Community News

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.

With the recent video footage showing several police officers pinning and arresting a one-legged Black man on a busy street in San Francisco, the question posed, internationally, is: ‘What does it take for people of colour to NOT face the fear of open, brutal attacks by American law-enforcers?’ and ‘Just how many attacks of this nature is taking place – possibly on a daily basis?’  

The Golden Lion Tamarin twins need names – can you help? Born on 27 February to proud mum and dad Cleo and Pablo, the six month old twins urgently need naming. If you’d like to suggest a name – which will go to a public vote – then leave it at reception when you visit Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park or post it on their Facebook page over the bank holiday. You could win a family entry ticket.

With the summer season drawing to a close it's not just a tan British holidaymakers are coming home with this year. New research by Travelzoo, the UK's top travel and leisure deals company, sheds light on some of the purchases that seem like a great idea when you're abroad but disappoint on home soil. 

More than 5,000 streetlights across Sandwell will get new LED bulbs, saving the council a further £140,000 a year on electricity bills. The new lights, which use 74% less energy than standard bulbs, will be installed between now and Christmas. More than 4,500 new LED streetlights have already been installed in neighbourhoods across Sandwell – saving £240,000 a year in energy costs.

Gardeners in the West Midlands are losing their green fingers as nine in ten young people struggle to identify common garden plants, new research reveals. A study of 2,000 Brits aged 25-35 found that time pressures and lack of knowledge meant that the majority struggle when it comes to nurturing their gardens. Over three quarters of those living in the region couldn’t identify a tulip when shown a picture of one, while 88 per cent struggled with a geranium.

The Oxford English dictionary has announced that the word Hangry, amongst others, has made the cut for this quarter. This announcement comes as new research reveals just how people can suffer from becoming bad tempered or irritable as a result of hunger. Research has shown that people who make decisions on an empty stomach are nearly twice as likely to make the wrong one compared to people who have eaten.