Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) is a national movement to legally secure fair transitional arrangements for the state pensions of women born in the 50s.
Cover image: WASPI campaigners spread the word in Birmingham city centre
In 1995, the Conservative Government’s Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA (State Pension Age) to 65, the same as men’s. Established in 2015, WASPI does not dispute the need to equalise the state pension age but feels that the way the changes were implemented is unfair, leaving many women and couples in financial difficulty as they come to retirement age.
Meeting of Birmingham WASPI supporters
The campaign is well supported, having recently raised over £100,000 in just 3 weeks in order to progress their legal battle.
The Birmingham WASPI group is looking for more people to get involved with the campaign locally. Their next meeting is at 11am on Saturday November 19th at the Custard Factory in Digbeth. After the meeting, the group will head into Birmingham to ‘Paint the Town Purple’, handing out WASPI leaflets.
Make-A-Wish UK exist for one reason – to grant magical wishes to enrich the lives of children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.
Click image to read how Make-A-Wish made dreams come true for Persian from Northfield
Whether it’s starring in their own films, walking with dinosaurs, going on an amazing holiday, meeting a celebrity hero, or having a life-changing bedroom makeover; our wishes are varied, personal and, most importantly, magical.
A wish gives a desperately ill child and their family time away from the daily struggles of living with a serious condition. Over 30 years, Make-A-Wish has turned the wishes of more than 10,000 seriously ill children into magical realities.
To help raise funds in the local area they are asking for volunteers to set up a new Birmingham Fundraising Group.
If you’d like to make new friends and have some fun whilst raising money to help Make-A-Wish they’d love to hear from you. They’re looking for people who’d like to volunteer as a team or join up with likeminded locals to make their creative fundraising ideas come to life.
Lots of fundraisers volunteer around their other commitments such as work, family or social events.
They offer great training and a dedicated Regional Fundraising Manager who can support you with your fundraising activities.
So, if you’d like to help Make-A-Wish grant more magical wishes by volunteering, please get in contact with them at volunteering@makeawish.org.uk or call 01276 40 50 50 for more details.
A series of training and apprenticeships courses at the Learning Hub near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston are helping young people struggling to find employment into jobs in the NHS.
The Youth Promise Plus initiative is provided in partnership with all Birmingham and Solihull NHS Trusts and Birmingham City Council and aims to engage with 1000+ 15-29 year old people who are looking to secure training or employment within the NHS.
Courses are based at the Learning Hub – a purpose built training centre next to the QE, funded by University Hospitals Birmingham, Advantage West Midlands and European Regional Development Funds.
Aimed at 18 to 29 year olds who are not in any form of employment, training or education, training is tailored to the needs and abilities of individuals and takes place in the hub: a modern, welcoming and supportive environment.
After some initial classroom training, courses include placements within the QE or other NHS hospitals.
As well as being mentored through the training and placements, participants receive support with job seeking and application.
Who can apply?
If you are interested in a career in the NHS and
are aged 18-29 years old
live in Birmingham or Solihull
are currently not in any employment, education or training
call the Hub on 0121 697 8200 for more information or to apply.
Resident Megan Evans has again designed Christmas cards depicting the Austin Village she loves. And this year, monies raised will go towards a special centenary celebration next May.
Lord Austin built the Austin Village to provide accommodation for an increasing workforce at the Longbridge car plant in the First World War. During the war years, the number employed at the plant increased almost tenfold as Austin was commissioned to build aircraft and engines, armoured cars, shells, ambulances, lorries and more to support the war effort.
The village mainly consists of 200 cedar wood bungalows – imported from Michigan, USA – arranged in a horseshoe shape. Originally, all the villagers’ needs were well catered for, with a village hall (now Northfield Conservative Club), a cinema, a steam laundry, two churches nearby, two schools, a resident police officer and access to medical care.
Next year sees the centenary of the village and the Austin Village Preservation Society are arranging celebrations. Megan, who is the society’s Events Co-ordinator, has designed the Christmas cards to help raise funds.
You can support their efforts by buying these pretty Christmas cards showing a festive village scene! But hurry! There are only a few left! Buy here
Police are appealing for information after a 66 year old man was left unconscious after being hit over the head with a bottle during an assault in a Northfield street on Sunday 30th October.
The man was walking in Shenley Fields Drive, Northfield, on the Sunday evening when he was approached by another man, who appeared to be drunk. The offender made an offensive remark and then carried out a vicious and unprovoked attack on the victim.
The victim became unconscious after a bottle was smashed over his head, causing a bleed on his brain and leaving him with multiple lacerations.
His attacker has been described as:
White male
40-45 years old
Light coloured har
5ft 9ins tall
in “good physical shape”
Birmingham accent
Wearing dark trousers and lighter shirt
Detective Constable Helen Roberts who is investigating said: “We think the suspect may have been drunk and could well have been drinking in the local area.
“If anyone drinking in the area at the time remembers someone fitting the description of the suspect, I would urge them to contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Roberts from Bournville police station on helen.roberts@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk or call her on 101 ext 822 3068. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Three men have been taken to hospital after a collision between a van and a car in Selly Park this morning (Tuesday 15th November).
Emergency services were called just before 7.45am to the accident which happened at the junction of Pershore Road and Kitchener Road.
Photo @N_M_Bennet | Click to enlarge
The driver of the car was trapped for 45 minutes while crews from West Midlands Fire & Ambulance Services worked to free him safely from his vehicle. The man, believed to be in his 20s, suffered significant leg injuries and was immobilised and given pain relief before being transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).
A passenger, another man in his 20s, had managed to get himself out of the car and was taken to the QEHB with a leg injury.
The van driver, 40s, was treated at the scene for minor injuries and transported to hospital as a precaution.
Three ambulances and an air ambulance attended the scene.
Any witnesses to the accident should contact West Midlands Police on 101
The A38 bypass in Northfield was closed for around two hours yesterday evening after a pedestrian and a motorcyclist were injured in a collision.
Both were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham after the accident, which happened in Sir Herbert Austin Way just before 6pm on Thursday 17th November.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival ambulance staff found a motorcyclist off his bike and a pedestrian who, crews were told, suffered a brief loss of consciousness following the collision.
“The biker, a man in his 40s, was wearing full leathers and a helmet which helped to reduce the level of injury caused. He was treated on scene for minor injuries before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
“The pedestrian, a man also in his 40s, sustained a head injury, pain to his abdomen and thigh as well as a serious leg injury. He was given pain relief and fully immobilised by ambulance staff before being taken to the same hospital for further trauma care.”
Any witnesses to the accident, who have not already done so, should call West Midlands Police on 101
Are you looking for some fabulous festive events to attend locally?!
There are LOTS on our Christmas and New Year Festive Events calendar, but here are just a few of the highlights!
Santa’s Grotto at Northfield Shopping Centre
Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11am – 4pm from Saturday 26th November to Saturday 24th December 2016
Santa returns to Northfield Shopping Centre with a grotto full of goodies! Pop in and visit the big chap and his elves – visits cost just £4 per child, including gift, and all monies raised will be donated to Birmingham Women’s Hospital’s Tiny Babies Big Appeal.
Check the Northfield Shopping Centre Facebook page or website to check times and for more details.
Northfield on Ice
Saturday 26th November 2016, 11am – 5pm, Prices Square, Northfield
Northfield On Ice 2016 details – click to enlarge
You’ll need to get your skates on to catch the festivities in Northfield Town Centre this year!
Once again, there will be a dry skating rink, a snow dome and fairground rides PLUS get crafty with Northfield Arts Forum, face painting, music, local choirs, balloon modelling and more!
Rubery Christmas Light Switch On (& St Chad’s Big Sing)
Saturday 26th November, 3.30pm – 5.30pm, New Road, Rubery
As usual, a fabulous event has been organised for the Rubery village light switch on, with music and entertainment for all ages, PLUS some special visitors including Santa and Paw Patrol characters!
The Primrose Hospice Tree will be switched on at 5pm, with the big lights switch on at 5.30pm.
To really get into the festive spirit before the event, pop into St Chad’s Church from 2.30pm to make a glowing festive decoration, enjoy singing from 3pm and join the procession to the switch on event from 3.30pm!
Santa’s Sleigh Ride around Rednal
Evening of Friday 9th & Monday 12th December 2016, around Rednal
Santa in Rednal last year
A firm family favourite in these parts, every year, Father Christmas helps out his good friends Phoenix Scout Group from St Stephen’s Church in Rednal by visiting the area on his sleigh, spreading Christmas joy, sharing sweets and collecting donations!
Saturday 10th December 2016, 9am – 5pm, High Street / College Street, Longbridge Town Centre
Longbridge Christmas Market details – click to enlarge
This year, St Modwen and the Friends of Longbridge Open Spaces are bringing a Christmas Market – run by experienced Midlands market organisers Sketts – to the newly developed Longbridge town centre.
There’ll be street food – including hot pancakes, fresh samosas, award winning cider and perry, and unique gifts – such as hand painted glass, scarves & jewellery.
Throw in a local choir singing carols and Santa’s grotto for the children and you should be getting into the festive spirit!
There’ll also be carol singing to join in with in the town centre on 21st to 23rd December between 7-8.30pm!
Kings Norton Farmers Market & Christmas Light Switch On
Saturday 10th December 2016, 1pm – 6pm, The Green, Kings Norton
Pick up some lovely local produce for your Christmas table or gift bag at the last Kings Norton Farmers Market of 2016.
PLUS there will be the grand Christmas Light Switch On at 4.45pm AND a visit from the Big Fella himself! (Santa, that is – we haven’t yet heard if the Mayor will be attending this year!)
One of the highlights for many at this time of year, is a trip into the city for the German Market, outdoor ice skating and big wheel…
Ice Skate Birmingham & Observation Wheel
Daily Saturday 19th November 2016 until Sunday 8th January 2017 (Except Christmas Day) 10am – 10pm | New Years Eve skating until 1am, Centenary Square, Birmingham
The outdoor ice rink and big wheel return to Centenary Square in Broad Street this year.
Show off your Dancing on Ice-like skills and enjoy refreshments in the Ice Lounge to warm up before heading to dizzying heights on the Observation Wheel for a great view of Birmingham at Christmas!
Daily from 17th November to 29th December 10am – 9pm, Centenary Square / Victoria Square / New Street, Birmingham. Christmas Craft Market also runs from 19th November until 20th December.
This year’s Frankfurt Christmas Market is bigger than ever, with people travelling from around the country for the selection of gifts available.
Of course, most of us are only there for a chat with ChrisMoose, the talking Christmas Moose, after having one too many Glühwein! Oh, that’s just us…..?!
The Coca-Cola truck also drops into Birmingham on Saturday 17th December. You’ll find it in St Martin’s Square, by the Bullring between 1 and 9pm. Find out more
Are you getting married? Would you like to win the services of a photographer for your big day?
A local photographer is offering his services to two lucky couples for their big day.
And if you (or your partner) live in a Birmingham postcode area and you’re getting married before 31st July 2017 that could be you!
If you’d like a chance to win, please complete the form below before midnight on Sunday 11th December 2016:
[contact-form-7]
Terms:
Entrants should live in a Birmingham postcode area (Any Bxx postcode)
The prize consists of at least 2 hours photography on your wedding day but the exact details can be arranged in consultation with the photographer
The prize is not transferrable and must be claimed on or before 31st July 2017. No alternative prize will be provided.
The photographer retains copyright of any images. Digital images will be released to the winners in consultation with the photographer and subject to terms and conditions
This competition is run by the photographer and he will choose the winning couples.
The competition and provision of the prize is the sole responsibility of the photographer. By publishing this competition, B31 Voices shall not be held responsible for the delivery of the prize.
The future of Sixth Form provision at Kings Norton Boys School is under threat due to lack of funding.
According to Head Teacher Paul Woodhouse the cost of sixth form provision at KNBS is double the amount of funding received from the Education Funding Agency and a reduced number of potential applicants means the sixth form is no longer viable.
The Governing Body have voted to start a four week consultation in January 2017 with a view to ending sixth form intake from September 2017 and with the current cohort of first year six formers being the last to complete their studies at the school in 2018.
The consultation will begin on 5th January 2017 and from February 2nd 2017, Birmingham City Council will have two months to consider the proposal and the views shared during the consultation period. The council is due to announce whether it approves the proposal by April 2nd 2017.
Should the proposal be approved, sixth form provision will be removed on August 31st 2018, while the Year 7 intake will increase from 120 places to 150 places from September 2018.
If the proposals are approved, the school would not admit new students to its sixth form in September 2017. The current Year 12 students would begin Year 13 in September 2017 to continue their studies in the 2017/18 academic year and would be the school’s final cohort of sixth form students.
Full details about the consultation have been shared with staff, parents and students and a number of advice surgeries are due to take place over coming weeks and months.
King’s Norton Boys’ School Head Teacher Paul Woodhouse said: “We understand that the proposal to remove sixth form provision may come as a great disappointment to those who hold our school close to their heart due to its proud history.
“We too share this sense of disappointment, but the decision to begin a consultation was made unanimously by the Governing Body after the proposal was given considerable attention and deliberation.
“The cost of running our sixth form provision is double the funding received for our Year 12 and 13 students from the Education Funding Agency and is contributing significantly to a projected deficit over the next three years.
“An increase in post-16 education provision in the local area is also having an impact, while just 29 current Year 11 students have said they plan to join our sixth form in September 2017.
“The sixth form, therefore, is simply proving to be no longer viable or sustainable.
“The school is committed to ensuring that current sixth form students are not affected adversely by this proposal, while extra careers advice will be available to our Year 11 students.
“Meanwhile, demand for our Year 7 places has been strong over the last few years and the school has a recent trend of being oversubscribed.
“The Governing Body and I believe the expansion of our Year 7 intake would not only help address the local shortage of secondary school places, but the increased funding would enable King’s Norton Boys’ to be financially sustainable and develop into an ‘Outstanding’ school offering a quality education to youngsters aged 11 to 16.
“I want to thank our students, parents and staff for their understanding and patience during what could be an unsettling time, I am grateful for their continuous support.”
Sarah Brown, Chair of Governors, said: “Together with Head Teacher Paul Woodhouse, the Governing Body has been working hard for some time now to find the best solution to times of challenge.
“In Autumn 2015 we explored a number of options to address a projected deficit, including different ways of organising the sixth form.
“At the time, we approved a restructure which saw a small reduction in staffing across the school.
“Despite the restructure, the school continues to face a deficit and we have no choice but to make more difficult decisions to protect the future of the school.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have agreed to a consultation to remove the school’s sixth form provision.
“We would encourage as many people as possible to share their thoughts in order for the council to be able to make a fully informed decision about the future of our school.
“We believe the proposed changes, including increasing our intake in Year 7, will ensure King’s Norton Boys’ School can properly invest in its students across Years 7 to 11 to offer and innovative curriculum – providing our students with the best available opportunities.”
A large water main has burst near Harborne Lane Island in Selly Oak, causing traffic chaos around the Queen Elizabeth Hospital this afternoon (Wednesday 23rd November).
Commuters are asked to avoid the area completely if at all possible.
Vast amounts of water have created holes and lifted tarmac and whole sections of pavement.
Charlene Checkley, who had been at the hospital, said: “It’s exploding tarmac through the air – it’s so dangerous.”
Police have closed the A4040 Harborne Lane between the bottom of the triangle by Sainsbury’s / Battery Park and Metchley Lane.
Fire crews and police have attended to assist homeowners whose homes may be affected.
Severn Trent Water have managed to turn off the pipe so thewater is draining away. Water supplies to homes should be able to be maintained: “Our teams are on site now and have turned off the damaged pipe. As you can imagine, this is going to be a big job, but please be reassured that we will work around the clock to get this pipe fixed a
nd everything back to normal as quickly as possible.
“There is a possibility that some properties may have been flooded, and if so, we have teams ready to help with this if needed – please do get in touch with us if you need our help.
“We’re really sorry for the inconvenience and hope it hasn’t had too much of an impact on the local area.”
Morrisons store in Great Park, Rubery are asking customers to donate toys and gifts for sick children in hospital this Christmas.
The collection has been organised by the store’s Community Champion, Jane Williams, and the gifts will be delivered to children at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the children’s ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
If you would like to donate, you can take new, packaged but unwrapped items to: Customer Services at Morrisons, Bristol Road South, Rubery, Birmingham B45 9NY
A young woman has sadly died as a result of a road traffic accident in Bartley Green in the early hours of this morning (Saturday 26th November).
The collision happened at around 3am in Adams Hill, close to the junction with Genners Lane and Jiggins Lane. A car collided with a parked van and street furniture after failing to stop for police moments before the accident.
The woman, thought to be around 20 years old, was a passenger in the rear seat of the car and, despite receiving immediate CPR from a police officer, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The car driver, 21, has been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving. Both he and another male front seat passenger were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Adams Hill remains closed while emergency services and collision reconstruction experts establish the circumstances of the collision and the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as is normal procedure.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call West Midlands Police on 101
Our thoughts go out to the young woman’s family and friends at this awful time x
West Midlands Police are warning residents to be vigilant after a series of incidents in Selly Oak where young women have been threatened by a masked man over the last week.
Four incidents have been reported, all happening in the early hours of the morning, where young women, who were alone, have been approached by a man in a mask:
Sunday 20th November – Lottie Road – man wearing gorilla mask and holding a knife pushed a passerby and exposed himself.
Sunday 20th November – Lottie Road – a man beckoned to a woman on her doorstep – she immediately closed the door
Thursday 24th November – Hubert Road – woman grabbed by a man wearing a gorilla mask who exposed himself – threatened with what is believed to be a firelighter – woman managed to get away after a struggle
Saturday 26th November– Warwards Lane – woman grabbed from behind by man wearing a ‘Yoda’ mask who exposed himself – woman threatened with a knife and forced to perform a sexual act on the man
Police are taking these incidents extremely seriously and overnight the area was flooded with plain clothes officers in an attempt to catch the offender. Unfortunately, efforts to trace him have so far been unsuccessful.
Officers are searching CCTV footage, in an attempt to trace the man, and are in liaison with the University of Birmingham to provide reassurance and crime prevention messages to students.
The offender is described as:
White
40 to 50years old
5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins tall
Slim build
Short grey hair
Detective Inspector Karl Fletcher, from the force’s Public Protection Unit, said: “These are extremely serious attacks and we have placed a large number of resources into catching the offender.
“We are now appealing to the public for information to help us trace the man.”
Extra patrols are continuing in the area and DI Fletcher advises that young women should be vigilant late at night and should walk home with friends or take a taxi.
Anyone who has any information should call police immediately on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you see a crime in progress, please call 999.
The Trading Standards team from Birmingham City Council will be in Northfield tomorrow (Monday 28th November) to kick off a week long consumer rights roadshow, as part of National Consumer Week.
A third of all safety-related complaints Birmingham’s Trading Standards team receives are about electrical goods – from hairdryers to washer dryers, smart TVs to fridge freezers – as consumers can get an unwanted shock when their products prove to be faulty or dangerous.
With Christmas fast approaching, consumers should be #SwitchedOn to their rights when buying electrical goods, so residents will be able to raise issues and get advice from Trading Standards officers at four locations across the city – Northfield, Shard End, Spring Hill and Sutton Coldfield.
Trading Standards officers will be holding advice surgeries at the following locations:
Wednesday 30 November 2016 – 10am-12.30pm – Shard End Community Centre, 170 Packington Avenue, B34 7RD.
Thursday 1 December 2016 – 10am-12.30pm: Mere Green Community Centre, 30A Mere Green Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5BT.
Friday 2 December 2016 – 1pm-3.30pm: Spring Hill Library, Spring Hill, B18 7BH.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 makes it clear what protection customers have when they buy goods in stores or online which are later found to be faulty. People are now entitled to a full refund if they return faulty goods within 30 days of purchase
Cllr Barbara Dring, Chair of the city council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “This year’s Switched On campaign is vital to ensure people both understand and have the ability to exercise these new rights, so I would encourage people to attend one of these events if they can.
“Consumers who know their rights will have the confidence to complain when goods, especially electrical products, are faulty – and therefore could be dangerous.
“These National Consumer Week roadshows, also provide an opportunity for people to raise any queries with our Trading Standards team.”
The advice comes ahead of National Consumer Week which runs from Monday (28 November) until Sunday (4 December) and encourages people to get #SwitchedOn to their consumer rights and shop with confidence.
All this week, YOU can be part of a creative community art experiment taking part in Rubery – and across the city – as part of Birmingham Cathedral’s 300 year anniversary!
‘Something Good’ (measures of us) is a creative experiment which aims to measure how communities across Birmingham are feeling, as winter descends, by asking residents to answer a question every day for five days using a small digital box in locations within their communities.
As part of the project – a collaboration between between Orit Azaz, Redhawk Logistica and Lisa Koeman on behalf of Birmingham Cathedral – daily questions will all request an emotive response, with participants being asked to agree, remain neutral or disagree.
From Monday 28th November until Friday 2nd December, each community’s feelings will then be displayed, from dusk, on a large illuminated boarding their neighbourhood – in Birmingham City Centre, Hall Green, Handsworth, Hodge Hill, Rubery and Sutton Coldfield.
The event will culminate with a full display of all the community boards from across Birmingham in the Cathedral Square on Saturday 3rd December.
Organisers hope the event will create discussion and engagement within and between communities.
Artistic Director, Orit Azaz, said: “measures of us is … a pilot, an experiment to explore potential for a city wide creative conversation using light based artworks in surprising ways. It is a way of bringing people from different areas and backgrounds together and creating a sense of connection across different parts of the city. People will have a chance to express how they feel, and then see how others in their own neighbourhood, and others areas feel too. We hope they will also suggest new questions that they would like to ask their neighbours and people who live in other parts of Birmingham.”
St Chad’s Revd Claire Turner said: “Rubery is a great place with a strong sense of community pride but like many other parts of the country, people are aware that they don’t know their neighbours as well as they used to. We also know that Rubery sits on the border between Worcestershire and Birmingham, on the edge of the urban and the rural, in between the town and the countryside. This project gives this community a great opportunity to get to know who we are and who our neighbours are.”
The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, Dean of Birmingham, said: “The Cathedral is so pleased to be enabling a city wide and imaginative conversation celebrating common values. We believe that the diverse communities of Birmingham, of all faiths and none, can enjoy sharing in common humanity.”
The project’s findings will feed into research by ICRI Cities: Intel Collaborative Research Institute for Sustainable Connected Cities and UCLIC: University College London Interaction Centre led by researcher Lisa Koeman. Focussing on designing technology for urban communities that enables people to have their say as well as allowing them to see the opinions of others, Measures of Us will be the first time that the researchers will have deployed easy-to-use and engaging community technologies, such as the voting boxes at a city scale. The study will enable them to learn which aspects of technologies, like those used in the project, affect community engagement.
Participate!
Where and when can you answer the daily questions?
Monday 28th Nov: 11.15am-12.15pm & 7-9pm at St Chad’s
Tuesday 29th Nov: 9-5 at Gracie Mai’s, Mica Kennedy’s Hardware, Robinsons Opticians or Rubery Library
Wednesday 30th Nov: 10am-12pm & 2.30pm-4pm at St Chad’s
Thursday 1st Dec: 9-5 at Gracie Mai’s, Mica Kennedy’s Hardware, Robinsons Opticians or Rubery Library
Friday 2nd Dec: 10am-12pm at St Chad’s
The display will be visible outside St Chad’s Church in New Road every evening from dusk, Monday – Friday
Yesterday, we were sent some photos of a sad and lonely Christmas Stick Tree which some readers had spotted in Northfield – complete with a handwritten notice proclaiming it to be “the loneliest Christmas Tree in the world” and asking people to add decorations to its rather stumpy branches!
Laura Hamilton sent in photos of her and her mum adding a few baubles to the tree and we posted a #PositiveSWBrum poster on our social media sites to highlight the tree – and to see if we could find out who had placed the notice and started to decorate the tree.
We soon discovered that the notice had been placed by 7 year old Matilda Brown, with some assistance from her grandma, Patricia Tonks!
Matilda and her grandma had seen the sad and lonely tree while walking to and from St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School one morning.
Matilda’s proud mum Rebecca said: “Matilda felt very sorry for the tree because it was bare and bent at the top. So they decided that they would put a sign up and add decorations each day, in the hope that others would do the same.
“Matilda is so excited to see new decorations on the tree each time we pass! It’s lovely to see that so many people are getting involved. We’ve just been passed it now and the bare tree is now looking beautiful! We’re hoping to take ladders next time and put a tree topper on it!”
If you want to add some festive spirit to a little corner of Northfield, you can find Matilda’s tree on the corner of Church Road and Bunbury Road. Please send photo updates!
West Midlands Police have released a CCTV image of a man they are seeking in connection with an attempted robbery at a Northfield bank earlier this month.
The incident took place at around 9am on Wednesday 9th November at the HSBC branch in Bristol Road South.
A man entered the bank and threatened staff to hand over money. He fled empty handed and was last seen heading down Rochester Road.
Click to enlarge
Detectives have now released images of a man they wish to identify as part of the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Detective Constable Chris Warren Smith by emailing c.b.warrensmith@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Alternatively people can leave information anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers the independent charity on 0800 555 111.
We are appealing for information to help find a man who is wanted, after leaving a mental health unit in Rubery, Birmingham.
Edward Morey, 27, was last seen at 12.20am on Saturday 26 November when he escaped on escorted leave.
He is described as a white man, 5ft 11ins tall and of medium build. He was last seen wearing a black jumper, black jeans and black trainers.
Morey has a number of birthmarks and tattoos, most notably a large birth mark covering his lower right arm, the name Karleen inscribed on his left wrist and a tattoo of a scorpion on his neck.
He has links to Coventry and Preston in Lancashire.
Members of the public are advised not approach him but to call 999 immediately.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the non-emergency 101 number. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
West Midlands Police are investigating after reports of gunshots being fired in a Harborne street yesterday evening (Thursday 1st December).
Officers attended Croftdown Road, close to the Lordswood Road junction, at 11.30pm after reports of shots being fired.
A woman presented herself at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston with arm injuries a short time later.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “The injuries are not life-threatening and it appears to have been a targeted attack.”
The road remained closed for some time today while forensic experts examined the area during daylight hours.
Any witnesses, or anyone who has information which they think may assist investigating officers, is urged to call 101. Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) is a national movement to legally secure fair transitional arrangements for the state pensions of women born in the 50s.
The Youth Promise Plus initiative is provided in partnership with all Birmingham and Solihull NHS Trusts and Birmingham City Council and aims to engage with 1000+ 15-29 year old people who are looking to secure training or employment within the NHS.
The van driver, 40s, was treated at the scene for minor injuries and transported to hospital as a precaution.
As usual, a fabulous event has been organised for the Rubery village light switch on, with music and entertainment for all ages, PLUS some special visitors including Santa and Paw Patrol characters!
Matilda and her grandma had seen the sad and lonely tree while walking to and from St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School one morning.
