Community News

Chinese New Year 2020 - sponsored by Birmingham Airport and The Galliard Apsley Partnership - welcomes in the Year of the Rat with three days of free festivities across the city.

The celebrations are expected to draw in huge numbers to the city and kicks off on Friday 24 January with a Chinese classical concert presented by the University of Birmingham at the Bramall.

Shoppers at Bullring & Grand Central will be able to enjoy the much loved lion and dragon procession, pop up performances including traditional fan and umbrella dances, amazing acrobats and much more throughout the day on Saturday 25 January. A special Wish Tree will also be placed in Grand Central for shoppers and travellers to add their new year wishes to. The celebrations will continue into the evening at the Arcadian with more performances and fireworks.

To celebrate the official start to the New Year on Sunday 26 January an exciting programme of performances and free activities will take place in Birmingham’s Chinatown in Southside. The main stage in Hippodrome Square will host the official opening and closing ceremonies with a variety of performances and free family friendly activities throughout the day. Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio will also be hosting renowned choreographer Corey Baker’s new dance piece performed by Hong Kong Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. The performance will be followed by a world premiere screening of Corey’s new film Lying Together.

Graham Callister, Director of Festivals at Birmingham Hippodrome said: “We are thrilled to be co-producing Chinese New Year with the Chinese Festival Committee again. This will mark our fifth year being part of the festival and bringing some of the best talent to unique spaces. As a venue in the heart of Southside, we are passionate about working with our local communities and partners to offer exciting events across our wonderful city. We look forward to taking our Chinese Year Celebrations across Birmingham city centre and welcoming in the Year of the Rat”

James Wong, Chairman of Southside BID and the Chinese Festival Committee Birmingham, said: “Chinese New Year 2020 will be bigger and better than ever as we welcome in the Year of the Rat. New for this year, on Saturday we will present a preview of the main event culminating with fireworks in the evening. Birmingham’s Chinatown in Southside as ever hosts our annual New Year’s Day celebrations with something for everyone. I can’t wait to enjoy a jam-packed weekend of celebrations.”

Chinese New Year is supported by headline sponsors Birmingham Airport and The Galliard Apsley Partnership.

Nick Barton, Birmingham Airport’s CEO, said: “Birmingham Airport is once again proud to be sponsoring the Birmingham Chinese New Year celebrations. Air connectivity across China is easily available from Birmingham with a number of scheduled carriers, which serve more than one hundred thousand passengers each year through their hubs. We look forward to celebrating the New Year with our local community over this special weekend and encourage people to attend the festivities around Birmingham’s Chinatown.”

Jason Day, Head of Sales, West Midlands, at Galliard Homes, said: "We are heavily invested in Southside and all its people and that's in no small part down to the Chinese community who make the area so vibrant. Chinese New Year is a flagship event not just locally but for the whole city, and we are thrilled to support it."

A loved-up couple who met on a National Express coach 30 years ago celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip down memory lane.

Simon and Joanne Jones from Whaley Bridge got to relive the moment they first met on a vintage National Express coach, just like the one that brought them together 30 years ago.

Having endured the stress of being evacuated from their home of 25 years in August due to the collapse of the Whaley Bridge dam, Joanne said it was great to be able to spread some good news: “It was great to be able to celebrate with National Express. There is so much bad news in the world now, it is nice to hear something positive.

“We have been married 25 years this year and have National Express and the M1 to thank for that.”

The couple met when Joanne was travelling from Manchester down to her home town of Crawley and Simon, who was on his way to Gatwick Airport for a holiday to Magaluf, took the empty seat next to her at the back of the coach.

“I remember he was listening to Madonna on his walkman. It was very loud. The driver made an announcement about a delay and Simon took his headphones off to ask what he had said. We talked the rest of the way to London and exchanged addresses when we got to Victoria.

“That week I received a postcard from Simon from Magaluf which I still have to this day. A month later we went on our first date and the rest is history.”

The pair, who met when they were just 25 and 26 years old, were in a long-distance relationship for two years and made their relationship work thanks to weekly visits using National Express.

Simon said: “We are proof that long-distance relationships really can work. We got married five years later and now have two grown-up children that we are very proud of. Sara is 24 and working in China and Ben is in his final year at drama school.”

Joanne said: “For years people have told us that we should share our story. I finally got round to it 30 years after it started.”

Chris Hardy, Managing Director of Birmingham-based National Express UK Coach, said: “With 1,800 services each day linking more than 540 locations, we're all about connecting people.

"When we heard the story of how we brought Simon and Joanne together all those years ago, we knew we had to do something special to help them celebrate."

According to research, the average Brit has £60.78 at home in unused current and old foreign currency, and this idle change could be used to help fund a lifesaving mission with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

As 2019 comes to a close, the vitally important pre-hospital charity is raising awareness of its partnership with Cash4Coins, which enables old coins, foreign coins and banknotes to be donated to the charity.

Currency of any age can be donated to the charity, including; all foreign coins and banknotes, old £1 coins, old British and Irish currency, pre-decimal coins and notes, pre-euro currency and of course, spare change.

The cash can be donated at most high street banks and building societies across Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. The charity also has a number of collection boxes in shops and community hubs throughout the region

Emma Gray, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Midlands Air Ambulance Charity relies solely on the support of the public and local businesses to stay operational. Donating unused cash lying around the home is a fantastic way to support our lifesaving service in an easy, fuss-free way.

“Without donations, our charity simply wouldn’t be able to save lives every day, so all support is hugely appreciated.”

Birmingham Museums Trust has demonstrated its support to the armed forces community by officially signing the Armed Forces Covenant and outlining its pledges to those serving in the military and their families.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. The ceremony at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery saw Dr Ellen McAdam, Director of Birmingham Museums Trust, sign the agreement alongside Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Dines, Commanding Officer of 159 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps.

As one of the leading cultural employers in the region across nine sites, Birmingham Museums Trust has committed to a number of pledges. These include supporting reservists who may need leave for training, striving to support the employment of service spouses and partners, and helping to create opportunities for veterans. Other commitments include free admission on Armed Forces Day for service personnel, veterans, reservists and local cadets, including discounts on this day for Birmingham Museums Trust membership.

As part of the ceremony, Birmingham Museums Trust was presented with the Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which recognises that Birmingham Museums is committed to upholding the values in the Covenant.

Dr Ellen McAdam, Director of Birmingham Museums, said: “We are very pleased to have been able to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant. As part of our inclusive approach to audiences we will do all that we can to ensure that serving personnel, veterans and their families have every chance to participate in the services we provide. We look forward to working with partners to create new programmes for this special audience and promote our support for them publicly. My father and his two brothers served in the RAMC, RAF and Royal Navy during and after WWII, so this is a cause that is particularly close to my heart.”

Siamha Butt, Head of Engagement, West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA), said: “We are delighted that Birmingham Museums Trust are publicly showing their support for serving personnel, veterans and military families by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. Dr Ellen McAdam and her team have been incredibly diligent in creating some unique pledges along with an impressive plan as to how they will deliver against each pledge. We very much look forward to working with them in the years to come.”

Councillor Mike Sharpe, Birmingham City Council Armed Forces Champion, said: “I am very encouraged to see organisations like Birmingham Museums Trust, join the growing numbers of Birmingham based organisations signing the Armed Forces Covenant and pledge support to the Armed Forces community in Birmingham. This is part of a national commitment to show our support to all military personnel and their families, whether serving or ex-service, and ensure they are treated fairly in civilian life.”

For many of us across the nation, dogs are a huge part of the family, with more than six in 10 dog owners admitting they often see their dog as being like one of the children*. And just like us, dogs can also experience stress and anxiety. With many of us treating our pooch as one of the family, then shouldn’t we give them the same care?

Lintbells, the manufacturers of natural calming supplements YuCALM, are encouraging dog owners across the nation to perhaps give their four-legged friends some extra care as one of the family – after all, a happy dog means a happy family. With that in mind, Lintbells have come up with a few ways to help spot the signs of stress and anxiety in your pooch.

Stress signs

Modern day life is stressful for many dogs, whether its meeting strangers or spending time alone, many dogs can find certain circumstances hard to handle. Recognising signs of stress in your pooch is key to being able to help them. Keeping an eye on their body language can go a long way to identifying the situation that is causing them to feel anxious and will put you in the position to do something about it.

Some signs of stress may be more obvious than others, including excessive panting or shaking – dogs will pant when too hot and shake when too cold, however a shaking dog with heavy breathing will likely indicate they are under some stress or discomfort. Be mindful if your dog starts hiding and running away, as well as tucking their tail between their legs, as these can also be clear indicators of anxiety or stress.

Dog owners should also be looking out for signs that could be less obvious, including your dog moving their ears back or becoming more restless and struggling to get comfortable. In some cases, your dog can become more aggressive and begin to bark more. Your pup may show some behaviours that could be even more difficult to spot, such as wide eyes and worried facial expressions.

Managing your dog’s stress

There are many ways to help your dog with their stress or anxiety. The first being, to try and identify the source and triggers of the fear and stress. In the short term try to avoid those triggers of fear or anxiety to reduce stress. You’ll then be able to implement a behavioural therapy programme, as your dog becomes less stressed and more receptive. Consistent exposure to what your pooch finds scary or stressful may ruin the chances of helping them at their own pace.

Creating a calm environment is also a great way to minimise anything that might make your dog stressed. This could be by building a small den for your dog to relax in, a cosy bed or covered crate will work perfectly. If you have more guests round your house that might create anxiety for your dog, like at Christmas for example, giving your dog their own room separate from your guests will allow them to relax away from any loud noises or larger crowds of people.

If problems do persist, then it’s important to talk to your vet. They will be able to check that your dog is well medically, and if not, it may be time to talk to a Clinical Animal Behaviourist. They will be able to devise a practical plan to help your dog and provide behavioural therapy programmes.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has launched a new bereavement support group for children and young people across Birmingham and Sandwell.

‘Growing Together’ is a peer support group aimed at four to 18-year-olds, which is designed to support children after a loved one has died.

Experienced child bereavement workers from the Hospice will be running the sessions, giving children an opportunity to receive specialist support from them and meet other young people who are going through similar situations.

Peer support can be particularly beneficial for children and young people, helping them to understand that they are not alone in their grief. Growing Together aims to increase children’s confidence, support them to manage their own and others’ difficult feelings, and provide a safe space to learn from others and ask questions.

Funded by BBC Children in Need, the group is open to all children and young people living across Birmingham and Sandwell – even if their loved one who died wasn’t supported by the Hospice.

Beth Hopkins, children’s counsellor at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “The purpose of Growing Together is to help young people navigate the difficult emotions that come with bereavement. Children can grieve very differently from adults – they may find it challenging to express big feelings verbally for example – so at the groups sessions, we’ll be using a number of tools to help communicate emotions in other ways. This may be through art and crafts, through play or by simply giving the young person an opportunity to talk to someone who is a similar age and is going through a similar experience.

“With Growing Together, we want to teach young people the skills and coping mechanisms that will help them when they get upset, feel alone or face difficulties. Grief is not linear – it can remerge as children get older and face significant events – so by teaching children the skills needed to cope with difficult emotions, we can help them become healthy adults.”

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice provides care and support to local people living with life-limiting illness. It also offers expert support to families, loved ones and carers, providing practical and emotional help during a person’s illness and after their death.

Growing Together is a new group and Birmingham St Mary’s is keen to run sessions when and where there is demand. For more information or to express your interest, please contact the Hospice’s Children’s Service on 0121 752 8753 or by emailing the team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

An exhibition by West Midlands-based organisation Art Sikh has opened at the Library of Birmingham to commemorate the 550th Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

‘550 Years of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’ is a compilation of a variety of contemporary and traditional artworks depicting portraits of the founder of the Sikh religion to stir the senses, evoke, inspire and resonate with visitors in support of the celebrations that have been on-going to mark this auspicious occasion.

The exhibition features emerging and established artists’ from both the UK and worldwide. The featured artists have drawn from the humanitarian teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and been inspired by the Sikh concept of oneness to artistically create their contemplation’s envisioning the founder of Sikhism.

November 12th 2019 was a significant milestone for the Sikh community to mark five and a half centuries since the birth of the founder of the Sikh faith.

Art Sikh’s touring exhibition features artworks exploring the teachings on humanity as one from the first Sikh Guru incorporation with the British Values, bringing together people from various faith communities and those of no faith in the memory of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Aimed to celebrate diversity within the local community by providing an educational visual experience on British Sikh heritage and inviting all religions, beliefs and ethnicity groups to participate in celebrating with the Sikh community, Art Sikh a non-profit creative organisation established in 2015, dedicated to help build, support and cultivate art, culture and theology.

The fundamental philosophy of Art Sikh is to support, encourage and mentor up and coming artists from around the world who face barriers in forging a profile as an artist. Dedicated to promoting inter-faith/ belief cohesion between community groups through the medium of creativity, to date Art Sikh have supported over 50 artists, exhibited at number of community and public venues and are building a strong network of creativity. Art Sikh have successfully curated and delivered exhibitions with and for various local council authorities, educational institutes and art galleries.

‘550 Years of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’ is on display until 30th January, 2020.

Running between today (December 3) and December 10, Town Hall Symphony Hall is taking part in The Big Give’s ‘Christmas Challenge’ to double your donations and support the future of music making in Birmingham.

This year, over 100 people joined Town Hall Symphony Hall's free Reggae Choir and sung together for the first time at Town Hall, while over 400 singers from local community choirs took to the stage at Symphony Hall as part of the annual ‘Community Spirit’ showcase. But there’s so much more we could do…

The redevelopment of Symphony Hall's foyers will create dedicated spaces for learning and participation - that means, we'll be able to introduce over 24,000 young people and adults to a world of music every year.

Nicola Starkie, who performed in Community Spirit with Quinton Community Choir, said: “Singing is a vital part of life for so many of our choir members, bringing enjoyment and satisfaction and helping them to switch off from their other responsibilities to achieve a healthy life balance. Some singers have come to choir following a bereavement or while struggling with mental health issues and have found singing to be mood and confidence boosting, and the sense of community within the choir just what they needed.

“Symphony Hall is a wonderful resource for musicians from all over the world and it's brilliant to see it used by community groups from across the West Midlands too. We are really excited to see Symphony Hall's public spaces redeveloped so that there are more suitable spaces for all kinds of local groups to perform and so that community music making can be celebrated and encouraged in Birmingham.”

Richard Whitehouse of Northfield Notes Community Choir said: “Being in the choir means so much to me, I had the pleasure of meeting and singing with some very special people indeed, undivided by race, age or beliefs, and each with a story of their own. We have formed a very special bond through the love of music and song, one that goes beyond friendship, one that allows us to bring a little pleasure and joy to so many, long may we nurture and grow together”.

Janice Paine, choir co-ordinator for Northfield Notes, said: “In 2018 and 2019 we were lucky enough to take part in ‘Community Spirit’ at Symphony Hall. This opportunity empowered the whole choir to want to grow and develop, to improve their singing and musical skills, to share those skills through public performances and hopefully encourage others to do the same”.

Alison Sayer, CEO of Halas Homes, said: “Halas Homes choir members [above] feel empowered, motivated and gain a sense of achievement by being involved in performing as part of Community Spirit. Being a part of Community Spirit has opened doors and provided more opportunities to reach and perform to wider audiences in the region and beyond. The redevelopment of Symphony Hall will provide more open and accessible spaces which will enable access for all”.

Town Hall Symphony Hall has teamed up with multi-platinum selling vocal group The Overtones to highlight the importance of music. With their innate charm and adherence to vintage-modernist style, and a devotion to the timeless appeal of male vocal harmonies, The Overtones are a bridge between pre-rock’n’roll classicism and lively 21st century entertainment. They’ve sold over a million albums, made countless TV appearances and filled Symphony Hall to capacity on tour after tour. X Factor’s Jay James, who recently joined The Overtones, said: “When I got into music it was not about being famous it was about expressing myself, getting up on stage doing what I love to do, connecting with people who are maybe going through the same things and make a living doing it. I don’t think it’s any secret that the boys have had a difficult couple of years. I've personally had a difficult couple of years also, so we all feel like we’ve come together and using music, like people do, to comfort and turn the page onwards and upwards.”

With one donation, you can help us inspire twice as many people. Donations to Town Hall Symphony Hall between today (3)-10 December will be generously matched by the Patrick Trust & our Big Give Champion, the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Your money can inspire twice as many young people and adults with a life-long love of music.

To find out more visit: thsh.co.uk

The iconic statue of Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert, which stands in Wolverhampton’s Queen Square, and the founder of the city, Lady Wulfruna, outside St Peter's Collegiate Church, are proudly sporting orange sashes in support of the annual 16-day campaign which began on Monday, November 25.

The annual campaign, coordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum and the City of Wolverhampton Council, supports the United Nations’ Orange the World campaign to end violence against women and girls. says 'no' to domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour-based’ violence, sexual violence and stalking and harassment.

Kathy Cole-Evans, Chief Officer of Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum, said: "It's great that we are able to use both of these iconic statues to promote this very important campaign to the people of Wolverhampton.

“There were over 6,500 incidents of domestic violence recorded by police in Wolverhampton last year, with the vast majority of victims female, and this is a major issue that we all need to be aware of.

"But the Orange Wolverhampton campaign is not just about highlighting the problem; we want to ensure that victims do not suffer in silence and are aware of and feel able to get the help and support they need."

Anyone suffering from domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour-based’ violence, sexual violence, stalking or harassment, or knows someone who is, should call the relevant helpline:

• The Haven Wolverhampton 24-hour helpline for women - 08000 194400
• Haven Counselling helpline - 08000 308 345 (Mon, Wed, Thurs, Friday 9am–2pm)
• Haven online Live Chat, www.youmatterhaven.org.uk(Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
• St George’s Hub support for male victims - 01902 421904
• Karma Nirvana helpline for victims of so-called ‘honour-based’ violence and forced marriage –  0800 5999 247
• Wolverhampton Adult Social Care - 01902 551199
• Wolverhampton Children's Social Care - 01902 555392
• West Midlands Forced Marriage and Honour-Based Violence Helpline - 0800 953 9777
• National Domestic Violence helpline for women - 0808 2000 247
• National Domestic Violence helpline for men - 0808 8010327
• NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation helpline - 0800 028 3550

Residents, businesses, schools, churches, voluntary groups and other organisations are encouraged to turn the city orange between now and 10 December by holding wear orange days, turning their websites and social media channels orange, sharing campaign messages with friends, customers and colleagues, organising orange coffee mornings, flying orange flags and much more.

Congratulations to all the winners at this years Awards!

Visitors to Birmingham will be able to journey to the centre of the fairy light with ‘Once Upon A Time In Birmingham’, Bompas & Parr’s festive tea parlour and party bar, which is opening in Hammerson’s flagship destination, Bullring & Grand Central on November 14.

The Christmas installation features 88,000 fairy lights, over 9km of illumination, as well as a host of mirrors in a grand, sparkling interior. The merry and bright installation will not only be illuminating, but also delicious, with a menu designed to glow and sparkle.

After venturing down a pulsating electric cable, guests will emerge into a tea parlour and cocktail bar, decked out like the imagined interior of a fairy light. This immersive space will feature:

• LED-eyed portraits of the heroes of electricity: Faraday, Volta, Hertz, Ampère, Ohm, Franklin, Swan and others
• Views of St Martin in the Bullring, a neo-gothic church seen through jewel-like iridescent dichroic film 
• iLOOminated bathrooms – even the toilets will glow 
• Carol-oke and sporadic Christmas games hosted by Mr Sprinkles and Glowstick 

Once Upon a Time in Birmingham will serve drinks that glow, sparkle, and change colour,  allowing guests to experience the tastes and smells of Christmas in the most brilliant way. In a world first, it will also offer crystal clear Christmas puddings that refract light like a prism - a magical twist on a festive staple.

Harry Parr, director of Bompas & Parr said: “We are aiming to turn Once Upon a Time in Birmingham into one of the most festive places on the planet, an ode to the fairy light.

The only thing I’m worried about is all the lights getting in a tangle – with over 9km of strings it’ll be a real challenge to unravel! Come revel with us this winter and lighten your spirits!”

Bullring & Grand Central General Manager, Stephanie Lacey, said: “Once Upon a Time in Birmingham will be a truly immersive experience that is not to be missed. At Bullring & Grand Central, we’ve got a great track record of putting on events that amaze and delight, and this will be no different. Birmingham has never seen anything like this before.”

You can catch ‘Once Upon A Time in Birmingham’ (November 14 to December 23) at the site of former Jamie’s Italian), Middle Mall, with walk-ups possible, but booking is recommended to avoid a party on the kerb.

18 local heroes and their family and friends visited Webbs, Wychbold to officially open the garden centre’s Christmas Ice Rink.

The inspiring individuals, who were nominated by members of the community for their selfless actions throughout the year, were the very first to skate at this year’s rink, which is set to welcome thousands of families from now until when it closes on Monday 7th January.

Ed Webb, owner of Webbs Garden Centres, said: “It was a great night and was our pleasure to give a fantastic experience back to the people that are always giving so much to others out in the community areas around the store. We had local heroes of all ages in attendance, with some as young as 8!”

“Now we look forward to December, where the real ice rink will be spreading Christmas joy throughout the Midlands.”

A police ban on Extinction Rebellion protests in London last month was unlawful, following a High Court ruling.

The Metropolitan Police imposed the ban, which prevented two or more people from the group taking part in protests, under the Public Order Act.

The judges ruled that police had no power to do this because the law did not cover "separate assemblies".

Lord Justice Dingemans said: "Separate gatherings, separated both in time and by many miles, even if co-ordinated under the umbrella of one body, are not a public assembly within the meaning of... the Act.

"The Extinction Rebellion autumn uprising intended to be held from October 14 to 19 was not therefore a public assembly.

The decision to impose the condition was unlawful because there was no power to impose it under the Act."

The judges noted that there are powers within that act which may be used lawfully to "control future protests which are deliberately designed to 'take police resources to breaking point"'.

Following the ruling, activists say the police could now face claims for false imprisonment from "potentially hundreds" of protesters.

During a series of climate change protests last month, activists shut down areas around Parliament and the Bank of England, and targeted London City Airport.

Police had previously warned protesters to keep demonstrations in Trafalgar Square, or risk arrest - before issuing a city-wide ban under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. It was issued on the same day as a message posted online by London activists.

The ban was lifted four days later, with officers from the Met saying that it was no longer necessary because demonstrations had ended.

The protests, which led to 1,828 arrests, was said to have cost £24m to police.

165 people were charged with offences, the Met says.

The Met’s Assistant Commissioner, Nick Ephgrave, said the decision to impose the ban had been "reasonable and proportionate" and "was not taken lightly.

He said: “I would not and cannot ban protests.

“That the ruling was made specifically on whether officers could arrest demonstrators for assembling in central London.

"There is no criticism from me of the decision to impose the condition, which was made with good intent and based upon the circumstances confronting the command team at the time.

"It did in fact result in the reduction of the disruption. Nevertheless, this case highlights that policing demonstrations like these, within the existing legal framework, can be challenging."

Having argued that the ban was the only way to tackle widespread disruption, London’s Metropolitan Police said it would "carefully consider" the ruling.

Describing itself as an international "non-violent civil disobedience activist movement", XR wants governments to declare a "climate and ecological emergency" and take immediate action to address climate change.

Due to high demand, more tables and tickets have been released for the Black Country Chamber Awards, due to take place at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

This year’s event is proving particularly popular and the handful of tables which have just been released, are likely to sell out quickly.

The eagerly anticipated Awards will take place on Friday 15 November. The event is headline sponsored by Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and will celebrate Black Country Business and showcase the Black Country’s strong business community.

The event will be hosted by comedian and celebrity impressionist Aaron James, who is starring in Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s Christmas pantomime, Dick Whittington. After the success of last year’s Awards, and the increase of local business talent, the awards promise to be the business event of the year.

Ticket prices vary depending on the location of the table, but range from £105+VAT - £80+VAT per. The table locations are shown on the website where tickets are also available to purchase. They are on a first come first served basis.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said, “It is wonderful to see so many people supporting the Awards and wanting to be part of this event. Not only will those attending have the opportunity to see all the fantastic businesses the Black Country has, but it also gives people the chance to meet like-minded individuals and gain inspiration.

“I am very excited to see the outcome, we have many high-calibre businesses competing against each other, I don’t envy the judges having to choose between them! We are happy to be celebrating the Black Country and the people working here.”

The awards will feature a night of entertainment, three-course meal and an opportunity to network with other business professionals. In addition to the 13 award categories, an overall ‘Business of the Year’, sponsored by DY5, Dudley’s Business & Innovation Enterprise Zone, will also be selected and announced on the night.

A new multi-disciplinary team is being launched to help prevent at-risk young people in Wolverhampton from having to come into care.

Power2 will work with young people with different levels of need and support, helping them to exert more positive control over their lives and to live safely as they progress towards adulthood.

It will focus on 11 to 16-year-olds where there are concerns around exploitation, instability in the home environment or who demonstrate high risk-taking behaviours.

The launch of Power2 follows the success of a pilot project which enabled two social workers to work exclusively with young people aged 13 to 16 who were subject to Child in Need or Child Protection plans. The social workers helped 28 of the 31 teenagers they worked with – all at risk of a range of issues from drugs and alcohol to gangs and child sexual exploitation – remain with their families.

Overall, there was a significant reduction in the number of young people coming into care during the course of the pilot, which concluded that by dedicating all of their time in this way, social workers were able to build effective relationships with the young people and their families, and with other agencies such as the police.

The pilot also identified a number of areas for further development, and these have been incorporated into the design of Power2. The team will work with young people at risk of gang exploitation or child sexual exploitation, substance misuse or criminal or antisocial behaviour, those who have been excluded from school or violent towards other people in the home, or those who have been subject to missing episodes.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "We are committed to doing all we can to ensure that children are able to grow up safely and happily with their families, and keep to a minimum the number of children who ultimately have to be taken into care.

"The Power2 team will have a very important role in supporting some of our most vulnerable young people, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have.”

The team will be part of Children Service’s Specialist Support Service and will consist of social workers, an educational psychologist, a speech and language therapist, counselling psychologist and five keyworkers from Barnardo’s, Gazebo Theatre and St Giles Trust.

With November 5th on the horizon, people across the UK will start planning where they will be celebrating this year’s bonfire night.  For most, the booms, bangs and colourful fireworks are a pure delight however, for many pets they can be terrifying.

Simon Bandy, Managing Director at Health Plus, offers his tips on keeping pets safe and relaxed this Guy Fawkes night:

Cats

• If you can, keep your cat in as night starts to fall.  Frightened cats outside won’t have their usual wits about them.  If they are in the house they can find a place they feel safe to curl up
• Keep windows and curtains closed to prevent them escaping, and to keep light leaks from the explosions to a minimum
• Where possible stay at home with your feline friend.  Your presence and hands on stroking will help calm them

Dogs

• Plan to walk your dog while it’s still light.  Getting them out for exercise before nightfall reduces the risk of fireworks being set off while you are on your walk
• When at home in the evening, turn the television or radio on a little louder than you would normally have it.  This way the heightened noise can act as a screen for the outside bangs
• Build a den as a safe area for them to retreat to.  If they usually have a crate in the house, drape a large blanket over it to create an extra layer of safety

Simon commented, “If you know your pet suffers from anxiety there are many things you can start planning and putting into place for when firework season begins.  If you haven’t done so already it is a good idea to get your pet microchipped, or if they already are, check your contact details are up to date.  Another thing you could try is Pet Vit’s range of calming formulas, for cats and small and large dogs, which soothe emotions during periods of high anxiety or fear.”