Community News

Congratulations to the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their wedding yesterday!

With beautiful sunshine beating down on the estimated 100,000 people that descended upon Windsor the happy couple tied the knot in front of millions worldwide, before processing through the streets.

The happy couple looked calm and relaxed as they arrived on the day, and their youth and energy was reflected in the choices made for the ceremony.

The energy and buzz from the crowds along the procession path was nothing short of electric, with every small thing, from the Queens Guard processing to the palace to the first glimpse of the carriage met with rapturous applause.

Windsor was awash with Red White and Blue with everyone wanting to be able to say they were a part of the big day.

From everyone at The Phoenix Newspaper, we wish Harry and Meghan every happiness in their life together.

Look out for coverage in the June edition of The Phoenix Newspaper!

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Pupils and parents in Wolverhampton are being encouraged to put their best foot forward and step out for Walk to School Week which begins on Monday (21 May).

Around a million children and families nationwide will be celebrating Living Streets’ Walk to School Week and swapping the school run for a school walk – either by leaving the car at home or parking further away from the school and walking the rest of the way.

Experts recommend that children are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day to stay fit and maintain a healthy weight, and walking to school is an easy way to achieve some of these active minutes.

Children who travel actively to school will arrive feeling refreshed and ready to learn, and evidence suggests they will do better in class and be happier, healthier and more independent as a result.

Councillor Lynne Moran, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said: "A generation ago, more than two thirds of children walked to school, but now it's dropped to half.

“There are so many benefits from choosing to walk to school rather than driving, from improving the health and wellbeing of children and their parents, to helping to reduce congestion and pollution, and so I would encourage all our schools to take part in this very important campaign."

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, added: "We have a well-documented problem with high levels of obesity among both adults and children and young people in Wolverhampton, and incorporating even a short, brisk walk into people's daily routines can bring about fantastic mental and physical health benefits."

National Walk to School Week is organised by the walking charity Living Streets, which is currently working with a number of Wolverhampton schools to encourage more people to walk to school, including Loxdale, West Park, East Park, Palmer’s Cross, SS Peter and Paul, Lanesfield, Eastfield, Wilkinson, Stow Heath, D’Eyncourt, Oak Meadow and Elston Hall primary and Woodfield Infant and Junior schools.

Woodfield Junior School Headteacher Philip Salisbury said: "We began to encourage more children to walk to school for two main reasons. The first was the terrible traffic situation we have outside the school twice a day; it is distressing for residents, children and parents alike, as well as being very dangerous.

"The second was for health and wellbeing reasons. It is good for children of all ages to walk, however short the distance, and we are a school that promotes healthy activity for all our children and staff."

Tom Richards, from Living Streets, said: "Nationally, 79% of boys and 84% of girls fail to get 60 minutes of physical activity every day, while around a quarter of cars on the road during the morning rush hour are taking children to school, causing congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.

"Through Walk to School Week, we want more children and their families to make walking the natural choice and making walking part of every child's daily routine."

To find out more about National Walk to School Week, and to download a free Family Walk to School Kit, please visit www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school. People who make a pledge to join in could win a £40 shopping voucher.

An event highlighting LGBT+ hate crime and the impact it has on the community will be held in Haringey this month.

The Stop LGBT+ Hate Crime event – organised by Haringey Council, BAME LGBT+ arts charity Wise Thoughts and Haringey Police – will look at the scale of hate crime, both in the borough, and nationwide, and explore how local groups and the police are working to tackle it.

There will be speakers from Haringey Police, the council and a local victim of a homophobic attack.

The event on May 24 is free, and will be held in the Wood Green Library Business Lounge between 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Booking is not required.

Haringey has a proud LGBT+ history and the council recently renewed its commitment to the community, pledging to do even more to make the area welcoming for LGBT+ residents and visitors. It means that LGBT+ residents will have a greater role in shaping priorities and services to ensure they meet their needs.

Haringey Council Chief Executive Zina Etheridge said:

It is essential to us that LGBT+ people living in and visiting Haringey feel safe and welcome. Haringey’s diversity is something we are incredibly proud of, and we have some brilliant groups and individuals making a real difference to LGBT+ equality in the borough. We encourage residents to come along to this event and to work together to show that hate crime of any kind won’t be tolerated here in Haringey.

One of Britain’s greatest ever tennis players joined a host of other female tennis stars from her home city to look ahead to this year’s Nature Valley ClassicBirmingham, which takes place in a month’s time.

Former British No 1 Ann Jones, who won eight Grand Slam titles during an illustrious career, was at the Edgbaston Priory Club – the venue for the Classic - with Birmingham’s current British Under- 18 champion Lillian Mould. They were joined by local female coaches, junior players and ball girls from Bishop Challoner Catholic College in Kings Heath to celebrate women’s tennis in the city ahead of the prestigious women’s tournament.

Jones, also from Kings Heath, has a long association with the tournament, which is now in its 38thyear. She played an important role in getting it onto the international WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) circuit and her contribution was recognised in 2012 following the £5 million refurbishment of the venue when the new centre court was named after her.

The line-up for this year’s tournament, which takes place between June 16th-24th,is one of the strongest yet with reigning Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza, two-time Wimbledon champion and defending Birmingham champion Petra Kvitova, five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, British star Johanna Konta and US open finalist Madison Key among those confirmed.

Ann Jones commented:

“Birmingham has always had a strong female tennis scene and it was great to speak to the young players and coaches who are part of that here today at the Edgbaston Priory Club and meet some of female volunteers who help make the tournament such a success.”

“This is a great event for tennis and sport in the Midlands and I’m proud to see how far it has come over the last 37 years. To have some of the world’s best players here next month will hopefully help inspire the next generation of young female tennis players in the city and I’m looking forward to seeing the action.”

Nature Valley Classic Tournament Director, Patrick Hughesman, added

“The tournament has really gone from strength to strength over the years and is a real highlight in the Midlands sporting calendar. Ann, who is such an iconic figure locally and globally for the game, has played really important part in helping put it on the map.”

“With one of our strongest ever line-ups and ticket sales up on this time last year, it promises to be a fantastic nine days of tennis. The city and the region is great at putting on live sport and there is real buzz around that at the moment which we are proud to be part of.”

Lillian Mould, who took the Under 18’s British title last August, said:

“Having the tournament here in Birmingham and on my doorstep is amazing. To get the chance to see some of the world’s best players live is inspiring not just for me but for lots of other local young players. I’d love to be able to play at the tournament one day and maybe even follow in Ann’s footsteps.”

Fans attending this year’s Classic, a traditional curtain raiser for Wimbledon, will also be able to experience the touring ‘Explore Wimbledon’ exhibition showcasing the history of the famous tournament, which celebrates the 125thanniversary its the women’s singles championship this summer. This year also marks the 50thanniversary of the Open Era in tennis, which saw the game transformed into a modern day professional sport. Ann Jones was at the forefront of the historic change to the game and reached the semi-final of the first ever Open Era Wimbledon in 1968.

For more information on this year’s Nature Valley Classic and to buy tickets visit https://www.lta.org.uk/major-events

For Midlands tennis fans who can’t wait that long to get their fix the From 19 – 27 May, a host of British and international stars will battle for the inaugural Loughborough Trophy title at Loughborough University.

As Meghan Markle arrived at the Cliveden House Hotel last night she said that she was feeling 'wonderful' ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry today.

She looked happy and peaceful as her mother accompanied her into the hotel, mere minutes after Prince Harry and The Duke of Cambridge, his best man Prince William greeted wellwishers outside Windsor Castle.

Both will spend the night in seperate hotels before being reunited at St George's Chapel at lunchtime on Saturday.

Following her Father being unable to attend the wedding, it has been said that Meghan will walk the first half of the aisle by herself, before the Prince of Wales will accompany her down the second half of the aisle.

It certainly looks to be a very impressive and progressive occasion!

More details have been announced about how the City of Wolverhampton will be marking Dementia Action Week 2018.

They include over a dozen free events and activities for people living with dementia and their carers – from information and advice sessions to poetry readings and exercise classes.

The highlight of the wide-ranging programme organised by Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance is an information and advice morning at the Bob Jones Community Hub on Tuesday 22 May from 10am-12.30pm, at which people can find out more about the services available to people living with dementia in the City of Wolverhampton.

A range of service providers will be present, the City of Wolverhampton Council will be showcasing its Telecare assistive technology equipment and there will also be guidance on benefit entitlements. FBC Manby Bowdler Solicitors will be providing information about Power of Attorneys, and advice will also be available from Wolverhampton’s Carer Support and Memory Matters teams.

People can become Dementia Friends – and better understand issues facing people living with dementia – by attending a free Dementia Friends training session open to all professionals and members of the public at the Grand Theatre on Tuesday 22 May from 2.15pm-3.30pm; alternatively they can visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk.

The Alzheimer's Society will be raising awareness among commuters at Wolverhampton railway station on the same day from 4pm to 5.30pm.

Special Walking for Health walks and exercise classes in the Easyline gym will be taking place at Wednesfield Community Hub, Well Lane, on Thursday 24 May from 10am-3pm, while Memory Matters will be meeting shoppers at Sainsbury's St Marks on the same day from 10am-2pm to raise awareness of memory concerns and share tips about living better with a diagnosis of dementia.

Wolverhampton Police and the City of Wolverhampton Council's Trading Standards team will be raising awareness of scams – and how people can prevent themselves from falling victim to them – at HSBC in Queen Square on Monday 21 May from 11am-2pm and Waitrose, Penn Road, on Friday 25 May from 10.30am-3pm. The Trading Standards Team will also be on hand at Age UK, Darlington Street, on Tuesday 22 May from 1pm-3pm.

Central Library is inviting people to enjoy a Coffee and Chat from 10.30am-2pm on Wednesday (23 May), enabling residents to find out more about the services available to support their mental health and wellbeing while also enjoying light refreshments. Taking part will be a range of providers including Starfish Wolverhampton Social Hub, the council’s Community Support and Carer Support Teams, HeadStart Wolverhampton, Healthy Minds, Healthwatch Wolverhampton and Memory Matters.

Asda Wolverhampton will be raising awareness in store on Monday and Wednesday 21 and 23 May from 10am-noon, while the Black Country Partnership Foundation Trust is holding an information session and activities at Brooklands Health Centre, Brooklands Parade, on Thursday 24 May from 10am-3pm.

St Aiden's Church on Mount Road in Penn is holding two Dementia Action Week events – a Beetle Drive on Friday 25 May from 2pm-4pm and a Posh Afternoon Tea on Saturday 26 May from 2pm-5pm – while the Church of the Epiphany in Oxley is holding a dementia friendly service on Sunday 27 May starting at 10.45am.

Meanwhile, Light House Cinema on Fryer Street is offering carers and the person they care for discounted tickets to see the films Edie and That Good Night between 25 May and 31 May, with tickets priced at just £2.50.

FBC Mandy Bowdler will be hosting a craft morning with Fiddle Finger to create quilts at its offices on George Street, Snow Hill, from 10am-2pm on Thursday 24 May.

BBC WM’s Sunny and Shay will be broadcasting live from the Grand Theatre on Tuesday 22 May from 2pm-4pm, while the Alzheimer’s Society will be joining Gulshan Radio to raise awareness on Friday 25 May from 1.30pm.

A little further ahead, popular poet Mandy Ross will lead a morning of poetry and song, entertaining people living with dementia with gentle humour and activities, at East Park Library on Monday 11 June from 10am-noon. This event is organised by Poetry on Loan, Wolverhampton's library service and the Carer Support Team, and people will also be able to find out more about the Memory Matters service.

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Dementia is a debilitating condition which affects nearly a million people in the UK, including 3,600 in the City of Wolverhampton. It can be a very difficult subject to talk about, but the sooner people know what they are dealing with, the sooner they can feel in control again and get on with their lives.

"Dementia Action Week is an important opportunity for people to find out more about the condition and the help and support which is available to them locally.

This year's Dementia Action Week, which is organised by the Alzheimer's Society and takes place from 21-27 May, will encourage everyone to take actions big and small to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. The Alzheimer's Society estimates that one person in the UK develops dementia every three minutes.

People who are worried about dementia can contact the Alzheimer's Society for information and support either via the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or by visiting www.alzheimers.org.uk.

The City of Wolverhampton was officially granted Dementia Friendly Community status by the Alzheimer's Society in December in recognition of the efforts being made to improve services for people living with dementia, and their families and carers.

The timeless drama and storytelling of Shakespeare’s plays have inspired generations of theatregoers and artists across the globe for hundreds of years. This summer, Birmingham Royal Ballet celebrates the enduring power of arguably the world’s most prolific playwright with one of the most breath-taking adaptations of his tale of star-crossed lovers, Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet.

William Shakespeare’s tragic and passionate narrative comes to life in this epic production, featuring a stunning design by Paul Andrews which recreates the grandeur and heat of Verona with gargantuan pillars and Italian architectural style.

A cast of over fifty dancers execute Macmillan’s esteemed choreography, from the balcony scene’s romantic, ecstatic pas de deux to large-scale sword fight scenes and the lovers’ heart-breaking end. The spectacle is accompanied by Prokofiev’s instantly recognisable score, played live at every performance by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

This combination of spectacular score and expressive choreography creates a performance that is powerful, poetic and a firm favourite with audiences worldwide.

David Bintley, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, commented: “Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet is the most important full-length ballet of the 20^th century. It broke the mould of classical ballets because everything within the ballet supports the narrative. The stand-out elements are the pas de deux, particularly the balcony scene. As a narrative piece of dance making, I would say this is probably the greatest one ever made.”

The iconic lead roles of Romeo and Juliet themselves will be performed by twelve of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s world-class dancers. As David Bintley explained, “Juliet has got to be the most coveted role in the repertoire. I don’t think I’ve ever met a female dancer who didn’t want to do it. It’s not too difficult, you spend a great deal of the time being lifted up and carried around beautifully and you get to do some pretty extreme acting to that glorious score.”

Romeo and Juliet is at Birmingham Hippodrome 26-30 June.

As the world descends on Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tomorrow, we can only imagine how the couple would be feeling!

All eyes will be on them as the wedding will be broadcast worldwide. They will marry at midday before travelling through Windsor in a carriage at 1pm.

The procession route will follow Castle Hill, High Street, Sheet Street,Kinds Road, Albert Road, Long Walk and back to the Castle.

From Everyone at The Phoenix Newspaper we wish Prince Harry and Meghan all the best for their big day!

A university student and young refugee from Birmingham has been honoured with a prestigious award for her outstanding volunteering work with The Children’s Society. Maya Ghazal, 19, from Perry Barr in Birmingham won an Asian Women of Achievement Award last week in the ‘young achiever’ category for her outstanding contribution to the charity and her volunteering work as a speaker and ambassador.

Maya has been a volunteer speaker for The Children’s Society for the last few years after arriving in the UK from Syria in 2015. She spoke no English when first arriving but received help to settle in the area and make new friends when she went along to the charity’s My Place project in Birmingham.

After receiving support from the charity and quickly learning fluent English Maya decided to give something back and started training as a volunteer speaker to spread the word and make others aware of the charity’s life-changing work.

Volunteer speakers use their skills and passion to reach out to different audiences in their communities, inspiring people about the charity’s work with children facing poverty, neglect or family crisis.

As well as giving numerous talks on behalf of The Children’s Society she has also stood up for young refugees and migrants across national media, putting herself and the issues young refugees face in the media spotlight.

Maya represented The Children’s Society in the Guardian’s Christmas appeal for child refugees. This campaign saw 17,500 people donate over £1.75 million to support child refugees. The £600,000 raised, the charity’s share of the total split with two other charities, will help keep its vital services for child refugees in the UK open.

Last year Maya also won a Diana Legacy Award - a national award for exceptional young people inspired by the late Princess Diana - presented to her by Princes William and Harry. She is currently at Brunel University studying Aviation Engineering with Pilot Studies.

On receiving her Asian Women of Achievement Award Maya said: “It feels fantastic to have won this award! I would like to thank my family, friends and everyone who supported me from The Children’s Society, The Diana Award and UNHCR.

"I’m really proud of my work with The Children’s Society and also for standing up for young refugees and migrants who live in the UK.  I hope from my win that whoever thinks there is no hope left or their life is turning upside down, that there will always be hope and a way to get out.”

The Children’s Society’s Chief Executive, Matthew Reed said: “We are thrilled that Maya has been recognised for her achievements and her volunteering work with us. We are so glad that after receiving help from The Children’s Society she went onto flourish and become a fantastic ambassador on our behalf. She is a true inspiration and so deserving of winning this award.

“It is down to volunteers like Maya that we are able to make a difference and continue to work with the most vulnerable children and young people in our society.”

The RSPCA received a call from a concerned local resident who could hear the cat in distress as she went to her garage.

Animal collection officers Sophie Wilson and David Hollinshead attended and could see that the gap was six inches at one end but tapered down to just two inches at the other end.

The officers spent three hours using specialist equipment, including a reach and rescue pole, trying to free the moggy who is now recovering at an RSPCA hospital.

ACO Hollinshead said: “The cat was about 15 feet from the wider end, and was stuck in a gap that was less than three inches wide.

“The poor thing was terrified - we know cats are naturally curious but I have no idea how he got himself so stuck.”

The fire brigade was asked to attend to assist the rescue as it became clear the cat would not be able to be pulled out of the spot but part of the garage wall would have to be dismantled to free it.

With the help of a local resident access was made to one of the garages and bricks were removed from the wall.

Eventually ACO Hollinshead was able to get hold of the cat and gradually ease it out from between the bricks.

He said: “I was amazed at quite how tightly he was stuck and I had to be so careful easing him out millimeter by millimeter.”

The cat was initially taken to a local vet surgery for pain relief and fluids but he was then moved to RSPCA Animal Hospital at Newbrook Farm in Birmingham for further treatment.

He is still receiving treatment, and is due to have x-rays as he appears to be limping, but it is hoped he will make a full recovery.

Unfortunately the cat was not microchipped so the RSPCA have not been able to trace an owner, he is a neutered male adult cat and appears in good condition so it is believed he does have an owner out there missing him.

If you recognise the cat you can call the RSPCA inspectorate line on 0300 123 8018.

The Chapman's Challenge, the annual biathlon experience held in Pangkor Laut Resort returns for its third year, 73 years after Colonel Spencer Chapman escaped. Held on 12th May 2018, The Chapman's Challenge saw a total of 131 participants from 10 countries across 4 continents, with 108 participants successfully completing the race, the largest turnout yet in the history of this annual event.

Colonel Spencer Chapman spent 3½ years in hiding from the occupying Japanese army during World War II in the wild jungles of Malaya. On 13th May 1945, he made his last escape from Emerald Bay at Pangkor Laut with his compatriot, Major R. Broome. They swam 45m out to sea in the dark of night to be rescued by the Royal Navy submarine, HMS Statesman. “What toughness the body will find, if the spirit within it is tough” – this quote from his book depicting his Malayan adventures, 'The Jungle Is Neutral', was printed in personalised pocket notebooks given to all participants in hopes of giving them the encouragement for the race.

Mr Christopher Spencer Chapman, the war veteran's youngest son and the event's Guest of Honour, flagged off the race around the private island, sending participants through a 3.8km run on undulating roads followed by a 2.4km jungle trail through the 2-million-year-old pristine rainforest and a 1km long open water swim at Emerald Bay before a final sprint to the finish line at Chapman's Bar, named in tribute to Colonel Spencer Chapman 21 years ago. “I'd like to thank YTL Hotels for inviting my family and me back to this very special event. My father, Colonel Spencer Chapman, inspired many with his story and he has always believed that you can achieve anything as long as you put your mind over matter. The Chapman's Challenge is the very embodiment of that belief and in turn, it was very inspiring to see so many living that belief and celebrating his life.”, Chris said of the challenge.

This year, YTL Hotels has segregated the participants into four categories: Male - Invited, Female - Invited, Male - Open, and Female - Open. In the Male - Invited Category, Australian Ironman Matt Poole came in first at 45 minutes 16 seconds, breaking his own record in 2017, with Malaysian triathletes Jason Loh and Rikigoro Shinozuka coming in at second and third place respectively. The Female - Invited Category saw Australian Ironwoman Harriet Brown emerging as champion, successfully maintaining her place in the scoreboard. The youngest participant of the race, Mayumi Shinozuka, 18, took second place while third place was cinched by Hazel Spencer Chapman, granddaughter of Colonel Spencer Chapman. Returning participant Mathieu Alkharfan bagged the first place for the Male - Open category while in the Female - Open Category, Jenny Abbott emerged as the winner.

The first and second place winners of all categories each walked away with an all-inclusive stay from YTL Hotels' properties including Gaya Island Resort, Pangkor Laut Resort and Spa Village Resort Tembok, Bali; while the third-place winners received a chance to ease their post-race stress with a 3-hour Couples Spa Experience at the award-winning Spa Village Pangkor Laut. Exclusive race sponsors, Luminox and Nike, contributed watches as well as sports bags respectively as prizes. The prizes and exclusive wooden plaques were presented to the winners by Guest of Honour, Mr Christopher Spencer Chapman and Vice President of Marketing of YTL Hotels, Ms Geraldine Dreiser. Cocktails, a photobooth and an exclusive barbeque dinner on the award-winning beach rounded off the night's celebrations.

Regardless of placing, race finishers were presented with engraved wooden medals and personalised finisher t-shirts. Participants were greeted with goody bags filled with treats upon checking into their rooms: Nike-sponsored T-shirts, sun care and skin care products sponsored by Nivea and homemade granola bars by Shia's Granola. Thoughtfully selected turn-down gifts of commemorative bookmarks and personalised notebooks were placed in guest rooms on the evening of the race day.

A new poll shows that veganism has become more popular than ever, with 7% of the UK population being vegan – which translates as 3.5 million people. So there's no better time to find out more about this lifestyle of choice of celebrities, sports stars and people looking for a healthier, more compassionate and more environmentally-friendly way of life. And there's no better place than at Vegan Festivals around the UK this spring and summer.

A poll by comparethemarket.com, in partnership with Professor Carolyn Roberts, the first Frank Jackson Professor of the Environment at Gresham College, shows that 7% of the population are vegan. And a study published in Climatic Change, which sought to estimate the difference in dietary GHG emissions between self-selected meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK, concluded that dietary GHG emissions in self-selected meat-eaters are more than twice as high as those in vegans and that it's likely that reductions in meat consumption would lead to reductions in dietary GHG emissions.

Vegan Festival Organiser Victoria Bryceson says, “With the number of people in the UK describing themselves as vegan at an all-time high, there's a massive demand around the country for vegan-friendly events. Our festivals are set to be a fantastic day out whether you're vegetarian, vegan or simply vegan-curious. The idea behind the festivals is to educate and inform everyone about the vegan lifestyle and offer support to anybody who would like to try it.”

Food on offer includes a varied and exciting array of plant-based hot and cold dishes, including Asian, Mediterranean, Indian, Greek, Hotdogs, Burgers, Street Food, Raw Food and Gourmet Food! There will also be a huge range of pies, cakes, chocolates, cookies, doughnuts, sandwiches and salads to take away as well as alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, juices, smoothies, tea and coffee.

There will be a great selection of non food stalls at the event selling a wide variety of items including fashion, footwear, jewellery, beauty and skincare products, candles, crafts, clothing, footwear, homeware, gifts and charity merchandise.

As well as stalls to look round, there will also be a wide range of free food samples to try, live music, inspirational talks, live cookery demonstrations, workshops and children's activities.

Vegan Events UK organises over 20 of the largest vegan festivals and events across the UK. Events this spring and summer are being held in Dorset, Brighton, Leeds, Glasgow, Plymouth and Bath.

Going vegan has transformed Victoria's life; “I've never felt happier and healthier,” she says. She started organising festivals with the aim of promoting animal welfare and how to live a more ethical and healthy lifestyle. “There will be several animal welfare charity stalls raising awareness of their causes. For anybody who would like to get involved with volunteering this is an ideal place to talk to lots of different charities and gather information, and all the stall holders are happy to talk to people and answer any questions.”

The festivals are run in partnership with animal welfare charities including Miracle's Mission. “It's all about trying new things and opening people's eyes to new possibilities,” continues Victoria. “Cutting out meat and dairy from your diet is easier than you might think and many people are increasingly looking for alternatives in order to live more healthily and ethically. They want to find out more about the new innovative foods and recipes now available and want to do it affordably. Our festivals will educate people on how to do all of this.”

On LEAF Open Farm Sunday hundreds of farmers across the country will open their gates to welcome the public and showcase all that British agriculture delivers. So to experience the magic of farming at first hand, put Sunday 10th June in your diary now.

LEAF Open Farm Sunday is The Great British Farm Day and offers a unique chance to see what happens beyond the farm gate and show your support for British farming.  This is your opportunity to talk to farmers and find the answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask… and even some you’ve never thought of!

As well as producing nutritious food, farmers also grow crops for medicines and clothes, as well as crops used for fuel and building homes.  Farmers care for over 70% of our countryside, manage vital resources like water and soil, maintain miles of footpaths and hedgerows and provide homes for wildlife.

Most Open Farm Sunday events are free and farms of every type and size take part offering a range of activities – in fact there is something for everyone to enjoy with loads to see, do and learn.  On LEAF Open Farm Sunday you can learn more about how your food is produced as well as….discover why worms are so important for the soil, why there wouldn’t be much fruit and veg without bees, and how farmers look after animals like cows, sheep and pigs, and care for wildlife too. You can also see science in action, including how farmers use the latest technology to farm sustainably and maybe take a peek inside a state of the art tractor.  On many farms you will be able to take a farm walk or  guided tractor and trailer ride, follow a nature trail and of course, talk to the people that make this all happen, the farmers!

Annabel Shackleton, LEAF Open Farm Sunday Manager said: “From the wheat for our bread and cereals, and the potatoes and pork for our sausage and mash, through to crops for fuel, clothes and even cosmetics, it all begins on a farm. Farmers play a vital part in our daily lives and LEAF Open Farm Sunday is your chance to be part of The Great British Farm Day and show your support for British farmers and farming.”

Low cost airline, Primera Air, today started flights from Birmingham Airport, with the inaugural aircraft taking off from Birmingham to Malaga with 152 passengers on board at 0720 this morning.

Today marks the start of an extensive flying programme for Primera from Birmingham, with Palma scheduled to depart later this afternoon (14^th May) and New York launching on Friday (18^th May). Toronto, Las Palmas, Alicante, Barcelona, Crete and Reykjavik will also start in the coming months.

Tom Screen, Acting Aviation Director, said: “It was great to welcome the airline on this sunny morning here at Birmingham Airport and to celebrate their new Midlands operation by giving the aircraft a water arch on departure.

“These additional frequencies to Malaga and Palma complement the existing services we have to the Med and Primera’s low fares will, I’m sure, be welcomed by Midlanders.

“With new direct services to New York and Toronto launching soon with Primera too, we are offering passengers the chance to fly across the pond non-stop, low cost several times weekly.”

Anastasija Visnakova, Chief Commercial Officer at Primera Air, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our passengers this morning on the inaugural service to Malaga.  The range of destinations, both European and transatlantic, at fantastic prices creates more choice for passengers travelling from Birmingham Airport.

“We have growth plans for Birmingham and we look forward to working with the airport and serving the region’s leisure and business travellers throughout 2018 and beyond.”

New York will operate three times a week from the 18^th May and Toronto also three times weekly from 23^rd June.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce has announced that longstanding Chamber member, CSCM IT Solutions, have been welcomed to The Chamber Patron Group.

Established in 1995, CSCM provide quality IT solutions using the most up-to-date and trusted technology, listening to customers and offering bespoke advice based on extensive experience and expertise, helping them to make informed decisions impacting upon their business.

Having operated within the Black Country for over 22 years, during which time they have nurtured strong links with other local businesses and charities, becoming a member of The Chamber Patron Group was a logical step for the company to take.

Jude Thompson, Managing Director of CSCM, commented: “Our relationship with the Black Country Chamber has flourished over the years, having become a member of The Platinum Group in 2012. Furthermore, in late 2016, I was delighted to accept a Directorship of the Board position within the organisation and have enjoyed working closely with the Board ever since.

“I feel honoured that our firm is now recognised as a Chamber Patron and look forward to working closely with Gail to champion the local region on a national and global scale, highlighting that the Black Country truly is a great place for business!”

Gail Arnold, Head of The Chamber Patron Group, added: “It has been a pleasure working with Jude and his team over the last few years and I am absolutely delighted that this relationship will continue in a Patron role. Our Chamber Patrons reflect the strength of the Black Country Economy and demonstrate real social impact from our joint work.”