Community News

Marie Curie, the terminal illness charity, has teamed up with six West Midlands law firms to offer a free will-writing service for anyone aged over 55. Every year many of us make New Year’s resolutions  - lose weight, give up smoking, sort finances -   some of us even resolve to make a will. This year, from 16^th January-15^th April 2017, law firms Quality Solicitors Davisons, Thursfields Solicitors, Wallace Robinson & Morgan Solicitors, Woollastons Solicitors, PSL Probate Solicitors and Irwin Mitchell LLP will be helping you to keep your resolution by offering the service on behalf of the charity.  

Birmingham City Council is backing a campaign to get half a million people out and about cleaning up their local communities in March 2017 – building on a successful local day of action staged last November. The brand new Great British Spring Clean will roll out for the first time in 2017, with a view to it becoming an annual event helping to bring people together and clean up the country.

Award-winning author Sathnam Sanghera will be full of pride as his home-town hosts the Wolverhampton Original Literature Festival. The former Wolverhampton Grammar School student, who has gone on to become an acclaimed author and journalist, was thrilled when festival organisers contacted him about taking part in the event which takes place from today (Friday, January 27) to Sunday 29.

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is calling for Rugby fans and walkers from across the city to join their Rugby Ramble this February. The scenic 10 mile sponsored walk will take place on Saturday 11^th February, starting from the Hospice and finishing at Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club where participants can watch the England vs Wales 6 Nations Match whilst refuelling with a tasty pie and a pint.

Lack of clarity on support available prevents employers from recruiting and retaining disabled staff, says a new report from the national charity Action on Hearing Loss. A YouGov poll conducted for the charity looked into employers’ attitudes to hearing loss demonstrated a lack of confidence amongst businesses when hiring people with hearing loss. It also highlighted a perceived lack of information and advice on supporting people with disabilities in the workplace.

A kind-hearted Occupational Therapist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham has conquered America’s New York marathon to raise money for the hospital that saved the life of her patient – and now friend – Tunisia terror attack victim, Alison Heathcote. Isobel Deeley, a 27 year old from Sutton Coldfield has worked as an occupational therapist at QEHB for three years. During that time she has met thousands of inspiring patients who have made great progress in the face of adversity, and this was never more true than in the case of Alison Heathcote, one of many victims of the June 2015 Tunisia mass killing.

Schools and youth groups across the city have until 31 January 2017 to secure their very own Big Sleuth bear cub to decorate and see on display this summer. Blank sun bear cub sculptures, one metre tall and made of fibreglass, are available as part of the Learning Programme, The Big Sleuth’s creative education initiative for Birmingham’s young people.

The founder of Europe’s largest vegan campaign ‘Go Vegan World,’ Sandra Higgins, will be in Birmingham this Friday to give a talk on ‘making veganism easy.’  At the Purely Vegan Store, on Alcester Road South in Kings Heath she will be discussing the pros of a vegan lifestyle - despite veganism often being portrayed as daunting and extreme, she will put forward that a vegan lifestyle can in fact be easy, healthy and enjoyable.

With increased pressure on health and social care services expected throughout 2017, millions of older people plan to step in and help ease the burden by gifting their time. New research from older people’s charity, Royal Voluntary Service, reveals 4.7 million people aged 55 and over plan to volunteer in 2017. And the study shows they want more people to follow suit - nearly two fifths (37%) of 55s and over surveyed say the country needs more volunteers in the wake of health and social care service cutbacks.

School support workers who go that extra mile have been honoured by the Mayor of Wolverhampton. Mayor Councillor Barry Findlay hosted a reception reward the winners of Unison's search for the Stars in Our Schools, a celebration of the wonderful work Wolverhampton's school support workers do day in, day out. Support staff were nominated by schools across Wolverhampton, with the winners invited to the Mayor Parlour for this week's celebration.

A groundbreaking vegan poster campaign launched this month, with Go Vegan World ads now appearing on buses, taxis and billboards. Go Vegan World launched in the UK last June and their current campaign is targeting people for the New Year! The campaign directs viewers to research the issues for themselves by downloading the campaign’s Free Vegan Guide.

2^nd Generation of Barbadians & Friends (Birmingham) and the BCA (Birmingham Community Association) are jointly holding a Cancer Awareness Day, on Saturday, January 28, in aid of The Teenage Cancer Trust and the Macmillan Cancer Trust on a day that will provide fun for all the family which includes a bouncy castle and face painting for the children, soca aerobics massages with food on sale.

John Taylor Hospice has launched a brand new way to raise funds by introducing a weekly lottery draw. The Birmingham-based hospice has teamed up with Your Hospice Lottery to offer people the chance to win weekly cash prizes whilst raising vital funds for hospice care. For just £1 per entry to the weekly draw, lottery members have the chance to win one of 136 guaranteed prizes ranging from £10 to £1,000. There is also the addition of a rollover jackpot which, if not won, goes up by £250 each week - up to an amazing £10,000!

A British-Indian politician has been honoured by both the UK and Indian governments for her contributions to public service. Ludhiana-born Neena Gill, who was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999 was named in the New  Year’s honour list and is to be awarded a CBE by her majesty the queen for her contributions to Politics in a ceremony later this year.

MedicAnimal, the UK’s leading pet healthcare retailer, is warning motorists and gardeners about the consequences of using antifreeze and the potentially lethal effect it can have on cats and dogs. The Met Office has this week issued a severe weather warning to several parts of the UK with temperatures expected to drop below 0 degrees Celsius.  Antifreeze is typically 95% ethylene glycol (EG) and diluted 1:2 or 1:3 with water when added to the car’s radiator or washer fluid container.

As temperatures drop, vets are warning owners not to forget about small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs that usually live outdoors yet are vulnerable to the cold and damp despite their furry coats. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS) are asking owners with outdoor hutches and runs to be vigilant during cold snaps and make sure that their pets’ living space is well-protected from snow, frost and winter rain.