Churches across the West Midlands are inviting their local communities to come together and bring the promise of Christmas to some of the UK’s most vulnerable children by supporting their Christingle celebration in aid of The Children’s Society.

A number of services are being held throughout December and beyond. Everyone is welcome to join the festivities and all money raised will go towards helping the children the charity works with, including those who go missing from home or experience hardship, abuse and neglect.

Families and communities are welcome to come and celebrate together at the festive spectacle, which revolves around the lighting of Christingles - oranges decorated with a candle, red ribbon, dried fruits and sweets on cocktail sticks. These items highlight different parts of the Christian story. A Christingle event is an opportunity for people of all ages to join in, light a candle and enjoy the warmth and delight of this special festive occasion.

Christingle has been taking place for almost half a century with around one million people attending each year. It plays a huge role in supporting The Children’s Society’s vital work to help some of this country’s most vulnerable young people, with over £1 million raised at Christingle events each year.

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said: “It’s fantastic that so many Christingle events are happening across West Midlands to help vulnerable children and we’re truly grateful to everyone who attends for their support.

“For many young people experiencing huge challenges in their lives the only promise of Christmas is that the bad things in their lives will feel much worse. Some will feel so unsafe, unloved, and unable to cope that they’ll run away from home. These Christingle events make it possible for us to support these young people to have better lives and make a real difference to the children in need of our help.”

In the lead up to Christmas, the independent crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, is today appealing to the public for information on those making, buying or selling counterfeit banknotes.

In the first half of 2017, over 237,000 worthless counterfeit banknotes with a notional value of over £4.88 million were removed from the UK’s streets.

While less than 1% of notes in circulation are counterfeit, this is not a victimless crime. Many retailers, businesses, schools, charities and the elderly have been conned out of money using fake notes.

Christmas is a time when more cash changes hands, especially £20 and £50 notes, and fraudsters take advantage of the festive season by targeting busy shops with temporary staff.

Incidents include scammers tricking innocent members of the public into swapping fake £20 notes for two genuine £10 notes, and businesses being left out of pocket if they take a counterfeit note.

Counterfeit notes are also known to be linked to serious and organised criminal gangs. One gang was sentenced to over three years’ imprisonment for the manufacture of £320,000 worth of fake notes. In another more recent case, three men were prosecuted after £40,000 of fake notes were found in a Kent property that was also used to supply cannabis.

As well as raising public awareness of fake banknotes, in October Crimestoppers partnered with the Bank of England to launch the Banknote Checking Scheme. Aimed at cash-handling businesses, it promotes banknote checking at point of sale through targeted training, with the aim of reducing the number of counterfeit notes being accepted.

Further information on fake notes can be found on Crimestoppers’ web page at fakenotes.co.uk.

Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, Roger Critchell, said: “Fake notes are completely worthless and knowingly holding or passing on counterfeit notes is a crime”.

“The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness of counterfeit money, especially around Christmas when money can be tight, but also to highlight how heartless and callous fraudsters can be when targeting their victims”.

“I’d ask that anyone with information on those selling counterfeit notes contact Crimestoppers anonymously, safe in the knowledge no one will know you spoke to us, and knowing you may have prevented someone’s Christmas from being ruined.”

Ben Crosland, Senior Manager of Banknote Engagement and Communications at the Bank of England, said: “The general public play an important role when it comes to reporting counterfeit currency. Campaigns like this and the recently launched Banknote Checking Scheme, are essential to encourage the public and businesses to help us and law enforcement stop the counterfeiters.”

If you have information on those making, selling or buying counterfeit notes then please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our Anonymous Online Form at crimestoppers-uk.org/give-info.

700 Santas took part in Birmingham St Mary’s Jingle Bell Jog this month (DECEMBER) – beating last year’s numbers by more than 200 participants.

The festive fun run took place at Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club on Sunday 3 December and saw hundreds of runners dressed as Mr and Mrs Claus take on the 2.5k and 5k routes.

The Santas – who were given their suits and busy white beards by the Hospice – could choose to run, jog or walk the course and were rewarded with a medal and tasty mince pie once they crossed the finish line.

There was also a festive market at the event, so merry runners and spectators could pick up Christmas crafts and last minute gifts.

Catherine Haines from Selly Park said: "This was our first time as a family on a charity run and we loved it. The atmosphere was great and even our three-year-old wanted to run and not sit in her push chair. She is showing off her medal to all her nursery friends. We'll definitely sign up again for next year!"

This year’s Jingle Bell Jog is on track to raise an impressive £20,000, beating last year’s £15,000. All money raised will go towards the Hospice, which provides vital care and support to local families living with terminal illness.

Lucy Watkins, events manager at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “The Jingle Bell Jog really does kickstart the festive season and it was fantastic to see so many Santas join us for our event. Everyone seemed to be in the Christmas spirit on the day and it’s wonderful to hear why so many people are supporting our hospice.

“Thank you to everyone that put on a Santa suit and got jogging for Birmingham St Mary’s – your support will make a big difference to local families living with terminal illness. It will cost £22,000 to run our services this Christmas Day, so we truly rely on the support of local people to ensure we can care for everyone that needs us, whenever they need us.”

Every day, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice supports 350 individuals across Birmingham and Sandwell – whether it’s at the Hospice, in people’s homes or in the local community.

The Jingle Bell Jog is part of Birmingham St Mary’s ‘Care a Christmas’ campaign – a festive appeal which aims to boost support for the charity leading up to and over the Christmas period.

With Brexit looming, recent research suggests Brits are turning to traditional British comfort food more than ever before and further cementing the growing trend with seven in ten saying when given the choice they would always choose a product that was made in the UK.

The research conducted by Young’s Seafood polled 2,000 adults and revealed what Brits love so much about British food with over 60% citing the fact it is traditional and comforting. Not only do they feel love for these dishes but Brits even have an emotional reaction when they eat them with half expressing it makes them feel good and 45% reminding them of their childhood. It’s not surprising then that 1 in 5 voted fish fingers, beans and chips as their favourite British meal, a classic childhood dish.

A whopping 98% of Brits agreed that family meal times are important with Roast chicken, fish and chips and Shepherds pie, all making the top 10 line up of favourite British meals. 62% voted British food as the best in the world with prawn cocktail, a full roast chicken dinner and apple and blackberry crumble voted the ultimate three course meal.

When it comes to cooking traditional cuisine over three quarters enjoy cooking traditional British meals with Mum being the sole teacher at 58%, but nearly half having taught themselves how to rustle up these types of dishes.

A traditional meal wouldn’t be complete without a British favourite, with the survey further revealing a list of favourite British brands that include Heinz, Warburton’s, Young’s Seafood and Marmite – all of which take pride of place on kitchen tables all over the country.

A spokesperson for Young’s Seafood said: “It’s great to see most Brits would choose products made in the UK and that you still cannot beat simple British classics like beans on toast or a fish finger sandwich. Young’s have been making delicious fish dishes here for over 200 years and are proud to be recognised as a favourite British brand still making the only branded fish finger in Britain.”

Have you ever wondered what happens when the lights are all switched off and the day draws to a close over the Christmas period at Bullring and Grand Central?  For the first time ever CCTV picked up some magical movements through the early hours of the morning.

The countdown to Christmas is underway and Santa's acrobatic Parkour elves have been spotted preparing for the festive season at Bullring and Grand Central. The elves were caught skillfully making their way around the shops throughout the night, ticking off gifts from children's Christmas lists ahead of the big present unwrapping on 25^th December.

Santa and four of his mischievous elves were caught on camera in the centre injecting a slice of Christmas sparkle into Christmas shopping. The festive five travelled all the way from the North Pole to make the most of Bullring and Grand Central's premier shopping facilities such as Selfridges, Debenhams and John Lewis. The elves were seen performing awe-inspiring flips and tricks galore throughout the shopping centre before disappearing into the night on Santa's sleigh.

The video includes flips, tumbles and tricks throughout both Bullring and Grand Central at night. Santa, who is sent Ella's Christmas wish list, directs the Parkour Elves to grab her gifts, as well as presents for her mum and dad. The energetic Christmas Elves flip in and out of John Lewis and Selfridges, and even enjoy a quick snack with Santa at Cereal Killer Café.

Danielle Bozward, Marketing Manager at Bullring and Grand Central said: "We are counting down the days to Christmas, and it's clear the festive spirit is infectious. Our interactive Christmas lights have attracted our most magical visitors to date; Santa and his Parkour Elves. We are honored here at Bullring and Grand Central that Santa has chosen the centre as Birmingham's premier gifting destination this festive season."