Community News

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games revealed its official countdown clock in the city’s Centenary Square, in partnership with official clock sponsor, Longines and in the presence of representatives from Birmingham 2022, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the official clock sponsor themselves.

With the launch commencing at 09:00 with the official reveal of the clock, not only did it mark the official countdown to Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, it also marked Longines new agreement which sees them have exclusive status as the inaugural Partner of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, in a deal that covers the next three Commonwealth Games, starting with Birmingham and including 2026 and 2030.  

David Grevemberg, chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), said: "This striking, elegant structure is taking pride of place in the iconic Centenary Square, which marks the countdown to Birmingham 2022 really beginning in earnest."

“I am absolutely delighted to announcing this on Commonwealth Day, a day of celebration across the Commonwealth, where we are unveiling the Longines countdown clock to the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony.

"I am absolutely delighted and privileged to have Longines join with us as the Inaugural Partner of the Commonwealth Sport Movement."

Grevemberg continued: “This is a truly historic agreement and having this multi-Commonwealth Games partnership in place showcases real confidence in the future direction of the Commonwealth Sport Movement. The partnership has been made possible because of the new Games delivery model, coordinated by CGF Partnerships, which looks at multi-Games opportunities and efficiencies as well as has full cohesion with the multi-communities in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.”

Longines Vice President Marketing, Matthieu Baumgartner said: “We are very excited to announce our participation in the XXIInd Commonwealth Games, considered as one of the world’s most important sporting events.”

“Our brand is delighted to reveal a historic multi-Commonwealth Games partnership with CGF, covering the 2022, 2026 and 2030 editions.”

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with the Commonwealth Games, which extends all the way back to the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games and more recently the 2014 Glasgow and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.”

He went on to say: “Timing is crucial when it comes to winning a gold, silver or bronze medal.

“And, as such, Longines is looking forward to providing its timekeeping expertise in various disciplines, including Athletics (Track & Field), Gymnastics, Rugby Sevens and Table Tennis, the sports we are partnering with during the Commonwealth Games.”

“For the next three Commonwealth Games, starting with Birmingham 2022, Longines is perpetuating this history, together with athletes and sports fans from all over the world.”

Birmingham City Council Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “The Countdown Clock is an exciting contemporary addition to our diverse range of public art in the city.

“Set in front of our world-renowned Library of Birmingham, in Centenary Square it creates a fantastic Games-related city centre destination as the excitement builds for everything we do as a council and with our partners as we lead to Birmingham 2022.”

 Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID), City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Homes have joined forces to launch the Alternative Giving CIO charity to enable the generous people of the city to donate and support its vulnerable and homeless.

City Business Champions and partner agencies gathered in the City Suite, at the Civic Centre, to find out how they can support the charity and help tackle rough sleeping.

It builds on the success of the Alternative Giving Campaign set up by Wolverhampton BID in October 2016, which provides donation points across the city where people can donate small change, ensuring that their money goes direct to service providers and charities that help the homeless in Wolverhampton.

By giving to the charity people can be sure their small change goes directly to agencies helping the homeless, giving the public reassurance the money is used as their good-will intended.

To date it has raised an impressive £24,000 for P3, St Georges Hub, Street Pastors and other charities supporting homelessness.

The launch of the Alternative Giving CIO takes the campaign to the next level and will provide businesses and the public with the option to donate online and pledge their volunteer time and skills.

The charity is also looking to develop ‘Tap to Donate’ devices across the city to boost donations. 

All donations will be handed to charities to support the work they are doing to improve the current circumstances of the vulnerable and homeless, by offering them accommodation, assistance and advice.

Cherry Shine, BID Director, said: “The new charity status for the Alternative Giving CIO makes it easier to help the homeless and vulnerable individuals with the right support which is fundamental to this initiative. By providing an easy way to donate directly to these worthy charities, and working together with businesses, we will be able to support a positive change in our city and I am so proud of the charity receiving recognition.”

City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Ian Brookfield, said: “Nobody has to sleep outside in our city and nobody has to go hungry. Many of those who are homeless have complex needs. Our public health and housing teams’ partnership approach with homelessness organisations across the city is delivering positive results. We are supporting people into accommodation and giving them access to the services they need, meaning the number of rough sleepers on our streets is falling. However, there is still more to do, and we are encouraging people and businesses to support the Alternative Giving CIO in any way they can.”

Satvinder Goraya, Trustee, said: “Alternative Giving is an opportunity for everyone and anyone to make the choice to give, donate and support those in need. We recognise the value and importance of supporting others in need. It is a wonderful initiative, focused on ensuring funding, donations and resources reach those currently in severe hardship.

“We aim to stop the ‘revolving door’ cycle many people find themselves going around, by innovating the culture of giving. We are no longer enabling individuals to remain where they are, we hope to encourage people to access the breadth of support and provision that they deserve, in addition to the individual alternative giving/donations they need.”

Following on from a highly-successful, smaller-scale event last year, arts representatives from several local groups are reuniting on Saturday March 14 to give Sutton Coldfield its first official St Patrick’s Day Celebration.

Hosted at Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, the St Patrick’s Day Traditional Family Ceilidh event will see an array of activities for all ages from live, traditional Irish folk music, Ceilidh dances, face-painting, story-telling to other craft activities.

The Town Hall Marketing and Events manager, Alex Goetschel says, “It’s incredibly refreshing and exciting to work alongside, as opposed to compete with, other passionate local arts groups who are all committed to bringing fun, inclusive events to our wonderful Town.”

The event will be compered and headlined by local band and stars of ‘The Fairytale of New Street’, Ire-Ish alongside representatives from Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, Made In Sutton, Sutton Arts Forum and Active Arts.

Joe Cook, the coordinator for the Sutton Arts Forum says, “We can’t wait. After last year we knew we wanted to do another bigger scale event making sure to keep the same traditional elements of an authentic St Patrick’s Day celebration that help make these events so memorable. You don’t need to have any dance experience to take part in the Ceilidh it’s for everyone to join in and have fun!”

The event will be divided into two parts, the first running from 4.00pm till 6.00pm for the children’s ceilidh complete with craft activities such as face-painting and story-telling. The second portion of the event runs from 7.00pm until late aimed more at adults for a traditional, live music gig and adult ceilidh featuring live music from Ire-Ish, The Sun Dogs and The Rocky Road.

So, come on, what better way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day than with all of your family and friends?

Sutton Coldfield’s St Patrick’s Day Celebration and Family Ceilidh takes place at Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall. No previous dance experience is required. Food will be available throughout the day provided by local caterer Tabula Rasa alongside drinks and refreshments from the Sir Doug Ellis Lounge Bar at the Town Hall.

BBC West Midlands and their project with TNCMC was initiated with a meeting at the National Memorial Arboretum today.

Don Campbell met with Producer Victoria Norris & Presenter Sian Lloyd who were eager to learn more about the project and our campaign to install a monument in recognition of Caribbean military personnel.

The meeting included a visit to our allocated plot with the view and intention of promoting TNCMC across the network. This should naturally raise the profile of the charity and hopefully encourage the public to donate to the cause.

Emerging arts collective Maokwo is set to host its official launch event ‘We Are Maokwo’ at the Belgrade Theatre, in Coventry, with a day full of workshops and artists’ networking opportunities.

Spearheaded by Zimbawean artist and activist Laura Nyahuye, Maokwo was founded with the aim of shining a spotlight on the work of marginalised and underrepresented artists, particularly those from BAME, refugee and migrant backgrounds.

Since 2017, it has been building up a network of artists in Coventry, working with them to identify and understand the challenges they face. With support from the Belgrade Theatre’s Springboard talent development programme, which it joined in 2019, it hopes to bring these artists together with key industry figures, in order to raise awareness of and find solutions to some of those challenges.

Building on work with communities that dates back to 2007, Maokwo also aims to create opportunities for marginalized artists, and find ways of disrupting systems that may be creating barriers to better representation.

Maokwo’s launch event celebrated and showcased works by artists from a range of different disciplines, combining workshops and discussions with spoken word performances and visual art on display. There were also opportunities to purchase some of the artwork exhibited on the day.

The Belgrade’s Weston Learning Space host an open, drop-in art workshop, while in the Burbidge Room, visitors had the chance to try their hand at a range of activities including drumming, dance and poetry and creative writing.

The workshops was followed by an invite-only panel discussion titled ‘Not Another Tick Box’, which aimed to inspire creative solutions for marginalized artists within the arts industry, as it explored ways of working towards meaningful diversity and inclusion.

Maokwo collaborator, Nia Cerise, said: “Maokwo’s events are not simply about performing, they are about the community just as much as they are about the artwork.

“Her events bridge an intimate bond between the performer and audience; done through the intimate spaces she uses and the fasciation of dialogue between artists and audience members throughout that connect us.

“The role of artist and audience member always becomes interchangeable at her events because performers are not hidden behind a curtain, they watch the other artists and are all allowed to be an observer.”

The ‘We are Maokwo’ day-long workshops and artists' networking opportunities, taking place on Saturday March 14, is supported by Counterpoints Arts, coordinators of Refugee Week and Platforma Arts, Refugees Network and the Belgrade Theatre Coventry as part of its Springboard programme.

Launched in 2015, the Belgrade’s Springboard initiative was established to support emerging artists and newly formed performing arts companies to develop their work, offering tailored support over a three-year period. This includes advice and guidance from experienced Belgrade staff, marketing and PR support, and space to create, rehearse and showcase their work, among other benefits.

Get to know the sweetest taste of Jamaican food products. Looking ahead to 100 years of fabulous food .
Owned by the people for the people. Inspiring a new generation. Jamaica is beautiful with Grace they set trends that others follow. 

It was a gathering to say ‘Thank You’ as internationally-renowned Caribbean food producers, Grace Foods, showed their gratitude for the support garnered – on this occasion –throughout the UK and beyond.

At the invitation of Grace Foods CEO Andrea Coy, and hosted by Grace Food’s erstwhile Trade Development Coordinator, Aisha Anifowoshe, at the swanky Sheraton Grand - on London’s Park Lane, some of the Jamaican Diaspora’s distinguished ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ were proud to be present and be part of what was truly a humongous affair.

And, as they draw ever closer in marking its 100th anniversary in 2022, they travelled from near and far, from around the UK and beyond to play their part – and thank one of the world’s greatest food institutions. In the presence of His Excellency Seth George Ramocan, High Commissioner of Jamaica who gave a passionate address to a captivated audience of how Grace has impacted on the Jamaican people as a brand now recognised the world over, the gathered guests heard how they should all play their part in this great Jamaican institution, whose ethos is to inspire and support education in the young people of Jamaica.

Here is just a taster of who was there and what it was all about – at the Grace UK Diaspora Reception. Look out for the full coverage in the April edition along with our Instagram Facebook and YouTube channels.

These little friendly aluminium pupils are improving road safety outside a Birmingham school following a successful bid to the region’s Better Streets Community Fund.

Clifton Road Primary School in Birmingham has taken delivery of 6 parking buddies, cheerfully designed bollards to warn drivers against inconsiderate parking.

The pretend pupils discourage cars from mounting the pavement or blocking crossing points to improve safety and visibility for the children and parents walking or cycling to the school gates.

Road safety fears are often raised as a key reason why many parents prefer to drive children to school rather than encourage more walking and cycling.

Clifton Primary, in Balsall Heath, was among 34 schools, community groups, charities and individuals from across the West Midlands to submit successful project ideas that will receive funding from the £2 million Better Streets Community Fund (BSCF).

The Fund was set up by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), to support relatively small projects which encourage walking and cycling such as secure bike storage, better street lights and improvements to crossings.

Owen Lamprey, lead practitioner for health and wellbeing at Clifton Primary School said: ‘We value the health and safety of all Clifton families and our brand new parking buddies are a reminder to motorists of the reason why they should park responsibly. 

“We also want to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads and encourage our pupils to take active trips to school.” 

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “We had an amazing response when we asked people to come up with ideas for small projects which could be delivered quickly and make a huge impact on our streets.

“These parking buddies are a great idea to stop inconsiderate parking here at Clifton Primary.

“Through initiatives like the BSCF and the WOW campaign from Living Streets we are seeing more children walking and riding to school improving their fitness and health.”

The Better Streets Community Fund was set up in May from the larger £23 million Transforming Cities Fund pot allocated to cycling and walking by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). 

Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for transport, said: “If we're going to encourage more people to walk and cycle across the region, then safety must be a paramount concern.

“Cycling and walking for shorter journeys can save you money, take cars off the road and improve air quality. It’s great fun too and hopefully the parking buddies will encourage more parents to leave the car at home for the school run."

Liverpool could introduce plaques to give an "honest account" of places connected to the slave trade.

Much of the city's 18th Century wealth came from the trade involving British slavers transporting Africans across the Atlantic.

Mayor Joe Anderson said paintings, street names and buildings in the city were "important parts of the historical record which should not be concealed".

He is calling for new signs to explain their relevance to slavery.

Dr Richard Benjamin, head of the city's slavery museum, said while he understood "the argument for placing street names in context", he thought it was important to consider changing road names instead.

A motion to Liverpool City Council submitted by Mr Anderson, said: "Many notable figures in the city were associated with slavery, both as abolitionists and slave traders.

"Within the town hall there are many paintings that depict men who became fabulously wealthy from the slave trade, yet, there is no mention of their role in their description plaques."

He said some street and place names were also named after those who had a role in the slave trade and the city should "accurately reflect how some of the wealth and prestige accumulated for the benefit of Liverpool was gained through the business of slavery".

"It is important to ensure that city visitors and residents are given an honest account of the historical role which our city and such figures played in history," he said.

The plaques would accompany portraits, street and place names explaining their origin and their relevance to Liverpool's historical slave trade.

Dr Benjamin said there was a "need to talk about full renaming as well as adding additional information".

"We're supportive of [Mayor Anderson's motion] as a museum and we're happy to work with the council, [but] I don't think it's a bad move to rename streets for people who you would want to represent your city."

However, he said whatever was decided "if anyone can take it on the chin and move forward, it's the city of Liverpool.

"There's a long way to go but... our discussion is a bit further ahead than London and Bristol, so we should take the positives that we're moving in the right direction."

In 1999, the council made a formal apology for the city's role in the slave trade and it has since held annual events to commemorate Slavery Remembrance Day.

The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands has presented a fundraising award to a local chief executive after he raised £57,000 running the London Marathon to support Midlands-based charity, The ExtraCare Charitable Trust.

ExtraCare Chief Executive, Mick Laverty, who lives in Sutton Coldfield, has been named one of the highest money raisers at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon. Mick was presented with the glass trophy by John Crabtree OBE, Her Majesty’s personal representative in the West Midlands.

Money raised will support the health and well-being of over 1,500 older people living in ExtraCare’s seven Birmingham and Coventry-based retirement villages and housing schemes, as well as the charity’s other retirement communities across the Midlands and North.

“It was my pleasure to present Mick with such an outstanding and well-deserved award,” said The Lord-Lieutenant, who is also is also the Chair of the Organising Committee for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“To have raised £57,000 for charity is an exceptional effort and one that I’m sure everyone at The ExtraCare Charitable Trust is very proud of.”

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust raised the most money for a ‘Silver Bond’ charity at the 2019 Marathon. There are 550 charities with ‘Silver Bond’ status and holders automatically receive a place in the Marathon every five years (the next place for ExtraCare being due in 2024).

However, in recognition of Mick’s top fundraising achievement, he has also been awarded a place in the 2020 Marathon as well as the glass trophy.

Mick has offered his 2020 place to Birmingham-based staff member, Simon Downtown, who is ExtraCare’s Cluster Contract Manager, based at its 180-home Pannel Croft Retirement Village in Newtown.

Mick, who is also Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, said: “It was an honour to invite The Lord Lieutenant to Pannel Croft Village to present the award. Being part of the Virgin Money London Marathon really was a fantastic experience and all the funds raised will help provide better lives for older people here in the West Midlands and beyond.

“I’m proud to be passing on the ‘Marathon baton’ and wish Simon the very best of luck at the 2020 event.”

A registered charity since 1988, the ExtraCare Charitable Trust is based in Coventry and operates 20 retirement villages and schemes, located in central, south and north midlands and the north west and is developing a new village in Solihull which opens in 2021. Its Lark Hill village in Nottingham, the largest retirement village in the UK, recently featured in the second series of BAFTA nominated Old People’s Home for 4-Year Olds on Channel 4.

A study conducted with Aston University and Lancaster Universities, published in April 2019, found that residents living in ExtraCare’s retirement villages showed a reduction in their dependence on GP and hospital services, leading to a 38% reduction in NHS costs per year.

Residents' levels of exercise increased by 75%, while their anxiety levels dropped by 23%; meanwhile, 86.5% reported never or hardly ever feeling lonely.

The UK’s first and only pair of Sea Otters, Ozzy and Ola, have officially been introduced as new residents at the National SEA LIFE Centre in Birmingham as part of a global education and conservation programme with SEA LIFE Trust.

The Sea Otters, who are a rescued male and female pairing, arrived in to the country following an incredible 5,000 mile journey from their former holding in Seward, Alaska and have been settling in to their new, state-of-the-art and purpose built Marine Mammal Rescue Facility in Birmingham. Their residency is one of just three in the whole of Europe and of 17 collectives globally.

Ozzy – or Mr Bishop as he’s become lovingly known – was rescued when he was just two months old from Bishops Beach, Alaska. Weighing 6.3kgs (13.9 pounds) meant he was underweight, dehydrated and suffering with coat issues, all of which were contributing factors to a later seizure. Now at 2 years old and following his rehabilitation, his inquisitive and somewhat mischievous nature is settling well in to his forever home in Birmingham. He is laid back and loves a good nap!

His soul mate, Ola – also affectionately known as Ms Ranney – was less than a week old when she was rescued back in June 2018 and weighed just 1.86kgs (4 pounds). Found by fishermen near Ranney Glacier face down in the water, she was suffering with mild dehydration and a matted fur coat upon admission to the Alaskan Rescue Center. Ola, whilst a little smaller in size to Ozzy, is now your typical one-and-a-half year old; very active and in to everything – frisbee being her favourite toy!

These endearing creatures are an important poster boy species for conservation and the escalating climate crisis. However, with our world under threat like never before, there are now more orphaned sea otters than the world’s aquariums have room for and their future looks bleak – but Birmingham made space.

At the end of last year, Centre bosses revealed that following a two-and-a-half-year gruelling guardianship application, the financing of care and major investment in a brand-new purpose-built facility over in the United Kingdom to meet strict animal welfare requirements, the United States Fishing & Wildlife Service (USFWS) had finally granted Birmingham’s SEA LIFE Centre a permit to rehome a pair of un-releasable Sea Otters.

Jonny Rudd, Curator at the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham said: “This is such an incredibly exciting time for us. It’s been a pioneering project for the country, taking global efforts and a collective vision with our conservation partners to protect the world’s oceans and the incredible marine life which lives within.

“Sadly, an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality can have detrimental consequences to our planet, but this is now our opportunity to open up the reality of a world which feels very far removed from our own. Ozzy and Ola’s residency is a landmark moment for the country and gives us a sense of connection to nature and wildlife from across the globe, highlighting the unconscious impact we’re having so we can start to make small differences. 

“It’s a guardianship commitment with full 360 vision, meaning that monies raised through the Sea Otters residency in Birmingham will have a direct and positive impact to environmental efforts on the ground in Alaska through our partners, SEA LIFE Trust.”

A heritage regeneration company has put forward bold plans to revitalise an under-used area of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, with a creative and media centre, complete with commercial studio space, retail and housing.

Post_hoc Developments, which specialises in creative sector projects, has submitted a planning application to Birmingham City Council to transform the Key Hill area, off Great Hampton Street, into a 100,000 sq ft creative hub, with film, photography, digital, music and jewellery studios and workspaces, as well as commercial space, shops and homes.

The plans for Key Hill Studios includes the refurbishment of the grade II listed Harry Smith Building on the corner of Key Hill and Hockley Hill – one of the oldest buildings in the Jewellery Quarter, dating back to 1824 – and the grade II listed Gem Buildings, also on Key Hill, which were built in 1913.

The site has been pieced together from a number of separate owners, with PCPT Architects given the brief to create an urban mixed-use scheme for a site that has been derelict or under-used for 20 years.

Included is a mews of 18 townhouses, plus apartments above shops and studios linked by a series of squares in a traditional format, with new pedestrian routes through the whole site.

In addition to Key Hill Studios, the plans also include a new bar/restaurant in the Gem, to be designed as a key meeting and networking base, supported by cafes and useful shops.

Award-winning conservation architect David Mahony, the principal architect on the scheme and co-director at Post_hoc, said: “We wanted the ground floor to be vibrant, which also fits in with the proposed new masterplan for the Jewellery Quarter, so adding shops for independents made sense.”

Key to the development is The Lampworks, a film and creative studio set up by Jewellery Quarter-based Post_hoc and Birmingham Film Festival’s Kevin McDonagh, after they acquired a former factory and two adjoining Victorian houses in Key Hill Drive. They launched the studio in June 2019 and it has already played host to filmmakers, photographers and video-makers, as well as dance companies, musicians and television production companies, some of whom have travelled from Yorkshire and London to use the space.

Chris Barrow, co-director at Post_hoc, said: “This project is very much looking to support smaller, independent companies, producers and artists from the ground up, helping them to realise their projects, as well as working with creative companies that create content for the BBC and other major channels.

“The whole scheme could accommodate up to 150 full time jobs and the proven interest in using The Lampworks, which is only a few minutes’ walk from the tram and railway station, has shown the need for managed studios, so we look forward to adding more flexible spaces and bringing more essential resources.”

As part of Post_hoc’s new plans, The Lampworks will have three fully equipped studios for hire, with the former factory space being split into a 700 sq ft green screen studio with an infinity wall and a 1400 sq ft "shiny floor" TV-style studio. These would be available for independent filmmakers, music and fashion video makers, as well as larger production companies, and would complement the already popular ‘Loft’ studio on the first floor.

The work of an amateur photographer from the West Midlands has been recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony at the National Army Museum in London.

Colour Sergeant Phil Carr, from Sutton Coldfield, scooped the Amateur Sport and Adventure Training category of the Army Film and Photographic Competition.

He is currently employed as the communications and information systems Company Quartermaster Sergeant with 1st Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment in Dhekelia, Cyprus.

"I hadn't really picked up a camera until 2012”, Phil said. “I then started to enjoy the process and invested in my first DSLR. Since then I've lost count of how much money I've spent on equipment and upgrades."

His winning entry - Take the Strain - focused on an inter-company sports competition, held annually. He said: "The winning team gets the honour of being called Salerno Company for a year and I took some images of the tug 'o war part of the competition, capturing all the aggression on the competitors' faces.

Reacting to his award, he said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic and I’ve loved the experience because, even though I’ve entered my work before, this is the first time I’ve been nominated.

My wife is really over the moon with it all. My Second in Command is also so pleased with my involvement in the final of this competition. I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Command Master Photographer, Warrant Officer Class One Daniel Harmer, said 2019 was a benchmark year for the competition with a record number of video packages entered.

“The overall standard of what we’ve seen is a new high,” said Daniel, who is based at British Army headquarters in Andover.

“The awards is a showcase of excellence and a celebration of what was achieved in 2019. The photographer’s role is so important in capturing the British Army’s history.

"Army photographers are the professional eyes and documenters of the military actions that shape our times. Often working in extreme conditions and environments, their iconic imagery captures moments in history and very often the very deepest of human emotions with vivid honesty and clarity.  

"The excellent standard of what was submitted made it the toughest challenge for the judges, who took more than four hours to conclude the judging.” 

The Knife Angel – a powerful symbol of hope and cohesion, and a salient warning of the dangers of carrying and using bladed weapons – is in Wolverhampton throughout April.

The 20ft tall sculpture, created from over 100,000 confiscated and surrendered blades by the team at the British Ironwork Centre, aims to highlight the negative effects of violent and aggressive behaviour and to help bring about social change.

 Also known as the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression, the Knife Angel weighs around 4.5 tonnes and on display in the city centre for 28 days as part of a nationwide anti-violence tour.

 Councillor Ian Brookfield, Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: "We are delighted to be working with our partners to bring the Knife Angel to our city.

"Fewer young people in Wolverhampton were victims of knife crime in the last six months of 2019 – and we want to ensure that downward trend continues.

"It's important that we get the message across that violence needs to stop and we hope that displaying the Knife Angel in our city will not only help continue to turn the tide against knife crime and all other forms of violent behaviour, but also enable us to remember those whose lives have been lost or irrevocably changed as a result of violent and thoughtless actions."

Wolverhampton Neighbourhood Policing Unit Commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Beard, said: "The carrying and use of knives is a serious matter which won't be tolerated by the communities of Wolverhampton.

"Bringing the Knife Angel to Wolverhampton symbolises the impact such weapons can have and should remind everyone to think twice before carrying knives."

Businesses, organisations, schools and community groups were encouraged to hold events and activities to mark the Knife Angel's visit to Wolverhampton. People were invited to take part in a national photography competition to capture the most inspiring and impactful picture of the Knife Angel during its time in the city.

Cllr. Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We want the Knife Angel's visit to be an event which involving the whole community. We encouraged people to think about what they could do during the 28 days visit of the sculpture.

Three teenagers had some help from Wolverhampton Wanderers players in preparation for the kick-off of this year’s search for the Young Citizen of the Year.Three teenagers had some help from Wolverhampton Wanderers players in preparation for the kick-off of this year’s search for the Young Citizen of the Year.

Samuel Iyawe, 15, who won the 2019 award, was joined by last year’s finalists Melvin Riley, 18 and Jude Aston, 15, at Wolves’ training base at Compton Park. Chris Thompson from Tettenhall Rotary Club was also present, representing the city’s Rotarians who organise the prestigious awards.

Samuel, who has grown up in the care system, was named Young Citizen of the Year in recognition of being a voice for young people in the city and trying to improve the lives of others while working with the Children in Care Council and the City of Wolverhampton Youth Council. He is extremely passionate about combatting knife crime.

During the meet-and-greet, the youngsters got the chance to tell Wolves players Adama Traore, Max Kilman, Diogo Jota, Bruno Jordao and Benny Ashley-Seal of their community efforts which saw them nominated for the award. It was also their chance to ask the players about their successes, with Wolves flying high in the Premier League and heading towards the latter stages of this year’s Europa League.

Kilman said: “I think it’s good that children are able to express themselves in their community and I’m very proud to have young people like this in Wolverhampton.”
Benny Ashley-Seal added: “It’s great to be involved and see what these young people have achieved. It is important for us as footballers to see all the good things that happen in our local community.”

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Young people in Wolverhampton do some incredible things and it is key that they are recognised for going above and beyond. Doing so can only help in ensuring that the city’s future is a bright one.”

Young Citizen of the Year recognises young people aged 13-19 who have made a significant contribution to the city, people around them and their local communities.
The search is already on for this year’s Young Citizen of the Year.

Ghanaian-born UK MP tells British government to cancel debts and return stolen items of colonised countries Ghanaian-born UK MP tells British government to cancel debts and return stolen items of colonised countries 

The Labour Member of Parliament for Streatham, Bell Ribeiro-Addy has urged the UK government to return items forcefully taken from countries colonised; as part of efforts to rectify its history as slave masters.

This, according to the MP, together with the cancellation of debts, will show that the Britain government is truly remorseful for its acts during the colonial days like slavery.

This comes days after France announced a decision to return artifacts stolen from Benin during its colonial occupation by 2021.“I am someone who firmly believes that the only way you can tackle an issue is at its very root. And the racism which I and many others in this country face on a daily basis has its very root in these injustices.

“Not only will this country not apologize, but they also have not once offered a form of reparations. People see reparation as handing over a large sum of money, but why could we not start with it today? Simple things like fairer trade, simple things like returning items that do not belong to us and simple things like cancelling debts that we have had paid over and over again.
“And I believe the reason for this is because we only apologize to our equals,” she said as part of her speech on the floor of the House of Commons, during the Global Britain debate.
The British politician of Ghanaian descent maintained that the UK will be left in the cold if appropriate measures are not taken to make amends and address issues of racism and injustice.
“Whilst we spent years debating Brexit – engaged in monumental self-harm, India surpassed the UK to become the fifth richest economy in the world. India, a former British colony, this country presided over bloody partition, the Amritsar massacre and Bengal famine.

“We also see countries in Africa like Ghana, Kenya and Uganda amongst the fastest growing economies in the world. Countries that Britain deliberately underdeveloped stole resources from and brutally enslaved its people.”  

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, together with three other Ghanaians are in the UK House of Commons after securing a win in the elections held in December last year.The four, made up of two females and two males, won on the tickets of the Labour Party and the Conservative Party respectfully.

While, Abena Oppong-Asare won the Erith and Thamesmead Constituency with 48 per cent of the votes and a majority of 3,758, Bell Ribeiro-Addy won the seat to represent the Streatham constituency after securing 54.8 per cent with 30,976 vTheir male counterparts, Adam Afriyie also retained the Windsor seat with 31,501 votes and Kwasi Kwarteng, also kept possession of his Spelthorne seat with 18,000 votes.

At the last Nishkam Civic Association Board Meeting of 2019 the Chair and Board were presented with a prestigious certificate. The Nishkam Centre had been put through its paces by an assessor from Investing in Volunteers (IiV) who tested the organisation against nine indicators to confirm continued adherance to the IiV Standard. The Centre provides innovative support via group work activities that is creative, responsive and sensitive to the needs of many diverse communities.

The ethos of the Nishkam Centre is based upon a framework which provides a pathway to community integration, empowerment, involvement and cohesion. As Nishkam means ‘selfless service’ the undepinning and cutting-edge differentiator is voluntary service.

The Centre provides many services to enable civic engagement and involvement. These services incorporate built-in progressions, enabling clients to improve coping strategies and work towards sustainable mental health recovery, increasing social networks and opportunities for training, volunteering, employment and community integration. The Investing in Volunteers website states, ‘Investing in Volunteers (IiV) is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management. The benefits of doing so are claimed to be; ‘enhancing volunteers’ experience and increasing their motivation; strengthen the organisational reputation and encourage more people to volunteer; minimises risk, maintains knowledge, and plans for the future.’

Bhai Sahib, Bhai (Dr) Mohinder Singh OBE KSG, Chair of the Nishkam Group of Organisations said: “The Nishkam volunteers are our organisations’ cutting-edge. It is only possible for our organisations to deliver what they do because of the dedication of selfless volunteers who are inspired by their faith values to help others and give something back to community. We are committed to supporting and developing our volunteers and the award is recognition of the importance we place on them.”

The Nishkam Team’s volunteers are more and more reflective of the communities served, helping to build deeper understanding and cohesion as it is located in one of the most diverse neighbourhoods in Birmingham and the UK.

Nishkam Centre Contracts Manager, Ajit Singh, said, “It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with and support our volunteers. Our volunteers are our best ambassadors, who selflessly volunteer to support others in the community whilst developing themselves along the way. For many, volunteering has been a life changing experience supporting the individual’s general wellbeing in so many ways”.

Amrick Singh, Director of the Nishkam Centre, said: “It is amazing to have been assessed against the Standard for the third time and to be told that we were better than last time. We applaud and recognise the enormous value our volunteers add on a daily basis.

For some it is a genuine desire to give back, to serve, to help and to develop new skills. For others it may be an escape from isolation, depression, loneliness or even a sense of guilt that they are not putting their skills to use to help others.

“The award sets a benchmark of high standards, good practice and quality in respect of volunteering, this is a great accolade for all concerned.

“The Nishkam Centre has yet again demonstrated its commitment towards, and appreciation of, its volunteers.”