Clap for Carers is set to return under a new name of Clap for Heroes, the initiative's founder has said. The weekly applause for front-line NHS staff and other key workers ran for 10 weeks during the UK's first coronavirus lockdown last spring.

Founder Annemarie Plas tweeted that it would return at 20:00 GMT on Thursday.

Ms Plas said she hoped the initiative would "lift the spirit of all of us" including "all who are pushing through this difficult time The idea of clapping and banging pots from doorsteps originally began as a one-off to support NHS staff on 26 March - three days after the UK went into lockdown for the first time.

After proving popular it was expanded to cover all key workers and continued every Thursday for 10 weeks, with millions of people across the UK taking part. Members of the Royal Family and politicians including Prime Minister Boris Johnson also joined in with the show of support. However, the event later faced criticism for becoming politicised, with some suggesting the NHS would benefit more from extra funding than applause.

Last May, Dutch national Ms Plas, who resides in south London, did say that the weekly applause should end after its 10th week and instead become an annual event. At the time, she also said that the public had shown their appreciation and it was now up to ministers to reward key workers.

Ahead of the final clap, in May, she said: "Without getting too political, I share some of the opinions that some people have about it becoming politicised. I think the narrative is starting to change and I don't want the clap to be negative."

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020. One of F1's all-time great drivers, he equalled Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles with his fourth consecutive championship in 2020.

The 35-year-old, from Stevenage, also surpassed Schumacher's total of 91 grand prix wins.

In a public vote, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson finished second while jockey Hollie Doyle was third.

He said: "I'm so proud of what they have achieved and I want to say thank you to everyone that has voted for me. I wasn't expecting this knowing there are so many great contenders.

"I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone - it's been such an unusual year and I want to mention all the front line workers and all the children round the world, I want you to try and stay positive through this difficult time, I'm sending you all positivity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

It is the second time Hamilton has been crowned Sports Personality of the Year, having first won the award in 2014. He is also a four-time runner-up, most recently in 2018 and 2019.

Hamilton, who says becoming the most decorated driver in Formula One history "doesn't mean anything unless I continue to lead the fight against racism - in the sport - as he holds the record for most pole positions, won 11 of the 17 grand prix during the 2020 season, which started four months late due to the coronavirus pandemic. He achieved three further podium finishes.

The Sports Personality of the Year 2020 was broadcast live from MediaCityUK, in Salford, in front of a 1,000-strong virtual audience with football pundit Alex Scott joining Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan to look back on a truly unusual year of sport.

Other Sports Personality 2020 award winners included:

Helen Rollason Award - Captain Sir Tom Moore

Expert Special Panel Award - Marcus Rashford

Coach of the Year - Jurgen Klopp

Team of the Year - Liverpool FC

Unsung Hero - Sgt Matt Ratana

Captain Tom Young Unsung Hero - Tobias Weller

Young Sports Personality of the Year - Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix

Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has been knighted in a New Year Honours list. It comes 12 years after he received an MBE for services to motor racing at the end of 2008, the season that he won his first world championship title.

Hamilton took his seventh title in November. His knighthood comes after he equalled Michael Schumacher's title record and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a second time.

The 35 year old was made an MBE in 2008 after winning his first F1 championship, but the Hertfordshire-born driver was reportedly previously overlooked for the top honour amid questions about his tax arrangements.

This year Motorsport UK launched a campaign with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Formula One for him to be nominated, with the organisation suggesting his business dealings had been "misunderstood".

He is also leading an almost ‘one-man’ fight against racism in his sport and says that the Black Lives Matter movement helped drive him on to his seventh Formula 1 world title – and further. He took a knee on the grid and wore anti-racism slogans in support of the cause during the season.

The Briton's Mercedes team also adopted a black livery for the 2020 campaign in a stand against discrimination.

As well as Black Lives Matter, Lewis also heads the ‘Hamilton Commission’ programme, which he set up to increase diversity in motorsport, the power of sport to bring positive change, electric cars and animal rights.

Ex-footballer Jimmy Greaves and musician Craig David become MBEs.

Edgbaston father, Saeed Ahmed, has been named ‘Campaigner of the Year’ by the national disability charity, Sense, for sharing his family’s story of caring for his 21-year-old disabled son, Azhar, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Saeed, 44, was recognised at the Sense Awards 2020 for supporting the charity’s #ForgottenFamilies campaign, which called on Government to reinstate services for families caring for disabled adults at home during lockdown.

As part of the campaign, Saeed presented Sense’s open letter to the Government asking for better support for families like his during the pandemic. He also gave interviews with national and regional media, including ITV News, to share his family’s story and highlight the devastating impact of the lack of support for families caring for disabled adults at home during lockdown.

When the UK entered lockdown in March, Azhar’s usual care and support stopped completely, and Saeed and his family took on all caring responsibilities. The sudden change of routine was frustrating for Azhar and affected his wellbeing, as the family was unable to explain why he was forced to stay at home.

Saeed Ahmed said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been nominated for and won the ‘Campaigner of the Year’ award for 2020. Sense as an organisation is close to my heart as they provide invaluable day care for my son and I’m glad that I have supported the recent campaign to highlight the difficulties that families like mine have faced throughout lockdown.”

Sense Chief Executive, Richard Kramer, said: “Congratulations to Saeed, our ‘Campaigner of the Year’ for 2020. This year has been challenging for everyone, but particularly for those caring for disabled people at home during lockdown. Despite this, Saeed committed to being involved in Sense’s #ForgottenFamilies campaign, calling for change for not only his own family, but the many other families across the country who also face this crisis.”

The Sense Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of people with complex disabilities, as well as the staff, carers, family members, volunteers and fundraisers who support them.

A new road within the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, in Birmingham, is to be named Bert Carless Way.

Alderman Egbert ‘Bert’ Sylvester Carless, made history when he was elected as Birmingham’s first Black councillor in 1979. He was elected a Labour member for Aston ward and served again in 1998-2002 for Ladywood ward.

Mr Carless, who migrated to Birmingham from Jamaica when he was 21, was a well-respected member of the community and served on the Council’s education committee for almost twenty years. He was passionate about speaking out against discrimination. His work was commemorated with an OBE in 1998. He died in 2003.

Bert Carless Way is situated within the new Perry Barr Residential Scheme, situated on the site of the former Birmingham City University Campus after the road became available because an existing road (Franchise Street) was stopped up and subsumed into the site.

Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Councillor Waseem Zaffar unveiled the new street name at Perry Barr Residential Scheme the construction and he was joined by local community activist Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo and Bert Carless’ great niece, Maxine Tomlinson.

Cllr Zaffar said: “The Council had been looking for ways to honour Bert for some time, and my Cabinet colleagues and I were engaging with local community leaders like Dr Desmond Jaddoo on the most appropriate way to do this. However, when I was told that the Residential Scheme had an unnamed road not covered by the street naming competition it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Bert Carless was an inspirational, respected figure who made great strides in achieving more equality and diversity in our city. Therefore, to have Bert Carless Way in amongst Equality Road, Diversity Grove, and Inspire Avenue is an appropriate and fitting tribute.”

Maxine Tomlinson said: “We are pleased to have finally arrived at this point where my uncle, Uncle Carless, is being recognised by Birmingham as the first person of African-Caribbean descent to have served as Councillor and Alderman of the city. Cllr Carless served tirelessly within his Ward representing all, and he has a strong and lasting legacy in championing equalities as well as serving on a number of committees across the city.” Lendlease is the principal contractor for the 1,400 homes within the Perry Barr Residential Scheme - part of the wider Perry Barr regeneration programme – which includes improved leisure and community facilities, upgraded transport infrastructure and 5,000 new homes.

Anna Evans, Lendlease’s Project Director at Perry Barr, said: “No finer choice could have been made. Bert Carless’ name will live on within the streets of the city he served with such dedication.”

It is expected the homes using the new street names will be ready for occupation in 2023.

As blue plaques are continuing to be put up in places of historic note serve as a permanent tribute to Britain’s notable men and women throughout the UK, one established organisation have joined forces with an equally established creative agency to pay likewise homage to distinguished figures of African and Caribbean dissent who have made an equally telling contribution to the United Kingdom.

Often ignored or discriminated against by the establishment during their lifetime, many historically significant individuals continue to be excluded posthumously – until now!

Community organisation Nubian Jak and creative agency Havas London has teamed up to create ‘The Black Plaque Project’: a new initiative which commemorates the rich and diverse contribution of Black people throughout history through a series of black plaques across London.

The Project sees specially designed black plaques temporarily installed on buildings across the capital to celebrate the lives of its notable Black residents — who, despite their achievements, continue to be officially overlooked.

Launched on the ITV London news programme, the first plaque to be installed recognising the contributions of musician Winifred Atwell – who, in 1954, became the first Black person to go to the top of the UK singles chart with ‘Let’s Have Another Party’ – her plaque going up in Brixton, where she lived throughout her early years.

Other plaques due to be acknowledged include: Len Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Tony Wade, the fathers of the Black hair care and beauty industry in the 1960s and among Britain’s first Black millionaires - their plaque to be installed at their first shop in Tottenham, and Afrobeat pioneer and political campaigner, Fela Kuti - his plaque to be installed in Greenwich, in south east London, where he studied at Trinity College of Music.

Selected in consultation with Dr Jak Beula, founder and CEO of Nubian Jak Community Trust, permissions for 30 black plaques are being secured, with an interactive Black Plaques map at: www.blackplaqueproject.com 

Dr Jak said: “There are nowhere near enough blue plaques celebrating Black achievement and history in Britain, so it is vital this project has a lasting legacy. Partnering with Havas on The Black Plaque Project helps us to raise awareness of this institutional discrimination and puts the pressure on those institutions — it shouldn’t just be us doing this.

“We must ensure these plaques commemorating our common cultural heritage keep going up and stay up — there are so many more stories that need to be told to celebrate our rich, diverse past and to inspire future generations”.

Havas London creative team, Sam Adio and Ken Abalos, said collectively: “We’re incredibly proud to see this project come together. Black history is British history; it’s the history of our city, our home and our community, and for too long it has been overlooked and ignored. This is our chance to shed light on this exclusion and discrimination, and to do something to end it.”

The Black Plaque Project also aims to raise money for Nubian Jak to help turn the temporary black plaques into permanent blue plaques.