Community News

It’s no secret that big events held in the UK such as the Olympics and royal weddings have a positive effect on the economy. The Guardian has recently reported that in the lead up to the Royal Wedding retailers can expect an additional £60 million spending thanks not only to the influx of tourists but also the national pride that will no doubt sweep the nation.

Something which is often overlooked is the impact this boost in the economy has on the property market across the UK. Research carried out by My Home Move suggests that it’s not just Windsor’s residents who will benefit from the Royal Wedding - when looking at the monthly increases in house prices in years with royal weddings or births, the biggest month on month increase occurred in the same month as the weddings or births!

The month of William and Kate’s marriage saw the biggest month on month increase for 2011 sitting at 1.55%, the wedding of Charles and Camilla had a similar effect back in 2005 with a month on month increase of 1.49%. And, it’s not just weddings which boost the market, the birth month of Prince George saw prices rise by 1.12% month on month whilst the birth of Princess Charlotte saw the modest increase of 1.08% month on month.

With many areas across the South having royal connections, we are set to see an increase in tourism and, as a result, increased spending in the local economy – this will in turn positively impact the housing market. With more profit to be made, independent shops and restaurants along with farmers markets will thrive and attract more people into the local area increasing desire from buyers and tenants to move into the area.

This notion is backed up by research carried out by American Express which found that on average, in towns with lots of independent shops and eateries on the high street, properties are on average £40,000 more expensive. This is great news for locations such as Gerrards Cross, Sunningdale and Henley-on-Thames with bustling high streets full of independent shops and restaurants as they are also likely to benefit from the Royal Wedding effect.

Antony comments; “Whilst there is some debate on which came first, the high-end businesses or affluent residents, one thing we can be certain of, is properties in close proximity to amenities such as independent shops, high-end restaurants, are highly desirable and therefore achieve higher prices.

“The same concept can be applied to the Royal Wedding effect on house prices, the aspirational, glitz and glamour associated not only with the wedding but other locations associated with royalty will likely see a similar boost in desirability and possibly house prices.”

There's still plenty of time for local artists to enter Sandwell's Hidden Treasures competition.

Hidden Treasures is open to all amateur artists, schools and community groups, with 31 May as the deadline for entries.

Artists are being urged to submit a themed piece of work to feature in the borough's summer arts trail.

They can select a favourite building, open space, walk, view or local attraction as an inspiration their Hidden Treasures entry.

Art work will be shortlisted to a collection of pieces which will then be exhibited across the borough, allowing members of the public to vote for the best piece of art work.

Councillor Syeda Khatun, deputy leader of Sandwell Council, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to get inspired and showcase their artistic talents. It will also shine a light on the many 'hidden treasures' across Sandwell's six towns."

• Painting - oils, acrylics, watercolours
• Drawing - pencils, charcoals, inks, pastels
• Photographs - colour/black and white
• Mixed media - mixture of the above

Two Reservists and a Triathlete will be embarking on gruelling walk for charity. Matt, Rob and Ad who all work together at Design Built Exhibitions in Redditch love to push themselves to the limit. On 20^th May 2018 they will start at St Bees Bay in Cumbria and take on Wainwrights Walk all the way to Robin Hood Bay in Scarborough, in just five days. The walk was originally depicted in Alfred Wainwright’s 1973 book A Coast to Coast Walk and was described in 12 stages. The usual time to complete this walk would be 14-21 days.

The 192 mile walk reaching heights of 2,560ft will cross three national parks, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Yorkshire Moors. Their aim of five days will mean the trio will have to cover over 40 miles each day, which will be made tougher by carrying their own kit with all of their supplies weighing between 20kg and 25kg, depending on the weather conditions.

However, they aren’t just having a nice walk, they are setting themselves a challenge to raise £3,000 for their chosen charities: Dementia UK, Bliss and Charlotte & Craig Saving Hearts Foundation (CCSHF). Dementia UK provides dementia support for families through their Admiral Nurse service, giving them one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions. Bliss exists to give every baby born premature or sick in the UK the best chance of survival and quality of life. CCSHF are raising money to install defibrillators into community venues to give people a better chance of survival should something happen.

Training for the event has been going well and has involved running or cycling to work every morning and circuit training twice a week. Matt said “I am running 10 miles to work every morning, which is quite a detour as I only live 2 miles away.”

Rob said: “I’m looking forward to the first two days in the Lake District the most as it will be the best scenery, and also when I can see the sea at Robin Hood Bay. I’ll be running to the end then!”

Every day is going to be challenging, but the longest day will be day four covering 48 ½ miles, especially after the hilly terrain of the Lake District on days one and two and 44 ½ miles on day three.

The endurance and willingness to succeed is something all three of them have in common, with Ad taking part in triathlons on a regular basis, his next one is just two weeks before this challenge. Matt and Rob, who are brothers, have both been in the Reserve Forces for 10 years and based at HMS Forward in Birmingham. Matt is a Royal Marines Reservist and Rob is a Royal Naval Reservist. They both said, “Being in the Reserves has given us the mentality to succeed and know that we are 100% sure we will complete this challenge as nothing is impossible.”

During their 10 years of Service they have been deployed on Operations and dedicated themselves to their training. If you’re interested in finding out more about the Reserve Forces you can find out more on West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Associations website www.wmrfca.org

You can find out how to sponsor the trio and follow their training and progress during the challenge through their Facebook page www.2343ec78a04c6ea9d80806345d31fd78-gdprlock/coasttocoastchallenge.

The Denise Coates Foundation has given a generous grant of over £1million to support the Critical Journeys Appeal at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

The substantial donation will be used to provide the hospital’s KIDS/NTS ambulance fleet with the latest life-saving medical equipment needed so the hospital can respond faster and more effectively; helping vulnerable patients and their families get to the right place, at the right time for the right treatment.

Louise McCathie, Director of Fundraising at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, comments: “This incredible grant from the Denise Coates Foundation means we can now make further impact on the lives of the young children and babies we treat at our hospital. The journey to and from hospitals can be a very critical time for sick children, so to know that we have the right equipment in our mobile intensive care unit is vital. We are extremely grateful to the Denise Coates Foundation for such a generous donation.”

The new equipment will mean all four KIDS/NTS ambulances can be deployed at the same time to meet the critical needs of all patients, no matter their age or illness, allowing the KIDS/NTS team to respond to any emergency – neonatal or paediatric.

Denise Coates CBE said of the decision to support the Critical Journeys Appeal: “I am so pleased that the Foundation’s grant will enable the KIDS/NTS Ambulance Service to acquire state of the art equipment that will make such a positive difference to the quality of the medical care provided to children and babies across the Midlands region and beyond.”

In 2016, Kids’ Intensive Care and Decision Support (KIDS) and the Newborn Transfer Service (NTS) merged to form KIDS/NTS. The service offers an acute transport and advice service for the management of critically ill children requiring intensive care in the Midlands. It is dedicated to moving babies between neonatal units in the West Midlands to ensure right care for the right baby at the right time.

Parents of children in Wolverhampton who have missed their MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccine are being encouraged to get it as soon as possible following a measles outbreak in parts of the West Midlands.

Public Health England is writing to all West Midlands GPs asking them to be alert to the symptoms of measles and to take the opportunity to immunise children and adults who may not have received two doses of the MMR vaccine.

The call comes as the outbreak, which originally focused in Birmingham and Solihull, spreads to other parts of the region – though no cases have yet been reported in Wolverhampton.

Symptoms of measles include: a high fever; sore, red, watery eyes; coughing; aching and feeling generally unwell; and a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.

John Denley, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Director of Public Health, said: "Measles can be a very serious illness and lead to severe complications, especially in people who are particularly vulnerable or have other health conditions.

"The good news is that the misery caused by measles is entirely preventable, and the free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, as well as mumps and rubella."

The first MMR vaccine is given when a child is one-year-old, with a booster due at three years and four months of age. Parents who have missed one or both appointments are urged to contact their GP as soon as possible. Parents can check their child’s Red Book to see if they’ve received MMR vaccinations as scheduled, or speak to their GP if they are not sure.

Dr Bharat Sibal, from Public Health England West Midlands, said: “Most of the recent cases we’ve seen had not received the required doses of the MMR vaccine.

“It is possible for anyone at any age to get measles, and the illness can be more severe in teenagers and adults than in young children, which is why we are trying to make sure anyone who has missed vaccinations get immunised as soon as possible.”

HeadStart Wolverhampton is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week (14-20 May) with a series of free events and activities designed to raise awareness and support emotional wellbeing.

This year’s awareness week focuses on the theme of “Stress: Are we coping?”, and the HeadStart team have developed activities designed to help young people in Wolverhampton cope with a range of stress-related issues, including exam stress and the pressures of social media, and to help parents better support their children to cope with stress.

The week of activities begins with the opening of a pop-up shop on the first floor of the Mander Centre, between New Look and The Works, on Saturday 12 May.

The shop is open to all and is offering a range of activities will help support emotional mental health and wellbeing throughout the day, including arts and crafts, Lego workshops and a chance to explore the new HeadStart support portal. Visitors will also be able to pick up free goodie bags with art activity packs and additional resources to help young people cope with stress.

Throughout the rest of the week, HeadStart’s commissioned providers will be continuing their weekly timetable of activities to support young people, parents and families living in each of HeadStart’s four target areas.

The WV10 Consortium, part of Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board, are holding a range of activities in Low Hill, The Scotlands & Bushbury South, including digital workshops, karate and cooking workshops. In Bilston East, Gazebo Theatre is hosting the “Place to be Me” club for young people, with dance, drama and musical activities.

Meanwhile, in Springfield, Heath Town, Old Heath and Eastfield; and in All Saints, Blakenhall, Parkfields, Ettingshall, YMCA Black Country is offering activities including zumba and yoga, ‘Relax and Craft’ arts and crafts sessions, and cookery workshops.

Andrew Wolverson, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s HeadStart Strategic Lead, said “We are delighted to support Mental Health Awareness Week again this year, and have a week of fantastic activities to support young people and encourage everyone to take care of their mental health and wellbeing.

“Stress is something which can affect anyone and everyone, and young people are no exception. We hope this week will help young people to cope better with stress, particularly exam stress and the pressures of social media.”

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 14-20 May and is organised by the Mental Health Foundation. For more information, please visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk.

HeadStart Wolverhampton, funded by Big Lottery Fund, is designed to improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 10 to 16 by giving them the skills they need to cope with the challenges of modern life.

As well as running a series of specific programmes in its four key target areas, HeadStart Wolverhampton offers city-wide help through a Support and Guidance Directory at http://support.headstartonline.co.uk which provides emotional mental health and wellbeing resources from different organisations, including information targeted at young people, parents and carers, and professionals.

A member of the public contacted the animal charity after seeing the two ponies in a field in Highfield Road, on Thursday 19 April. One of the ponies had collapsed and was breathing rapidly.

When RSPCA inspector Vicki Taylor arrived, the member of the public had managed to get the pony to stand - however, she was so weak and dehydrated that she was shaking uncontrollably.

“She was clearly in a bad way,” said Inspector Taylor. “A vet was of the opinion that the ponies were dehydrated and there was no water in the field. This was during the spell of hot weather we had.

“As well as being dehydrated, the ponies were emaciated. We contacted the police, who seized the ponies, which allowed us to remove them and take them into a private boarding establishment so that they could be cared for.

“Despite making enquiries, we haven’t been able to establish who these horses belong to. We are urging anyone who has any information to contact us in complete confidence on 0300 123 8018.”

Last week, the RSPCA revealed that the number of horses rescued by the charity has reached a four-year high, as the equine crisis continues to have devastating consequences.

The charity’s annual Cruelty Statistics revealed that nearly 1,000 horses were rescued by the charity from cruelty, suffering and neglect last year (2017), and a staggering 928 horses are currently in the charity's care.

The national horse crisis, which charities first highlighted in 2012, has since seen RSPCA officers called out to neglected and abandoned horses every day in England and Wales, with many of the animals extremely sick or dying.

Hundreds are expected to gather on Windrush Square in Brixton, South London, on Tuesday, 8 May 2018, to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the Allied Victory (over the Luftwaffe) in Europe, also known as VE Day.  The significant role that African and Caribbean soldiers played in Britain’s military successes during both World Wars is only now beginning to be recognised. This will continue on Windrush Square at noon on 8 May 2018.  Organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, with support from Lambeth  Council, Tate Library and The Black Cultural Archives.

With the recent conversation being played out in the media about the so-called Windrush Generation and their descendants, it has largely been forgotten that most of those who arrived on the Empire Windrush from the Caribbean were ex- service personnel.  After serving king and country in WWII, they were invited to Britain to help rebuild a broken country ravished by war.  However, people from Africa and the Caribbean were in Britain long before the Windrush, and even before WWI. 

The guest of honour for our VE Day commemoration is none other than Allan Willmott, who has the unique distinction of being a Caribbean veteran of both the RAF and the Royal Navy during WWII.  Allan came back in Britain with more than 200 ex-service personnel from the Caribbean on a ship called the Al Manzora.  This was in 1947, the year before the Empire Windrush arrived at the Port of Tilbury.

For more information about some of the African and Caribbean pioneers who served in WWII, join us at the African and Caribbean Memorial on Windrush Square, Brixton, London, SW2 1EF (next to the Black Cultural Archives) on Tuesday, 8 May 2018, from 12:00 – 13:00pm.

Birmingham based national charity, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) is delighted to be a chosen charity for Wool@J13, the national outdoor wool festival which is returning to the Midlands on May 12 and 13 following its successful launch last year.

Wool@J13, which takes place at Penkridge, just off junction 13 of the M6, promises a weekend of wool workshops, spinning demonstrations, sheep shearing, a hat exhibition, live music, street food and plenty of wool themed shopping. Organisers were inspired to support CLDF by one of their exhibitors, Lisa Harland whose nine year old son Callum has a rare liver disease.

“Lisa’s business ‘For the Love of Yarn’ supplies beautiful yarns and we were touched to see that her ‘Mummy and Me’ sock kits were designed and dyed by her son Callum to raise funds for CLDF,” explained the show’s creative director, Ingrid Wagner.

“Lisa told us about the support she and her family have received from the charity since the devastating diagnosis of Callum’s condition and we were keen to get involved too.

“As well as holding a raffle for a rather spectacular cake baked for us by Kat’s Kitchen of Manchester, we shall be maintaining the sock theme with a special Sock Fashion Show. The audience will find out why wool is the fibre kindest to feet and see an array of wonderful hand knitted socks which are going to be presented for us by the Stafford Steppers musical theatre and dance group who just live to dance for charity-based functions. It will be fun way of supporting a little known and very worthwhile cause and a great fit all round.”

Alison Taylor, Chief Executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation commented: “CLDF is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases, by providing information and emotional support, funds for research and a voice for all those affected. In order to do this however, we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations, so we are delighted to hear that Lisa and Callum have inspired the organisers of Wool@J13 to support us in this way. It sounds a great way of raising awareness and funds and we wish them all a fabulous weekend.”

Severn Trent and Gedling Borough Council have sold around 135 acres of land at Teal Close to Persimmon Homes for a development that includes much needed new housing.

The site is located approximately five miles east of Nottingham, between Netherfield and Stoke Bardolph and will include fantastic new facilities and services for the area.  Alongside 830 new homes there will be new leisure areas including play pitches with changing facilities, allotments and children’s play areas for the community to use.  There will also be an ecology park, together with a new community building and a new primary school, all bringing people and jobs into the area. The land was owned by Midlands Land Portfolio Ltd, the property arm of Severn Trent plc, and Gedling Borough Council.

Julie Rossiter, head of property development for Severn Trent, explains:  “This is a great example of innovation with public and private sectors working together for the communities they serve and building new homes which are desperately needed in this area.  We’re really pleased that by making our business more efficient, we were able to free up land to help create this development.  The sale proceeds for Midlands Land Portfolio Ltd will be £21.8M, and a proportion of the resulting profits will be shared with our customers, helping to keep future water bills lower.”

Following planning approval for the first phase of the housing scheme for 199 units including much needed affordable houses, Persimmon will soon be starting work on site.

Neil Follows, managing director for Persimmon Homes Nottingham, said: “Our aim is to deliver a range of high-quality, affordable homes that will cater for first-time buyers looking to get their foot on the property ladder as well families looking for more space.

“Now the development has received planning permission, it will bring an estimated 855 jobs to the local area, providing a huge boost to the local economy.”

Councillor John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, added: “We welcome the announcement; this is another positive step forward in the development of this site. The proposed plans will lead to investment in the area, along with more affordable housing, continuing the economic prosperity of the borough.”

A free course in Birmingham will help local people who have lost their sight to regain their confidence and independence.

The Living with Sight Loss course, run by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is taking place at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, from 10.30am to 3.30pm on 17, 22, 31 May and 7 June 2018. The four day course will provide information, advice and practical skills for anyone who has sight loss as well as their family and friends.

The sessions will provide advice on a range of essential everyday skills such as how to get around outside, information about welfare rights, and using assistive technology.

Val Humphries, RNIB Confidence Building Coordinator for the West Midlands, said: “For someone newly diagnosed with sight loss, the future can seem very daunting and scary at first. But losing your sight doesn’t mean losing your independence. Our courses are about improving social inclusion, boosting confidence, and learning new skills and techniques to deal with sight loss in order to live independently.

“The Living with Sight Loss course is available to anyone with sight loss. Friends and family are also welcome as we appreciate significant sight issues affect all aspects of a person’s life – including those closest to them.”

Phone groups covering similar topics are also available for those unable to attend a course in person. The sessions provide the opportunity to talk to others and exchange experiences. These groups run for four sessions, over four weeks.

A man who lived on a houseboat was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to give up his dogs when his home started to sink.

He contacted the RSPCA for help with his beloved dogs - terrier-cross Arthur and Jack Russell terrier Bennie - earlier this month.

This week, RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Cara Gibbon went to visit the man at his houseboat in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

“He was so distraught to give up his dogs but he also didn’t want his dogs to suffer when he became homeless so made the difficult decision to sign them over into our care,” ACO Gibbon explained.

“It must have been so hard for him but he did the right thing - by putting the dogs’ welfare first.

“He had been living on a houseboat but, unfortunately, it was sinking, leaving him and his dogs homeless.

“He reached out to us and asked for help and we could see that his need was urgent so I went out to meet with him.”

Twelve-year-old Arthur was rescued at two by his owner and nine-month-old Bennie joined them recently as a friend for the senior pooch.

The two dogs were taken in by RSPCA Coventry where they are doing well. Once they’ve been assessed, staff will be looking to find a forever home for the duo.

“When I first took them in and took them to the vets for check-ups, they were obviously very frightened and confused,” ACO Gibbon added.

“But they’ve been with kennel staff for a few days now and are settling in well.

“I went to visit them and they were having such fun playing in the garden and running in the sunshine. It was lovely to see.

“I’m sure we’ll find them a fabulous new home with owners who will love them and care for them as much as their previous owner did.

“I’d like to urge other people who find themselves in difficult situations to always reach out to charities and agencies and ask for help.”

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Arthur and Bennie should contact RSPCA Coventry & Nuneaton branch by calling 02476 336616.

Families get the chance to celebrate the ancient traditions of Green Man folklore in a fun-filled event in West Bromwich organised by Sandwell Museums.

The event on Sunday 13 May at the 17th century Oak House Museum and grounds, Oak Road, West Bromwich, begins at noon running until 4pm.

“We’re banishing the winter and welcoming spring at Oak House with family fun activities,” said Rebecca Butler, visitor services officer for the site. “This is sure to be a fun-filled day for adults and children alike.”

Visitors can listen to 17th century folk tales and make springtime head garlands and see blacksmith demonstrations, which was an industry the Turton family who lived at Oak House were involved with in the 1600s.

They can also enjoy Tudor dancing inside the house with Oak House favourite historical interpretation group Gloriana. Morris dancers will be performing throughout the day on the terrace at the back of the visitors’ centre.

“There will be lots of children's entertainment too – with an under 5s soft play area, face painting to get into the Green Man spirit, a bouncy castle for children to enjoy and Green Man-themed quizzes and trails,” said Rebecca.

There will be some stalls to browse including a children’s Usborne Book stall. The RSPB and the Wildlife Trust will have stalls with some interactive activities.

Museum services manager Jane Hanney said: "Visitors can also enjoy our new information about the grounds at Oak House that tells the story of what was going on outside the buildings 400 years ago.

"The Oak House was at the centre of a busy farm and would have had a kitchen garden growing herbs and vegetables and an orchard growing fruits as well as a new formal garden for the Turton family to walk in.

"This is an event not to be missed and is a great way to celebrate the coming of the new season."

Following a successful trial, the retailer is extending the number of its branches participating in the FareShare Go programme, using the Irish social enterprise FoodCloud IT platform, to all full-size supermarkets by the end of the year.

The food redistribution technology is supported by FareShare and powered by FoodCloud, and makes it easier for branches to let local charities know about surplus goods. Waitrose shops are already established in donating food to local charities and the IT platform will help smooth communication between branches and groups.

Shops simply input details of available food into an app and connected charities receive a text alert of which items are ready for collection. This builds on relationships branches already have with local groups as well as recruiting new ones, with the technology making the process even simpler and quicker.

FareShare was established as a food redistribution charity over 20 years ago. It provides a range of services including a support team to recruit and audit charities and community groups to the FareShare Go model. The team ensures only groups which can safely collect, store and prepare food are linked with a local shop. This guarantees all Waitrose surplus food will go to organisations properly equipped to provide meals to vulnerable communities.

Since launching the trial in 2017 in 25 shops, an equivalent of nearly 70,000 meals have been donated to over 100 charities. From 16th April the next phase of four shops in Jersey and Guernsey will join the existing 25 branches which already use FareShare Go. By the end of 2018 there will be 300 Waitrose shops using the IT platform.

Groups which collect surplus food are offered funds from the Waitrose Community Matters (green tokens) scheme which donates money to local good causes - this goes a step beyond simply donating produce. Kitchen equipment and storage are included in the items charities can buy with the retailer's funding. This support will be extended to all branches with the roll out of FareShare Go.

Birmingham has bucked the national trend with a surge in adoptions. A total of 160 children in the care of the council found permanent new parents in 2016/17, according to data from the Department for Education. That compares to 110 in both 2014/15 and 2015/16.

The data covers all “looked-after” children: those in council-run homes, foster care, and other care settings.

At the same time, the total number of looked-after children has fallen in Birmingham. Some 2,525 children spent at least part of the year in care in 2016/17 compared to 2,670 in 2015/16 and 2,720 in 2014/15. Nationally, the number of children who spent at least some of the year in care has risen from 99,410 in 2014/15 to 100,940 in 2015/16 and 102,590 in 2016/17.

John Simmonds, director of policy at adoption and fostering organisation CoramBAAF, said: “There has been significant concern about the fall of children with a local authority adoption plan and then the number of children where the court makes relevant orders enabling this. There may be a number of factors contributing to this but the most widely held view is that this results from two judgments handed down by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

The number of looked-after children who were adopted has fallen to 4,710 in 2016/17 compared to 5,360 the previous year. Rising numbers of children in care have led successive governments to look at ways of making adoption an easier and faster process, but a number of court rulings dating back to 2013 stressed the need for councils to consider other options before turning to adoption - including placing the child with birth relatives.

The average waiting time to adopt a child currently stands at 425 days. "While most local authority numbers fell, a few actually increased the number of children placed for adoption,” Simmonds said.

"There is concern in the sector about these figures and most particularly on the impact on the welfare of children in the immediate and longer term. Another consequence has been a fall in the number of approved adopters and this is serious issue that needs urgent attention.”

The figures released by the DfE are rounded to the nearest five to protect anonymity.