Community News

Apprentices are thriving at Sirus Automotive Ltd in Wednesbury with support from Sandwell Council.

Sirus offers an innovative approach to converting and adapting vehicles for wheelchair users and people who need mobility assistance. As well as offering a service to adapt standard cars, Sirus specialise in converting vehicles which enable wheelchair users to drive or travel up front as a passenger. Apprentices are studying at college while learning to carry out bespoke work on a range of vehicles.

Sandwell Council has supported Sirus since 2015 with recruiting candidates for their apprenticeship programme and has helped get training as well as providing mentoring support to the young people.

The company has taken on seven apprentices who have either gone on to further study financed by Sirus or full-time employment with the business. At least two more apprentices are due to start in 2019.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children’s services recently visited Sirus Automotive Ltd. He said: “I am very impressed at the work the company is doing – offering life-changing vehicle adaptions and conversions for people with disabilities.

“I am also thrilled they are investing so much in young people through apprenticeships. It’s a real testament to Sirus that all of the apprentices have stayed on once they have completed their apprenticeships.

“I urge young people to get in touch with Sandwell’s Think Sandwell team if they are looking for an apprenticeship. I also encourage businesses to get in touch with us to see what help the council can offer to support apprenticeships.”

Company founder and Managing Director Simon Pearson commented “We are delighted to be able to support our local community through apprentice schemes. Thanks to our partnership with Sandwell Council we have seen many talented individuals remain within our business who will continually develop their industry skills and knowledge.

"This year we celebrate our 15th anniversary, a great accolade for the Sirus team. We are proud to have helped so many disabled people regain independence, and our conversions are now reaching as far afield as New Zealand.

"We look forward to continually designing innovative mobility solutions and our apprentices will play an important part in our future."

Happy New Year to you all from everyone at Cure Leukaemia! We are delighted to share news of the expanded Centre for Clinical Haematology's impact since it reopened exactly a year ago today.

Building on its growing reputation as an international centre of excellence for the treatment of blood cancer, the expanded centre has already had a dramatic impact on the treatment of haematological malignancies regionally and nationally. The £3.4m expansion was possible thanks to funding from The Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and Cure Leukaemia.

In its first 12 months the new centre:

• Now houses two pioneering blood cancer trials acceleration networks which were flagged in HM Government’s recent Life Sciences Industrial Strategy as exemplars of best practice.
• Led the development of four new clinical trials of novel drug and transplant therapies in blood cancer.
• Provided access to more than £10m in free drugs for clinical trial patients.
• Attracted £6m investment from the global pharmaceutical sector.
• Created 25 new jobs in the Life Sciences sector.
• Increased the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s ability to deliver routine care for blood cancer patients and permitted stem cell transplants to be delivered as an outpatient thereby creating vital new NHS capacity.
• Unified clinical facilities for blood cancer under one roof to enhance the patient experience and provided capacity to look at changing some inpatient care to an outpatient setting.

Man the decks and weigh anchor, because Pirate's Quest has a brand new adventure for 2019!

Newquay's piratical walk-through attraction has a refreshed storyline that will allow visitors to 'Join the Pirate Heroes'. Be the first to experience the new adventure when it premieres during February Half Term (16th – 24th) for a Special Preview Event.

Calico Jack's crew of live pirate performers will be tasked with guiding you through the authentic sets and scenes of Pirate's Quest and introducing you to four of history's most scandalous scallywags. It will then be down to each group of visitors to vote which Pirate Hero they will crown as leader of the Republic of Pirates. Will it be Black Bart the Puritan Pirate, Anne Bonny the Princess of Piracy, Henry Every the Pirate King or the notorious Captain Blackbeard?

But before deciding on your favourite rapscallion, you will first have to survive an adventure of your own. Prepare to be transported back 300 years to the height of the Golden Age of Piracy.

Batten down the hatches, because you'll begin your adventure on board the doomed Royal Anne – a real Pirate Hunter's vessel that wrecked off the coast of Cornwall in 1721. Fortunately for you, one of Calico Jack's crewmates will be at hand to rescue you from the sinking ship, lead you through a secret passage, and into the coves of Lizard Point, where Plymouthian Pirate, Henry Every, is rumoured to have hidden his bountiful booty in the early 1700s.

As you navigate your way through the mystical caves and murky streets of Eighteenth Century Cornwall, your live pirate guide will tell tales of the rowdy rogues that ruled the waves, giving all ages the chance to learn something new about the real pirates that sailed the Caribbean, including Anne Bonny, one of the fiercest female pirates to ever sail the seven seas.

Once you've arrived at the docks of Towan Blystra, look out for Black Bart's fleet on the horizon and then venture into Blackbeard's Tavern; a scene originally introduced to Pirate's Quest to mark the 300th Anniversary of the famous Captain's death in 2018.

As well as the heroes of piracy, there's a chance to become better acquainted with Pirate Villains if you decide to brave the optional scare section, the Locker of Davy Jones – a graveyard of lost ships and souls! Finally, you'll board the crew's galleon, ready to set sail to the Spanish Main once you've used your newfound knowledge to elect your favourite Pirate Hero as leader.

The Pirate's Quest Experience also includes a detour through the Cornish Land of Legend, a mythical realm filled with Arthurian knights and gruesome giants. Plus there's a chance to earn yourself some booty if you fill in a treasure map along your journey, with challenges for all ages.

Throughout the attraction, the experience has been enhanced with new costumes, special effects, lighting and sound in addition to the 'Pirate Heroes' storyline new for 2019.

Be the first to Join the Pirate Heroes during February Half Term (16th – 24th) for a Special Preview Event.

A traditional Chinese building, a cinema, and an aircraft are just some of the unusual features found in the middle of Britain’s roundabouts.

Now motoring experts from Leasecar.uk have scoured the length of the country to reveal five weird and wonderful traffic island centre pieces.

While many roundabouts are plain and mundane there are a number of unconventional islands hidden among Britain’s roads.

Tim Alcock from Leasecar.uk said: “Britain’s roads are full of hidden quirks which is why we went in search for some of the most unusual. What we ended up finding were five very unorthodox roundabouts that will cause motorists to do a double take.

“These quirky traffic islands will brighten up any motorist’s dull commute but it’s important not to be distracted by the junctions otherwise you could end up in the middle of the them.”

Here are five of Leasecar.uk quirkiest roundabouts:

The magic roundabout

One of the most complex junctions’ drivers will face in their time on the roads is located in the heart of Swindon. This testing section features one large roundabout filled with five mini islands that can leave drivers confused by this maze-like road junction.

The roundabout has proved so popular that it has become an actual tourist attraction where motoring aficionados can even buy a t-shirt with the slogan “I survived Swindon’s Magic Roundabout”.

Otford duck pond

If motorists ever find themselves passing through the idyllic village of Otford in Kent, they may encounter an award-winning roundabout. That is because Otford features the only known roundabout with a pond in the middle. This traffic island won the prestigious roundabout of the year award in 2014 and hasn’t looked back since.

Spitfire island

One of the finest roundabout designs in Britain can be found on the A47 near Birmingham. Situated near the birthplace of famous fighter aircraft the Spitfire, this roundabout represents and remembers a crucial part of this country’s history.

A large metal sculpture of three Spitfires sits in the middle of the junction to pay homage to the pilots and crews who lost their lives during the war.

The pagoda roundabout

An oriental take on the British roundabout can be found in Birmingham’s city centre. Featuring a 40 ft high granite carving of a traditional Chinese pagoda building this roundabout looks more like an ancient Chinese landmark than a road junction. The tall sculpture is also surrounded by a Feng Shui garden making it one of the more surreal roundabouts in Britain.

The sculpture was donated by two Chinese brothers in 1998 who lived in Birmingham. It’s located on the inner-city ring road with around 60,000 motorists using the junction every day.

BFI roundabout

London’s answer to a quirky roundabout can be found in the city’s South Bank district. Here one of the roundabouts is so large that it features its own cinema. Motorists negotiating the traffic island will drive around one of the British Film Institute’s main London cinemas.

As the weather turns colder at the start of the New Year, households in the West Midlands could miss out on significant savings if they forget to adjust their heating system for the change in temperature.

Poor energy use, in particular leaving heating and lights on by mistake for just four hours a week, is estimated to cost on average £250 per home every year*.

In response OFTEC, the trade association for oil heating, has issued advice to households in the West Midlands on how to avoid these expensive mistakes by highlighting some of the most common winter heating myths:

·         Myth 1: Turning the thermostat up high will warm the house more quickly.

o   Fact: When the weather outside gets really cold, you may be tempted to turn your thermostat up to a high temperature – but you shouldn’t need to do this. The house will warm up at the same speed, regardless of what you set it to.

·         Myth 2: It’s cheaper to leave your heating running at a low temperature than constantly turning it off and on when it gets cold.

o   Fact: Having your heating on when it’s not needed will cost you money so turn it off if it’s not being used! Instead, adjust your timers so it comes on only when you want it to.

·         Myth 3: Turning down individual radiators will save you money.

o   Fact: This is not necessarily the case. If your thermostat is on, radiators will keep working until the room reaches the set temperature. If you want to save money, turn off radiators in rooms you aren’t using. However, keep your main rooms heated as living in a cold house can be bad for your health.

·         Myth 4: Your water needs to be constantly heated during the day or it’ll be cold.

o   Fact: If your water tank is well insulated it will stay warm for several hours. Set your timers so the water is heated an hour or so before you need it at two or three different times of the day.

·         Myth 5: Only have a technician look at your boiler if it’s not working correctly.

o   Fact: Have your heating system serviced once a year to check it is working correctly and efficiently – this will help avoid a costly repair bill during winter. Make sure you use a GasSafe (for mains gas) or OFTEC (for oil) registered technician who will follow strict industry safety standards.

Malcolm Farrow from OFTEC said: “With temperatures beginning to drop rapidly, the temptation is to crank up the heating to the highest setting. However, this can be a costly mistake to make at an already expensive time of year.

“So, we’ve set out the facts to bust some of the biggest winter heating misconceptions and help households in the West Midlands reduce their energy use and save money on their fuel bills.”

Two Sandwell council employees have won a top award for their inspirational work in giving Sandwell young people the opportunities to fulfill their potential in life.

Neesha Patel and Tariq Karim were presented with the Police and Community Inspirational Award from the Black and Asian Police Association for their work over five years in giving young people the chance to engage in positive activities.

Neesha, SHAPE Project Manager and Tariq, Youth Services Manager, were nominated by West Midlands Police for their work in very successfully running the SHAPE Programme for the council and helping thousands of young people to get a better start in life.

The SHAPE Programme is a child’s voice initiative led by Sandwell Council and involves many partner agencies. SHAPE stands for the five things that matter to every child – Staying Safe, Being Healthy, Achieving and Enjoying, Making a Positive Contribution and Economic Wellbeing.

It has been running successfully now for five years making a huge impact to children and young people in Sandwell.

Karen Geddes, chairperson of the West Midlands Black and Asian Police Association, said: “We were very impressed with the work done by Tariq and Neesha on a programme which has at the heart, the young people and helping them to develop, organise and focus on issues relating to them and identify how to tackle them through a variety of means.

“Over the past five years a large number of projects have taken place to encourage young people to engage in positive activities and make a difference

“Neesha and Tariq set high standards and they have inspired so many young people to go and fulfill their potential and go onto bigger and better things.”

It is a unique programme led and developed by young people who form part of SHAPE Youth Forum to develop, organise and coordinate events.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children's services, said: “I was very pleased to hear of this special award being made to Neesha and Tariq because they have done outstanding work in the SHAPE Programme to inspire young people to get involved in activities and to make the most of their talents.”

Children’s charity Barnardo’s opened one of its biggest fundraising stores in the region this weekend.

The new store, in Dudley High Street, is more than twice the size of a normal charity shop and even offers a collection and delivery service.

Stock includes ladieswear, menswear, children’s clothing, accessories, furniture and homeware.

The doors opened this Saturday January 5^th at 10am, where the ribbon was cut by the Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Alan Taylor.

Profits from the new store will support the charity’s work with some of the UK’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people.

Barnardo’s area business manager Jason Worley said: “We’re delighted to open our new strategic store in Dudley, which is one of the charity’s biggest stores in the entire region.

“The shop floor is around 1,600 square feet which is much larger than most of our other sites, which means we can display even more items which have been generously donated by the local community.

“Aside from the usual clothes, books, toys, games and bric-a-brac, we’ll also be selling bigger items including furniture such as wardrobes, beds, desks and drawers.

“There’s a drop-off zone at the front of the store for people to donate their items, but we’re also offering a free collection and delivery service for larger items within a six-mile radius.

“Our aim is to make it even easier for people to support the charity, helping us to raise as much money as possible for children and young people in desperate need of a better future.”

Store manager Ashley O’Neill is keen to recruit a team of volunteers to support his three store associates.

Ashley said: “We have lots of volunteering opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, and every hour is sincerely appreciated.

“People can help with sorting the stock, steaming the clothes, arranging displays and serving customers.

“It’ a great way to meet new people and learn new skills, possibly working towards qualifications, as well as supporting a very worthwhile cause.”

Public health chiefs in Wolverhampton are asking people to look out for others and take extra care as another cold snap heads this way.

The Met Office has issued a Level 2 alert for the West Midlands from 9am on Thursday until midnight on Friday night, saying there is a 60% risk of overnight frost and freezing fog patches across the region during these times. Temperatures are forecast to warm up slightly over the weekend.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “When the mercury in the thermometer is plunging, it's important that people keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan the day around it.

“Icy weather can cause roads and pavements to become slippery and hazardous when travelling outside. People should take extra care when they are out and about, dress warmly and wear non-slip shoes to limit any falls.

“It is important that people stay warm when they are indoors, particularly if they're aged 65 or over, or have long term health conditions such as heart trouble or respiratory problems. The home should be kept at a minimum of 18 degrees centigrade, and wearing lots of thin layers and eating hot food will help people stay warm.

“I'd also urge people to look out for friends and neighbours who may be vulnerable to the cold and may feel isolated or scared to venture out. Please make sure they have access to warm food and drinks, have sufficient stocks of any medicines they may be on, and are managing to heat their homes adequately.”

Stay Well This Winter - https://www.nhs.uk/staywell/ - contains useful advice on staying warm and keeping healthy during the cold weather.

Birmingham Hippodrome pantomime favourite, Matt Slack is currently celebrating his sixth consecutive season at the venue. To mark the occasion, cast, crew and theatre staff gathered for a surprise ceremony where Matt was presented with his dedicated seat in row L of the stalls along with a commemorative certificate. The plaque reads; “Matt Slack, making Birmingham laugh 6 years and counting -2018”.

On his seat dedication Matt said; “It’s a real honour to have been given my own dedicated named seat. Thanks to all at Birmingham Hippodrome and Qdos Pantomimes, plus my fiancé Jess. An extra huge thank you goes to the audiences for their continued support.”

Since his first appearance in Snow White in 2013, Matt has shared the stage with the likes of Stephanie Beacham, Beverley Knight, Marti Pellow, Julian Clary, John Barrowman and Jane McDonald. By the time this year’s production draws to a close, Matt will have clocked up over 430 appearances on the Birmingham Hippodrome stage; making a total of approximately 1,075 hours of performing.

Naming a seat is just one of the ways of supporting Birmingham Hippodrome and its charitable work. From remembering a loved one to commemorating a special occasion, naming a seat makes a perfect surprise gift. For more information visit birminghamhippodrome.com/giveandjoin.

Peter Pan runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until Sun 27 Jan 2019

To celebrate the roaring success of Town Hall Symphony Hall’s Children’s Show The Tiger Who Came to Tea, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham have created a bespoke Tiger model in honour of the show’s ravenous main star - complete with a mini Sophie sat at the dinner table ready for tea!

The model was created by LEGOLAND Discovery Centre's Master Model Builder, Michelle Thompson.

Speaking about her creation Michelle said;

“I was really excited to build this childhood favourite, and wanted to make sure to add as much expression to his face as I could to match the original character’s flare and cheekiness – he’s no ordinary tiger!

He was built to fit to scale for Miniland where he towered over the residents - adding the detail to such a small scale was tricky. His big beady eyes and cheeky grin looked great sitting at the dinner table with the Sophie Minifigure. The final model was revealed to the cast who were so convinced, they almost mistook him for the real tiger!”

The cast of the hit show visited the Discovery Centre to get a glimpse of the model up close and also visit its LEGO Miniland, which showcases iconic buildings in the West Midlands, including the Town Hall where the show is being performed.

To find out more about Michelle’s creations and to see the LEGO Miniland and other attractions like a 4D Cinema and great family fun rides, you can visit LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at Arena Birmingham.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea is at Town Hall Birmingham until Sunday 13th January. Tickets can be purchased via the THSH website, by calling 0121 780 3333 or at Symphony Hall box office.

With sub-zero temperatures forecast for later this week, Severn Trent is encouraging its customers to lag their water pipes to make sure they won’t face any issues with burst pipes.

The water company, which serves around eight million people across the Midlands, is asking its customers to make a New Year’s resolution to insulate unheated water pipes in lofts and to cover external taps to prevent them from bursting in freezing temperatures.

Howard Perry, Energy Manager at Severn Trent, said: “Extreme temperatures can cause huge problems for household water pipes so we’re asking our customers to make a New Year’s resolution to look after their home’s water pipes.

“Many people don’t realise that, as water freezes within a pipe in your house it expands, putting pressure on joints which can result in splits or bursts.

“Lagging pipes is actually really easy and cheap, and it helps to insulate your pipes, potentially saving thousands of pounds as bursts are not only devastating, but messy and expensive to fix.

“We don’t want people to gamble on it being a mild winter this year, and would encourage them to make a resolution to make their homes even more protected against cold weather.”

Howard added that Severn Trent is helping customers find reliable WaterSafe certified plumbers ahead of the winter months and are providing support to vulnerable customers through a specialised team.

To support homeowners and businesses, Severn Trent is providing information on its website where people can learn how to lag pipes, the key things to look out for, and how to fit external tap guards. The website also includes information on how to find a stop tap outside a home or business.

Wolverhampton will come together to remember the victims of Nazi persecution, the Holocaust and other genocides around the world when the city marks Holocaust Memorial Day next month.

The Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Phil Page will lay a wreath during a service led by Inter-Faith Wolverhampton at the Cenotaph in St Peter's Square on Friday 25 January.

Mayor Councillor Page said: "Holocaust Memorial Day represents an opportunity to remember the millions of people who were murdered or whose lives were changed beyond recognition as a result of the Holocaust, persecution or genocide.

"It is hugely important that we do not forget what happened during the Second World War and that we educate future generations about the Holocaust, because everyone has a responsibility to fight the evils of discrimination, racism and xenophobia."

The service in St Peter's Square starts at 11am and will be attended by representatives from various faith communities, Trade Unions and pensioners’ organisations, Civic leaders and members of the public.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place annually on 27 January – the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau – and is organised by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

The theme for this year's event is 'Torn from Home', encouraging people to reflect on how the enforced loss of a safe place to call ‘home’ is part of the trauma faced by anyone experiencing persecution and genocide.

‘Home’ usually means a place of safety, comfort and security, and Holocaust Memorial Day 2019 will reflect on what happens when individuals, families and communities are driven out of, or wrenched from their homes, because of persecution or the threat of genocide, alongside the continuing difficulties survivors face as they try to find and build new homes when the genocide is over.

Next month's service will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda, which began in April 1994, and the 40th anniversary of the end of the Genocide in Cambodia in 1979.