Community News

Artists, both well-known and, as yet, undiscovered are invited to submit designs for The Big Sleuth’s Sun Bears. Download an artist pack from www.thebigsleuth.co.uk/artists and submit ideas online before midnight on Monday 2 January 2017 to be in with a chance of seeing your Sun Bear design on display in Birmingham and its surrounding areas next summer.

Religious leaders from around the world gathered in St Andrews on to sign the ‘Declaration on a Shared Humanity,’ to marks the culmination of the Year of Interfaith Dialogue, an initiative set up to stimulate conversation about the commonalities between the different faiths. Attended by senior members of the Christian Churches and the Catholic Church, members of the Hindu community from the UK and India, leaders of the UK Jewish community, senior Buddhist monks and the representative of the Dalai Lama, the 130-strong religious delegation from 19 countries was joined by 32 school pupils from Fife in the signing.

The UK’s leading registration body for electricians is urging people to think electrics when they carry out their checks on the elderly this winter. Proportionately, older people suffer more fatal and non-fatal injuries from electrically-related house fires than the rest of the population. People over 65 are particularly at risk because they often live in old or poor-quality housing that contains faulty electrics or old appliances.

Scott and Brett Bernard are 3,900 meters up Kilimanjaro raising money for The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton. Five friends from around the Black Country are trekking six vertical kilometers across seven days as they scale Africa's highest mountain to raise money for the three charities: Promised Dreams, The Way Youth Zone and Birmingham Children's Hospital. 

The risk of drivers having an accident in the 4 weeks following the clocks changing at the end of October increases by 10%, and if they are driving between 5pm and 8pm, when it’s both dark and busy on the roads, the risk of having an accident rises dramatically by 30%  compared to the previous month according to Insure The Box, the global pioneer of telematics-based car insurance, and a champion for young driver safety.

City of Wolverhampton Council has released details of how people can take part in a consultation on cuts proposals of £13.5 million. The council, which continues to manage Central Government funding reductions, is giving people the chance to have their say before the 2017/2018 budget is set in the Spring. People are being asked for their views on 32 proposals which are a combination of cuts, more efficient ways of working and plans to generate additional income.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s has been chosen by Network Rail employees as their ‘Charity of Choice’ until March 2019. They will support Barnardo’s through fundraising, volunteering, gifts in kind and payroll giving to help the charity with its work to transform the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable children. Information about Barnardo’s work will also be displayed at nineteen mainline stations in England and Scotland, including Birmingham New Street and Bristol Temple Meads.

Six spectacular lights switch-ons – including a city centre celebration featuring a fantastic firework finale – are all lined up to get Wolverhampton counting down to Christmas. Santa and his reindeer will be joined by the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Barry Findlay, CBeebies favourite Boj, Doreen, who is appearing in the Grand Theatre’s pantomime Aladdin, and Wolverhampton Wanderers footballers for the magical Christmas lights switch on in the city centre on Wednesday 23 November, 2016.

This Halloween we're working with environmental charity Hubbub to save pumpkins from going to waste. It might be getting spooky, as the ghouls and goblins begin to descend on London, but research suggests that it's pumpkins that have got the most to be scared of this Halloween. That's why the people of north London are being asked to go on a rescue mission, to salvage the little orange squashes from their otherwise grisly doom, and save unnecessary food waste.

It’s my goldfishes birthday, I’ve broken my leg and we’re trying for a baby are amongst some of the oddest excuses being used by Brits to get out of a night out according to a new survey. Half of Brits (50%) admit to ditching their friends ahead of a night out in favour of a takeaway and a box set. If FOMO (fear of missing out) was 2015. JOMO (joy of missing out) is 2016.

The latest round of the coveted Commonwealth Education Good Practice awards is now open to organisations that are delivering innovative education projects around the Commonwealth. Civil society groups, ministries of education and other private and public organisations can be nominated or nominate themselves for the accolade. Organisations vying for the award must demonstrate excellence in one of five key areas of education delivery.

A couple whose lives have been transformed by Telecare in their home which is keeping them safe are urging other people in Wolverhampton to sign up for the “valuable” service. Telecare is offered by the City of Wolverhampton Council and supports people to live independently in their own homes by giving them a range of assistive technology, from emergency alarms and fall detectors to smoke and flood sensors.

The RSPCA was called to Gate Street in Tipton, in the West Midlands, on Sunday (16 October) after the reptile was found and safely retrieved from the dog. RSPCA inspector Dawn Burrell went along to collect the spur thigh tortoise, believed to be aged around one, and took him to a nearby specialist exotic vet. “Dogs and cats often bring in rather random things for their owners but I think this gentleman had a bit of a shock when his pet brought in a tiny tortoise!” inspector Burrell said.

A drive to make sure people recognise hate crime and know how to report it is under way in Sandwell. A best practice forum held as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week highlighted concerns about under-reporting of incidents. Organisations including Sandwell Council, West Midlands Police, Rights and Equality Sandwell and Victim Support agreed to raise greater awareness, especially around how to report incidents.

With bonfire night only a few weeks away and Christmas and New Year on the horizon, many pets will feel anxious with the looming firework displays. Lots of animals are afraid of the loud sounds and flashing lights that accompany fireworks, but there are lots of ways to make sure your pet feels as comfortable and safe as possible on the night.