Community News

The prestigious BP Portrait Award will return to Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Saturday, October 13.

Now in its 39th year, it showcases the most outstanding and innovative new portraits from around the world.

The free exhibition features a variety of styles and approaches to the contemporary painted portrait, from informal and personal studies of friends and family to revealing paintings of famous faces.

This year, 2,667 entries were received from artists in 88 countries.

Each one was judged anonymously by a panel of judges - the artists’ name, nationality, gender and age were withheld - and the list was gradually reduced to just 48 exceptional portraits for the exhibition.

The judges individually addressed what makes an outstanding portrait, weighing up the likeness, narrative, structure and overall impact of the work.

The BP Portrait Award 2018 exhibition was launched at the National Portrait Gallery in June and is exhibiting at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, as its only English touring venue, until Friday, November 30, before moving on to Edinburgh. Normal gallery opening hours are Monday to Saturday (10.30am– 4.30pm) and Sunday (11am–4pm).

Highlights of the exhibition include portraits by the shortlisted artists, Felicia Forte and Zhu Tongyao, as well as the First Prize winner, Miriam Escofet, whose enigmatic work An Angel At My Table shows the artist’s elderly mother sitting at her kitchen table surrounded by tea crockery. Escofet says she was conscious of wanting to ‘transmit an idea of the Universal Mother, who is at the centre of our psyche and emotional world.’

A series of talks and events will complement the exhibition. For more information visit www.wolverhamptonarts.org.uk.

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: “It is very welcome to see the BP Portrait Award back in the City of Wolverhampton and I am very happy that we he have the opportunity to exhibit it again.

“The works on display are exquisite and the skills of these artists are extraordinary.

“I would urge everyone to take the time to come and see the exhibition before it moves to Scotland in December.”

Ms Des Violaris, Director UK Arts and Culture BP, added: “The BP Portrait Award has established itself as one of the most important platforms for portraiture in the world, and with the value of the prizes increasing across all categories this year it is also one of the largest of any global arts competition.

“Congratulations to Miriam Escofet and all of this year’s prize-winning artists.

“BP is a major supporter of UK arts and culture, and we are extremely proud of the continued success of this award programme and we look forward to seeing the exhibition in London, Wolverhampton and Edinburgh throughout the year.”

The BP Portrait Award, one of the most important platforms for portrait painters, has a first prize of £35,000, making it one of the largest for any global arts competition. This highly successful annual event is aimed at encouraging artists over the age of eighteen to focus upon, and develop, the theme of portraiture in their work.

You’ve decided it’s time to move house, but with the huge variety of properties on the market just where do you start?  Perhaps you are weighing up a new build versus an existing house?  Or is the world your oyster and you are finding it hard to pinpoint where in the country you would like to settle?

Help is at hand from NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes.  NHBC has created an interactive map showing you where to find new build home developments of outstanding quality.

Pride in the Job is a UK-wide competition dedicated to recognising site managers who achieve the highest standards in house building. These site managers are in the top 3% of the sixteen thousand managers who competed for the title this year.  They have consistently demonstrated key leadership skills in their day-to-day work; from demanding high standards of workmanship from all trades on site, through to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all employees and visitors.

But what is in it for you?  Why should you look for a Pride in the Job winning site when buying your new home?

You can be assured that you are buying a home of exceptional quality.  A Pride in the Job winning home has received high marks across 44 different elements of the build; from its foundations, structure and roof through to the quality of finishes and landscaping.  In addition, our data shows that customers who buy a home on a Pride in the Job winning site have higher levels of satisfaction with their house and builder, so they are without doubt among the best the UK has to offer.

Before you spend hours trawling the internet for your next new home, take a look at the map showing the winning sites (www.nhbcnewhomes.co.uk).  They will have an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award flag flying at the entrance to the development too, so make sure you also keep an eye out for those when visiting a show home.

John Taylor Hospice has received five stars, the highest possible rating, for food hygiene in a spot inspection by Birmingham City Council.

For more than five years running the Erdington-based hospice has received the top rating which is classified by the council as ‘very good’. It was awarded after inspectors visited the hospice in an unannounced visit on 3 July.

The Catering Team, Chefs Steve Barfield, Clare Pressick and Tina Dixon, provide fresh food 365 days of the year for patients, their families, staff and other visitors and the hospice cafe.

Steve said: “Quality and cleanliness are absolutely paramount in our kitchen and we are delighted that the team has again seen its efforts rewarded with a five star hygiene rating.

“We believe in making sure every single meal we create is special and it’s great to see this recognised.”

The team creates daily menus but also takes time every day to visit each patient and discuss their individual needs and choices.

“Although we have the menu as a start, we aim to give every patient the food they like, are able to eat and will give them the maximum health benefits possible,” said Steve. “At the same time we ensure all of those meals are fresh, made with good quality produce and created in a kitchen which we work really hard to keep super clean.”

John Taylor provides specialist care for people living with a terminal illness and their families both at the hospice and in the community. The catering is an essential part of that service.

Director of Corporate and Commercial Services Gail Hipkiss said: “A huge well done to the team on receiving the five star rating again. We set the bar for quality and cleanliness very high and it’s good to see this recognised by the council.

“We constantly receive lovely comments from people we care for and their families over the quality of the food and the individual attention given by the team so it’s positive to see this backed up by high standards.”

For more on John Taylor Hospice and its care for local people see www.johntaylorhospice.org.uk

The charity Crimestoppers is launching a national campaign to highlight County Lines and encourage the public to report their concerns.

To help the public understand what ‘county lines’ is and encourage reporting to Crimestoppers, the charity is running a campaign which commenced today. An advan will be touring the various parts of the region next week, giving people more information on how they can play their part in helping to tackle this issue. In addition, a social media campaign has also been launched by the charity to raise awareness of the crime.

What is County Lines

County lines refers to gangs and organised criminal networks which export illegal drugs into suburban, rural and coastal areas, using dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal line.”

The crime sees County Lines gangs exploit children and vulnerable adults to move drugs and money.

The gangs move into a rural or suburban area for a short time, taking over the home of a vulnerable person where they set up a base.

Many of those taken advantage of by these gangs have been forced to carry out criminal activity by threats, grooming and extortion and can be described as modern day slaves.

Spot the signs and report concerns

Have you noticed:

• A child or young person (sometimes as young as 12), during school hours or unusual hours (e.g. early in the morning, late at night)? They might be in a shopping centre or high street, or on public transport.
• A child or young person who seems unfamiliar with the local area?
• A child or young person being approached or intimidated by a controlling peer or group?
• A child or vulnerable person who is deliberately avoiding authority figures such as police officers or security guards?
• More people calling at a local address than normal? Sometimes at unsociable hours?
• Suspicious vehicles or people at an address?
• A neighbour has not been seen for a while?

If you see something concerning either a young or vulnerable person that doesn’t feel right, or looks suspicious, you can report your concerns 100% anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers. You can contact us on 0800 555 111 or send an untraceable online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Speaking about the campaign, Emily van der Lely, Crimestoppers lead on County Lines, said: “We know that the term ‘County Lines’ might not be widely recognised, which is why we are launching this campaign and asking for your help to support us in tackling this issue.

“We need help to put a stop to this exploitation and the damage that these criminals are inflicting on our communities and those being taken advantage of.

“We are asking you to contact us anonymously and safely through our 0800 555 111 number, or via our secure online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org - both methods are 100% anonymous. Always. Together we can put a stop to this.”

If you recognise any of the signs listed above, Crimestoppers is here to take your information. You can contact us anonymously on 0800 555 111 or can send an untraceable online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Sir Lenny, who was in the city for the Birmingham City University graduation ceremonies, took time out of his busy schedule to spend time on Ward 1, the hospital’s kidney ward.

He met with patients, families and staff as well as one of the hospital’s charity-funded ‘giggle doctors’, Dr Flowerpot, a professional performer who entertain youngsters while in hospital.

Known for his infectious laugh, the Dudley-born comedian said: “I was humbled to visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital last week and meet with the patients, families and staff on Ward 1.

“It was inspiring to hear how the hospital’s charity works hard to make a real difference to each child and family’s experience, allowing the youngsters to be kids first and patients second.”

Paula Duff, Impact Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It was an absolute honour to welcome Sir Lenny Henry to our hospital. He put a smile on the faces all of the children, families and staff he met - it really made their day.

“Visits like this are so incredibly beneficial to our families, especially those going through extremely difficult times. Play, fun and laughter is an integral part of what makes our hospital so special.”

Crowdfund Wolves is celebrating the second of its City of Wolverhampton projects hitting its fundraising target.

The success enabled the sea-side themed ‘All Saints by the Sea’ festival to be held on Saturday, July 21.

All Saints Action Network (ASAN) raised £2,993 through individual contributions, donations from SNA Builders, EasyAuto, TTC, and Unison; a council staff bake sale; and a significant donation from HeadStart Wolverhampton to fund the community event.

The family festival, held on All Saints Road was free to all. Activities and attractions included donkey rides, face painting and live music.

Shobha Asar-Paul, Chief Officer of ASAN, said: “It was a glorious family festival with a wonderful community, carnival feel. Everyone enjoyed the music and entertainment, and the children loved the donkey rides and the treasure hunt with Wendy Wolf and Wolfie. I am grateful to HeadStart and all our partners who helped make it a true community event.

“Local residents and people who live and work in the area were full of praise. One resident said: ‘It was brilliant to have an event on our door-step that brought local people together and provided such a happy and positive experience’.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, added: “Crowdfund Wolves is part of our approach to community engagement where we enable communities to support and develop the projects that they are passionate about.

“We are looking for even more unusual, interesting and innovative projects to make the City of Wolverhampton even better.”

All Saints Action Network is a voluntary group that works to improve the quality of life for all people living and working in the All Saints area.

Crowdfund Wolves is a website that connects people, communities and businesses to everything they need to make their idea a reality.

The council has joined with the Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council (WVSC) to develop the platform.

Health chiefs in Wolverhampton are encouraging people to take to social media during World Breastfeeding Week – beginning today – to drum up support for breastfeeding mums.

Members of the City of Wolverhampton Council's Public Health Team and the Infant Feeding Team at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust want Wulfrunians to go online and become Wolverhampton Breastfeeding Friends – #WolvesBFF.

To take part in the campaign, people are asked to post messages of support using the hashtags #WolvesBFF and #WBW2018.

The campaign is part of the work that the council's Public Health and Early Years teams are undertaking with the Infant Feeding Team and Health Visiting service to normalise breastfeeding in Wolverhampton.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "We are calling on all residents, community groups and even businesses to get involved and make a public display of support for breastfeeding.

“Research shows that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop illnesses such as gastroenteritis and respiratory and ear infections.

“They are also less likely to be obese or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, all of which are risk factors for heart disease, and so I would encourage everyone to show their support for this campaign."

Wolverhampton is also celebrating World Breastfeeding Week by holding a free event for new parents and mothers-to-be at Low Hill Community Centre, Kempthorne Avenue, from 1pm-3pm on Tuesday 7 August.

Visitors will be able to find out more about feeding their baby as well as other issues including slings, hypnobirthing, baby massage and baby yoga at the event.

Members of the Public Health Team, the Infant Feeding Team, health visitors and Health and Parent Champions will be on hand to offer advice and guidance, while families will be able to meet other parents, share experiences and learn new skills. Refreshments will be available, along with activities to keep babies and toddlers occupied.

The nation's influence on the London food scene is undeniable and exciting, with everything from neighbourhood eateries serving up regional classics, to Michelin-starred restaurants like Benares and The Clove Club continually drawing in ravenous crowds. And, for this year's anniversary, lucky Londoners can head to Brixton for a celebratory feast.

Indian chef Rani Pathare, known as "The Spice Angel" as dubbed by John Torode during her appearance on MasterChef, is hosting her first supperclub at secret bar The Beast of Brixton later this month.

With a menu comprising street food favourites like Dahi Batata Puri (these delicious puffed mini breads are currently all over your Instagram feed), Pulled Chicken and Chickpea Kachori, Lamb Dum Biryani and Aloo Methi; diners are in for a treat.

"When creating this special menu I wanted to showcase my favourite dishes using a delicate balance of spices to achieve diverse flavours from across India," said Rani about the event.

"The feast is a celebration of the Indian experience and The Beast of Brixton is a wonderfully intimate setting in which to tell the story of Indian cuisine."

With its entrance tucked away on Branksome Road, just off Acre Lane, The Beast is a hit with the locals and draws in a faithful crowd from further afield too.

As well as being a popular watering hole, the bar cooks up a devilishly decadent Sunday roast and is developing its calendar of hit supperclubs. Usually known for their punchy homemade frozen Margaritas, the owners will be serving their take on a frozen Lassi as a complimentary welcome cocktail ahead of the meal.

Rani's enthusiasm for the venue is contagious: "It's as if I come out of the kitchen and straight into someone's living room!

"I'm so excited to meet people at their tables on the night, share the traditional origins of each dish and raise a naughty rum lassi to India's Independence."

Remember the days when you met a new partner and you would practice your signature with his surname? When you wanted to be a footballer and already had an autograph? When you signed cheque books?  Nope, too far in the past?

Our signature is our name written in a distinctive way as a form of identification, but it seems the days of the carefully honed personal signature are coming to an end!

According a national study by UK cyber security consultancy -  Online Spy Shop - more than half of adults rarely sign their names anymore and one in five don’t even have a proper signature, instead just writing out their name when one is required and potentially leaving themselves open to the risk of identity theft and fraud.

The national study of 1,000 UK adults found:

* 55% of say they “rarely” use their signature

* One in five UK don’t have a consistent signature

* Four in ten signatures written in the UK are to sign for deliveries

Younger people are even less inclined to bother.  21% of those aged 18-24 say they don’t have a consistent way of signing their name and 15% can’t remember the last time they had to do it.

Over-55s are little different and may be responsible for keeping the written signature alive for a while yet.

84% of over-55s say they still have a consistent signature, but even among a demographic that grew up with written signatures as the standard, 7% can’t remember the last time they used theirs. Regular signature use is 20% lower among under-55s compared to over-55s.

According to the study, deliveries account for 41% of all signatures, while parenting related paperwork such as school consent forms and homework diaries account for 10%.

Steve Roberts of Online Spy Shop, who commissioned the research believes signatures could still have a place for a while, despite advances in encryption and security.

“We’re now so used to engaging with modern means of verification, be that fingerprint recognition or simply passwords and PINs, that the idea of just scribbling our name seems almost ridiculous.  So it’s no surprise that a significant proportion of us no longer have a definitive, consistent signature to call our own and many of us can’t even remember the last time we signed our own name.

“I don’t think it’s quite the end of the written signature, but I certainly believe the days of youngsters perfecting a unique, hard-to-copy autograph to use in adulthood will be a thing of the past, if it isn’t already.  Although in the EU, digital signatures are legally as legitimate as hand-written signatures, the latter is still standard proof of consent in many scenarios, so I’d recommend people take care to ensure their signature isn’t easily-copied, just in case.”

Down time has got a lot more fun thanks to a project between Pioneers Leading the Way (a youth empowerment charity), Wickes and social enterprise VIY (Volunteer It Yourself), which has seen local young people help build downhill go karts at the Bordesley Green Allotments. Following the project, the 38 volunteers gained accreditation in Carpentry.

The work, which was carried out in association with VIY, took place over a weekend and helped young volunteers learn valuable skills in carpentry by helping to build downhill go-karts. The work was completed alongside Pioneers Leading the Way, who are a charity that specialise in raising self-esteem, confidence and motivation, and both building and using the go-karts will hopefully fulfil this. Taking part in the project, aims to boost confidence amongst volunteers, and also helps to open doors thanks to their new qualifications. The Perry Barr Wickes store helped fund the project by donating materials required.

Mohammad Askar, Lead Mentor at Pioneers said: “Our volunteers really enjoyed getting involved in this project and it’s fantastic to see them working hard and enjoying themselves whilst gaining new found confidence and new skills that will help them in the future. They did a fantastic job and goes to show just how much can be accomplished in two days when everyone rolls up their sleeves and pitches in.”

Alistair Trevitt, Store Manager of Wickes, Perry Barr said: “It was great to be involved in such a worthwhile project that builds young people’s confidence and brings them together to teach them valuable DIY and trade skills. The downhill go karts look great and will hopefully be a great addition to the local community. It’s been wonderful to see such enthusiasm from everyone involved.”

The City of Wolverhampton Council's Carer Support Team has moved into its new home at Central Library.

The team offers a range of support for people who care for a friend, relative or neighbour in Wolverhampton, ensuring they are supported in their caring role, have access to the services they need and are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

They provide practical information, guidance and advice on a range of matters including benefits and short breaks for carers, and offer a range of other services including carer assessments, the Carers Emergency Card and training in skills such as first aid.

Drop-in sessions take place at Central Library on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am-noon and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm-4.30pm, and appointments for assessments can also be made outside of these times.

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Carers shouldn't have to struggle on their own; there is support out there, whether it be emotional, financial or practical advice and our Carer Support Team is on hand to help.

"The move to Central Library will enable the team to meet many more carers in a more accessible location close to the new City of Wolverhampton Market, and because the library has long opening times they will also have the flexibility to see carers outside of normal working hours.

"In addition, the team will be working across a range of other venues, including district libraries and community centres to promote the support they can provide to carers across all parts of Wolverhampton."

A carer is anyone who provides support for a relative, friend or neighbour without payment. The person they care for may have a mental health need, learning disability, physical and sensory disability or may be an older, vulnerable person. It is thought there are more than 26,000 unpaid carers in Wolverhampton.

Children will be getting breakfast with their books during the summer holidays at several local libraries as the popular scheme returns to Sandwell.

Cereal Readers is a library initiative in which children and their parents are invited to share a bowl of cereal and a glass of fruit juice as they take part in book related activities at the library during school holidays.

All the refreshments have been provided by local supermarkets and community groups and all the sessions are run by library volunteers

Children can get their breakfast from Blackheath Library, Glebefields Library, Rounds Green Library and Stone Cross Library

Councillor Syeda Khatun, deputy leader of Sandwell Council, said: "Cereal readers has proven to be very popular with local families and we are very grateful for the donations from local companies as well as the time given by our valued volunteers.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children's services said: "It's great to see so many children are enjoying 'Cereal Readers' and visiting libraries during the school holidays.

"We do lots to encourage parents and carers to take their children to libraries and having a breakfast on offer for the is a great incentive."

For six-year-old Sandwell schoolgirl Evie, there is no doubt littering is rubbish!

Evie wrote a letter and designed an eye-catching poster explaining to the council why littering and tipping rubbish is a bad thing and that she wants it to stop.

To thank Evie for her efforts, the Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Joy Edis invited her to the Mayor’s Parlour.

Evie wanted people to stop dumping rubbish on paths and at Sandwell's parks, so she created a poster explaining how to correctly dispose of waste.

In her letter, she explained why she doesn’t like people throwing rubbish on the floor. She said: “I want the world to look wonderful not scruffy. It will make the world complete if people do not throw their rubbish on the floor anymore."

Sue Ramsay, headteacher at Eaton Valley Primary School where Evie is a pupil, was very impressed when she found out about the letter. “It is great to see a child so young making her voice heard,” she said.

And Evie's mum Jane is very proud of her daughter. She said: “Evie took it upon herself to do this poster and write a letter to the council due to her passion for a cleaner and tidier Sandwell.”

Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Joy Edis, said: "I was extremely impressed by Evie's colourful poster urging people not to drop litter, and also her letter, saying she doesn't like people throwing their litter on the floor.

"It was lovely to meet Evie, along with her dad and grandparents - who brought her to the Parlour - to chat to her about her views on this important issue which obviously matters very deeply to her."

New parents and mothers-to-be can get information and support at a free event taking place to mark the culmination of World Breastfeeding Week.

They can find out more about feeding their baby and baby-led weaning, as well as other issues such as using slings and hypnobirthing, at the event at Low Hill Community Centre, Kempthorne Avenue, on Tuesday 7 August.

Experts from the City of Wolverhampton Council's Public Health team, the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust's Infant Feeding Team and health visitors will be on hand to offer advice and guidance, while families will be able to meet other parents, share experiences and learn new skills. Refreshments will be available, along with activities for babies and toddlers.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "The aim of this free event is to give parents the information they need to make a fully informed choice on feeding their baby, and to support and develop their relationship with their child.

“They can also get information and advice about a range of other issues which will benefit themselves and their new arrival, and will have the chance to meet other new parents.”

She added: “The session is part of the ongoing work of Public Health, the council’s Early Years’ service and Wolverhampton’s Infant Feeding Team to encourage more new mums in Wolverhampton to breastfeed.

“Research shows that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop illnesses such as gastroenteritis and respiratory and ear infections. They are also less likely to be obese or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels – all risk factors for heart disease.”

The free drop-in event takes place from 1pm-3pm. World Breastfeeding Week 2018 runs from Wednesday 1 August until Tuesday 7 August. It is organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide.

A scheme which aims to help people understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing through reading has been launched at Oldbury Library.

The Reading Well initiative encourages libraries to offer a range of books which provide helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences.

Subjects include mindfulness, coping with depression and anxiety, and grief as well as body image and body dysmorphic disorder, binge eating and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Some books also include personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs.

The books have been recommended by mental health professionals and people with experience of the conditions covered. They have been tried and tested and found helpful.

Councillor Syeda Khatun, Sandwell’s deputy leader launched the scheme with Sandwell Mayor, Councillor Joy Edis.

She said: “I’m delighted to be launching this important scheme.

"The books are all endorsed by health experts as well as people living with the conditions covered, and their relatives or carers.

“You can be recommended a title by a health professional, or you can visit your local library and take a book out yourself.

“This is another example of how our libraries are reaching out to provide services to our communities."

Reading Well has been developed by the Reading Agency in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians and the programme is funded by Arts Council England, Wellcome and the Welsh Government.

Reading Well collections are available in all of Sandwell’s 19 libraries and its mobile library service.