Community News

Oyez, oyez Sandwell’s official town crier Adrian Holmes has lots to shout about after notching up a trophy haul in a series of national town crying competitions. The 61-year-old, who has volunteered as Sandwell’s town crier since 2010, clinched first prize in the recent Huddersfield Town Crying Championships in June.

On Sunday 21st June 2015, the lives of the Wu family were turned upside down as 2 sisters fell victims of a horrific car crash; Shelly aged 6 years (Left) and Lily aged 7 (Right) lost their lives in such tragic circumstances. The family were heading to Sunday school as a car travelling at excessive speed overtook a bus and plunged into 5 family members causing them to immediate collapse.

The Birmingham-based blood cancer charity took the decision to call off the tournament, which includes former players from Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers, at the Barclaycard Arena, in the city, as the event – due for July 11 – might not be seen as profitable enough for the blood cancer charity after ticket sales failed to reach last year's levels.

97% of the West Midlands’ over-60s say they feel younger at heart than their actual age. People over the age of 60 in the region feel 17 years younger than they actually are – or 50 years old – on average, according to a new survey by working animal charity, SPANA.

A new cultural partnership between the British Library and the Library of Birmingham has been announced. It follows discussions with the British Library about ways in which the two organisations could work more closely together, and will build on the unique strengths of both organisations’ collections and expertise.

Bullring Shopping Centre is thrilled to announce its exclusive partnership with Birmingham Children's Hospital ahead of The Big Hoot, the city’s biggest mass participation art event. As one of just four standalone children's hospitals in the UK and a world leader in paediatric healthcare, Birmingham Children's Hospital is renowned for its cutting edge research and advanced treatments, making it a worthy benefactor of The Big Hoot.

Green energy company Ecotricity has launched a competition to find four young green visionaries to take to the stage at the WOMAD festival– and each young environmentalist is to get a celebrity mentor to help them deliver their ideas.  

For Muslims, the holy month of Ramadan – which began on 18 June 2015 – is a time for benevolence, fasting and generosity. As well as performing daily prayer rituals and fasting between sunrise and sunset, giving money to charity to benefit the poor and needy, known as Zakat, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam – and many Muslims choose to make their donations during Ramadan.

Babies born on the same day as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge that they have just over a week left to complete their online application and collect a ‘lucky’ silver coin for their child.

An award winning counsellor and occupational psychologist has authored another book – Rice and Peas for the soul. The author and his publisher Think Doctor Publications have described the publication as a much anticipated motivational and inspirational book.

A learned and well respected leader who is always under constant demand, His Imperial Majesty King Dr. Adetoyese Olaskisan is spreading his healing hands, wisdom and holy spirit, offering his valued time and presence visiting Great Britain on a regular basis, to see his wife HRH Areiyagbogbo and children in London and providing for people worrying about their spiritual attacks, needing help by way of traditional African medicine for any diseases.

LoveBrum, the charity launched earlier this year to unearth hidden gem projects in the city, has completed its first round of member voting and has awarded three causes a total of nearly £10,000. Homelands Festival, Ups and Downs, and Serve Our Brummies have been chosen by LoveBrum members, after the first online voting process for the charity.

Two Haringey schools, Lancasterian Primary School and the Vale Special School, combined recently to plan, perform and stage a brand new musical called 'The Game of Life'. The project, which was coordinated by performing arts charity Arts Insight and also involved support from Haringey Mencap involved more than 250 7-11 year olds from Lancasterian and 18 children from the Vale.

Newly elected MPs in the West Midlands have been urged by The Children’s Society to prioritise tackling child poverty and teenage neglect. The national charity, which provides services and campaigns for disadvantaged children and teenagers, has produced tailor-made reports about the state of children’s welfare in each constituency, to arm the region’s MPs with local facts and statistics to help them make a difference in Parliament.

Blenheim Palace's Churchill Memorial Garden was officially opened by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall. The opening ceremony was attended by His Grace, the Duke of Marlborough, the Right Honourable Sir Nicholas Soames MP, Churchill's grandson, and Kim Wilkie, the garden's designer alongside other family members.

Birmingham is one of several cities from around the world taking part in the Climate-KIC Climathon 2015 – a 24 hour hackathon on June 18 to kickstart engagement with the most pressing environmental issues in major cities.