Community News

Birmingham based national charity, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) is delighted to be a chosen charity for Wool@J13, the national outdoor wool festival which is returning to the Midlands on May 12 and 13 following its successful launch last year.

Wool@J13, which takes place at Penkridge, just off junction 13 of the M6, promises a weekend of wool workshops, spinning demonstrations, sheep shearing, a hat exhibition, live music, street food and plenty of wool themed shopping. Organisers were inspired to support CLDF by one of their exhibitors, Lisa Harland whose nine year old son Callum has a rare liver disease.

“Lisa’s business ‘For the Love of Yarn’ supplies beautiful yarns and we were touched to see that her ‘Mummy and Me’ sock kits were designed and dyed by her son Callum to raise funds for CLDF,” explained the show’s creative director, Ingrid Wagner.

“Lisa told us about the support she and her family have received from the charity since the devastating diagnosis of Callum’s condition and we were keen to get involved too.

“As well as holding a raffle for a rather spectacular cake baked for us by Kat’s Kitchen of Manchester, we shall be maintaining the sock theme with a special Sock Fashion Show. The audience will find out why wool is the fibre kindest to feet and see an array of wonderful hand knitted socks which are going to be presented for us by the Stafford Steppers musical theatre and dance group who just live to dance for charity-based functions. It will be fun way of supporting a little known and very worthwhile cause and a great fit all round.”

Alison Taylor, Chief Executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation commented: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases, by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected. In order to do this however, we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations, so we are delighted to hear that Lisa and Callum have inspired the organisers of Wool@J13 to support us in this way. It sounds a great way of raising awareness and funds and we wish them all a fabulous weekend.”

Severn Trent and Gedling Borough Council have sold around 135 acres of land at Teal Close to Persimmon Homes for a development that includes much needed new housing.

The site is located approximately five miles east of Nottingham, between Netherfield and Stoke Bardolph and will include fantastic new facilities and services for the area.  Alongside 830 new homes there will be new leisure areas including play pitches with changing facilities, allotments and children’s play areas for the community to use.  There will also be an ecology park, together with a new community building and a new primary school, all bringing people and jobs into the area. The land was owned by Midlands Land Portfolio Ltd, the property arm of Severn Trent plc, and Gedling Borough Council.

Julie Rossiter, head of property development for Severn Trent, explains:  “This is a great example of innovation with public and private sectors working together for the communities they serve and building new homes which are desperately needed in this area.  We’re really pleased that by making our business more efficient, we were able to free up land to help create this development.  The sale proceeds for Midlands Land Portfolio Ltd will be £21.8M, and a proportion of the resulting profits will be shared with our customers, helping to keep future water bills lower.”

Following planning approval for the first phase of the housing scheme for 199 units including much needed affordable houses, Persimmon will soon be starting work on site.

Neil Follows, managing director for Persimmon Homes Nottingham, said: “Our aim is to deliver a range of high-quality, affordable homes that will cater for first-time buyers looking to get their foot on the property ladder as well families looking for more space.

“Now the development has received planning permission, it will bring an estimated 855 jobs to the local area, providing a huge boost to the local economy.”

Councillor John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, added: “We welcome the announcement; this is another positive step forward in the development of this site. The proposed plans will lead to investment in the area, along with more affordable housing, continuing the economic prosperity of the borough.”

A free course in Birmingham will help local people who have lost their sight to regain their confidence and independence.

The Living with Sight Loss course, run by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is taking place at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, from 10.30am to 3.30pm on 17, 22, 31 May and 7 June 2018. The four day course will provide information, advice and practical skills for anyone who has sight loss as well as their family and friends.

The sessions will provide advice on a range of essential everyday skills such as how to get around outside, information about welfare rights, and using assistive technology.

Val Humphries, RNIB Confidence Building Coordinator for the West Midlands, said: “For someone newly diagnosed with sight loss, the future can seem very daunting and scary at first. But losing your sight doesn’t mean losing your independence. Our courses are about improving social inclusion, boosting confidence, and learning new skills and techniques to deal with sight loss in order to live independently.

“The Living with Sight Loss course is available to anyone with sight loss. Friends and family are also welcome as we appreciate significant sight issues affect all aspects of a person’s life – including those closest to them.”

Phone groups covering similar topics are also available for those unable to attend a course in person. The sessions provide the opportunity to talk to others and exchange experiences. These groups run for four sessions, over four weeks.

A man who lived on a houseboat was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to give up his dogs when his home started to sink.

He contacted the RSPCA for help with his beloved dogs - terrier-cross Arthur and Jack Russell terrier Bennie - earlier this month.

This week, RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Cara Gibbon went to visit the man at his houseboat in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

“He was so distraught to give up his dogs but he also didn’t want his dogs to suffer when he became homeless so made the difficult decision to sign them over into our care,” ACO Gibbon explained.

“It must have been so hard for him but he did the right thing - by putting the dogs’ welfare first.

“He had been living on a houseboat but, unfortunately, it was sinking, leaving him and his dogs homeless.

“He reached out to us and asked for help and we could see that his need was urgent so I went out to meet with him.”

Twelve-year-old Arthur was rescued at two by his owner and nine-month-old Bennie joined them recently as a friend for the senior pooch.

The two dogs were taken in by RSPCA Coventry where they are doing well. Once they’ve been assessed, staff will be looking to find a forever home for the duo.

“When I first took them in and took them to the vets for check-ups, they were obviously very frightened and confused,” ACO Gibbon added.

“But they’ve been with kennel staff for a few days now and are settling in well.

“I went to visit them and they were having such fun playing in the garden and running in the sunshine. It was lovely to see.

“I’m sure we’ll find them a fabulous new home with owners who will love them and care for them as much as their previous owner did.

“I’d like to urge other people who find themselves in difficult situations to always reach out to charities and agencies and ask for help.”

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Arthur and Bennie should contact RSPCA Coventry & Nuneaton branch by calling 02476 336616.

Families get the chance to celebrate the ancient traditions of Green Man folklore in a fun-filled event in West Bromwich organised by Sandwell Museums.

The event on Sunday 13 May at the 17th century Oak House Museum and grounds, Oak Road, West Bromwich, begins at noon running until 4pm.

“We’re banishing the winter and welcoming spring at Oak House with family fun activities,” said Rebecca Butler, visitor services officer for the site. “This is sure to be a fun-filled day for adults and children alike.”

Visitors can listen to 17th century folk tales and make springtime head garlands and see blacksmith demonstrations, which was an industry the Turton family who lived at Oak House were involved with in the 1600s.

They can also enjoy Tudor dancing inside the house with Oak House favourite historical interpretation group Gloriana. Morris dancers will be performing throughout the day on the terrace at the back of the visitors’ centre.

“There will be lots of children's entertainment too – with an under 5s soft play area, face painting to get into the Green Man spirit, a bouncy castle for children to enjoy and Green Man-themed quizzes and trails,” said Rebecca.

There will be some stalls to browse including a children’s Usborne Book stall. The RSPB and the Wildlife Trust will have stalls with some interactive activities.

Museum services manager Jane Hanney said: "Visitors can also enjoy our new information about the grounds at Oak House that tells the story of what was going on outside the buildings 400 years ago.

"The Oak House was at the centre of a busy farm and would have had a kitchen garden growing herbs and vegetables and an orchard growing fruits as well as a new formal garden for the Turton family to walk in.

"This is an event not to be missed and is a great way to celebrate the coming of the new season."

Following a successful trial, the retailer is extending the number of its branches participating in the FareShare Go programme, using the Irish social enterprise FoodCloud IT platform, to all full-size supermarkets by the end of the year.

The food redistribution technology is supported by FareShare and powered by FoodCloud, and makes it easier for branches to let local charities know about surplus goods. Waitrose shops are already established in donating food to local charities and the IT platform will help smooth communication between branches and groups.

Shops simply input details of available food into an app and connected charities receive a text alert of which items are ready for collection. This builds on relationships branches already have with local groups as well as recruiting new ones, with the technology making the process even simpler and quicker.

FareShare was established as a food redistribution charity over 20 years ago. It provides a range of services including a support team to recruit and audit charities and community groups to the FareShare Go model. The team ensures only groups which can safely collect, store and prepare food are linked with a local shop. This guarantees all Waitrose surplus food will go to organisations properly equipped to provide meals to vulnerable communities.

Since launching the trial in 2017 in 25 shops, an equivalent of nearly 70,000 meals have been donated to over 100 charities. From 16th April the next phase of four shops in Jersey and Guernsey will join the existing 25 branches which already use FareShare Go. By the end of 2018 there will be 300 Waitrose shops using the IT platform.

Groups which collect surplus food are offered funds from the Waitrose Community Matters (green tokens) scheme which donates money to local good causes - this goes a step beyond simply donating produce. Kitchen equipment and storage are included in the items charities can buy with the retailer's funding. This support will be extended to all branches with the roll out of FareShare Go.

Birmingham has bucked the national trend with a surge in adoptions. A total of 160 children in the care of the council found permanent new parents in 2016/17, according to data from the Department for Education. That compares to 110 in both 2014/15 and 2015/16.

The data covers all “looked-after” children: those in council-run homes, foster care, and other care settings.

At the same time, the total number of looked-after children has fallen in Birmingham. Some 2,525 children spent at least part of the year in care in 2016/17 compared to 2,670 in 2015/16 and 2,720 in 2014/15. Nationally, the number of children who spent at least some of the year in care has risen from 99,410 in 2014/15 to 100,940 in 2015/16 and 102,590 in 2016/17.

John Simmonds, director of policy at adoption and fostering organisation CoramBAAF, said: “There has been significant concern about the fall of children with a local authority adoption plan and then the number of children where the court makes relevant orders enabling this. There may be a number of factors contributing to this but the most widely held view is that this results from two judgments handed down by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

The number of looked-after children who were adopted has fallen to 4,710 in 2016/17 compared to 5,360 the previous year. Rising numbers of children in care have led successive governments to look at ways of making adoption an easier and faster process, but a number of court rulings dating back to 2013 stressed the need for councils to consider other options before turning to adoption - including placing the child with birth relatives.

The average waiting time to adopt a child currently stands at 425 days. "While most local authority numbers fell, a few actually increased the number of children placed for adoption,” Simmonds said.

"There is concern in the sector about these figures and most particularly on the impact on the welfare of children in the immediate and longer term. Another consequence has been a fall in the number of approved adopters and this is serious issue that needs urgent attention.”

The figures released by the DfE are rounded to the nearest five to protect anonymity.

A report launched yesterday by older people’s charity, Independent Age, has found that 7 out of 10 people (of all ages) say they are comfortable talking about death, but less than 1 in 4 actually do it. The charity wants more work to be done to remove the stigma from talking about death and bereavement and is urging older people to start having conversations with their friends and family about their end-of-life plans. To support the report, the charity has launched a new advice guide which covers all aspects of planning for the end of life.

End-of-life planning isn’t just about funeral planning and writing a will. It is about thinking about where you might want to live if you can no longer look after yourself; making plans for health and care, as well as finances; and ensuring loved ones know what you want to happen, and have the authority to make it happen. It’s about someone taking control of their own future to give themselves and their family peace of mind, whether they know they are nearing the end of their life or are simply planning for the future.

Geoffrey, 93, from Ipswich, says, “Receiving a terminal diagnosis was devastating for both me and my family. It wasn’t easy, but we’ve talked about everything from where I want to die to what happens after my death. I hope this will make it easier for them when the inevitable happens. When my sister-in-law was seriously ill she had a lot of decisions made for her, and I wanted to make sure that I can make these decisions for myself. I would encourage all families to talk to each other about what they want to happen at the end of their lives. It’s comforting to know that my wishes will be met.”

The free guide, called Planning for the end of life: Thinking ahead now for peace of mind later, provides practical information with step-by-step advice on topics such as where to find support when making plans for the end of life; what financial support may be available; and what to think about when planning, including health and care, where to live, funeral plans and finances and property.

Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Independent Age, says, “No one likes to think about their own death, much less talk about it, but it’s important to make your wishes known. It can be uncomfortable – none of us actually wants to plan for the end of our life – but it’s worth doing, so you and your loved ones have peace of mind that you’ve told them what you want to happen in advance. To help you make those difficult decisions, we’ve brought out a new, free advice guide, called Planning for the end of life, which will take you through the process.”

Planning for the end of life is free to order and download from independentage.org/endoflifeplanning or can be ordered for free by calling 0800 319 6789. Those who need help with their planning can call the charity’s Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to arrange to speak to an adviser.

The guide is being launched ahead of a new campaign by Independent Age that will encourage people to talk about death and bereavement. Independent Age has a range of information and advice available on related topics.

The charity also has a free guide available called Coping with bereavement: Living with grief and loss. The guide is designed to help people understand why they might be thinking and feeling a certain way after the death of someone close and offers advice on where to find comfort and support.

Bullring & Grand Central is showing support for The Children’s Society with a new in-centre initative, launching in May.

‘Let the Games Begin’ will arrive at Birmingham’s leading shopping destination on Friday 4th May and will invite visitors to take time out of their shopping to enjoy an array of classic arcade-style games, including pinball, table-top football, and dance machines. Guests will also be able to pick their ultimate gaming track on an in-store jukebox.

The pay-to-play pop-up arcade will be located on LinkStreet and will be available to shoppers throughout May. All proceeds from the games will go to The Children’s Society; a charity which provides life changing support for vulnerable children and young people.

Hannah Schejbal, Corporate Relationship Manager for The Children’s Society, commented: “We are so grateful to receive the support of Bullring and Grand Central. Projects like this are crucial for us if we are to continue to change the lives of vulnerable children and young people in our community. The centre is such an integral part of Birmingham culture and we are excited to see how people in the local area take to this retro gaming pop-up.”

Michaela Moore, General Manager at Bullring & Grand Central, commented: “We can’t wait to launch this initiative. Developments in technology have changed how we game forever, however there is nothing like a retro arcade to bring people together to have a bit of fun. Bullring & Grand Central is not just a shopping destination, but a leisure destination where visitors choose to come and enjoy themselves, thus offering the perfect opportunity to support and raise funds for such a crucial cause, whilst having fun at the same time. Let the games begin!”

Acclaimed theatre-maker Tayo Aluko will be shining a spotlight on the fascinating story of Britain’s first Black judge in a new play at the Belgrade Theatre this spring. Showing in Coventry for one day only, ‘Just An Ordinary Lawyer’ follows the true story of singer, cricketer and barrister Tunji Sowande.

After leaving behind his native Nigeria, Sowande first arrived in London in 1945 to study law and pursue his interest in music. In both endeavours, he proved remarkably successful, quickly rising through the ranks as a well-respected barrister to become not only the first Black Head of Chambers in the UK, but also the country’s first Black judge.

Meanwhile, his powerful baritone voice earned him a strong reputation as a concert soloist – a talent he also put to use in charity performances and to entertain the residents of elderly care homes. A keen cricketer, he was also a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club, known as “the home of cricket.”

Following his multi-award-winning international hit show ‘Call Mr. Robeson,’ writer and performer Tayo Aluko brings to life another “brilliantly put together history lesson delivered as art” in this brand new, one-man show, imagining Sowande’s private musings as looks back on his life in an undefined setting.

As the UK marks 70 years since the arrival of the Empire Windrush amidst controversy around the implementation of recent immigration policy, Just An Ordinary Lawyer’s exploration of charged subjects like imperialism, colonialism and Black people’s struggles for freedom, justice and human rights at home and abroad feel particularly timely.

Yet what is particularly interesting is Sowande’s apparent political neutrality amidst the difficulties that he and others like him faced. Far from being outspoken about policy and the racism he faced, Sowande prefers to simply do his job, and spend his free time watching sports – although he nonetheless does his bit to spread a hopeful message of peace and love via the medium of music.

Taking the form of an accessible and engaging “play with songs”, Just An Ordinary Lawyer offers a moving, insightful and riveting journey inside the mind of a man at once determinedly ordinary in his attitudes, and decidedly extraordinary in his achievements.

A commanding presence, Aluko populates the stage with figures from throughout Sowande’s illustrious career, showcasing the trailblazing man himself in his various guises as radical, activist, educator and friend.

The show is written and performed by Tayo Aluko and directed by Amanda Huxtable, with design by Emma Williams.

‘Just An Ordinary Lawyer’ is on Saturday May 19.

Wolves and City of Wolverhampton Council have announced details of a promotion party on Bank Holiday Monday, 7^th May, to give fans the chance to celebrate the club’s sensational return to the Premier League.

The event will give Wolves players and staff the chance to parade The Sky Bet Championship trophy in front of supporters during an open top bus tour through the city centre. There will also be a family-friendly ‘party in the park’ at West Park.

The council will begin the day by honouring the club’s outstanding achievement with a private civic reception hosted by the Deputy Mayor.

After the civic reception, two open top buses carrying the players and staff will set off from outside Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Lichfield Street at noon.

Supporters will be able to line the route as the buses travel down Lichfield Street, through Queen Square, down Darlington Street, turning into Waterloo Road, across the Ring Road, turning into Newhampton Road East, Lansdowne Road and along Park Road East.

Nuno will then lead his team into West Park where 30,000 Wolves fans will greet their heroes at a free, family-friendly, ticketed party. Nuno and players will address the crowd and show off the trophy. There will be musical performances from special guests, a giant screen, fun fair and refreshments.

Due to the very large numbers of people expected in the city, it is necessary for safety reasons to strictly control the number of fans entering the park. Only people with tickets will be able to go into the park and will need to arrive by 11.30am before the bus parade sets off. There will be no admission to the park after this time.

Fans therefore have the choice to either line the parade route or attend the family party in the park. Fans who choose to line the parade route will be able to watch the park event on a large screen in Queen Square.

Wolves managing director Laurie Dalrymple said, “We are really looking forward to what will be a fantastic day of celebration for the city of Wolverhampton, and everybody who has played a part in this magnificent season.

“Nuno and the squad have a real desire to thank you for the support they have received throughout the season, so thanks goes to everyone involved who has made this event possible.

“Promotion to the Premier League has been a real team effort, and there seems no more fitting way to celebrate it than together, as one city.”

Keith Ireland, managing director of City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “The council recognises that Wolves outstanding season and return to the top flight is an enormous achievement not only for the amazing Wolves fans, but for the entire city.

“We have been working closely with the club, with the support of West Midlands Police, to organise a promotion party which the whole city can enjoy and hope as many people as possible come out to show their pride in Wolves with a sea of gold and black.”

Tickets for the party in the park event will be completely free, but limited to four per person. Details of how to apply for tickets will be released via the council and football club’s websites and social media channels on Monday.

Wolves and the City of Wolverhampton Council are grateful to Eastgate Commercial Ltd and Star Works for sponsoring the event.

The biggest British Army Corps is launching a new base in Birmingham.

159 Regiment, a reserve unit of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), will raise the regimental flag over its new ‘B Troop’ in Dawberry Fields Road, Kings Heath on Wednesday 2 May.

The troop is an extension of the RLC squadron based in West Bromwich, with ten soldiers transferring to the new site, and will make it easier for potential Army recruits from Birmingham to access training on their doorstep.

The Birmingham-based unit has already attracted interest from people living in the city and has capacity for up to 30 soldiers. Combat logistic specialists, drivers, chefs, medics and HR advisers are some of the roles that the regiment is currently seeking to fill.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Pat Allen said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to fly the flag of the largest Corps of the Army in the second city. There are some brilliant opportunities available to reserve soldiers including travel, sport and adventure.”

The Kings Heath location is already home to another Army reserve unit, 202 Field Hospital, who will remain the lead unit.

159 Regiment provides logistic support to the regular Army, such as vehicle parts, tools, ammunition, rations and water. The RLC maintains the Army’s operational capability by providing constant support and sustaining units by land, sea and air.

As well as developing their trade skills, the regiment’s soldiers travel the world on training exercises, deployments or to take part in sporting competitions. In the last two years, soldiers from the regiment’s six detachments in the Midlands have travelled to Canada, Afghanistan, Kenya and Cyprus.

Teachers, police officers, fitness trainers and students are some of the civilian careers held by the regiment’s reservists who train in their spare time with many employers granting time off for Army commitments.

Reserve soldiers receive pay and allowances and attend a minimum of 27 days a year to qualify for an annual tax-free incremental bounty which rises to £1,759 after five years’ continuous service.

This summer the regiment will be offering an Access to Logistics course which will equip people with the skills to become a fully trained soldier, including driving qualifications, in just nine weeks. New recruits will receive a joining bonus of up to £5,000 on completion of the course.

Business leaders in Greater Birmingham say it is time for the Government to “be bold and fix the foundations of the economy”, after the UK suffered its weakest period of GDP growth in five years.

According to figures released today, UK gross domestic product increased by 0.1 per cent in quarter one (January to March), compared with 0.4 per cent in quarter four of 2017.

The Office for National Statistics’ estimate showed that construction was down by 3.3 per cent in the first three months of the year, while manufacturing growth slowed to 0.2 per cent.

Production, which includes electricity and gas supply in addition to manufacturing, rose by 0.7 per cent as a result of households using more energy during the cold weather. Services increased by 0.3 per cent.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner (pictured) said: “Today’s results make for disappointing reading as we witnessed the slowest pace of GDP growth for almost five years mainly predicated on a fall in manufacturing growth – a trend we saw mirrored in our latest Quarterly Business Report as local manufacturers revealed a drop in their domestic output.

“While it would be convenient to blame the slowdown on the period of bad weather we saw in February, it’s worth bearing in mind that this was likely to have been offset by an increase in energy production as people kept their heating on for longer periods during the snap blizzard.

“Only last month, an interest rate rise seemed a certainty – however, given the fact we are seeing a drop in inflation levels and a slower pace of economic growth, any projected uplift must surely be put on hold.

“In light of these results, we would urge the Government to be bold and fix the foundations of the economy by investing in first class infrastructure projects and upskilling our workforce – the future prosperity of our country depends on it.”

Jess Phillips, MP of Birmingham Yardley, took to the streets of Birmingham this week to get a taste of life as a Big Issue vendor.

Jess Phillips joined Big Issue vendor Michael Hadley, 25, on his pitch on Piccadilly Arcade in the second city on Thursday April 26th to experience the challenges of selling the magazine first-hand.

Phillips admitted that she “felt invisible” after spending an hour on the pitch, selling two copies of the magazine.

“It was a good experience and the sun was shining throughout,” said Phillips, who was first elected to the Birmingham Yardley constituency in 2013. “I managed to sell two magazines – the first person I sold to had no idea who I was but I think the second one knew that I was an MP.

“Michael was very nice and he gave me a few tips on how to sell, which was very helpful.”

Phillips, who featured in The Big Issue’s Letter To My Younger Self section in February, admitted that the eye-opening experience has changed her perspective on the challenges involved in selling the magazine.

“After the experience, I’ll always buy The Big Issue. I know a lot of people walk past vendors – I have done it in the past – and I will make sure, as a politician, that I will do all I can for people on the streets,” said Phillips.“I found it to be a fascinating experience to see how people ignore you and how you can feel invisible. I felt a lot of people were looking away from me.

“Selling the magazine first-hand showed me the challenges that people face and the level of independence that they get when they are doing something gainful with their life like this.”

Big Issue West Midlands team leader Jon Hyde said: “It was a pleasure to have Jess sell the magazine as she really engaged with the vendor and got stuck in to the whole process without any pretention.”

“The sell-off experience was a great opportunity to show Jess, on a small scale, what everyday life selling the magazine on the streets of Birmingham is like for Big Issue vendors.

“The vendors that supported Jess were fantastic ambassadors for The Big Issue, showing Jess the ropes, providing sales tips as well as sharing their experiences of homelessness and poverty.”

“I’d like to thank her for taking time out of her busy work and family life to sell the magazine and it was certainly interesting that Jess felt invisible while wearing the tabard, I hope it was an enlightening experience for her.”

The Big Issue, the magazine sold by vendors to lift themselves out of poverty, is available to buy from now across the UK for £2.50.

Delicacies of the Amazonian culture and cuisine are mysteries and flavours still unknown by Brazilian and foreign tourists in the state of Pará. In the itinerary Secrets and Spices of the Amazon, tour operator Vivejar invites travellers to immerse themselves in the multisensory universe of the Amazon, with significant encounters with the local community and an inspiring approach to the region's gastronomy and crafts.

The 6-day trip takes travellers on a cultural and community-based journey, where local communities are responsible for tourism activities and get from them their sources of income, development and cultural preservation. It is also the opportunity for an incredible exchange of experiences with strong and empowered women who have transformed their opportunities and realities through tourism, handicrafts and gastronomy.

The journey begins in the historic capital of Belém, with the first food immersion in the popular Ver-o-Peso market and its variety of unique regional products. The group also takes a cultural tour through the capital, that still preserves patrimonies and stories from the beginning of its foundation by the Portuguese, 400 years ago.

The trip follows to Cotijuba Island, the main of the 42 islands that are part of the Belém archipelago, and an Environmental Preservation Area with 15 kilometers of fresh and warm water beaches bathed by Marajó and Guajará rivers. In Cotijuba, the local community, organised by MMIB – Belém Islands Women's Movement, is responsible for receiving the visitors, presenting some of the island's traditions, crafts and its reality.

For 4 days, travellers have the opportunity to live close together with strong and leader women, artisans and cooks, farmers and tour guides. The transformative experience and the connection and the bonds created during the journey inspire profound and enduring changes in the travellers.

Through hands on cooking and handicraft workshops, tourists discover how to make bio jewellery with typical seeds of the region. To get even closer to the culture of Pará, activities include a scented bath ceremony and a lot of Carimbó dancing. MMIB guides also take visitors through a trail in the middle of the incredible Amazon Forest and free time can be spent on a river beach bath.