Community News

Ex-West Brom player, and member of the famous ‘Three Degrees’, Brendon Batson, will address a special event to mark the 50th anniversary of Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech at the Midland Hotel in Birmingham. The event will be held in the same hotel that Enoch Powell used for his speech in 1968. Bringing together a wide spectrum of West Midlands society, the event will be showcasing how the diverse communities of the midlands reject Powell’s vision of ‘rivers of blood’ and instead have turned to ‘rivers of love’.

Eleanor Smith, the BAME female MP, who now holds Enoch Powell’s old Wolverhampton seat will give a key note address, outlining how Birmingham, and the West Midlands, has rejected Powell’s vision and embraced tolerance and diversity.

Also addressing the event will be Birmingham City Council leader, Ian Ward, Shabana Mahmood MP and Preet Gill MP.  Roger McKenzie, UNISON’s Assistant General Secretary and originally from the West Midlands will also make a speech.

Either side of comments from the key note speakers there will be contributions from representatives of the many differing communities across Birmingham, including a poem from the present Birmingham Poet Laurette Matt Windle.

TUC Midlands, Regional Secretary, Lee Barron, said: “It’s clear that Enoch Powell lost. We mark the 50th anniversary of his infamous speech in celebration and appreciation of the wonderful diversity of our region. Powell’s vision of ‘rivers of blood’ has clearly been rejected as our communities have instead embraced a vision of ‘rivers of love’ in creating a vibrant, tolerant and open society that is welcoming to all people.”

Brian O’Sullivan, Birmingham SUTR said: “Powell spoke of immigration as an evil and used his speech to try and whip up racial hatred. But here we are in 2018 and people from different communities and religions work and live together and we will not let racism divide us’.

Wolverhampton will come together to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with a series of commemorative events over the coming months.

The guns fell silent after four years of bloody battle with the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, and the City of Wolverhampton Council is working with partner organisations across the City to commemorate the centenary of this pivotal event in world history.

An extensive programme of activities is currently being developed, and will include a series of themed exhibitions and displays of memorabilia and art at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies.

Pupils from local schools will be encouraged to make poppies – each one representing a soldier from Wolverhampton who fought in the conflict – and lay them at the Cenotaph during a special ceremony on Friday 9 November. There will also be story, poetry and letter writing competitions, while many schools are expected to plan further First World War-themed activities of their own.

Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society is working with the council to develop a walking map detailing the many war memorials which can be found across the City and the Society’s wolf from 2017’s Wolves in Wolves trail – The Fallen, which lists the names of those who died in the conflict – will be displayed in the grounds of Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies’ Molineux Hotel. Archivists will also be conducting important research in an attempt to identify any soldiers who may be missing from the City’s Roll of Honour.

More than a dozen special First World War metal benches are to be installed at sites around Wolverhampton city centre, Bilston, Wednesfield and Tettenhall, and poppies will be attached to lampposts in key locations around Wolverhampton as the anniversary approaches.

Meanwhile, the council is making preparations to lay commemorative paving stones in honour of Lance Corporal George Onions from Bilston and Lance Corporal Roland Elcock from Wolverhampton who received the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry, for their actions on 22 August and 15 October 1918 respectively.

The City’s libraries will be hosting story and poetry competitions for adults and special storytime sessions for children, and National Libraries Week activities between 9 and 14 October will have a First World War theme.

This year’s Armed Forces Day commemorations on Saturday 30 June will focus on the anniversary, while the City of Wolverhampton Council’s bonfire at Wolverhampton Racecourse on Saturday 3 November will feature a two-minute silence led by members of the Armed Forces, as well as a themed firework display.

The extensive programme of commemorations concludes on Armistice Day, Sunday 11 November, with the City of Wolverhampton’s annual service of remembrance at the cenotaph in St Peter’s Square. Prior to the traditional service, a lone piper will support a nationwide initiative by playing Battle’s O’er, the traditional Scottish lament played at the end of battle, outside St Peter’s Collegiate Church at 6am. Finally, a Beacon of Light will be lit – simultaneously with hundreds of other beacons across the country – at 7pm.

Keith Ireland, Managing Director of the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “The First World War touched every city, town and village in Britain; millions of people served in the conflict and tragically almost 1.1m British and Empire servicemen and women gave their lives so that future generations could live theirs.

"We have a duty to educate today's generation about what the country went through, and it is important that as a City we remember this terrible conflict and the sacrifices that were made a century ago.

“We and our partners will be organising and supporting an extensive programme of events and activities and we hope as many people as possible will get involved.”

More details of the commemoration programme will be announced in due course, while the City of Wolverhampton Council is developing a dedicated website which will detail events taking place across the City to mark the 100th anniversary, and enable organisations and individuals to share what they will be doing to commemorate the end of the First World War.

An innovative and caring community partnership is celebrating a ‘25,000+ participants’ landmark in just over two years, as it continues to significantly overcome barriers and improve sport and physical activity uptake in Smethwick and the surrounding areas.

Benson Community Project hosts regular and free football and multi-sport sessions for disadvantaged youngsters at Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) facility Hadley Stadium on Wilson Road - and phenomenal participation levels  have seen the weekly number of sessions jump from one to four to meet demand and interest.

SLT’s Ian King, assistant manager at Hadley Stadium, explains: “The take up has been incredible, all by word-of-mouth and personal referral, so it’s a privilege to be part of. Benson first participated in the opening of the all-weather 3G pitch at Hadley in October 2015, but at this point were a relatively new set up, working predominantly in Victoria Park & receiving a little funding from Soho & Victoria Police, through PC Dave Harnett.

“The hard work, enthusiasm and infectious personalities of Benson founders Paul Landucci and Errol Mason did not go unnoticed and discussions quickly took place between site staff, PC Harnett, plus Paul & Errol around the possibility of them operating a regular weekly session at Hadley as an after school activity.

“Nobody could have expected the results that this initial Tuesday session has seen, which led to additional football sessions on Thursday and Saturday afternoon (now for ages 5-18) as well as an indoor multi-sports family orientated session on a Wednesday – and consequently 25,000+ local people seeing, feeling, experiencing and enjoying the benefits.”

Benson’s Paul Landucci says: “Hadley’s 3G pitch is perfect for us and since we started here I can count on one hand the number of times that only the heaviest snow and ice has defeated us. The kid’s parents love the fact they don’t come home covered in mud, but most importantly it allows us to work with their children on a consistent basis and make them properly feel part of a safe, welcoming, active and diverse young community.

“We run successful football teams from here now too, as well as coaching initiatives and subsequent volunteer placements at Hadley - and the partnership continues to flourish.

“The multi-sports session has really taken off too, with kids, parents and even grandparents playing and socialising together in a fun and friendly atmosphere. We can divide the hall if need be and they can do indoor cricket, archery, basketball and rounders, etc; basically use all of the facilities and equipment. They even bring a radio in sometimes for dancing.

“We liaise closely with Smethwick Police too and our work has dramatically reduced local anti-social behaviour and youth crime because we have an open-to-all, non-judgemental, with no bias approach that is person-centred and strives to make a tangible difference.”

Moseley and Kings Heath have been named as the best places to live in Birmingham, according to a recent poll. More than 1,500 Brummies took part in the survey, run by leading Birmingham based developer SevenCapital, to find out which areas of the UK’s second city were most popular amongst locals.

One fifth (19%) of voters agreed that the popular villages of Moseley and Kings Heath were the best places to live in the city, with Harborne taking second place with 15% of votes. Solihull, which is just outside Birmingham took third place with 14%, shortly followed by Sutton Coldfield (13%) and the city’s famous Jewellery Quarter taking fifth place with 12% of votes. Other areas which also featured include Edgbaston, Brindleyplace and Digbeth.

It’s not the first time Moseley and Harbone have topped best places to live lists – in the past three years both have been named in The Sunday Times’ annual list of Britain’s best places to live, with Moseley announced overall winner back in 2015.

Andy Foote, director at SevenCapital said: “There’s a lot of research being continually carried out into which places are most desirable or offer the best quality of life for residents across the city, region and the UK. Much of this is based upon factors including economical outlook, green spaces, house prices and so on. However these reports don’t necessarily take into account what is perhaps most important, and that’s the opinions of the people living and working in these areas. That’s why we decided to do our own poll of the city where we’re based and are most active, Birmingham, to find out if these national reports are reflected by the sentiment of the people in those areas. Judging by the results, it would seem they are.”

Since 2009 SevenCapital has become the most active residential developer in and around Birmingham City Centre, with developments either completed, under construction or in planning in areas including: Mailbox District, Jewellery Quarter, Fiveways, Digbeth and Erdington.

Sutton Coldfield Town Hall is holding an open morning for those interested in being a part of the historical venue's future.

When the iconic building got into financial difficulties and was threatened with closure 18 months ago, a committee, formed of local arts and heritage enthusiasts - Sutton Coldfield Arts and Recreational Trust - joined forces to keep the venue open.

Later this year, the trust officially receives the freehold ownership of the Town Hall from the City council, with the next step being for the new registered charity to fully restore it as a theatre and community venue for this and future generations.

A meeting and tour on Saturday 21 April at 11am  - 12 noon is for those interested in volunteering or learning more about being a Friend or sponsor of the venue, which was built in 1865 as a hotel, reopening in 1906 as Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.

Those interested in theatre may be interested in volunteering on the front of house team, where roles include ushering and serving teas and coffees. Productions range from pantomimes to musicals, talks to live music events. The Town Hall is looking for enthusiastic helpers happy to give one or two evenings a month to the venue.

Volunteers with practical skills such as painting and decorating are also urged to attend, plus volunteers who can distribute publicity packs to their local cafes, churches and noticeboards, spreading the word to help their own community learn about forthcoming shows.

Dogs have been celebrated as man’s best friend for centuries – and that’s no accident. Your dog is probably the best friend you will ever have, when you’re looking your worst or feeling under the weather they will be there to cheer you up.

This month will see pet owners up and down the country celebrating their furry friends as part of National Pet Month. In the spirit of this Lintbells, manufacturers of premium natural pet supplements, have shared a few reasons why our canine chums are the best.

They’re incredibly loyal

Our canine companions generally love being around people. They wait for you by the door; face smiling, mouth open and tail wagging, ready to dote on their best friend in the world. They are great listeners as most of us are guilty of confiding in our pets, especially after a hard day’s work.

Their mood can quite often reflect how you feel - when you're feeling blue your dog will remain by your side to comfort you, but when you're happy your dog will leap about and share in your excitement.

They keep you healthy

If you are looking to spring into action after the winter blues your dog can be the best companion. Our furry friends love being active – walks, fetching sticks, leaping into a pond or even just a game of frisbee. Even if you’re lacking energy and tempted to just stay in, the importance of ‘walkies’ will compel you to get out of the house.

Dog owners have also been found to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and they can even promote emotional wellbeing thanks to their unconditional love.

They’re entertaining

Dogs often beat other animals on the entertainment scale with their goofy looks and antics. They’re unpredictable and silly and often entertain us with their playful nature and human-like behaviours. Simply watching them as they chase their own tail for hours or a game of peek-a-boo from around the corner will certainly keep you chuckling.

They can help you socialise

Walking your dog is a sure fire way to start conversations with fellow animal lovers. Their friendly and super social nature means you can make new friends at the same time as walking your dog!

They’ll never leave you hanging

We all have that one friend who cancels on you regardless of weeks of planning in advance. But with your furry little friend, you’ve got nothing to fear! They will always be there for you no matter what.

There is no doubt our pet pooch deserves gentle handling and should be showered with lots of love and affection. Lintbells offers pet owners a fantastic range of natural products that are designed to make your dog glow from head to tail. The recently launched YuMOVE PLUS for dogs is an extra-strength joint supplement that will make a tail-wagging difference to stiff and older dogs, helping to keep them mobile by soothing stiffness and supporting their joints.

A new exhibit featuring some of the world’s most mysterious creatures has opened at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham. Guests sampled jelly-inspired mocktails and sweet treats as the attraction was unveiled to families.

Months in the making, the new ‘Jelly Invaders’ exhibit stars five different jellyfish species from across the globe, from the bizarre freshwater ‘upside down jellyfish’ to the glittering ‘sea nettle’ variety from the Indo-Pacific.

The unique creatures are the true Jekyll and Hydes of the marine world, with their harmless, tranquil appearance belying highly efficient hunting tactics and stingers.

The new experience will allow visitors to get a close encounter to these mystical creatures, with diverse species of jellies in a variety of colourful interactive displays.

Jonny Rudd, curator at the aquarium, said: “The new exhibit lifts the lid on this mysterious species. Jellyfish are actually older than dinosaurs, as it’s believed they first swam in our oceans some 500 million years ago. With more than 350 different species, there’s a lot to uncover!”

Despite their name, jellyfish aren’t actually a type of fish and are instead classed in a group of their own, due to them being unlike any other creature on earth.

“But jellies get a bad press,” explains Jonny.“Most are completely harmless to humans; it’s only a few such as the sea nettle jellyfish that give them a bad name as they can cause a painful sting.

“Jellies remain key to our ecosystem as they feed larger sea creatures, however one of the main fascinations is in their coastline invasions.”

Jellyfish flourish in conditions created by global warming, pollution and overfishing, as evidenced by their invasions onto UK coastlines as recently as last year.

“Jellies are superbly adapted to plug the gaps when other species decline, which is one reason why there have been such huge swarms of jellyfish appearing in recent years.

“Some scientists believe that jellyfish are even poised to take over the oceans one day.”

Jelly Invaders is included with all entry tickets. Guests can delve deeper into the jellyfish life cycle including the aquarium’s breeding programme on a Behind the Scenes Tour (additional charge of £3.50 applies).

The Merlin Entertainments-owned attraction is home to more than 2,000 aquatic inhabitants in over 60 immersive displays, including the UK’s only 360° tropical ocean tunnel.

Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice is calling on former staff and visitors to share their memories of the hospice for a new history archive.

John Taylor has been supporting families in the city since 1910 and is keen to collect people’s recollections of working and visiting the hospice over the past decades.

In a newly launched history section of its website the hospice now features films of two women who worked at John Taylor in the past sharing their memories. Pat Murr, aged 90, of Sutton Coldfield and 79-year-old Pat Seickell of Lichfield were nurses at what was then known as the Taylor Memorial Home.

Pat Murr, who was a staff nurse at the hospice in the 1950s, said: “In those days it was just nursing to make people as comfortable as we could. Visiting was very limited in those days and nobody ever talked about the hospice.”

Pat Seickell, who was a night sister in the 1970s and helped launch the community service in the 1980s, said: “When I joined the hospice in 1975 it was different from how it is now. It was fairly basic with nursing staff, a cook and some cleaners and that was about it.

“My remembrances of the place was that, although it was a place where people came at end of life, on the whole it was a very happy place. I do keep up to date with the hospice and I think the ethos is very much the same – living until you die.”

Founded in Sparkbrook in 1910, John Taylor moved to its current site at The Grange in Grange Road, Erdington, in 1948 as part of the formation of the NHS. In 2011 the hospice left the NHS to become independent. Initially this was as a community enterprise company but this April the hospice has become a charity.

Hospice CEO Penny Venables says: “For more than 100 years John Taylor Hospice has been providing care for families here in Birmingham. Our hospice has changed many times over those years – always to ensure we are meeting the needs of the people we care for.

“When we left the NHS in 2011 becoming a community enterprise company was the right decision. Four years ago we achieved charitable status and now is the right time for us to move the entire organisation from social enterprise to charity.

“This will enable us to continue to develop new services and meet the ever-changing needs of local families. And we also hope it will put us in a stronger position to attract fundraising income which will ensure we can extend our care still further and reach more people.”

And she added: “This is the latest stage in our rich history and to celebrate our special status as the longest-standing hospice in the region we want to ensure we are capturing stories from our past. We would love to hear from anyone who has worked here, visited or had other links which they would like to share – and we are particularly keen to collect memories as far back as possible.”

Staff from a leading Black Country law firm have pledged their support to help Birmingham Children’s Hospital carry out its life-saving care.

Talbots Law named the UK’s leading specialist paediatric centre as its ‘Charity of the Year’ and has already presented it with a £10,000 donation to help it deliver treatments, complex surgical procedures and cutting-edge research to young people up to the age of 16.

Employees from across the company’s seven offices were invited to nominate their preferred good causes and, following much deliberation, the three most popular choices were put forward for a final vote that was made at the business’ annual party.

“There was a lot of personal stories of families and friends that have been helped and supported by Birmingham Children’s Hospital so the decision was a comprehensive one in the end,” explained Mary Mocklow, Chief Executive of Talbots Law.

“We always kick-start the year of fundraising by donating an initial sum and then we hope to build on this through a host of different activities that will be organised by the firm and our employees. The emphasis is on getting as many people involved as possible.”

“Ian Bond and I visited Eloise Davidson and Paul Moore at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity to present the cheque and find out a little bit more about the amazing care they provide every day of the week, every week of the year.”

Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital, which was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the CCQ in February 2017, looks after 90,000 children and young people from across the country every year.

It operates a national liver and small bowel transplant centre and is a global centre of excellence for complex heart conditions, the treatment of burns, cancer, liver and kidney disease.

Talbots staff have already taken part in the ‘Big Bandage Day’ and are looking forward to embarking on a London to Paris bike ride and a daunting Snowdon Challenge.

Eloise Davidson, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are truly thankful for all of the hard work Talbots Law has put into raising such a fantastic amount of money for our patients.

“The funds they have raised will go a long way to making a huge difference to the lives of our brave children and their families as we continue our plans to improve our facilities – enabling us to treat even more children from Birmingham, the West Midlands and around the country.”

His Honour Judge James Burbidge QC received the scroll appointing him the first Honorary Recorder of the City of Wolverhampton at an extraordinary meeting of the Full Council yesterday evening (Wednesday).

The Honorary Recorder is a ceremonial role, created to maintain and develop close links between council and the judiciary as well as to encourage an understanding of the judicial system among the community.

Kevin O’Keefe, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Governance, said: “We are delighted to appoint His Honour Judge James Burbidge QC as the first Honorary Recorder of the City of Wolverhampton.

“In his role, he will be an important link between the council, the people and the courts, and will become a familiar face at Civic events around the City.”

The Honorary Recorder will attend ceremonial and civic functions as well as inviting members of the council to attend judicial events. He will also be the most senior Judge to sit at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

In the future, the title will pass automatically to the Senior Resident Judge of Wolverhampton Crown Court upon their appointment by the Lord Chief Justice.

Become a pirate, crew a canal boat, learn the boating lingo, watch wildlife and discover the amazing places to visit on the nation's beautiful waterways for FREE. On Sunday 15 April 2018, 11am to 4pm, Drifters Waterway Holidays and the Canal & River Trust are offering people the chance to try canal boating for free at 19 locations across England and Wales.

The taster sessions will include free trips on skippered narrowboats, as well as boat tours and holiday discounts. No advance booking or experience is required, with people of all ages encouraged to just turn up.

Gareth Stephens, National Boating Manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “We believe that waterways have the power to make a real difference to people's lives and that spending time by water makes us all healthier and happier. Thousands of people already enjoy boating holidays on our beautiful 2,000-mile network of inland waterways, and these free canal boat taster sessions are a great way to know that this sort of holiday is for you, before committing to a weekend or longer break.”

Tim Parker, chairman of Drifters Waterway Holidays, explains: “Last year, over 3,800 people got afloat at our one of our open day events and we look forward to welcoming thousands more visitors this year, to discover why canal boat holidays are so special.”

Tiny tots are getting ready to take on muddy puddles at a special Peppa Pig sponsored walk next month.

The children at Smarty Pants Nursery based at Lightwoods House in Bearwood will be taking part in the Muddy Puddle Walk in aid of Save The Children at Lightwoods Park on 23 April.

The children will be doing a circuit of the park helped by Peppa Pig characters along the way - before a splash in muddy puddles outside the nursery and some stories.

The little ones have also been learning about the plants and herbs in Shakespeare Garden at the house - which features plants and shrubs all mentioned in the playwright's work.

Nursery owner and manager Lydia Browning said: "Now the spring is here it's lovely for the children to get out in the garden a bit more. They're all very excited for the Muddy Puddle Walk and seeing the Peppa Pig characters and we're hoping to raise some money for a good cause while we have some fun."

Lightwoods House opened in January 2018 having been extensively restored thanks to a £5.2million project funded by the council, Big Lottery fund (BIG) and Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The nursery opened last September in a brand new building next to the house, designed to look like the old stables.

To find out more about Lightwoods House and Park, go to the website www.lightwoodsparkandhouse.co.uk

Discover a quintessentially British affair at Blenheim Palace this summer; witness iconic characters brought to life, fabulous live music, delicious food and drink and an exciting firework finale at the new Great British Garden Party.

Taking place between 13-14 July from 6.30-10pm at the historic Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site, this glorious outdoor event allows visitors a unique opportunity to discover the Palace, Park and Gardens with spectacular entertainment.

Explore the magnificent Palace and its Capability Brown landscaped Park, walk in the footsteps of our greatest Briton, Sir Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim, take a spoonful of sugar listening to storytime with Mary Poppins in the Secret Garden and come face to face with Britain's very own Bond, James Bond.

Laze in a deckchair as Test Match Special icon Henry Blofeld commentates live on a charity cricket match featuring the star-studded Lord's Taveners (13 July) on the South Lawn.

Enjoy a glass of Champagne with sumptuous strawberries and cream, or tuck in to the South Lawn BBQ* whilst a resident string quartet plays. Watch and join in while a troupe of energetic professional dancers lindy hop, jive and waltz the evening away.

As night falls, visitors will congregate in the Great Court for a spectacular red, white and blue fireworks finale set to the stirring words of Sir Winston Churchill, along with resounding renditions of Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and Elgar's Nimrod.

This exclusive experience is an extended ticket offering which includes after-hours entry into the Palace and Gardens, fabulous entertainment and free parking.

Customers of The Rajdani Indian restaurant in West Kingsdown, near Sevenoaks in Kent, raised £1185 at a special charity lunch.

The restaurant which was named Best Indian Restaurant in the South East at last year's prestigious Asian Curry Awards, served a selection of its acclaimed dishes, for which 69 regulars paid £15 each.

A further £150 was raised through a prize raffle.

The proceeds will be divided equally between the St Edmund's Church in West Kingsdown and Rohingya refugees through Global Aid Trust.

Rajdani owner Rob Khan said the lunch was a great success, raising money for two excellent causes.

Rohingya people are one of the most persecuted minority groups in the world, according to Khan, who points to the genocide which has led to over 600,000 refugees to flee their homes in Myanmar, in fear of their lives.

St Edmund's is the centre of a vibrant Christian community within the village and is involved in many charitable works.

“People often say charity should begin at home, which it should – but it should not end here,” said Khan, whose restaurant, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, has long been involved in fund-raising for good causes.

In October last year the restaurant raised £1700 for ABF The Soldiers' Charity, which supports soldiers, veterans and their families.

The Rajdani is looking to host another event involving St Edmund's Church later in the year.

The restaurant hopes to feature again in the Asian Curry Awards which is being held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 18th November 2018. In a bid to retain his titles, Head Chef Jimmi Shab, has recently returned from a culinary tour of the sub-continent and is redesigning a shorter, gourmet menu where current favourites will be complemented by a greater choice of fish, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Nura Ali, Executive Director of Allies Network and Charlotte Holmes of Birmingham Museums Trust Collecting Birmingham Team held an afternoon knowledge sharing event and celebration of the First Somali Cultural Artifact ‘Xeedho’ to be displayed in a West Midlands museum.  People came from across England and Wales included artists, activists, community workers, curators and leaders of the City of Birmingham to explore issues around material culture, power and untold stories of the Somali Community of the West Midlands.

This event marked the close of Collecting Birmingham a unique project that has, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, significantly developed the relevance and accessibility of Birmingham’s collections. During this three-year project we worked with Nura Ali and her mother Fatumo Shabele to consult with them about the Somali cultural artifact ‘Xeedho’’ and understand the history behind the artifact. Also understand the family story behind the artifact before the museum acquired it, giving the family direct influence on the acquisition of artifact ‘Xeedho’. Nura Ali said The ‘Xeedho’ is at Birmingham Museum now and is accessible to the citizens of Birmingham for many years to come.’’

Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Elmhurst Ballet School are inspiring music students to experience the working life of a professional ballet pianist with its Placement for Pianists Programme.

Due to overwhelming interest and a successful inaugural first year, launched as a pilot scheme in September 2017, organisers of the initiative are pleased to announce it will continue with a second cohort in the 2018–2019 academic year.

The programme provides a very rare opportunity for music students to explore the highly specialised artistry and technique of ballet pianism during mentoring, observational and practical sessions with pianists working full-time at Elmhurst Ballet School, the associate school of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Following initial meetings between Mikael Petersson, Elmhurst’s Music Planning Coordinator and pianist, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Luan Shaw, Head of Pedagogy and Community Engagement and Katharine Lam, Piano Tutor and Pedagogy Lecturer, Petersson and Jeanette Wong, a pianist from Birmingham Royal Ballet, were invited to speak to over 100 Conservatoire music students with the aim of introducing them to the fascinating world of ballet pianism.

Uptake to join the Placement was large and after an audition process, piano students Connor Wilcox and Yung-Li Chen were selected to take part in the scheme – marking the first collaboration between the two Birmingham-based educational establishments.

Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said: “Royal Birmingham Conservatoire pays care and attention to musicians as entrepreneurs, preparing our students for the opportunities and challenges presented by the future of the profession, and with the intention that they leave us as employable music professionals. Unique partnerships such as this one with Elmhurst Ballet School ensure that we are continually fulfilling our promise.

“I am delighted that this partnership with Elmhurst has come to fruition – the combination of some of the country’s best young dancers and pianists working together is simply electrifying, and exemplifies our joint ethos of wanting to further embed ourselves within the city we serve. It is fantastic that the Placement will continue next year and I am excited to see in which other directions our partnership follows.”

Over the last four months, Connor, from Burntisland in Fife, and Yung-Li, from Yilan County in Taiwan, have attended ten programme sessions at the Edgbaston-based ballet school, have observed and played for ballet classes, have spent a day observing pianists at Birmingham Royal Ballet and have benefitted from one-to-one tutorials with Elmhurst’s pianists Mikael Petersson and Elaine Li – both also graduates of the renowned Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, which was granted its Royal title by Her Majesty The Queen in 2017.

Mikael Petersson, Elmhurst’s Music Planning Coordinator and pianist, said: “The art world needs to be accessible to more people, so it’s vital for arts venues, training establishments and artists to reach out to wider audiences. It can begin with projects like the Placement Programme for Pianists, where young musicians meet with young dancers and new ideas are born.

“As a former Conservatoire student, I realised during my student years the importance of establishing a professional network well before the completion of the degree. Finding work is increasingly dependent on an individual’s ability to take initiative and reach out to work places. This scheme facilitates taking those first steps so entering the profession is a little easier. I hope by working together in this way, two of the world’s leading performing arts institutions and their talented students will continue to inspire each other.”