Community News

Vet charity PDSA is urging pet owners to take action now to prevent millions of pets suffering from extreme distress and trauma triggered by fireworks.

Research by PDSA has revealed that the owners of a staggering eight million dogs and cats* report that their pets are afraid of fireworks with more than a thousand pets** being seen at its pet hospitals in the last 12 months for fireworks-related issues such as phobias and injuries.

PDSA Senior Vet, Sean Wensley, explained: “The PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report found that around 40% of UK owners of cats and dogs report that their pet is afraid of fireworks, and anyone who has seen their pet go through this misery knows how serious their anxiety and fear of firework sounds can be. Many shake and tremble, are unable to settle, toilet in the house, destroy furniture, and can even cause themselves physical injury if they panic, try to escape or run away.”

To help pet owners reduce their pets’ fears, the charity is urging people to take action early. Thanks to funding from the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, PDSA’s expert vets have produced a step-by-step Fireworks Ready guide for owners to help them prepare their pets. Go to pdsa.org.uk/fireworksready

Sean continued: “For young pets, careful management of their first experience of fireworks can prevent these fears from developing in the first place. For older pets who are already suffering, reward-based behaviour techniques can be very effective. Both of these approaches take time and patience, so it’s important to start early; in puppy or kittenhood for young pets, and well before fireworks season for older ones.”

PDSA’s Fireworks Ready action plan takes owners through the process of preparing pets for fireworks season, use of pheromones and sound CDs, how to build a noise-reducing fireworks den for pets, plus a checklist for the day itself.

PDSA hopes to help pets like Zakk, who ended up with severe but unexplained injuries to his legs and paws after he was spooked by fireworks. His owner had let him out into their garden when a neighbour suddenly set off fireworks – Zakk panicked and jumped over the gate. He was eventually found the next day covered in blood caused by nasty cuts to his paws. He was taken to a PDSA Pet Hospital where his wounds were treated, but it took a month for them to heal.

Sean commented: “We don’t know exactly what caused Zakk’s injuries – he could have been hit by a car, or cut himself on something as he panicked. But his story highlights how important it is to be aware of the significance of firework phobia for pets and to know that help is available from your local veterinary practice.”

PDSA’s advice on preparing pets for fireworks

• If you own a young puppy or kitten who will be having their first experience of fireworks, read up on the process of socialisation. This is when young pets are gradually introduced to various people, objects, sounds and experiences during their first few months, which can significantly reduce the likelihood of fears developing in later life.
• If you have an older pet who already shows signs of fireworks phobia, using a CD for noise-phobic pets to gradually get them used to the sounds of fireworks may help. Build up the volume and duration very gradually over a period of weeks, and ensure you remain calm and relaxed whenever you play the sounds, so your pet learns there is nothing to be afraid of.
• Build a ‘fireworks den’ for your pet, somewhere they feel safe. For dogs, this may be behind the sofa or under a table - cover it with blankets and line it with pillows or cushions to absorb some of the noise. Cats often feel safest when high up, so a safely secured, covered cat bed on top of a wardrobe or shelf may be their preferred option. Build it a few weeks ahead of fireworks season, and give your pet healthy treats or praise when they use it so they build a positive association, but don’t force them to use it.
• Ensure that cats and dogs are microchipped (this is a legal requirement for dogs anyway), so that if they run off in panic, they can be quickly reunited with their owner when found
• Use pheromones – these are available as diffusers, which release scents which are undetectable to humans, but have a calming, reassuring effect on our pets. They are available for dogs and cats, and should be used for several weeks leading up to fireworks season.
• For severe phobias, we recommend speaking to your vet, who will be able to discuss various options including referral to an accredited behaviourist.

Discover the finest view in England aglow once more from 24 November 2017 – 1 January 2018. For the second year running Blenheim Palace's 2000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscape and Formal Gardens will be transformed into an illuminated wonderland.

Zoe Bottrell, Director Culture Creative says: “I'm excited to return to Blenheim Palace and begin to transform the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape. Having experienced the creative challenge of lighting the Parkland for the first time in 2016 I am excited to push the boundaries further with bigger and bolder installations, music and illuminations.”

The magical trail will wind through the landscape, highlighting Blenheim Palace's rich history, all with the magic and wonder of the festive season. New and returning visitors can expect to see the trail take a different path, allowing them to discover and interact with the festive scenes and seasonal experiences in a new way.

The trail once more winds along the Great Lake, which will have four different scenes of floating brilliance including 300 illuminating boats crossing from side to side.

The iconic lake will also feature a giant Ducal crown, based on the Duke of Marlborough's own formal crown. The magnificently lit crown will tower above the audience with a 20m fountain erupting from its centre.

Once more the rushing Cascades will be transformed into a festive wonder, this time the giant waterfall will be covered in flames!

Enchanting for all, the creative take on Santa's toy workshop will see the Palace's lakeside Boathouse become a hive of activity. A small pause along the path with allow visitors to hear the sounds of elves busying away making toys for Santa to deliver on his sleigh on Christmas Eve.

Taking into account the vast amount of infrastructure as well as getting hundreds of visitors into gardens whilst keeping them pristine in the midst of winter, adds to the zeal of making this a must-visit festive activity.

The trail has been specially designed for visitors of all ages to enjoy. The Great Outdoors made magical.

Researchers, curators, art historians, critics and artists from across the world will be converging in Birmingham (UK) this week as part of a major international conference focusing on Chinese art that has been made and showcased outside the confines of the traditional museum or gallery.

Taking place between Thursday 12 and Friday 13 October in the School of Art at Birmingham City University, the symposium has been organised by the institution’s Centre for Chinese Visual Arts (CCVA), marking the cluster’s 10th annual conference and under the topic ‘Chinese Art outside the Art Space’.

Professor Jiang Jiehong, Director, Centre for Chinese Visual Arts, Birmingham City University, said:

“After holding CCVA symposia elsewhere in China and the UK, we are delighted to be hosting our landmark 10th annual conference back here at Birmingham City University, where the centre was formed and continues to flourish.

“Using our unique position in the UK, the CCVA continues to question the existing histories of Chinese contemporary arts, design media and visual culture, while fostering new ways of thinking transculturally in relation to today’s global-Chinese situation. This year’s conference topic of Chinese art outside the art space has attracted some of the field’s greatest thinkers, and so we expect two days of lively debate and discussion.”

Historically, in China, ‘art outside the art space’ can be understood as both a cultural and a political proposition. From a cultural point of view, the notion of public ‘exhibition’ is entirely Western, whilst in the Chinese tradition of literati art for example, artworks were made, shared, and appreciated within the form of scholarly ‘elegant gathering’ (yaji), which was essentially a kind of private (rather than public) event within secluded (rather than institutional) spaces.

From a political perspective, the ‘outside-ness’ immediately relates to the ‘unofficial’ status of contemporary Chinese art from its early development. For example, the first Star Group exhibition in September 1979 – generally acknowledged as the very first show that marked the beginning of contemporary art in China – was staged in a small public park just next to the China National Art Museum, outside the legitimated and official art space.

Hiu Man Chan, Research Assistant, Centre for Chinese Visual Arts, said that the situation of Chinese art taking place outside the museum and gallery spaces continues, but with a completely different momentum and agenda:

“From shopping malls to office blocks, and Lujiazui in Shanghai to Beijing’s 798 Art Zone, contemporary works have been produced site-specifically for spaces other than art institutions in China for nearly 40 years. These artworks have ‘happened’ in the public sphere and become political or social ‘events’, or even artistic ‘incidents’, as a special form of ‘exhibition’.

“However, more recently, creative curatorial and artistic strategies have been systematically developed to respond to the constraints of art institutions, censorships and, at the same time, to push the boundaries of art.”

Focusing on art made, displayed, performed or executed outside the conventional venues of art museums and galleries, this conference not only offers a unique perspective to understand Chinese art in the contemporary context, but also, more importantly, it aims to critically reflect upon the understandings between art and art exhibition, between artistic productions and audience perceptions, and between art and our daily life.

The conference will also hear from three international keynote speakers, including Karen Smith, a British curator who has been working in China for many years, and is now Lead Curator at OCAT Xi’an, China. Elsewhere, Pauline J. Yao, Lead Curator for Visual Art at M+, Museum for Visual Culture in Hong Kong will give her thoughts on Chinese ‘art outside the art space’, as well as Scott Lash, Professor of Sociology and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London.

The City Learning Trust is consulting on its proposal to open a new specialist music school in Sandwell, West Midlands, in association with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, with ambitions to establish a global centre of excellence for music education.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is one of the world’s great orchestras, renowned internationally for its distinctive combination of artistic excellence and deep engagement with the local community.  The orchestra performs at the most prestigious international concert halls, as well as in its home venue – Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

Reflecting its ambition to offer access to world-class musical opportunities for everyone, the CBSO is working with Sandwell Council and the City Learning Trust – one of the most successful multi-academy trusts in the country – to submit a free school application as part of the next wave of applications to the Department for Education (DfE).

Subject to approval from the DfE, the new school would open in Sandwell in September 2020, coinciding with celebrations marking the CBSO’s centenary.  It would cater for students aged 7 to 19, from primary through to secondary and sixth form. In addition to the normal academic curriculum, the school would specialise in classical, instrumental and choral music.  Every child would have the opportunity to learn at least one musical instrument, and students would also benefit from regular projects with CBSO musicians. The school’s most talented young instrumentalists and singers would have access to opportunities through the CBSO’s extensive talent development programme, which includes youth and training orchestras and two youth choruses.

Stephen Maddock OBE, Chief Executive of the CBSO said: “The CBSO is committed to supporting and developing the musical abilities and interests of children and young people from early years groups to university students. We currently do this through an extensive – and internationally admired – programme of opportunities ranging from workshops by individual musicians in schools, through pathways to support and develop outstanding talent, to orchestral concerts for young audiences at Symphony Hall.  Our partnership with the City Learning Trust is a logical extension of this programme, and the proposed new school would give us the opportunity to further use our musical expertise to support young people’s achievement and aspiration.”

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, the CBSO’s acclaimed Music Director added “This school would give young people in Sandwell the chance to be inspired by our musicians throughout their education. I am thrilled that the CBSO is involved with the project”.

Carl Ward, Chief Executive, City Learning Trust, said: “Evidence suggests that regular access to high-quality musical opportunities can have a positive impact on attainment across all areas of the curriculum. Our hope is that, as well as helping young people achieve improved academic results, the proposed music school would also inspire the music teachers and music professionals of the future.

“The CBSO is one of the most vibrant cultural organisations in the UK. We are delighted and proud to be working together on this exciting initiative.”

Councillor Steve Eling, Leader of Sandwell Council commented: "I'm thrilled the CBSO is looking to come to Sandwell. We have so many talented young musicians here who will really benefit from being educated at a school partnered with such a renowned orchestra. If the application is approved we will work with City Learning Trust and the CBSO to find a suitable site for the new free school."

Carl added: “This new school would be well-supported by our established network of local, national and international business partners; we would encourage any businesses and organisations to get in touch if they are interested in supporting our education vision by nominating governors, giving students an insight into businesses and/or providing mentoring and coaching opportunities.”

The CBSO is the second orchestra with which the City Learning Trust has collaborated. Plans for the Hallé Music Free School, which will be based in Stoke-on-Trent, were announced earlier in the year and that school is also due to open in 2020.

Organisations from across the paper cup supply chain have signed an agreement with the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE UK) to accelerate UK recycling of PE lined paper cups. The cross-industry collaboration will work towards delivering a long-term, nationwide paper cup recycling solution which complements and builds on the recycling activities achieved so far by the paper cup industry.

The companies signed up to the agreement are: Benders Paper Cups, Bunzl Catering Supplies, Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, Dart Products Europe, Greggs, Huhtamaki, International Paper, McDonald's UK, Nestlé, Pret A Manger, Seda Group, Starbucks, and Stora Enso.

Using ACE UK's extensive recycling expertise, gained running the beverage carton industry's recycling programme, the fourteen companies will fund an activity programme which will give many more people access to recycling for paper cups. The programme includes:

From 1st January 2018 all ACE UK bring banks will accept paper cups for recycling, delivering an additional 382 recycling points located in 97 local authorities across the UK. With a further 33 recycling points across an additional eight local authorities scheduled during the next phase.

Cups from these recycling points will be processed at ACE UK's recycling facility in Halifax.

Drawing on its experience and existing relationships with local authorities, waste management organisations and recycling bodies, ACE UK will work to include cups in local authority kerbside collections. Currently 66% of local authorities collect beverage cartons at kerbside, in addition to those which collect through bring banks, and it is hoped to achieve similar levels of coverage for cups.

ACE UK has been successfully running the beverage carton industry's recycling programme for the last ten years driving significant increases in carton recycling as part of its role as the UK beverage carton industry trade body. During this time it has worked closely with local authorities and waste management companies so that today 92% of local authorities collect beverage cartons for recycling through either bring banks or kerbside collection.

Commenting on the agreement Richard Hands, CEO of ACE UK said: “The paper cup industry is facing very similar recycling challenges to the ones the beverage carton industry faced when we started our programme ten years ago. Whilst our primary focus will remain on increasing beverage carton recycling, we believe our expertise, experience and existing relationships can help the paper cup industry create a step change in cup recycling. Whilst it is early days, we have a clear measured plan agreed and expect to see significant progress in cup recycling over the next two years and beyond.”

The agreement builds on activities implemented and supported during the last year by the companies involved, such as in-store cup recycling, single site and pilot recycling projects including 'One More Shot' and the 'Square Mile Challenge'.

Neil Whittall Global Category Director of Speciality Coffee at Huhtamaki UK, and chair of the Paper Cup Recycling and Recovery Group (PCRRG) said: “Whilst paper cups are fully recyclable, the industry recognises that many are not being recycled because of a lack of collection facilities. Companies across the industry have been working to address this barrier and increase cup recycling.

“This agreement with ACE UK represents a significant advance in UK recycling infrastructure for paper cups. It will also help us accelerate progress towards the PCRRG's objective of ensuring the majority of the UK population have access to information, schemes and facilities to allow them to recycle their paper cup, as set out in our Paper Cup Manifesto.”

“Furthermore by generating greater volumes of cups for recycling this will create a market for the material, making cups more attractive to waste management companies and creating the potential for more schemes to be introduced to collect cups from a much wider range of locations such as offices and high street locations.”

Mike Turner MD, International Paper Foodservice Europe and chair of European packaging trade body Pack2Go added: “This collaborative agreement, funded entirely by the signatories, is a clear demonstration of the commitment of these organisations, from across the paper cup supply chain, to address the barriers to recycling and deliver practical solutions to maximise recycling of paper cups.”

Dominic Paul, MD of Costa Coffee, said:

Costa is proud to be a part of today's ACE UK announcement, which will give our customers more access to recycling points for their takeaway cups.

Using ACE UK's extensive recycling expertise, which currently allows 92% of local authorities to recover beverage cartons for recycling, the partnership will launch in January 2018.

This ground-breaking agreement will help to further accelerate takeaway cup recycling and compliment the nationwide, in-store recycling scheme we already operate across over 2,200 Costa stores. Since the launch of our in-store recycling in February we have already recovered and are in the process of recycling over 9 million takeaway cups, which includes any competitor cups. We also continue to drive the use of reusable cups and have launched two new multi-purpose cups, offering a 25p discount for customers using any branded reusable cup in store.

Post Brexit the Midlands needs to wake up to the significant Trade and Business opportunities which Commonwealth nations offer" So says Keith Stokes-Smith, Chairman of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association."A large number of Commonwealth countries outperform European nations in certified world rankings and at a time when Continental Europe is in relative long term economic decline.The Commonwealth should not be seen as a replacement to EU trade. It does however have great potential and working together we can maximise the fulfillment of that potential to the Midlands benefit."

The Birmingham Commonwealth Association are holding a Commonwealth Trade and Business half day Conference on 29th November featuring a number of opportunities in India, Malta and Jamaica.It is hoped to follow this up with missions to these three countries in 2018.

Deal Making in target Commonwealth Countries

An interactive session with representatives of India, Malta and Jamaica

29 November- Birmingham City Centre

The Conference will be of particular interest to those in the Healthcare ( to include medical devices/training of nurses etc), Creative/Digital entertainment and  Electric Motor Vehicle sectors and  who are interested in India and Jamaica as a target market, and to those in the Aviation Support sector (maintenance/management/registration of aircraft/call centres/IT) or ICT or Higher Education sectors in the case of Malta. It must also be noted that post Brexit, as well as being a Commonwealth Country, Malta will remain an EU nation thus a potential gateway to both the EU and Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth presents enormous opportunities particularly given our shared values, legal structures and cultural similarities and post Brexit, with 1 billion potential consumers out there, we in the Midlands need to take advantage of these opportunities.

We are pleased that Sir John Peace, Chairman of the Midlands Engine and representatives of local government the East and West Midlands  will be  speaking.

Light refreshments and lunch are included in the ticket price

Further details can be found on our website:   https://www.birminghamcommonwealthassociation.com

and by going to the Evenbrite link:

        https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-west-midlands-fostering-commonwealth-trade-new-business-development-tickets-38283625354?aff=es2

Tabor House, Birmingham’s only permanent night shelter, held an official launch on 10 October to coincide with World Homeless Day.

Small groups of invited guests were given tours of the new facility by some of the staff and volunteers. Mairead Shaw, one of Tabor House’s co-ordinators, showed Andy Street around the communal living area and explained how Tabor House will work.

Speaking at the event, the Mayor said, “The wonderful thing about Tabor House is not only does it give accommodation for a number of days or weeks, but during that time the residents will have support to rebuild their lives so they can go into permanent accommodation. It’s that positive approach about rebuilding that’s so special about what we see here today. It is a credit to iShelter and the team of charities that have come together to form this.”

Guests can stay for three nights or for 28 nights. Those who stay for the longer period are matched with a mentor who will provide one-to-one support to help them access services that will help them turn their lives around, moving off the streets and into more permanent accommodation. Tabor House is the first shelter in the country taking a strength-based approach, where volunteers and staff focus on the skills and ambitions of guests, as opposed to the problems or deficits they may have.

Fr Michael White, Chair of Caritas Archdiocese of Birmingham, one of the organisations behind Tabor House, said, “It looks like a dormitory and, in a way, it is. The people we’re dealing with are some of the most vulnerable and destitute people in the city. Some of them are afraid to go to hostels because of the bullying that can take place in hidden spaces. They like the openness of Tabor House. And all through the night we’ll have volunteers here, watching over our guests.”

Guests will be referred to Tabor House by SIFA Fireside or Midland Heart. At the end of their stay nobody will be sent back to the streets – the staff and partner organisations will ensure they have somewhere to go.

Shelter, hot food, a shower and mentoring are some of the practical aspects of Tabor House that guests will benefit from. As well as this, they will be treated with respect and friendship as they take steps to gain control over their lives. Fr Michael said, “Often, one thing that is lacking is warmth and respect in their lives. We hope that they will find that here.”

Funeral Service In loving memory of Bhai Sewa Singh Mandla Ji OBE 04.01.1927 - 06.10.2017 (90 yrs) on Sunday 15th October 2017 at 8.15am in Prayer Darbar 2 at Gurudwara (Guru’s Abode) served by Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) 18-20 Soho Road, Birmingham, B21 9BH

Please click here to view the Invitation and for full information about the Funeral

Ambitious plans for how Sandwell will look in 2030 have been outlined at a special event in West Bromwich.

Sandwell Vision 2030 was officially launched at West Bromwich Town Hall.

Representatives of local businesses, the NHS, voluntary and community organisations and West Midlands Police were among those who attended the event run by Sandwell Council.

Sandwell Vision 2030 sets out 10 ambitions to be delivered by the council and its partners in the next 13 years.

They cover a wide range of topics from living healthy lives to lowering crime and from raising aspirations to improving the quality of schools.

The council carried out extensive consultation with residents and partners from across the borough to create the ambitions.

Leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Steve Eling, said it was important that as many people as possible got involved with creating a better borough.

“This isn’t just about the council creating a better Sandwell for residents,” he said. “It’s about all of our partners, from schools to businesses and voluntary organisations to emergency services, coming together to deliver the Vision for 2030.

“There is so much we can do together to make a real difference. Everyone has only the very best intentions for Sandwell. By making sure we all pull together and face in the right direction, we can achieve positive outcomes for Sandwell and its residents.”

Councillor Steve Trow, Sandwell’s cabinet member for core council services, said: “By listening to our residents and partners we have created a bold and ambitious vision for Sandwell by the year 2030.

“It will be somewhere people feel safe and choose to bring up their families. Residents will enjoy good health, have rewarding work opportunities and feel connected and valued in their neighbourhoods.

“Yesterday was an important step in delivering these ambitions. It’s now up to us and our many partners to make the Vision a reality and we’re ready for the challenge.”

WaterSafe, the national register for approved plumbing businesses in the UK, will help crown the next winner of the HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year.

For the first time, WaterSafe will be on the judging panel of next year’s regional heats and grand final in April 2018.

The search for the next HIP UK Heating Apprentice of the Year is already underway and WaterSafe is encouraging students to take this opportunity not only to be recognised for their hard work and skills – but also to win great prizes worth over £9,000.

Entrants must be level 2 or 3 students and have until 1st December 2017 to apply for the chance to take part in one of seven regional heats, which will take place between 16 January and 28 February 2018.

Each regional heat winner, plus the student who has received the highest overall regional score, will go forward to the grand final which will be held at the ADEY Training and Conference Centre in Cheltenham on 25th – 26th April 2018.

WaterSafe’s Gareth Harris said: “This competition is great for showcasing how the next generation of apprentices are developing in their training. It also tests their skills under pressure and, from what I have seen as an observer in previous years, this results in some outstanding work. For that reason I am excited to be involved as a judge and to get to see how close the competition really is!

“Supporting apprentices who are encouraged to perform to the highest of standards fits perfectly with WaterSafe’s values and its mission to raise plumbing standards and protect the quality of drinking water in homes across the UK.”

Students must be aged 24 or under at the time of application and have successfully completed a test paper, which can be found on the HIP Magazine website along with regional heat dates, competition rules and application form. Only one student can be entered per college or campus.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, will be celebrated in the City of Wolverhampton on Saturday 14 October.

The City of Wolverhampton Council has teamed up with the Shri Krishna Mandir, and other organisations for the annual Diwali Mela at Phoenix Park in Blakenhall from 4pm-8pm.

It will feature music and dance, including performances by the Pargan Bhandal Company and dancers and Dhol drummers.

The lights will be switched on at approximately 7.30pm followed by a spectacular firework display.

There will be a wide range of stalls and refreshments, and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Elias Mattu and Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden are due to attend.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Diwali is the biggest and brightest festival in India and we are delighted to be helping to celebrate it here in Wolverhampton once again.

"The event at Phoenix Park is always great fun for all the family, featuring excellent entertainment and a fantastic fireworks display.”

One of the new owners of the first shared ownership properties ever built by Haringey Council was today officially handed the keys to her new home.

Cllr Alan Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning and Chris Liffen, Managing Director of Homes for Haringey, were on hand to welcome Cristina Andronache to her new home in Brewery House, Whitbread Close in Tottenham.

With shared ownership, home-owners buy a share of between 25% and 55% of the property and pay rent on the remaining share. They have the option to increase the share they own in the future, making this a great way for first-time buyers to get a foot on the housing ladder, when they are priced out of buying a home on the open market.

Owners have now moved into the four new two-bedroom properties in Whitbread Close, built on the site of a former council car park. The new homes are of a high quality, promoting sustainable development, energy efficiency, and affordability.

The homes will be managed by Homes for Haringey, which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the council’s housing stock. These properties are among 31 new homes being completed this year on former garage and car park sites in seven locations across the borough.

Cristina Adronache said: “Being a home owner is a dream come true thanks to the shared ownership scheme and I will always be grateful for this opportunity and for my friends who encouraged me to consider the scheme and supported me though the process.

“Shared ownership means I could get on the property ladder despite having a smaller budget, whilst benefitting from the high standards of modern living in an energy-efficient flat.”

Cllr Alan Strickland, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning said, “We’re determined to tackle Haringey’s housing crisis and help local residents to get the homes they deserve. It’s crucial that we build a variety of new homes to suit different needs and budgets – including new social rented housing, affordable homes to buy and rent, shared ownership and private housing.

“Shared ownership is a great way for people to still get into the housing market even if their budget won’t stretch to buying 100% of the new home. The Whitbread Close properties are part of our drive to increase the number of affordable properties in Haringey and it was a real pleasure to welcome Cristina to her new home.”

Chris Liffen, Managing Director of Homes for Haringey, said, “Homes for Haringey recognises the need for affordable homes in neighbourhoods where people want to live and can thrive. The shared ownership scheme at Whitbread Close is a great example of how Haringey is continuing to provide affordable housing solutions for local people. I wish Christina all the best in her new home.”

Brightly coloured balloons lined the streets of Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield as families walked together in memory of loved ones and in support of John Taylor Hospice.

Nearly 150 people gathered at the Hollyfields Centre in Erdington to join the Birmingham hospice’s annual Family Walk and Fun Day. The ever-popular fundraising walk, now in its sixth year, raises money to provide care and support for people living with a terminal illness and their families.

This year, walkers had the choice of a pushchair and dog-friendly 4.5-mile walk or a more challenging 9-mile route. The event also offered entertainment for all ages with a Fun Day packed full of activities including bouncy castles, inflatable slides, raffles and stalls.

Setting the walkers off on their way was seven-year-old Louie O’Neill from Kingstanding. The young fundraiser - who has raised £1,000 for the hospice this year – was invited to cut the ribbon to signal the start of the charity walk.

Twickenham Primary School pupil Louie started raising money for John Taylor Hospice when he learned that his grandad has terminal cancer. Super supporter Louie has been busy challenging friends and family members to quizzes, holding a charity car wash, collecting money in supermarkets and organising a fundraising stall. He doesn't plan to stop there and has big plans for the future - including hopes to host his own carnival.

Louie’s mum Charlotte O'Neill said: “There are seven of us here today – along with our dog Maui – to do the walk and watch Louie cut the ribbon. He’s so excited to have been asked to open the event as he feels like a celebrity! He’s been really looking forward to it and we’re so very proud of him.”

Joining the walk for the fifth year were the Smart family from Great Barr. Christopher Smart and his wife Selina walked the 4.5-mile route, with their two sons and their niece by their side, in memory of Christopher’s father Peter Smart.

“My dad had lung cancer and was only at the hospice for a very short time – two to three days,” said Christopher. “The hospice did an outstanding job and it became like a home from home for us. We come to the walk every year to say thank you to the hospice staff for what they did for us. ”

Selina added: “Sometimes when we went to visit Peter we’d have 11 family members in the room at once and the nurses didn't mind at all. Nothing was too much trouble for them, they were incredible and did an amazing job of looking after us all.”

Stepping out together in memory of someone very special were siblings Louise, Emma and Simon Carlo. They walked the longer route - for the third year in a row - to thank the hospice for the care they provided for their mum Sheila Carlo in 2015.

“She was a wonderful woman,” said Simon. “We received incredible support from John Taylor Hospice and our mum was so well looked after, as were we. She was treated with dignity and respect and the hospice staff relieved a lot of the pressure for us.”

Louise, who raised over £1,000 by running the Birmingham half marathon for #TeamJTH last year, said: "When you’ve never had any experience of a hospice you expect it to be a depressing place but it’s not like that at all at John Taylor. We were really struggling before the hospice stepped in to help and we don’t know what we’d have done without them. We come to the walk every year to say thank you for everything the hospice has done for our family.”

Katie Mitchell, John Taylor's Head of Fundraising, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who joined us. We certainly didn't let the dreary weather dampen our spirits and we had a wonderful day.

"The Family Walk is a special day for lots of people with many local families joining us year after year to celebrate the lives of their loved ones and to support the work of our hospice. We're proud to have watched this event grow over the years and we're extremely grateful to everyone for joining us.

“Many families tell us they come to the Family Walk and Fun Day to show support for the hospice and say thank you for the care their loved ones have received. We want people to know that being there at events really does make a big difference. That incredible support help us to raise vital funds and ensures we're there for families - just like yours - when they need our care and support.”

Children and families from across the Midlands are set to benefit thanks to a donation of £131,000 from KFC to Acorns Children’s Hospice.

The donation comes thanks to KFC’s Add Hope Foundation and the activities of staff at KFC branches across the region who encouraged customers to purchase fundraising scratch cards.

Proceeds from the scratch cards will go towards the nearly £10 million Acorns has to raise each year to continue it’s vital care for life limited and life threatened children and young people and support for their families.

Shane Fields, Area Coach at KFC Shirley, said: “The amount raised has been amazing, we are so proud to support Acorns and the brilliant work they do that is so important for families in the area. The KFC Add Hope Foundation gives staff the chance to really get involved in their community.”

Amanda Smallman, Senior Manager, Corporate and Community Fundraising at Acorns, said: “We are so happy to receive this significant donation.  At Acorns, we rely on fundraising and donations from organisations like KFC’s Add Hope for the majority of the income needed to provide our services.

“The donation will make a huge difference to people’s lives by helping us provide nursing care for children and young people and vital support for their families.”

Acorns offers a network of specialist care for children and support for their families across the West Midlands. In the past year the charity has cared for more than 870 children and more than 1,090 families, including those who are bereaved

To find out more about the work of Acorns Children’s Hospice and how you can help raise vital funds, please visit www.acorns.org.uk

If you’ve recently moved into a new home, you’ll probably be asking your friends and family around for a housewarming party. But as we enter autumn, you may have noticed an increase in the number of eight-legged visitors who most certainly haven’t been invited.

Despite the old adage, ‘they are more scared of you’, this is cold comfort for those who are terrified of arachnids.

For home owners who have noticed an increase in spiders emerging from their house’s nooks and crannies, NHBC, the UK's leading new home warranty and insurance provider, have compiled some advice to help dissuade spiders from moving in.

• Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of roughly half water and half white vinegar. Avoiding varnished surfaces, spray the mixture in corners and cracks. Alternatively, as strong smells are believed to deter spiders, try mixing natural oils like peppermint, lavender, rose oil, tea-tree and cinnamon into spray bottles and follow the same method.
• Seal off your home by filling cracks and crevices around doors and windows which spiders could crawl through.
• Do you still have cardboard boxes around from your move? If so, spiders like these, so where possible, empty and dispose of them. Try to use plastic boxes as an alternative storing solution.
• Plant mint, lavender or both underneath or near windows as the strong smells will deter spiders.
• Spiders also dislike citrus, so rub peel from lemons or limes along skirting boards and window sills. You can also try lemon-scented cleaners and furniture polish.
• It has been said that spiders hate garlic, so place crushed cloves into a spray bottle filled with water and spritz in corners, floors  and skirting boards.
• Dust and vacuum regularly to get rid of webs and de-clutter your house as much as possible to reduce the number of places a spider can hide.