Haringey residents are being encouraged to help host a fun gathering in every ward in the borough during this summer’s Great Get Together.

Set up in memory of late MP Jo Cox, the Great Get Together on the weekend of June 17-18 will be a nationwide celebration of Britain’s many diverse communities, highlighting the many things we have in common.

Activities could range from coffee mornings to street parties, and as part of the council’s commitment to making it as easy as possible for residents to come together, street party licence fees will be waived; grants of up to £250 available for events that will benefit the local community, and free event management training is also on offer.

Cllr Claire Kober Leader of Haringey Council said: “Jo was a tremendous MP, driven by a commitment to championing diversity and a firmly held belief that we have more in common that than which divides us. I’m proud that in Haringey, a borough with a proud history of diversity and a place where people of all backgrounds live harmoniously side-by-side, we’ll be supporting the Great Get Together in memory of Jo. The weekend will be a great opportunity for residents of all walks of life to come together to share their different cultures and celebrate the things that unite our communities.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.