Community News

With the region basking in the hottest June for 40 years, Severn Trent has confirmed that, while it always expects to see an increase in demand for water, usage has been significantly more than normal.

Customers are using millions of litres more water every single day as they enjoy the sun and high temperatures. This has been the case for several weeks now and, with the hot weather set to continue, the company is asking customers to use water carefully, to help avoid any issues with pressures dropping during peak demand in the mornings and evenings.

Severn Trent has confirmed that they have plenty of water stored and reservoir levels are healthy. That water however, then needs to be treated through its treatment works before being pumped into supply. As fast as it is being produced and put into supply, it is being used by customers which can cause isolated areas of low pressure for people.

The company has increased its production capacity by millions of extra litres a day, but it’s also asking to customers to be neighbourly and help to use their water carefully to try and prevent low pressure for their communities.

They are specifically asking people to:

1.     Put their garden sprinklers away – a sprinkler can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour – which is more water than a family of four would normally use in a whole day

2.    Take a shower rather than a bath - It uses 40 litres less water and it’s quicker, which means you can get back out and enjoy the sunshine

3.    Avoid washing their cars, but if they have to use a bucket and sponge rather than a hose. If you clean your car for 30 minutes you’ll use 50 times less water with a bucket instead of a hose

Water efficiency manager, Doug Clarke explained, “Demand for water is massively up thanks to several weeks of extremely hot weather. While we have lots of water available and our reservoir levels are healthy and we’re putting millions of extra litres of water into the system, people are using water as fast as we can treat and pump it into supply. This is particularly the case during peak demand in the morning and evenings when we want to ask customers to restrict their supply so we can avoid areas of low pressure. We know how tempting it is to fill the paddling pool up, or get the sprinkler going, but to put things into perspective, a sprinkler can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour.

“We urge everyone to play their part and be extra careful with their water, especially during peak times.”

Birmingham St Mary’s championed the dedication of its volunteers this month (JUNE), with a movie-style celebration.

To thank its ‘shining stars’, the Selly Park-based hospice hosted two Hollywood-themed parties, in a bid to give back to those who give up their time for free.

Taking place during National Volunteers Week, the festivities included a movie-themed quiz, glitzy props for photos and a musical performance from the University of Birmingham’s ‘A Cappella Society’. The hospice also created its own ‘Wall of Fame’, which featured the names of its committed volunteers.

Birmingham St Mary’s – which provides vital care and support to local people living with life-limiting illness – has over 450 volunteers who generously give up their time for a number of different services. Volunteering roles include bereavement counselling, spiritual care, help with admin, catering, gardening, retail support and more.

Sue Smith volunteers in the fundraising team and has been supporting the hospice for over three years. She said: “Volunteering is both rewarding and a lot of fun. It’s a real privilege to help the hospice and I feel proud that my support can make a big difference to the people and families that the hospice cares for.

“I’ve made some great friends whilst volunteering at Birmingham St Mary’s and so it was fantastic to be able to spend time together and see our hard work and dedication acknowledged. The hospice makes me feel so appreciated and it always go above and beyond in thanking its volunteers.”

Tina Swani, chief executive at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “Without our fantastic volunteers, we really wouldn’t be able to provide such a wide range of services. Whether it’s project managing a fundraising campaign or serving cups of tea at our Day Hospice, every single one of our volunteers allows us to care for and support more people across Birmingham and Sandwell. It was fantastic to see so many volunteers enjoy our Hollywood celebrations and it was great to give back to those who give so much to others.”

Over the past year, Birmingham St Mary’s volunteers have:

·         Given up 38,405 hours of their time to support our chain of shops

·         Raised £11,000 during The Big Brum Bucket Collection 2017

·         Answered 19,063 telephone calls

·         Served over 18,396 cups of tea and coffee

·         Dedicated 415 hours of their time to maintaining our garden and grounds

·         Held 561 face-to-face bereavement counselling sessions

Birmingham St Mary’s is on the lookout for more volunteers to join its growing team. Volunteering can boost skills needed for the workplace and is a great opportunity to make new friends. To find out more, visit: www.birminghamhospice.org.uk/volunteer-with-us

To mark the 50^th anniversary of his death, the landmark statue of Birmingham-born comedian Tony Hancock is undergoing vital conservation cleaning.

The memorial statue by Bruce Williams stands in Old Square in Birmingham city centre and is cared for by Birmingham Museums Trust on behalf of Birmingham City Council.

Recognised as one of the best known comedians of the 1960s, Tony Hancock was born in Hall Green, Birmingham, on 12 May 1924. The statue was unveiled by Sir Harry Secombe in 1996.

During the Second World War, Hancock served in as a member of the Royal Air Force. He spent his younger years as an amateur entertainer, and this passion continued throughout his war years, as part of Ralph Reader’s RAF Gang Show.

He was most known and celebrated from 1956 for his popular comedy radio and television work, including Hancock's Half Hour. He passed on 25 June 1968 and the conservation work has been commissioned by Birmingham Museums Trust to mark the anniversary.

Mareva Conservation is undertaking the job on behalf of Birmingham Museums, which including carefully removing marks and surface soiling from the sculpture. Experts from Birmingham Museums’ Collections Care team are involved throughout the process.

Rob Lewis, Collections Care Manager at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “Tony Hancock is a celebrated Birmingham figure and it is only right that his memorial statue is carefully cleaned to mark the anniversary of his death.

“This work is part of our ongoing care of public art in the city and we are proud to have overseen the cleaning of this statue, preserving Tony Hancock’s legacy for years to come.”

People can enjoy a packed day of armed forces-themed celebrations in Wolverhampton city centre on Saturday (JUNE 30) featuring live performances, demonstrations and activities - culminating with a military parade led by The Band of the Mercian Regiment.

Armed Forces Day in the city will see retro-singers the Miss Fortunes, the Cosford Military Wives Choir, the Royal Air Force Air Cadets Military Band, George Formby Tribute Joe James Thomas, choirs from the City of Wolverhampton Council and Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust and many more - introduced and compered by Professional Toastmaster James Pugh.

The fun will be centered around a main stage in Queen Square between from 11am – 4pm.

There will be stalls in Dudley Street with have-a-go activities and competitions. People can stop and chat at a special ‘Meet a Veteran’ session hosted by SSAFA and Age UK between 11am and 2.30pm.

There will be an opportunity for people to test their aerodynamic skills when the Air Training Corps host a paper airplane challenge. The University of Wolverhampton’s School of Sciences will bring mind-blowing experiments and fun challenges including how to use a microscope in their ‘tweezer teaser challenge’ and learn how the body works in the body puzzle.

In addition, a range of charities and organisations will be offering information including tips on becoming a cadet or how to get into the military. There be representatives from  Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion, The Way, Staffordshire Regimental Association, Go Outdoors, University of Wolverhampton, Scotty's Little Soldiers, the Royal Air Forces Association, B Company Air Cadets and the Royal Air Force Cadets.

The celebrations will culminate with a military parade led by The Band of the Mercian Regiment and a flag-lowering ceremony comprising of around 200 military personnel from HMS Forward, the Army and RAF Cosford, cadets, veterans and standard bearers.

The parade will step off from Bilston Street (near Primark) at 3.30pm and march through Dudley Street to Queen Square where they will be met by a lining party of cadets, veterans and standard bearers.

Meanwhile, a trilogy of shows commemorating 100 years since the end of the First World War will be staged by members of the Central Youth Theatre young people and members of the Wolverhampton Orpheus Male Voice Choir.

The three individual performances under the theme 'If they ask us we'll never tell them' - is an described as an inspiring programme of work commemorating the centenary of the end of WW1. The shows will take place at various city centre locations throughout the day.

More information on the full programme is available from www.armedforceswolves.com

The Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Phil Page marked Refugee Week as he met service users and staff and presented awards to volunteers at Wolverhampton's Refugee and Migrant Centre.

He toured the established charity, based on Waterloo Road, on Friday (22 June), enjoying a 'bring and share’ lunch featuring traditional dishes from around the world and learning about the projects it delivers across the Black Country and Birmingham.

Julie Hodgkiss from the Refugee and Migrant Centre said: "We were delighted to welcome the Mayor as part of our week-long celebrations for Refugee Week.

"He met service users who had created a display board charting their journeys and was inspired by the refugee stories that he heard.

"We are very grateful to all our wonderful volunteers and so we were thrilled that the Mayor was hand to present awards to those who have contributed over 100 hours of their time so far this year."

Mayor Councillor Page said: "I was delighted to meet so many inspiring individuals and to meet members of the Refugee and Migrant Centre who are working so hard to enable them to become equal citizens.

“I was particularly pleased to help the Refugee and Migrant Centre thank its team of volunteers who give their valuable time, skills, experience and energy to help others."

For more information about the work of the Refugee and Migrant Centre, please visit www.rmcentre.org.uk.

The visit was part of Refugee Week, a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK and encourages a better understanding between communities. For more information, please visit www.refugeeweek.org.uk.

• The Refugee and Migrant Centre and the City of Wolverhampton Council have launched the Paulette Wilson Windrush Citizenship Project to provide specialist advice and support to help residents from the Windrush Generation to gain their rightful citizenship. Residents of Wolverhampton who are unsure of their immigration status and need support and advice can call 01902 311554 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

With the region basking in the hottest June for 40 years Severn Trent has released new figures showing that demand for water is significantly up.

Severn Trent’s eight million or so customers used almost 800 million litres on Sunday alone which is the equivalent of 320 Olympic sized swimming pools of wonderful water as they basked in the sun and high temperatures.

And, as demand is so high, the company is offering customers some simple tips to help save water.

Doug Clarke, water efficiency manager at Severn Trent, said: “The hot weather’s due to carry on through the week and water usage is at its peak so it is the perfect time to swat up on some simple water saving tips.

“So, when watering plants, use a watering can rather than a hose, and don’t worry about your lawn because it’ll bounce back once it starts raining again so you can put the sprinkler away.

“To put things into perspective, a sprinkler can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour – which is more water than a family of four would normally use in a whole day!

It’s been more than 20 years since Severn Trent last had a hosepipe ban in place, and while the company is confident it has enough supply to meet demand, it's still encouraging customers to save what they can.

Doug continues: “Our reservoirs and other water sources are in a healthy position and looking good at the moment but we’re asking our customers to think about being ‘water wise’ in whatever they do as the hot temperatures continue.  If there’s even a chance that it’s going to be a long dry summer, then we need to get into good habits now.”

With a mini-heatwave predicted which could see temperatures match the hottest day of the year so far, drivers are being urged to recognise the dangers of driving while dehydrated during the upcoming weekend and summer months, as Brits are faced with a scorching heat wave and increasing temperatures on the roads.

Research conducted by leading vehicle leasing company, Leasing Options, revealed that more than two in three (67%) UK drivers fail to recognise major symptoms of dehydration, including slower reaction times, loss of focus and muscle cramps, potentially putting themselves and others at risk behind the wheel.

With driver errors accounting for 68% of all vehicle crashes in the UK¹, drivers are being urged to take care and ensure they are adequately hydrated before every journey.

Health authorities recommend drinking around two litres of water a day³, but Leasing Options found that 37% of those surveyed are only drinking one litre of water a day, with 18% drinking less than one litre a day.

The results of the Leasing Options survey also suggested that men are more aware of the risks involved than women, with 62% of male drivers admitting to being aware in comparison to 55% of female drivers.

Overall, 84% of drivers think drink driving is more dangerous than dehydrated driving, despite a study conducted by Loughborough University⁴ revealing that mild dehydration is equivalent to being over the drink driving limit with regard to its impact on driver errors.

Iain Temperton, Director of Communications at Road Safety GB, said: “Before you start a journey you should make sure your vehicle is prepared but, just as importantly, you should ensure that you are ready and fit to drive. Driving on our ever more congested network is a task that requires full concentration. Making sure you are fully hydrated is a vital part of that process; the safety of vulnerable road users around you depends upon it.”

Mike Thompson, Sales & Marketing Director at Leasing Options, said: “At Leasing Options we pride ourselves on our safety measures and we think British drivers need to be more aware of the risks and symptoms of dehydrated driving during the hot Bank Holiday and summer weather to make our roads a safer place.

“The hot weather can sometimes take us by surprise in Britain. Drivers may not think drinking an extra glass of water before leaving the house can affect their driving abilities, but it could decrease chances of an accident.”

Health drinks brand WOW, has partnered with LGBT+ charity for young people, Just Like Us, to raise awareness for Pride month with a series of on and off-bottle activations.

The London start-up has created circle stickers atop the lids of its drinks, baring rainbow coloured versions of the brand's logo and the message “Pride Month 2018.” Available now until mid-July, the Pride sticker bottles will be available in all of WOW's stockists, including Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Boots, Co-op, Ocado and many more.

WOW will hand out limited edition cardboard rainbow glasses, temporary tattoos and other WOW merchandise throughout London, with all proceeds going towards Just Like Us. The campaign also extends to social media, encouraging the public to share pictures of their Pride themed WOW merchandise on Instagram or Twitter using the tag @drink.wow and hashtag #Pride2018. In response, WOW pledge to donate 50p to Just Like Us for each photo.

The funds raised will go towards the award-winning charity's efforts to support LGBT+ young people. Just Like Us helps LGBT+ young people to lead awesome lives by empowering young people to champion LGBT+ equality at school and work. The charity trains LGBT+ university students to share their own stories with secondary school pupils to make sure they hear powerful and positive messages from others who have been through similar experiences. The charity has previously been supported by the UK Prime Minister, singer Elton John and his husband David Furnish.

Tim Ramsey, Chef Executive at Just Like Us said: “We are delighted to be partnering with WOW for this year's Pride month. The support they are providing will make an amazing difference to lives of schoolchildren.”

WOW's French and Austrian bottles will also sport translated versions of the stickers. In France, a percentage of donations will also go towards Le Refuge, a charity which provides shelter and support to young adults victims of homophobia and transphobia. The Pride themed WOW merchandise will also be given out across Paris.

WOW Founder, Oliver Dickinson, said: “At WOW, we are all about living life in technicolour. Seeing life with your WOW glasses on means not distinguishing between gender and only seeing unconditional love. Celebrating diversity and inclusion is very close to our hearts so our decision to fundraise with our limited edition packaging was a no brainer. Charities such as Just Like Us and Le Refuge put in monumental amounts of hard work to help LGBT+ communities and deserve recognition and funds. We are thrilled and extremely proud to be supporting these charities and celebrating equality for people of all sexual and gender preference.”

Birmingham charity, Suited for Success, is appealing for votes after reaching the finals of the National Lottery Awards – the annual search for the UK’s favourite National Lottery-funded projects.

Suited for Success is competing in the Best Education Project category.  The project beat off stiff competition from over 700 organisations to reach the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding.

The project with the most votes will be crowned the winner and receive a £5,000 cash prize to spend on their project, an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and attend a star-studded glittering awards ceremony to be broadcast on BBC One on 26 September 2018.

First impressions count. Suited for Success is a charity which provides essential moral support along with free second-hand suits and workwear to help unemployed men and women make a great first impression in a job interview that could change their life.

Managing director, Patricia White, says winning a prestigious National Lottery Award and having their work showcased on national television would be an honour:

 “To be able to provide job interview presentation skills and FREE interview outfits to those who have experienced long-term unemployment, have a history of offending, drug abuse, homelessness, poverty and other life challenges is hugely rewarding.

“We’re delighted that our work on building self-esteem and confidence to help the people who need it most into employment has been recognised, and we can’t wait to push Suited for Success for the Best Education Project.”

“We’re really looking forward to the campaign and promoting our work and hope that everyone can get behind us for the National Lottery Awards!”

Musician, Activist and National Lottery Awards Ambassador, Professor Green, says: “It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise over £30 million each week for good causes, that extraordinary projects like those in the finals of the National Lottery Awards are possible.

“Suited for Success is doing an incredible job for the benefit of its local community and the work they do is hugely impressive. So what are you waiting for? Give them your support and get voting!”

Staff bringing their dogs in the workplace is a huge part of the working culture at Fish4Dogs, a premium pet food business based in Rushock, Worcestershire.

The company, an official sponsor of the 2018 event Bring Your Dog To Work Day, has a dog-friendly office policy in place all-year-round.

Every lunchtime, the full ensemble of staff and their dogs step out together to exercise and socialise… both dogs and their humans!

To support 2018’s annual event #BringYourDogToWorkDay, which was founded by HOWND five years ago, on today’s lunchtime stroll all staff sported ‘tour’ T-shirts with the name of their canine colleagues in a bid to raise awareness of the charity event, which this year is raising funds for All Dogs Matters.

Fish4Dogs, which has recently increased in staff from 30 to 42 employees at its head office in Rushock, Worcestershire, has allowed staff to bring their dogs into the office since it established 12 years ago and it has developed policy and processes to ensure that all four-legged companions are happily accommodated and their welfare considered during the day. Dogs really are at the heart of Fish4Dogs.

Research has identified that having dogs in the workplace can have positive benefits for employee productivity and wellbeing – including reducing stress levels in the workplace, increased job satisfaction, team co-operation and morale. The company has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years, with turnover increasing six-fold in just eight years. With a substantially lower than average staff turnover, Fish4Dogs are sticking by their dog policy!

It’s hotting up again across the Severn Trent region, with the forecasters reckoning it could be another fortnight of sun and high temperatures.

And that means Severn Trent is asking its customers to be a bit more ‘water wise’ and to think about the water they’re using whether for washing the car or for gardening.

Doug Clarke, water efficiency manager at Severn Trent, said: “We all want to keep our gardens looking their best and now is the time that people will be planting bedding plants and seedlings.  These can take a lot of watering in, and the biggest temptation is to get the hosepipe or sprinkler out and leave it running.  But this can use as much as 1,000 litres of drinking water in just one hour. To put it in perspective, that’s more water than a family of four would normally use in a whole day!

“We’re also urging gardeners not to worry about the health of their lawns just yet – in fact, watering established lawns is not only unnecessary, but can cause many common lawn problems.  Watering encourages shallow rooting, which in turn means the lawn is more at risk in dry conditions.  So once you start watering, you can’t stop.

“When we do get a shower or two, and no doubt we will – the warm weather never seems to last long - that’s probably all your garden needs.  And it’s also the perfect time to collect April showers in a water butt, that way you can keep the garden watered without using water from the tap, and save money too!”

It’s been over 20 years since Severn Trent last had a hosepipe ban in place and while the company is confident it has enough supply to meet demand, it's still encouraging customers to save what they can.

Doug continues: “Our reservoirs and other water sources are in a healthy position and looking good for the summer ahead.

“Now, we’re asking our customers not to be complacent and to think about being ‘water wise’ in whatever they do.  If there’s even a chance that it’s going to be a long dry summer, then we need to get into good habits now.”

Other handy tips, all of which are available at https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-supply/hot-weather-tips/ include:

·         Keep hydrated;

·         Have a shower rather than a bath;

·         Use a bucket and sponge rather than a hose to clean your car;

·         Look for leaking loos and get them fixed; and

·         Turn off taps when not in use.

New research has revealed that redecorating has gone out of style in favour of regular mini makeovers. Almost half (46%) of those surveyed have never redecorated! While only 25% had redecorated at least once in the last decade. More than half (59%) said they redecorate less in recent years in favour of smaller retouches instead.

More than a third (35%) of those surveyed by The House & Garden Festival, which returns to London Olympia this Wednesday, said they refresh elements of their décor every one to two years and 80% prefer a simpler seasonal spruce up. More than half (51%) are now updating their homeware items and accessories at least annually. While two thirds have noticed that family and friends are also opting for re-furnishings or slight décor updates rather than entire renovations.

The living room was affirmed as the heart of home style with 71% of those surveyed saying this is the room they care about most when it came to redecoration.  Next up was the kitchen (14%), the main bedroom (6%) and the least important room that lay undecorated for years on end was the guest bedroom (1%).   The research also found that spring is the season most home owners spruce up their interiors with 45% saying this was the time of year they refresh their design, followed by summer (27%), winter (20%) and finally autumn (6%) where people choose to take time out to relax!

Emma Hooton, Associate of the British Institute of Interior Design says: “It’s easier than you think to give your interior a quick refresh without needing to carry out major works.  There are so many fabulous patterned or textured wallpapers out there that can totally change the way a space feels or lovely bold paint colours to add character.  Accessories are a great way of adding layers of interest, simply by stacking books and grouping ceramics together, throwing in some fun cushions, gorgeous candles and adding big leafy plants around the room, you can update your interior instantly”.

Home design enthusiasts looking for this season’s new accessories will find everything they need at The House & Garden Festival. Returning this week on Wednesday 20th until Sunday 24th June, with The Art & Antiques Fair Olympia taking place for an extended period of time, from Wednesday 20th until Wednesday 27th June.

With over 400 exhibitors, the festival offers discerning shoppers a remarkable selection of interior and lifestyle brands within its four events. The Art & Antiques Fair Olympia has been running for 46 years and is widely recognised as one of the most established art and antiques fairs in Europe, selling everything from diamonds to dining tables with all pieces being vetted by independent experts.  HOUSE adds design and interiors products such as furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, fabric, lampshades, rugs, lighting and accessories and GROW London has a myriad of ideas on how to transform an outdoor space.  Spirit of Summer offers hand-picked independent boutiques and lifestyle products next to the UK’s finest artisan food producers.

Alongside the shopping opportunities will be plenty of professional advice and ideas on hand from interior, garden and lifestyle experts in the form of talks and workshops in the Festival theatre, tours, gardens and ‘style rooms’. For those in need of sustenance to keep shopping there will be the Mosimann’s pop up restaurant and two Champagne bars.

An exciting 22-day programme of events kicks-off on Tuesday to showcase the best ways to ‘Enjoy Wolverhampton’.

Partners and businesses across the City of Wolverhampton have come together to entice residents and visitors of all ages with a variety of free or purse-friendly activities and offers between Tuesday, June 26 and Tuesday, July 17.

The highlights from a host of free events are the flagship Festival of Food & Drink on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday 8 (12pm-8pm on both days), an afternoon of horse racing at Wolverhampton Racecourse on Monday, July 2 or Tuesday, July 10, and family entertainment at Armed Forces Day in Queen Square on Saturday, June 30.

Tap into the city’s arts offering by taking in this summer’s major Viking Heroes exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, shows at Newhampton Arts Centre, Arena Theatre, and cinema screenings at the Light House.

Music and dance lovers can enjoy the Kaiser Chiefs at Wolverhampton Racecourse on Saturday, September 1; Banstock Acoustic Music Festival at Bantock House on Saturday, July 7, when Miles Hunt  will be performing; Wolverhampton Songwriters’ Country Nights at Bantock Tractor Shed on Saturday, June 30; Young People’s Music Concert at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Friday, June 29 and Friday, July 13; and live rock at the Slade Rooms on Friday, July 6 and Friday, July 13.

Wolves Speedway also have a discount offer to see an evening of British Speedway League racing at the Ladbroke Stadium on Monday, July 9.

For those looking to get active, WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams has a range of free activities available at its ‘Fitness Fest’ on Saturday, July 14.

There are also a range of special city offers and city centre deals to take advantage of. So, sample Wolverhampton at its best, browse the city’s shops and indulge yourself in the restaurants, cafes and bars.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Wolverhampton is a vibrant, thriving city with plenty to offer every day of the year.

“For 22 days this summer there is even more on offer and it is a great way to sample places you might not normally think of visiting.

“There’s something for people of all ages to enjoy and many family-friendly events.

“Try out the famous Bank’s beer on a brewery tour or get your creative juices flowing drawing or sculpting. Try a new experience and watch the very best speedway riders in Wolverhampton or whet your musical appetite with a concert or band. If laughter or fitness is your thing – it’s covered too!”

Wolverhampton BID Director, Cherry Shine added: “There are so many reasons to visit the city centre throughout the summer with a full range of events, places to visit, fun activities, and days out.

“Alongside a great range of your favourite brands and independent shops, there are beauty salons, eateries, pubs and bars with so many ways you can enjoy Wolverhampton.

“Why not take advantage of the great city centre offers available and find out more about what our city has to offer?”

The Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination, Antigua and Barbuda, teamed up with hotel and island partners as well as iExplore to host a successful Twitter Chat on Romance on June 20 as part of the month-long celebrations and promotions to celebrate June as the official month of Romance for Antigua and Barbuda. The hour-long session that took place from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (ET) was hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (@AntiguaBarbuda): iExplore (@iExplore), the leading source for adventure and experiential travel: The Catamaran Hotel (@CatClubAntigua), an enticing boutique hotel on the beach in Antigua; Villas at Sunset Lane (@LoveVSLAntigua), a slice of paradise on Antigua as a villas only property. Romance and travel oriented questions were asked by the hosts to engage participants, provide information about the destination and ultimately give away two amazing prizes: a free wedding at the Catamaran Hotel and a 2-night stay at the Villas at Sunset Lane.

The Twitter Chat was incredibly successful with 65 million social impressions, 219 participants and over 1,7410 tweets sent out! The demographics are proof of the strength of visitors’ interest in Antigua and Barbuda and crafting the perfect romantic getaway.

The Twitter Chat was just the latest initiative to engage the Romance market, and share everything Antigua and Barbuda has to offer during this special month. Named ‘The Most Romantic Caribbean Destination,’ by the World Travel Awards for three consecutive years and finalist for this year, as well as receiving the Gold Magellan Award for ‘Best Honeymoon Destination’ in the 2017, Antigua and Barbuda can honestly boast to being the most romantic destination in the Caribbean. In addition to the Twitter Chat, Antigua and Barbuda are hosting a Facebook Sweepstakes, where one lucky couple will win a 3-night stay for two at the Sugar Ridge Resort. The second giveaway hosted on the destination’s official Instagram handle will also offer a lucky couple a 3-night stay at the nautically-inspired South Point Hotel. Both contests include roundtrip airfare for two and a romantic VIP experience.

For those that do not win a trip, special packages are also being offered from some of the destination’s most romantic hotels with deals as much as 65% off weddings and honeymoon packages.

Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Voted the World Travel Awards 2015, 2016 and 2017 Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination, the twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches – one for every day of the year. The largest of the Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua’s tourism events calendar includes the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, and the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 17 mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.

It’s back! Birmingham Hippodrome’s two-day family festival Summer in Southside heads back to the carefree days of childhood with a programme full of FREE fun for kids of all ages (that’s grown-up kids too!). On the weekend of 14-15 July, the streets around the theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome foyers will be transformed into a summer playground with traditional fun-fair rides, retro arcade games and a whole host of exciting and nostalgic performances to spark your imagination.

A new commission for this year comes from Fantabulousa, a pop-up family entertainment grotto, where you can listen and join in with different fabulous story time sessions involving storytelling, lip-syncing, face painting and the wonderful world of drag.

There will be theatrical delights for all, with plenty of exciting pop-up shows throughout the weekend. Join in the fun at one of the highlights of the festival: a new commission from The Fabularium, who performed at Summer in Southside 2017 with their amazing show, Reynard the Fox. This year, The Fabularium return with the brand new outdoor performance There be Monsters. Join the cranky but noble knight Don Quixote and his long-suffering, fortune-seeking side-kick on their epic quest to revive chivalry and confront monsters.

“Housed in a technicolour pop-up grotto and devised with some of the region’s leading drag artists, Fantabulousa offers stories songs, dancing, dress-up, and plenty of glitter - and grown-ups are very welcome too!” Tim Hodgson Producer at Tickertape Parade.

Another exciting new aspect of the festival is the construction of French artist Olivier Grossetête’s Perrott’s Chinese Tower. Over the weekend, the giant structure is built, completed, pulled over and then squashed! From Monday 9 July Birmingham Hippodrome are running FREE public participatory workshops in preparation for the festival where you can help construct the building blocks for this immense tower.

There’s plenty to see and do this year including Actual Reality Arcade, a life-sized interactive pop-up game zone inspired by classic arcade games. The festival also features Mufti Games, creating playful and memorable experiences for all.

We also have Fun DMC, featuring a daytime Block Party for kids and parents! Come and learn the art of rap, decorate the graffiti train, compete for your very own gold chain in dance competitions and for all those fathers with smooth moves you can enter the Dad Dance Off!

Other festival highlights include street theatre, comedy, installations specialists Dot Comedy, pop-up theatre performances from Pif Paf, live brass band Bostin Brass, live performances from Gorillabot. You can also stroll through the independent food stalls, have your face painted or have a go at a whole range of craft workshops and family activities in our theatre foyers.

So grab a pal or three, round up your family and step into Birmingham Hippodrome’s weekend of summertime silliness and childhood delights.

“Summer in Southside is a great festival for all the family to enjoy in the heart of the city. We have tons of activities to keep your little ones busy and to entertain the big kids too! This year we’re following the theme of your childhood which ties in nicely with our blockbuster show at the Hippodrome this summer – Matilda the Musical. They’ll be retro arcade games, pop-performances, craft workshops and food stalls flooding the streets of Southside, the Arcadian and our foyers. And it’s all completely free!” Graham Callister, Associate Director, Community Engagement & Festivals at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Cycle parking arrangements at Wolverhampton Railway Station are changing in preparation for works to start on delivering a new station building.

The new-look station will be designed to better connect to all modes of transport as part of a £150 million Interchange.

This includes long-term plans to increase cycle parking provision at the station to encourage more cycling.

The station works will take place in two phases, during which time cycle parking spaces on platform 1 and the current station forecourt will be out of use.

A temporary solution will provide 40 spaces in front of the multi-storey car park, which is already covered by cctv. Existing shelters at the station will also be relocated to provide 30 spaces. The new temporary spaces will be available for use from the week commencing July 2.

Rail services will continue to operate as normal throughout the redevelopment of the railway station, which is expected to be completed in 2020.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “The cycle parking changes are essential to enable the demolition process to begin.

“The aim is to deliver a railway station befitting of the city that better connects rail, bus, tram and cycle users.

“There is £3.7 billion of investment currently on site or in the pipeline across the City of Wolverhampton.

“As part of this regeneration it is crucial visitors to our city get the best first impression possible and their travel experience is enhanced - the new state-of-the-art station will deliver that.”

Richard Brooks, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said: “The works at Wolverhampton will make connections with other forms of transport easier and make the station much more welcoming to visitors to our region. As the rail operator for the West Midlands we are committed to improving the links between the railway and different modes of transport.

“The ongoing works at the station are a necessary step in creating a flagship transport interchange hub, which will make travel easier and more accessible than ever before for passengers in Wolverhampton.”

The first phase of full demolition will start this summer.

The British Transport Police building and a small section of the current station building next to Platform 1 will be demolished, paving the way for the first section of the new station building to be erected. It will become operational to customers by summer 2019, when phase 2 of the programme will also start.

The new station will be connected directly to a tram stop, once work is completed on the Midland Metro city centre extension. The Midland Metro Alliance are currently delivering the next phase on Pipers Row before continuing down Railway Drive to the railway station.