Members of the UK Youth Parliament in Wolverhampton are calling on the city’s young people to make their mark. The annual Make Your Mark ballot gives young people the chance to decide what issues their Youth MPs should campaign on and debate in the House of Commons in the year ahead. Last year, more than 5,000 young people cast their vote in the ballot in Wolverhampton, joining around 875,000 nationally – making it the biggest youth consultation in the country.

Volunteers are being sought to become Birmingham Ambassadors during a month of high profile events expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to the city in September. Birmingham Ambassadors will be the public face of the city for visitors during key events such as the Rugby World Cup matches at Villa Park on September 26 and 27, including at the fanzone at Eastside Park, as well as the opening of the refurbished New Street Station and the Grand Central shopping centre, plus the Birmingham Weekender, among others.

With eight million British holidaymakers heading overseas for a holiday in August and millions making the most of summer on the UK coastline, ABTA and the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK), the drowning prevention charity, are again reminding holidaymakers to follow safety tips and swim safely. In Europe, authorities are warning families and holidaymakers to be especially careful this summer as record temperatures have encouraged people unaccustomed to the water to go swimming.

Small, independent food and drink producers are one of the most important parts of the Show and we know how much our visitors love discovering something new. Nominate a small, independent food or drink producer via social media and they will be in for a chance to win a free stand package at one of our Shows.

DogBuddy, Europe’s leading community for quality and affordable dog care services, has today revealed that thousands of pet dogs will be off enjoying their own holiday this summer (three times more than last year) with an experienced, insured dog sitter, whilst their owners jet off to sunnier climes.