Community News

Phoning a friend or colleague from Birmingham may prove a thankless task as, according to new research, Birmingham people are the self-confessed fifth worst phone communicators in the UK.

The study, run by the business telecommunications provider, 4Com, explored how well British people do when it comes to phone etiquette, and our worst pet peeves.

Birmingham comes out fifth, with 44% of residents admitting they have bad phone manners. The UK’s worst cities to call are:

1. Manchester (57%)
2. London (57%)
3. Bristol (49%)
4. Glasgow (47%)
5. Birmingham (44%)

1. Interrupting people when I need to say something (8%)
2. Putting people on loud speaker if I'm busy doing something (8%)
3. Not always listening (8%)
4. Speaking too quietly (6%)
5. Eating/drinking whilst speaking to someone on the phone (5%)

1. Someone having a conversation with someone else in the background (39%)
2. Being put on hold (39%)
3. Someone not listening to me/clearly distracted (38%)
4. Being interrupted whilst I'm speaking (36%)
5. Someone speaking too quietly (32%)

Engineer James’ pet peeve is people chewing his ear off… literally! “I have one client who always seems to call me when he’s eating an apple. He probably doesn’t even notice it, but it’s happened more than a handful of times now. It’s like he’s literally chewing in my ear. Infuriating!”

To make sure you stay on the right side of the etiquette line, Jo Bryant, Jakemans etiquette expert shares her tips on how to make the most of your phone calls:

• Listen carefully. It is tempting to get on with other things while you are on the phone, but you should give the other person the same attention you would if talking in person.
• Don’t interrupt. Be sure the other person has finished what they are saying before interjecting; conversation is a two-way, considerate process.
• Make the right impression. Answer the phone in a positive manner, and always seem pleased to hear from the other person (whatever the truth).
• Be prepared. If you are suffering from a cough or a cold, be sure to blow your nose before you make a call. Excessively sneezing, sniffling or coughing down the line can be off-putting.
• Be aware. Making a phone call in a quiet public place is intrusive to others; similarly avoid talking on the phone on the train, bus or other crowded places where you can disturb people.
• Be social. Avoid making calls or checking your phone in social situations, or even when someone else is just trying to talk to you. Give the real-life person priority over your handset.

“While texts, emails, social media, and all other forms of communication all have their benefits, speaking on the phone is perhaps most effective at passing on your message. As they allow you to hear the speaker’s tone of voice, phone calls help to avoid, for example, the risk of innocent phrases sounding passive aggressive, jokes being taken the wrong way, or sarcasm interpreted as serious thoughts.

“Hopefully these tips will help make chatting on the phone smooth sailing for the people of Birmingham.”

Birmingham has two of the best bars in the country! Be At One on Basement Piccadilly Arcade Be At One and on Brindley Place serve the best drinks in the area, according to the judges of the Publican Awards, an annual awards ceremony that celebrates everything that’s great about the world of pubs and bars.

The leading specialist cocktail bar chain in the UK, Be At One won ‘Best Drinks Offer’ in the national Publican Awards. As one of the most prestigious awards events in the industry, winners really are the cream of a very competitive crop.

Be At One Basement Piccadilly Arcade is located directly opposite New Street station and has a party license until late. With two large bars over two rooms, plush booth seating and live DJ's on Friday and Saturday nights, it's a party not to be missed!

Be At One Brindley Place meanwhile has a fabulous art-deco feel and the pretty outdoor area means you can enjoy alfresco cocktails all year long.

Known for its extensive cocktail range, friendly bartenders and 2-4-1 happy hours, Be At One was recognised for its dedication to perfecting the guest offer and ensuring the superior quality of the drinks. Its ‘Appi Hour’ app, which allows guests to extend their happy hour, was also voted a stand-out feature.

A special mention was given to Be At One’s star bartenders, who undergo rigorous training to perfect every detail of their drink craft. Their focus on the ingredients, specific measures, glassware, the type and amount of ice, garnishes, the correct serving procedure, and price category, alongside their exceptional guest service, were all major contributors to the big win. Bar staff are the backbone of what makes Be At One the place that it is, with their impeccable focus on the guest and ensuring each cocktail is served to perfection.

Include Me TOO are a UK-based charity that has supported the inclusion, rights and empowerment of young people with disabilities and their families for over a decade, increasing young people with disabilities' support networks and being recognised for the value they bring through their lived experiences as experts and changemakers

During the Commonwealth Week at the Place of Westminster the Global Disability Summit Children and Young People’s Report, and the Global Disability Children & Young People’s Charter were launched in partnership with International Disability Alliance, The Royal Commonwealth Society, the Commonwealth Secretariat and Leonard Cheshire.

Ana Arellano Chairperson of International Disability Alliance provided the keynote speech, followed by key messages shared from the report and the charter presented by Include Me TOO Youth Ambassadors Suleman Arshad, Joesph Migila, Sarah Mwikali, Honey Jones, Paul Ntulila, Devika Malik, Jack Milne and Jonathan Andrews. Regina Mwangi a young person representing Leonard Cheshire also presented on the 2030 and counting as a citizen reporter.

Michael Horner from the Department for International Development, Layne Robinson, Commonwealth Secretariat and Helen Jones, Royal Commonwealth Society, Chris Merit, World Merit were also amongst the speakers.

The report shares the contributions that were made by children and young people with disabilities representing *23 countries of which 20 countries are Commonwealth members during the Global Disability Summit which took place in July 2018.

“I was proud to host the launch of Include ME TOO’s Global Disability Summit Children and Young People Programme Report in Parliament,” said Stephen Twigg MP, Chair of the International Development Select Committee. “It is a fantastic piece of work which the International Development Committee will be considering in detail as part of our inquiry into DFID's work on disability.

People with disabilities have been left behind for too long. If we are to meet the Global Goals it is crucial that we give voice to and empower young people with disabilities. That is why the work of Include Me TOO is so important in providing a platform for young people with disabilities from around the world to share their aspirations but also the challenges they experience in respect to their inclusion.”  

There are 93 million children with disabilities who are least likely to have their voices heard and most likely left behind.  The report shares their authentic voices on many issues including: ending stigma and taboos associated with disabilities; inclusive education; opportunities and choices for economic empowerment; safeguarding and ending all forms of abuse and harmful practices; gender equality and how they wish to be included and represented.

Children and young people also shared the commitments they would wish to see in a charter to support their rights, inclusion, independence, equality, dignity and dreams.

The Global Disability Children and Young People’s Charter has 12 commitments which underpins the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, United Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals.

A team from the Hamstead pub in Birmingham is calling for donations as they prepare to skydive in the name of charity. They will be holding two fundraising events, before jumping 10,000 feet from a plane to raise funds for Dogs for Good, an innovative charity which uses dogs to help people overcome specific challenges.

Leah Bowen, Deputy Manager, Tara Logan, Team Leader, and local customer, Matt Fitzpatrick, will spend the next few months fundraising for the charity ahead of the jump which will take place at Hinton Airfield in Steane on May 4.

The first fundraising event is a Table Top Sale with a range of Mother’s Day gifts provided by local businesses, which takes place at 5:30pm on Tuesday March 26. Each of the contributing businesses will donate to the charity and customers will also be encouraged to give generously. 

Then on Saturday March 30, from 9pm, the pub will host a fundraising disco and raffle fronted by DJ and regular customer Ken Savage. Prizes donated by local football clubs include West Bromwich Albion and Walsall signed footballs, as well as a range of items provided by local businesses in Birmingham.

So far the team has been able to raise £1,400 but they are aiming for a total of £3,000.

Leah Bowen said: “After spending time with some of the puppies from Dogs for Good my heart just melted. I can’t wait to take part in the skydive while also raising money for Dogs for Good, a charity which has changed so many lives for the better. The whole team is proud to help support them and we would love our customers to get involved and help us raise as much money as possible.”

A new homework club will be helping young people to learn in West Bromwich, in the West Midlands, thanks to a town grant from Sandwell Council.

Latifiah Fultali Complex - an Islamic Secondary school - is now running a homework club for children of all cultures and backgrounds. The £4,800 grant from the West Bromwich Local Area Budget will cover the cost of IT equipment, stationery, exercise books and promotional materials.

Sandwell Council’s Deputy Leader Councillor Syeda Khatun said: “The aim of the homework club is to give young people access to space and the resources they need to progress in their studies.

“The club will also serve as a foundation where pupils will be able to build their confidence through social interactions with other children.”

The homework club starts at the school, in Lodge Road, on Monday April 15 and will run every Monday and Wednesday 4-5pm and also 11am to 12pm on Saturdays.

Making your mum a scrapbook, creating a personalised keepsake or putting together a beautiful, yet affordable hamper is just some of the ways you can treat your mum this Mother’s Day, without breaking the bank.

The gifting gurus at PersonalisedGiftsShop have put together a list of delightful personalised gift ideas, which can show love and appreciation for little.

These include personalising a keepsake, filling a scrapbook or even making her a homemade rose sugar scrub.

A spokesperson from PersonalisedGiftsShop said: “Showing your mum you love and care for her is definitely the most important part of Mother’s Day.

“But it doesn’t have to mean spending hundreds of pounds on a present. Sometimes the best gift you can give your mum is something that is personal and thoughtful.

“With our money-saving Mother’s Day hacks below, you can treat your mum to something special minus the expense.”

Here are PersonalisedGiftsShop’s Hacks to save money on Mother’s Day:

Make a homemade gift

If you’re strapped for cash this Mother’s Day, why not make your mum a homemade gift? This doesn’t have to be a basic card, it can actually be something that your mother can use and enjoy. For maximum indulgence make a natural rose petal scrub: take dried rose petals, 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of coconut oil and blitz together. Any remaining petals can be sprinkled in the bath for a high-end spa feel for next to nothing.

Make her a beauty hamper

Fill a gift basket with her favourite inexpensive products. Her favourite shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste could be included as well as samples of her favourite beauty products. Decorate the basket with a beautiful ribbon for a present that’s both affordable and fabulous.

Fill a scrapbook with memories

Remembering some amazing memories, you’ve shared over the years is a gift that your mum will cherish forever. Fill a scrapbook up with lots of images from family holidays, events and occasions. For a nostalgic walk down memory lane.

Unique and Personal

Rather than splurging on a designer handbag or shoes, make a day-to-day object unique by adding a personalised touch. Get a keepsake engraved or add a message onto a cotton tote bag. Resulting in a timeless and cherished gift for maximum impact and little cost.

Jazz up your flowers

If you’re choosing to get your mum some flowers for Mother’s Day, but can’t afford an expensive bunch, why not jazz them up yourself? Buy an inexpensive vase and decorate it with paint and glitter. You could also add a ribbon around the middle of the vase, for an extra special touch that doesn’t cost a lot.

Create a playlist

Make a playlist filled with all of her favourite tunes and share it through a streaming website. If your mum is a little challenged when it comes to technology, why not download a few and pop them onto a CD for her? Or, to save even more money, you could collect up all of her most-loved albums and burn her favourite tracks from the albums onto a new CD, so all of her favourite music will be together on one disc.

New research is set to challenge Islamophobic perceptions of British Muslim women as being ‘oppressed’ and ‘dangerous’.

Birmingham City University sociologist Dr Nazia Hussein hopes to challenge how Muslim women as a social category are imagined in popular culture and policy and is currently conducting interviews with Muslim women who actively participate in political or social activism in their communities.

“In the wake of riots and terror attacks, Britain has experienced an intense political, media and policy scrutiny of British Muslims,” said Dr Hussein, who teaches at Birmingham City University’s School of Social Sciences.

“Muslims have found themselves homogenized into a single category defined solely through faith. The Muslim woman wearing the headscarf has preoccupied the media and Muslim women face openly hostile reactions in a climate of state-sanctioned gendered Islamophobic discrimination.”

The research aims to understand the ways in which highly educated, professional British Muslim women negotiate their intersectional identities and participate in political activism, yet remain invisible in media and political representations in the UK and the West in general.

As well as challenging the perceptions of being oppressed and dangerous, I want to argue for renewed assessments of Muslim women in Britain today who choose to act on their political views in public spaces”, added Dr Hussein.

A hotel manager in Birmingham has launched a sideline career as a legal graffiti artist.

Adam Illes, the assistant food and beverage manager at Novotel’s Birmingham Centre hotel on Broad Street, initially adorned his workplace’s staff canteen and back corridor with his pop art-style illustrations.

Now the hotel has helped him to go public by asking him to decorate the walls of its customer car park.

The first spray-painting is Adam’s interpretation of famous comedian Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean, and the second is based on philosopher Alan Watts’ thoughts about every person being one of the universe’s waves.

Adam, aged 31, was born in Hungary and moved to Ireland to live and work when he was 18, relocating to Birmingham last summer.

He said: “When I was in Ireland I started spray-painting on walls in Limerick to express myself.

“But I’ve never painted an illegal piece or left my tag anywhere I shouldn’t, and I’m very proud that every painting I’ve sprayed has been entirely legal.

“I got a number of commissions when I was in Ireland and when I moved here started to look for walls where I could paint.

“I spray-painted walls in the ironing room and staff canteen at the Ibis Hotel at Birmingham Airport, and when I started working at Novotel I decorated the staff canteen and the back corridor.

“The manager was so impressed with my work that he’s now allowed me to go public by giving me a free hand to paint the car park.”

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “We’ve found the start of the hidden treasures of Westside in Adam’s work, and it’s great that the public will see some of his paintings in the car park.

“Hopefully other businesses with walls that can be painted might consider commissioning Adam to brighten up their properties as well.

“Who knows? We could soon have our own version of Andy Warhol here on Broad Street!”

Adam added: “I love spray painting and would one day love to make a living out of my work.

“I enjoy spending a whole day being in my own world when I’m spray painting, and the more you do things and put your heart into it, the more your techniques grow and develop.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity and would welcome any other commissions to help make the Westside area brighter.”

Famous faces from across Birmingham and the Black Country came together this month (MARCH) to celebrate Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice’s 40^th anniversary.

Footballing legend Brendon Batson, media broadcaster Llewela Bailey, Antique Roadshow’s Will Farmer, and comedic character Barbara Nice, who is played by Janice Connolly, all showed their support for the much-loved charity.

The celebrities were joined by local businesses, community groups and big-hearted supporters, who together are on track to raise a remarkable £20,000.

Over 230 guests attended the glittering black tie event, which was held at Edgbaston Stadium on Friday 1 March. They enjoyed a drinks reception, three-course dinner, musical entertainment from Midlands’ band The Bright Eyes, and a lively comedic set from the self-proclaimed ‘most popular housewife in Kings Heath’, Barbara Nice.

The event kick started a year of 40^th anniversary celebrations, which will all honour the care and support the Hospice has provided across Birmingham and Sandwell for the last four decades.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice was founded in 1979 by Monica Pearce and was the first independent hospice in the Midlands. A former NHS matron, Monica’s vision was to ‘enable anyone with a life-limiting illness to live their life to the full’ – a mission that the Hospice’s staff and volunteers still stand by today. First known as ‘St. Mary’s Hospice’, the charity cared for its first patient on Monday 5 March 1979.

Former West Brom defender, Brendon Batson, was made patron of the Hospice in 2017, after doctors and nurses cared for his wife Cecily in the comfort of their family home. He said: “The care Cecily and my family received was just incredible. It was a massive comfort that she was cared for at home and I’ll never forget the kindness and dignity the nurses and doctors showed us.

“I’m very proud to be a patron of the Hospice and it was fantastic to see so many people come together to celebrate its 40th anniversary. 40 years of care is an amazing achievement and with continued support, I look forward to seeing the Hospice grow and evolve in the next few decades.”

Tina Swani, chief executive at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, added: “We had a fantastic night welcoming generous supporters to our gala dinner and I would like to thank everyone for coming along and celebrating this landmark anniversary with us.

“Whilst the evening celebrated our proud history and the legacy of our founder Monica Pearce, it was also a chance to show the community how crucial hospice care still is in our city today and how demand for it will continue to grow in the future.”

In 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice could care for 25 people on any given day. Four decades later and the Hospice is supporting over 400 people every day across Birmingham and Sandwell, providing care in people’s homes, in the community, at its Day Hospice facility and at the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has embarked on its most ambitious design project in recent years with the creation of a giant new Children’s Garden due to open to the public on 18 May 2019. Covering 10,000m², it’s the size of nearly 40 tennis courts, and has been designed by a Kew garden designer around the elements that plants need to grow: earth, air, sun and water. Children will be able to play and explore as they wind their way through a landscape filled with over 100 mature trees, discovering hidden treasures and adventure, and developing their love of nature, plants and the outdoors along the way.

Children will enter the Garden through a tunnel of scented Star Jasmine plants before first arriving at a 200-year-old English Oak tree, surrounded by a new aerial walkway 4m above the ground. Here, the journey of discovering what plants need to grow begins! The first element to explore is the Earth Garden, a giant sand pit with a quirky play hut village surrounded by Bamboo plants and tunnel slides for muddy adventures.

Next along the trail is the Air Garden, with winding paths, giant windmill flowers, pollen spheres, hammocks, swings and trampolines. A mini amphitheatre nestled under the trees can be used for storytelling, and the seating area for parents keeping an eye on their little explorers lies in the shade of some of Kew’s oldest Eucalyptus trees.

The Sun Garden is next; a large open space where children can let their imagination run wild beside a ring of sunflowers, Cherry trees and pink candy floss grass. Intricate pergolas festooned with edible fruits will take children on a sensory adventure.

Lastly, the Water Garden, (sponsored by Thames Water) is filled with water pumps for kids to use to control the flow of the water through to another splash pool. Water lily stepping stones will engage children in the water cycle and why it is important to plants.

For those slightly older and more adventurous kids, a giant log scramble sits among the Pine trees, waiting to be climbed. The challenge is to get across to the leaning tower without touching the ground!

Suzie Jewell, Children’s Garden Designer, RBG Kew said: “With the Children’s Garden we really hoped to design and create a unique space for children to play in, that would not only be fun and stimulate their imagination, but also give them a different perspective on how the plants grow and why they are so important. Part of what makes this space so special is that we had existing trees on site around which to map the paths and play areas - it became a play area among the trees – something different in London. I hope that this will lead to a deeper connection with nature and a lifelong love of plants.”

Work on the 10,000m² site, which is close to the existing Climbers and Creepers indoor play space and the White Peaks family café, began in October 2017, and was inspired by the desire to encourage kids to develop a lasting relationship with and love for plants and nature. The site already had 62 mature trees in place, including Eucalyptus and Sweet Chestnuts, and a further 40 mature trees were added to this space, including Gingko and Pines. These ‘old giants’ are part of what makes this Garden unique and will capture the imagination of kids and adults alike as they explore the pathways and different elements of the Garden.

Sandra Botterell, Director of Marketing and Commercial at RBG Kew said: “The new Children’s Garden is a wonderful addition to the Kew landscape and will add real value to the family experience, giving young visitors the opportunity to see nature in a new way. Spaces like this are essential for children to grow and develop a relationship with plants, understand their importance, as well as to have fun.”

Funding for this project has come from private donations and corporate sponsor Thames Water. Fundraising is continuing to complete the project.

Leading social housing association, Black Country Housing Group (BCHG) has participated in the 21 Acts of Kindness initiative launched by St. Michaels School in Rowley Regis.

The initiative, which was started through the school’s Student Voice, encouraged people to carry out 21 acts of kindness in the hope that this will then become a habit in their daily lives.

For 21 days, colleagues from Black Country Housing Group have been challenged to do one kind act each day, and to tick it off on their stamp card.

Collectively, BCHG gathered and donated 73 kilos of food to the foodbank, which is the equivalent of feeding three families or ten single people, and eight kilos of non-food items. Colleagues also donated 11 bags of work clothes for unemployed people on their journey back into employment.

Amanda Tomlinson, Chief Executive, Black Country Housing Group said: “Carrying out an Act of Kindness has been proven to be great for your own mental health and wellbeing. As well as others benefitting from your kindness, doing something for 21 days has also been said to then become a habit in your lifestyle.”

Over the 21 days, colleagues from BCHG managed to facilitate a food bank donation day, where each colleague brought in an item to be donated; and a donation to Suited for Success, a local charity that gives smart and professional workwear to homeless people and people who are unemployed and need suitable clothes for job interviews.

Colleagues from across the organisation, including head office, the residential care homes and Homeforce got stuck in to raise the profile of the campaign and to support each other and the local community.

Kerry Whitehouse, St. Michaels School Engagement Development Manager, added: “The #21AOK initiative promotes kindness and positive mental health which is so important in today's society.  We are often surrounded by negative news stories and can sometimes forget how simple gestures can make a huge difference to someone else's day.   Our students are passionate ambassadors of this campaign which we hope will have a ripple effect across the country.”

This initiative, carried out by employees at BCHG, has helped to boost morale in the team with everyone getting involved to raise funds for the cause. This comes in advance of stress awareness month, which will be running throughout April. Employees will once again be gearing up to help by arranging activities and events to generate awareness for the month, which BCHG will be supporting.

The University of Wolverhampton put the WOW factor into employability at an event held at the Springfield Campus recently.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering organised the ‘WOW: Work Opportunities Wolverhampton’ event which was delivered in partnership with Just Finance Black Country and held at the new Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills Hub on the £100 million regeneration site of the former Springfield Brewery.

The Employability outreach event brought together businesses, education providers and practitioners to inspire and engage with young people, particularly from Black African, Caribbean and dual heritage backgrounds and their parents and focussed on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in addition to Law, Social Sciences and Health.

Visitors were given tours of the University Campus as well as opportunities to take part in workshops covering topics such as Work & Money, Getting a Job & Keeping a Job, How to Achieve Success and the A-Z of Super Confidence.  There were also mentors and role models from a variety of different businesses and backgrounds on hand to give advice.

Exhibitors at the event included ACCI (African Caribbean Community Initiative), HS2, HSBC Bank, Midland Metro Alliance, West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police amongst others.

Dr Petula Nurse, Principal Lecturer in Biomedical Science and Head of STEM Outreach and Community Engagement at the University, said: “This is a new event and we’ve had a very promising response with attendance from a wide range of employers and businesses.

“Young people have come from around the region to find out about the opportunities on offer, giving them an insight into what careers might be available to them but also to be inspired and encouraged to think bigger about their future.

“This event is extraordinary because it has been supported by local churches which are an integral and important part of the BAME community and provide a strong network for the young people in these communities.

Greg Fearon, Resource Manager at Midland Metro Alliance, said: “In terms of our business, people see us building things but we actually offer a wide range of jobs from technicians and engineers through to administration and support staff.

“We are looking for the engineers of the future and we’ve been impressed by some of the young people we’ve spoken to today about potential careers with the business.”

Reverend Cassius Francis, Just Finance Black Country's Development Worker, said: "We are delighted to have been able to work with the University of Wolverhampton to deliver this event.  As we aim for a fair financial system that serves the whole community we are very aware of the crucial part of employability for our young people to achieve this.  I very much hope that we can do this again."

Key partners of the event included the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills, Spectra First Ltd, Steve Biko Supplementary School and Wesleyan Holiness Church.

Fur-Mamma’s (and Fur-Dads) can come and celebrate being a Fur-Parent at the first ever London Dog Week.  This is no ordinary lunch, TV actress Gemma Oaten will be presenting on the day and there will be giveaways, special guests, lots of interactive activities and features around the venue for you, your Fur-kid, friends and family to enjoy.  Fur-parenting is a chance to encourage the benefits of owning a dog, including improving your mental health and more positive human interaction within a family setting. 

The @puppyclubworld will also be part of the family celebrations encouraging your two legged children to take part in our Doggie Cuddle and Colour Club.  They will be able to have cuddles with doggies and learn more about The Puppy Club House App. There will be activity packs, free mini-trading cards and a special menu for kiddies available from the award-winning chefs at M Restaurant.

Another popular event selling fast is the London Dog Week Fashion Brunch also at M Restaurant.  The first sitting has already sold out for Saturday March 30 with tickets selling fast for the second sitting.  The restaurant will set the stage for diners to experience the funkiest Fashion Dog Walk in Europe.  London’s sassiest dogs from 28 of the UK’s biggest influencers will walk the M runway, strutting designs from talented independent brands.  There will also be a doggie art sale at the restaurant as a collection of our furry friends will be exhibited and for sale from June Schneider of Schneider Art. 

LDW Co-founder, Aneka Johnson says, “London is viewed as one of the loneliest cities in the world, yet dogs are natural people magnets and if we can use their ability to connect people across the capital, then we think it's a great way for people to forge friendships. I really believe that dogs are instrumental in making London less lonely”.

LDW Co-founder, Lois Mallet Walker says “I know both Aneka and I have gone through mental and physical health challenges and our dogs have really helped us through it. Sharing the power of how dogs are therapeutic and can help you keep a healthy frame of mind, alleviate stress and anxiety in addition to uniting its owner with the local community, is the message we want to spread throughout London”.

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to Street Vets and Push Bears Shelter charity helping dogs in need.  To find out more information please log on to www.londondogweek.com.

Brexit, 9/11 and the 2012 London Olympics have all been named the biggest moments of the last 20 years, according to new research by Ebuyer.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by the UK’s largest online tech retailer to commemorate its 20th anniversary, asked the nation to choose the biggest moment of the last two decades.

Unsurprisingly, the life-changing 9/11 attacks topped the poll as the biggest moment of the last two decades (50%), followed by Brexit (42%) and the 2012 London Olympics (29%). Other notable moments included the 2008 Financial Crisis (24%) and Obama’s presidency (23%).

The top 20 biggest moments of the last 20 years are:

1. 9/11 (50%)
2. Brexit (42%)
3. The 2012 London Olympics (29%)
4. The 2008 Financial Crisis (24%)
5. Barack Obama serving as POTUS (23%)
6. Invention of the sat-nav (23%)
7. Legalisation of gay marriage (21%)

9. The invention of Facebook (20%)
10. The launch of the iPhone (16%)
11. The marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton (15%)
12. Creation of YouTube (13%)

14. Donald Trump serving as POTUS (12%)
15. Haiti earthquake (10%)

= Invention of the Cloud (10%)

= Launch of Wikipedia (10%)

19. The Scottish Independence Referendum (9%)

The invention of the sat-nav was the biggest technological advance of the last 20 years, with almost a quarter (23%) of respondents choosing it as the biggest tech moment in history. The 2012 London Olympics was named the biggest sporting event (29%), and the biggest celebrity event was the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which took place at Westminster Abbey on 29th April 2011.

Andrew Roberts, E-commerce Director at Ebuyer said: “The world has certainly changed dramatically since Ebuyer first began as a business, and it’s really interesting to see how much tech has influenced the biggest moments in history. From the creation of the sat-nav, which has become an everyday essential for drivers, to the creation of YouTube and Facebook all making the top 20 list, we are looking forward to seeing what technological advances will be changing the world over the next two decades.”

Marking the 67th annual Birmingham St Patrick’s Festival people lined the streets of the city’s Digbeth district, as dancers, pipe bands, drummers and a flotilla of floats introduced a day of music and family fun – all on March 17, the very day high on the Catholic calendar…St Patrick’s Day!

Sponsored by locally-based micro-brewery, Dig Brew, some of the biggest stars in Irish music; including headline act, internationally renowned singer/songwriter Finbar Furey, added extra colour to the sea of green, white and gold as they lit-up the St Pat Rock stage with music from the mother land – in the heart of the second city.

From marching bands to dhul drumming bands and mass pipe players, Irish dancing schools, classic cars, samba bands, Irish county associations and sports teams, the procession, led by Festival organising committee member Len Cale, (dressed as St Patrick),  a visibly proud Birmingham Lord Mayor Councillor Yvonne Mosquito, plus an equally-so West Midlands Metro Mayor Andy Street, and the City Council’s Events Commissioning Manager at Sport, Events & Parks, Garry Peal, even the stark diversity of a day of weather extremes - from bright sunshine to belting hail storms - would prove insignificant; as it was miles of smiles that would be the overriding memory of the day.

With the Emerald village available, featuring the Bob Wilson funfair a Formula 1 car simulator and small petting zoo for children to enjoy and the streets laden with stalls full of all sorts of quality memorabilia, everyone present had one thing in common…SHEAR ALL-ROUND ENJOYMENT!!!

“Every one of the estimated 80,000 or so who turnout really enjoying the music and funfair,” said St Patrick’s Festival Birmingham chair, Peter Connolly. “And the support from t community; local and Irish businesses, and from the city we love and work in all helped to keep this incredible civic event growing in size and ambition each year.”

Further live music acts including contemporary folk bands Lampa and The Deluge and Salt Creek, singer-songwriter James Reidy, and traditional groups Cairde and Reel Note would bring the live music venue to a close.

The festivities, though, would go on all day long.

This year marks a tremendously poignant and significant year for Sikhs worldwide as we mark the 550th anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The actual day will be marked in November 2019 however the joyous event will be marked wherever possible throughout the year.

The CSGB Vaisakhi Celebrations have become a landmark event in Birmingham, the UK and internationally. The event boasts being one of the largest festivals in Europe and outside India attracting 1000’s of members of the Birmingham and surrounding communities.

As one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, Birmingham’s Vaisakhi celebrations have always been a demonstration of community cohesion in practice. We continue to engage with people of all faiths and background of our great city to ensure peace, harmony and unity for all. The whole ethos of the event is about promoting community and family spirit, a sense of unity, sharing, interfaith and cohesiveness; something very much needed at this time.

To this end, all attendees are invited to experience Guru Ka Langar (free food selflessly prepared and served by volunteers), visit the Gurdwara in the Park, see the trading and information stalls, the children’s funfair and many more exciting events on the day.