the practical application of future brownfield regeneration through the work of research teams; and leads policy development, research and innovation, and commercial services for brownfield regeneration.It will secure the City of Wolverhampton's position as a leader internationally in sustainable construction, circular economy and brownfield development and will deliver new skills, jobs and opportunities for local people in the city, which has been hard hit by the pandemic.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “It is great to see things moving at pace to bring forward this game-changing scheme for the City of Wolverhampton.

“We have seen the University’s Springfield Campus blossom into the reality of a European-leading Built Environment education campus.The addition of the National Brownfield Institute will make Wolverhampton a world leader in construction, regeneration and built environment, offering teaching and skills development, cutting edge research and innovation, and enterprise and business engagement through multi-sector partnerships.

“Most importantly it will deliver new skills, jobs and opportunities for local people in the city.It is all part of the multi-billion-pound investment on site or planned in our city – a city of opportunity – as we look to bounce back from the impact of Covid-19.”

University of Wolverhampton Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, added: “It’s wonderful to see the planning application for the new National Brownfield Institute being submitted so quickly.  As one of the shovel-ready projects announced in the recent Government’s Get Building Fund, we are keen to get the project off the ground.

“The NBI will be integral to the way we look at land remediation and regeneration across the Black Country and the UK and will play a pivotal part in unlocking industrial land to help tackle the housing shortage in our towns and cities.

“This is a great example of taking knowledge and teaching beyond the classroom and into the community. Not only will the Institute be crucial in developing innovative and sustainable ways of remediation it will create a nationwide repository for brownfield sites and help businesses and entrepreneurs establish business related to the Brownfield development supply chain as well as helping to create a highly skilled and interdependent workforce operating across the land remediation sector within geoscience, engineering, planning, consultancy, contractor, architecture and the built environment sector.

“The Institute will be a fantastic addition to the £120 million Springfield Campus which is a key strategic project for the University offering an unrivalled built environment hub and centre of excellence which will be among the biggest and best in Europe. Alongside our partners, we are committed to realising the vision of the site and the part this will play in regenerating Wolverhampton as well as supporting the West Midlands Combined Authority to deliver its ambitious and compelling brownfield strategy. This is part of the City’s wider ambitions to establish a national centre for sustainable construction and the circular economy in Wolverhampton.”

Tom Westley DL, Chair of the Black Country LEP Board, said: “It is fantastic that the National Brownfield Institute project continues to move forward, thanks to the investment from Government but also testament to the hard work of all our project partners.

“The National Brownfield Institute will create jobs and support skills development across the area as well as provide an opportunity to showcase the innovative skills already here in the Black Country. The Black Country LEP is delighted to support projects such as these which are making a real positive impact on the local economy as our region looks to recover from the impact of the pandemic.”

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, Chair of the WMCA, added: “The National Brownfield Institute is all about establishing the West Midlands as a global leader in the development and use of state-of-the-art construction techniques and in the clean-up and regeneration of derelict land.

“The NBI will be critical to the region’s economic recovery because, not only will it help us transform old industrial sites with new homes and modern business premises, it will also help give local people the modern construction skills they will need to gain employment and build these new schemes.

“This scheme is a key part of both our wider brownfield-first housing plan to continue our record house building whilst protecting the greenbelt, and our plan to get the West Midlands economy back on track by securing a green and inclusive recovery that offers local people the opportunity for a decent, affordable home, and a well-paid job in the industries of the future.”

Celebrate Black history through the wonderful world of rum, RUMFEST, the UK’s premium event of its kind, will be bringing an international celebration of rum and cane spirit.

The Rum Experience Company prides itself on bringing together the finest rum, great food and a range of educating seminars and entertainment to make learning about rum both fun and stimulating. And, this year, due to the global pandemic that has affected everyone, they have decided to host not one large event but a week of smaller events around London.

Starting from October 15 to 21^st, there will be events throughout London involving some incredible venues, showcasing their talents & celebrating all that is Rum with packages including: 5 x 50ml Premium Rums, Cocktail Ingredients and CCUK Cup.

The festival was founded by Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell in 2007, who was keen to promote rum as a drink.

He worked in the drinks trade as a bartender since 1990. In 1998, he had started working with the Jamaican rum distiller, blender and bottler J. Wray and Nephew Ltd.

Burrell, the UK’s only trade and consumer drinks expert for the rum industry and world’s largest rum festival, said: “It’s not just a spirit, it’s a lifestyle”.

He also worked for other drinks brands on an ad hoc basis and with organisations such as the West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association, which represents several different Caribbean rums.

RUMFEST organisers will be sticking to etiquette guidelines from previous shows to ensure that all guests have an enjoyable event. And by buying a ticket for an event during RumFest Week 2020, you will agree to be abiding by common-sense guidelines which have been designed to ensure a convivial, safe environment for everyone at the various events.

“Music, rum and great company - what more do you need!” Burrell says. “Stay safe and drink rum responsibly!”

The UK RumFest has led to the influence of rum festivals and fairs all over the world including The Miami Rum Renaissance festival, the Berlin Rumfest, Paris Rhum fest and the first rum festival in Mauritius.

They come from near and far to get the very best, fresh Caribbean fruits and vegetables there is in Birmingham. And B Caney grocers and convenience food store have well and truly proved to be the zenith for the ultimate destination.

Situated at the corner of Soho Road and Boulton Road, in Handsworth in Birmingham, a constant flow of regular, always very pleased customers have made it the ‘must-go-to’ shop to get the best named Caribbean products and the too-often hard to get products that is regular on the majority of the Caribbean islands. It’s about giving that ‘back home’ feeling.

Run by the knowledgeable and affably named ‘Short Man’, his position in the multi-cultural metropolis that he calls his home has proved a haven for those from pretty much all the communities around him who only want the very best.

He is continuing the ‘food’ ethos from his mum, who has provided a food outlet at carnivals throughout the UK for over 30-years.

Whether it be ackee, callaloo, guinep, guava, sugar cane, sweet sop and soursop, Caribbean seasoning, and much more, there is nowhere that can beat it.

And, as he is always thinking ‘one-step-ahead’, Short Man is thinking big for the future.

“Having fully established myself here”, he says, “I’m forever looking to the future, for the benefit of my partner and children with plans to expand the business and, eventually open a superstore so that I can cater for everybody.

“That’s important for me now having seen the varied nationality who come here – from around the city, county and, indeed, towns and cities the length and breadth of the UK.

“And this Black History Month only enhances people’s love of the foods I sell and grows B Caney on an even greater scale.

“And, as I encourage the next generation behind me, ‘If I can do it, you too can do it.’ Just don’t let anything or anyone get in the way of your dream.”

Happy that everybody around him loves to engage with him and his first-class produce, Short Man is thinking big for him and his family’s future.

Next time you’re in Birmingham and you fancy quality authentic Caribbean produce to give you that unmistakable reminder of the region, of you can’t go wrong with Short Man and his selection.

Short Man believes the key to life starts with healthy living, and that is why he is so passionate about providing only the very best fresh produce for his customers, who love to talk with him, as much as they love his wares and the atmosphere he has created.

Wolverhampton’s libraries have marked Black History Month by selecting a range of books for younger readers to enjoy.

They have been chosen to help children, young people, families and teachers explore race, identity, culture and achievements. Titles include, for two to five year olds, Baby Ruby Bawled by Malaika Rose Stanley and Fruits by Valerie Bloom, and for three to five-year-olds, So Much by Trish Cooke.

Children aged five to seven can enjoy Look Up by Nathan Bryon, The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad, Baba’s Gift by Beverley Naidoo, Dominic Grows Sweetcorn by Mandy Ross, My Two Grandads by Floella Benjamin, Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho, Grace and Family by Mary Hoffman and Sulwe by Lupita N’yongo. For readers aged seven to 11, there is Young, Gifted and Black by Jamia Wilson, Funky Chickens by Benjamin Zephaniah, and Little Leaders – Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison, while Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom is recommended for the over 7s.

For eight to 11-year-olds, there is Peacemaker by Malorie Blackman, and   Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes is suitable for readers aged nine and over. For readers aged 11 and over there’s Ghost by Jason Reynolds, High Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson, Coming to England by Floella Benjamin and Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman, while those aged 13-plus are recommended The Hate U Give and On the Come Up, both by Angie Thomas.

The city’s libraries remain closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic, though library members can order these titles and more through the ‘We Select, You Collect’ service.

Customers can pre-order titles via the online library catalogue at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/libraries, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 01902 552025 and pick them up at a pre-arranged time from Central Library, Warstones Library, Wednesfield Library or Bilston Library.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Our library staff have selected an excellent range of titles with something for everyone and this is a great way for young readers and their families to join in with this year’s celebration of Black History Month.”

The theme of Black History Month 2020 is to honour the accomplishments of black Britons throughout history. It marks how the nation’s culture and society has been made stronger thanks to the people who travelled to the UK to build new lives as well as the achievements and contributions of their descendants.

As students across the country begin a different version of fresher’s week this week, online food portal Foodhub are offering students across Birmingham the chance to bag a years’ worth of free food worth over £750!

Students from universities in Birmingham will be able to apply for the Tastiest job as Chief Student Taste Tester for Foodhub – winning the chance to taste offerings from takeaways and food outlets in their area for free! 

To apply for the dream job, students from universities across Birmingham simply have to visit this link and either show or tell Foodhub why they have the best tastebuds for the job. Students feeling particularly adventurous can upload a video of themselves explaining why they should be chosen for the best job on campus. 

The winning student will be chosen by a panel of food experts and will be expected to write reviews of the local takeaways they visit – getting their weekly supply of free grub from their favourite Birmingham takeaways. 

To be eligible for entry, students simply need to use their university email address when submitting their job application. 

Wil Chung, Foodhub spokesperson, said: “We know that virtual freshers’ week won’t be as fun as previous years so we want to offer students the chance to bag the best job at Uni. “We want to ensure we have the tastiest, best takeaways across the region on our app and know that students are connoisseurs of takeaway food when they first leave home so we couldn’t think of a better person to join our team.“If you’re at university in Birmingham then we want to hear from you, simply tell us – in words or video - why you are the best person to take on the takeaway tasting challenge. In return, that person won’t need to buy a takeaway meal for a whole year!” 

All runners up who aren’t chosen for the taste testing job will receive a 25% discount code of their next takeaway from Foodhub. 

Foodhub, launched its online food website and app in 2017. There are more than 14,000 takeaways currently featured online at foodhub.co.uk and through the apps available for iOS and Android.  

The Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards) have today announced a series of online celebratory events throughout Black History Month in the run up to their Awards Ceremony on October 30. This year’s celebration will culminate a landmark year in history for racial equity and showcase the outstanding achievements, resolve and dedication of the Black British community.

The celebration kicked off on October 6th with the Finalist Unveiling event, honouring the long list of incredible individuals who are in the running for this year’s awards. The inaugural event will bring together past winners of the prestigious Black British Business Person of the Year award, including Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE, Andrew Ramroop OBE, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, Gisela Abbam and Roni Savage, to explore the power of Black identity and legacy, and to showcase the depth and breadth of Black British businesses in the UK.

Open to all, the BBBAwards will host a series of interactive Industry Celebrations from October 8 to 27 to recognise the senior leaders, rising stars and companies dedicated to changing the narrative in the categories of Arts and Media, Consumer and Luxury, Financial Services, Professional Services, Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as Entrepreneurs.

Chizzy Akudolu, award-winning actor, film producer and writer, will host the final event where this year’s winners of the BBBAwards will be revealed. In addition to celebrating the achievements and promise of the 2020 winners, the event will also include a special recognition for Black British frontline workers. These key individuals have long provided critical support and service in their communities, but this year’s pandemic has seen them go above and beyond.

Melanie Eusebe, Chair and Co-Founder of the Black British Business Awards said: “The Awards are a fantastic opportunity for the Black British Community and our allies to come together in celebration during Black History Month. The BBBAwards is helping to bring the community, allies and active organisations into a shared space, shining a light on Black excellence and achievements during these challenging times.”

Sophie Chandauka, Co-Founder of the Black British Business Awards said: “Our Finalists remind us of the importance of self-belief despite the odds; the merit of striving for excellence; and the requirement for perseverance and resilience. They are all role models and trail blazers, demonstrating unquestionable commercial impact, defying stereotypes and creating opportunities for those who follow in their footsteps.”

The BBBAwards have the privilege of partnering with J.P. Morgan as Key Partner of the Awards.

Sponsors also include Barclays, Baker McKenzie, Bloomberg L.P., Cisco, the Executive Leadership Council, Facebook, Fortnum and Mason, Freshfields, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Virgin Management, Wellington Management and Wells Fargo.

The Daily Telegraph is the national media partner at this year’s awards ceremony for the fourth year running.

To register for the events visit: www.thebbbawards.com

Town centres will be lit up with Christmas lights and Remembrance Sunday will also be marked in Sandwell, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sandwell Council today confirmed that although Christmas light switch-ons and Bonfire Night events would not be able to go ahead, the council would do everything possible to celebrate events and mark important dates without large public gatherings.

Councillor Maria Crompton, Deputy Leader for Sandwell Council, said: “We’ll be doing all we can to mark Remembrance Sunday in a safe way.

“A decision will be taken in the coming weeks on how best to do this, given that the current high Covid-19 infection rates and restrictions will inevitably prevent large-scale public events.

“We’re awaiting national guidance on commemorating Remembrance Sunday and working on how Sandwell will mark the day in a Covid-safe way.

“It is so important that we still pay tribute to all of those who gave their lives in wars and conflicts – and we are already looking at a series of virtual Remembrance activities as part of our planning for November. We’ll release more details on this later in the month once we have received national guidance.

“Sadly, and it won’t come as a surprise to people that we won’t be able to mark Bonfire Night in the usual way and there will not be a council-organised public fireworks display in Sandwell this year.

“We’re also looking at ways to celebrate Christmas virtually and, although sadly we won’t be able to have Christmas lights switch-on events that people can attend, we will of course be putting up lights in our town centres as we do each year.

“This will help support local traders and businesses after a very challenging year, as well as brightening up our town centres for shoppers and our communities.“Our number one priority is to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in Sandwell and to keep our communities safe – while making sure these important occasions are observed despite the virus meaning we can’t hold physical events attended by the hundreds of people who usually enjoy them.”

Proposals for a £2million programme to engage 200,000 community participants in Birmingham 2022 culture-related activities is set for approval by the city council’s Cabinet on October 13.

The funding will be transferred by the council to the Games Organising Committee (OC) as part of the Creative Communities Grants Programme – which will see at least 110 small grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 delivered to Birmingham-based groups to create artistic projects across the city.

As part of the Commonwealth Games celebrations in 2022, the OC will be delivering a six-month cultural festival across Birmingham and the West Midlands from March to September 2022.

The festival aims to promote and showcase the rich and diverse creative talent of the city and region to a global audience – and to support the local cultural economy to not only recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but to grow and thrive in the future.

It will also provide a key opportunity for Birmingham residents to come together by directly engaging with and participating in the activities surrounding the Games, as artworks, events and performances occupy the high streets, neighbourhoods, parks, waterways, venues and civic spaces of the city over a six-month period.

The £2million from Birmingham City Council for the grants programme to support the delivery of the festival will help connect Birmingham residents and communities of all ages from every ward of the city with artists to co-create new art works and projects.

Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture at Birmingham City Council, said: “We always said the Games are more than 11 days of fantastic sporting competition. The festival programme is clear evidence of this and a great way for the Proud Host City and other Games Partners to widen the relevance of the event to as many people in the city and region.

“These grants will enable groups and organisations with roots in Birmingham to showcase the very best of the city’s creativity to an international audience, and prove what we have always known – Birmingham is a great place in which to live, work or visit.

“As we look to recover from the devastation and tragedy that the coronavirus pandemic has caused people and businesses in the city, this fund will help support a hard-hit creative sector and give us a programme of events to look forward to in less than two years’ time.”

Separately, the city council has set aside £80,000 to support 20 arts groups to develop proposals that will enable them to take advantage of the £2million fund.

Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games said: “Birmingham City Council’s fantastic commitment to the Games culture programme means that the city's communities will be centre stage. It is timely, welcome news, and will provide important opportunities to a creative sector facing incredibly uncertain times.

“The projects commissioned through the Creative Communities Grants Programme will see the work of residents and organisations from across the city standing proudly and equally next to that of major cultural and artistic institutions from across the region.”

The £2million set for Cabinet approval is one-third of an overall city council fund of £6million, approved in the 2020/21 council budget, designed to support Commonwealth Games community engagement, involvement and legacy programmes for Birmingham residents.

Further details on the remaining £4million (which includes a £2million funding package to be distributed amongst the council’s 69 Wards) will be announced in the coming months – along with more information on how organisations can bid for the Creative Communities grants.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region and its people on the global stage.    

The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.    

Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.   

Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com

The Games has five mission pillars which set out the ambitions for the city (and wider region) in hosting the Commonwealth Games:

• to bring people together
• to improve health and wellbeing
• to help the region to grown and succeed
• to be a catalyst for change
• to put us on the map.

These mission pillars link directly back to the fifth objective of the Birmingham City Council Plan – ensuring Birmingham residents gain maximum benefit from the Commonwealth Games.

To mark the beginning of this year’s Black History Month the Royal Mail unveiled four special post boxes to honour leading Black Britons.

The post boxes, in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast, have been painted black, with a gold trim and an image of a notable Black British figure or a piece of work by them.

The artwork, by Yinka Shonibare, amongst others, was commissioned by the Royal Mail to produce original artworks for a set of special stamps issued to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy

One of the figures included on the post boxes include footballer Walter Tull, who became the first Black player to sign for Scottish Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers, who was killed in action in the British Army in World War I.

Tull also played for Tottenham Hotspurs and Northampton Town.

Jamaican-born nurse Mary Seacole who cared for wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War, also features prominently during this series.

Also featuring heavily is comedian, actor, writer and Comic Relief co-founder, Sir Lenny Henry.

Royal Mail's head of diversity and inclusion, Peter De Norville, said: “Black History Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions that Black people have made to this country over many generations.

“We are also using it as an opportunity to celebrate the vital work that our Black employees do throughout the nation, from the mail bag to the meeting room.”

Plans for Moseley Station have been approved by Birmingham City Council’s planning committee.

All three proposed stations on the Camp Hill line – Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell - now have planning permission marking a major step forward for plans to reopen the line to passenger services.

The new Moseley Station will include platforms with a canopy, stairs and lifts, a forecourt drop off/pick up area, covered cycle storage, lighting and CCTV installed.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) consulted widely with the community, including the Moseley Forum and Moseley Regeneration Group, before submitting the plans.

Following that consultation a traffic light junction at the station entrance with St Mary’s Row was replaced with a roundabout.

Welcoming the decision, David Isgrove, chair of the Moseley Forum, said: “This is fantastic news after years and years of hoping and waiting. The opening of the railway station will be of great benefit to the community.

“And we’d really like to thank all those involved in getting this decision through, from our own community groups, such as the Moseley Society and the regeneration group, to members of the Moseley Forum and to our councillors and Mayor Andy Street.”

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “The community was overwhelmingly supportive of reopening the Camp Hill line to passenger services for the first time since the Second World War.

“But they did raise some concerns about the traffic light junction and we listened, looked again and found we were able to redesign the entrance.

“The new station at Moseley will provide residents with easier and faster connections to Birmingham city centre and the wider West Midlands and now with planning permission secured for all three stations we can move on to the next stage.”

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) along with rail industry partners including Network Rail and West Midlands Trains are leading the development of the new stations.

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “These long-awaited stations will offer commuters in south Birmingham an alternative to sitting in traffic on the busy Alcester Road and will play a major role in helping us reduce pollution and improve our air quality.

“This is just one part of our unprecedented investment in rail, tram, bus and cycling across the region which will help transform the way we travel.”

Marking the start of Black History Month, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have called for the end of "structural racism".

As they highlighted leaders in the UK's Black community Prince Harry and Meghan have said that there had been changes in the UK in the past 30 years but "sufficient progress had not been achieved".

The couple recently urged voters in the US election to "reject hate".

The duke and duchess have moved to Santa Barbara with their son Archie and agreed a deal to create shows for the streaming service Netflix, having stepped back as senior royals in January.

They said that "if you are white and British, the world you see often looks just like you" and spoke of the importance for young people of seeing role models and leaders who share the same skin colour as them.

"For as long as structural racism exists, there will be generations of young people of colour who do not start their lives with the same equality of opportunity as their white peers. And for as long as that continues, untapped potential will never get to be realised," they warned.

The Duke and Duchess concluded the article by saying: "We cannot change history, nor can we edit our past. But we can define our future as one that is inclusive, as one that is equal, and one that is colourful." Race equality think tank Runnymede describes structural racism as "the set of circumstances artificially created over generations, through European colonialism, which holds 'whiteness' to be superior."

After the article was published, a spokesman for Prince Harry told the BBC: "The Duke believes structural racism exists in the UK and I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who disagrees with that.

"He is not saying that Britain itself is structurally racist or that Britain is racist." The spokesman said the Duke was referring to parts of institutions in Britain.

Adding to that, Meghan said she understood that the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd's murder in the US had been "inflammatory for a lot of people" but said when there is peaceful protest with the intention of wanting community and equality, "that is a beautiful thing".

She added: "While it has been challenging for a lot of people certainly having to make this reckoning of historical significance that has got people to the place that they are, that is uncomfortable for people.

“We recognise that. It is uncomfortable for us."

Harry said he accepted some of their views may be seen as "controversial" but said it was an important time to use their platform. He said it was not about "pointing the finger" but was an important time in British and world culture "that we should be grasping and actually celebrating".

Sandwell Council is thanking Black Country sculptor Luke Perry for the Wings and Scrubs sculpture that has honoured NHS and care workers, as the temporary installation came to an end. The four-metre tall sculpture of a winged medical worker, made from steel and other metals in Luke’s Cradley Heath factory during the spring lockdown, stood in Lightwoods Park in Bearwood since May.

The installation – featuring the inscription ‘Thank you NHS and Care Workers’ – was a private donation in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the outpouring of gratitude to health and care staff.

Luke said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the Wings and Scrubs ‘angel’. It’s unified people and provided a space and a focus for thoughts and conversations about the pandemic and the inspirational efforts of NHS and care workers.Like everyone, I have family members who owe their lives to the NHS and I wanted to create a piece of public art that captured the huge public outpouring of thanks to our health and care workers.

“We always said this would be temporary installation, as the work was not designed to be permanent. It’s therefore best to take down the sculpture now, before it begins to show signs of wear and ahead of the winter. I want people to remember it positively rather than in fading glory.

“Given it has been so well received, the council and I have seen the potential to create a permanent tribute in Sandwell and we are now looking at opportunities for this.”

The details of a potential permanent tribute, including design and location, are still to be developed, and Luke, who lives in Stourbridge, will be discussing ideas with the council and local health organisations over the coming months.

He said the materials from Wings and Scrubs will now be recycled for another project in the Black Country. Sandwell Council Deputy Leader Councillor Maria Crompton said: “We would like to thank Luke Perry for the wonderful Wings and Scrubs sculpture. We have been proud to have it in Sandwell.

“We look forward to discussing ideas for a potential permanent tribute with Luke and our health partners in Sandwell.We owe a huge debt of gratitude to NHS and care staff – as we do to all key workers – for their efforts, their bravery and their sacrifices.We know Covid-19 has not gone away. The virus remains a serious threat and, with rapidly rising infection rates and the winter just around the corner, our health and care workers face another very challenging time ahead.

“Please – I ask everyone – to follow all the rules and all the advice to prevent the further spread of the virus, to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our NHS, our care staff and all our key workers.”

Luke Perry’s long friendship with Oscar Nolan – a paediatric heart consultant at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital – and his conversations with Oscar about those working for the NHS were the inspiration for the temporary Wings and Scrubs installation.

The sculpture was located on the Hagley Road West side of Lightwoods Park due to it being a key commuter route used by many hospital and care workers travelling to and from Birmingham and the Black Country.