Community News

Cycle Chain’s instantly recognisable bike repair, sales and hire narrowboat Carina (pictured) may have to  batten down the hatches and close up shop - unless new investment can be found to enable its operations to continue.

Situated below Sea Life Centre at Birmingham’s bustling Brindleyplace, Carina, a historic and decorative 72’ narrowboat “butty” built for towing by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company in 1935, was purchased from the Canal & River Trust, raised from the depths with help from Travel West Midlands in 2012 by not-for-profit organisation Cycle Chain Ltd and fully refitted as a multi-purpose workshop facility. Students from various colleges have been taken on board to learn bike mechanics and life skills from trained staff and volunteers, who themselves have benefited from acquiring the expertise essential for running the business.

Recent financial constraints have suspended teaching, but  Carina still carries out a brisk trade, offering a mix of regulars, passing customer and adventurous out-of-towners reasonably priced bike repairs,and sales.  

Hourly or daily cycle hire, guided tours and led rides may also run from  Carina, which is perfectly placed to exploit both the extensive Birmingham canal network, the city centre, and outlying districts.

The narrowboat's mooring spot across the canal from the Indoor Arena  is right In the heart of Birmingham,and Brindleyplace's management provides much-appreciated on-site support. Carina offers great potential for development as a unique and distinctive cycling hub offering eco-friendly transport options for Birmingham and the West Midlands.

Cycle Chain, founded in 2002, is keen to secure financial and business support to ensure its survival as a social enterprise run by committed and experienced volunteers, and there is the capacity to reinstate on-board teaching immediately.

Although currently a paying its way by trading only two/three days a week, with a small committed group of volunteers, Carina may need to be offered for sale, to clear some past deficits.

Cycle Chain Ltd, a Company Limited by Guarantee is next to Sea Life, B1 2HL, (entrance to Oozells St Canal Loop) and has a Facebook page.

The majority of people believe we can all be kinder to each other, according to a survey of the UK public for the British Red Cross.

About two in every three people surveyed admitted they themselves could do more to be kinder to others, with a staggering 91% agreeing that if we all did one kind thing a day, the UK would be a better place.

Preventing people from feeling lonely ranked top for the difference people would most like to make. Among the small acts of kindness people shared that had a big impact were:

• A stranger at a petrol pump lending them 2p when they had no cash and were just over the £30 limit to use contactless
• Friends who’d only ever met on Twitter sending another Twitter friend a box of goodies to cheer them up when they were ill
• A neighbour nipping next door to re-plant a rose bush that had died, as a surprise
• Coming home to a houseful of happy post-it note messages from a flatmate
• Being met at the door with a... cheesecake after a particularly bad day at work

Alongside the survey, the British Red Cross is launching its One Kind Thing campaign, encouraging everyone in the UK to do something kind to support its vital work.

From donating money, time or unwanted clothes, to taking part in an event, the charity is inviting us all to choose ‘one kind thing’ to ensure its volunteers can keep connecting people in crisis with people’s kindness, across the UK and the world.

Executive Director for Communications and Advocacy at the British Red Cross, Zoë Abrams said:

“The British Red Cross connects people in crisis with people who want to help. We reach out when people need us most so they know they don’t have to face their challenges alone. These survey results show the UK public believe we can all manage to do one kind thing, and it doesn’t have to be grand scale to make a real difference.

“Even the simplest acts of kindness can start to remove some of the fear and anxiety we all feel when faced with adversity, however big or small. That’s as true in refugee camps thousands of miles away as it is on a street here in the UK.  It’s heartening to see how strongly people recognise that; now we must mobilise and empower one other to create a kinder nation.”

Clinical psychologist, Dr Sarah Davidson, heads up a team of British Red Cross staff and volunteers trained to support people wherever they are in the world when crisis hits.

“Increasingly we’re seeing how emotional support is as vital as water, food, shelter and cash, to help people start to recover. And kindness is at the heart of that because it connects us to each other. Whether you’ve lost your home, your relative or your livelihood, having another human being notice your pain and be kind to you helps break through feelings of pain, loneliness and isolation.

“It may not change your situation immediately but it can reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. It’s a two-way process. Whether you’re experiencing kindness or being kind, both of you feel valued and better able to cope.”

The British Red Cross offers practical and emotional support to people in crisis in the UK on average every four hours. From major disasters to looking after people who’ve lost their homes in a fire or flood, it sees every day how small acts of kindness can make a vast difference to how people cope.

Internationally, its volunteers support people in the face of natural disasters and epidemics, as well as those forced from their homes through hunger, poverty, and conflict. Very often those volunteers are victims of the same extreme circumstances themselves.

Find out more about the One Kind Thing campaign by searching online for ‘Red Cross One Kind Thing’. You can also get involved on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or Linked In, using the hashtag #OneKindThing.

Visitors are invited to hop along to Birdland Park & Gardens over the May Half Term holidays (May 25th – June 2nd) and join their Penguin Week celebrations.

There's a packed programme of penguin-themed events and activities taking place throughout the holidays.

The Bourton-on-the-Water wildlife attraction looks after England's only breeding colony of king penguins which share their beach-themed home with a group of comical Humboldts.

Head Keeper Alistair Keen said: “This really is the best time to come and see the king penguins as they are just starting to show off their beach bodies in search of a mate.

“They've shed their winter coats and have been busily feeding up to get the extra energy needed to produce a beautifully sleek summer plumage.”

Keepers will be putting visitors penguin know-how to the test with a special quiz about everybody's favourite flightless birds, plus there's the chance to watch the penguin being fed and learn about their favourite foods and individual personalities.

There will be twice daily feeding displays at 11am and 2.30pm with herring on the menu for the king penguins and sprats for the Humboldts.

“Each of the penguins definitely has its own unique personality and they love to play. Our two hand-reared penguins; Spike and Charlotte, are particularly friendly,” said Alistair.

“As the colony is now beginning to pair up we're also likely to see lots of bizarre courtship rituals on display,” he added.

Many of the penguins have appeared on TV and in films and the park is also home to Missy who, at age 40, is believed to be the oldest king penguin in the world.

With its combination of woodland, riverside and gardens, Birdland features more than 500 birds, ranging from birds of prey and parrots to cassowaries and cranes in a mix of free-flying and aviary displays.

To celebrate this year's World Bee Day on Monday 20th May, St Ermin's Hotel and their 350,000 Buckfast honey bees are delighted to gift a free copy of beautifully produced book The Good Bee, A Celebration of Bees – And How to Save Them by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCullum to the first 50 diners who book a table for afternoon tea on that day. With hand-made illustrations throughout, this is a story for our times and a book to treasure…

Continue the celebration of bees and visit the hotel's bees hard at work on the third floor Bee Terrace where they have been happy residents since 2011 or for a real insight into these fascinating creatures attend a popular beekeeping workshop at the hotel!

The delicious new 'Garden Afternoon Tea' features sweet and savoury indulgences that draw inspiration from the season's finest ingredients, many of which are grown in the hotel's rooftop kitchen garden, and uses honey from our bees…

Taking Stratford-upon-Avon by storm, Hotel du Vin is celebrating a successful start to its Warwickshire life as the hotel celebrates a suite of award-wins and top reviews in its first year of opening.

The former registry office and social club was converted into a 46-bedroom boutique hotel with a multimillion investment by Frasers Hospitality, owners of Hotel du Vin and its sister brand, Malmaison. Employing over 50 members of staff, Hotel du Vin Stratford-upon-Avon opened in March last year and has already become a local success story. Voted as one of the top 10 hotels in the area on TripAdvisor and featured in The Sunday Times’ 100 top British hotels, the hotel has also received the AA four-star accreditation.

Nicolas Jefford, who was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, is general manager of the hotel and puts this initial success down to his 53-strong team. What’s more, the nine months since opening have seen several of the original recruits climb the ranks, with the internal promotions of five employees to senior roles.

He commented:

“For us, the staff are the secret to the success we’ve had; the hard-work began long before doors opened, with us striving to find the perfect people to represent the Hotel du Vin brand in Stratford-upon-Avon. Our intensive training programme for our staff and the recruitment of the likes of Arvind Bhardwaj and Laura Ginty, with over 30 years’ experience in the industry, means that we’re confident our team can deliver the highest hospitality standards.”

Hotel du Vin Stratford-upon-Avon’s 46 stunning bedrooms and suites are all based on a contemporary development of the traditional Hotel du Vin style. Guests familiar with the brand will be pleased to know that luxurious roll top baths and large comfy beds still come as standard, and that the Bistro at the hotel retains its focus on home-style French cooking, featuring robust earthy dishes on its menu.

However, this Hotel du Vin is distinctly Stratford-focused, with the attention to detail paid in renovating the 3,557 square metre listed building has also been a huge factor in getting people to check in. Such is the focus on quality, the hotel was even presented with the ‘Hotel of the Year’ accolade in the group-wide award ceremony last weekend. With the original site being built in 1798, the team was determined to retain as much character and charm as possible in the transformation. Having been a doctor’s surgery during and after World War Two, through to a social club, and most recently the town registry office, Hotel du Vin wanted to ensure the site’s cultural significance was preserved for the local people. This can be seen throughout the local references and nods to the area’s heritage throughout the hotel.

With a relaxed bar, al fresco dining and drinking courtesy of the landscaped suntrap of a courtyard, and three versatile event spaces with a capacity of up to 70 people, Hotel du Vin Stratford-upon-Avon is suitable for everything from intimate private dining, through to corporate meeting, training and entertaining.

“Our focus on preserving the character of the site was integral to the building process; I was born and raised in Stratford, so having the chance to bring this beautiful hotel to life in my hometown was a huge honour for me. I hope both locals and visitors to the town alike enjoy experiencing it as much as I do, and I look forward to welcoming them soon,” Nicolas concludes.

After celebrating the anniversary last week, the hotel hopes to continue this initial success by celebrating further award nominations, as well as plans to recruit more team members and launch an extensive events calendar.

Work can often be a main cause of stress and anxiety, but with appropriate wellness interior design, it can be a place to feel relaxed, comfortable and productive. Central to luxury flexible workspace, Uncommon’s wellness strategy is living greenery in the workplace, with over 1,000 plants housed in the new flagship space Liverpool Street, the plants help filter the air and provide a more neutral feel to the space. Uncommon’s spaces also offer al fresco areas, from terraces to roof top gardens, boasting fully functioning WiFi for members to make the most of long summer days whilst making sure all work goals are met.

Research by the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that by adding just one plant per square mile in an office, employees were 15% more productive than those without plants in their workspace. As well as the plants, Uncommon Liverpool Street also features a 5-metre Ficus benjamina tree, situated in the central atrium of the top-floor communal mezzanine space. Surrounding the tree will be hanging chairs, perfect for relaxation or break-out meetings, making sure even on those rainy summer days, members of Uncommon still reap the outdoor space working benefits.

With a strong focus on mental wellbeing in the workplace, Uncommon’s flagship space, Liverpool Street, which will be fully open to members from the 20th May, has collaborated with leading light artist Marcus Lyall, to provide Uncommon’s newest space on Liverpool Street with a spectacular, bespoke light and sound installation. It monitors heart rates and stress levels through the touch of a finger and is designed to promote wellness by making people aware of the signals inside their body and how stress can affect their everyday life.

Uncommon offers luxury flexible workspaces and offices in central locations with an emphasis on design led spaces and a focus on health & wellbeing. Their aim is to promote a healthier way of working in an environment that evokes creativity, as well as productivity. The spaces draw inspiration from a blend of Scandinavian and Italian design with a combination of rich textures and tonal colours to stimulate focus and maintain levels of calmness.

With sights set on achieving their eighth Gold, Birmingham City Council's RHS Chelsea Flower Show entry for 2019 celebrates a year of clean and green community action.

Working in partnership with Baroness Floella Benjamin and sponsored by Veolia, the garden will feature in the show’s ‘Discovery Zone’ and has been designed to educate, question and explore our environment and the contribution made by volunteers to sustain and improve it.

This will be achieved through four key themes: air quality, water conservation, reducing waste and community involvement. Central to the display is a three meter head, comprised of more than 3000 tubes, which will be drinking water from a disposable cup using a plastic straw.

With an estimated 46 billion plastic drinks bottles, 16 billion disposable cups and 36 billion plastic drinking straws being disposed of every year, the garden highlights the concern about micro-plastics in our food chain.

The water that is brought up through the straw is then recycled in to a series of canals that represent the 35 miles that frame the city. The canal pathways will be planted with flora which removes toxins from the environment and which show the beauty and other benefits which they bring.

A giant foot will hover over the display to remind people of the carbon footprint we are leaving on the planet, how this affects our natural open spaces and the benefit those spaces give to our health and well-being. The main source of air pollution in cities today is through transport.

Therefore, the display will also include a road made from recycled tyres and will look at how different plants can be used to remove toxins from the environment.

The focus of these plants will be to demonstrate how by using allergy friendly plants, exposure to plants that can trigger allergies and asthma will be reduced.

Cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods, Councillor Sharon Thompson said, “I’m delighted that as well as highlighting the importance of our local environment and providing a future vision for sustainability in Birmingham, it also recognises the army of volunteers that help to look after and maintain the 500 parks and green spaces right across the city.

“The work of these volunteers and of the Friends of Parks groups is vital and should be celebrated, so I’m thrilled that they have quite literally been included in the form of miniature 3D printed models of actual volunteers.”

Baroness Floella Benjamin said: “After the success of the Windrush Garden last year it’s a joy to once again work with the creative Birmingham City Council team.

This year by highlighting the crucial issue of recycling we show how each of us, as individuals can make a difference, as well as how companies and organisations can practice responsible recycling.

“Climate change and pollution are a global emergency and the only way to save our precious, wounded planet is for everyone to work together for the sake of our children’s future.”

A run of sold out shows has boosted the number of visitors to a Sutton Coldfield Charity venue. Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, which took ownership of the venue from Birmingham City Council last month, has seen a recent rise in numbers through the doors of the venue. With over 1500 visitors to the Willard Wigan micro-sculpture exhibition, 1400 people attending Sutton Vintage Fair last week and a sold out Gary Powndland comedy event last Friday, the venue is ready to host its biggest event of the year next Friday.

'Mothers 2' is a sold out charity event on Friday 10th May in aid of Worldwide Cancer Research. It celebrates former Erdington rock venue Mothers, which was open for just under 4 years in the late 60s and early 70s. It was instrumental in the Midlands and national rock scene and saw bands from Black Sabbath to Led Zeppelin on its stage, leading it to be recognised as one of the world's top music venues. Bands who played at the original club such as Soft Machine, The Groundhogs and Stan Webb's Chicken Shack will headline the Town Hall event, with bands from Birmingham's current rock and psychedelic scene supporting them in a 6 hour non-stop live music show.

The months of May and June see a varied programme of events at the Upper Clifton Road venue. Sutton Coldfield Society of Artists hosts a week long free exhibition from Sat 11th May. Popular comedy show Live at the Town Hall welcomes TV comics Hal Cruttenden, Lost Voice Guy and Angelos Epithemiou on Sunday 12 May. Locally born actor Jeffrey Holland (Hi-de-Hi) stars in "...And This is my friend Mr Laurel" on Thursday 16th May. The one-man show, direct from successful runs at Edinburgh Fringe, is based on a visit from Stan Laurel to his long term comedy partner Oliver Hardy in his final days. In a remarkable drama, the show recounts their past successes and reflects on friendship, love and dedication.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Orchestra returns to the Town Hall on Sat 18 May for their Spring Concert. Another Edinburgh Fringe hit 'The James Taylor Story', featuring acclaimed vocal guitarist Dan Clews will be in the Royal Town on Thurs 23 May. With an uncanny vocal likeness, the audience will be taken on a journey through the 5 time Grammy award winning star's life, with songs including You've Got a Friend, Fire and Rain and Sweet Baby James.

Sutton Coldfield Sound Clash, the Town Hall's Northern Soul and live music night, returns for the late May bank holiday on Friday 24 May. Featuring DJ and live Ska band The Interpreters, it makes full use of the Town Hall's huge sprung dance floor.

May closes with the ultimate 1980s party night. Electric 80s will feature the UK's leading Human League band 'Love Distraction' plus 80s DJ playing all the favourite New Romantic and electric 80s hits.

Future shows include Trinity Players' production of Top Hat! from 4 - 8 June, a matinee show of Keith Slater's Celebration of 60's music on Thursday 6 June at 2pm and Sound Clash Northern Soul with live Brit Pop band Marquis Drive on 14 June. Another June matinee will see country band Knoxville Highway present a Celebration of Glen Campbell on Thursday 20th June and family favourite Basil Brush will visit on Friday 21 June.

A new survey has revealed who and what Brit’s would choose to include in a time capsule to represent current Britain 100 years from now.

A current newspaper, a Harry Potter Book, a Kindle, an iPhone and a breakdown of British Politics (that would be interesting to put together) all make the top ten.

Brits were also asked which current Brit they would send to 2119 to represent the UK if they could. A third of Brits (31%) voted in favour of Sir David Attenborough, while the Queen came in at second place, with 8% of Brits nominating her majesty. Stephen Fry and Brian Cox share third place with 5% and 5.2% respectively, suggesting that knowledge is among the top attributes that Brits would choose to represent them in 100 years.

But, it isn’t such good news for the current Prime Minister, Theresa May, as just 1.5% of Brits voted that she was representative of the current time. In fact, more people voted for Nigel Farage (2.1%) to represent the UK in the distant future and, despite her current popularity, a tiny 0.1% voted for YouTube star, Zoella.

The survey also asked Brits how they would describe the current mood of the UK in one word to the UK’s future inhabitants. The research, conducted by storage experts Space Station, revealed that Brits would currently describe the nation as “conflicted” (22%), “stressed” (19%) and “selfish” (14%).

Brits were also asked which events of the past 12 months would be more likely to be remembered in 100 years time. Brexit was the event of choice, with a whopping half of Brits (53%) choosing the controversial subject over Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding.

The data also showed that Brits thought Stephen Hawking’s death last year was the second most historic event of the last 12 months. More than one in 10 Brits (11%) thought this sad event will be remembered a century from today.

A leading RAF historian will explore the effectiveness of a military campaign on land and in the air at a University of Wolverhampton lecture. Group Captain John Alexander, whose most recent posting was with the Air Historical Branch of the RAF, will visit the University on Thursday, 30 May 2019.

The lecture in the Millennium City Building, Wolverhampton City Campus, from 6.30pm – 8pm will focus on air-land integration during the Arab Revolt in Palestine between 1936–1939.

It is the latest in the Trenchard Lecture series, which are held in conjunction with the Royal Aeronautical Society and the University of Wolverhampton.

Professor John Buckley, from the Department of History, Politics and War Studies at the University, said: “The Trenchard Lecture series explores a variety of air power related topics ranging from historical themes to contemporary issues.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Group Captain John Alexander, who will examine the air-land Integration during the Arab Revolt in Palestine from 1936–1939. In particular he will look at how the campaign taught the British Army the advantages and the Rebels the effectiveness of air power.”

• Teaching the British Army the Advantages and the Rebels the Effectiveness of Air Power: Re-conceiving Air-Land Integration during the Arab Revolt in Palestine, 1936–1939 will take place at the University of Wolverhampton from 6.30pm-8pm on Thursday 30 May 2019 in MC001, Millennium City Building, City Campus Wulfruna, Wolverhampton.

The UK’s largest platform for parents and childcare professionals is offering mothers an hour of free childcare so they can attend a smear test. The offer is available nationwide, with more than 500 childcarers signed up to the initiative so far. The initiative has been introduced after the platform saw a few independent childcare providers offer the service, and was inspired to roll it out across the UK. Smear tests help doctors determine whether women are at risk of cervical cancer, which in 99.8% of cases is preventable, however figures show the take up is at a 20-year low.

The UK’s largest platform for parents and childcarers is offering an hour’s free childcare to mothers across the UK so they can attend a cervical screening test.

Childcare.co.uk has launched the nationwide initiative to encourage more women to attend a smear test to determine whether they are at risk of cervical cancer, which in 99.8% of cases is preventable* with early treatment*, however figures show the take up is at a 20-year low**.

So far, more than 500 childcare providers have signed up to offer the free hour of childcare. Mothers can book a childcare professional who is offering the service here: https://www.childcare.co.uk/news/free-childcare-for-smear-tests.

Last month it was reported that some individual childcarers in a few areas of the UK, have been offering a free hour of childcare to mothers so they can go to a cervical screening appointment. After seeing this, Childcare.co.uk was inspired to roll it out nationwide, to ensure that all mothers have the time to go to an appointment.

Every year in the UK, around 3,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer***. In the UK, women are invited to get a cervical screening from the age of 25 to 64 by the NHS to help check for cancerous cells and prevent cancer****. While the test usually takes just five minutes, Childcare.co.uk providers are offering mothers a free hour of childcare, to allow time for waiting times and travel to and from the doctor’s surgery.

Childcare.co.uk is a platform that allows parents to search for and connect with babysitters, childminders, nannies, nurseries, private tutors and schools and allows childcare providers to advertise their services. The site has more than 2 million users nationwide and is the largest online community for parents in the UK, having launched in 2009.

Richard Conway, Childcare.co.uk founder said, “There’s been a lot in the media about a fall in women not attending smear tests for various reasons, and I suspect a main one for mothers is not finding the time around their children.

“We wouldn’t want women missing out on their smear test because of a lack of childcare and we loved that individual childcarers were offering this, so we thought we’d help out. Within the first few hours of us asking our members, we had more than 500 childcarers sign up to the initiative. We hope this will make a huge difference!”

Libben Health and Safety donated a bottle of gin, cupcakes and a free First Aid at Work course to a fundraising event in Walsall, where Black Country comedian Jonny Cole made an appearance.

On a School Night took place on a Sunday night at The Fingerpost Pelsall with over 40 people attending the fundraising event, where they had the chance to take part in karaoke, a disco raffle and to meet the legendary Jonny Cole.

The comedian and singer/songwriter is well-known for using everyday life in the region as the basis for his ‘catchy songs’ and ‘cheeky melodies’.

Money donated through the event’s fun and games went to St Giles and Cancer Research.

Kevin Edwards, Managing Director at Libben Health and Safety, said: “As a company that has a Head Office in Walsall, we are always keen to get involved with our local community and raise funds for those who need it.

Giving away a free First Aid at Work course is a way for us to showcase the excellent training we provide to delegates who want to enhance their understanding of health and safety and to deliver excellent first aid to their colleagues.”

A hospice is encouraging local people to talk more openly about death, dying and bereavement by opening its doors to the public this month.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice will be hosting the intriguing and informative open day on Friday 17 May, to inspire and provoke conversations around the much-avoided subject.

Coinciding with national campaign ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week’, the Selly Park-based charity will give people the opportunity to tour its facilities and garden, chat to staff and volunteers about what really happens at a hospice, and explore therapeutic arts with its artist in residence.

Centred on the theme ‘curiosity’, there will also be Q&A sessions with end of life doulas, hospice nurses, and someone who has recently experienced hospice care – giving people the chance to ask questions that they’ve previously been too scared to raise.

Sharon Hudson, who is community development and partnerships lead at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, believes talking about death can “only be a good thing” as it allows people to share any worries, fears or wishes that they might have.

She said: “For many of us, talking about death can feel like a really difficult conversation to have and yet, all of us will experience it at some point in our lives. A lot of people are frightened of saying the wrong thing, worried about upsetting someone, or simply don’t know how to bring the topic up – and for those that are dying, sometimes denial can play a part in it too. By having the confidence to open up these conversations as part of everyday life, we can enable many more people and their loved ones to have the best possible quality of life as they deal with illness and approach dying.

“We hope that by welcoming people to Birmingham St Mary’s, we can help positively change their outlook on hospices, death and dying. We look forward to getting people down here and altering any preconceptions they may have.”

As well as the open day, the Hospice will also be hosting a live Q&A chat with former palliative care doctor and author of ‘With The End in Mind’, Kathyrn Mannix. Kathyrn’s book shares extraordinary stories of people who are approaching the end of life and their experiences often show that dying is something we should plan for and not avoid discussing.

In the live Q&A, Kathyrn will join medics and nurses from the Hospice to answer any questions that users might have about death and dying.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice provides vital care and support to local people who are living with life-limiting illness. This year, it’s celebrating 40 years of care across Birmingham and Sandwell. When the Hospice first opened in 1979, it could care for 25 people on any given day. Four decades later and the Hospice is supporting over 400 people every day, providing care in people’s homes, in the community, at its Day Hospice facility and at the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit.

The open day will take place between 1.30pm and 5pm at 176 Raddlebarn Road, Selly Park, B29 7DA.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy®-winning singer and songwriter Ozzy Osbourne has just announced rescheduled shows in the UK and Europe on his ‘No More Tours 2’ tour, with special guest Judas Priest. Ozzy will now play at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena on 14 February 2020.

Says Ozzy: “I’m really looking forward to getting back to Europe for these shows. Thank you to all the fans for sticking with me and waiting for the new dates to be announced. I can’t wait to see you all next year.”

Tickets bought for the original date, 9th February 2019, remain valid for the new rescheduled date.

Tickets are on sale via www.theticketfactory.com

Shopworker’s trade union Usdaw has today released shocking statistics from their annual survey which shows that on average West Midlands shopworkers were verbally abused, threatened or assaulted 20 times last year, which is around once every 18 days.

While not all shopworkers suffer to this extent, some experience much higher levels of abuse, threats and violence. Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Survey shows that during 2018:

• 59% of West Midlands shopworkers experienced verbal abuse, • 38% were threatened by a customer, • with 29 assaulted every day (which is above the national average).

The Government has opened a ‘call for evidence’ on this growing issue, following pressure from Usdaw, employers like the Co-op and retailers’ representative organisations like the Association of Convenience Stores, British Retail Consortium and National Federation of Retail Newsagents. The Government is seeking the views of organisations and individuals who wish to contribute to their understanding of the problem of violence and abuse toward shop staff in England and Wales. This consultation closes at 11pm on 28 June 2019 and submissions can be made online at: www.homeofficesurveys.homeoffice.gov.uk/s/PVAUE/

Usdaw is running their own survey, which will feed into the Home Office ‘call for evidence’ and can be completed at: www.usdaw.org.uk/respectsurvey

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Violence, threats and abuse against workers are amongst the great scourges of our society. The statistics are shocking and show that urgent action is required. On average a West Midlands shopworker can end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault around once every 18 days. Our message is clear, abuse is not a part of the job.

“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect and make shops safer for staff and customers alike.

“So there needs to be action to help protect staff. We want the Government to provide stiffer penalties for those who assault workers; a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, CPS, the judiciary and most importantly criminals.

“Usdaw welcomes the Government opening a ‘call for evidence’ and we encourage everyone concerned with this issue to make their voices heard by contributing to the Home Office online consultation or visiting the Usdaw website to complete our survey, which we will submit to the Government.

“Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”

Jack Dromey MP (Labour, Birmingham Erdington) says: “No one goes to work to be abused. The figures highlighted in Usdaw’s report are utterly shocking, we need to do everything we can to make shopworkers working environment a safe place and to stop this scourge within our society.

“We need to work hard to ensure that shopworkers feel safe at work and to reduce the atrocious amount of abuse suffered. It's vital we tell the Government more work needs to be done, that's why it is so important to send in evidence in the Governments "call to arms" consultation so the voices of shop workers are heard and acted on by the Government.”

Voices from the West Midlands frontline: As part of Usdaw’s survey of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, respondents have the opportunity to feed back their experiences, here are some examples from the West Midlands:

Coventry: “Hit with a walking stick by an old man because I was talking to another customer and not dealing with his problems immediately.”

Stoke-on-Trent: “I was on the customer service desk and a man tried to lunge over the desk at me and grabbed my hand and scratched me before security arrived.”

Rugby: “Customer was unhappy about the number of tills that weren't open and threw her basket of shopping at me.”

Cannock: “Challenging drug addicts/shoplifters/breaking up fights.”

Birmingham: “Many times aggressive and threatening customers have talked (shouted more like) over very unimportant issues such as queues or pricing, it’s as though they feel they have the right!”

Hereford: “Known thief gave racial abuse, when being watched for stealing.”

Solihull: “Customer was refused a refund, got stroppy, came after me into the fitting room shouting threats, backed me into a corner literally.”

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 420,000 members.

Sirens will sound at fire stations across the country at midday, to commence a minute’s silence for Firefighters Memorial Day. Communities are asked to join firefighters outside their local fire station to honour the more than 2,300 firefighters who have lost their lives.

A wreath will be laid at the Firefighters’ Memorial by St Paul’s Cathedral. The service will be attended by Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary, and public figures including former firefighter and Fire Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick MP. FBU representatives have invited MPs and councillors to join firefighters and members of the public at their local station’s ceremony.

Nearly 80 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion, tabled by Grahame Morris MP, remembering the “bravery and sacrifice” of those firefighters who have lost their lives and commending the “selfless dedication” of all firefighters.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “The sacrifice of our fallen firefighters will not be forgotten. We often remember firefighters with a saying: ‘When all others were running out, they were running in’. It’s that duty of bravery and heroism which drives our noble profession.

“Each day, firefighters risk and in some circumstances sacrifice their lives to save others from danger.

The names and memories of our fallen comrades stay with us always, as we hope that no more names join the firefighters’ memorial.”

Memorials to firefighters who lost their lives have been held throughout the year as part of the FBU’s Red Plaque scheme, funded by the Firefighters’ 100 Lottery. The scheme allows firefighters, communities and the family and friends of those lost to pay tribute to fallen heroes, and to provide a place of reflection and memorial for all time.

Last year, the FBU marked its centenary with a “once in a generation” service at Southwark Cathedral. More than 50 wreaths were laid at the Firefighters’ Memorial in memory of fallen firefighters, representing every fire service in the UK.