Community News

A new, free way to help people to monitor their weight has been introduced at Sandwell libraries.

Weigh2GO is a free, informal, self-monitoring weight management programme using the latest technology and is available at all Sandwell libraries.

The scheme – which uses smart scales for people to track and monitor their weight – is run by the council's public health team with support from libraries.

People who are Sandwell residents or have a Sandwell GP and have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 23 or above should contact the Healthy Sandwell team on 0800 011 4656 for a free referral.

Under Weigh2GO, people weigh themselves on smart scales and their weight data is sent to their smart phones or smart devices and email account. They can also access support online and track their progress through the programme. The programme uses smart scales and is therefore compatible with wearable activity trackers.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “This is a new valuable tool which can help people to get accurate and regular checks on their weight.

“I think it is important that this new service is available in all areas at all Sandwell libraries so that they have a flexible way in their busy lifestyles to regularly monitor their weight.”

Public health officers point out that since the scheme started, they have found that participants are losing a significant amount of weight.

This programme is supported by weight management development officers (WMDOs) who work for public health. They have expanded the programme into several community settings, such as leisure centres and faith organisations, to help more people access this simple but effective programme.

Dr Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria's Executive Vice President in the second republic from 1979 - 1983, was an intellectual of many shades with several degrees and doctorate degrees. He was an example of the rare and quintessential Nigerian, who placed the country above personal, party or partisan interest, in the belief that the country could only move forward and realize it's vast potentials, only when politicians rise above personal and parochial interests and put the country first.

He had in fact prepared himself to lead our great country out of the doldrums, into international significance, and position Nigeria as a true world power economically and politically but that dream was never actualized.

Dr Ekwueme was a visionary, unifying and creative leader, focused on the progress and development of Nigeria. He was super brilliant, resourceful, disciplined, principled and hard working.

In 1999, he almost single- handedly founded and nurtured the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria, with a view to leading the party to the general elections, and thereby, fulfill his nationalistic agenda for Nigeria, but this mandate was scuttled surreptitiously.

All through his life, the late Dr Ekwueme pursued philanthropy and the philosophy of one Nigeria, that should better the lot of her citizens. No wonder he built the Oko Polytechnic for his community and continued to support it throughout his life.

Nigeria and indeed Africa have lost a giant, whose loss is irreplaceable. His foot prints have been laid in the sands of time and his legacy will live forever.

We join all Nigerians to pray for eternal rest for our departed Dr Ekwueme.

Signed:

Mike Ndukwe Leader Council of Igbo Communities UK

Efuru Nwapa- Obua Secretary/ Legal Adviser Council of Igbo Communities UK

Dame Trot from Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s pantomime, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK took some time out of her busy schedule to visit Wolverhampton’s new Debenhams store in the Mander Centre.

The Debenhams store opened its doors in October 2017 - perfect timing for the run up to Christmas – which has been a busy one for both staff at the store and at the theatre. With the pantomime ending its five-week run on Sunday, Dame Trot played by Ian Adams went to visit the staff for a pamper in the new Debenhams Store before one final week of performances.

Sonia Kaur, Service Manager at Debenhams Wolverhampton said; “it was a delight having Dame Trot and the boys visit the store – they’re certainly looking fabulous!”

Ian Adams has returned for a second year as Dame in the Grand Theatre pantomime. He recently formed StarDam productions – a company who specialise in creating stage versions of popular children’s stories which have also been popular at the Grand Theatre. Ian is currently nominated for Best Panto Dame in the Midlands in the What’s On Readers Awards. Voting is currently open here: https://www.whatsonlive.co.uk/readers-awards-2018

Scott Bird, Press & PR Manager at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre said; “it’s great news that Ian Adams is recognised in the What’s On Readers’ Awards for Best Pantomime Dame. The new Debenhams store in the Mander Centre was the perfect place for a fabulous Dame and the boys to take some time out in style before the show!”

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK is now in its final week of performances and runs until Sunday 14 January 2018. Tickets can be booked in person, by phone on 01902 42 92 12 or online at grandtheatre.co.uk.

Blenheim Palace has an eggcellent Easter weekend planned for all the family to enjoy from 30 March – 2 April, with lots of additional fun to be had over the entire Easter holidays.

Follow an over-sized Easter Egg Hunt throughout the 'Capability' Brown Parkland and Pleasure Gardens with some 8ft giant decorated eggs to find. Explore the grounds to seek out the special 'Blenheim Egg', note its location on your map and enter into a competition to win an Easter surprise.

Blenheim Palace's Pleasure Gardens will transform into an Easter wonderland with lots of interactive experiences, family-friendly activities and shows to enjoy.

Find a traditional Victorian fairground with vintage rides for the whole family.

Embark on an Easter Bunny Walkabout; or frolic with the fairy stilt walkers; plus have a go at Archery and get jumping on the bouncy castle or trampolines!

Families can also see an Easter Puppet Show, watch Balloon Twisters, take part in Circus Skills Workshops and have their faces painted over the four day celebration.

All the usual family favourites can still be found in The Pleasure Gardens throughout the holidays, with permanent features, including the giant Marlborough Hedge Maze, The Butterfly House and the Adventure Playground.

Tuck into a feast of family-friendly food with a range of fresh hot and cold snacks, handmade pizzas, soups, salads, ice cream and a selection of healthy choices for children.

People can banish the winter blues and get fitter by joining in cycleathon sessions at Sandwell Central Library this month (January).

Five minutes on the library’s exercise bike means a mile travelled and is a good way of getting that little bit fitter.

Library staff are inviting everyone to come in and try out their exercise bike and see how many miles can be clocked up during one month.

Central Library in High Street, West Bromwich, has a range of fitness equipment to try and you can also borrow resistance bands and choose from a wide range of books on health and fitness.

Those wishing to lose weight can also take advantage of the Weigh2GO scheme where you can use smart Fitbit scales to get weighed and have the information sent straight to your phone.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for public health and protection, said: “This is another good idea for people to use a few minutes at their local library to get a little fitter for the year ahead.

“People calling in for books and the other library services can have a quick workout to get a health mind and healthy body.”

Leading property developer, Ion, who has been instrumental in helping City of Wolverhampton Council deliver the Interchange masterplan for the city, including the i10 office and the new bus station, has announced a public consultation event on Thursday, 18th January to showcase the plans for the eye-catching i9 modern office development proposed for Railway Drive.

It is hoped i9, which will provide 50,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office space, will be completed in 2020 and could become a national or regional headquarters for a major business.

Glenn Howells Architects’ design was selected by the council and development partner, ION, from a strong field of ten UK leading architects and urban design practices.

They are the architects behind the Paradise Birmingham scheme – one of the biggest city centre development projects in the UK.

Fraser Godfrey, architect from Glenn Howells said: ‘The design had to be sensitive to neighbouring landmarks such as the Chubb Buildings and the Prince Albert pub and will become a stunning contemporary addition to Wolverhampton’s family of red-brick Victorian buildings. It is set to house restaurants or cafes in the ground floor of the building as well as a rooftop amenity space, with panoramic views towards the city centre conservation area and Interchange.’

A drop-in event held on Thursday, 18^th January, 3pm to 7pm at the Light House, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer St, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT, will give the public the opportunity to see the plans that Ion has developed for the site, meet the architects and give feedback to the developer’s team. Ion’s plans are also available to view on their website – http://iondevelopments.co.uk/projects/wolverhampton-i9/.

Ion is an expert at regeneration and have been instrumental in various transformational city centre schemes around the country including Liverpool Lime Street, Mann Island and the Speke Airport Hangers and Terminal Buildings.

Steve Parry, managing director of Ion, commented: ‘Glenn Howells have created a brilliant concept for i9. It will strengthen Wolverhampton’s appeal as a place to conduct business. We look forward to showcasing the design and hearing the feedback from the public.’

Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: ‘Glenn Howells Architects have produced outstanding designs, that combined with blueprints for the other parcels of land, will help us quickly progress developments with our Interchange partners over the coming years.

‘Since i10 was completed we have seen increasing demand for quality office space in that location of the city, particularly from large space users.

‘i9 was always envisaged to satisfy that demand, and we are confident these plans will deliver a landmark office building of the utmost quality that is entirely appropriate to its important historic setting.

‘We want this building to become the design and quality benchmark for future developments in the city and to demonstrate our ambition for the city centre.’

La Manga Club's highly-rated West Course has won new recognition as one of Europe's elite golf venues after being included in the respected Top 100 Golf Courses website's latest European rankings for the first time in its burgeoning history.

The 6,347-yard par-72 layout was one of 15 new entries in the updated list of the best courses on the continent, breaking into the standings at number 95.

Designed by Dave Thomas and opened in 1996, the West Course is the newest of La Manga Club's three 18-hole courses, with the tree-lined layout offering the perfect contrast to its older resort siblings – the North and the South, host of numerous high-profile tournaments including five Spanish Opens.

Announcing its decision, the Top 100 Golf Courses website said: “The West Course is, without doubt, the jewel in the crown at La Manga Club and is totally different from the other two layouts.

“Gone are the palms and in come the pines, doglegs and tight, tricky holes. It's a beautiful course, well manicured and with marvellous scenery all around.”

Featuring three 18-hole golf courses, a nine-hole academy course and outstanding practice facilities, La Manga Club has been at the forefront of European golf since opening in 1972, and this winter joined a select group of courses in Spain to have been granted royal status by the Spanish royal household after being awarded the title 'Real Golf La Manga Club'.

Three times the size of Monaco and nestling in an exclusive corner of Murcia in south-east Spain, the resort recently celebrated its 45th anniversary and has gone from strength-to-strength over the last 12 months following continued investment on and off the golf course.

Among the top accolades it has received recently, La Manga Club was named 'Europe's Leading Luxury Resort & Villas 2017' at the World Travel Awards Europe and 'Europe's Best Golf Venue' at the 2017 World Golf Awards.

The official overseas training base of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the resort's unrivalled facilities also include a 28-court tennis centre, a new European Cricket Performance Centre and a 2,000sqm spa and fitness centre. In addition, it features the choice of a five-star hotel, four-star serviced apartments and townhouses and more than 15 bars and restaurants.

This Spring will see the return of the UK’s muddiest fundraising event for little ones – Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddle Walk for Save the Children. Last year saw 160,000 children across the UK take part, raising an incredible £243,000 for Save the Children’s vital work, and this year the charity hopes even more people will sign up, take part and donate.

Between 23 and 29 April 2018, nurseries, early years groups, families and children up and down the country are being encouraged to take part in a Muddy Puddle Walk to raise money for the international children’s charity.

Organising a Muddy Puddle Walk is a great way for your little ones to explore the world around them and jump in muddy puddles, like Entertainment One’s Peppa Pig, for a worthy cause.  Whether you splash in puddles along a trail at the park or get creative and make your own puddles indoors from paper and foil – your Muddy Puddle Walk will be a fun day to spend together that littles ones won’t forget. Raise funds in the way that suits you – help walkers get sponsored for their walk, ask for a donation to take part or even bake Muddy Puddle cupcakes to sell on the day! The money you raise will help Save the Children’s work to transform the lives of vulnerable children in the UK and around the world.

Sophie Pirouet, Fundraising Campaigns Manager at Save the Children, says: “We hope everyone will get outside this Spring, come rain or shine, and help raise much needed funds for Save the Children. It’s so easy to take part and it’s the perfect excuse to explore the outdoors with your little ones. By jumping in muddy puddles like Peppa Pig and raising money for Save the Children you can help give children a brighter future.”

By taking part in a Muddy Puddle Walk and raising money for Save the Children, you can help vulnerable children around the world have a safe place to play and learn.  Sign up now at MuddyPuddleWalk.org  for your free Muddy Puddle Walk Fundraising Pack full of fun Peppa Pig inspired activities to help you get started – with tips for great walks indoors and out, fundraising ideas, fun activities to get your walkers ready for the big day and at the end of the walk, there’s a free Peppa Pig sticker reward for every child. The fundraising pack will also explain what life is like for children in different countries, helping them see how they are making a difference through supporting Save the Children.

From mowing the lawn to cleaning the toilet, when it comes to moving in together, making compromises with your partner is inevitable. They say that you don’t truly know your other half until you live together, but what are the pet peeves that are really infuriating couples across the nation?

A recent study1 by bed and sleep specialist, Time 4 Sleep, reveals the things that annoy Brits the most about living with their partner.

The researched discovered that, when it comes to annoying bedroom habits, snoring tops the list, with over 28 million people (44%) in the UK admitting that their other half’s noisy sleeping habit irritates them.

Other bedroom habits testing the nation’s relationships include; hogging the bed sheets (23%), leaving the bed unmade (16%), eating in bed (15%) and having different sleeping patterns (15%). Recent research by Furniture Choice2 also revealed other bed sharing habits that are annoying the nation, includes; fidgeting too much (30%), taking up too much space in bed (23%) and stealing or encroaching on their pillow (15%).

It’s not only our bedroom habits that are winding up our other halves either. If you’re looking to dodge an argument, it might be worth avoiding the following top five biggest relationship pet peeves:

• Leaving dirty laundry on the floor (29%)
• Not doing their share of the chores (28%)
• Not doing the washing up (27%)
• Leaving dirty plates and glasses around the house (26%)
• Not being romantic enough (22%)

Other relationship compromises include agreeing to cook and clean more (27%), having to change our eating habits to suit our partner (19%) and spending more money (17%).

Robyn Haldane, 25 year old Business Development Executive from Leeds, reveals her biggest pet peeves when living with her boyfriend. She says: “I love my boyfriend very much but sometimes it’s like living with a man child along with our actual 5 year old daughter! He just loves winding me up at every opportunity.

“Some of his more annoying habits include; taking every pair of shoes off in the living room and leaving them there as a collection, eating everything, if I make lunch for work the next day he will eat it, turning off the TV when I’m halfway through watching something, never emptying the bin and tripping me up all the time when we go shopping! He is good at doing the washing and hanging it out to dry though.”

Families in the West Midlands will get tips for healthier snacking when Public Health England’s (PHE) Change4Life roadshow comes to the Black Country next week. First stop will be Walsall Tesco Extra, Littleton Street on Monday 8 January. Next will be Dudley Tesco Extra at Town Gate Retail Park on Tuesday 9 January, followed by Tesco on New Street in West Bromwich on Wednesday 10 January. All roadshows will be open from 9.30am to 5.30pm.

In February the Change4Life roadshow will also visit Tesco Superstore at Keyway Retail Park in Willenhall (Thurs1 Feb). There will also be stops in Stoke-on-Trent, Telford, Burton, Coventry and Birmingham (see Notes to Editors).

The Change4Life roadshow will visit 30 supermarkets and 14 shopping centres nationwide, encouraging parents to “Look for 100 calorie snacks, 2 a day max”. This is because half the sugar children consume, currently around 7 sugar cubes a day, comes from unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks, leading to obesity and dental decay. Recent data show 24.2% of 4- to 5-year-olds (Reception Year) are overweight or obese in the West Midlands region, increasing to 37.1% in 10- to 11-year-olds (Year 6).

Dr Lola Abudu, PHE West Midlands Director of Health and Wellbeing, said: “Changing our children’s snacking habits can be a real challenge and we want to make it easier for families to find healthier options. By asking parents to Look for 100 calories snacks, two a day max, we’re helping them to give heathier snacks, while giving them less frequently.”

At the event, families will see live demonstrations of the new Change4Life ‘Food Scanner’ app; which works by scanning the barcode of products and helps bring food labels to life by highlighting the number of calories, as well as how much sugar, saturated fat and salt is in everyday food and drinks. Families will also be shown how to swap to healthier snack options using front of pack ‘traffic light’ labels.

On the day, parents can sign up to Change4Life for additional support and money-off vouchers to help them try healthier snack options, including malt loaf, lower sugar fromage frais, and drinks with no added sugar.

With selected supermarkets signposting parents to healthier snacks and special offers, including fruit and vegetables, Change4Life is making it easy and simple for the whole family to “Look for 100 calorie snacks, 2 a day max.”

Work will start next week on Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s improvements programme.

The Sensing Sculpture room will be closed from Wednesday, January 10 as first-floor redevelopment - funded by external grants - gets underway.

It will be transformed into an exhibition space that will welcome larger touring exhibitions and workshops, allow for items from collections to be on display, and improve the hire of the venue.

For example, the popular Lichfield Street gallery has been able to host part of the Natural History Museum’s World Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in recent years – and the new gallery space will now allow it to display the whole exhibition.

The new gallery space is expected to open in March.

A limited number of items from the Sensing Sculpture room will be on display elsewhere in the gallery throughout the works.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Thanks to successful bids for external grants we are able to carry out these major improvements, which will enhance the visitor experience and allow the gallery to be used to its full potential in the future.

“We apologise for any disruption or inconvenience caused to visitors during these works.

“The gallery is a historic building which has a place in many people’s hearts and we want to make these improvements to ensure it continues to be a much-loved asset for the people of Wolverhampton.”

The next phase of the improvements on the gallery will see the café moved to the ground floor, alongside a new kitchen area and education space.

It is anticipated this work will commence in spring.

The improvements programme is being funded by a £431,723 Arts Council England small capital grant in addition to £750,000 of borrowing from the council's capital budget - which will be paid back by income generated from the new café - and a £65,000 grant from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport's Wolfson Gallery Improvement Fund.

The UK’s leading feline welfare charity Cats Protection is calling on cat owners in the West Midlands to nominate their remarkable moggies for 2018’s prestigious National Cat Awards.

Now in its tenth year, the awards celebrate the difference cats make to owners’ lives by highlighting heart-warming stories of devotion, companionship and courage.

Entries open on Tuesday 9 January and owners have until noon on Friday 9 March to nominate their cat for one of five categories:

• Hero Cat – Cats that save the day
• Most Caring Cat – Cats that positively impact a person’s health or wellbeing
• Furr-ever Friends – Tales of friendship between children and cats
• Outstanding Rescue Cat – Fabulous felines adopted from animal charities
• Purina® Better Together – Celebrating the special bond that has transformed and enriched the lives of both a feline and human

Evie, who is now on the road to recovery, said: “I missed her every day I was in hospital and my family could tell she missed me. She’s my best friend and is always there when I need her. I was so happy to win our category but to win the overall title as well was really amazing, incredible.”

Chizzy Akudolu, from Holby City and Strictly 2017, said: “As a cat owner myself, and having attended last year’s awards, I’ve seen first-hand what a tremendous difference they can make to people’s lives. So get nominating as this is their time to shine.”

A panel of celebrity cat-lovers has the hard job of selecting the deserving category winners as well as honouring this year’s National Cat of the Year. Sponsored by PURINA® for the seventh year, winners will be presented with a trophy and prizes at a star studded ceremony at the Savoy Hotel in London on Thursday 2 August 2018.

An extra 50 volunteers joined City of Wolverhampton Council’s volunteering scheme ‘Snow Wolves’ assisting council officers in clearing snow and ice from pavements during the severe winter weather last month.

Snow Wolves has around 220 dedicated volunteers who lend their community a helping hand during the winter period.

Now in its third year, the council is looking to drum-up more volunteers to join the pack, with the aim to hit the 1,000-mark by the end of the year.

Volunteers will receive a free snow shovel, two 3kg shaker tubs of rock salt and a high visibility vest to undertake the works.

In return, they are asked to make a commitment to use the equipment for the benefit of their community in the event of heavy snow and ice, complementing the council's winter service.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: "By joining our team of Snow Wolves you will be a true hero for your community when the weather takes a turn for the worst.

"In the event of heavy snow and ice, the council's priority is to grit and clear the highway network to keep the roads safe and moving - ensuring the city doesn't grind to a halt.

"This vital work means that we can't always get out to treat all pavements and driveways as quickly as we would like to - that's where Snow Wolves come in.

“Our team of volunteers braved the snow and ice to clear pavements and doorsteps of elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents last month. They did an amazing job – we just need more people who know their local areas to pitch in and help their neighbours in need.

“If this sounds like you, I strongly encourage you to sign up and join our fantastic team.”

Many Snow Wolves have been praised by their neighbours for their hard work in assuring their streets, pathways and driveways are accessible and safe to use.

Volunteer Ahsan Saeed joined Snow Wolves last winter, he said: “It was great to be able to help my local community. The scheme allowed us to have the amenities to help local elderly people by defrosting and clearing walkways and pathways.

“The road was also rather hazardous with cars skidding a great deal, the shovel helped by allowing us to make a clear way for vehicles to get out of the street safely. Overall, Snow Wolves is a great initiative and effective to help those who need it most.”

Councillor Evans added: “I would like to thank our existing Snow Wolves for all their hard work and dedication especially during the recent heavy snowfall. You have all made a significant difference to your community and for that, you should be proud.”

Snow Wolves packs will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Applicants should be physically fit and aged over 18.

The hunt is on for the Midland’s Best Bridesmaid with stag and hen experts Red7 leading the search.

Did your Bridesmaid go above and beyond to make your big day the best it could be? Perhaps she created a perfect bridal survival kit or took charge of the wedding to ensure that bridezilla did not surface.

Whatever the reason, if your Bridesmaid brought the essence of #squadgoals, Red7 wants to know!

Red7 is the original and best specialist stag and hen travel agents and boasts over two decades of experience. To honour the hard work that bridesmaids put into weddings, Red7 is asking couples country-wide to nominate their Best Bridesmaid with heart-warming and remarkable tales of why they should be crowned the nation’s finest.

The crème de la crème will not only claim the glory of being the region’s Best Bridesmaid, she will also be treated to mini ‘BridesmaidMoon’ for two on a short European Cruise to Amsterdam and Bruges*.

Ian Lucas, Founder of Red7, commented: “We are excited to discover the Midland's Best Bridesmaid and see the entries that will no doubt be full of everything from hilarious stories to tear jerking memories.

“The spotlight is usually firmly on the bride and groom on the big day, and rightly so. We thought it would be fun to take a look behind the scenes to the ladies running around to ensure that all is perfect from start to finish. Nominate the best of the best from your #WedSquad and give her the recognition she deserves.”

Last year’s winner, Jessica Greener said: “I’ve been a bridesmaid six times so far! Winning this title is a real testament to the relationships I have with my best friends. I have loved being a part of each wedding, it’s so important that I can be there for my friends as they start out on their next adventure.”

When it came to organising a festival-themed hen party last year, Jessica was a self-proclaimed ‘bridesmaidzilla’, “I was a complete control freak, organising everything from the flower garlands to the cocktail recipes. I got a reputation amongst our friends as the hen do party-planner for everyone tying the knot. I must be doing something right – I’ve just been asked to be a bridesmaid for another wedding in the summer!”

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Information Services (JIS) Ian Boyne will take place at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingstong on the 14th January 2018 at 10am.

Members of the public are invited to join in the celebration of the life of the veteran journalist and may view the body prior to the start of the service from 8:30 am to 10:00 am.

A condolence book will be opened, and the service will be streamed live on the JIS Facebook page as well as carried live on JNN.

His body will be interred at the Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine.