Grace have just launched their "GREAT VA£UE with GRACE" campaign in January and will run through to March.

In the 6-part video recipe series campaign, they have teamed up with their friends @chefdefour and @ksnice_n_spice to show consumers how to create delicious dished at home and how to make their Grace Foods ingredients and products go that little bit further during the current cost-of-living challenges we are all facing, including tips and recommendations on meal-prep, batch-cooking and family-friendly, great value nutritious meals which can all feed 4 for under £10! (in many cases for even less!) 3 of which you can see below!

Be inspired and get your festive preparations off to a flying start at the ever-popular 4-day FESTIVE GIFT FAIR this November.  Now in its 27th fabulous year, it remains one of the most popular Christmas Shopping events in the UK for a good reason! The Fair will be bursting at the seams with a colourful, eclectic mix of unusual stocking fillers and presents, festive food and drink and great Christmas decorations for your home and garden.   325+ stalls all in one hall …. with clever gift ideas for all ages and tastes … and lots of Special Show Offers! 

The festive atmosphere is always fantastic!   While browsing the stalls, let the music get you into that Christmassy mood and enjoy being entertained by the Grinch … up to his usual menacing antics, Father Christmas with his amazing sleigh, a whole variety of Christmas harmonies by our live musicians and jazz stilt walkers who will be legging it up the aisles!

Make sure you visit the popular Festive Food & Drink area where you’ll find tempting stalls selling everything from cheese to chutneys, spices to spirits, puddings to preserves, chocolates to champagne, beers to brownies and hampers to hog roasts!

TO GET YOUR INSPIRATION FLOWING … here’s just a small sample of great presents ideas on offer this year! 

GREAT CHILDREN’S GIFTS

You’ve managed to hide the presents out of sight from little eyes for weeks, and NOW the big day is here.  All smiles on Christmas day!

Bright wooden Fair-trade toys for little astronauts and explorers by LANKA KADE that inspire kids to learn through play.  Choose from a Noah’s Ark shape sorter to a 5-4-3-2-1 Blast Off space toy. Welcome the UK’s No 1 sticker company FUN STICKERS with over 1000 designs – you name it, they’ve got it! – tattoos, animals, party bag fillers and lots of Festive ones too. Fun for all the family in the countdown to Christmas – advent calendars by IN SYNC GAMES. Solve the escape room questions for a sweet reward.

Award winning tech company OCTAGON STUDIO specialise in flash cards of animals, space, dinosaurs that bring 4D life onto your screens.  Incredible technology and present for all ages. Popular stall OAKMONT DISTRIBUTION will once again be selling branded toys and craft kits at unbeatable prices! Head to TOYS OF CHARACTER for excellent range of Pocket Money Toys, from Everlasting play foam, Disney squish-a-boos to twiddle cubes and TY soft toys.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY!

Christmas is all about family, friendships and …. delicious food and drink.  You’ll find a vast array of tasty treats and boozy delights that you can sample before you buy.

Choose from 15 fantastic cheeses by THE CHESHIRE CHEESE COMPANY.  Try their best sellers like ‘caramelized onion and rioja’ or ‘Irish whisky and stem ginger’. For a sweet-tooth taste sensation, try good old fashioned gourmet fudge by PENNY LANE FUDGES.   Liquorice peanut butter, sea salt and caramel fudge to name just a few! From plough to bottle, G & T CORNISH GIN make a delicious range of tea distilled gins from ‘Cornish Cream Tea Gin’ to ‘Winter Blend Spicey Gin’.

The proof is in the eating, once tasted, GEORGIE PORGIE’S traditional melt-in-the-mouth Christmas puddings are impossible to resist! Take your tastebuds on an adventure with BUGVITA – superfoods packed with protein made from edible cricket insects! Sheer luxury in a gold ingot box by PERFECT TIPPLE, unique sparkling wine infused with 23 carat gold flakes!  Great talking point!

Take home a box of gorgeously gooey brownies in over 30 flavours hand made by THE BROWNIE BAR. Discover your rebel spirit with O’DONNELL MOONSHINE whose hand-made spirits and liqueurs are distinctively bottled in original Mason jars… try Sticky Toffee and Roasted Apple and Tough Nut…. Great stall for liquorice lovers, BLACK LIQUORICE COMPANY source the finest liquorice from all over the world and have a vast range of both salty and sweet and even a liquorice syrup! For partyware, stationery and cake decorating ideas – head to the EVELAY stall full of cake toppers, flags, cracker kits and loads more.

FOR ALL THE LADIES IN YOUR LIFE!

Pamper your Mum, Granny, Sister, Best Friends, Wife or Girlfriend with a special present this Christmas ….

Simply gorgeous – PRIMAL CHAKRA make Reiki energy candles scented with pure essential oils and embellished with crystals – for an air of calm and relaxation. Clutch bags, tote bags, back packs, shoulder bags, cross body bags and party bags – THE HANDBAG COMPANY specialise in premium leather bags at discounted prices. THE COSY CHOCOLATE COMPANY sell handcrafted decadent drinking hot chocolate in individual pouches or gift sets – so find the perfect cosy moment to curl up and enjoy.

Jewellery designers THE PICNIC BLANKET COMPANY are passionate about creating beautiful whimsical beaded jewellery – stack a few bracelets on your wrist or ankle for the latest showstopping fashion. Transform your hairstyle with the Golden Curl range of hair straightener and curlers, demonstrated at the Fair by EXCLUSIVE RETAIL. To turn a head at parties or weddings, visit the POPPY DAISY stall to try on their exquisite hand-made flower headbands. Husband and wife team formed LETTERBOX LOVE in the first National lockdown.  Wanting to spread some positivity and kindness with their affordable jewellery message cards by post.

WHAT TO GET THAT HARD-TO-BUY-FOR GUY?

Whatever he’s into, whether it be technology, sport, music…. there’s plenty of cool ideas at the Fair.

You’ll need time to browse on the REBEL RECORDS AND TOYS stall. Selling all your favourite vinyl discs from David Bowie to Queen and all the 80’s, plus nostalgic comics and toys.  For your after-dinner tipple – delicious Real Sloe Gin made from wild blackthorn bush and infused with gin by CONDESSA FRUIT LIQUEURS. For hours of fun after your Christmas dinner!  PUZZLE POST have designed a cool game for a group of up to 8 people – work together to solve 9 puzzles to get you all out of the challenging escape Room.

For great family fun.   Take your micro drone by EXTREME FLYERS to the park – everyone will want a turn to testing their flying skills. Get chopping the veg and carving the roast, PAUDIN sell Chef a fabulous set of 3 sharp Japanese Chef’s knives made of high carbon stainless steel. Inspired by Super Mario, Pac-Man and Pokemon – RETRO GAMING CENTRE will be showcasing their fun new gifts and stocking fillers. For a unique personal gift, chose a men’s modern leather bracelet featuring their initial in a choice of classy colours by INSTINCT UK.

DÉCOR FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON

Dressing the tree is just the start!  Decorating your table, hall and mantle-piece with family heirlooms, twinkling lights, greenery, door wreaths and candles can all help make Christmas really special!

If a rustic traditional Christmas is your style, TOLLHOUSE CUNTRY CRAFTS hand-make a huge selection of wreaths and garlands using dried fruit, cinnamon, pinecones and spices. Nothing says Christmas more gloriously than a display of flickering candles that smell scent-sational by FRAGRANCE SAND. Popular 1 STOP CHRISTMAS SHOP will be back with their great range of seasonal decorations. CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES is UK’s largest multi charity non-profit card retailer.  By working as a collective group with lots of volunteers, they ensure that every penny of the customers money goes to those that need it most.

BAUBLES ARE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS – mother and daughter team hand decorate every bauble with images of animals, flowers etc. to have on show all year. For the dancing diva in you! Look out for LV BESPOKE with their glitter ball range in which to hang your plants, plus loads of indoor plants and garden accessories.FAIRY LIGHT BALLOONS will be selling stunning luminous helium LED balloons – fabulous for kids to wake up to on Christmas morning.

MORE THAN JUST A SHOPPING TRIP, IT’S THE START OF CHRISTMAS! 

Join with your friends and family for an inspiring and fun-filled day CHRISTMAS SHOPPING at the FESTIVE GIFT FAIR.

MAKE A NOTE IN YOUR DIARY NOW! TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY 1^ST SEPTEMBER at www.festivegiftfair.co.uk

FESTIVE GIFT FAIR AT THE NEC, BIRMINGHAM

Thursday 16^th – Sunday 19^th November 2023

PHOENIX COMPETITION

For your chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to The Festive Gift Fair at the NEC Birmingham, just answer this simple question!

What are you most likely to find under the Christmas Tree?

a) Your Homework
b) Presents
c) An Old Sandwich

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject "Festive Gift Fair Competition 2023". Competition closes at 23.59 on 3rd November 2023. There is no cash alternative.

For your chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to The Festive Gift Fair at the NEC Birmingham, just answer this simple question!

What is Santa's famous saying?

a) Ho Ho Ho!
b) Go Go Go!
c) No No No!

Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject "Festive Gift Fair Competition". Competition closes at 23.59 on 7th November 2022. There is no cash alternative.

A plan to deliver the council’s vision for an optimised IT system that improves internal functions is due for approval next Tuesday (June 27).

The council’s Cabinet will consider a report to address issues experienced with the recent roll out of the Oracle system – the first major change of its kind for the council since 1999. In the report it is noted the council had planned to adopt the system, changing its existing business processes and upskilling staff to support its implementation.

The link between mental health issues and homelessness was highlighted as both World Mental Health Day and World Homeless Day were marked on Monday 10 October. The two were marked internationally on the same day – with the fact that the issues highlighted together being important as the links between mental health issues and homelessness are undeniable.