Community News

Young people across Haringey will enjoy modern, high-tech facilities in a state of the art ‘Youth Zone’, after Haringey Council approved proposals for the centre to be built in the heart of Wood Green.

The £6.5million purpose-built Youth Zone, in partnership with young people’s charity OnSide, will offer daily affordable activities in sports, arts, music, employability and mentoring for young people aged eight to 19, or up to 25 for those with a disability.

Set to be built on an unused area within the grounds of Woodside High School, White Hart Lane, Haringey Youth Zone will provide over 20 different activities for more than 200 young people each evening, with a commitment to raising young people’s aspirations, enhancing prospects and improving health and wellbeing.

A new locally-led charity will be established to run the new Youth Zone, bringing on board a local team of youth and activity workers. £3m of the capital cost of creating the Youth Zone will be funded by the council, while a number of charitable funders committed to the future of Haringey and its young people will provide the remaining £3.5m.

The council will also contribute £250,000 per year towards running costs, with OnSide working to secure the first three years’ £950,000 annual revenue costs in full prior to opening through a combination of private sector support and charitable trusts and grants.

Plans for the Youth Zone were originally approved by Haringey’s Cabinet last year and Onside have worked closely with the council, community and schools to find the right site for the centre, which will operate in addition to the council-owned Bruce Grove Youth Centre.

Jamie Masraff, Project Director at OnSide Youth Zones said:

“Youth Zones are safe, inspiring and affordable places for young people to spend their leisure time and we are delighted that Haringey Council has partnered with us to bring one of our facilities to the area.

“We will be working closely with the local community to ensure that the Youth Zone will support all young people from across the borough, including harder-to-reach young people, particularly those from deprived backgrounds. We have every confidence that this offer for young people will provide a transformational experience, supporting and enhancing the current youth provision in the community.”

Haringey Council Leader, Cllr Claire Kober, said:

“This is a fantastic facility that will give young people from across Haringey the opportunity they deserve to access cutting-edge facilities that the council would simply be unable to provide without such an innovative partnership. I’m proud that we’ve been able to commit to making this investment in the borough’s young people in addition to funding we already provide for other youth services in the borough.”

Elma McElligott, Co-Headteacher of Woodside High School, said:

“Woodside High School is a firm supporter of the plans to develop a Youth Zone for Haringey, which will provide an incredible range of positive leisure-time activities for thousands of local young people who need access to a safe and inspiring environment outside of school hours. As well as benefiting the community, use of the Youth Zone’s facilities during the day time will help Woodside High School meet its priorities.”

Ashling Float, Volunteer Manager at local community organisation, Haringey Shed Company is excited to work in collaboration with the new OnSide Youth Zone to offer more opportunities to young people. She said:

“Here at Haringey Shed we work with a range of young people and families who all live locally, who flourish in engaging in our services and who want more. Despite our reach there are many families and young people who are not engaging in their community or in any extracurricular activities.

“We love the idea of more opportunities and safe places becoming available for the families and young people we work with, through a new Youth Zone. We look forward to continuing conversations and supporting exciting plans for Haringey’s young people.”

Launched in 2008 and based on a successful, tried and tested model, OnSide currently has a network of 10 Youth Zones in; Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Blackburn, Wigan, Carlisle, Warrington, Wolverhampton, Wirral and Chorley. Three more Youth Zones in Barking and Dagenham, Barnet and Croydon are set open in 2019 and a number of other projects are at various stages of planning.

A University of Wolverhampton law graduate is celebrating after clinching a top leadership award.

Sandra Wallace graduated in 1991 with a LLB Law degree from what was then Wolverhampton Polytechnic.

She is now Managing Partner of DLA Piper UK and recently won the Leadership Award at the Birmingham Law Society Awards. The award was sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton Law School.

Sandra, who qualified as a lawyer in 1994, said: “Winning anything always makes you reflect on what you have achieved and in my case how far I have come. I was so worried about going to University and if I would be able to make a legal career. Then I look back and think not only did I achieve that but I have been given so many opportunities at DLA Piper besides.

“I am not keen on the limelight and I recognise that little happens without support around you. Nevertheless this award is special because it was colleagues at DLA Piper pushing me to go for it and they submitted the commentary in support of the nomination.  So it feels like people appreciate what I do, even if I think it's no big deal!”

She added: “The University of Wolverhampton (Polytechnic when I was there) was quite a revelation for me.  It was the first time I enjoyed my education. At college I was the odd one out being from the wrong part of town and generally it was not very diverse.  I didn’t attend the universities that I actually got accepted for because I felt I would be like a fish out of water.  Looking back that was probably because nowhere I visited had such a diverse population of students as Wolverhampton.

“The course was challenging but the teaching was good and fostered independent learning. It was not stuffy but it was no easy ride either. I am one of six children and sitting at number 5 I was the first person to go to University in my family. As you can see with my career I am glad I did.”

Head of the University of Wolverhampton Law School, Sukhninder Panesar, said: “It was great to see Sandra win the Leadership Award and it was fitting that the Award was presented by the University of Wolverhampton.  Every year we see professionals who have graduated from the University of Wolverhampton win awards at the Birmingham Law Society Awards Ceremony and this is testament to the strengths of the Law School in producing highly qualified lawyers.”

The Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards have been showcasing the best of the region’s legal talent since the inaugural event in 2002.

Now in their 17th year, the Awards celebrate the success and achievement of both individuals and firms over the last 12 months.

The West Midlands region continues to see an increased number of outbreaks of stomach bugs, including norovirus – with reports showing significantly higher levels than this time last year. Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands is therefore urging people to support their local NHS and call before going to the GP or A&E if they are poorly with a stomach bug.

Dr Helen Carter, Deputy Director for PHE West Midlands, said: “At this time of year we see a lot of diarrhoea and sickness bugs, which are very infectious. So if people feeling unwell with a stomach upset decide to visit their GP, a walk-in centre, or their local A&E, they could be putting a lot of other people at risk of infection and adding significantly to the seasonal pressures already experienced in healthcare settings.

“Norovirus usually leads to mild diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal or stomach cramps. People generally recover quite quickly from these bugs and there is no specific treatment, apart from drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration and avoiding reinfection with good hand hygiene – especially before eating and after going to the toilet; along with cleaning touch points and communal areas with a bleach-based cleaner.

“Laboratory reports of norovirus are considerably higher than this time last year and higher than the 5-year seasonal average. People feeling unwell can call their GP or NHS111 for advice. Over half the outbreaks we’re seeing are in care homes – so it’s really important that staff in those settings seek advice on the phone from their GP surgery before considering transferring people to hospital. If someone is seriously unwell and in need of hospitalisation, it is still important to let NHS staff know that the person has an infectious illness, so the correct measures can be taken to avoid spreading the bug to other patients and healthcare workers.”

Dr Kiran Patel, Medical Director for NHS England in the West Midlands, said: “We are asking people not to visit hospitals and care homes to see relatives or friends whilst they have sickness and diarrhoea, or if they have recently experienced these symptoms. This is because people may still carry the virus and infect others up to three days after their symptoms have stopped.

“People concerned about visiting a relative or friend who may be in hospital or living in a care home should speak to the nurse in charge of the hospital ward or phone the care home beforehand for advice.”

Birmingham Heritage Week, a city-wide festival that celebrates Birmingham’s rich and diverse heritage, is set to return for a fourth year after securing vital sponsorship funding.

Sponsors who will be supporting this year’s festival include The University of Birmingham, Historic England and Colmore BID as Gold Sponsors and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce as a Silver Sponsor. It is thanks to these organisations that Birmingham Heritage Week will return to the city for 2018.

Birmingham Heritage Week is a celebration of Birmingham’s history and culture. Each year, around 70 partner organisations come together to organise over 100 events, which year on year delight in the region of 20,000 people.

These events range from exhibitions and tours, to open days and concerts. Attracting new tourists to the city, and allowing locals a deeper insight into what makes Birmingham one of the most exciting cities in the UK. The 2018 festival is set to be a cultural highlight in the calendar once more.

Running from 6^th – 16^th September, there will be 10 days of fun-filled events for everyone to enjoy. Past event highlights have included talks with celebrated local historian, Carl Chinn, and events at historic sites such as Birmingham Oratory, Aston Hall, Coffin Works and Two Towers Brewery.

Alex Nicholson-Evans, Commercial Director at Birmingham Museums, said: “We are delighted that organisations across the city have come together to ensure the continuation of Birmingham Heritage Week. It’s thanks to these generous sponsors that we are able to run this popular festival for its fourth year.”

There are still opportunities for additional sponsors to support the event.

Homeowners blighted by destructive Japanese knotweed may be hoping that the plant has died when it fails to emerge from its winter hibernation as normal around mid to late-March. But in fact the recent cold weather, with more low temperatures forecast, is delaying the start of the plant’s growing season by 2 to 4 weeks, as it will not awaken until the ground temperature reaches around 4°C.

The ‘Beast from the East’ brought the coldest February week in five years last month, with a new cold snap last weekend and lower-than normal temperatures forecast for the rest of March. This is causing Japanese knotweed, described by the Environment Agency as  “indisputably the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant”, to prolong its underground hibernation, before beginning its annual assault on property foundations, patios, driveways, cavity walls and drains. 

Homeowners should remain vigilant once the warmer weather arrives, looking out for signs of red or purple asparagus-like shoots which emerge from the ground and quickly turn into green bamboo-like stems. They grow at a rapid rate, up to 10cm per day, to reach up to 3 metres in height by June. The plant has flat, heart-shaped green leaves and blooms in late summer, when its stems become covered in tiny creamy-white flowers.

Environmentalist Nic Seal, Founder and MD of Environet, said, “Normally we would see Japanese knotweed shoots springing up in warmer parts of the country and in sheltered urban areas during the middle of March, but the cold weather has set the start of the growing season back by at least a fortnight, possibly as much as a month.

“Homeowners may be hopeful that their knotweed problem has disappeared, particularly if they attempted to treat it themselves, but it’s extremely unlikely that any DIY treatments will be successful and the plant is simply hibernating for longer than usual due to the unseasonably cold weather.

“Japanese knotweed has spread so rapidly across the UK in the last decade that it’s really no longer a case of winning the battle. Those who discover knotweed on their land should take immediate action and put a professional treatment plan in place to protect their property and protect themselves against litigation from their neighbours.”

While it isn’t illegal to have Japanese knotweed growing on your land, homeowners can be sued if they allow it to spread onto a neighbouring property. They must also declare the presence of knotweed on the TA6 conveyancing form when they sell their home, even if it has been successfully treated. Mortgage lenders will require an insurance-backed guarantee for the works before lending on the property.

The RSPCA rescued a collapsed 19-year-old terrier cross who had been shut outside in the snow in temperatures of -3C during the Beast from the East.

The animal welfare charity received an anonymous call on 2 March to an address in Coventry, West Midlands.

RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal said: “Unfortunately during the recent snowy weather we received a huge number of calls - many of which were people who were concerned for dogs that had been shut outside in gardens, despite the freezing temperatures.

“The RSPCA is restricted in what we can do in many of these situations as, while we certainly wouldn’t advise keeping dogs outside, it is not illegal to do so if the dog has adequate shelter.

“However, in some cases, there is an urgent need for our involvement and, when we receive reports of vulnerable and exposed animals in this type of weather, we know we need to respond quickly.”

Stormy is a little dog with a short coat and was left outside during the cold, snowy weather.

Inspector Boal said: “Records show it was between -1 and -3C that day and there was a significant amount of snow on the ground.”

But her major concern was his age. At 19, or 92 in dog years, he should not have been outside in that weather.

He was taken into RSPCA care and Inspector Boal took him to see the vets at RSPCA Newbrook Farm Animal Hospital in Birmingham.

He has had veterinary checks and some dental work, and is now being looked after by staff in the Newbrook Farm Animal Centre where he will go up for rehoming - making him the oldest dog the centre has ever rehomed, and one of the oldest the charity has ever rescued.

“Despite his age, Stormy is in generally good health and we’d like to find him a lovely new home,” Inspector Boal said.

“He’s a really sweet little dog and he’d make the perfect companion for an older person who wants to share their sofa with a new friend.”

The world’s most extensive bike-share operator, nextbike, is bringing 5,000 bicycles to the West Midlands after being chosen to operate the UK’s largest docked bike-share scheme outside of London.

Transport for West Midlands announced the news today (Tuesday March 20) alongside West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The landmark scheme will bring 50 jobs to the region, with posts including area managers, van drivers and mechanics.

Bosses at nextbike said the first bikes will be hitting the streets in September this year, when 2,000 are installed across Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.

The remaining 3,000 bikes will be rolled out in phases that will also include Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Solihull in 2019.

Docking stations will be located around key sites in the towns and cities involved, with bikes available 24 hours a day.

Annual membership to the scheme will cost just £30 per year, meaning riders can access the bikes for as little as 8p per day.

Swift card members will be able to access the bikes as part of their regular subscription. The bikes will also be free for the first 30 minutes to people who sign up to Whim - the new smart travel service that is launching in the Midlands next month.

The bikes will feature advanced technology and enhanced security features, including integrated front locks and GPS tracking, that makes using them easy for users.

nextbike and TfWM are currently in discussion with a number of global brands interested in working in partnership to sponsor the scheme.

Julian Scriven, nextbike UK MD, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing nextbikes to the people of the West Midlands. We are able to offer the most technologically-advanced and forward-thinking bike-share scheme and fleet in the UK and it’s amazing that the people of Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley, Solihull and Coventry will be able to benefit from it.

“The interconnectivity it will offer is going to be brilliant, it will really help to make journeys across the Midlands seamless. People will be able to take a nextbike to start their journey to get to their local train station, hop on the train, and pick up another nextbike to finish off their journey at the other end. No more having to lug a bike on public transport, or worrying about finding a parking space at the train station.

“We will be creating more than 50 new jobs across the area and we will be partnering with the Walsall-based Steps to Work charity to help fill the roles. They work with long-term unemployed and young people currently not in education or employment amongst others, and these are groups that we are passionate about reaching, retraining and recruiting here at nextbike.

“Although this is a fantastic initiative for Transport for West Midlands, and for nextbike, we don’t see the scheme as belonging to either organisation. We firmly see it as belonging to the people of the West Midlands and we hope the communities will take the bikes to their hearts.

“We will be offering Bikeshare4all across the West Midlands, which will mean heavily discounted membership and use of the bikes for the unemployed and other economically-deprived people to ensure that the whole of the community is truly able to benefit from the bikes.

“On a personal note for me, I’m a local boy who grew up in the Midlands and ever since I joined nextbike I knew I wanted to bring the bikes back home. It’s going to be a very proud moment being able to use the scheme with my family and friends. I can’t wait to see my mum and dad on a West Midlands nextbike!”

When you think of iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, your mind is instantly drawn to the wonders of Cats, Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat, Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar, but you would be forgiven for forgetting that he is also the man behind the impeccable Evita.

Telling the true story of Eva Perón, Evita showcases her rise from poverty stricken Los Toldos resident to a radio, film and stage actress before eventually becoming the First Lady of Argentina.

With a boldness, yet fragility, coupled with strength and determination, Madalena Alberto brought Eva to life on stage, effortlessly performing the challenging numbers throughout the evening.

Showing the different sides of Eva, both in her almost saint-like role and her less than perfect personal life, allowed the brilliance of Madalena to shine through. Topping off a wonderful performance all round was the iconic ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ sung from a balcony addressing the Argentinian people, moving many in the audience to tears.

Of course a musical is not just based on one performer, and more than ably backing Madalena was Gian Marco Schiaretti as Che. With his rugged good looks and great physique he had the audience waiting on every word. His impressive vocal range was showcased from Santa Evita to High Flying Adored and everything in between, and with each cheeky wink the audience was putty in his hands.

As Eva’s husband, and President of Argentina, Juan Perón, Jeremy Secomb’s gloriously rich and deep voice was a stark contrast with that of Eva, further emphasising the unconventional relationship.

Culminating in a standing ovation on opening night, Evita is on at Birmingham’s Hippodrome until the 24th March and is one not to miss, even if you may unfortunately be unable to adhere to Eva’s words, “Don’t cry for me….”

A report which will help tackle some of the biggest issues facing communities across the Black Country and Birmingham has been officially launched at the University of Wolverhampton.

Communities Uncovered was commissioned by the Heart of England Community Foundation, an independent charity which distributes funding across the West Midlands, to examine issues affecting the region, including unemployment, health and social welfare.

The Foundation has delivered £2.7 million to 916 community projects across the Black Country and Birmingham since 2014, and the report will help ensure future grants are strategically distributed to meet the most pressing needs across the area.

The report highlights hard-hitting facts including that across Birmingham and the Black Country a total of 4,800 people are recognised as homeless and in priority need, 68 per cent of people are overweight and in the West Midlands there are just 75 jobs for every 100 residents.

The findings were outlined at a launch event which took place at the University in front of an audience of more than 100 invited guests, including representatives from the government and local authorities, voluntary organisations, police and funding bodies.

Research was conducted by the University’s new Institute for Community Research and Development.

Dr Steve Iafrati, Senior Social Policy Lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton, who led the research said:  “This report provides an accessible way to identify areas of need and to begin to recognise the ways in which certain groups may need supporting and that certain cycles may need breaking.

“One of the outcomes of the report is to identify a range of indicators and challenges facing various geographical areas within Birmingham and the Black Country. With this information, it is possible for the Foundation to consider strategies for future funding, including which areas and themes to prioritise.

“I am very proud to have been part of this research which is going to make a difference to the lives of so many people across the area.”

Recommendations include supporting adults in areas with higher than average unemployment to access jobs through training and supporting, extended learning opportunities for young people at risk of falling below average GCSE scores. The need for support for teenage parents is also identified, as well as helping organisations working to tackle obesity, health issues and higher than average levels of homelessness.

Tina Costello, CEO of Heart of England Community Foundation, said: “This report aims to shine a light on those complex social issues which are having the most pronounced effect on local people and communities.

“It contains some worrying data but highlights the most pressing needs of communities across Birmingham and the Black Country.

“With this information we hope to be able to make more informed choices about our grant making priorities to help tackle these needs head on, communicating these to other funders, donors, philanthropists and businesses to harness more support.

“Our partnership with the University of Wolverhampton represents our serious commitment to expand our learning and data and achieve greater outcomes for local communities.”

America’s ambassador to the UK, Robert Wood Johnson, has been named as a key speaker at a major transatlantic business conference taking place in Birmingham in June.

The British American Business Council (BABC) annual conference takes place on 7 June and will attract delegates from all over Britain and North America as businesses in the city, led by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) and supported by Birmingham City University, seek new markets in the post-Brexit era.

A businessman, philanthropist and diplomat, Ambassador Johnson – also known as ‘Woody’ – is a huge coup for the event, which will feature speakers from politics, business, economics and other sectors.

He has been the US ambassador to the UK since last August, when he was nominated by the incoming president, Donald Trump.

Ambassador Johnson has served for more than 30 years as the chairman and CEO of New York-based The Johnson Company, a private asset management firm which was founded in 1978.

‘Woody’ Johnson is also a big American football fan, and for the past 18 years has been the owner of the New York Jets. He also serves as chairman and CEO of the Jets and the New York Jets Foundation.

He is the founding chairman of the Lupus Research Alliance and worked for many years with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The missions of these charities are to cure, treat and prevent Lupus and juvenile diabetes, both of which have affected Ambassador Johnson’s family. Ambassador Johnson has raised millions of dollars on behalf of both organisations fighting these diseases.

In politics, he has served on the President’s Export Council, the President’s Commission on White House Fellows and he is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ambassador Johnson earned a BA from the University of Arizona and currently lives in London with wife Suzanne and their two sons.

Russell Jeans, chief operating officer at GBCC, said: “We are hugely privileged to have the Ambassador attending the conference, This underscores the huge economic importance of our bilateral relationship with the US both now and in the future.”

The BABC conference follows the success of Birmingham’s high-profile presence at last year’s event in Chicago.

The conference is a highly sought after occasion.  The event has previously been held in London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC and Chicago.

The BABC Midlands chapter, a section GBCC, is part of  the largest transatlantic business network, with 22 chapters and 2,000 member companies, including many of the world’s largest multinationals, based in major business centres throughout the North America and the UK.

Australia's first under-the-stars dining experience, the iconic Sounds of Silence, is celebrating an incredible 25 years of operation this year, with a gala celebration being held on 21 March 2018. Upon opening its 'doors' in 1993, guests from all over the world immediately embraced the concept of dining in the middle of the Australian desert with magnificent views of Uluru and nothing but the vast expanse of the night sky above and the experience has wowed guests every night since.

“Sounds of Silence has been a key element to the Uluru experience for hundreds of thousands of guests to Ayers Rock Resort over the last 25 years,” said Ray Stone, Voyages Executive GM Sales, Marketing and Distribution.

With the magic of sunset over Uluru combined with the drama of being surrounded in red dunes and, as night falls, the majesty of the night sky with thousands of stars, many of which are not able to be viewed elsewhere in the world, it is an unforgettable evening.

With such a winning formula, the experience has remained largely unchanged throughout the last 25 years – guests still arrive to the lyrical sound of the Didgeridoo and enjoy sparkling wine and canapes while viewing sunset over Uluru and Kata Tjuta, a star talk during dinner brings the night sky to life and telescopes are available for closer viewing. Australian ingredients have always featured on the menu and in celebration of the anniversary this year a new menu is being launched that will ensure Bush Tucker native Australian ingredients are featured throughout the many dishes on offer.

The tempting menu includes canapés such as Smoked Kangaroo with Native Pepperberry Yoghurt and Poached Prawn, Sea Parsley and Finger Lime Aioli Bun; an entrée of Roasted Tomato and Native Thyme Soup, and mains such as Barramundi, Lemon Myrtle Cream, Caramelised Lemon, Glazed Green and Native Dukkah Crusted Kangaroo, Organic Quinoa, Roasted Capsicum Salsa. A range of salads are on offer, including Braised Crocodile, Shaved Vegetable and Fragrant Herb Salad and Pepperberry Roasted Cauliflower, Pickled Muntries, Spinach and Mint Yoghurt Dressing. Dinner concludes with a sumptuous range of desserts including Desert Lime Cheesecake, Warm Apple and Quandong Crumble Tart and Warm Chocolate and Wattleseed Slice.

Other extensions of the famous Sounds of Silence experience include the Night at Field of Light dining experience which includes a walk-though of the phenomenal Field of Light installation following dinner and the premium Tali Wiru and Mayu Wiru dinners which are limited to just 20 people per night.

“Sounds of Silence has always been a celebration of the true essence of the Australian Outback, which is no doubt why it has been successful for so many years,” said Ray.

Sounds of Silence has long been recognised for its place as an important Australian Tourism experience and featured in Tourism Australia's advertisements across the world from the early 1990s. It was also recognised for its unique offering and was inducted into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame in 1999.

WaterSafe is helping homeowners make sure that a leaky loo isn’t flushing potential savings in water, energy and money down the pan.

WaterSafe, the UK body for approved plumbers, is partnering with Waterwise, the UK leading authority on water efficiency, for Water Saving Week, which runs from 19–23 March.

The national campaign encourages everyone to take action and save water with daily themed packs containing challenges, tips and resources. These can be downloaded at watersafe.org.uk.

As toilets are one of the most common leaks – with around 1 in 10 homes and businesses having a leaky loo – this is the focus of Saving Water in Your Home day.

A toilet leaking clean water from the cistern to the pan can waste up to 400 litres of water a day (that’s five full bath tubs) and add around £300 a year to metered water bills if left unfixed.

To keep toilets feeling flush, people can contact their local water supplier who may be able to provide free toilet leak detection strips.

Alternatively, WaterSafe’s advice is:

• Half an hour after a flush, wipe the back of the pan dry with toilet tissue.
• Then place a new, dry sheet of toilet tissue across the back of the pan.
• Leave it in place for up to three hours without using the toilet, or overnight.
• If the paper is wet or torn in the morning – you have a leaky loo.

If you need help always use a WaterSafe approved plumber – you’ll be safe in the knowledge they are trained to work safely with your drinking water, and can also help homes become more water-efficient.”

Waterwise’s Managing Director, Nicci Russell, added: “In recent months there's been a need to use water wisely in the UK as a result of both dry weather and freezing weather. We need to make the water we do have go further every day, and these simple tips to find and fix leaky loos help us all to ensure there's enough water to go round, for people, the economy and the environment.”

WaterSafe is also highlighting the importance of finding and fixing other common leaks in the home using an approved plumber.

Look out for dripping taps, showers, radiators and pipework. Tell-tale signs are loss of pressure, rust, water stains on walls, floors or carpets, or mould on ceilings and walls.

Not all leaks are easy to spot. Signs that you may have a hidden leak in the home include a higher than normal water bill if you’re on a meter.

For more on how to check for a leak at your property and to find an approved plumber visit watersafe.org.uk/leaks. You can also find information on Twitter @WatersafeUK #LeakyLoos.

Other water-saving themes during Water Saving Week include gardens, schools, workplaces and communities.

Nominations are now open for the second annual Wolverhampton Independent Retail Excellence (WIRE) Awards.

The aim is to celebrate and praise the entrepreneurial spirit, dedication and hard work of those involved in running and managing a successful independent business, as well as recognise the loyalty and dedication of the staff that work in this sector.

There are ten honours up for grabs this year, with nominations called for in nine categories – and all the finalists going through to a public vote for the prestigious ‘The People’s Favourite Independent Retailer’ crown.

The awards, originally commissioned by the Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, Councillor Roger Lawrence, are being led by Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with the council.

Councillor Lawrence said: “Small businesses are the core of any city and it’s those small businesses that give us our distinctiveness.

“The independent retail sector in Wolverhampton is really strong. These businesses are very important to us, they work incredibly hard and contribute a huge amount to the local economy.

“They are what the WIRE Awards are all about and we aim to rightfully recognise them.

“The inaugural awards last year were an outstanding success which has led to this becoming an annual event in the calendar.”

John Henn, Chair of Wolverhampton BID, added: “A city is judged by - amongst other things - its independent businesses. In its second year the WIRE awards will be looking to continue to uncover our city centre’s diverse variety of stores not found anywhere else in the country.

“Run by determined, committed owners and staffed by Wolverhampton’s finest, we want you to tell us about your business.

“Wolverhampton is becoming ‘the place to invest'. Let’s make it the only place by shouting about the great diversity and quality of retailers we have. Please enter the WIRE awards and let us recognise and promote your story.”

Recognised by Revo - formally known as British Retail Council – as an example of best practice, the WIRE Awards 2017 created 12 winning businesses including Rudell the Jewellers, who scooped two awards including the headline ‘Retailer of the Year’ honour and ‘Excellence in Staff Development’, and Batteries Not Included, who won ‘Our Favourite Retailer of the Year’ as voted for by the public.

The finalists from a wide range of businesses included a market trader, seven food and beverage outlets, two hotels, four gifts/crafts/toys retailers, two jewellers, two fashion outlets, five hair and beauty salons, two florists/garden suppliers and one furniture business.

The other categories this year are Independent of the Year, Excellence in Customer Service, Best Dressed Retail Store, Best Presented Premises, Excellence in Team Development, Hospitality & Leisure Business of the Year, Community Contributor of the Year, Employee of the Year and Independent Employer of the Year.

The awards are open to independent retailers from across the city, provided their billing authority for business rates is City of Wolverhampton Council.

In his Spring Statement, Phillip Hammond revealed that 60,000 first time buyers have benefited from the stamp duty exemption announced as part of the Government’s Autumn Budget.

Under the new rules, first time buyers purchasing homes under the value of £300,000 are exempt from paying stamp duty and, those who are purchasing in London and other expensive areas, will not pay tax on the first £300,000 of their purchase on properties up to the value of £500,000.

Figures reported by Halifax in January of this year, echo the Chancellor’s Spring Statement showing a 6% annual increaseon the number of first time buyers making a purchase – meaning the number of first time buyers has reached a ten year high! Back in November, the Government predicted that the change to stamp duty would benefit up to 95% of first time buyers and, if these early stats are anything to go by, it is clear that it has already had a positive impact on the housing market.

Managing Sales Director at Romans, Antony Gibson comments: “The change to stamp duty was great news for first time buyers who are now able to divert these funds to their deposit or, bring their purchase dates forward.

“Low mortgage rates, high employment and Help to Buy have all supported young people in getting on the ladder and so, I expect the trend for rising numbers of first time buyers to continue through 2018 and beyond.

“First time buyers are incredibly important to the overall housing market as they allow existing owners to sell up and take their second step. Despite a lack of supply, the fact first time buyers are increasing in number is extremely positive.”

Children are invited to take part in this year’s Barnardo’s Big Toddle at one of the region’s favourite attractions.

Dudley Zoo will again be hosting the charity’s annual sponsored walk for under-5s.

The event, one of the biggest organised Toddles in the UK, is due to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday June 12 and 13.

Admission is £7.50 for adults and over-5s, but free for toddlers, and will include free refreshments and children’s entertainment afterwards.

A fun warm-up begins at 10.30am followed by the walk itself at 11am, with medals for all participants.

Last year’s nationwide Big Toddle raised more than £265,000 to support the charity’s work with vulnerable youngsters across the UK.

This year, for the second consecutive year, it is being run in partnership with the CBeebies TV show Teletubbies. The theme is ‘nature’, with opportunities to dress up as animals, insects or flowers.

Aside from the organised event at Dudley Zoo, parents, playgroups, childminders and nurseries can also organise their own sponsored walks throughout the summer.

They can also access exclusive nature-themed early years learning resources and downloads.

Barnardo’s regional director Hugh Sherriffe said: “We are sincerely grateful to Dudley Zoo for hosting one of the biggest Toddles in the UK, which attracts hundreds of people every year.

“The Big Toddle is a great opportunity for under-5s to have lots of fun with their friends and families while raising money to help disadvantaged children.

“The nature theme means they can be really imaginative with fancy-dress ideas and Barnardo’s has some great resources to help everyone taking part.”

Dudley Zoo marketing manager Andrea Hales said: “We are delighted to welcome back Barnardo’s Big Toddle to Dudley Zoo as we have a strong relationship with the event spanning 19 years.

“Everyone who takes part will be helping make a difference to children’s lives and have a wonderful day to remember at the zoo!”

Campaigners, entrepreneurs, and innovative industry experts are just a few of the 20 talented young people who have been shortlisted for the 2018 Commonwealth Youth Awards.

The awards recognise outstanding young people aged 15 to 29 whose innovative projects and programmes have had a significant impact on their communities. This year’s focus is on celebrating young people’s contribution towards a fairer, more sustainable, more secure and more prosperous future for the Commonwealth: the four sub-themes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) taking place in London in April.

The 20 finalists span every region of the Commonwealth, including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. They were shortlisted from more than 400 applications from across the globe. The programme is being coordinated by the Commonwealth Youth Programme.

Regional Young Persons of the Year will be selected, with one exceptional entrant being recognised as the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year during the Commonwealth Youth Forum, in London in April.

In addition to a grant of GBP £1,000 to continue their development work, finalists will each be awarded a trophy and certificate. The Regional Young Persons of the Year will receive £3,000, and the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will pick up £5,000.

The Pan-Commonwealth adjudication panel for the final shortlisting of the overall regional and overall winner of the 2018 awards , convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat, , included the High Commissioner for Saint Kitts and Nevis, representatives from the High Commissions of Fiji, Malaysia, and Kenya, a trustee of the British Youth Council and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.

Last year’s Commonwealth Young Person of the Year was Krystle Reid, an advocate for empowerment of young persons living with disabilities in her native country Sri Lanka. Speaking about her experience of winning the award, she said, “It was a highlight of my life and a great opportunity and platform to further scale up the work of the Enable Lanka Foundation for an incubator space for young entrepreneurs with disabilities. This award will allow me to reach out to even more marginalised groups and communities. It is an opportunity no young person should miss.”

The finalists this year have initiatives and projects that aim to build a more secure, prosperous, fairer and a sustainable future for all in the grassroots levels and exemplify the outstanding contribution of young people from across the Commonwealth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and realising the CHOGM2018 aspiration “Towards a Common Future”