Community News

Pupils showed off their creative flair after visiting local places of worship as part of a competition run by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE).

Launched last September, pupils were invited to submit pieces of art inspired by visits to places of worship, including churches, temples, gurdwaras and mosques.

The winners were Bilston Primary School, who won a trip to Conkers Adventure Park; St Michael's C of E Primary School, who scooped a trip to the Harry Potter studios in London; Khalsa Academy, who will be going to the Tate Modern in London; and Green Park Special School, who won trips to Dudley Zoological Gardens and to go bowling.

Representatives from each school were presented with their prizes at a special ceremony at Wolverhampton Art Gallery by Chair of SACRE Martin Gomberg, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Director of Education Meredith Teasdale and former Cabinet Member for Education, and now Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Claire Darke.

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Councillor Lynne Moran, said: "Wolverhampton is a multi-cultural, multi-faith City, and it is very important that religious education continues to be taught in our schools.

"This was a great chance for pupils to get creative and show off their skills while also learning more about religion and places of worship. They produced some really inspired pieces of work, and the standard of art was extremely high, making it a tough task for the judging committee."

Religious education must be taught in all schools by law, but it is not part of the national curriculum and it is therefore the responsibility of local councils to ensure there is a Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education in place.

The SACRE represents a balance of all interests in the local community, gives them the opportunity to influence what pupils learn in religious education, and advises the council on how to improve teaching and collective worship for schools in Wolverhampton.

Eight local children from Birmingham  have been celebrated for their writing success after being named centre winners in the National Young Writers’ Awards. The following children have all been named winning entries by local Explore Learning centres in Oldbury, Handsworth, Kings Heath, Harborne, Shirley, Yardley, Longbridge and Wylde Green: Elijah-David Buttery, 10, St Mary Magdalene CofE, Naina Sidhu, 11, Grestone Academy, Miller Brennan, 8, Wheelers Lane Primary, Sienna Kaur Sian, 9, World's End Junior School, Libby Taylor, 13, Langley Secondary School, Aaliah Ali, 9, Greet Primary School, Ceri Lowe, 11, Queensbridge Secondary and J'yon Brown, 10, Yenton Primary School.

The competition, now in its tenth year,  has been running for the past three months and invited children from across the UK to write a 500-word story about ‘heroes’ – whether that’s their parents, a policeman or their idol!  Organised by tuition provider, Explore LearningK which has centres across Birmingham, with the aim of inspiring children to get creative and give writing a try was this year judged by world renowned best-selling children’s author David Walliams! A record breaking 38,500 children from all over the UK entered in an effort to win a trip to Disneyland Paris and £500 worth of books for their school!

And there could be more good news to come for the centre winners as judges are still shortlisting the entries! The top ten national runners up will be announced on Monday 11th June while the national winner will be crowned on the Monday 18th June with a surprise visit from David Walliams to their school!

Every child that enters will receive a certificate to celebrate their story, along with personalised feedback from one of Explore Learning’s inspirational tutors.

David Walliams says: “I was overwhelmed by the quality and creativity of the stories I was reading and was so impressed that this broad range of exciting ideas have come from such young writers. Each piece of writing drew me in and kept me captivated by clever and observant story lines and engaging characters. We definitely have some future star authors here.”

Explore Learning provides English and maths tuition to children aged four to 14, with 139 centres located across the country.  Throughout the competition Explore Learning provided top writing tips from their creative writing team, previous winners, judges and best-selling authors via their website, social media and face to face.  They also hosted a collection of free downloadable information on the website that can be used at home or in the classroom as well as running free workshops with local libraries, schools and community groups to inspire children’s love of writing and support them with their entries.

Charlotte Gater, Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning says: “This year’s National Young Writers’ Awards attracted a record number of entries so the children should be very proud of their success.  We were blown away by the number of children who were inspired to write heroic tales. It is amazing to have David pick our winning entry this year and clearly inspire so many children to put pen to paper. Well done to everyone who entered who has set the bar so high for next year!”

TUI (formerly Thomson) the UK’s largest holiday brand, has celebrated its first flights to Podgorica, Montenegro for summer 2018 operating out of Birmingham Airport.

Tom Screen, Acting Aviation Director at Birmingham Airport was on hand to welcome customers onboard alongside the TUI cabin crew flying the customers to Montenegro.

Flights will operate once a week every Wednesday until the middle of October.

For customers who have already booked their summer holidays they can look ahead to next year as flights and holidays to Montenegro are already on sale for summer 2019.

Tom Screen, Acting Aviation Director at Birmingham Airport, said: “Montenegro is a great destination for TUI to add to its summer 2018 flying schedule. It will be popular with holiday makers as it has stunning mountains, breathtaking beaches and an interesting local culture. We are delighted TUI has chosen to expand its choice of destinations from Birmingham Airport.”

The decision to add Montenegro to the network is part of the holiday company’s plans to offer as much choice as possible to customers flying from their local airport and staying at the best hotels TUI and First Choice have to offer including the brand new 4Sun Holiday Village Montenegro.

Karen Switzer, Director of Aviation Planning for TUI UK & Ireland, said: “It is great to see the first customers heading off on their holidays to one of our newest destinations. We have expanded our programme from Birmingham Airport for summer 2018 and now customers from the Midlands have over 60 destinations to choose from when deciding where to book their holidays.”

TV personality and Michelin starred chef, Glynn Purnell has teamed up with Calvet, the number one French wine brand in the UK, to launch an exclusive activation at the Blenheim Palace Flower Show.   On the 22nd June, Purnell will be cooking a variety of dishes which bring to life the inimitable French experience, pairing them with wines from the award-winning Calvet range, brought from vineyards located throughout France's wine-growing regions from Bordeaux to Alsace.

Glynn Purnell says: “I am looking forward to the Blenheim Palace Flower Show and to showcasing the beautiful Calvet wines alongside dishes that are born out of my memories of France.”   Matthew Upson, Flower Show Director says: “I am thrilled to welcome Glynn Purnell and the Calvet wine activation to the show. Purnell is a fantastic chef and I know that visitors will enjoy watching him at work in the specially created 'French street kitchen' at the show.”

This year is set to offer visitors the biggest Flower Show in event's history. Opened by horticultural expert and BBC Plantswoman Carol Klein, the event will also feature a unique first for the show: a walk-through Orchid Tunnel. Showcasing exotic orchids from all over the world and a collection of tropical plants the new stunning display is being created by Show Manager and Designer Mig Kimpton.

The Flower Festival itself is set within the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Capability' Brown landscaped Parkland, and boasts Formal Gardens created over the centuries by esteemed garden designers such as Henry Wise and Achille Duchêne.   The Grand Floral Pavilion forms the centrepiece of the Show and features the UK's finest nurseries and growers giving expert advice and gardening ideas.

It is guaranteed to be a riot of colour, fragrance and weird and wonderful plants.   With workshops, talks and demonstrations taking place throughout the event, you'll be guaranteed to learn something new and take inspiration for your own gardening project.

Visitors to Birmingham City University’s Inspired Family Day will be given the chance to star in their own play, design their own railway or take part in a range of sporting activities this weekend.

Elsewhere, there will be jewellery making, science experiments and craft workshops on offer as the University throws open the doors to the public once again for a unique, hands-on experience.

The University’s second Inspired Family Day will welcome families for an action-packed day of free and fun-filled events and activities for all ages between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 9 June.

Taking place at Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus, situated in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside, the family festival will introduce hundreds of youngsters to the range of subjects on offer at the institution and showcase potential career options.

Highlights of Inspired Family Day include drop in, make-and-take sessions for the under 10s, while young adults can have a go at making their own television programme in one of the University’s state-of-the-art broadcasting studios.

Elsewhere, as construction for High Speed 2 (HS2) gets underway in Birmingham, youngsters will be able to enter the Magical Academy of Invention to design the trains, stations and platforms of the future, and budding fashionistas can to try their hand at one of the festival’s jewellery and textiles workshops.

Plus, Birmingham Hippodrome will be taking part and offering groups of youngsters the opportunity to write, direct and star in their own play which will be performed at the end of Inspired Family Day. Ahead of ‘Matilda The Musical’ coming to the city over the summer, the theatre will also be inviting youngsters to learn how to draw one of Roald Dahl’s most iconic characters – with the best ones winning tickets to the play itself at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Coupled with this, there will be the opportunity to meet with world-class academics, who are training the next generation of creative professionals.

Inspired Family Day will officially open Birmingham City University’s Inspired Festival, now in its fifth year. It showcases the talent of the institution’s final year students in disciplines such as film, art, architecture, fashion and photography.

Visitors to Inspired Family Day will get the opportunity to see many of the student’s exhibitions in the University’s £62 million Parkside Building, which boasts cutting edge facilities – including Europe's largest static green screen.

Sara Middleton, Associate Dean at Birmingham City University, said:

“Half term may be over now, but we have got so much fun to come at our Inspired Family Festival, which is bigger and better than before.

“Inspired Festival celebrates the wealth of creative talent being nurtured and developed in the region – but we also want to introduce the next generation to all the amazing subjects they can study here and go on to forge a successful career in.

“Our institution is defined by the city it is rooted in and events like these also allow us to showcase the positive cultural and economic impact we are making locally, regionally and internationally.”

During Inspired Festival the public will be given the opportunity to take part in a series of workshops focussed on enhancing creativity, and all events and activities will be showcased using the hashtag #BCUinspired.

Further Inspired Festival events will be held at the University’s City Centre Campus in Birmingham’s Eastside as well as Birmingham School of Jewellery and Birmingham School of Art, ranging from music and literature performances to fashion shows and innovative technology demonstrations.

A University of Wolverhampton academic has been awarded an MBE in the Birthday and New Year Honours List 2018.

Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, Director of the recently launched Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies at the University and Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies in the Faculty of Arts, will receive the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) later this year at a ceremony being held at Buckingham Palace.

The New Year Honours list recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. An MBE is an award given by the Queen to an individual for outstanding service to the community or local 'hands on' service.

Dr Takhar, from Derby, undertakes a variety of research, specialising in subject matter that relates to the Sikh community as well as topics including caste and gender balance. She is well-known in the region for her research work – especially in the Sikh community in and around the West Midlands.

A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Dr Takhar is also an Editorial Board member for The Journal of Understanding Sikhism in Canada, on the editorial board of the Journal, Sikh Formations, she sits on the Steering Committee of Special Interest Group on Teaching Religions of South Asia and is a Board Member of the Inter faith Wolverhampton Network.

Dr Takhar has presented her research in Universities across the world, she has produced textbooks and a Teacher’s guide for the OCR GCSE syllabus on Philosophy and Ethics, used in secondary schools across Britain and she has written numerous educational resources for RE Today Publications, a national resource for teaching Religious Education across schools and colleges in the UK. Her 2005 book on Sikh Identity is used as a key text in Universities across the world.

She is a regular participant on discussion programmes and panels on Sikh media channels. She has regularly contributed to the British Sikh Report, as well as the UK Sikh Survey, and is also one of the authors of the Sikh Manifesto, produced by the Sikh Network (UK) in preparation for the 2015 British Parliament elections.

Dr Takhar said:  “I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to have been nominated for such a prestigious award.  I am committed to bringing faith communities together whilst at the same time raising the profile of the Sikh community.

“Working at the University of Opportunity, it is essential that we all make a valid contribution to promoting equality and diversity and I hope that my research is enriching the lives of our students as well as our communities.”

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “On behalf of everyone at the University of Wolverhampton, I would like to congratulate Opinderjit on this prestigious and very well deserved honour.

“Engaging tirelessly with local, regional, national and international community groups and governing bodies, Dr Takhar is consistently raising awareness of issues that affect the Sikh community in the UK and abroad.

“The West Midlands has a large and well-established Sikh community as well as people from all faiths and none.  Dr Takhar’s research, combined with her personal high-profile, is consistently having an impact on people’s lives by bringing communities together as well as helping to raise the profile of the University.”

The University of Wolverhampton launched its new Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies earlier this year - the first of its kind in the UK.

The Centre will offer PhDs and Master’s level courses in Sikh studies, as well as continuing professional development (CPD) courses for teachers and managers of diverse workforces such as national and local government, the NHS and the emergency services.

Kids all over the UK have just three weeks left to enter National Express’s summer art competition and be in with a chance to see their work splashed over the side of a coach.

With the Colour the Coach competition deadline fast approaching, the UK’s largest coach operator is urging youngsters to pick up their pens and design a poster promoting their home town – those selected as winners will see their entries turned into a special National Express coach liveries.

The national competition challenges youngsters aged 5-15 to design a summer-themed poster advertising the place they live to encourage people to visit some of the amazing locations on National Express’s unrivalled coach network.

The six winners - whose designs will be whittled down to a shortlist by a panel of judges - will be selected by an online vote.

And to encourage the development of their creative talent, each winner will also receive a quality art set including a range of brushes and paints.

The competition closes at midnight on the 25^th June. To enter youngsters simply need to design a poster on a sheet of A4 paper and post it or scan then email it to National Express.National Express Coach Managing Director Chris Hardy, who is on the judging panel said:

“Colour the Coach is an amazing opportunity for youngsters to show-off their artistic talents by creating a show-stopping poster to go on a moving billboard for thousands to see. With only three weeks to go until the competition closes, I’m encouraging children all over the country to grab sheet of A4 and design us a winner. With our unrivalled coach network reaching more than 900 great UK locations, the winning designs will be on display all over the country.”

Now in its fourth year, the competition has seen 15 winners with their designs touring Britain’s motorways on National Express’s coaches.

In past years children have been asked to design their ideal holidays or favourite landmark. Now National Express is bringing summer back home by asking youngsters to promote the place where they live in a bid to encourage people to visit it this summer.

A winner will be chosen from each of the following UK regions: the North, South and East of England, plus the Midlands, Wales and Scotland, and each one will see their picture boldly displayed on one of the many daily coach services that drive on the roads around everyday.

Tributes have been paid to former councillor and Mayor of Sandwell Alderman Bill Archer who passed away over the weekend.

Alderman Archer was the one of the longest serving councillors for Sandwell after being an elected ward member for Wednesbury North from 1975 to 2011.

He served as mayor from 2005 to 2006 and was given the honour of becoming an Alderman of Sandwell in 2011.

Known affectionately as the ‘singing mayor’, Bill raised a record £35,500 for his chosen charities Prostate Cancer Research and Guide Dogs for the Blind - no Mayor before or since has matched this.

Bill Archer had often said how immensely proud he was of his daughter Elaine Costigan who is a councillor for Wednesbury North and cabinet member for public health and protection.

Councillor Costigan described her father as an “amazing character” and said she was overwhelmed with the response to the news from people far and wide.

“It’s absolutely amazing the amount of messages I’ve had.” she said. “They’ve come from as far as America and Australia and from many different communities. We knew he was popular and a rare breed but as a family this has really blown us away.

“He did a lot for the older generation and was inspiration to young people as well. Years ago he ran surgeries from the old swimming baths and I remember kids who were five or six years old would run past and shout ‘hello Bill’. Those same kids have grown up now and have been getting in touch over the weekend to say how much he inspired them.

“He was my inspiration too. I’ve definitely got some of his traits which has stood me in good stead and I feel responsible to carry on the good work he did for Wednesbury and Sandwell.”

Councillor Steve Eling, leader of Sandwell Council paid tribute to Bill. He said: "Bill was always a lively character who will be remembered fondly for his role as mayor as well as his long service to the people of Wednesbury. We would like to express our condolences to his family and friends."

Deputy Leader Councillor Syeda Khatun offered condolences on behalf of everyone at Sandwell Council.

She said: “Bill will be missed – not only was he a close colleague over many years but I had the pleasure of calling him my friend too.

“Bill was well known across Sandwell and had a great personality. My thoughts are with his family at this incredibly sad time."

Brighton based Meaningful Travel company, Rickshaw Travel, left the office behind today and headed to Brighton beach to carry out a huge clean-up operation, removing two bags full of litter from the shores.

Working with Brighton & Hove Cityclean, Rickshaw Travel's team of warriors took to the beach this morning to collect litter, from needles and used nappies, to discarded plastic bottles and bags.

Whilst today two full bags of waste were collected, on a sunny bank holiday, beach cleaners at Brighton Beach can expect to pick up 40 tonnes of rubbish in as little as two days, and a maximum of 400 kilos on a normal day. This beach clean takes place ahead of World Oceans Day on 8th June, a national awareness day that celebrates the world's oceans, with a particular spotlight on preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean.

An independent tour operator, Rickshaw Travel specialises in providing enriching experiences for travellers across the world, taking them off the beaten path and into the heart of local communities. Protecting nature and wildlife whilst encouraging travellers to do the same is at the core of Rickshaw Travel's company ethos.

Blanca Balaguer, Marketing Communications Specialist at Rickshaw Travel, said “Although it was upsetting to see the amount of rubbish on the beach, it was extremely rewarding to remove two bags' worth that ultimately would have ended up in the ocean. As a company, we pride ourselves on providing responsible travel experiences in the countries that our travellers can visit and it is right that we do our best to lead the way with similar regard to our beautiful environment here at home, in Brighton.”

More than 12.2 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans each year. It is believed that only 1% of this is seen floating on ocean surfaces, while 94% of this waste ends up on the sea floor. The highest concentration of plastic waste is found on beaches, threatening 31 species of marine mammals and 100 species of birds.

Join Pete Waterman OBE for a fascinating night talking about his career from Stock Aitken Waterman to Pop Idol. Pete has experienced a lot and shares stories in a creative and appealing way - one not to be missed.

Pete Waterman’s fascinating career has given him the opportunity to talk about almost anything. Pete is the most successful British producer-songwriter in pop history, an author, DJ, Pop Idol judge and television presenter and a lifelong entrepreneur. His career began as a part of the successful Stock Aitken Waterman team and for his world-famous PWL label and production company. During his time in the music business, Pete has sold in excess of 500 million records around the world over five decades, launching artists such as Kylie Minogue, John Travolta, Rick Astley and Steps, and has been rewarded with many different awards and honours over the years.

Pete’s biggest passion is the railways and his professional knowledge in reference to railways is highly regarded. Since the 1990's he has successfully invested in railway companies and forms part of several committees and taskforces for the procurement of the railways in Great Britain.

As a keynote speaker Pete is charismatic and multi-talented. He can give speeches about how to become a successful entrepreneur, how the music business works or what it is like to be a Pop Idol judge. Furthermore, Pete is a magnificent host and is always one hundred percent attentive to the needs of his audience.

https://www.thsh.co.uk/event/an-evening-with-pete-waterman

Unsung community heroes from four organisations across the City of Wolverhampton are celebrating after learning they are to receive the highest award for volunteer groups in the country.

Compton Bereavement Centre, Beacon Centre for the Blind, Positive Participation and Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club found out they had been given the royal seal of approval after being handed a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) on Saturday (JUNE 2).

The QAVS recognises outstanding work done in communities and is the equivalent of the MBE for volunteer groups.

With four groups receiving the QAVS, City of Wolverhampton has the second highest number of award-winners in the West Midlands.

Compton Care Bereavement Visitors:

Compton Care’s volunteers help hundreds of people every year to come to terms with their experiences of grief by providing friendship, emotional support and the opportunity to talk openly without judgement. They offer one-to-one support or group sessions to people either in the hospice or their own homes.

Beacon Centre for the Blind:

This registered charity which, with the help of 90 volunteers, supports more than 3,000 service users is the main provider for visually impaired people across the Black Country and Staffordshire. It has been doing so for more than 140 years. Volunteers help out in areas including mentoring and befriending, retail, hospitality, front of house, community-based activities and day centre provision.

Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club:

This group, based at WV Active Aldersley, encourages and develops people of all ages to enjoy cycling. It is run entirely by 90 dedicated volunteers and members aged from 8 to 90. Volunteer tutors are qualified to a national standard and there is a strong emphasis on safety and healthy lifestyles. Wolverhampton Wheelers recently celebrated its 125^th anniversary.

Positive Participation:

This group aims to prevent and improve mental ill health and reduce isolation which can be caused by mental health problems primarily within the Asian community thorough the provision of culturally sensitive community support services.

Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton, Cllr Phil Page, congratulated all the city’s QAVS winners. He said: “The QAVS honours all those unsung heroes and heroines in our community who work tirelessly making a huge difference to the lives of so many. They are the MBE for the voluntary sector and to receive a QAVS is the highest honour a volunteer organisation can receive.

“Our four winners and their army of volunteers truly deserve their accolade and I congratulate each and every one of them. The theme for my year in office is ‘service over self’ and our QAVS winners really embody that spirit.”

The QAVS were created in 2002 to mark the Queen’s golden jubilee. Every year the winners are announced on June 2 which is the anniversary of the coronation.

The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands presents the awards on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.

With our lives getting busier and having more and more things to juggle daily, stress is something that can affects all of us, this can even include our pets. Feelings of anxiety or stress can occur in both cats and dogs. Stress as an immediate response to threats is healthy for our cats as it enables their ‘flight or fight’ response to get them away from danger quickly. However, ongoing stress can be harmful to their overall health and wellbeing.

Most cats tend to mask their inner turmoil, so it’s important to monitor their behaviour and look at ways to maintain their health and wellbeing. With over 25 per cent of UK’s population owning cats* and as part of their “Don’t Fret Pet” campaign Lintbells, manufacturers of natural premium pet supplements has looked at some useful tips that can help your cat get through trying days, and maybe help you in the process.

Understanding body language

As with most things in life, to start to create a solution you need to identify what the cause of the stress is. This will keep your cat’s best interests at heart and you can set the stage for small successes.

Cats have poker faces and may express signs of stress in a subtle way. Some of the most common ones are toileting around the house, sleeping under the bed, hair loss or excessive self-grooming, aggression, dietary changes and excessive vocalisation (growling, hissing or spitting). It’s important to remember that if you notice any behaviour that is out of the ordinary, consult your vet to rule out any underlying conditions.

The power of touch

Most of us already know that hugging someone, be it our friends, pets or partners makes us feel cosy, safe and warm - the same applies to our feline friends. Why else do they purr when petted? Simply spending some quality time with your cats giving them the kind of affection they like best, can go a long way in easing their tension. Reassurance that things are okay can-do wonders to their behaviour. Plus, who doesn’t love a cosy cuddle after a long day?

Refresh their facilities

If you’ve bought your feline companion a scratchpad when he/she was a kitten, its probably time for an upgrade. Follow the same principles as you would with children and their clothes. It’s also important to note that your pets litter tray should be at least one-and-a-half times the length of your cat, from nose to tip of its tail. In multiple cat households allow each cat to have their own litter tray and their own area/space.

Supplement their diet

Calming supplements are created to help your cat relax, stay calm, and to reduce anxiety in stressful situations. Lintbells new YuCALM Cat is designed to do exactly this, it helps reduce stress, support calm behaviour and ease anxiety. It is a natural solution that will not sedate your furry friend. The natural unique triple-action formula is made with scientifically proven ingredients for a calmer and happier cat. It’s important to double check with your vet before introducing a supplement to your cat’s diet.

Veterinary advice

If you do spot any unusual changes in their behaviour or anything out of character always remember to speak to your vet to rule out any underlying conditions

It is important to remember that a little bit of stress every now and again is completely normal. What you should focus on is making sure that your cat’s stress level is controlled and that it never climbs to a level where it impacts their overall behaviour and health..

Employees at A Perry & Co Ltd, a leading independent, family-owned, British manufacturer and supplier based in Cradley Heath, will climb Snowdon on 9 June 2018 to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity, its annual chosen charity. The trek is supporting the charity’s ongoing mission to raise vital funds for new ways to treat and cure childhood diseases and make the hospital feel just like home.

The climb will be undertaken by 10 staff members, including Will Dougan; Grant Esp; Ashley Armstrong; Patrick Corcoran; Chris Chater; James Dale; Chris Rowley; Lee Crosby; Phil Harvey; Martin Hinton, who’ll be picked up at 3am to begin the adventure. To date, the mission has generated £912 out of the £1,000 target. To support the fundraising efforts, people are invited to visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/perrys-snowdon-challenge and get involved with the hashtag #PerrysSnowdonChallenge2018.

This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities for A Perry’s Charity of the Year. Company members are currently taking part in an internal challenge called ‘Perry’s Biggest Loser’ to donate the equivalent weight loss i.e. pound (lbs) for pound (£) by the end of the second quarter.

Guy Perry, managing director at A Perry & Co Ltd, says “We don’t miss any opportunity to be involved in raising money for local causes and charities that are close to our hearts. Our employees are local to the area and go the extra mile for the causes they believe in. The Snowdon Challenge for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity is a great teambuilding opportunity while staying active and lending a helping hand. We hope to win the support of our local community as well to reach our fundraising targets.”

In addition to supporting Birmingham Children’s Hospital, staff also raised £2,765 on a successful Pink Day in aid of Breast Cancer. This was achieved through raffles and other fundraising activities, as well as Steven Perry, son of owner Guy Perry, running from his home in Romsley to the firm's premises in Doulton Road.

Patients from the Teenage Cancer Trust Young Person’s Unit (YPU) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) enjoyed an exciting morning at Escape Live, Birmingham’s number one escape room venue that sees participants enter a themed room with a series of clues and puzzles that they must crack in order to ‘escape’ within the time limit.

YPU is a dedicated ward for young people aged between 16 and 24 who are being treated for cancer. QEHB Charity is proud to support the ward by providing ‘added extras’ such as music lessons and pizza nights that allow the young people on the ward to maintain a sense of normal life throughout their treatment.

Thanks to the generosity of Escape Live, which is based in Henrietta Street in the Jewellery Quarter, young people from the ward were able to experience the fun of solving themed puzzles as a team, and escaping the rooms before the time ran out.

Split into two teams, young people tackled the challenges of The Lab and Time Machine. They were given an hour to escape and both successfully completed the fun task with minutes to spare.

In The Lab, players enter a scientific research facility where a toxic gas leak could spread and be a danger. Teams work together to isolate the affected areas, make the facility safe save the world.

In Time Machine, teams have been lost in time travel loop hole that takes them to different moments through history, they have to discover clues to find their way back to the present day or risk being lost in the past forever.

One of the successful escapees was Luke, who said: “It was a great day out. It was nice to work as a team with others who have had similar experiences to me. We all really enjoyed our time at Escape Live, I’d love to come back in the future!”

Will Amott, Venue Manager at Escape Live Birmingham, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the teams from YPU, QEHB and the young people to take on the challenge of our rooms at Escape Live Birmingham.

“We are very pleased they had a great time. The two teams did extremely well working together to solve the clues and get out of the rooms with minutes still on the clock.

“Escape Live has become one of the most popular escape games room venues in the UK and is earning rave reviews on TripAdvisor. Our escape rooms are for between two and six people and we currently have four rooms in Birmingham which include The Lab and Time Machine.”

Senior Fundraiser at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, Rachel Learmonth, said: “QEHB Charity is incredibly grateful to Will and everyone at Escape Live Birmingham for their generosity in inviting the young people along for a really fun morning. It was great to see the young people enjoying themselves and taking on the brilliant challenges.

“The hospital charity works to make the hospital experience as easy as possible for young people who are receiving cancer treatment. Thanks to the generous donations it receives, the Charity has funded ‘added extras’ such as DVDs and games, pizza nights and ‘grab bags’ filled with essential items, all of which have meant that we can be there every step of the way to support young patients with cancer.”

If you would like to learn more about how QEHB Charity supports young people with cancer , please visit hospitalcharity.org/teenagecancer.

Businesses in West Bromwich are to put some colour into the cheeks of the High Street – by putting in 40 hanging baskets through the shopping centre.

The organisers of the West Bromwich BID team are to arrange for the baskets to be erected down the busy High Street, from Birmingham Road down to Carters Green.

The project has been back by the BID board, which represents all sectors of the town centre, including the private sector and Sandwell Council.

Councillor Paul Moore, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is an excellent gesture which will help to brighten up the town centre area.

“I am sure that traders and shoppers will appreciate a brighter, more colourful town centre through the summer months.”

Rebecca Jenkins, chair of the West Bromwich BID said: “We’re really excited about getting the new hanging baskets in and around West Bromwich, from the High Street through to Carters Green.

“We are sure that the baskets will add a lot of colour and make a significant improvement to the look and feel of West Bromwich Town Centre, with a view to making them a permanent fixture.

“We have consulted BID businesses and listened carefully to what they wanted. Improvement to the look of the High Street was high on the agenda."

Citizens Advice and Trading Standards are joining forces to give people in Sandwell the knowledge to spot scams.

The two organisations will be providing information as part of Scams Awareness Month, a national campaign encouraging people to report and talk about scams.

Scammers can strike at any time, from cold-calling people with a fake investment opportunity to posting online adverts for products which don’t exist.

Anyone can be a victim of a scam it does not matter what age, gender or social group you are from it can happen to you.

Throughout June officers will be urging people to report scams so the authorities can chase down fraudsters. Reporting being scammed also means that people can receive advice on how to try and get their money back or any other steps they should take to protect themselves.

Councillor Elaine Costigan said: “Knowing how to spot a scam is the best line of defence against being scammed.

“While scammers will always use tactics like cut-price deals and pressure selling to draw people in, there are more ways for scammers to reach people with different bogus offers - from texts and emails to social media and online adverts.”

Bob Charnley, Sandwell's trading standards manager said: “People are also often reluctant to talk about scams so we want to highlight the issue and bring it out into the open.

People can  follow the campaign at @SandwellTS #scamaware

If anyone has been scammed or knows someone who has can contact contact officers 03454 04 05 06.