Community News

Colors: Blue Color

In the week that Prince William visited Palestine on the first official royal tour, local charity YMCA Sutton Coldfield were busy hosting their own peace programme as part of a cultural youth exchange to the Royal town of Sutton Coldfield with 15 young Palestinians.

The group, aged 18 to 25, arrived from Bethlehem on the 22nd June and for most of them, it was the first time they had ever been to another country. Many of the group had never even left Bethlehem before, making the visit a phenomenal achievement against the challenging backdrop of the ongoing geographic situation in Palestine.

This visit, funded by Erasmus plus and Ecorys UK was the reciprocal youth exchange to last year’s YMCA trip to Palestine in June 2017 aimed at bringing people from the UK and Palestine together and creating “agents of peace” to promote harmony and challenge stereotypes in an informal learning environment.

As well as a visit to Parliament, highlights of the trip included sampling the diverse cuisine of Birmingham including fish and chips, curry, a traditional Sunday home cooked roast and a “cheeky Nando’s” with the curry at Simla in Boldmere being the firm favourite among guests!

With creative workshops and cultural discussions and debates, the trip represented a unique once-in-a-lifetime learning experience for the group from Bethlehem Bible College and was also an opportunity for the YMCA to proudly showcase the diversity in Sutton Coldfield.

The group, along with the British contingent of young people from Sutton Coldfield also performed a song together to the local community at St Peter’s Church, Maney, Sutton Coldfield. The piece, written by the participants in Arabic and English, was designed to promote inclusivity; one of the core values of the YMCA Sutton Coldfield.

Sinead Frith, International Projects Manager, who organised the exchange in partnership with the German YMCA said: “I’m immensely proud of the project and what it’s trying to achieve. Under difficult circumstances, we’ve brought together a group of people from very different backgrounds to challenge cultural stereotypes and promote peace.”

“What is both amazing and exciting is that despite the many cultural differences between the UK and Palestine, there are so many similarities and shared interests amongst the 2 groups of people. In the end, regardless of race, religion or culture, we share the same fundamental values”.

Go Play Sandwell and the Sandwell Families Big Picnic are back once again to celebrate National Play Day and all the family are invited to come along and enjoy a vast variety of entertainment.

Play Day and the Big Picnic, which has previously attracted families from across the area, is being held on the front lawn of Lightwoods House in Lightwoods Park, Adkins Lane, Bearwood, Wednesday 1 August between 11am and 3pm.

The annual event, being hosted by Go Play Sandwell and Sandwell’s Family Information Service, promises bigger and better activities than ever before.

Families are encouraged to come along and bring their picnics. Children can also enjoy the free activities which include den building, circus skills with Steve the Juggler, face painting, sporting activities, the Youth Bus, mobile library and much more.

Councillor Simon Hackett, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for children’s services, said: "This is a brilliant day for all of the family, and on top of that all the activities are free.

"I encourage parents and carers to come with their children and their picnics and enjoy the day."

Figures released by Network Rail and British Transport Police have revealed that nearly 2,000 young people have risked their lives by trespassing on the railway between London and Carlisle in the last four years.

Since 2014 1,957 young people have risked their lives on railway tracks in cities and regions between London Euston and Carlisle via the West Midlands and North West.

Nationally, alarming new figures reveal more than a quarter of teenagers (27%) admitted to behaving in a way that could endanger their life or the lives of others on the railway.

Across Britain one in 10 teenagers admitted to walking along the railway line with more than two fifths of those (42%) confessing to doing it in the last year¹.

In the last 12 months seven young people nationally under the age of 18 have lost their lives and a further 48 people have suffered life changing injuries.

As a result the rail industry and the British Transport Police have launched a new campaign called ‘You Vs Train’ which targets teenagers to make them face the serious and devastating consequences for them and their loved ones when they ignore warnings and trespass on the railway.

At the heart of the You Vs Train campaign is the story of Tom Hubbard – a young boy from Rugby who suffered life-changing injuries in 2014 when he was electrocuted by overhead power cables. Tom suffered third degree burns across 57% of his body and he has been left to deal with the serious physical and psychological consequences ever since.

Talking about what happened, Tom Hubbard said: “I woke up 11 days later in the burns unit at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital wrapped from head to toe in bandages, heavily medicated and unable to string a sentence together. I don’t think I knew what was real and what wasn’t. When the doctors and my mum came to speak to me a few days later, the enormity of what had happened finally hit me. They explained how lucky I was to be alive, but it was going to be a long road to recovery.

“Four years on I’m still affected by the events of that day and every time I look in the mirror I’m reminded by that one decision to go on the railway. The accident has made me more of an introvert and cautious of trying new things, often opting to stay in during the day to avoid people and wear hoodies and long-sleeved tops to hide my scars, even on hot days”

The lack of knowledge about the potential dangers seems to be why children choose the tracks as a good place to take risks³, with only a third (37%) believing that the railway is extremely dangerous.

  • Just under a third (31%) don’t believe that severe burns as a result of electrocution or electrocution by the overhead wires (31%) are risks you might face if you go on the railway tracks
  • 15% think that it’s safe to walk on the railway track if you check a timetable to make sure there are no trains coming
  • Almost a fifth (17%) think that getting a dropped/lost item (e.g. phone or football) from the railway track is relatively safe as long as you leave again straight away
The new data also highlights some worrying seasonal peaks in the number of incidents, with the summer holidays seeing more than double the number of young risk takers, compared to the winter months⁴.

Allan Spence, head of public and passenger safety at Network Rail, explains: “Hundreds of people each year unintentionally take on the railway and lose. This year we have already seen a record number of young people losing their life or being injured on the track.

“The railway is full of both obvious and hidden dangers. The electricity on the railway is always on and always dangerous. Trains can also travel up to 125 miles per hour, so even if a driver can see your child, they can’t stop in time and they can’t change direction. Parents - please help us keep your children safe by educating them about what they take on when they step on the track.”

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Robin Smith said: “We hope that by sharing Tom’s story, young people who might have previously considered trespassing on the railways will think twice.

“We want his story to be heard – the tracks are not a playground. They’re incredibly dangerous and, as Tom’s story shows, can easily result in serious injury or worse.

“We hope the campaign will help young people to understand the risks, and help them to make the right decision and stay away from railway lines. Equally, it will also help them understand that bad decisions don’t just affect them, but they will have a deep and lasting impact on their families and friends as well. This campaign is not just for our young people but also their friends and family.”

The rail industry is also working together to roll out a new schools engagement programme, where community engagement managers from across Network Rail, British Transport Police (BTP) and Train Operating Companies will be out teaching thousands of children about railway safety. BTP officers will also be stepping-up patrols across the country.

A short film reenacting Tom’s story will be launched across social media and shown in cinemas throughout the summer. Tom’s family will also feature in the campaign to show how Tom’s accident has impacted them.

Families can get active together this summer with a brand new affordable family holiday experience launched by YHA (England and Wales) for summer 2018.

The two, four and seven-night camps are being held at YHA's in Edale and Okehampton, located in the Peak District and Dartmoor National Parks respectively. Accommodation in a private family room, all meals, activities and instruction are included in the price; with costs for a two-night camp starting from just £120 for under 18s and £140 for adults.

Activities at the camps include rock climbing, weaselling, orienteering, archery, high ropes courses, team building exercises, caving, canoeing and abseiling, and all are included in the price.

The camps, which are taking place during August, address YHA's recent *research that found that 65% of parents say they play only occasionally with their children

YHA's new Family Camps are designed to get families away from their screens and sun loungers this summer and encourage them to spend quality time together in the UK countryside.

The Youth Hostels holding the Family Camps have been specifically chosen for their health and wellbeing benefits. A recent YHA survey showed that 85% of guests who stayed in the charity's countryside hostels reported an increased in wellbeing and enjoyment.

The leading youth charity anticipates the camps will be welcomed by busy, modern families who feel they don't spend enough time with their children during the average working week and struggle to find time for each other between work, school and chores.

The camps are held during school holidays, making a break during peak holiday season affordable and within reach of many families.

James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales) commented: “As a youth charity, we understand how important it is that families spend time together, so I am delighted that we have been able to create these affordable breaks and give families the chance the reconnect and experience the countryside and all that it has to offer.

“We understand the real benefits of families spending time together and we are committed to accessibility, affordability and inclusivity and our Family Camps encompass all this.”

Itchy skin can be an uncomfortable experience for any of us including our furry friends. This can be heightened during these warmer months. An itchy dog is usually an unhappy dog, so owners are quite often anxious to try and find its cause in order to support their dogs skin and coat. Spotting the causes of an itching dog sounds simple, but can be a bit more complicated.

 

To help with this, Lintbells, manufacturers of premium natural pet supplements has put together some useful tips that could help detect the triggers of itchy skin and keep your dog’s skin and coat in tip top condition.

 

Be cautious after walks

 

With the glorious spells of sunshine and warmer climate now, pollen counts can be high and can cause irritation in both humans and dogs. That’s right – dogs get hay fever too!

 

To properly look after your dog’s skin during pollen season, ensure you are checking their skin and coat, particularly hairy, fluffy or curly haired dogs or those with long floppy ears, after walks. Check for any grass seeds on their coat, between the pads and down their ears, and wipe them down with a damp towel after any time outside.

 

Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to help your dog if their itches are due to environmental factors. Start by avoiding their triggers – where practical – then boost their skin’s natural defences by adding an Omega 3 & 6 supplement like YuMEGA Itchy Dog to their food.

 

Hair loss and moulting

 

Excessive hair loss and moulting are one of the main signs that indicate your dog may be experiencing skin complaints. If you do start to spot this in your pooch, there are a number of things you can do to help. To remove dirt and debris it is important to ensure you are brushing their coat daily, carefully combing or cutting out any matted hair as this will significantly benefit your furry friend’s skin and coat. You could also consider using dog friendly shampoo that is designed to soothe irritated skin.

 

Fleas, ticks and mites

Sometimes, even the cleanest dogs can pick up fleas, if appropriate treatment is not applied regularly - although fleas and ticks may not always be visible, they can jump on and off your dog quite easily. Fleas can result in frequent and severe itching, hair loss and scabs on their skin. If fleas have already entered your home, it may be a good idea to use spot-on treatment and keep track of how often it needs to be reapplied.  When it comes to ear mites or a dust mite problem, it’s always best to seek the advice of a vet for expert help.

 

Flaking out

 

Dry and itchy skin along with dandruff is a very common tell-tale sign that your four-legged friend’s skin needs some serious TLC.

You should consider bathing your dog regularly using dog specific shampoos that are designed to soothe irritated skin.

It’s important to remember that while every dog has got to scratch sometimes - and that’s completely normal - incessantly licking, scratching, biting and chewing to the point of wounding is a symptom of an underlying pathology. If you’re concerned about your itching dog, we’d always recommend a trip to the vet and make sure your pet pooch is happy and healthy always.

West Midlands councils are being urged to do more to help Britain’s bees and other pollinators – such as cutting areas of grass less often in parks and roadside verges to allow wild flowers to grow.
Friends of the Earth and Buglife are urging local authorities to follow in the steps of Worcestershire County Council, which is in the process of developing a pollinator action plan.
Buglife and Friends of the Earth have produced a comprehensive guide for councils setting out policies that would help pollinators in their area. Habitat loss is a major contributor towards pollinator decline, and the guide includes easy, cost-effective measures to protect and restore pollinator-friendly habitats in their local areas.
One policy suggestion is reducing grass-cutting on road verges and areas in parks, and creating areas rich in wild-flowers. Many of the councils contacted say they are already taking action in this area – with some indicating this has also saved thousands of pounds each year.
Dorset County Council saves around £93k a year by only cutting rural road verges when needed, Burnley Borough Council estimates that it saves around £60,000 per annum from cutting back on grass-cutting to help pollinators, and Monmouthshire County Council estimates that the saving made from a reduction in highway verge mowing is approximately £35,000 each year.
Friends of the Earth and Buglife contacted all 27 English county councils. Of the 19 that replied:
•     Two (Devon and Dorset) have pollinator action plans in place
•     Four are in the process of drawing up action plans (Hampshire, Kent, Worcestershire and Somerset).
A number of councils have told Friends of the Earth and Buglife that they have pollinator action plans or are drawing one up (see below), and other local authorities are also taking steps to help pollinators - even though they don’t currently have plans to introduce pollinator action plans.
The introduction of local pollinator action plans is likely to prove popular with the public. A YouGov poll for Friends of the Earth and Buglife, published last year, revealed that nearly two thirds (63%) of the public agreed councils should be doing more to help protect our bees. And over 80 per cent (81%) of the public backed calls for councils to help Britain’s under-threat bees by cutting areas of grass less often in parks and roadside verges to allow wild flowers to grow.
Friends of the West Midlands campaigner Chris Crean said:
“Councils across the West Midlands have an important role to play in protecting our bees and other pollinators.
“It’s fantastic that Worcestershire county council is developing a pollinator action plan, and other local authorities are taking steps to help our under-threat bees - but we need every council to act.
“Measures such as allowing patches of grass to grow longer in parks and on road verges aren’t just good news for pollinators; they can save money for local councils too.
“From boosting precious wildlife habitat to encouraging residents to take action, our handy guide for local authorities sets out the action councils can take to help save Britain’s bees.”
Paul Evans, Buglife Pollinator Advisor, added:
“Although it is great to see more action being taken for pollinators there is so much more that could be done. Local authorities need to be leading the way, both by demonstrating good practice in their parks and verge management and by enthusing and helping their local communities to take action themselves.
“By developing a Local Pollinator Action Plan, local authorities can ensure that the needs of pollinators are considered across all their functions, and that positive action is embedded in their work into the longer-term.”
Dr Annabel King, Senior Ecologist at Dorset County Council said:
“We are very proud to be one of the first local authorities to produce and implement a Pollinator Action Plan.  The Plan is integral to delivering our NERC Act 2006, Biodiversity Duty and is specifically aimed at helping all pollinators, including bees, butterflies and moths, numbers of which have declined severely in the last 50 years.”
“The Plan has enabled us to make significant savings - we save around £93k a year by only cutting rural road verges when needed, allowing wildflowers and grasses to flower and set seed.
“We also never use topsoil when creating new road verges anymore, as subsoil results in wildflower rich grass which is of greater use to pollinators and costs less to manage.  On the Weymouth Relief Road, this method has resulted in management costs of £500 per year, as opposed to an estimated £2700 if the verges had been spread with topsoil.”

A visiting professor at Birmingham City University and former leader of the UK’s biggest council has aired his concerns over the way in which the Brexit bill is calculated by the EU Commission.

Professor John Clancy, the former leader of Birmingham City Council, current councillor for Quinton Ward and visiting professor with the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University, has announced that following his in-depth analysis of the 2017 accounts from the EU Commission, a ‘bomblet’ is contained regarding pension liabilities.

These concerns were aired as part of a podcast with the Centre for Brexit Studies, when Professor Clancy spoke of his belief that the chances of meeting the October deadline were rapidly diminishing.

“The liabilities included in the accounts for the EU’s civil service Pension Fund have just hit €73 billion”, said Professor Clancy.

“The problem is that the UK, on leaving next March, has to commit to pay - one way or another - its share of that huge figure and it is one the biggest items on the Brexit bill.

“The UK needs now to ask some tough questions of the EU Commission about their figures – questions which, to be frank, the Treasury and our negotiators should have been asking a long time ago.

He went on to say: “It’s gone up €10 billion since 2015 and over €6 billion just since the last accounts.

“Surely this isn’t the EU Commission or its negotiators pulling a fast one?”

“I’m not being anti-EU here, as the methods they use are not untypical of those who calculate pension liabilities within the UK, for example, local authorities or in higher education, but we need to get to grips with this artificial problem, and soon.

“Due to wider ECB policy, the real discount rate they’ve unjustifiably used for the 2017 accounts has suddenly and rapidly inflated the pension liability figure – it might work for an accounting exercise, but it’s not a tenable figure for our negotiations.”

Professor Alex de Ruyter, Director of the Centre for Brexit Studies, added: “These are very challenging findings – but I think they could be hugely significant in terms of negotiations with the EU – and indeed for the other 27 EU countries in terms of their own financial contributions.”

A police officer who runs an initiative to keep youngsters away from crime is to receive an honorary degree from Birmingham City University next week.
 
PC Rob Pedley MBE has served with West Midlands Police for over 23 years and diverts young people away from violent crime through the ‘Precious Lives’ project, which has reached more than 200,000 teenagers across the region.
 
Rob set up the initiative in 2010 after being paralysed during a snowboarding trip and upon realising how precious life is.
 
“My day-to-day work puts me in schools across the West Midlands highlighting the real life consequences of the choices people make, particularly around knife crime”, said Rob, who hails from Solihull.
 
"I feel very fortunate to be able to work with our young people. I believe that they play a significant part in the future of our communities in the West Midlands and working together can help us to reduce crime in future generations.”
 
With a focus on knife, gun and gang crime, Rob’s motivational presentations led to him being awarded an MBE in Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday Honours in 2016 for services to the West Midlands community.
 
“It came as quite a surprise when I discovered that I was to receive an honorary degree from Birmingham City University and I feel really honoured to have been recognised in this way”, added Rob.
 
Rob will receive his award on the afternoon of Friday 27 July alongside students graduating from Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences.
 
In the same ceremony, Eileen Schofield will be named as one of the University’s Alumni of the Year, in recognition of her successful career in the legal sector.
 
 

Beat the Burglar sessions are being rolled out across Sandwell to help residents protect their homes and property.

A two-year project will see events in each of Sandwell’s 24 wards, launching with sessions in Friar Park on Saturday 21 July.

Volunteers from Sandwell Crime Prevention Panel, council teams and police will be running the sessions.

As well as giving advice, they will be handing out personal attack alarms, shed alarms, property marking packs, spike strips for the top of fences and gates, purse bells and fraud prevention sleeves for bank cards.

The Beat the Burglar sessions in Friar Park will run on Saturday 21 July as follows:

  • 10am - Corner of Solway Close/Berkshire Crescent
  • 11am - Carrington Road shopping area
  • 12noon - Corner of Richard Williams Road/Moor Street
Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for public health and protection, said: "These sessions will be a great opportunity for residents to get advice and free security products to help prevent them becoming victims of burglary.

"The council is very pleased to be able to support this initiative, working with volunteers from Sandwell Crime Prevention Panel and the police, to help our residents protect their homes and property."

We’ll let other neighbourhoods know when we’re in their area. Look out for leaflets about the sessions.

A football-mad teenager spoke inspiringly about how he refused to let his disability stop him from pursuing his dream at a conference for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

When Jude Aston realised that having cerebral palsy would prevent him from fulfilling his ambition to become a professional footballer, he decided he would do the next best thing – by becoming a journalist and cover the sport he loves.

And when his school – Highfields in Penn – launched its own TV channel last year, Jude's journey began.

The 13-year-old said: "I have cerebral palsy which reduces the use of my right side, but that will never stop me trying to achieve what I want, whether that’s in sport, education or life in general as I see myself as no different to anybody else.

“I’m football mad and my dream is to become a sports journalist. I became Highfields TV’s video editor and sports reporter, and I now film and report on school football matches and other sporting events.

"I stay after school to put the episodes together which takes a lot of hard work and dedication but I’m okay with that as I know it will pay off in the long run."

Since working for Highfields TV, Jude has been invited to watch the England cerebral palsy team train at St George's Park, visited the Sky Sports studios and sat in on a press conference with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Jude, an Aston Villa fan, has also interviewed club manager Steve Bruce and his hero Jack Grealish, and has been video blogging on England’s World Cup exploits on YouTube at https://bit.ly/2L1RrUY.

He said: "The main reason I have achieved all of this is because I have believed in myself – if you have the confidence and believe in yourself, you are going to succeed. I have still got a very long way to go with my journey but the main thing is to get as much experience as possible as the media world is a very tough industry to get into and requires a lot of hard work."

Jude's success hasn't been confined to his media ambitions, however – he has also started going for trials with the England cerebral palsy team at West Bromwich Albion. He said: "I always knew that with hard work and determination there would be ways round things for me. Nothing will ever stop me; I want to prove that there are no barriers and I’m equal to everyone else."

Jude told his story at a recent conference at Molineux Stadium organised by the Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS), which supports children and young people with SEND and their parents and carers, and the parent carer group Voice4Parents.

His family have worked with the IASS for a number of years and manager Lucy Harris said: "Jude's story is incredibly inspiring and shows that, no matter what obstacles we may face, we can still aim high and achieve our dreams."

Councillor Lynne Moran, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "Jude has shown so much self-belief and, with the support of his family, friends and his school, has found another way to fulfil his ambitions. I wish him every success for the future."

Wolverhampton Information, Advice and Support Service provides impartial, confidential information, advice and support about education, health and social care for children, young people and their parents on matters relating to Special Educational Needs and disabilities. It also promotes independence and self-advocacy.

Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice is inviting people and businesses to join its Glitter Ball which raises funds to support local families.

The event, which includes a drinks reception, fabulous three course meal and live entertainment, takes place on Friday 7 September – and there are still places available.

There will also be the chance to win fantastic prizes including hotel and spa stays and theatre tickets at an auction and raffle.

The Glitter Ball builds on the success of last year’s Masquerade Ball which saw hundreds of people enjoying an evening out while fundraising to help the hospice.

John Taylor Hospice Director of Income Generation and Marketing Joanna Duggan said the ball is one of the highlights of the hospice events calendar.

“Our Glitter Ball is a chance for people to dress up and enjoy great food, live music and dance and be in with the chance to win lots of great prizes,” she said.

“It’s a great opportunity for companies to reward business contacts, corporate partners and members of their teams by inviting them to a glamorous night out. It’s a chance to network with other professionals from the region and it’s a fun night out for groups of friends and families.

“Plus everyone who attends is also supporting our work providing essential and specialist care for people as they approach the end of their lives.”

The John Taylor Hospice Glitter Ball takes place at Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport on Friday 7 September with the drinks reception beginning at 6.45pm. Individual tickets cost £50 or tables of ten are £500.

A HORSE called Southgate, dogs called Kane, and Vardy the cat are among a flood of World Cup-themed names for new pets as England fans pay tribute to their new heroes.

 

A pet insurer says it has seen "a sharp increase" in the sporting monikers since the start of the tournament – but giving our animals football names is nothing new.

 

Pet and horse specialists The Insurance Emporium have revealed the most popular cat, dog and horse names from the England squad, as well as the most imaginative nomenclature of British football-loving pet owners.

 

Real names people have called their four-legged friends include Dogba, Kenny Dogleish and Paulo Di Catteo, as well as dozens of pooches dubbed Zola, Beckham, and Messi, horses named Zlatan, Ronaldo and Gazza and cats called Fifa, Vuvuzela and even Football itself.

 

The most common pet name shared with the 2018 England World Cup squad was Rose, according to the insurer’s records, while Alli was more popular among cats and Kane was a favourite with dog owners. Rashford, Cahill, Vardy and Pope all featured among dogs and cats, with horses called Walker, Henderson and Sterling.

 

And new enquiries recorded by The Insurance Emporium since the first World Cup match on 14 June – including Mo Salah, Pogba and Moscow - could hint at a new popularity in certain baby names. According to a survey by the Channel Mum website, Gareth is expected to make a comeback among 2018 boys, with Jordan and Harry also tipped to boom.

 

The Insurance Emporium Chief Executive Officer Francis Martin said: “Our customers never cease to amaze us with their ingenuity. Just when we think we’ve seen every witty pet name we get a Macatma Gandhi or a Stitchbob Catpants.

 

“Even more so than baby names, pet names are a barometer for what’s topical because people have more freedom to use their imagination when naming their pets.

 

“Big events like the World Cup, the royal wedding and even political developments are all seen through our pet names data. We’ve certainly seen a big rise in Borises.”

 

Employee Dan Clark is one of those to name his cat after a football hero. The Leicester City fan named white moggy Esteban Catbiasso after Argentinian midfielder Esteban Cambiasso who helped keep his club in the Premier League.

 

Dan said: “Esteban is a great cat, with a classic feline attitude of aloof but loving, acting like he doesn’t care about me one minute then hassling me for cuddles the next.

 

“It suited us both to name him after one of the greats who helped my home club in its historic rise to the top of English football.”

 

The Insurance Emporium said the UK’s overall top pet names according to its own data from 2017 and 2018 are Alfie for dogs and Charlie for both cats and horses.

The Summer Reading Challenge is back at Sandwell libraries – and this year children can hunt for buried treasure and become ultimate mischief makers!

The annual challenge encourages children aged four to 11 to read six library books during the long school summer holiday.

The theme this year is Mischief Makers and the scheme will run in all 19 local libraries.

There will be a special event to launch the challenge at Tipton Library this Saturday (14 July) as part of a Black Country Day fun day from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Celebrate in style with costumed characters Horrid Henry and Minion Kevin, music, poetry, children’s crafts, face painting and much more. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.

This year’s reading challenge is inspired by the much-loved children's title Beano, which celebrates its 80th anniversary.

Children will explore a map of Beanotown to find the mysterious buried treasure and become ultimate mischief makers! Dennis, Gnasher and friends will help them solve clues and collect stickers, having lots of fun and adventures along the way.

Councillor Simon Hackett, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "Reading is important all year round, not just during school term time.

“Children who read for pleasure have higher literacy levels and achieve better results at school, so our libraries are great places for children to come along, choose some great books and really learn to love reading.

“The Summer Reading Challenge helps make sure children's reading doesn't dip during the holidays and I would encourage all families to pop along to their local library and get involved.”

The annual Summer Reading Challenge helps get three quarters of a million UK children into libraries each year to keep up their reading skills and confidence. Libraries also offer volunteering opportunities to young people aged 13-24 to inspire others to read and organise activities.

The number of smokers in Wolverhampton is continuing to fall, latest figures show.

The percentage of adults who smoke in the city dropped from 16.5% in 2015 to 14.4% in 2017, according to data from Public Health England, amounting to almost 5,000 fewer smokers.

Smoking rates in Wolverhampton are now also lower than the national average – which now stands at 14.9%.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Reducing smoking rates across the city remains a top public health priority for us and this is a great step in the right direction.

“Despite this, smoking remains the largest preventable cause of death in Wolverhampton and is responsible for nearly 1,800 hospital admissions a year.

“We want to drive down smoking rates still further, and so are working towards making Wolverhampton a smoke-free city.

“Smokers tell us they want us to make it harder for them to smoke in the first place. Promoting smoke-free areas, such as parks, will not only protect people from the effects of passive smoking and prevent smokers from lighting up in the first place, but also reduce the visibility of smoking across Wolverhampton.”

Effective enforcement has seen the council’s regulatory services continue to tackle illicit tobacco while maintaining a high duty prices for tobacco products nationally is making them less affordable – a 20-a-day smoker will typically spend around £3,600 a year on cigarettes, or just under £10 a day.

The introduction of e-cigarettes, a less harmful source of nicotine and the most widely used stop smoking aid, is also helping people to quit.

Meanwhile, the council is working with children and young people to prevent them from smoking in the first place, for instance running programmes in local schools educating pupils about the dangers of smoking, and erecting signage promoting the importance of smokefree environment around schools.

Councillor Malcolm added: “While we of course want to stop people smoking in the first place, there is support available to anyone who wants to quit, and I would encourage people to take advantage of this.”

The stars will gather on Saturday, July 21 to officially open Wolverhampton’s new city centre market.

The launch event will take place between 10.30am and 2.30pm at the purpose-built location off Cleveland Street.

5 out of 5 AA Rosette and multi-Michelin Star award-winning chef, Jean Christophe Novelli, will be joined by City of Wolverhampton’s very-own Britain’s Got Talent finalist Donchez Dacres to showcase the new venue.

The Signal 107 roadshow will also provide entertainment with Drivetime presenter Steve Mason on stage, as well as Wolverhampton singer, Rachel White, who entertained the crowds at May’s Wolves Promotion Party in the Park.

Jean Christophe will be using his skills to make use of produce from the new market with two 40-minute live cooking demonstrations and will take part in a Q&A session.

Market-goers can meet the star chef and grab one of three recipe cards. There is also the chance to win a signed Novelli Academy apron and ‘Simply Novelli’ cook book.

Donchez shot to fame earlier this year – finishing third on the back of his catchy tune, Wiggle Wine – he will be performing on the day and signing autographs.

Guests of honour at the launch also include the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Phil Page, and National Association of British Market Authorities President, Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs.

The new market will first open for business on Tuesday, July 17.

Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “We hope the launch event will encourage even more visitors to see what is on offer at the new market.

“The current city centre market traders have been accommodated and we expect occupancy at the new market to be close to 100 per cent once it is open.

“The addition of new traders will provide a more varied range of sales lines to differentiate it from a traditional market offer.”

The market is relocating from its current Market Square base and will boast 20 cabins and 48 stalls.

It will offer the flexibility to trade from bigger cabins, event space, a secure site with measures in place to combat hostile vehicles while still allowing access for traders to load and unload, CCTV, integrated lighting and power, free WiFi, canopy-covered walkways, offices, customer toilets, and comprehensive parking and storage facilities.

The new market will also provide increased footfall from the Wulfrun Centre and transport Interchange, as well as situating the market in a student catchment area.

Cllr Evans added: “The new market, partly funded by the sale of Market Square as part of the Westside scheme, has loads of potential – and we want this to be the people’s market, where events are also encouraged.

“It will provide vitality and important footfall to this area of the city and is another example of the regeneration of Wolverhampton.”

The market move will see 48 tented stalls and 16 purpose-built cabins transferred from Market Square.

The Market Square location is to be absorbed into the new £55 million leisure-led Westside development by developer Urban&Civic.

This will deliver a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, bars, hotel, multi-storey car park, apartments, and public realm to the heart of the city centre, in two phases, over five years.

The city centre market is one of three markets in Wolverhampton, with Bilston and Wednesfield markets also popular places to shop.

The Fieldhouse, Solihull welcomed some very exciting guests last Sunday 8th July to celebrate the final of the Ember Inns National Quiz League.  Leading the pack of guests was one of the UK’s most famous quiz players, Mark Labbett, a.k.a The Beast from ITV’s The Chase.

Teams from the pub who were the overall winners in the nationwide competition had the chance to challenge a team of expert quizzers, including Shaun Wallace and Jenny Ryan, led by Mark at the National Final.

Every Sunday, since 15th April,  teams up and down the country have been taking part in quizzes, testing their knowledge in categories as broad as sports, music, history and general knowledge in a fiercely fought National Quiz League.

Mark Labbett commented: “It’s great to be involved and meet the top teams in this year’s Ember Inns National Quiz League.  Pub quizzes are still as popular as ever and I remember how much I enjoyed playing on pub quiz teams in the past.  I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge with the Ember Inns teams, but I’m confident of victory.”

Fiona Richardson, Ember Marketing Manager said “We are so excited to be hosting this event and to have Mark and his team of expert quizzers to put our top teams through our paces. Our Sunday night quizzes are hugely popular, with 121 pubs up and down the country entering this year, so this will be a great way to celebrate the end of this year’s National Quiz League.”

For all those participating in a quiz night, Mark has put together some expert tips:

  1. Think of an exciting quiz team name in advance – this will impress your team members, the judges and make other teams sit up and take note
  2. Don’t offer to write the answers, unless you have really good handwriting – nothing annoys judges more than answers they can’t read
  3. Get there early to choose a good seat, not too far away from the quiz master
  4. Make sure you watch the news the day of the quiz, there are always questions related to topical news stories
  5. When answering questions, go with your first instinct, it’s generally right
  6. If no one else on the team knows the answer, but you have a guess, write the guess down, as you never know
  7. Don’t talk over the quiz master – not only will it annoy other teams, but your own team as well
  8. As you progress through the quiz, work out who is your strongest team member so that if you go to a tie-break, you have given yourselves the best chance of winning
  9. No matter how excited you might be to actually know an answer, don’t give the game away by shouting it out – practice in advance how to whisper clearly
  10. Leave your phone out of sight and out of mind

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