A group of Birmingham students are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for youth homelessness charity St Basils with a series of fundraising events, including a special screening of ‘Pretty Woman’ to mark 30 years since the film’s release.

‘Pretty Woman - Immerse Yourself: 30 Years On’ takes place at Birmingham Mailbox’s Everyman cinema on Sunday 29 March, with the event set to include a screening of the Hollywood blockbuster accompanied by dancers and singers in the cinema.

The fundraiser is one in a series of events being hosted by Birmingham City University’s Fashion Business and Promotion students in March, which sees undergraduates tasked with delivering a successful live event without a starting budget.

Lecturer Laura Arrowsmith said: “Each year our students do a fantastic job of not only raising funds to deliver such spectacular events, but generating huge amounts of cash for charity at the events too.

“We run this module each year and it’s really popular with students who love the hands-on experience of organising an event from scratch.”

Other activities planned for March include dog therapy classes and flower arranging with afternoon tea.

All funds raised from the students’ efforts will go to St Basils, who work with more than 5,000 young people each year who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, supporting them to regain stability in their lives and rebuild a fulfilling future.

Tickets for ‘Pretty Woman – Immerse Yourself: 30 Years On’ which include complimentary refreshments cost £15 and can be purchased here.

Starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, ‘Pretty Woman’ was one of the highest-grossing films of the 90s and is hailed by many of as one of the greatest rom-coms of all time. A musical based on the film debuted in the West End earlier this month, receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Internationally-renowned ballerina, Dame Darcey Bussell DBE visited Newman University as part of the launch of her new full aerobic dance themed exercise class, Diverse Dance Mix (DDMIX).

DDMIX instructor Anna Williams, who works with local dance group Woodlands School of Dance and Fitness, was contacted to see if she was able to organise a MAXIT event with Dame Bussell. Anna explained that it was a great way to showcase the DDMIX brand and advertise the dance school so jumped at the chance.

Through a mutual connection, Anna made contact with Newman University to act as host for the evening due to the large amount of attendees and they (Newman University) were able to offer their sports hall for the occasion and welcomed dance enthusiasts onto campus.

Dame Darcey is regarded to be one of the most famous British dancers of all time and is best known for her ballet career and for being a former judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

She led the dance class with students and staff from Newman University as well as students and families from Woodlands School of Dance and Fitness taking part with close to 250 dancers attending the event in Bartley Green, in Birmingham and enjoyed the workout led by the world famous dancer.

Newman University is a distinctiveness University based in Bartley Green, Birmingham was founded in 1968 as a teacher training college, before gaining full university status in 2013 offering numerous undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.

It has a range of courses across its two faculties including: Faculty of Arts, Society and Professional Studies; and the Faculty of Education, as well as offering opportunities to those within the community with its Foundation Year offer. Newman University has a diverse cohort of students, mainly from the West Midlands region, and focuses on interactive teaching and developing the whole person.

A Birmingham based charity that aims to bring literacy support to disadvantaged people has received £1,000 from one of the UK’s largest housebuilders.

Persimmon Homes Central chose Fluence Foundation CIC as one of its Community Champions, a national funding programme where charities and groups can apply for up to £1,000 to match funds they have raised themselves.

Fluence Foundation was started three years ago by the Hore family. Its aim is to fill the gaps left by frontline services and to help disadvantaged and vulnerable people overcome language and literacy barriers preventing them from engaging with other organisations or services.

A spokesperson from the Fluence Foundation said: “Our ‘Nobody Left Out’ project will be based in Birmingham and support homeless people to gain the missing basic skills that make it difficult for them to get support from other agencies or move towards employment. Our project also develops their communication skill and confidence.

“We will be working with Birmingham Spotlight Crisis, a homeless charity based in Digbeth who will refer people who need this help as they identify them through their own programmes.”

The Foundation has so far raised £3,400.

The spokesperson added: “This news has made my day. Thank you on behalf of us and the homeless folks we are supporting - this kind donation will help us extend our current provision.

Sarah Read, Head of Sales at Persimmon Homes Central, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Fluence Foundation that offers such a valuable service to adults. Hopefully with our Community Champions grant even more vulnerable and isolated people will be able to gain the literacy and communication skills that they need to access the world around them.”

She added: “Persimmon Homes Central continues to receive a fantastic response to its Community Champions. Charities and groups which were previously unsuccessful can apply again.”

As part of the recent National Apprenticeship Week, young adults across the West Midlands were encouraged to take up a career in the heating sector and play an important role in tackling the climate change crisis.

The call follows a recent report by the National Grid which revealed 400,000 energy related jobs will need to be filled to create a workforce fit to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

According to the findings, 260,000 of the roles will be new, including skilled technicians, engineers and other specialists, while 140,000 will replace those who have left the sector.

Research by YouGov confirms that over two thirds (81%) of young adults aged 18-24 think it is important to play a role in the UK’s journey to net zero, while over half (58%) want to work for an organisation that contributes to this goal.

OFTEC, the trade association for the oil heating industry, says a career in the sector can provide a secure, rewarding future in a role which directly contributes to a cleaner, greener future for the 8500 homes in the West Midlands currently heated by oil.

David Knipe, training manager explains: “The industry is currently developing a sustainable low carbon liquid fuel alternative to heating oil which could see all oil heated homes running on a 100% liquid biofuel by 2035. This means there is a strong future ahead for liquid fuels and all those involved in its production and supply, alongside the skilled technicians needed to install and maintain liquid fuel boilers.”

Fuelled by the high costs of going to university and the rising cost of living, apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as a highly credible further education option and route into future employment, with more and more students and parents recognising the benefits of combining theoretical and practical training.

To push the drive for ‘tomorrow’s technicians’, OFTEC is offering advice for young people around the benefits of apprenticeships and starting a career within the heating industry:

• Transferable skills - the Level 3 Heating and Plumbing Apprenticeship Standard is designed by employers to ensure that you gain the right skills and knowledge to become a certified heating technician.
• Practical work experience – you will work with a competent employer within the heating sector and gain practical experience from real-life scenarios installing and monitoring sustainable heating systems, allowing you to apply knowledge and learn faster.
• Earn while you learn – you will be paid a minimum of £3.90 per hour (often increases with age and experience) whilst completing the apprenticeship and you will be in a great space for achieving further employment from the employer.
• Professional recognition - after completing the apprenticeship, you may be able to apply for EngTech registration by the Engineering Council as a and globally recognised Engineering Technician, where you can also contribute to the growing discussions around climate change and sustainable heating.
• One year’s free OFTEC membership – following your apprenticeship you can apply for one year’s free liquid or solid fuel registration with OFTEC’s competent persons scheme to demonstrate your professionalism to customers, receive ongoing technical support and enjoy a host of other benefits.
• Play a role in a net zero future – above all, as an apprentice in the heating industry you will be a part of the next generation of heating technicians, supporting and influencing future net zero solutions for the benefits of the West Midlands, the UK and the World!

David Knipe added: “With just under half (48%) of OFTEC technicians starting their career through an apprenticeship, we know that this is an excellent opportunity for young adults to gain the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience to install and maintain liquid fuel boilers that are fit for a net zero future.”

Children in the UK are leaving primary school without basic life skills such as being able to brush their own teeth, dress themselves and tell the time, and now research reveals that girls may be falling behind. 

According to a new study, almost one in six (16%) primary school leavers are unable to swim, despite the national curriculum stating that all children should be able to swim 25 metres by this time. One in ten (9%) can’t use a watch to tell the time, whilst a tenth can’t dress themselves at this age. 

And although previous studies suggest that girls outperform their male peers on all levels, the new research by watch and sunglasses specialist, Tic Watches, suggests that boys are more advanced when it comes to more practical life skills*.

A concerning one in seven (15%) girls leave primary school unable to brush their teeth without assistance, compared to just 4% of boys. Equally worrying, 10% of girls of the same age are unable to dress themselves, compared to 8% of boys. 

The research also showed one in ten boys left primary school unable to ride a bike (10%), compared to one in six girls (16%). Meanwhile, one in ten girls are unable to tell the time using a watch (10%), in comparison to 8% of boys at this age. 

The most common basic skills that UK children leave primary school without are: 

1. Swimming (16%)
2. Knowing their times tables (13%)
3. Riding a bike (13%)
4. Reading full sentences (10%)
5. Brushing their own teeth (10%)

Mya Medina, Chief Education Adviser at online tutoring service, Tutor House, said: “The stereotype is that girls are better at language and verbal communication, including reading, while boys are better at technical subjects like science and maths. Equally, it’s been said that girls take better care of themselves and behave more maturely, thus taking on tasks, such as dressing themselves and brushing their teeth, with greater success. 

“This research should be seen as proving the importance of nurture over nature in developing skills. While few scientists would try to claim that male and female brains are identical, it is increasingly being proven that the difference is so minor that you would not see a difference in their skills.”

Danny Richmond, Managing Director of Tic Watches, said: “It’s surprising to see that boys are outperforming their female peers on these basic life skills.

“This research shows how important it is that kids are given the opportunities to thrive both at home and at school, to ensure that they are fully prepared when they move on to high school.” 

Graduates from West Midlands universities who stay to work in the region can see a substantial premium from their degree, new data reveals.

The figures, published for the first time, show the earnings of graduates from each university in different regions of the country five years after they have finished their studies.

For almost all the West Midlands’ universities, graduates who stayed to work in the region earned a higher average salary than local non-graduates who had at least five A*-C GCSEs.

The data also highlights that degrees from West Midland’s universities are also valued by employers across the country. Students from the region’s major universities like Birmingham and Warwick Universities had higher average earnings than non-graduates in every region in England.

Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said: “It is great to see graduates who study and stay to work in the West Midlands are reaping the benefits of our world-leading higher education.

“This data highlights how important universities are to their regions and play a key role in their local economies.

“This data is a milestone for the thousands of future students, helping them to work out whether university is for them, and where to study and work. I hope this will particularly help students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are often more likely to study in their home region, as the data shows the potential benefits of gaining a degree wherever you are.

“It is important for young people to know that they will not only get a rich education at university, but that their degree will be good value for money.”

The new figures published today can help young people make better choices about whether to go to university, where they study and their graduate opportunities.

Previous data showed that average earnings for young graduates in the West Midlands were £24,700 – 21% more than non-graduates of a similar age in the region with five A*-Cs at GCSE.

The publication is part of the Department’s drive to improve transparency around higher education, ensuring that information about likely earnings, employability and teaching quality is easy to access for everyone going to university.

In a letter to the Office for Students in September, the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson made clear that higher education delivering value for money is a priority for the Government.