Community News

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.

Walsall College celebrated the success of students at its annual Adult Students’ Awards Ceremony.

During the evening, 23 outstanding students were presented with Student of the Year Awards for achieving excellence in their area of study, along with an award for the overall Adult Student of the Year, won by Access to HE Social Work student, Kerry Dupont.

After several years of being a full-time mother, Kerry returned to study full time at Walsall College, enrolling onto an Access to HE Diploma in Social Work.

Alongside the demands of her studies and raising a family, Kerry undertook voluntary work at local charity Home Start, providing support to families facing personal challenges.

Kerry had aspirations to become a social worker, but lacked the confidence to pursue a career in social welfare. Now, as she is on her way to complete her course, she has accepted a place to study a social work degree at BCU.

Angela Taylor, Learning and Development Coach for Health at Walsall College, said: “Right from the outset, Kerry has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to study. Not only does she maintain one hundred percent attendance and punctuality, despite the many conflicting demands on her time, she also ensures that she is always fully engaged in class activities and fully committed to deriving every possible benefit from her time in college.

Kerry deserves this award for the positive impact her presence has on the whole group and for the dedication, commitment and sheer enthusiasm that she has brought to her learning.”

The VIP event, held in the college’s £11m Business and Sports Hub, was attended by around 100 guests who enjoyed a pre-drinks reception and four course meal and performances by Music students.

Guest speaker at the event was Dr Helen Paterson, Chief Executive at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.

After teaching in Yorkshire, she became a head teacher at three primary schools in Hampshire. Alongside her role as a Chief Executive, Dr Paterson is also the Secretary of the Association of Black Country Authorities and Black Country Executive Joint Committee.

Taking place during the Festival of Learning’s “Have a go” month, the college’s Adult Students’ Awards Ceremony provided a high profile occasion for outstanding adult students to shine.

Jatinder Sharma OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Walsall College, said: “The Adult Students’ Awards Ceremony was an ideal opportunity for Walsall College to celebrate the fantastic achievements our students have made.

“Holding the event during the Festival of Learning is our way of supporting the initiative and demonstrates how outstanding learning really can change lives. Last year Walsall College helped thousands of adults get back into education and these exceptional students are real life examples of people who have excelled through vocational learning and are an inspiration to others.

“We would also like to thank Helen Paterson for being our guest speaker and providing our students with a fascinating and inspiring insight into her successful career.”

The harm caused by rising knife crime has prompted Crimestoppers to launch a campaign aimed at protecting young people.

Later this week the independent charity will, for the first time, use pavement advertising in key areas of Birmingham to promote their service and ensure more young people know that they can safely pass on information about knife crime 100% anonymously. The campaign lasts for four weeks and is predominantly aimed at those aged 25 or younger.

There have been nine knife incidents reported this year in the West Midlands.

Pauline Hadley, West Midlands Regional Manager for the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Knife crime leaves families devastated and communities traumatised. Sadly too many young people believe that carrying a knife will help protect them from danger. This is simply not true. If you carry a knife, you are far more likely to end up being injured, or worse still, losing your life.

“We appreciate that some younger people are struggling with this issue. However, if you’re worried about a friend or relative who you understand is resorting to taking a knife with them, you can pass on that information 100% anonymously. Always.”

“In 30 years, our charity has never broken our promise to protect your identity. Please call 0800 555 111 or use our anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org. Together, we can help protect your community and the one’s you love from harm.”

If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through the non-traceable Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

City of Wolverhampton Council has welcomed Galliford Try Partnerships as the new developer on two of its major housing regeneration sites in the city.

The move comes after the leading UK construction group acquired the Tower and Fort Works site in Graiseley and the former Tap Works site in Low Hill from Bouygues, who are withdrawing from the low-rise family housing market.

Galliford Try will continue with the delivery of 150 high-quality homes on the Tap Works scheme, which consists of three derelict locations – the former Armitage Shanks Tap Works Factory site, as well as land on Fifth Avenue and Broome Road.

Forty of the units will be council homes for rent, with the remainder to be sold as market housing.

The first council homes are set to be completed within a year. The remaining Council homes as well as market housing for sale is expected to be completed within three years.

The Tower and Fort Works contract will deliver 77 homes at the historic Great Brickkiln Street location. A quarter of the homes on this site will be set aside as affordable council houses.

The remainder is to be sold as market housing, with the development consisting of a mixture of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses, plus five apartments, including two wheelchair accessible flats.

Construction is expected to start towards the end of the summer and should be completed by the end of 2020.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, Councillor Peter Bilson, said: “We are delighted we have been able to secure a developer of Galliford Try Partnerships’ quality for these two very important housing regeneration schemes in the City of Wolverhampton.

“This is an exciting time for house building in the city with a host of projects springing up to benefit everyone.

“Work on these two sites supports the house building programme and will deliver quality homes for all."

Stephen Teagle, Chief Executive of Galliford Try Partnerships, added: “We are really pleased to step in and work with City of Wolverhampton Council to progress the proposals at Tap Works and Tower and Fort Works. Our intervention ensures these significant projects are delivered as originally agreed.

“We are renowned for our regeneration expertise and our ability to work with partners to unlock the true value of many challenging sites. Thanks to our strong regional presence, we can bring forward both of these important developments without the need to change the proposed tenures or delivery timescales.”

A 17-year-old refugee from Sudan has decided to take up volunteering to return the kindness he was shown by a charity project assisting young refugees and asylum seekers in Birmingham.

Max is among 118 young refugees and people seeking asylum who are being supported in the city through Surviving to Thriving, a partnership between British Red Cross, the Refugee Council and UpRising. Through support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the project is reaching vulnerable children and teenagers who have fled conflict, persecution and torture and have arrived, alone, in the UK.

In 2013, violence forced Max to leave behind his family and home in Darfur, western Sudan, and endure a two-year journey from Libya to the UK. Speaking at a Refugee Week celebration evening at The Studio centre on Tuesday 19^th June, Max explained how the Surviving to Thriving project helped him understand his rights, develop life and leadership skills, improve his English and settle into his new community in Birmingham.

Max says: “When I arrived in the UK I didn’t feel confident. I didn’t speak English and I didn’t understand anything when someone spoke to me. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t talk to anyone, but now I feel good. I pushed myself and the Surviving to Thriving project helped a lot with that. I’ve learned so much.

“Now I’m a volunteer with Surviving to Thriving and I help other refugees like me. I talk to them and give them advice, and I’m there to help them if they have a problem in their heart.”

In honour of Refugee Week, the event was an opportunity for Max and other 16-25 year olds from the project to showcase short films they made to highlight challenges faced by young refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, including homelessness, isolation and a lack of education. The issue of child homelessness is of particular significance to Max, who slept in New Street train station when he first arrived.

He said: “It was good making the film because if you’re a homeless child you don’t know what to do. Coming to this country for the first time, you don’t know anything, you don’t know anyone and you need to know how to get support.”

Max has been involved in making six films through Surviving to Thriving and, as a volunteer, he now helps guide other young people in similar situations through the film-making process.

He added: “It’s important for me to keep busy or I feel I’m losing my time. I want to be a police officer like my grandfather in Sudan. He died many years ago so I didn’t meet him but I have a picture of him in his uniform I keep with me. People helped me when I came here so I want to give some help back.”

UpRising’s Chief Executive, Lucy Caldicott, said: “We are so proud of Max and all of the amazing young people that Surviving to Thriving works with who have been so open about the challenges and traumas they've faced to raise awareness of the day-to-day reality of refugee experiences.

“It’s fantastic to see how the power of kindness has inspired Max to change his harrowing story into a force for good and give other vulnerable young refugees and asylum seekers a listening ear, a helping hand and a friendly face.”

Max added:  “My future looks good now. I know what way I can go and I feel there’s something in my future. My mum always said to me if you work hard you fly high. Now anything I do, I think about that. I want to volunteer all my life and any time someone needs something I want to be there to help them. I know I have something more to give in life.”

The National Literacy Trust has revealed impressive improvements to the literacy skills and attitudes of children in Middlesbrough as the charity celebrates five years since the launch of its Hub in the town.

The National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough, known locally as Middlesbrough Reads, was established in 2013 in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and Public Health. The charity has brought together local businesses, schools, health professionals, sport and cultural partners to deliver a range of bespoke programmes and initiatives that have significantly improved literacy levels in the town.

More pupils enjoying reading and writing

As part of Middlesbrough Reads, a number of projects have been delivered to promote reading and writing, and a public campaign has encouraged parents to make reading a part of family life.

The National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Pupil Survey shows improvements in both reading and writing attitudes for pupils in Middlesbrough aged between 8 and 14 since the Hub launch:

• A 19.8% increase (or 10 percentage point increase) in the number of pupils who enjoy writing (50.4% to 60.4%)
• An 8.2% increase (or 4.8 percentage point increase) in the number of pupils who read for enjoyment (58.2% to 63%)

A key focus for Middlesbrough Reads has been the early years, with activity aiming to increase the number of children reaching the expected level at age five.

Hundreds of families took part in the National Literacy Trust’s Early Words Together programme, with local volunteers giving parents the tools they need to support their children’s literacy at home. The programme has had a significant impact:

• Between 2013 and 2015, 43% more children from participating settings reached the expected communication and language levels at age five; three times more than the national percentage increase.
• From 2016 to 2017, 13% more children in participating primary schools achieved an overall good level of development at age five; more than double the increase seen among children from other Middlesbrough schools.

Since the National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough launched, there have also been notable improvements to children’s literacy attainment across the town more widely.

There’s been a 31% increase in the percentage of Middlesbrough children achieving the expected level in communication and language at age five (from 55.4% in 2013 to 72.7% in 2017); double the rate of national improvement. This indicates that the Hub, along with local government, school and other partner initiatives, is having a real impact.

Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust said:

“The National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough has spearheaded our pioneering place-based approach to improving literacy levels in the UK. It has inspired a further six Hubs across the country and we’ve seen local initiatives rolled out both nationally and internationally. We have committed to working in the town for at least 10 years and we’re looking forward to building on the fantastic partnerships we’ve made with local organisations to drive more improvements to literacy across Middlesbrough, which will change the lives of children and families.”

It’s business as usual for the 125 year-old-church of St Paul Hamstead, following the appointment of Rev. Smitha Prasadam to St. Alban’s, Copenhagen.

Reverend Smitha, who was vicar at St. Paul’s for eleven years, was licensed as Chaplain in her new parish, on Saturday 16 June.

Parishioners are a hardy bunch and solider on with it’s Summer Events programme which is open to the public.

On Saturday 23 June from 12 noon – 2pm, the church has its annual Summer Fair in the vicarage garden and church.  There will be games, stalls, refreshments, and fun!

On Saturday 7 July at 10am, there is a free Men’s Breakfast followed by a conversation about prostate cancer presented by Desmond Jaddoo.  To book, visit https://stpaulhamstead.eventbrite.co.uk  or telephone 0121 369 0611.

Then on the same day at 2pm, there will be an afternoon Tea Dance in the Community Centre.   Only £5 admission which includes tea and cakes.

Church Warden, June Perks, said: “We had a lovely celebration which was a fitting ‘fare thee well’ to Smitha as she and the family leave St. Paul’s after eleven years of ministry here.  The church and the community are still very active, and things continue as normal.”

Two war memorials are set to be restored to their former glory as Wolverhampton marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The memorials, in Church Road, Pennfields, and at St Michael and All Angels Church in Tettenhall, were erected in memory of those who fought and died in the First World War.

Over the years they have suffered from wear and tear – with the Tettenhall memorial also sadly subjected to vandalism – and members of the Bradmore War Memorial Fund and the Tettenhall War Memorial Committee are now planning their restoration.

The Pennfields, Bradmore and Merry Hill war memorial, situated within ornamental gardens opposite St Philips Church, features a granite soldier holding a rifle mounted on a plinth.

Movement within the plinth over the years has resulted in damage to the stone work, while a bayonet and the barrel of the rifle are missing. The proposed remedial work will see the plinth stabilised, missing parts of the rifle replaced, stonework repaired and the names of the fallen repainted.

The Tettenhall war memorial, erected in 1920, is a red sandstone cross and shaft mounted on a plinth, with the names of the fallen from both the First and Second World Wars recorded on panels around it. The sandstone has eroded  over the years, as well as being attacked by vandals, resulting in damage to both the cross and shaft.

The repair work will see these replaced and the stonework within the plinth repaired. At the same time, the Tettenhall War Memorial Committee also plans to clean the memorial and replace the stone paving around it, as well as adding the names of any local residents who fought and died in conflicts from 1945 onwards.

The City of Wolverhampton Council is working with both groups to secure funding which will enable the restoration work to take place, and will make applications on their behalf to the War Memorial Trust for a grant for up to 75% of the cost of the work. The two groups have been carrying out fundraising activities to secure a 25% contribution towards the repairs.

As the War Memorials Trust will only pay grants on the satisfactory completion of the restoration work, members of the council’s Cabinet (Resources) Panel agreed yesterday (Tuesday 19 June) that the council should act as the accountable body on behalf of the two groups, establishing £20,000 capital grants to fund each repair in advance and receiving the grants when it has been finished.

Councillor Linda Leach, Chair of Wolverhampton's Remembrance Committee, said: "We are delighted to be working closely with the people of Tettenhall, Pennfields, Bradmore and Merry Hill and helping them to restore these important memorials to their former glory."

Graiseley Councillor Jacqui Sweetman said: "The fundraisers have done a tremendous job and I am delighted the Pennfields, Bradmore and Merry Hill memorial is to be repaired.

"Looking at the names on the plaque you realise commemorative stones are not about the glorification of war. They are an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by ordinary working people for their country rather than the rich and powerful. There are probably many families in the area who will see the names of their own soldier.”

Audrey Boliver, chair of Tettenhall War Memorial Committee, said: “It is wonderful that the memorial will be restored; it is the focal point of Tettenhall’s remembrance activities and there is a very special commemoration planned on 11 November this year to mark the 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

“We have had a superb response from the local community to our appeal, with donations from the general public local firms, and families whose ancestors are represented on the memorial, and we also held a very successful fundraiser at Light House.”

The projects at Pennfields and Tettenhall are part of an ongoing programme of restoration and repair of Wolverhampton's war memorials. Over the last few years, the memorials in Heath Town and Wednesfield, as well as the Harris memorial in St Peter's Gardens, Wolverhampton, have been restored to their former glory, while the Bilston war memorial is due to be restored this year and the cenotaph at St Peter's Square will be cleaned.

Schools, community groups and businesses from across the UK took part in Ronald McDonald House Charities’ annual PJ Day campaign to raise money for the independent charity which provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with sick children in hospitals across the UK.

Various groups took part by wearing their favourite pyjamas to work or school to raise money, with many holding fundraising activities including holding cake sales, film nights and even a charity step class. Illusion Dance in Oldbury took part by doing their dance classes in their pyjamas. Overall, the PJ Day campaign in Birmingham has raised around £900 so far which will enable the Charity to continue to provide families a place to stay.

Across the UK, there are 14 Ronald McDonald Houses all situated in or near hospital grounds and enable seriously ill children to have their families close by when they are undergoing treatment and to maintain a degree of normal family life.

Last year Ronald McDonald House Charities supported more than 8,000 families with children in hospital, 1,018 of those stayed here in Birmingham.

Ronald McDonald House Birmingham celebrated the day with staff wearing their pyjamas and holding a PJ film afternoon for families.

Charlotte Smith, the Community Fundraiser in Birmingham said “We are so grateful to everyone who chose to take part in PJ Day. Lots of people went to school or work in their pyjamas to raise money for our cause. This money will help us continue on our mission of helping families get a good nights’ sleep when their child is ill in hospital.”

Peter Bache, director and co-founder of Birmingham-based valuation company European Valuations, has completed an epic week-long walk from Gloucester to London, raising an incredible £61,372 to be split between Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity and Prostate Cancer UK.

Peter was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 2017 and is now in remission, having received chemotherapy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. After his treatment, Peter decided to turn his attention to fundraising and decided to follow in the footsteps of Dick Whittington, walking from Gloucester to London, accompanied by his friends and family.

The walk was a great success, with many of Peter’s close family and friends taking on various legs of the gruelling walk, which saw the group arrive at Mansion House in London to be met by the Lord Mayor.

Speaking of the challenge that the walk posed, Peter said: “It was incredibly difficult at points, the weather really wasn’t great for much of the week and getting up each day got increasingly harder. The support that I received along the way from my friends and family made it all so much easier, as did knowing that our efforts were going to help raise so much money for such an important cause.”

The money that Peter and his group raised will help QEHB Charity to support the research that is taking place at QEHB into prostate cancer. Peter said: “It was a huge shock when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer because I didn’t have any symptoms at all. The care that I received at QEHB was great, and I really wanted to give something back to this amazing hospital.”

Peter presented the cheque for £61,372 to Professor Nick James, Professor of Clinical Oncology at QEHB who is a key figure within QEHB Charity’s Prostate Cancer appeal. Professor James said: “My heartfelt thanks go to Peter and everyone who took part in the walk for raising such an incredible amount to support patients with prostate cancer at QEHB.

“Prostate cancer is now the most common form of cancer in men, with 47,000 new cases each year.

“Here at QEHB, we have an outreach campaign called ‘It’s a Man Thing’ and are purchasing a ‘Man Van’ to support this work. The Man Van will be piloting with QEHB Mobile Men’s Health walk-in clinics focussing on workplaces with a high risk of poor prostate cancer outcomes.”

Fundraising Manager at QEHB Charity, Cathryn Worth, said: “The Charity is incredibly grateful for Peter’s hard work and fundraising efforts. The prostate cancer appeal will help to change the lives of the thousands of men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, helping to improve treatments and increase early diagnosis.”

Peter’s fundraising will also be of great benefit to Prostate Cancer UK, with James Beeby, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, saying: “We’re so grateful to Peter for taking on his epic Dick Whittington walk in order to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK. It is an incredible effort, one that will help us make prostate cancer a disease that the next generation of men do not fear.

In the run up to the summer holidays many parents will begin to groan inwardly (and audibly) at the prospect of having to entertain the children for six weeks. What might begin with enthusiastic trips to the cinema and the local pool will inevitably end in wondering what to do next for everyone’s sanity.

But don’t lose heart or creativity; instead of turning the TV on or placing them in front of a tablet, Natural Nurture has created a top five summer holiday activity tips.

Weather the weather

Living in Britain means you can’t rely on brilliant sunshine for all the holidays, however, this shouldn’t dampen any plans for outdoor activities.  Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.  Don the wellies, put on a rain jacket and head outside to jump in puddles, or tree climb in the woods or play Pooh sticks.

Get crafty

Forget the expensive craft kits - there are so many natural resources at our finger tips that children can use to spark their imaginations.  Get the poster paint or chalks out and go hunting for sticks, stones, shells and leaves to decorate.  Once dried, these can be turned into a multitude of things.  Try turning the painted leaves into bunting or gluing the shells to hairclips for original pieces of art.

Build a DIY tent

Don’t have a tent?  Don’t worry, you can raid the airing cupboard and use sheets and blankets and let the children create their own dens.  Clothes pegs are handy tools as well as brooms, umbrellas and kitchen chairs.  This activity not only helps children problem solve but on a sunny day will also create shade that they will want to sit under.

Pick a picnic

Plan a picnic with the kids, which could even be an indoor picnic if it rains.  Involve the children by taking them to the supermarket with you to choose the foods and then let them help you prepare it.  Children love chopping and spreading, and the enjoyment they’ll get when eating what they picked and prepared will be worth it!

Community spirit

Local councils, shopping centres, libraries and museums often host a range of free activities for the little ones over the summer so check ‘what’s on’ guides and noticeboards for activities that are happening near you.

Tracey Poulton, Founder of Natural Nurture, says: “Entertaining children over summer doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise, it just requires a bit of imagination from both sides.  Children can lead activities so listen to what they might like to do.  It might be as simple as a game of hopscotch, but getting involved as a parent too can make the activity more fun and rewarding for both children and adults.

“Studies have shown that children often just want to spend time with their parents and it can be undertaken easily through simple activities like sitting down and making a daisy chain together.

“Don’t worry about having to amuse them the whole time though, as letting them get bored occasionally is good, teaching them to be more creative in the ways they entertain themselves.”

City of Wolverhampton Council and partners have successfully secured an initial £138,000 of government funding to boost their work in tackling rough sleeping in the city.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government award covers the remainder of the 2018/19 financial year.

The news follows yesterday’s (Thursday) Day of Action and support across the city, highlighting the work and role of the Rough Sleeping Operational Group, which includes council partners P3, Wolverhampton Homes, St George’s Hub, the Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC), and Good Shepherd Ministry.

The extra funding will supplement current services and will be used to provide additional outreach provision, accommodation, support and activities to help keep people of the streets.

Councillor Peter Bilson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, said: “We are delighted the MHCLG has recognised the positive work we are doing in the city to tackle the issue of rough sleeping and the extra funding will help support this.

“The council continues to actively work with its partner agencies to find longer-term solutions for preventing rough sleeping in the city.

"We particularly focus our efforts on preventing someone from becoming homeless in the first place, and work closely with our partner agencies such as P3, Housing Outreach teams and colleagues providing money advice, in order to find solutions for, people threatened with homelessness, and ensuring support is available for those who are unable to maintain their tenancy for whatever reason.

"We have also developed a new ‘Rent with Confidence’ framework and approach which gives people information about the standard of and management of the private accommodation they move into, and also helps the council to identify suitable properties which helps to end or prevent individuals' homelessness in the future.

“This funding will enable us to broaden this work and make even more of a real difference to reducing the number of rough sleepers in the city.”

A series of workshops aimed at West Midlands businesses that want to start exporting their goods or services are to begin later this month.

Organised by West Midlands Chambers of Commerce’s ERDF SME International Growth Project, the You Can Export series includes four half-day, morning sessions that cover: market research and selection; routes to market; export pricing; and how to internationalise your website. Businesses can attend one or all four.

Andy Smith, International Relationships Manager for the SME International Growth Project, said the free workshops, which will be held at the Hotel Novotel, in Wolverhampton city centre, are ideal for companies that have little or no experience of exporting but are looking to spread their wings globally by learning about the fundamental topics of exporting.

“Many businesses don’t realise how much help and support they can receive, so either put off their export plans or struggle on their own when they start trading outside of the UK for the first time,” he said.

“However, we offer a huge range of assistance to businesses and can guide them, provide advice and help them with everything from the documentation to digital and from financial support for overseas visits to putting them in contact with our Embassy experts.

“SMEs based in the West Midlands can attend these workshops free of charge and are the ideal starting point if they want to dip their toes into the export market. There will also be opportunities to speak to an array of advisers and experts who can support them on their journey.”

The first one, which focuses on market research and selection, takes place on Tuesday, June 26.  It is designed to help companies prioritise overseas markets using market research and will cover topics such as modelling for effective and time-saving desk research using the internet; important factors to consider when visiting an overseas market to conduct research; and how to select and commission professional research.

The second takes place on Wednesday, July 11 and will examine routes to market, covering topics including the different ways that businesses can sell into an overseas market common pitfalls and advice on how to avoid them

The third workshop, on Tuesday, July 24, is about setting and managing export prices for products and services across international markets and will focus on a range of topics, including the importance of local customs with regard to pricing; negotiation; establishing contractual terms; identifying alternative pricing strategies; and increasing the opportunity for export profitability. This workshop will also introduce services offered by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and UK Export Finance.

The final workshop on Tuesday, August 7, will be run by a DIT digital adviser and will advise businesses on how to develop their websites so that they have international appeal. Participants will learn how to localise an e-commerce website; how to use online tools to gain market insights; and how to use social media with an international audience.