Community News

Housing and homelessness charity Shelter has revealed the potentially devastating impact of government plans to sell off council housing, with new research showing that 5,840 council homes in the West Midlands could face being sold on the private market. The proposed scheme would force council homes worth more than a set threshold for the region to be sold once they become vacant.

Waitrose is inviting budding designers and cooks to get creative and design  a special birthday cake to celebrate the historic occasion of The Queen’s 90th birthday next year. The winning design will be created by the retailer’s organic brand, Waitrose Duchy Organic, and will be sold exclusively in Waitrose branches in celebration of the The Queen’s birthday next year.

There are 20 million people currently renting a property in the UK with nearly half (45 percent) of all prospective home buyers in the UK expecting to remain shut out of the property market for the foreseeable future, according to the latest Post Office Money Mortgages survey.

On a very rainy day near Tower Bridge, Comedian and TV presenter, Rowland Rivron, assisted Londoners and tourists,  as they braved the downpours in the city. The Rain Ranger handed out free Travel Republic umbrellas and sheltered soggy passers-by from the rain.

One in 10 smartphones end up in the washing machine, new research has revealed. Batty Brits also mistakenly wash money, keys, headphones and jewellery on a regular basis, according to a survey by laundry experts Dr. Beckmann. Of the 2,000 people quizzed about their washing woes, younger Brits suffer the most mishaps with 16% of 18 to 30 years olds admitting to machine-washing their phone in the past three years.

Warwick Arts Centre has been shortlisted for a hat-trick of awards in this year’s Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism Awards.  The Coventry venue is a finalist in the Best Venue Music, Arts & Theatre;  The Kids & Familes Award and The Culture Award categories.  The event is being organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Quidem, which owns Touch FM stations and Rugby FM, and will be hosted at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday, September 24.

Neighbourhoods of Birmingham will be seen through poetry and painting this month as visual and mural artist Mohammed Ali takes up residency across various areas of Birmingham thanks to funding from Birmingham City Council. Forming part of Birmingham Anglican Cathedral’s ‘Something Good’ festival - a 2-day arts event celebrating 300 years of Birmingham Cathedral – Mohammed will lead a series of 1-day open air residences in public spaces in Erdington, Sparkhill and Handsworth.

The third annual Global AgeWatch Index, which measures the quality of life of older people around the world, shows that the inequalities between the top and bottom ranking countries are increasing and that older women are particularly disadvantaged. Globally, Switzerland tops the Index this year and last year’s number one Norway moves into second place.

City of Wolverhampton College has been announced as the latest Founder Patron of Wolverhampton’s new Youth Zone – The Way. The college joins a number of local businesses – including Marston’s and Carvers – who have pledged their support to The Way by becoming Founder Patrons. It will be working with the Youth Zone to offer a range of services including careers advice and guidance and counselling to young people.

A number of temporary road measures are due to come into operation to ease traffic flows in central Birmingham at a time when the city is preparing to come under the national and international spotlight. Birmingham City Council’s actions are designed to support the free flow of traffic – and particularly public transport – at several key junctions close to New Street Station.

Tipton's annual community fun day comes to Victoria Park today after the original date in July was cancelled due to bad weather. Attractions on the day include a car boot sale, funfair, a mini zoo, bouncy castles and live music. Admission to the event, which runs from 11am until 6pm, is free. A wristband to cover unlimited fairground rides and inflatables all day is £3 for children under one metre and £5 for children over one metre.

Smart Energy GB, the national campaign for the smart meter roll out, today publishes the second Smart energy outlook, the largest independent barometer of national public opinion on energy and smart meters.  The report finds high levels of satisfaction, control and energy-savvy amongst those who have already upgraded to their smart meter.

New research has today revealed the shocking numbers of private renters in the Midlands suffering at the hands of a rogue landlord, with approximately 120,000 experiencing an act by their landlord that could have resulted in legal action. The survey by Shelter and YouGov revealed alarming reports from renters including landlords threatening, harassing or assaulting them, cutting off utilities, not carrying out gas safety checks, and entering their homes without permission.

Wolverhampton residents are being reminded to ensure they don’t miss out on the opportunity to vote. All households should have received a form asking people to check whether the information that appears on the electoral register for those living at the address is correct. The aim of the form is to ensure that the electoral register is up to date and to identify any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so.

One in every eight of the Capital's dwellers (12.4 per cent) is jealous of Harry Potter's broomstick as a mode of transport, followed by President Barack Obama's Air Force One jet (10.6 per cent) and James Bond's speed boat (8.3 per cent). Beating the traffic and staying above ground – sometimes quite a way above ground – is what Londoners yearn for from their daily commute.

Faith group representatives in Birmingham are set to come together for the launch of the city’s new Faith Network. The Faith Network, a new forum for engagement between Birmingham City Council and faith groups and faith-led activity in the city, will be launched in the Banqueting Suite at the Council House, in Victoria Square, on Tuesday, September 1, from 6pm to 8.30pm. The event is open to all.