Community News

Innovative creations from Birmingham furniture-makers Declan and Tully Gallagher are helping to boost the development of youngsters at a West Midlands nursery.

The Gallagher brothers, otherwise known as Twin Design, have been working with Reginald Road Day Nursery in Bearwood to produce items of furniture to encourage the development of toddlers’ motor skills, such as crawling, climbing and jumping.

The Jewellery Quarter-based designers recently set up the ‘Brunel’ bench at the nursery, which was custom-made to encourage motor skills development and aid children’s colour recognition.

“To the untrained eye, the piece of furniture appears to be a large colourful sofa, but the brilliantly designed bench has been a great success with multiples uses”, said Yvonne Kerr, Manager at Reginald Road Day Nursery.

“As soon as it arrived the children turned it into a ‘secret den’, a ‘big snake’ and a ‘choo choo train’!”, added Yvonne.

“It’s been a brilliant resource to help the children develop their gross motor skills and they’ve enjoyed the various textures of the bench too.”

Research published in July found that children who spend most of their time barefoot develop motor skills differently to those who normally wear shoes, being noticeably better at balancing and jumping.

“Designing and creating furniture that not only looks appealing but also has benefits for learning is what we love doing most”, said Declan, co-founder of Twin Design.

“We’ve also been working on a similar product for a nursery in Edgbaston.”

Twin Design was formed in 2007 during Declan’s final year at Nottingham Trent University, where he studied furniture and product design.

Upcoming projects from the designers include pioneering pieces of furniture for education institutions, combining comfort and practicality with Bluetooth audio technology and wireless phone charging.

October Half Term Visitors will be able to let their imagination fly away with them during October Half Term Holidays, October 20th- 4th November, with a special Halloween themed 'Myths & Legends' week at Birdland Park & Gardens.

Discover why owls are considered to be so wise, where the legend of the phoenix came from, and find out which birds call the Romans believed meant imminent death in a series of fun talks at the renowned Bourton-on-the-Water attraction.

There will be quiz trails to follow, close encounter sessions and feeding displays throughout the holidays.

Watch Keepers feed the King penguins and Humboldts twice daily as well as the pelicans and flamingos.

Journey back even further in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Cotswolds, more than 65 million years ago and embark on a fascinating expedition discovering life-size dinosaurs.

Explorers will be armed with special dinosaur tracker kits, and will venture in to a Jurassic-themed landscape which is home to more than 30 different dinosaurs.

Find Brachiosaurus, Spinosaurus, Postosuchus, Velociraptors and more in the trail. Visitors will also be able to spot giant dinosaur eggs along with complete dinosaur skeletons.

The Jurassic Journey trail is also a fascinating reminder that today's bird species are directly descended from dinosaurs. Other species to look out for are the spectacular flying Pteranodon, Allosaurus, and the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Along the trail visitors will be able to have a go at searching for fossils in the Dino Dig where there will be activity tables to learn more about dinosaurs.

Leaving the trail visitors will meet Birdland's ratites, prehistoric-looking birds, and will be able to spot the similarities between the live birds and the dinosaurs.

New migrants will be given a helping hand to make Haringey their home with the launch of the council’s pioneering integration programme.

Connected Communities, which begins on 24 September, will help migrants to settle more quickly and successfully into life in the borough, offering the right support for people to handle a range of challenges.

The Connected Communities programme will be based at the Marcus Garvey Library, with residents, service providers and members of voluntary and community groups welcome to drop in or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Outreach and support programmes will take place in a range of venues including children’s centres, libraries, voluntary and community organisations and other pop-up locations within the borough.

Last night community groups gathered at a launch event at the library, attended by Councillor Mark Blake, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Communities. Cllr Blake said:

“Haringey has a proud tradition of community cohesion and I’m delighted that we will be able to build on that through the MHCLG-funded Connected Communities programme. We know many migrants face challenges when they first arrive. Helping them to integrate better in the borough benefits them and also builds strong, supportive communities. I look forward to seeing Connected Communities take shape.”

Made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Connected Communities will build upon the council’s existing work to support residents from all backgrounds across the borough. It will offer additional support and advice for Haringey residents who have arrived in the UK during the last ten years to develop a sense of belonging and contribute to and benefit from Haringey’s goal of all residents living well and achieving their potential.

The programme will offer support in these key areas:

Employment: The Haringey Employment and Skills Team (HEST) will have more resources so that they can support more residents into good, qualification-appropriate work. This will include assistance with transferring qualifications, finding work around caring responsibilities and ensuring residents are aware of relevant employment legislation. HEST will also be working with a number of workplaces to deliver English language support.v Housing: There will be additional information, advice and guidance on offer at Marcus Garvey Library, specifically aimed at migrants and other communities most likely to live in HMOs, as well as borough landlords. Parenting and early years: From our Children’s Centres, the Connected Communities programme will encourage take up of Haringey’s free childcare offers and work directly with migrant parents. This work will include an expansion of Haringey’s successful Parent Champions programme ESOL: In addition to their existing programme, the Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS) will be working with the Connected Communities programme to deliver additional ESOL including English language support in the workplace and parent-friendly ESOL Voluntary and community sector: We will be working with The Bridge Renewal Trust, the Selby Trust and others to increase the capacity of this sector to build strong communities and maximise use of public assets and facilities.

Collectively, dog owners in the UK would pay over £300m on top of the price of their hotels, if it meant they could bring their dogs with them, new research¹ from Best Western Great Britain has revealed.

The survey of 2,000 adults found that the average dog owner would be prepared to pay an additional £15.96 on top of their hotel costs in order to bring their dog along with them. More than one in six (18%) would pay more than £20, while one in ten (10%) UK dog owners would pay over £30. With around one in three (29%) people owning a dog, this means that across the nation, dog lovers could be contributing an extra £304,606,593 to the hotel industry².

The study by Best Western Great Britain explored the population’s holiday preferences, and the lengths they would go to in order to make their getaway perfect.

It was revealed that a staggering one in seven (14%) dog owners in the UK would rather go on holiday with their dog than their partner. The figure drops slightly among more established couples, however more than one in ten (12%) married Brits would still rather holiday with their hound.

They may be man’s best friend, but the survey revealed that it is women who are most likely to feel this way, with 15% saying that they’d prefer to go away with their dog, compared to just 12% of men.

With British tourists clearly so keen to take their dogs away on holiday, Best Western Great Britain recently launched its search for the best holiday pictures of dogs across the country.

As marathon fever hits Birmingham this October, a local hospice has created a 26-mile sporting event that everyone can get involved in – even if they haven’t done any training.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice’s ‘i-Marathon’ challenges people to complete 26.2 miles of activity across the month of October.

The virtual marathon will see participants choose their preferred sporting activity– whether that’s running, cycling, swimming, walking or mixture of all them – as well as picking where, when and how they’ll complete it.

So whether that’s one mile of running on the treadmill for 26 days or six miles of cycling every weekend, the i-Marathon is a fantastic opportunity for beginners or people with busy lifestyles to introduce exercise into their day-to-day schedules.

Laura Nash, events manager at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “October is marathon month in Birmingham, so we wanted to create an alternative challenge that still lets people get involved and go the distance but at a pace that suits them. We know how daunting 26.2 miles can feel to do at once, so the i-Marathon is a great starting point for people looking to do a marathon in the future or for those simply looking to keep fit and active.”

Participants will receive a free hospice t-shirt when they sign up and for those who reach their 26.2 miles goal and raise the minimum sponsorship, they’ll be awarded their own commemorative medal.

All funds raised will go towards the Hospice, which provides vital care to people and their families living with life-limiting illness across Birmingham and Sandwell.

Laura added: “As well as completing such a gruelling distance, participants really will make a difference to the people and families that we care for. Last year, the i-Marathon raised over £5,000, which will help make beds available for people needing expert care and support at the Hospice.”

Every day, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice cares for 400 people in their own homes, in their local communities and at the Hospice.

Registration for the i-Marathon is £5 and participants can sign up, here: www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/i-marathon

The sculpting of a statue of a First World War Sikh soldier has entered an exciting stage, as work begins to cast the landmark monument in bronze.

Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick has commissioned the Lions of the Great War monument to honour the sacrifices made by South Asian service personnel of all faiths who fought for Britain in the war and other conflicts.

Millions of men from the Indian subcontinent fought in the two world wars, serving in the British Indian Army.

The 10-foot high statue is set to be unveiled in Smethwick High Street in November to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.

Black Country-based sculptor Luke Perry, who is creating the statue, said: “The pouring of the bronze and the reveal of the metal after the shell has been broken off is one of the most impressive parts of creating sculpture.

“There's liquid bronze being poured into red hot shells and everything has to be done in seconds while the work is hot so there's little room for error.

“It’s a really visual part of the process – it looks as dangerous and filled with jeopardy and alchemy as it is!”

The Lions of the Great War statue will be sited between High Street and Tollhouse Way, and Sandwell Council is working with the gurdwara to create a paved public space with seating and lighting.

An adjoining green space, which includes a memorial celebrating inventor James Watt, who pioneered steam power in Smethwick, is also being refurbished with new landscaping to complement the statue and public space.

Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick is covering the cost of designing and building the statue.

President of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick Jatinder Singh said: “It’s fascinating to see how the statue is taking shape. We are very proud to be bringing this memorial to Smethwick High Street to honour the sacrifice of all those brave men who travelled thousands of miles to fight for a country that wasn’t their own.”

Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Steve Eling said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the completed statue. It’s so important we remember the sacrifices made by people for our country.”

Stoptober, the 28-day stop smoking campaign, is back next month – and people in Wolverhampton are being encouraged to sign up and stub out their cigarettes for the very last time.

The 28-day stop smoking challenge from Public Health England begins on 1 October and is based on research that shows that people who can stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay smokefree for good.

Quitting smoking is easier with the right support. The most successful quit attempts are made with a combination of quit methods, so this year Stoptober is providing a free online Personal Quit Plan, which helps smokers find the right support for them.

Options include face-to-face support, nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, inhalers or lozenges and e-cigarettes. There are also the Stoptober app, Facebook messenger bot, daily emails and Stoptober online communities.

Latest figures show the percentage of adults who smoke in Wolverhampton dropped from 16.5% in 2015 to 14.4% in 2017, and that smoking rates in Wolverhampton are now lower than the national average.

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

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you.

"It is the biggest cause of preventable illness and premature deaths in the country, with one in every two long-term smokers dying prematurely from a smoking-related disease unless they quit.

“Quitting can significantly improve people's health and well-being, on both a short-term and long-term basis. For instance, 48 hours after stopping smoking, carbon monoxide will be eliminated from your body; after 72 hours, breathing becomes easier; and from two weeks onwards, your circulation improves.

"Five years after quitting, your risk of heart attack falls by half compared with someone who is still smoking, while after 10 years it is the same as if you had never smoked. Also 10 years after quitting, your risk of lung cancer is about half that of a person who still smokes.

"While quitting is never easy, Stoptober is the perfect time to give it a try, particularly with the support of friends, family and work colleagues.

"Everyone’s quitting journey is different, and Stoptober can help you choose which one will work for you – and just remember that, if you can make it to 28 days smokefree, you’re five times more likely to quit for good."

To take part in Stoptober, please sign up at www.nhs.uk/oneyou/be-healthier/quit-smoking/stoptober.

Dippy has left Birmingham, but the huge impact of the exhibition has now been revealed. Over a quarter of a million people visited Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG), spending £4.2million in the city during its 107 day run.

The record-breaking exhibition is BMAG’s most successful ever temporary exhibition with 255,548 visitors from 26 May - 9 September 2018. Research shows that the direct economic impact of these visitors on the city is almost £1.7million, bringing additional spend to local businesses, shops, restaurants and hotels.

Birmingham was the second stop on the tour of the Natural History Museum’s iconic 26 metre long Diplodocus cast, but Dippy captivated visitors from across the region and beyond. The exhibition attracted 140,203 additional visitors to Birmingham City Centre, who visited especially to see the exhibition, including 66,844 visitors from outside the West Midlands. Meanwhile the popularity of the exhibition helped to boost BMAG’s overall visitor figures, with the museum attracting more than double the amount of visitors than during the same period last year.

65 volunteers supported Dippy on Tour in Birmingham, including volunteer curator’s assistants, communications and engagement assistants, and corporate volunteers, who dedicated nearly 2000 hours of their time.

Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure has been brought about by the Natural History Museum, in partnership with the Garfield Weston Foundation and supported by Dell EMC and Williams & Hill.  In Birmingham, the exhibition was supported by Paradise Birmingham and Friends of Birmingham Museums.

Support also came from Retail Bid Birmingham, with a dinosaur-themed topiary trail across the city encouraging visitors to explore and to learn more about different species of dinosaur as part of visiting Dippy. Visitors at BMAG were also greeted by a 30kg chocolate Diplodocus created by Cadbury World chocolatiers to mark Dippy’s stay in the city.

Janine Eason, Director of Engagement at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “A massive thank you to everyone who visited and supported Dippy on Tour in Birmingham. We knew the exhibition would be popular, but we have been overwhelmed by the response and the impact felt across the city.

“Seeing so many people come to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery shows the power that museum objects can have in attracting people to the city centre. We hope to see many of Dippy’s visitors back at the museum again as we have a jam-packed year ahead.”

As part of Dippy’s display, visitors engaged with a wider exhibition about the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds, with Birmingham’s bird collection back on display at the museum for the first time in 20 years.

Dippy and the exhibition fascinated and inspired adults and children alike with school visits, day trips, corporate events, expert talks and even a marriage proposal taking place in the exhibition space. After seeing the exhibition many visitors took part in learning activities including a Dino Dig excavation, crafts and interactive storytelling.

Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, says: “We are delighted that Dippy has enjoyed a record-breaking stay at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and has inspired visitors to consider the wonders of our natural world. Dippy on Tour is a wonderful way to celebrate our 60th year working in partnership with inspiring charities across the United Kingdom and we hope to work with more in the Midlands in future.”

Dippy on Tour is on display at Ulster Museum in Belfast from 28^th September 2018.

The tour takes in the following venues, in chronological order:

• Dorset County Museum, 10 February - 7 May 2018
• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, 26 May - 9 September 2018
• Ulster Museum, Belfast 28 September 2018 - 6 January 2019
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, 22 January - 5 May 2019
• Great North Museum, Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne, 18 May - 6 October 2019
• National Museum Cardiff, 19 October 2019 - 26 January 2020
• Number One Riverside, Rochdale, 10 February - 28 June 2020
• Norwich Cathedral, 11 July - 31 October 2020

The search is on to find the UK’s ultimate gaming rig. The UK’s largest independent tech retailer Ebuyer is asking for gamers from across the UK to submit photos of their gaming setup for a chance to win a £200 Ebuyer voucher code to add to their setup.

Creating your own gaming rig is a rite of passage for gaming enthusiasts, with fans looking to continuously build bigger and better setups to enhance their gaming experience. By modifying your PC, it allows for the ultimate gaming experience, creating features that aren’t part of the intended experience.

Recently it was revealed, American rapper Post Malone is a huge gamer, with him unveiling his custom-built gaming PC that cost him approximately $6,400! * Although his set up is extreme, it features the key essentials for a top rig, include a gaming PC, fast monitors for a cinematic experience, additional storage and graphic cards and a liquid cooling system.

All these essentials come at a cost, but we want to find the UK gamer who has the ultimate gaming setup - think big, extravagant and costly!

Submit your pictures through the Ebuyer blog here: https://www.ebuyer.com/blog/2018/09/do-you-have-the-uks-most-impressive-gaming-setup/

"We also want to see your images across social media so, don’t forget to use #showoffyoursetup when sharing.  "

Stephen James, Marketing Manager at Ebuyer said: “Here at Ebuyer we are fascinated by all things gaming. We want to see the real life setups of some of the best gaming rigs out there. It’s going to be interesting to see just how dedicated UK gamers are to their hobby, and just how extreme some of the rigs are!”

Young people in Birmingham are being urged to make their voices heard and have their say on issues affecting their generation.

Nominations for the upcoming Youth Commissioner elections, run by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), opened earlier this month.

The positions give candidates under the age of 18 the chance to represent their peers and give young people a voice on topics that affect and matter to them.

A total of 16 volunteer positions are up for grabs across the West Midlands, with four in Birmingham, with successful candidates winning a two-year term.

They will be tasked with coordinating events, advising the PCC on issues affecting young people and challenged to hold the police force to account if they fall short of expectations.

The position will provide an avenue for the successful candidates to have a positive impact on their local area and wider region – while also developing their own personal skills and confidence.

The commissioners are also expected to bring benefits to the wider community, breaking down barriers between young people and local police teams to build new trust.

The Positive Youth Foundation (PYF), are working with the PCC to help facilitate and develop the election process for the Youth Commissioners.

The process will act as many young people’s first interaction with democracy – with the internet and social media being utilised to enhance engagement.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: “I will rely on these Commissioners to keep me informed on the issues that matter most to young people.

“They will be my eyes and ears on the ground and play a crucial role.

“I want as many young people from across Birmingham to put themselves forward as possible.”

Katie Davis, Programme Co-ordinator at PYF, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to engage in meaningful interactions with the police force and have a positive impact on their area.

“It’s crucial that the election is online and accessible to all, engaging young people in the democratic process – as they vote for an individual who will be their local and regional voice.

“Social media will be used for campaigning, with voting being conducted securely online.

“As well as having an impact on their communities, the benefits of taking on these roles are vast and will help support the creation of further career opportunities in the future.”

Two Youth Commissioners will be elected for each of the following policing units, Birmingham West, Birmingham East, Sandwell, Coventry, Dudley, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Walsall.

Nominations close on Friday, September 28. The two-week election will then get underway on October 2nd and close on October 16th.

The successful candidates will then be announced on October 17th.

Dare to discover a host of family friendly activities at Newhaven Fort this Halloween Half-Term, October 20th-29th.

Descend into the terrifying tunnels of the Eastern Magazine for a terribly-fun tour of a post-apocalyptic world filled with a variety of scary live characters.

Who knows what surprises lie in wait around every corner as you explore the 'abandoned' city of Seaview with its shop, video arcade, office, graveyard, prison and pub?

Follow the trails around the Fort and see what gruesome goodies await you in the witch's cauldron…

For those who daren't venture into the depths, and those who emerge unscathed, you'll even be able to create your very own creepy creatures to take home in our drop-in craft sessions, running daily. So, if you fancy creating a bat to 'hang about' with, or spinning a yarn with a spidery companion, pop into the Activity Centre to make some beastly new friends.

Plus, don't forget all the Fort's other attractions will be open as usual.

Immerse yourself in the dramatic blitz experience, where you'll feel what it was like to be caught in an air raid during the Second World War.

The Trench Brothers exhibition is on display in the Grand Magazine, giving you the chance to learn about the stories of Indian and West Indian soldiers who fought for the British Empire in the First World War.

Soak up the unique atmosphere of the cliff-top gun emplacements and enjoy the stunning views of the Sussex coast and South Downs. You can also discover the story of the Victorian Fortress, learn about life during two World Wars, visit the 40's themed Tea Room and browse in the quirky gift shop.

Haringey came out in force at the weekend for its very own Pride Festival. The event celebrated the LGBT+ community on Saturday 15 September, and was attended by local MPs and Cllr Blake.

Cllr Mark Blake, Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety and Engagement, said:

“It was great to see so much of our community gather together in a day of solidarity and celebration to show how far we’ve come together since the 1980s. We’re very proud of our heritage of support for the LGBTQ+ community and we look forward to continuing to work together on this.”

The free Saturday event was part of a recreation of a 1989 Haringey Pride Festival that started at Wood Green. Residents enjoyed artistic performances and a vibrant mini parade in Ducketts Common.

The project, funded by Heritage Lottery, was part of the wider project Haringey Has Pride which celebrates and investigates Haringey’s rich Heritage in LGBTQ+ activism. Previous community activities included a flag-making workshop at Alexandra Palace, and a Community Fun Festival at Chestnut Community Centre.

The Ducketts Common event offered guest speakers sharing their experiences of LGBTQ+ activism, as well as Haringey’s role in standing up for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Later at the Wood Green Library, guest speakers included local MPs David Lammy and Catherine West.

Jacksons Lane creative heritage manager Ben Price said:

“Saturday showed us how rewarding it is to successfully work in partnership with so many organisations, such as Wise Thoughts and the Council.

“It’s exciting that looking back at the past is influencing the future in our borough for the better, as this project has helped create a successful LGBTQ+ network for Haringey.”

Niranjan Kamatkar, artistic director of Wise Thoughts, added:

“We’re also working in partnership with other community organisations in Haringey to strengthen the support offered to people who identify as LGBTQ+ in the borough, on this and other projects such as heritage research.”

The day was part of a wider project which will include a documentary with Opening Doors London and Homes for Haringey, as well as a community play at Alexandra Palace.

Ahead of performing at Symphony Hall yesterday, Dionne Warwick spoke to invited guests about celebrating Birmingham Black History Month.

The private event, attended by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Yvonne Mosquito, Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Beverly Lindsay and Honorary Consul for Lithuania, Keith Stokes-Smith, shone a spotlight on what has become an important feature of the City’s event calendar.

Dionne Warwick is a true hero of our time, her sheer class and elegant charisma shine from the stage as she performs some of the most beautifully written classics from 5 decades. The Soul/Pop Legend is in Birmingham as part of her 2018 tour ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ performing the classic hits ‘Walk On By’, ‘Any One Who Had A Heart’, ‘Do You Know The Way To San Jose’, ‘Don’t Make Me Over’, ‘Heartbreaker’ and many more.

Paulette Francis-Green, one of the partners for Birmingham Black History Month said:

“I am so proud to have been in the company of Ms Warwick, who is a trailblazer with her songs and performances. I grew up with her songs, in particular ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ and ‘Walk On By’. Black music has been profound in how it has challenged the injustices of being a person of colour around the world. Music can empower, motivate and encourage all to break down barriers.”

Town Hall, and more recently Symphony Hall, have been the focal point for monumental moment’s in Birmingham’s black history and are delighted to be working closely with Birmingham Black History Month throughout October to share some of these stories.

Town Hall Symphony Hall’s Chaplain, Elaine Hutchinson said;

“It was a phenomenal event! It was lovely to see Dionne Warwick, I never thought I’d actually get to see her in my lifetime, so to be so up close and personal and to be part of Black History Month which is so important for black people in the West Midlands is amazing.”

While there is no ‘I’ in ‘team’, there are three in ‘irritating’ which is how nearly one in three of office workers in Birmingham (31%) would describe hearing that cliché at work.

Buzzwords and jargon seem to be unavoidable in the modern workplace, no matter how many people find them annoying. Business telecommunications provider, 4Com, has looked into the phenomenon, surveying office workers in Birmingham to discover the city’s biggest pet peeves when it comes to office jargon.

The top ten most annoying buzzwords and phrases according to Birmingham’s office workers are:

1. There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team’ (31%)
2. Thinking outside the box (25%)
3. Let’s touch base (22%)
4. No brainer (21%)
5. Close of play (19%), win-win (19%)
6. Draw a line in the sand (14%)
7. Game changer (13%), I’ll just ping that over (13%), Having bandwidth to take on more (13%)
8. Value added (11%), 110 percent (11%)
9. 110 percent (10%)
10. Check in (8%), Wash-up (8%)

Some claim to using office jargon without really noticing (11%), while others choose to do so in order to make themselves appear more professional (6%), and impress their coworkers (18%). One in ten workers (10%) even confess to using the language at home - and enjoying it.

Additionally, the survey looked into the jargon that Birmingham workers use most often. The top ten most common office buzzwords and phrases are:

1. Thinking outside the box (42%)
2. ASAP (39%)
3. No brainer (33%)
4. At the end of the day (31%)
5. Win win (29%)
6. Back to the drawing board (26%), Give you a heads up (26%)
7. Close of play (25%), To be fair (25%)
8. I’ve got a lot on my plate (24%)
9. Smashed it (21%)
10. Catch up (19%)

Commenting on the research, Mark Pearcy, Head of Marketing at 4Com said, “We can all be guilty of using the odd buzzword or two when talking to colleagues. It might sound snappier in an email, but unless the person receiving it knows exactly what you mean, there’s not much point!

“As a telecoms provider, we are all about communication - the more straightforward, the better. When it comes to making a point or explaining your ideas, it’s definitely more important to be understood than to sound slick.”

Fred. Olsen is playing its part in helping to conserve our local shoreline by supporting the Marine Conservation Society's 'Great British Beach Clean'. The Fred. Olsen team cleaned a 100-metre section of River Orwell foreshore at Priory Park, Ipswich on Sunday 16th September 2018, and collected an incredible 73kgs of rubbish, in just over 90 minutes!

Fred. Olsen was proud to hold its first-ever 'Beachwatch' beach clean event with the Marine Conservation Society ('MCS') at Priory Park, Ipswich on Sunday 16th September 2018, in support of 'The Great British Beach Clean'.

In just over 90 minutes, the Fred. Olsen team collected an unbelievable 73kgs of rubbish at Nacton shores!

Rachael Jackson, Public Relations Manager for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and organiser of the inaugural Fred. Olsen beach clean said:

“It was a very successful first-ever beach clean for Fred. Olsen and a project that we would like to continue into the future. We were amazed – and disappointed at the same time – that we were able to find so much rubbish, along a fairly small section of the Nacton shores, ranging from plastic bottles, car parts, yacht buoys, cuddly toys and even metal barbeques!

“We care passionately about the natural environment around us and – as an Ipswich-based company – we chose the River Orwell as our beach clean area because the majority of our staff live and work locally. We would like to thank Priory Park and Suffolk Coast & Heaths for all their assistance and support throughout our beach clean event.”

Fred. Olsen will be submitting the data of all the rubbish collected to the MCS to assist and inform their studies along the River Orwell.

Wolverhampton is preparing to turn Orange again as the city says ‘No’ to gender-based violence.

Residents, businesses, schools, faith groups, charities and other organisations across the city are once more being encouraged to 'Orange Wolverhampton' between 25 November and 10 December.

In doing so, they will help raise awareness of Wolverhampton’s drive to end gender-based violence – primarily that committed against women and girls, including domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour-based’ violence and sexual violence.

At the same time, they will be highlighting the help and support that is available to victims in Wolverhampton from local and national organisations such as The Haven, Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum, St George's Hub, Karma Nirvana and the City of Wolverhampton Council.

More than 50 organisations took part in 2017's campaign, holding wear orange days, turning their websites and social media channels orange, sharing key messages about the campaign with staff, customers and service users, holding orange cake sales or coffee mornings, lighting their buildings orange, flying orange flags and much more.

Some 16,000 people also showed their support by wearing orange ribbons throughout the 16-day campaign.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Last year's Orange Wolverhampton campaign was the biggest so far, with thousands of people showing their support in one way or another.

"We want to make this year's campaign even bigger – and this is your chance to get involved. There are so many things you can do, big and small, all of which will help raise awareness of these issues.

"The colour orange symbolises a brighter future and a world free from gender-based violence, and turning Wolverhampton Orange is an important part of our work to make sure victims know how to get the help and support they need."

Key dates for this year’s campaign include: Wear Orange Day on Monday 26 November, when people are encouraged to wear orange clothing; the return of the Orange Wolverhampton pop up shop in the Wulfrun Centre on Thursday 29 November, where people can find out more about the campaign and the help and support available locally; and Eat Orange Day on Fridays 30 November and 7 December, on which people are asked to consume some orange food or drink.

Orange Wolverhampton supports the United Nations’ Orange the World campaign to end violence against women and girls, which takes place annually between 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and 10 December, UN Human Rights Day.

Anyone suffering from domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour-based’ violence or sexual violence, or knows someone who is, should call the relevant helpline:

• The Haven Wolverhampton 24-hour helpline for women - 08000 194400
• St George’s Hub support for male victims - 01902 421904
• National Domestic Violence helpline for women - 0808 2000 247
• National Domestic Violence helpline for men - 0808 8010327
• NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation helpline - 0800 028 3550
• Karma Nirvana helpline for victims of so-called ‘honour-based’ violence and forced marriage - 0800 5999 247
• Wolverhampton Adult Social Care - 01902 551199
• Wolverhampton Children's Social Care - 01902 555392

In an emergency, always call police on 999.