Community News

The incoming Mayor of Wolverhampton is inviting people to join him at the annual Civic Sunday service next weekend. The Civic Sunday service is traditionally the first engagement of the new Mayoral year.

It gets underway at 10.45am on Sunday 21 May with a short procession from the Civic Centre to St Peter’s Collegiate Church, where the formal service led by the Reverend David Wright will begin at 11am. All faiths are welcome and refreshments will be served in the Georgian Room at Wolverhampton Art Gallery afterwards.

Councillor Elias Mattu, who will be elected the 159th Mayor of Wolverhampton at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday evening (17 May), said: “Civic Sunday is an important occasion in the Civic calendar when the people of Wolverhampton come together to attend church.

“I am looking forward to taking the chains of office next week and passionately believe in keeping traditions alive. I would therefore like to invite people of all faiths or none to join me for this very special service.”

Alpha Works, a first-of-its-kind co-working space in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, has announced its official opening with seven companies already calling it home and more than 100 employees moving into the state-of-the-art facility.

The £1 million development, delivered and managed by property company CEG, provides more than 14,000 sq ft of collaborative office space in the iconic Alpha Birmingham catering for fast-growth businesses. The site’s unique proposition, quality and location has enabled it to attract a variety of organisations and reach 75% capacity ahead of its launch. Companies such as international service provider Allegis Global Solutions have relocated to harness the opportunities presented by Birmingham’s increasing connectivity, economic growth and position as a global business destination.

Others also occupying space in the hub are hotel and luxury project management firm Emerald Project Management, business growth support programme Get Set for Growth, international education software and services company Tribal Education, planning, regeneration and development consultancy Nexus Planning, corporate communications agency Pearl Comms and global mobile device management platform Pervacio.

Alpha Works offers a range of options for its members including hot desks, private offices and flexible workspaces. The hub’s contemporary styled design, conceived by award-winning architects ORMS has brought a range of unique features to the site including a double height reception and event space, breakout areas and fully equipped meeting rooms with wireless screens. Members are also set to benefit from superfast broadband/Wi-Fi, a community social media platform, competitive rates and its location in the heart of Birmingham City Centre. Situated on the 21st and 22nd floors of Alpha Birmingham, a key draw is also its unrivalled views of the city.

Theresa White, Community Manager at Alpha Works, said:

“Alpha Works is an exciting first for CEG in response to the market’s increasing call for flexible, collaborative and alternative work spaces that redefine the parameters of the traditional office space. To tap into Birmingham’s current economic renaissance, we have invested in a space that drives further creativity and discovery. Bringing such an iconic building back to life has been incredible and the feedback we’ve had has been hugely positive.

“The fact that we’ve signed over 75% of the space is proof that we’ve delivered on our promise and we look forward to seeing how our new and future members interact and grow together.”

Phil Cooper, vice president of operations, EMEA region at Allegis Global Solutions, commented:

“Birmingham was the obvious choice for us as we wanted to establish ourselves in a city with a highly educated, diverse, and young demographic.

“As a fast-expanding global company with operations in 66 countries, we wanted to make sure we positioned ourselves in a city with globally-minded and ambitious young professionals. We’re excited about the opportunity to grow here in Birmingham.”

Wolverhampton will come together to show their support for the men and women of the Army, Navy and Air Force at a series of community events to mark this year's Armed Forces Day.

The national Armed Forces Day commemorations take place on Saturday 24 June, 2017, giving the country the chance to pay tribute to serving troops, veterans, cadets and their families.

Wolverhampton will be marking the occasion with a week of events, beginning on Monday 19 June with a flag raising ceremony outside the Civic Centre during which the Armed Forces Day flag will be proudly flown.

Over the next few days, there will be a range of activities for the whole community at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, in local libraries and at the Mander Centre.

The public will also be invited to join a guided tour around the city centre's many war memorials, while members of the Royal British Legion Riders, the motorcycling branch of the charity, will be riding through the city centre and displaying their vehicles.

On Armed Forces Day itself, the Mander Centre will host a special event featuring performances, demonstrations, exhibits and activities for all the family, hosted by "Winston Churchill" himself and ending with a flag lowering ceremony.

Throughout the week, people will be encouraged to show their support for the Armed Forces through the #saluteourforces social media campaign.

Full details of the events, which are being organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council, are currently being finalised – the full programme will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Barry Findlay said: "Armed Forces Day 2017 will be the culmination of a week of celebrations in Wolverhampton honouring the incredible contribution made by the UK's Armed Forces in the past, present and future. “It is our chance to demonstrate our gratitude to them, and I hope the people of Wolverhampton will turn out in force to show their support."

To find out more about events taking place in Wolverhampton to mark Armed Forces Day, please contact Sam Axtell on 01902 554918 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more details about Armed Forces Day, please visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk.

Wolverhampton is a signatory of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, a pledge of mutual support between the city and its Armed Forces community

It calls on local people to support the Armed Forces community, recognise and remember the sacrifices they have made over the years and encourage activities that help members of the Armed Forces integrate into local life.

It also encourages members of the Armed Forces support the wider community, and promote understanding and awareness among the public of some of the issues faced by former members of the Armed Forces as they return to civilian life.

This year’s Arabian Travel Market witnessed a 10% increase in visitors from the GCC and a 7% increase in international visitors to the event, which was held in Dubai World Trade Centre from April 24-27.

For the second year in succession, visitor numbers smashed through the 28,000 mark – the show saw a 71% increase in visitors over the last five years.

Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “The continued growth of ATM is testament to the strength of the travel and tourism industry in the Middle East. The event has also built on its quality year on year and the professionalism of exhibitors and stands not only increases the brand value of their own organisation, but also that of Arabian Travel Market.

“Exhibition stand contracts signed during ATM 2017 for next year are up 38% year-on-year, with exhibitors keen to reserve their space for what promises to be a record-breaking event in 2018 as ATM celebrates its 25^th anniversary.”

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, ATM has grown to become the largest event of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world. The 2017 edition, on the theme of experiential travel sponsored by La Perle, boasted an additional hall, with 466 main stand holders representing 87 countries and over 100 new exhibitors making their debut. The number of countries represented at ATM 2017, taken from all attendees, totaled 157.

The show got off to an inspiring start, with an informative discussion on the legacy of Expo 2020. Now just under three years away, it was revealed that plans for the site after the world showcase concludes will see 80% of the plot re-developed with all Expo’s assets and transport infrastructure re-purposed for future use by a range of tenants and major private sector firms.

Commenting on the overall session, Press said: “The seminar also explored the importance of Dubai’s sustainable tourism initiatives, the expansion of the emirate’s airports’ capacity and the engagement of global audiences through partnerships with celebrities and social media influencers.”

National charity Action on Hearing Loss is urging people to abandon any stereotypes they might have about the 11 million people living with hearing loss in the UK and help bridge the communication gap for Deaf Awareness Week.

According to the charity, more than 900,000 people in the UK are severely deaf; 24,000 use sign language as their main language; and due to our ageing population by 2035 it is estimated that 15.6 million people will have some form of hearing loss.

During this week, May 15 to 21, the charity is asking people to help stop the prejudice that many of those with hearing loss still experience when out and about, in the workplace and meeting new people.

Senior audiologist at Action on Hearing Loss, Gemma Twitchen, said: “Hearing Loss affects people of all ages and can be caused by a number of factors, including exposure to loud noises, virus or disease, aging and it can be inherited.

“Small changes in our lives can make a big impact on people with hearing loss, so let this be the week you forget all the stereotypes you’ve heard and just make some new friends.”

Here are some useful tips from Action on Hearing Loss you can use:

• Even if someone is wearing hearing aids it doesn't mean they can hear you perfectly. Ask if they need to lipread.
• Speak clearly but not too slowly, and don't exaggerate your lip movements – this can make it harder to lipread.
• Don't shout. It can be uncomfortable for hearing aid users and it looks aggressive.
• If someone doesn't understand what you've said, don't keep repeating it. Try saying it in a different way instead.
• Check that the person you're talking to is following you during the conversation. Use plain language and don't waffle. Avoid jargon and unfamiliar abbreviations.
• To make it easy to lipread, don’t cover your mouth with your hands or clothing.
• If you’re going on a date at a restaurant, find a suitable place to talk, with good lighting and away from loud speakers and distractions.
• Get the listener's attention before you start speaking, maybe by waving or tapping them on the arm.
• Use natural facial expressions and gestures.
• Make sure you have face-to-face contact with the person you are talking to.
• If someone is working with a BSL interpreter, always remember to talk directly to the person you are communicating with, not the interpreter.
• If you're talking to a group that includes deaf and hearing people, don't just focus on the hearing people.

A strong Alzheimer's Society presence at Birmingham's Grand Central will mark this year’s Dementia Awareness Week (14-20 May) with events being held at the station on 16th and 18th May.

Alzheimer’s Society staff and volunteers will be out and about in Birmingham to encourage residents to unite against dementia. People will be able to put their questions to the experts. Trained staff will be on hand to provide information and advice to anyone worried about or affected by dementia.

Staff and volunteers from Alzheimer's Society will be present at the Grand Central station concourse from 7am-10am and 3pm-6pm on Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th May. Anyone is welcome to come and speak about dementia. 

This year, Alzheimer’s Society is asking people to come together to unite against dementia, forgetting their differences to help urgently find a cure, improve care, and offer help and understanding during Dementia Awareness Week.

Steve Hayward, Services Manager for Alzheimer’s Society in Birmingham and Solihull said:

“We’re calling on people across Birmingham to show their support at any of our events this Dementia Awareness Week.

“Dementia doesn’t care who you are; it could affect us all. It’s set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes, and so many people are facing it alone. We hope these events will help give people a better understanding of the support available to them.

“People with dementia often feel – and are – misunderstood, marginalised and isolated but with the right support and understanding they can continue to live fulfilling lives and make a contribution to their communities.”

Alzheimer’s Society is here for anyone affected by dementia.

The Sarojin, Thailand's luxurious 56-roomed boutique residence, is celebrating the start of this year's wedding season with the launch of a new and enchanting wedding package. Offering the highest level of personalised service, in addition to beautiful beach weddings, couples can now join together at the foot of a mesmerising waterfall in the heart of the jungle, the perfect location for a truly unique and intimate ceremony. Inclusive of luxury accommodation, a wedding ceremony, photography, spa treatments, romantic private candlelit dining on the beach and a special Buddhist blessing of love, The Sarojin's 'Wonderful Waterfall Weddings' can be booked year-round.

On waking at The Sarojin a truly luxurious service awaits, and this is especially true of the resort's brand new 'Wonderful Waterfall Weddings' package. Inclusive of three nights' accommodation in one of the resort's Garden Residences – upgrading to a Spa Suite subject to availability – The Sarojin's dedicated team will be on hand every step of the way, perfecting even the smallest of details to make for an unforgettable celebration of love. Joining together with Thailand's natural beauty as the backdrop, couples will choose between a Thai or Western wedding ceremony before making their life-long vows to the hypnotic sounds of a captivating waterfall.

As part of the package, nuptials include tailor-made vows, readings and music; a Buddhist monk or celebrant; an elegant one-tiered wedding cake; venue hire and set-up; venue decoration including luck chains, frangipani and orchids; a bottle of sparkling wine; a personal wedding planner for bespoke requests; and 4-hours of photography, allowing couples to cherish their special day for a lifetime.

Beware of the T-Rex when it goes on the rampage in Bilston for a fun family-friendly day dedicated to all things dinosaur. Bilston Gallery is celebrating dinosaurs on Saturday, May 27 from 11am to 3pm.

Young visitors can meet a life-like T-Rex, dress up and have their faces painted just like a dinosaur, and find out lots of fascinating dinosaur facts with the amazing Dr. Fossil.

Visitors can either buy tickets in advance at The Ticket Factory or simply turn up on the day (cash payments only on the day).

It has been organised to celebrate the gallery’s current, free Discover Dinosaurs exhibition featuring Beaky, Tiny and Barry - the pet names for the huge dinosaur models on show.

Marguerite Nugent, City of Wolverhampton Council Manager for Arts and Culture said: “The Discover Dinosaurs exhibition has already attracted hundreds of visitors. This Bank Holiday weekend family fun day features an amazing T-Rex model, which comes to life, as well as lots of great child-friendly activities.”

Among the popular exhibits in the current show is Stan – a model of a T Rex skull measuring almost two metres long. Joining Stan is Tiny, a not-so small animatronic baby T Rex which hunts for a herbivore creature as it would have done when creatures like it walked the earth millions of years ago.

Barry the Baryonyx gives visitors the chance to learn about one of the largest fish-eating dinosaurs. Its crocodile-like head and dangerous claws made it a master hunter of rivers and lakes around 125 million years ago.

Flying above the gallery space is the two metre-long head of Beaky - a Pterosaur, which was neither a bird or a bat but a reptile which soared above the land more than 200 million years ago.

Fast-forward to the Ice Age and meet Fluffy, a full-size mammoth, which towers above the other models. The Discover Dinosaurs exhibition is free and runs until August 13. Bilston Gallery, in Mount Pleasant, is open Thursday to Saturday from noon to 4pm.

Internationally acclaimed performers Blue Man Group have announced their first UK shows since 2009 as part of a new world tour, with Birmingham being chosen as the host city. 

Thousands of visitors are expected at Wolverhampton’s West Park for the annual Vaisakhi celebrations this weekend.

The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton together with the Asian community is holding the popular cultural festival on today between 10am and 5pm.

It promises entertainment for all the family, including a fun fair, stalls and prominent Asian musicians and singers performing live on stage.

There will be speeches by religious leaders, a variety of local organisations will showcase their services and free food will also be served throughout the day. Entry is also free.

Beforehand, there will be a parade from the Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara on Cannock Road to West Park, starting at 9am. Motorists are advised that temporary road closures will be in place while the procession makes it way to the park.

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. It is the Sikh New Year festival, and this year marks the 318th Anniversary of the Creation of the Khalsa Order and making of Saint-Solider by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.

The search is on to find the West Midlands’ most inspiring surveyors - working in the land, property and construction sectors - and helping to make the region a better place to live, work and visit - following the launch of the 2017 RICS Matrics Young Surveyor of the Year Awards.

Surveyors are essential in key areas such as housing, commercial property and our road and rail systems. The national Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Matrics Young Surveyor of the Year Awards launched three years ago, in a bid to raise awareness of the diverse range of young talented surveyors, trainees and apprentices working in such areas – aged 35 and under – and helping to shape and improve the communities we live in.

The nine categories to enter are: Apprentice of the Year, Asset and Facilities Management, Building Surveying, Land (Rural and Urban), Mentor of the Year, Property (Residential & Commercial), Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Valuation.

There is also an overall ‘Young Surveyor of the Year’ accolade which is awarded to the professional who has not only achieved great success in their respective role and sector, but also demonstrates an unwavering commitment to improving the industry and the wider profession.

Last year Sophie Bullock of Aston Knowles Chartered Surveyors in Royal Sutton Coldfield won the ‘Residential Young Surveyor of the Year’ title. Since setting up Aston Knowles Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents in 2014, Sophie has sold over £64million worth of Sutton Coldfield’s finest properties. Furthermore through her passion for property and continual development, she has went on to build a second firm, Marwood Surveyors offering valuation services across the Midlands.

Lynn Robinson, RICS Regional Director said: “The West Midlands has some of the very best properties – from our airport, sporting arenas, schools and award winning infrastructure - which our talented young professionals in the built environment sectors either help to deliver and, or, maintain.

“To put it simply, surveyors measure, value and protect all our physical assets across the region, which ultimately keeps our towns and cities vibrant and attractive to locals and visitors. These awards celebrate such inspirational talent, which I know the West Midlands has in abundance, so we’re looking forward to recognising and rewarding these role models.”

Amy Leader MRICS, Chair of the RICS UK Matrics Board – a networking and support group for young surveyors -  is heading up this year’s judging panel. She commented: “These awards celebrate the very best young role models in our industry who are enjoying hugely successful careers, working on some of the most exciting built projects and initiatives in their respective communities. So they provide an ideal opportunity for companies – however large or small - to showcase the achievements of their young talent and help inspire future talent into the industry.”

The UK’s leading heating and hot water manufacturer is searching for local deserving youth sports teams, to receive a surprise visit and £1,000 donation towards their club.

Worcester, Bosch Group has launched the search as part of its commitment to heating up the nation’s parents and grandparents as they endure the great British weather to watch their children play sport each week.

To kick off the campaign, ex-England footballer and ‘I’m a Celebrity’ contestant, Wayne Bridge, and ex-England rugby star and ‘Dancing on Ice’ winner, Kyran Bracken, returned to their grass roots to surprise players and spectators on the sidelines.

As well as joining the young aspiring players on the pitch for a pep talk and coaching session, the sporting legends had an extra treat for parents, as they helped keep them warm on the sidelines with hot drinks, bacon sandwiches and blankets during the game.

The Which? Best Buy heating supplier is now calling for locals in Birmingham to nominate a deserving youth team for the chance to receive a special visit and £1,000 donation when the season kicks off again in September.

Sue Pennington, consumer brand manager at Worcester, Bosch Group, said: “Youth sport is such an important part of local communities, so this year we wanted to give something back – not just to the players, but to the parents and coaches who give up their time and energy every week to celebrate their children’s love of sport.

“It would be great to visit a grass roots team in Birmingham, so we can show local parents and spectators that they can rely on Worcester to keep them warm.”

Coca-Cola Pakistan is providing a grant of Rs. 19 million to the Indus Earth Trust for a project entitled Water for Women, focusing on water replenishment access and conservation and replenishment of ground water and rainwater, in Kohistan Union Council area of District Thatta. The project will especially focus on the local women, who presently are tasked with the duty of fetching water, walking several kilometres to perform this arduous task, even in the hot summer months.

Catalysing IWRM (Integrated Water Resource Management) through a combination of indigenous knowledge and modern interventions of communication tools, the project will cover about 600 households in some 40 villages. Water harvesting will be done through 10 lined water reservoirs with a combined capacity of approximately 100,000 gallons. Some existing reservoirs will be restored as they have collapsed and new ones will be located in line with rain water run off channels. Rehabilitation of 20 dug wells will be done through brick-lining, capping and installation of hand-pumps. The water extracted will be collected in covered tanks and then and distributed through channels for household use, kitchen gardening, and for troughs for the livestock.

Other key components of the project include construction of check dams to capture water from hill streams, to irrigate over 1000 acres, setting up of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), trainings to build the capacity of women local leaders, awareness generation of awareness of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), etc. The project implementation period will be one year.

“Water replenishment remains a priority goal of Coca-Cola’s CSR strategy throughout the world, and our focus is especially on marginalized communities,” stated Rizwan U. Khan, General Manager Coca-Cola Pakistan and Afghanistan. ”This is a part of the pledge which The Coca-Cola Company made in 2007, to give back to the environment all the water that we use for our business, by year 2020. This target was actually already met by 2015, but we are continuing with doing more to replenish water in our markets.”

The project implementing partner, Indus Earth Trust is an experienced not-for-profit organization established in 2000, and working in the area of sustainable development to aid neglected coastal communities in Pakistan. Speaking about the partnership with Coca-Cola, IET’s CEO, Shahid Khan stated that the project will lead to meeting SDG 3 and SDG 6, and encourage reverse migration, as rural people will tend to return to their home villages from trying to find livelihood in cities, if their own areas are provided at least with water for their traditional occupation of agriculture and livestock keeping.

IET has previously partnered with Coca-Cola and UNDP in providing potable water to 30 villages in interior Sindh. This project provided water on tap for the very first time to the beneficiaries, using solar pumps to extract the water and pump it to an overhead tank, for distribution as close to households as the communities require.

The Arcadian is lending its support to the Birmingham Comedy Festival for the sixth consecutive year.

Recently voted Best Midlands Arts Festival in the What’s On Readers’ Awards 2017, the festival runs from Friday 6 October to Sunday 15 October 2017, and will see a host of established and fast-rising names taking to stages across the city.

The Arcadian, which is owned and managed by leading commercial property investment and management company LCP, is home to a variety of leisure and entertainment businesses, including the multi-award-winning Glee Club - one of the UK’s leading comedy venues.

A spokesperson for the festival said: “We’re delighted to be working with The Arcadian again this year. The centre’s many restaurants, cafes and bars make it an ideal destination for a night out, and it’s of course where The Glee, one of our core venues, is based.

“We’re looking forward to seeing some great shows at the club during the festival, including our official opening night launch event, the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award.”

The Arcadian first signed up as official sponsor for the ten-day event in 2011.

Jo Kinsella, Centre Manager at The Arcadian, said: “We are only too pleased to lend our support once again to this excellent event that takes place on our doorstep. It always attracts a great crowd of visitors from across the country.”

This line-up for this year’s festival will be officially announced over the summer. For more information, visit: www.bhamcomfest.co.uk

The Arcadian is a unique entertainment venue in Birmingham city centre, located in the heart of vibrant Southside, Chinatown and the Theatre District.

30 years ago, Rickshaw Travel's local partner in Borneo decided to design a tour that would provide real interaction between tourists and a longhouse community in Sarawak, one of the two Malaysian states in Borneo. Reaching the furthest points of the Delok river, they came across the Nanga Sumpa Longhouse in Batang Ai and met the Iban tribe who settled there in the 15th century. Because their key objective was to involve the longhouse community in a meaningful way, in order to not disrupt their way of life, it was important to see how receptive the community would be to hosting visitors. Following discussions with the elders of the community, they agreed to build a lodge for travellers adjacent to the longhouse to minimise disruption to the families living there.

What began as a simple camp is now the Nanga Sumpa lodge housing up to 18 guests at a time. As well as offering guests a glimpse into the tribe's lifestyle, visiting the lodge provides a substantial income to the Iban communities in some of the remote areas such as Sumpa, where around 2500 visitors come each year.

In Rickshaw's new Brilliantly Borneo itinerary, travellers can stay in the longhouse and learn about the Iban 'headhunting' culture. Offering a mix of wildlife-spotting, rugged and pristine beaches, adventure and magical sights, this Borneo itinerary is ideal for travellers who want to see everything that Borneo has to offer. Whether its staying with the famous Iban tribe and learning about their traditional way of life, or exploring the Mulu caves in search of bats and keeping eyes peeled for wildlife, there's a whole host of activities to keep travellers busy. And, with some added beach time at the end, travellers can relax and recuperate on the shimmering shores of Lankayan. This 24-day trip is priced from £3495 pp including accommodation (price based on two sharing) with breakfast, permits and other meals, transport and excursions as described in the itinerary.