Community News

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.

As part of this year’s B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival (kicking off today, May 3) Birmingham Hippodrome and festival partner Break Mission are bringing a taster of the yearly festival to the shopping destination tomorrow (Saturday May 4). B-SIDE Breakin’ Bullring & Grand Central will feature a host of DJs, dance and rap battles and live performances throughout the day, entertaining thousands of visitors.

On Monday May 6, the festival returns with Fun DMC, a Hip-Hop inspired block party for kids and parents. Showcase your own moves on the dance floor, practice graffiti or try on ‘Super-fly’ Hip-Hop fancy dress, from 13.00pm in Bullring & Grand Central.

The takeover days are part of a newly formed partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome and Bullring & Grand Central, which will see the theatre bringing new exciting performances and events to the centre throughout the year.

B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival is a free annual celebration of Hip-Hop culture featuring home-grown talent and international artists, attracting a worldwide audience of all ages. This year’s festival includes live Graffiti on the streets that surround the theatre, dance workshops for all ages and of all abilities and for the Marvel Cinematic Universe fans out there, a Hip-Hop and the Infinity Gauntlet talk and a mini comic convention.

The festival opens during May Bank Holiday Weekend with a Hit the Odeand B-SIDE and R.A.P Party special. The poetry and music night will showcase some amazing spoken word artists and Hip-Hop DJs.

Danielle Bozward, Marketing Manager at Bullring & Grand Central, commented: “We’re excited to be bringing back B-Side to the centre this May following the success of last year’s event. It promises to be a fun-packed Bank Holiday weekend with something for everybody.”

Graham Callister, Director of Community Engagement and Festivals at Birmingham Hippodrome, commented: “B-SIDE is fast becoming the UK’s number one Hip-Hop festival for international and national artists alongside the amazing talents we have in the city.

This year we have extended the festival even further to include Bullring & Grand Central and Digbeth. Come down to any of our events with the family and to see something different at Birmingham Hippodrome and our other locations.

B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival is a Birmingham Hippodrome Project supported by Arts Council England, Southside BID, Bullring & Grand Central and The Arcadian.

Stay up-to-date with activities and join the conversation on social media using #BSIDE.

For more information, visit: www.birminghamhippodrome.com/bside

Social scientists at Birmingham City University are working with West Midlands Police to create special pub quizzes designed to encourage better engagement between police officers and research findings relevant to their practice.

Covering a range of topics relating to daily policing work, the quarterly pub quizzes will provide participants with bite-size nuggets of important information, with the aim of officers being more likely to remember, retain and draw upon the content in the future.

Dr Laura Hammond and Dr Rahul Jalil, researchers at Birmingham City University’s School of Social Sciences, created the quizzes with the West Midlands Police Evidence Based Practice Team.

"Evidence shows that people are more likely to engage with teaching material when it is delivered in a novel and innovative way and that people learn more when they have fun", said Dr Hammond.

"We hope that the quizzes will help increase levels of police receptivity to academic research, and encourage them to remember and use the research in their daily practice."

A pilot quiz event was hosted recently with feedback suggesting it was a resounding success.

"Everyone loves pub quizzes, and I always find that I remember facts and bits of knowledge from those that I've attended," added Dr Hammond.

"Tailoring pub quizzes for the police might help them to acquire new research knowledge relevant to their work and remember it in a similar way!"

Plans are now afoot for further events, including police 'Escape Rooms'.

Jenna Langford, Sandwell Council’s Regeneration Manager, won the award for her work on a range of schemes and for championing planning as a career to young people.

She was named the national winner by The Royal Town Planning Institute after scooping the West Midlands title before Christmas.

Jenna was shortlisted along with five other finalists and was declared the winner at a ceremony last week.

Judges said Jenna had been recognised for her commitment to supporting others and specifically for assisting people to take up planning as a profession through the Planning Futures programme.

Jenna visits schools, colleges and universities to promote career opportunities in planning. She has been a member of the council’s regeneration team since 2010 and has worked on important schemes which have transformed Sandwell, with projects such as the New Square shopping centre, Sandwell College Central Campus and the Providence Place office development.

Jenna, who is 34 and from Wednesbury, said it was an honour and a privilege to win the national title.

“Being from Sandwell makes me incredibly passionate about delivering better places and prospects for our community, as well as raising aspirations for our young people,” she said.

“Winning the award means I can share my passion and experiences with other professionals and work together in generating innovative ways to overcome regeneration challenges and deliver places which truly reflect the needs of our communities which are visionary and aspirational.

“I am fortunate in that Sandwell Council recognises and supports its employees and I have a fantastic team around me, who put me forward for this award – thank you."

The judges said: "Jenna has huge enthusiasm for planning and the role it plays in building successful and prosperous communities.

"The judges were inspired by her drive to get the community involved with the work of planners and her commitment to the community she serves.”

Sandwell Council’s Director of Regeneration and Growth Amy Harhoff said: “We’re very proud of Jenna. She’s a talented officer and she’s contributed to some fantastic developments that have really changed Sandwell as a place to live, work and visit.

“Her commitment to championing planning as a career to young people is inspiring. We’re thrilled that she’s won national recognition for her hard work and commitment.”

Almost 1,700 free ATMs have started charging for cash withdrawals between January and March this year, with 1,250 becoming fee-paying in March alone.

Britons are facing an increasing struggle to find access to free-to-use cash machines as nearly 1,700 terminals were changed into fee-paying machines between January and March this year, new research has revealed.

According to figures obtained by Which?, more than 1,250 ATMs were converted to fee-paying machines in March alone.

The research was carried out by consumer group Which?, using data from ATM network Link.

Which? says the affected machines will now charge at least 95p for each cash withdrawal.

According to the consumer group, most of the affected ATMs are operated by Cardtronics, which has warned it may introduce charges for another 1,000 cash machines over the coming months.

The data has sparked concerns about people's access to cash, with both bank branches and ATMs disappearing, and Which? has called for a regulator to be created to make sure no one is cut off from cash. Nearly 1,700 machines started charging for withdrawals in the first three months of the year, with the majority starting to charge in March, according to the consumer lobby group.

Cardtronics, which runs most of those, and fellow provider NoteMachine are both likely to charge at more machines.

That could mean the country losing 13% of its free ATMs in only a few months.

The changes come after a reduction in the fee operators receive from banks each time an ATM is used.

Link, which oversees ATMs, began to cut the fee, known as the interchange rate, last year. So far it has reduced the charge from 25p to 23p per withdrawal.

Link said at the time that the move was aimed at protecting the ATM network. It left the fee for free-to-use ATMs - which are 1km or more from the next nearest cash machine - unchanged.

ATM operators receive the interchange fee from banks each time one of their cash machines is used. Last year, Link began to cut the fee, known as the interchange rate, from 25p to 20p per withdrawal over the course of four years to help protect the future of ATMs.

A spokeswoman for Cardtronics said: “We have been forced into charging a fee for cash withdrawals on some of our machines where Link’s cuts have left us with no choice.

“The decision on whether to introduce a fee is taken on a case-by-case basis and reflects the economic viability of the individual machine.

“We only ever charge a fee when there is no other option apart from removing the machine altogether.” Peter McNamara, chief executive of NoteMachine, said: "Unless urgent action is taken to reduce the pressure on ATM operators by reversing the interchange fee reductions, NoteMachine will be forced to begin converting ATMs to surcharging.

“This is a dilemma we have been grappling with for some time and are extremely reluctant to make such a decision.”

The Royal College of Anaesthetists is proud to announce that Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has been named the Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Team of the Year at the 2019 BMJ Awards.

The BMJ Awards celebrate excellence in the delivery of clinicians and the teams they work with and the standard gets more inspirational with each year. The team won the College sponsored award for their excellent work in consultant-led perioperative trauma care.

With the age of the population increasing so too does the number of patients presenting with hip fractures and multiple comorbidities. Previously there had been disappointing results in the National Hip Fracture audit. This led to the team at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust starting a seven day, consultant-led perioperative trauma care bundle to improve the outcome of these patients. As a result of the bundle initiatives, the uptake of patients receiving FIBs increased from 28 per cent in 2014 to 96 per cent in 2018.

Jay Susarla, Clinical Director for Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, said: “This is undoubtedly an amazing achievement for the department and the Trust.

It would not have been possible without the hard work of our Perioperative lead Dr Subash Sivasubramaniam as well as our other colleagues who are part of the trauma and perioperative group, our orthogeretrician Dr Huma Naqvi, theatre staff and staff on Newton 3 ward at Sandwell Hospital. It feels great to be recognised.”

Professor Ravi Mahajan, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists said: “Dr Subash Sivasubramaniam and the team at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust have shown leading work in consultant-led perioperative trauma care.

“Patient-centred work is key in the field of anaesthesia and making sure that the patients are treated from preparing for surgery to recovery can make a huge difference.

“The team at Sandwell and West Birmingham have shown that perioperative medicine and taking a new approach to trauma care can improve outcomes significantly for patients as well as the NHS as a whole.”

Jon Brittain’s romantic comedy, Rotterdam, has led the way about transgender stories on stage, blending the laugh-out-loud funny with the dab-your-eyes tender. Now, after its triumphant win at the 2017 Olivier Awards and a sell-out run in New York, his tale about gender and sexuality comes to Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 20 – 22 May.

Alice and Fiona’s relationship appears to be going well. It's New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she's gay. But before she can hit send, her girlfriend Fiona reveals that he has always identified as male and now wants to start living as a man named Adrian. Now, as Adrian confronts the reality of his transition, Alice faces a question she never thought she'd ask... does this mean she's straight?

Jon was inspired to write Rotterdam after several of his friends transitioned in the late 2000s. He became aware of the absence of transgender stories in pop culture and wanted to address this on the stage. Through writing this show, he researched and consulted widely including talking to trans people and their partners, conducting a reading for members of trans communities and discussing the show with various organisations, including Trans Media Watch who then endorsed Rotterdam, and the charity Gendered Intelligence, who the company dedicated their Olivier award to. In the time Brittain was writing the play, the visibility of the trans community has radically changed. “When Rotterdam first came on, it was the summer after Caitlyn Jenner announced her transition, and there was a part of me that worried it would look cynical. Will people think this is something I’d knocked up in a few months to capitalise on it?” he confessed in an interview in 2017. But now, Brittain is simply happy to be one story in an “eco-system” of different trans narratives gaining attention. Jon Brittain is a playwright, comedy writer and director. His critically acclaimed play Rotterdamearned him a nomination for the Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2016 and won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre in 2017. It was adapted for Radio 3 this year. Other work includes the cult hit shows Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho and its sequel Margaret Thatcher Queen of Game Shows, and the Scotsman Fringe First Award-winning musical A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad). He directed John Kearns's Fosters Award winning shows Sight Gags for Perverts and Shtick and the follow-up Don’t Bother, They’re Here, and Tom Allen's shows Both Worlds, Indeed and Absolutely. He is currently working on a musical adaptation of David Walliams' book Billionaire Boy, commissions for HBO and the National Theatre, and is a staff writer on Netflix’s The Crown.

Directed by Donnacadh O’Briain, the cast includes Trans non-binary actor Lucy Jane Parkinson(multi award-winning Joan, international tour; Communion, Young Vic; DragKing Cabaret artiste ‘LoUis CYfer’) will star as Fiona/Adrian, playing opposite Bethan Cullinane (Salt, Theatre503; King Lear, RSC; Othello, Globe Theatre) as Alice. Trans actor Elijah W Harris (And The Rest of Me Floats, Bush Theatre; The Butch Monologues, Birmingham Rep,) will play Alice’s lovable brother Josh and Ellie Morris (The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, Criterion; Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Apollo Theatre and BBC1) returns to the production to play Dutch partygoer Lelani.

Actor Elijah Harris says of the play: “Trans stories told by trans people are vital to the progression of theatre. I grew up in the Midlands and seeing something like Rotterdam when I was younger would have been life changing. I was drawn to the play for that very reason- to be able to bring this story to people all over the country, challenge perspectives and, more importantly, reach trans and non-binary people who cannot see themselves represented in popular culture. I am thrilled to be playing the part of Josh and so excited to be able to be a visible trans person in the role of the cis-gendered brother!”

Rotterdam is designed by Ellan Parry with lighting design by Richard Williamson and sound design by Keegan Curran.

Rotterdam was recently co-produced in Los Angeles by Hartshorn – Hook Productions and Skylight Theatre where the production won the top award at the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Awards jointly with Hamilton.