Community News

An armed forces charity with a number of disabled veterans has completed one of the world’s toughest desert rallies - in Britain’s most affordable 4x4.

The Future Terrain team drove three Dacia Dusters a combined 3,000 miles through the Sahara in a seven-day adventure.

They took on giant sand dunes, rocky roads, flooded tracks and other harsh terrain in the Carta Rallye - having just driven more than 2,000 miles from England to the starting line in Morocco.

And it wasn’t a case of the charity just taking part - with the team battling gruelling conditions to finish second and third in their categories on one day.

While a number of specially-built rally cars costing hundreds of thousands were getting stuck overnight in the desert, the hardy Dacias made it back to the camp each evening after ten to 12 hours of driving plus night stages.

Navigation during the orienteering-type competition was made extra difficult by the unpredictable weather. Sunshine was interrupted by heavy downpours and visibility was limited by regular sandstorms.

The Future Terrain team is made up of wounded, injured and sick former and serving members of the armed forces, who use motorsport and off-road driving to gain qualifications to redefine themselves after life-changing injury.

One of the drivers was former soldier George Frost, a 37-year-old dad-of-one from Dorset who suffers from complex PTSD.

George was returning to a desert environment for the first time since serving in the military.

He said: “I was nervous beforehand because it was my first trip back to the desert.

“I never thought it would be something I would do but it was better than I was expecting and I think I would probably do it again.

“It was an amazing adventure and it has helped my mental health. I have learnt a lot from the experience. I've learnt to push myself further.

“The cars exceeded my expectations. We proved a lot of people wrong.”

Scott Garthley was an expedition coordinator for Future Terrain on the event.

In 2003, while serving in Iraq, he received several complex injuries following an explosion and in recent years had to have a limb amputated.

Scott, 51, from Edinburgh, said: “Not only did we do it but we were competing against vehicles which had tens of thousands of pounds of modifications, while we had a car off the factory line.

“On one day we finished second, third and fourth in our class. We were gobsmacked and it did a lot for everyone’s spirit.

“We worked as a team, drove as a team and when there was a problem we got out of it as a team.

“We were outperforming vehicles which on paper we shouldn’t have. The Dacias did us proud.”

Incredibly, the only mechanical issue experienced during the rally was on the first day when one of the Dusters damaged a radiator, forcing the team to add extra protection to certain areas of the vehicles.

Apart from roll cages for safety, all-terrain tyres and some underbody protection, the cars remained standard and were near identical to the Duster 4x4s which cost £13,700 in the UK.

The team and their four-wheel drive Dusters have now returned to the UK following the event which ended on Sunday.

They will now prepare themselves and their next challenge - racing the Dacia Dusters in the British Cross-Country Championship rally series.

Grant White, co-founder of Future Terrain, added: “The Carta Rallye is a highly demanding event, even for the fittest able-bodied people.

“When you bring people into the mix who are in wheelchairs, with prosthetic limbs or have mental illness, it really ups the ante.

“We did a lot of life coaching, turning negatives into positives, getting people to work together who might not normally want to.

“Everyone found it tough but that’s the nature of the beast, and as tired as everyone was at the end of it, there was a lot of positivity.

“The Dacia Dusters received interesting reactions from people in their highly-modified desert rally cars, many couldn’t believe they were unmodified and all thought we would struggle, but we proved them wrong and we found the Dusters to be fantastic in the dunes.

“We’re really proud of what we achieved and happy with how it all went.”

A frugal mum has told how she cooked up six weeks’ worth of evening meals for her family of three from as little as 24p each.

Cash savvy Jeni Dearing whipped up 132 healthy meals using cupboard essentials from budget supermarkets, vegetables from her local market, and a low-cost meat hamper from musclefood, with each portion costing 75p on average.

The thrifty mum, who lives in Bromley with her husband, Kevin, and eight-year-old son, Ronnie, prepared 25 different meals over the course of six weeks by batch cooking every few days and storing portions in the freezer.

44-year-old Jeni used a £79 musclefood hamper and spent just £20 on other essentials such as yellow sticker items from budget supermarkets and veggies from her local market.

The hamper’s contents included chicken breasts, free range steak burgers, low fat bacon medallions and extra lean pork sausages, as well as a pork pasta meal kit and a chicken tikka masala curry kit.

From her £99 spend, Jeni planned her ingredients and costings before preparing a number of tasty and balanced meals including chicken and sweetcorn noodle soup, bacon and onion pasties, and toad in the hole, for as little as £1.41 per meal.

Jeni also managed to cook and prepare a roast chicken dinner for 10 which worked out at just 74p per head.

She began shopping and cooking frugally around the time her son was born in order to cut down on her household’s weekly food shop spend, and documents her cook-ups on her Instagram page.

Jeni and husband Kevin also house foreign students that attend a local language college, and often have to provide breakfast and dinner for them too, so prefer to keep costs low where possible.

Since she started to cook in batches, Jeni has saved at least £80 each month on the food shop.

In order to make meals go further, and to make them healthier in general, Jeni bulks out Bolognese and chilli con carne with loads of extra vegetables like onion, celery, carrots and peppers.

She also adds tinned beans such as chick peas and butter beans to curries and stews as they’re cheap, filling and absorb the flavour of the meat.

Jeni said: “I started batch cooking around the time my son was born. At the time, we lived in Cornwall, and I found that I just didn’t have the time to go food shopping in the evenings like I used to.

“Instead, I’d pop to the fruit and veg market once a fortnight and then stock up on other essentials when needed.

“Now, I tend to prefer to cook healthy, low-calorie meals to keep the pounds off, with lean meat where possible, and lots of veggies.

“I’m not one to plan meals weeks in advance, I just buy whatever veg is on offer and great value, then base meals around the veg and grab the meat from the freezer to go with them.

“For example, if I picked up lots of cheap peppers, courgettes and aubergines from the market, I’ll couple them with chicken breasts or pork from the freezer to make a rogan josh, stir fried pork or Spanish chicken.

“I’m quite fortunate as my son isn’t a terribly fussy eater. He actually loves his meat and steak night is his favourite, but we didn’t tend to eat lots of it as it can get quite costly in the supermarkets.

“musclefood just go to prove that it doesn’t have to be that way, though. We were all super excited for our delivery to arrive and I was a bit taken aback when it did – there are more items in the hamper than what I expected! Our freezer definitely took a bit of a battering.

She continued: “The hampers are fantastic value and great for people who enjoy batch cooking. The meat is really good quality too – plus there’s so much to choose from.

“It’s always worth buying lower fat, quality meat as it means you’re not wasting money draining off fat to throw away.

“One of my favourite things to do is chuck a load of chicken in the slow cooker and leave it throughout the day – then you’ve got lots of portions of shredded chicken which goes with pretty much anything.

“I also used the lean beef mince to cook a big batch of Bolognese which I then portioned up with pasta and popped in the freezer. Each portion worked out at about 250kcals, so it’s a balanced and easy option to pull out for a quick lunch throughout the day.

“It also goes without saying, but I’d always recommend scouring your yellow aisles too. I managed to pick up some sausage meat for just 50p which I used for a roast dinner.”

Jeni added: “One of the most important reasons I batch cook, as well as to save money, is to save time.

“Batch cooking also means we’re not as tempted to have a takeaway because there’s always a few curries ready and waiting in the freezer – meaning we save more that way, too.”

Cat thefts recorded by police from 2015 to 2018 revealed a sharp increase of 114% during this time.   Yorkshire-based pet insurance company The Insurance Emporium have been working with pet theft reform campaigners Pet Theft Awareness on insights into cat theft trends in the UK.

Pet Theft Awareness requested information on cat theft from 48 police authorities* across the UK.  This revealed that the striking Bengal cat seemed to be at greatest risk of being stolen, with 19% of all recorded thefts being for this type of cat**.  Bengals are particularly sought after as pets, their surge in popularity possibly being linked to several high profile celebrity Bengal owners such as Kourtney Kardashian, Liz Hurley and Bruce Springsteen.

Not far behind were the pricey British Shorthair cats, including the popular British Blue, accounting for 14% of recorded cat thefts.  The aristocratic-looking and expensive Persian cat followed at 11%.

Some police authorities*** recorded significantly higher numbers of cat thefts than others.  The Metropolitan Police was the UK’s number one cat theft hotspot, with 18% of all recorded cat thefts in the UK.  However actual police prosecution or cautions followed in just 1% of the Metropolitan Police’s recorded cases.  This was in stark contrast to Cumbria Constabulary where 50% of recorded cat thefts were converted into police cautions.

Whilst cat theft may at first glance appear to be more common in some areas, this could well be down to a lack of uniformity in the way police record and enforce cat theft.  For example 100% of cat thefts prosecuted in West Mercia all occurred during 2018, with none between 2015 and 2017.  Could this be due to improvements in their processes, or a new willingness by West Mercia police to take cat theft seriously as a crime?

Responding to these statistics, Pet Theft Awareness Campaigner Toni Clarke, and owner of missing pedigree cat Clooney, said:

“When my beloved Siamese cat Clooney vanished in 2013 after a courier van was seen driving away from our rural home, police officers quoted a cat’s right to roam to me and refused to record him as missing or stolen even though I had good reason to suspect the crime of cat theft.”

Richard Jordan of Pet Theft Awareness said: “Cat theft is a crime which seems to be on the up.  We are campaigning for cat theft reform so that when a cat disappears, the assumption that it has gone walkabout is replaced with proper police recording, enforcement and uniformity of approach across the board.”

The world's biggest Primark opened its doors to shoppers in Birmingham with an estimated 5,000 people who flew through the store on its first day of business.

Thought to have cost about £70m and four times the size of its old home round the corner, the former Pavilions Shopping Centre on High Street covers some161,000 sq ft over five floors and comes complete with a Disney-themed cafe, a barber's shop and beauty studio, as well as Primark's standard fare - affordable fashion.

The new discount fashion chain which offers clothes and accessories for all ages, plus home ware, flies in the face of what’s making the news – more regularly – that is the likes of High Street big names such as Debenhams and House of Fraser in decline, this brand new development means double the previous work force; which adds to tich adds to the ghe grander redevelopment of Birmingham city.

Despite a lack of any online presence, last year Primark reported higher UK sales and plans for more stores.

“The longer this initial part of the Brexit process takes, the more likely it becomes that the UK will rethink the process entirely.

The present extension is unlikely to be long enough to fully organise a second referendum – a process that will likely take a minimum of 22 weeks – but it is certainly feasible that a confirmatory referendum might be the price parliament demands in exchange for acquiescing to the Withdrawal Agreement.

If the two largest parties cannot come to an agreement then there will be a series of indicative votes in Parliament.

May has stated that the Government will respect these, although they are unlikely to be binding. A soft Brexit or a second referendum is likely to ensue.

However, Theresa May’s time as premier is certainly coming to a close and is unlikely to last to 2020. It’s unclear how long she will cling on for.

The question of how Theresa May’s successor might act remains live – how can one ‘Boris proof’ things?”

West Midlands Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Lynnette Kelly has announced that she is seeking the Labour Party nomination to be Police and Crime Commissioner for the county.

Dr Kelly said: “I care passionately about the West Midlands. I was born here, I’ve raised my children here, and I want my family and yours to grow up in safety, and with confidence in the local police.

“I will make sure West Midlands Police work with all our communities to reduce crime and prevent reoffending. For that to happen, the police need strong leadership and the public need to have confidence in the police and the police and crime commissioner. I believe I am the person to deliver the strong leadership that is needed, informed by Labour values and co-operative principles.

“The cuts to policing in the West Midlands have gone too far. I will fight the cuts, and campaign to get fair funding for the West Midlands. “

She has pledged to: Fight police cuts and ensure the West Midlands gets its fair share from government.

Expand the public health approach to tackling violent crime in the West Midlands. She will announce her full set of policies in the coming days.

Dr Kelly has drawn support for her candidacy from across the region and across both wings of the Labour party. Labour figures from the Black Country, Birmingham and Coventry have helped launch Lynnette’s candidacy.

Coventry councillor Mal Mutton said “I’ve known Lynnette for many years, from when she first began campaigning for the Labour party before she became a councillor. She is a strong leader, and is able to unite people across the party, both left and right, to work together for Labour principles. I know that as Police and Crime Commissioner she would do a great job.”

Birmingham councillor John O’Shea said: “Lynnette has dealt with the tough issues as Assistant PCC. She’s not dodged the difficult questions and has been an excellent Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner. I’m backing her to win in 2020.”

Wolverhampton councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “Lynnette is a worker - she doesn’t just sit in an office, she gets out and engages with people across the West Midlands. She has actively supported myself and others in our election campaigns, but is also around in between elections giving support where needed and listening to people’s concerns.”

Joe Connor, chair of Coventry Momentum, said: “Lynnette is a hardworking and dedicated person who cares so much for the community. I believe she would make a fantastic Police and crime Commissioner, someone that would get things done that mattered and work hard to change things for the better.”

The inspection of some of the Trust’s services took place during the period 4^th September to 11^th October last year, with publication of the findings today which reveal the overall rating for the Trust remains the same.

The Trust has committed to continuing to make improvements and has already made changes to ensure that patients receive high quality care across all parts of the Trust. As well as making recommendations, the CQC report notes a number of outstanding practices with the overall ‘outstanding’ rating for being caring.

In urgent and emergency care across both City and Sandwell hospitals, the services were rated as ‘requires improvement’ with an ‘outstanding’ rating for the critical care service.

Good practice that the inspectors singled out for praise included:

-       The domestic violence advocacy service in our emergency department

-       An initiative to cut pressure sores that has been successful in winning local awards

-       Dedicated listening time for stroke rehabilitation relatives and patients

-       Conversation cards in the infant feeding team to provide vital information for new mums

Toby Lewis Chief Executive commented: “We are pleased that no safety concerns remain in our ratings table.  Obviously our work to achieve a Trust-wide Good rating continues, and our community services for both children and adults reach that mark already.  We know that for acute services we have more room for improvement.

“Most pleasingly, we have maintained our Outstanding rating for Caring.  This is a tribute to the hard work and compassion of our teams across the organisation.

“Since the CQC inspectors visited the Trust last year we have made a number of improvements including:

-       A focus on recruitment to fill vacancies

-       New resuscitation trolleys that are more secure

-       Supporting all our staff to be compliant with mandatory training requirements

“We continue to make improvements in the services we provide to our patients and we will:

-       Ensure that all our staff are fully aware of the requirements under the mental capacity act

-       Continue to encourage an open culture so that all colleagues feel supported in  raising any issues of concern through our many speak up routes

-       Focus on clear ways to share learning across the Trust

-       Make sure that the way we understand and manage risks is well-understood in all services and departments

“We will work with the Care Quality Commission, and with our partners within the STP, to adopt best practice across our Trust, and I look forward to welcoming the inspectors in 2020.”

Wolverhampton’s Carer Support Team will be marking Carers Week 2019 with a series of events, including craft sessions and celebratory lunches for carers and the people they look after.

The week of activities begins with the Carer Support Team’s monthly Carers Café at Light House Media Centre on Monday 10 June.

The café is open to all carers, and to celebrate Carers week they will also get 20% off meals at the Light House café and discounted cinema tickets on production of their Carers Emergency Card.

Also on Monday, Information Officer Melinder Kaur will be hosting an information stand at Waitrose from 2.30pm-4pm, where people will be able to find out more about the help and support available from the team.

The first of two Carers Celebratory Lunches takes place on Tuesday 11 June at the Nickelodeon, Bentley Bridge Way, Wednesfield, from noon-2pm, with carers and the people they care for invited to enjoy a carvery lunch.

On Wednesday 12 June, there will be a Craft Taster session, with carers invited to learn how to make felt to create beads or venture into the art of hat making by designing a fascinator. The session takes place at The Maltings, Herbert Street, Wolverhampton from 1pm to 3pm.

The second Carers Celebratory Lunch takes place on Thursday 13 June from noon-2pm at The Gatehouse Hungry Horse, Donington Grove, Wolverhampton.

The week of events wraps up on Friday 14 June with another Craft Taster session, with people able to explore their creative flair while learning how to make a fantasy film flower which can be displayed to catch the sunlight. This session also takes place at The Maltings from 1pm-3pm.

David Watts, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Director of Adult Services, said: “Caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, but at the same time it is often challenging for carers to be able to look after their own well-being.

"These Carers week events are an excellent opportunity for carers to enjoy a bit of well-deserved ‘me time’, meet other carers and find out more about the help that is available to them as they carry out their vital role."

Carers provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.

The Carer Support Team offers a range of services to carers, ensuring they are supported in their caring role, have access to the help they need and are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

They provide practical information, guidance and advice on a range of matters including benefits and short breaks for carers, and offer a range of other services including carer assessments, the Carers Emergency Card and training in skills such as first aid.

Carers Week runs from 10-16 June 2019 and is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges that carers face and recognising the contribution they make to families and communities. Around 6.5m people in the UK are carers, looking after a parent, partner, child or friend.

The old adage ‘waste not, want not’ has become a thing of the past, as a new survey shows that thousands of parents are regularly binning toys in perfect condition.

From Buzz Lightyear to Mr Potato Head, the British Heart Foundation’s survey found that nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of parents in the West Midlands, admit to throwing away toys in perfect condition.

It also revealed that toys’ days are numbered from the moment they leave the box, with the majority of kids losing interest in just over a month (36 days).

One in five (20 per cent) of parents in the West Midlands said their children lost interest in a toy in the first 11 hours of play.

Furthermore, the figures showed children have an average of four toys they’ve never even played with. This means there could be a staggering 162 million toys that have never been played with in the UK.

On the upside, over two thirds of UK adults (73 per cent) would buy a second hand toy for their child or children, although just over half (53 per cent) have ever donated a toy to charity that their child or children no longer play with.

According to the survey, over two thirds (68 per cent) of children’s toys in the region are predominantly made of plastic.

In light of these stats, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging the public to take part in its ‘Toy Amnesty’ over the Easter break. Donating to one of the BHF’s 550 shops nationwide couldn’t be easier, with the charity offering a free toy collection service between 8th and 12th April.

Generous donors can use the #MyToyStory hashtag on social media to tell the BHF a bit about the toy they’re donating. Or why not label up your item and tell the new owner a bit about where it came from.

With the survey suggesting that 66 per cent of the nation’s children’s toys are predominantly made of plastic, the charity say the campaign could prevent many toys ending up in landfill and give them a new lease of life. Last year the BHF enabled 70,000 tonnes of items to be re-used thanks to donations to its shops.

The proceeds of all toy donations will help fund research into beating heart and circulatory disease.

Allison, Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “As a parent I know how easy it can be for outgrown toys to be piled everywhere, with some not played with for months. The British Heart Foundation’s Toy Amnesty is here to help clear out those toys that are ready for a new home and a new adventure. Call the BHF for a free collection or pop in to one of our 550 shops and donate in person – you could even pick up a donated toy at the same time. Every item sold in a BHF shop helps us to raise funds for our life-saving heart research and prevents thousands of once loved items ending up in landfill.”

eBay Toy Expert at the British Heart Foundation, Chris Walker, gives his advice on which toys make the best donations: “Your old toys, which you may just see as outdated bric-a-brac, could be worth hundreds or even thousands. If they’re still unopened or even if you have the original packaging, your donations could raise vital funds for charity.

“Items such as Polly Pocket, Subbuteo, Corgi cars, Transformers, Star Wars and Lego, are all big sellers on our eBay shop. They often have cult followings and are in high demand from collectors. Toys from the 80s and early 1990s are popular too, as a lot of people who were children then are parents today and are keen to share the nostalgia from their childhood with their own kids.”

The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has today called on the Government to apologise on the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh, or Amritsar, massacre.

The Mayor visited the site of the incident in October last year following a trade visit with the Midlands Engine to Maharashtra.

MPs will discuss the massacre at a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament. The Mayor is asking the Government to issue a public apology in response to the debate.

Mayor Street said: “This week, 100 years ago, a terrible incident took place in Amritsar.

“Many people lost their lives. Families and communities were shattered by the 1650 bullets fired by British troops on innocent civilians.

“When I went to Amritsar in October it was even clearer to me that this incident is a stain on our history, but it was also clear that it should not be forgotten.

“Let us remember this day and the people - 379 Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus who lost their lives. Sir Winston Churchill rightly called it ‘a monstrous event' and David Cameron described it as a ‘deeply shameful event in British history’.

“It is now time for a formal apology by the British Government as a mark of respect, so that our progressive relationship with India is no longer dampened by this aspect of our past.

“I know that for many people in the West Midlands of Punjabi heritage a formal apology would be a sign of good faith and would enable us to build even stronger relationships between our two countries.”

The Churnet Valley Railway has announced that Class 31 31271 ‘Stratford 1840-2001’ will be visiting them this springtime.

31271 is visiting the railway for their Diesel Gala for 2019.

This visit is thanks to A1A Locomotives, and to the Llangollen Railway Diesel Group, who have altered their roster ahead of the locomotives visit.

It will be the first time a 31 has worked on the Churnet Valley Railway in preservation, though a tour did continue onto Ironbridge in 1984.

31271 was initially bought by A1A Locomotives as a source of spares in 1998 for their other Class 31s. It was purchased by them from EWS Railways and transferred from Toton to the Midland Railway Butterley where the locomotive was placed on display.

In 2000 it was decided to restore the locomotive, return to service happened in April 2002 and following bodywork repairs, the locomotive was named at the National Railway Museum at their RailFest 200 in 2004. Since repairs, 31271 has performed well at the Nene Valley Railway, though now she is moving to the Llangollen Railway on a 2 year period.

The only opportunity for the members of the public to travel behind the locomotive will be during the diesel gala over the May Bank Holiday of the 4 – 6 May.

As part of her visit, 31271 will be being used on Driver Experience courses. This is a must for any 31 fan and will encompass the whole 14 miles. The experience will last for approximately 2.5 hours and includes a meal plus an invite to bring up to six guests to join you for your experience who can ride on the carriages as you take the controls.

Driver Experience courses are available 09 April 2019, 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00.

A new era for a much-loved Sutton Coldfield venue has commenced.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, which has been under Birmingham City Council stewardship since 1974, transferred ownership to a charitable trust at a well-attended and enthusiastic hand-over ceremony. Royal Sutton Coldfield Community Town Hall Trust will now assume responsibility for the building on behalf of the people of the Royal Town.

The transfer is essential for the Trust in order for it to raise the necessary funds for future development of the Edwardian theatre and community event space, which is expected to require in the region of £3-4 million. The Trust has been working closely with the City Council over the past two years to achieve a smooth transfer.

The Board of Trustees is made up of local volunteers passionate about arts and heritage. It has been overseeing the running of the new bookings and operational team since November 2016, which has successfully created a full programme of new shows and events at the venue, from Northern Soul dances to live bands. A newly refurbished bar, using money donated by the late Sir Doug Ellis, has completely refreshed the lounge area of the venue and has resulted in the number of private hires rising dramatically.

The ceremony was attended by local community leaders and users of the Town Hall. It opened with a medley of songs from ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ performed by the new Sutton Coldfield Musical Youth Theatre, which is based at the venue.  The ceremony also included speeches from Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council and Richard Mason, Chairman of the Charity Trust, who accepted the keys from the Council leader. The proceedings were launched with a speech by local Member of Parliament, Andrew Mitchell, who is Honorary President of the Trust.

Guests were given a personal tour of the Town Hall’s feature exhibition by Birmingham micro-sculptor Dr Willard Wigan MBE, which launched on Monday and is on display until 26 April. The exhibition, titled ‘Through the Looking Glass’ contains 24 sculptures in microscopes, including a brand new Alice in Wonderland, smaller than a newspaper full stop, with eyes the size of blood cells. The Town Hall hopes to attract visitors of all ages over the Easter season and to raise awareness of forthcoming events and fundraising efforts.

The transfer has resulted in a reconstitution of the Board of Trustees, made up of Chairman Richard Mason, Claire Bridges, Russell Ludlam and Kevin Boyd. They have been joined by Councillors Janet Cairns and Ewan Mackey representing Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, plus David Pears, nominated by Birmingham City Council.

A dedicated volunteer officially opened Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice’s latest shop in Northfield coinciding with the charity’s milestone anniversary celebrations.

Nancy Byrne from Moseley has been volunteering at the Hospice for 40 years, ever since it opened its doors and cared for its first patient in March 1979.

The big-hearted volunteer will be a familiar face to many patients, family members and loved ones who have visited Birmingham St Mary’s over the years, as she is best known for welcoming people on reception.

Before the Hospice opened, Nancy was part of the original ‘Friends of St Mary’s Fundraising Group’ that helped raised the £358k needed to open the Hospice. She then decided to volunteer because she’s a “people’s person who enjoys helping others”.

Over the past four decades, Nancy has supported with general admin work, driven patients to-and-from the Day Hospice and volunteered on reception – roles that she has enjoyed doing because “it’s a privilege to help people at a time when they need it most”.

To recognise her outstanding commitment to the Hospice – and to celebrate the first Birmingham St Mary’s shop to open during its 40^th anniversary year – Nancy was invited to officially cut the ribbon at the Northfield store.

Based at 734 Bristol Road South, the shop is the charity’s 17^th across Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull and aims to raise vital funds so the Hospice can continue to care for local people living with life-limiting illness.

Nancy said: “Birmingham St Mary’s has been a big part of my life over the last 40 years and so I feel really proud to come to Northfield today and officially open its latest shop. I remember when the Hospice opened its first-ever shop in Selly Park back in 1985, so it’s wonderful to see how far our shops have come since, with many more having been opened across our city and beyond.”

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice was founded by former NHS matron Monica Pearce, whose mission was to “enable anyone with a life-limiting illness to live their life to the full” – a statement that the Hospice’s staff and volunteers still stand by today. When the Hospice first opened, it could care for just 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, and at the Hospice itself.

The Hospice’s shops provide a vital source of income for the charity, ensuring it can continue to care for people at a time when they need it most, wherever and whenever they need it. In the last 12 months, the charity has launched four new shops, including its first in Sandwell.

Tina Swani, chief executive at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, was also present at the Northfield opening. She said: “Thank you so much to Nancy for coming down today to officially launch our Northfield shop. Volunteering for 40 years is an outstanding commitment and we are so grateful for all her support over the years.

“I would also like to thank everyone who came to the opening today. Our shops provide a crucial source of income for the Hospice – in fact, generous shoppers help raise over £1.5 million of the £8 million needed every year to run our vital services. That money goes a long way in supporting people to live well with life-limiting illness.”

Birmingham St Mary’s new shop will be open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm and Sundays, 10am to 4pm 

An exhibition documenting the unique and alternative fan subculture surrounding German football club FC Sankt Pauli has opened to the public at Birmingham City University.

‘Sometimes Antisocial, Always Antifascist’, hosted by the School of Visual Communication at the University’s Parkside Gallery, features the first public show of 27 striking images produced by editorial and documentary photographer and academic Conrad Tracy, who graduated with a Master’s degree from Birmingham City University (UCE) in 1996.

The club’s now global reputation as ‘the football home for those without a home in football’ grew from a group of socially conscious, left wing and punk FC St Pauli supporters in the mid-1980s.

After adopting the skull and crossbones as their flag, and embracing political activism, anti-establishmentarianism ideals and bohemian lifestyles, the club’s fan base – reported to have the largest number of female fans in German football – developed in stark contrast to the racism, fascism and hooliganism that plagued British and European football clubs during the 1980s.

Dorset-based photographer Conrad Tracy spent seven years visiting Hamburg and building relationships with the FC St Pauli community before capturing fans at home and away, and artwork around the club’s Millentor Stadion ground, as well as documenting a Brooklyn, NYC fan chapter.

Notably, as featured in the series on show, a number of hard-core fans choose to emulate the style and uniform of the British and Irish ‘Skinhead’, ‘Suedehead’ and ‘Rude Boy’ anti-fascist subcultures of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“The English game has suffered from years of mismanagement, corporate greed, fan apathy and the acceptance of a culture that is openly sexist and homophobic, and often racist and bigoted,” Tracy said, adding, “Sankt Pauli and its supporters offer an antidote to this.”

“In Germany fascism simmers barely below the surface at some Bundesliga clubs. However, in Hamburg there is an alternative in FC. Sankt Pauli, whose supporters define themselves as the antithesis of right-wing elements who hope to infiltrate football culture. The supporters are a living, breathing example of why not to judge people on appearance alone, fully embracing an ideology that rejects many of the stereotypes labelled at football supporters.”

“Skinheads, who are a large part of this project coming to fruition, use the motto; “Sometimes Anti-Social, Always Anti-Fascist”, as emblazoned on the entrance to their section of the ground. My work tries to capture a truly alternative attitude within football culture, introducing the viewer to the alternative spirit of FC Sankt Pauli and its community of supporters.”

Conrad Tracy has been photographing aspects of football culture, intermittently, over 20 years. Heads the BA (Hons) Commercial Photography course at AUB (Arts University Bournemouth) has freelanced for editorial clients, including the Observer Magazine and the Saturday and Sunday Times Magazines.

Other key themes that continue to be part of his photographic practice have looked at racism within the UK and ideas of class and masculinity.

His work has also been represented by both Photonica and Getty Images, for advertising and promotion. Conrad’s work has been exhibited nationally over the last 20 years and he continues to make personal work. Conrad chaired the War on Want Photography Award ‘Document’ 2010 as well as Co-curating an International Student Photography exhibition as part of New York Photography Festival 2010.

‘Sometimes Antisocial, Always Antifascist’ runs at Parkside Gallery, Birmingham City University until May 1.

A Birmingham City University researcher is examining the challenges facing Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) women makers in the UK, in relation to their online profile and presence.

In collaboration with Crafts Council UK, Dr Karen Patel conducted interviews with 17 female craft makers who self-identify as from a BAME background, as well as hosting workshops in London and Birmingham to gather data for her study.

According to Crafts Council UK, there are an estimated 129,000 people working in craft occupations. 78 per cent of those in full-time employment are male, with women makers more likely to be self-employed and part-time.

“It is a concern that women tend to be in the more precarious positions in craft,” said Dr Karen Patel, a PhD scholar at Birmingham City University’s Centre for Media and Cultural Research.

“Furthermore, the women from BAME backgrounds who contributed to my research described how they were discouraged from pursing any type of career in craft, because it wasn’t considered a secure career choice.”

Dr Patel’s research found that cultural expectations of British South Asian women can deter creative career aspirations.

One participant said: “I’ve always wanted to do art, but it was a big struggle with my father. He just thought, ‘No, it’s not something that good Asian girls do’. I didn’t go to university because he refused.”

The research also discovered a lack of confidence amongst BAME women in using social media and fears that their identity being exposed online could impact on their success in the crafts industry.

“A conversation arose in the Birmingham workshop amongst Black women who said they didn’t post a picture of themselves online in association with their crafts work, for fear of it potentially devaluing their work or exposing themselves to criticism,” said Dr Patel.

Highlighting the importance of the research, Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director of Crafts Council UK, said: “Dr Patel’s research will feed in to how we support makers from any cultural background and at any stage of their career.

“In promoting craft businesses, the story of the maker is often deeply entwined with the craft product itself. The Crafts Council recognises that for the UK craft sector to continue to be world-leading we need to support and champion a diverse range of makers.”

Dr Karen Patel is continuing her research in a new two-year project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, exploring diversity and expertise development in craft.

A true Birmingham rock legend is set to receive a coveted Lifetime Achievement Award at the Birmingham Music Awards.

Trevor Burton, co-founder of iconic Birmingham sixties band The Move will collect his award at The Mill on Lower Trinity Street in Digbeth in a room full to the brim with Birmingham’s music community.

The Move, the first Birmingham supergroup of the 1960s, was formed when a young David Bowie asked Trevor to rally Brum’s finest musicians and head to London to play.

Trevor had taught himself to play guitar as a boy, fast becoming one of the most accomplished musicians in the city, joining Danny King and the Mayfair Set aged just fifteen, then moving to London with Roy Wood, Bev Bevan, Carl Wayne and Ace Kefford.  The Move went on to achieve nine Top Ten hits including ‘Flowers in the Rain,’ the first single ever played on Radio One. When Trevor left in 1969 he formed another supergroup, ‘Balls,’ then toured with the Raymond Froggatt Band, international stars on the country and western scene and The Steve Gibbons Band, before touring the US supporting The Who.

Upon learning about the Award, Trevor Burton said: “I have had a fantastic career and a lifetime of rock and roll; I’ve enjoyed every single minute. To receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in my hometown is a real honour.”

Bev Bevan, drummer with The Move and ELO, said:  “Trevor is an incredible blues guitar player. After The Move he pursued his love of blues and played alongside Jimi Hendrix and many other great stars. We are all delighted he has been given the highest of accolades from Birmingham Music Awards. No-one is more deserving.”

Jo Jeffries, founder of the BMAs said: “What a legacy Trevor has forged. He has honoured the city by creating it’s first major supergroup in the 60s, his career has been the stuff of dreams and he just keeps on giving. He’s still a major influence on the rock and roll scene and an inspiration for musicians today. I have no doubt he will continue to be long into the future too.”

The Birmingham Music Awards is an annual search for Birmingham’s brightest and best musicians/music industry professionals. Entrants from across the region have been busy submitting their work in several different categories including Best Song, Best Album, Best Band, Best Live Venue, Rising Star, Best Radio Station and Best Promoter.  Judging is carried out by a panel of music industry professionals, all with an impressive track record in the business.

The organisers of the BMAs aim to bring together the best of the city’s contributors to music, to recognise achievements, support each other, create opportunities and collaborate for more Birmingham music success.

The project is backed by Duran Duran’s John Taylor, UB40, OMD frontman Andy McCluskey, Dapz on the Map, Martin ‘Ace’ Kent from rock band Skunk Anansie, Kieron Pepper (The Prodigy/Sleeper), Rob Holliday (Gary Numan/Marilyn Manson) and many more music industry heavyweights.

Health-permitting, UB40’s Brian Travers will be there to present Trevor’s Lifetime Achievement Award at The Mill on the May 16.

The Birmingham Music Awards and Duran Duran’s John Taylor are proud to support the amazing work that Changes UK are doing to help those less fortunate in our city to find recovery and fulfilling lives free from addiction.

Shortlisted entries can be found at: https://www.2343ec78a04c6ea9d80806345d31fd78-gdprlock/thebirminghammusicawards/

The new Construction Minister, Andrew Stephenson MP, should make it his mission to raise quality and standards in the construction industry through mandatory licensing, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “I warmly welcome Andrew Stephenson into his new role and I look forward to working with him to raise standards, quality and professionalism in the construction industry. The time is right to look at a meaningful way in which we can purge the sector of rogue firms and unprofessional outfits once and for all. With the publication of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and the quality of some new build homes being called into question, we need to act now to improve standards and increase productivity. A mandatory licensing scheme for the whole UK construction sector has widespread support among the industry and homeowners, alike. The Government must legislate to stop the scourge of unprofessional behaviour blighting the entire industry.”

Berry concluded: “With the recent appointment of a member of the FMB onto the Construction Leadership Council, we also look forward to working with the Minister on implementing the Sector Deal in a way that will help to unleash the potential of small to medium-sized construction firms. After all, they are the bedrock of the industry, training two-thirds of all construction apprentices and forming the supply chain of larger contractors. We must tirelessly work to remove barriers to SME construction companies if we are to deliver on the Government’s infrastructure targets.”