In collaboration with the Black Country Growth Hub, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce is inviting members of the local business community to join them for a unique networking experience to mark Black Country Day 2016. Taking place on 14^th July at the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, this Black Country Day event is free to attend and will serve as the ideal opportunity for delegates to come together and celebrate the cultural heritage of the region.

The search is on to find the UK’s most dog-friendly places, as the Kennel Club launches its Be Dog Friendly Awards 2016. The competition, now in its tenth year, is part of the wider Be Dog Friendly campaign which aims to break down barriers for man’s best friend by encouraging more businesses and public spaces to welcome dogs.  With around 8.5 million dogs in the UK, and around one in four households owning a dog, the great British public are always on the lookout for places where their four-legged family members are also welcome.

Direct Line Pet Insurance can reveal millions of cats are at risk of life threatening illnesses as a result of being overfed and not doing enough physical activity. Over two fifths (42 per cent) of the nation’s cats are overweight. Direct Line Pet Insurance is urging responsible pet ownership as more than a quarter (26 per cent) of vets surveyed said that more than half of the cats they treat are now overweight.

The Ageing Better in Birmingham programme, a Big Lottery Fund investment project designed to support isolated people over 50 across the city, was officially launched last week. Ageing Better in Birmingham will be delivered by a partnership of voluntary sector organisations. The Ageing Better Partnership, led by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), was allocated £6million to deliver the six year programme.  

Nationwide Building Society asks members to vote online for the charities they would like to receive a £5,000 donation, as part of the Society’s initiative – The Big Local – and make a difference to lives and communities across the UK. Each month Nationwide selects three charities nominated by its members from a different UK region. The three chosen charities will each be awarded £200 and both the public and Nationwide members can vote for which of the three they would most like to receive an additional £5,000.

With the Royal Mail’s postmen and women working six days a week delivering letters and parcels to 29 million addresses, dog attacks are unfortunately a common issue which increase by a quarter during the school holidays when children and parents are at home and pets are left to roam the garden. If your postie is worried about their safety when entering your property, they have a legal right to refuse delivery to you.