The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 by The Phoenix Newspaper

Promoting Diversity for Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022

SEPTEMBER 2020

Connecting Communities - Inspiring A New Generation

A New Honour For Professor Higson P

rofessor Helen Elisabeth Higson OBE has been appointed as the new Vice Lord-Lieutenant to the West Midlands’ Lord-Lieutenant, John Crabtree OBE. The Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at Aston University, Prof. Higson, who is taking on the role from Dr. Beverly Lindsay OBE OD, has been a Deputy Lieutenant since 2017 and was Lead on the Education group working with schools, colleges and universities to promote the importance of good citizenship and will now devote many hours to help the Lord-Lieutenant carry out community duties and oversee initiatives that have benefited the region. She said: “It is an exciting time to take up the position as the region celebrates the Capital of Culture in Coventry in 2021 and the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

“Through my existing involvement with education, working with disadvantaged young people and with cultural organisations, I believe this new position will allow me to connect a lot of the things I already do”. Her career in education has spanned over 37 years and she is a Professor of Higher Education Learning and Management and a National Teaching Fellow (NTF), a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) and a Fellow of the Association of University Administrators (FAUA). She was awarded the OBE in 2011 for services to Higher Education. Commenting on her appointment, The Lord-Lieutenant, John Crabtree added: “Dr. Beverly has been a terrific support to me and has spent great time and effort to support the initiatives and activities of the West Midlands Lieutenancy for which I’m so grateful.

Continued on Page 6

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NEWS

Which Way Forward for Belarus? D By Dr Tony Talburt

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ictatorships in postwar Europe are not very common nowadays. In recent decades, many African and South American countries have turned their backs on authoritarian regimes in favour of more democratically accountable governments. One of Western Europe’s last major dictatorships was in Spain, under Francisco Franco who ruled the country from the 1930s until the 1970s. The republic of Belarus, however, continues to function as one of Europe’s main dictatorships today. After 26 years in office, President Alexander Lukashenko is facing his greatest political challenge, following the recently concluded presidential elections. The UK government does not recognise the election results in Belarus in early August 2020. The EU is also very uneasy about the elections and the subsequent brutal police crackdown to curb the demonstrations. With such external and internal pressure, will the president remain in power or will he be forced from office? There are three possible outcomes. First, he could remain in office with all things continuing as before. Second, he could remain in office and oversee sweeping or limited political reforms. Thirdly, and perhaps more radically, he could be forced from office and be replaced by a new political regime. A determined Lukashenko government remaining in office for the foreseeable future should not be ruled out. After all, we have been here before. In March 2006, following presidential elections in Belarus, the people took to the streets to demonstrate against what they believed to be fraudulent results. The government sent out the police force and many people were arrested and the whole people protest experience was quickly and quietly forgotten.

After 26 years in office, propped up by an authoritarian system where dissent voices are discouraged, President Lukashenko has proved to be a very able and experienced dictator who knows how to ride out a storm and remain in power. Even though people have taken to the streets against his regime, President Lukashenko initially showed no indication of giving up power. In fact, at a state run tractor factory where he was interrupted and heckled while giving a speech, with shouts of ‘go away’ (and step down from office) he

reportedly said they would have to kill him first. In contrast to the first option above, the president could decide to give in a little to some of the demands of the people. As far fetched as this might sound, on the same day when the president said he would not be going anywhere, he later said there would have to be a referendum in order to hold a new presidential and parliamentary election. Is this the first possible sign of the leader backing down? Unlike previous demonstrations, these protests are more widespread.

There is an element of open defiance which, if it continues, might force the government’s hand to make some reforms in line with popular demands. The third possible option would only occur if the government decides not listen to the demands of the people and impose severe repressions possibly backed by Russian military assistance. If the people pressure continues to gather momentum and the government remains firm in its position, internal forces could ‘advise’ the leader to step down just as we saw with Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. We can only hope that Lukashenko’s words do not come back to haunt him, with the whole episode ending in a bloody revolution where he is forcibly removed. One thing seems certain in this uncertain political drama, it will be difficult for the country to remain exactly the same as before.

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NEWS

Hospice keen to hear from diverse voices A

hospice in Birmingham is setting up a new group for people to feed back on their experiences and thoughts on support and services to help it shape its plans for the future. The community participation group at the John Taylor will meet every two months either in a faceto-face group or online with these meetings expected to last an hour. Hospice Community Engagement Manager Mark Jones explains: “Patients we are caring for and the families of people we have supported in the past are the best-placed people to help us take our services forward. “By sharing their valuable experience they can help us ensure we are responding to local needs and concerns. We will be asking them to comment on a range of issues including care services, communication and information. “In this way they can help us integrate the hospice into various cultures within our community to ensure we are providing specialist care and support to all. They can also help us make changes and improvements into the future.” “We’d love to hear from as many people as possible so we can have a broad range of experience,” added Mark. The first virtual group will take place on 16 September between

10.30-11.30am. The first face-to-face socially distanced group meeting will take place at the Lighthouse in St Barnabas Church, High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, on October 1 between 10am12.30pm. Tea and coffee will be provided. John Taylor Hospice has a rich history and has been providing care in the heart of our city for more than a century. One of the oldest hospices in the UK, it launched in 1910 and is named after Professor John Taylor, a gynaecologist who worked at the Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Women in the late 1800s.

The hospice was gifted to the NHS in 1948 and in the 1970s began treating people in their own homes and cared for men as well as women. At that time they changed their name to John Taylor Hospice. In 2011, the staff at John Taylor Hospice voted to take the hospice out of the NHS. Initially this was as a community interest company with a charity attached and on 1 April 2018 the hospice brought all of its business into the charity. Over the decades it has provided specialist and much-needed care for generations of families and today they are there for hundreds of local people.

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NEWS

Black Country Chamber Awards 2020 launches… with a heroic twist

Since the Covid-19 emergency began, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce has been running a campaign recognising the outstanding contributions made by people and businesses in the Black Country during these difficult times. The ‘Business Heroes’ campaign

will culminate on 13 November – the date of the Black Country Chamber Awards final – and will focus on celebrating the significant difference made by people and businesses in the Black Country, whether this is within their organisation or the wider community. Corin Crane, chief executive

of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said: “We saw this as a perfect opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the endeavours, resilience, adaptability and outstanding contribution of our business community and professionals those who have gone the extra mile to help in the Coronavirus crisis. “This might have been supplying PPE, packing and distributing food and essentials for the most vulnerable, creating innovative new ways of operating, or developing an initiative or new product that has made a positive impact on the community in some way. “The awards are open to everyone, so if you work in a business that is doing great things to help with the crisis, or you work with someone who deserves to be recognised for their amazing efforts, then please nominate them.” The awards are partnered by the University of Wolverhampton. The Business Heroes Awards are open to all businesses in the Black Country including nonChamber members and there are 13 engaging categories to choose from.

Vegan food must REMAIN vegan FOOD

he ongoing growth of veganism in the UK shows no signs of letting up and many would argue that, in terms of reducing our carbon footprints and minimising animal suffering, that’s a good thing. The number of people sticking to a plant-based diet is reported by the Vegan Society to have quadrupled between 2014 and 2019 and now totals over 600,000 individuals. Just five years ago, the Veganuary campaign had fewer than 13,000 sign-ups, whereas now it has over 400,000. The continuing rise in veganism clearly presents UK food manufacturers with some real opportunities. But, while the industry must gear up to meet new demand, it must also overcome significant and unprecedented obstacles in ensuring the highest possible standards are upheld. Part of the increased adoption of veganism has undoubtedly been driven by environmental, health and ethical factors. Naturally, people want to do what they perceive to be the right

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thing for themselves and for the planet. Moreover, the ingenuity of scientists in creating scores of new products – everything from meat-free burgers, soya and almond milks and baby foods to yoghurts, spreads, pet food and vitamins – that appeal to consumers enamoured by the texture of meat, has opened the door to a new world for millions worldwide. But, argues James Sopwith, group strategic account director at the multidisciplinary engineering business adi Group, this is not simply a matter for food scientists. The growing needs of vegans must be met, not only on the supermarket shelves, but also in restaurants, where demand will need to increasingly cater for their lifestyle choices. If the industry is to capitalise on the growing plant-based opportunities in the market, it must overcome concerns about the validity of vegan claims on food labelling. For example, there have been many media reports about products making

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such claims having been contaminated by ingredients sourced from animals. In fact, such is the uncertainty in this area, it is currently possible for a UK product, certified by the Vegan Society, which validates a product rather than facility it is made in, also to bear a ‘may contain’ statement about milk and eggs – the kind of contradiction that turns off consumers conditioned to believe, rightly in the case of food allergen advice, that packaging claims are categoric. Should further incidents come to light, the manufacturers or brands in question risk both eroding public confidence in vegan products and the claims they make, along with the potential for significant damage to their reputations. In the absence of a defined legal framework around vegan claims, therefore, the onus is very much on them to go that extra mile in ensuring they can protect their integrity and ensure consumers buy precisely what they believe they are.

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NEWS

Professor Helen Higson appointed AS the new Vice Lord-Lieutenant

l Lord Lieutenant, John Crabtree OBE, Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Professor Helen Higson OBE and former Lord-Lieutenant, Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE OD DL

Continued from Front Page

“When Helen starts the position as Vice Lord-Lieutenant and she will bring a wealth of knowledge and connections from her extensive involvement with so many organisations.” Helen is also Vice Chair and a Trustee of the IKON Gallery, Birmingham, the current Chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP Employability and Skills Board, a member of the Midlands Engine Skills Board and a Board member of Ravensbourne University, London. Her other positions include being a Board member for the UUK Outward Mobility Strategy Group, a Trustee and Chair of Governance and Appointments Committee for the Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE), a Board member and Chair of the Peer Review Committee for Advance HE and a Board member of the University Vocational Awards Committee (UVAC). She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and has a Fellowship with Birmingham Metropolitan College. A new Lord-Lieutenant’s prize is being launched this year to recognize and promote the outstanding contribution young people make to their community in the region. Nominations will come from schools, with ten exceptional young people going on to receive

the prize. Since 2017, Dr. Beverly has been the Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands and she has enjoyed meeting many different people and learning about a variety of religions and cultures. Her highlights have included presenting the Diana ‘Inspire Awards’ to young people who have shown courage facing extreme difficulties and have succeeded in helping their community, officiating at the citizenship ceremonies where new British citizens celebrate being formally welcomed and attending the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, as a guest of the Royal Navy, with performances by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands. She said: “It has been a lifeenhancing experience, which will serve me for the rest of my life. I do hope that the way that I have undertaken the role will open possibilities for people from my background to be given the opportunity to achieve even much greater heights. “I want to thank the LordLieutenant for giving me the chance to carry out the position. He has opened the door that no-one can close. He has made an excellent choice with Helen as she has the wisdom, poise and elegance to fulfill the role and I wish her every success.” Dr. Lindsay will continue as a Deputy Lieutenant for the West

Midlands Lieutenancy. The role of Vice LordLieutenant for the West Midlands is for a three year term and involves assisting the LordLieutenant in the performance of his duties. The West Midlands Lieutenancy is the second largest lieutenancy in England and Wales, supporting a population of nearly 3 million people across the seven local authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The LordLieutenant is appointed by Her Majesty The Queen and has a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants to help with duties. Apart from acting as The Queen’s representative for the region and covering Royal visits, the Lord-Lieutenant has a community role to support initiatives that help the region and to recognize people and organisations that help others. They will also support the Honours system and engages with many partners to promote the Honours and encourage nominations that can be made by anyone to acknowledge the many wonderful contributions so many people make. These include individual Honours, Awards for Charities and Volunteers through The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) and for business through The Queen’s Award for Enterprise (QAE).

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BUSINESS AND FINANCE

How can sector agencies manage the effects of COVID-19? with Dr Christopher Johnson

New Nokia S software speeds-up business over 5G systems

l Businesses will benefit from 5G

u n r i s e Communications AG, the Swiss operator, has deployed Nokia’s cloud-native converged charging software in order to package, price and promote a wide range of consumer and business services more rapidly and to enhance the user experience for the company’s 3.5 million customers. Developed to satisfy the needs of users of the latest 5G mobile communications systems, internet-connected devices and multi-vendor deployments, Nokia Converged Charging (previously called Nokia Smart Plan Suite) provides the flexibility to react quickly to changing market conditions. 5G enables new business speed, scale and innovation, along with growing demands for premium digital experiences. This calls for agile, highly flexible Business Support Systems (BSS) capabilities. Converged Charging offers the performance and reliability required to deliver high-quality

The cost of parking spaces in London is still rising, despite the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Mortgage broker Enness Global looked at prices registered with the Land Registry in the 12 months prior to and following the introduction of the ULEZ scheme. Its findings relate to the sale of individual parking spaces and not parking complexes such as car parks. The research showed that the number of parking space transactions declined by 30 per cent in the year following the introduction of the ULEZ, when compared to the year before. However, despite this decline in transactions, a total of £98.1 million was spent on parking places across the capital, up 39 per cent on the previous year. On average, high-end homebuyers are paying almost twice what they were paying the year before – an average of £397,261 for a parking space, up from £201,169 in the year prior

digital services efficiently. As a result of this deployment, Sunrise can now create differentiated offers quickly, even for the most complex IoT (Internet of Things) services. Elmar Grasser, chief technical officer of Sunrise, said: “We believe in creating intuitive, high-quality experiences for our customers. Nokia’s cloudnative monetization software enables Sunrise to rapidly launch innovative services for our private and business customers, support emerging use cases enabled by 5G and IoT, and further increase customer loyalty.”

Parking space prices in London almost double in 12 months

to the ULEZ introduction, a 97 per cent increase. Lambeth is the most expensive place to but a car parking space with an average cost of £895,000. Greenwich is also expensive with the average parking space costing £595,000 in that borough. Islington (£595,000), Hillingdon (£479,000), Barnet (£339,000), Ealing (£316,000), Kensington

and Chelsea (£205,000) and Westminster (£152,500) are also expensive places to want to park a car. However, some individual transactions were much higher than average. The most expensive recorded parking spaces were a pair in Wandsworth that sold for £14,750,000! In Westminster, the most

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s the health pandemic rages [on], there is turbulence in the wider marketplace. On the one hand, public services are finding it difficult to provide consistent, reliable and updated services especially for diverse communities in need. Anecdotal evidence suggests that very few public officials have the capacity initiative to ‘deal’ with human-centred issues that have been triggered by this unprecedented situation. Is information technology really working [effectively], as a ‘problem-solver’, for multiple issues affecting citizens? What about Compassion; has this been ‘lost in translation? Conversely, small firms are struggling as social distancing measures obscure their slender market share, let alone, decimate loyal customers. Few are eligible for Furlough and other support measures. How many firms by ethnicity, gender, age of operations and geography, have benefited from these public schemes? The pandemic is a mirror and soul to the biased impulses and latent prejudices that have been in vogue for decades in society. The way COVID-19 is being managed, is further compounding this systemic disadvantage. Moreover, the lack of a strategic realignment of ethnic firms, demonstrates the low priority being given to the congruence between physical health and economic wellbeing. For instance, it would be most helpful for Central Government to complement its laudable investment efforts, with a 10-20-year plan of action to remedy the historic institutional fault-lines that impinge on the competitive advantage of the ethnic small firm sector. What about a roll-call of ethnic firms to find out

ward-wInnIng journalist, editor and publisher Dr Christopher Johnson writes his monthly column in The Phoenix aiming to inform, educate and entertain.

what issues are affecting their particular business, the professions, sciences and civic sectors respectively? What about conducting an evaluation of all procurement schemes to date (prior to March 2020), to ascertain what level of commercial opportunities have been extended to ethnic firms? What discretion policy or not, is been used to validate such firms’ capability to deliver essential services in education, vocational training, youth employment, wellbeing initiatives, enterprise support, pastoral counselling and mentoring among other vital provision? Or for that matter, what inducements have and or are being made to help companies to improve their levels of production and productivity? Some have vast experience in manufacturing and allied production? What type of support can owners’ access in this dispensation? The efforts of The Arts Council of England, Heritage Lottery Fund, Heart of England, EU Structural Funds and various other resource agencies and institutions, must be highly commended for their ‘generosity of spirit’ as the current situation requires. There is a need for a greater injection of a ‘duty of care’ and understanding by public tendering systems that still remain complex in their accessibility and procedural nature. A more transparent, accessible and equity approach is required in order to, infuse remedial measures for the sake of the small firm sector. Historically and even contemporaneously, this sector has displayed remarkable resilience though at this juncture of our history, it deserves more tailored or adaptative support measures to enable it to compete in the marketplace of ideas, good and services.

expensive was sold for £9 million, while the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea (£8.5 million), Southwark (£2.6 million), Islington (£1.3 million) and Tower Hamlets (£1.1 million) have also seen the most expensive car parking space sell for upwards of a million pounds, in the year following the ULEZ introduction.

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NEWS

Charity honours heroic animals on VJ Day On the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, which marks both the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War, leading vet charity, PDSA, paid their tribute to the brave hero animals ‘who also served’ and helped save countless lives during World War II. The charity commemorated the milestone by sharing exclusive e-books which tell the remarkable stories of animal heroes honoured with the PDSA Dickin Medal, known as the animals’ Victoria Cross. These include the incredible story of English Pointer Judy, who is the only dog to ever be listed as an official Prisoner of War in Japan, where she helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners and saved many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness. The prestigious PDSA Dickin Medal recognises outstanding acts of gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units in theatres of war.

Safety campaign to reduce road deaths amongst children

campaign to reduce the number of children injured and killed on the roads is being supported by the NHS in Birmingham and Solihull. The Stay Safe this Summer campaign aims to drive home the road safety message to children and young people - last year, the number of youngsters killed on the roads rose by a quarter. “Traffic is one of the biggest killers in children and young people,” says Di Rhoden, interim deputy director of nursing and quality. “Most children under the age of nine can’t judge how fast vehicles are going or how far away they are.” Sadly, traffic accidents are the biggest killer of 15-19 year olds, and the second biggest killer of children aged 5-14. Road safety charity, Brake, offers lots of advice and information to help keep families safe, urging them to take the road safety pledge and show their support to protect themselves and those around them.

It can be hard knowing how best to teach a child to stay safe. However, here are some tips to break it down and keep it simple: • Get young children into the habit of holding hands or using walking reins; • Ask questions while walking to help them understand simple ideas like ‘fast’ and ‘slow’; • Start teaching the Green Cross Code from age five, encouraging children to stop, look, listen and think; • Remember that children won’t always remember safety rules, especially if they’re excited or spot a friend across the road; • Children will copy what other people do, so avoid stepping into the road without checking for traffic first. Doing the right thing will help them get into good habits. “Our ultimate aim is to see less hospital admissions and reduce the number of children dying on our roads,” added Di Rhoden, “and we’re asking people to spread the message to their kids so that families can all enjoy a safe and happy summer.” l

Holding hands is a key piece of advice

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NEWS

Driving test website crashes as bookings resume The website for booking new driving tests in England and Wales has crashed, after it re-launched following the coronavirus lockdown. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said it was aware some people could not complete their bookings amid "unprecedented demand", adding that it was working to fix the issue. Many people complained on social media about being unable to access the site. A spokesman for DVSA said: "Coronavirus has severely impacted our business as usual operations, including by stopping driving tests for many months as part of social distancing. "Following unprecedented demand for the driving test booking system after its reopening, we are aware that some users have not been able to complete their test bookings. "We are urgently working to fix this and apologise for any inconvenience caused to those who have been unable to book so far." There were limited numbers of tests available, but more will be released on Monday, the DVSA said. Test slots are only available up to six weeks in advance - to allow the DVSA to react quickly to any changes in government guidance on coronavirus.

F COVER YOUR

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ace coverings are now mandatory in many public places, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). When they are used correctly – covering the mouth and nose – face coverings limit the number of droplets which are spread by people when they speak, cough or sneeze. It is important to avoid touching the front of the face covering while wearing it and to wash reusable coverings after each use, as it may have collected virus particles that could then be spread to the hands. People are being reminded that, by law, face coverings must be worn on public transport and in transport hubs, in shops, supermarkets and

shopping centres, post offices, banks, building societies, solicitors and accountants, auction houses, hair and nail salons, barbers, massage centres, tattoo parlours, libraries, visitor attractions and entertainment venues. Face coverings are required in NHS settings, including hospitals and primary or community care settings like GP surgeries, and are advisable in care homes. They are also mandatory in places of worship, community centres, youth centres and social clubs, funeral homes and crematoria, exhibition halls and conference centres, public areas in hotels and hostels, storage and distribution facilities, in premises providing veterinary services and in other indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult and where people will come into contact with others they do not normally meet. People are expected to wear a face covering before entering any of these settings and should keep it on until they leave, unless there is a reasonable excuse for removing it. Premises where face coverings are required should take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law. People can be fined £100 for non-compliance, halving to £50 if paid within 14 days, and the government has announced it will bring forward changes which mean fines for repeat offenders will double for each offence, up to a maximum of £3,200. However, face coverings are not mandatory for anyone under the age of 11 and those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments, that make it difficult for them to wear one.

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WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

Woman of excellence, Shahrzad conquers online video tech

he was only 13 when she decided she would one day build a global business. Today Shahrzad Rafati, is the founder of internet video technology firm BroadbandTV (BBTV). Now the 40-year-old run the company that helps firms around the world secure advertising revenues from videos on YouTube, Facebook and other websites and apps. The native Iranian arrived in Canada in 1996 with just one suitcase, and only a limited grasp of English. At the age of 17 her drive and confidence managed to persuade her parents, Iranian authorities and Canadian immigration officials to let her move by herself to Vancouver to go to university. "I couldn't communicate what I wanted to say [when I arrived], and I think that was probably the biggest challenge," she says. "But I was determined to make a success out of my life." Launched in 2005, BBTV’s highprofile clients include everyone from

the National Basketball Association, to Sony, Warner Bros and Disney. Canadian newspapers have speculated that the business is worth more than $1bn (£760m). "It's important for entrepreneurs to think as big as possible," she says. Shahrzad was born into a family of business leaders in Tehran in 1979, the year of the Iranian revolution. Her mother ran a textiles firm, her father owned a property company. "Iran was at war for eight years, and a lot of my family's success had been taken from them," she says. "I knew that I needed a different future, and a life where I could make a difference, and where equal was equal." So when she became a teenager she was determined to move abroad. In Vancouver she enrolled at the University of British Columbia to study computer science. She didn't know much about computers, nor did she have one to begin with, but she was passionate about maths and technology. Graduating in 2000, she studied

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French at the Université ParisSorbonne, and Leadership at Oxford University, but was interested in how Apple was disrupting the music industry, and the way people consumed music, with its then iPod player and iTunes service. She realised that video would inevitably follow suit, and be streamed over the internet. In 2005, at the age of 25, and the same year that YouTube was born, she founded BBTV. To pivot the company, Shahrzad says she noticed that internet users were pirating videos and uploading them to online platforms, such as the new YouTube. Only two years after its creation, BBTV landed one of its first major clients - the NBA - with whom it continues to work to this day. "I was in my 20s and I was very nervous, but I really believed in our solutions," she said.

Shahbazi. Then in 2013 European entertainment group RTL purchased a 51% stake for $36m. Shahrzad continues to have one of the largest individual shareholdings. RTL does not release separate financial data for BBTV, but its "digital activities" division, which includes the Canadian firm and two other businesses, had revenues of €452m ($539m; £408m) last year. BBTV now also produces software to help make online videos, and its services are available to individuals as well as companies. It claims that videos connected to its various technologies were viewed 429 billion times in 2019. Stephania Varalli, chief executive of Women Of Influence, a Canadian organisation that promotes businesswomen and other female leaders, says that Shahrzad's secret is her ability to evolve with the industry. "She has constantly pivoted, which has kept her ahead of the game," says Ms Varalli.

To help grow the business, she gained a number of investors, including Canadian tech businessman Hamed

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Rolling Stones to open ‘RS No. 9 Carnaby’ store

he Rolling Stones will open a worldfirst flagship store in London on 9 September. ‘RS No. 9 Carnaby’ will launch on Carnaby Street, in the heart of London’s Soho, the historic London destination synonymous for its connection to British music and fashion culture since the sixties. Created in partnership with Bravado, the store will feature all the hallmarks of the band’s iconic journey, whilst on-going releases

sit at the heart of the shop’s pulse. It will be home to exclusive new fashion and merchandise under the ‘RS No. 9 Carnaby’ brand. The Rolling Stones said: “Soho has always encapsulated Rock ’n’ Roll so Carnaby Street was the perfect spot for our own store. We are confident this exciting project that our friends at Bravado have created will be an unrivalled experience for everyone to come to London and enjoy.” The shop was jointly curated by The Rolling Stones and Bravado. Mat Vlasic, chief executive officer

of Bravado, commented; “With this innovative partnership, the Rolling Stones add yet another cultural touchpoint to their rich legacy. “RS No. 9 Carnaby is the result of years of planning and decades of building one of the world's most recognized brands. It creates a destination where fans can connect and immerse themselves in the music, style and spirit of one of the world's most iconic and beloved bands.” Photo Credit: Mark Seliger

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ENTERTAINMENT

Fresh Prince returning in a grittier dramatic format

Bastille Excitedly Release New Track Bastille’s electrifying new song might feel like a bit of a surprise release, not least to the band themselves, but as frontman Dan Smith says: “We finished the song and it felt urgent. We didn’t want to sit on it.” A thunderous, furious short sharp shock, ‘What You Gonna Do???’ comes after the dust settled on the band’s acclaimed third album Doom Days — the final instalment in a trilogy that’s spanned eight years and brought Bastille multi-platinum sales, global success and a position as one of the world’s most streamed bands. Fans may have grown

accustomed to albums arriving with fully formed, meticulously executed creative ecosystems, but this time it’s all change. “This next phase feels like a new beginning. It’s about completely tearing up our process, being spontaneous and starting again,” Dan states. “We’re just really excited by the new songs. I think we’re making some of the best music we’ve ever made. “We want to put it out now and not wait for the whole album to be done before anyone starts to hear it. This is about where we are now and hearing us in real-time”

l Will Smith

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n West Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground was where he spent most of his days... Now The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - played by Will Smith in the beloved 90s sitcom - is coming back in a reboot. But this time the story of the streetwise teen who moves in with his upper-class uncle and aunt will not be a comedy, according to US reports. The new version will be based on a viral YouTube trailer that reimagined the series as a hard-hitting drama. Smith is working on the series with Morgan Cooper, who created the alternative trailer last year. At the time, the actor praised the trailer as a "brilliant idea, the dramatic version of The Fresh Prince for the next generation". Smith's company Westbrook Studios will make it with Universal TV, while Netflix, HBO Max and Peacock are among the platforms bidding to stream it. Original creators Andy and Susan Borowitz will serve as executive producers, as will Smith and original executive producers Quincy Jones and Benny Medina.

The original Fresh Prince ran from 1990 until 1996, putting Smith on the map as a bona fide comedy star, earning him two Golden Globe nods for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical. From there he went on to become one of the biggest box office draws of the decade, with films like Independence Day, the first Men In Black movie, Bad Boys and I Am Legend. It is also yet to be confirmed whether Will would appear in front of the camera in some capacity in the new version of the show – an actor by the name of Jerry Madison portrayed his character in the gritty Bel-Air trailer from last year. Unconfirmed as well is whether other favourite cast members from the first version of the show – including Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons and Joseph Marcell - would be involved in this new go-round. Actor James Avery, who played Will's conservative and rich uncle Phil, passed away at age 68 in 2013. The cast of the show reunited for a tearful tribute to the actor during their Snaptchat reunion in April.

0121 339 5885 (Birmingham) l The Stereophonics return to Arena Birmingham on February 29th

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Page 16 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

www.streetcredmagazine.com www.streetcredmagazine.com

The tale of a disheartening relationship, grief and moving on T

as men don’t often talk about their emotions and the character Andrew is no exception.

struggle to find self-acceptance and learn to let go.

The book is emotional and a tear-jerker. Why did you decide to make the concept of grief central to the story?

By Mandip Singh Taunque

he Phoenix meets author Kent Hung for a virtual interview on the release of his book ‘Letting Go’.

Spoiler-free, what can you tell us about the book?

l Author Kent Hung

One of the book’s central characters is Andrew. His outlook has been moulded by a childhood brought up alone by his mother, by his fear of abandonment which developed from that childhood and by the numerous losses in his life. It tells the story of a disheartening relationship which forms between Andrew and his son’s friend Justin, which forces them both to make choices in their lives. Eleven years later, following a tragic event, Andrew suddenly has to re-evaluate his own life and

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You have had a varied career but what made you decide that the time is now to publish your book?

In the beginning the storyline mostly focused on a disheartened relationship between the two main characters of the novel but as I further developed the plots and storylines and most importantly found the title “Letting Go”, it was a natural direction to go. I think we all have unprocessed grief, anger, sorrows, frustrations and pain so I feel that if by reading my novel could help somewhat to let go to those feelings then I feel that I have achieved something.

Was writing the book cathartic for you?

By creating characters and their stories helped me to understand their point of view which helped me to be more empathetic and be more understanding towards others but also towards myself.

Have you used any personal experiences of grief in your writing?

Yes and also stories I heard from others that had moved me. Grief is very private and a lonely journey. I am sure we all have experienced losses in our lives and dealt with them the only way we knew how.

What do you hope to achieve with this book?

I enjoyed the process of creating

I used to write articles on food for a magazine when I lived in Brussels, Belgium. I have always enjoyed writing as a way of expressing my thoughts. I don’t consider myself as a good writer, rather, I would be a good storyteller. Along the way, there had been so many people who supported me and believed in me throughout this journey of writing.

characters, imagining what they are like and developing a storyline around them. Now that it will be released, I would like this book to reach a wide audience and that readers will see it is ok to share with your friends, family and colleagues about grief, losses in life and it is important to give allowances to others but mostly for themselves.

What motivated you to write this book?

I wanted to write about struggle finding self-acceptance and learning to let go of self-inflicted pain and guilt, I want to make awareness about this topic especially for men

You are currently working on your next book, what can you tell Phoenix readers about it?

I am working on an idea about a family of three generations. I have sketched-out most of the characters and the storyline, but my plan is to spend some time developing the storyline in my head before I continue writing. Kent Hung was born in Taiwan and his family immigrated to Sweden when he was about 12. He has worked in the humanitarian field in Geneva and Copenhagen, before making a home in Scotland in 2014. ‘Letting Go’ was published by Pegasus at the end of May 2020.

0208 865 1922 (London)

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 17

ENTERTAINMENT

www.streetcredmagazine.com www.streetcredmagazine.com

Tributes Pour In For Chadwick Boseman Hollywood superstar Chad Boseman, was best known for playing ‘Black Panther’ in the hit Marvel superhero franchise after coming to prominence playing reallife figures - baseball great Jackie Robinson in the film ‘42’, and soul singer James Brown in ‘Get on Up’. It will, though, be as the titular ‘Black Panther’ in the blockbuster 2018 film he will be best remembered. He starred as the ruler of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with the most advanced technology on earth. As well as winning critical praise and taking more than $1.3 billion (£973m) at cinemas worldwide, the film was widely seen as a cultural milestone for having a largely Black cast and a Black director, Ryan Coogler. South Carolina-born Boseman said last year that the film changed what it means to be “Young, Gifted and Black”. Black Panther was the first superhero film to get a nomination for best picture at the Oscars. The news has left fans and the film

world stunned. Get Out director Jordan Peele, said it was “a crushing blow”. “A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” his family said in the statement. “From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more - all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honour of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.” Tributes pouring in for the star, including from actor and fellow Marvel star Mark Ruffalo. Actor Dwayne Johnson tweeted: ‘Thank you for shining your light and sharing your talent with the world. ‘My love and strength to your family’. Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris also posted her tribute to the star. The hashtag #WakandaForever has been trending since. Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer four years ago but had not made the information public. He was 43.

RSC cancels theatre programme over cuts

he Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has cancelled its theatre productions until 2021 due to coronavirus. The production company in Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, said social distancing measures meant it would not be able to stage indoor performances. It also announced redundancies for staff and a consultation period with employees. Outdoor events will continue, the RSC said, adding it will develop its online offering for autumn and winter months.

In a joint statement, artistic director Gregory Doran and executive director Catherine Mallyon said: "We had hoped that things would have become more positive by now. "We very much hope that the government review of social distancing measures in November will bring positive news for the industry and provide a timeline for when we can welcome our audiences back into our theatres again." S t r a t f o r d - u p o n - Av o n , the birthplace of William Shakespeare, attracts up to six million visitors annually and the town's tourism industry has

been hit hard during lockdown. In April, the Centre for Progressive Policy think tank said it expected Stratford-uponAvon to take one of the biggest economic hits in the UK. Since lockdown started, the district council has handed out more than £32m in grants to small and medium sized businesses. The RSC, which has 750 employees, closed its theatres in March and has not been able to reopen since. It said it was having to consider redundancies "to safeguard the long-term future of the company".

Saint Raymond Shares New Track 'Love This Way'

Saint Raymond set the foundations for the second chapter of his story with his latest release ‘Right Way Round’. With Radio 1 airplay from Huw Stephens and a selection of key playlists including Spotify’s Indie Summer, the track is already approaching 1 million streams. Buoyed by that strong start, he now offers fans a fresh taste of his long awaited second album by sharing the new track ‘Love This Way’ which shows the bright new sound that he introduced with ‘Right Way Round’ is no one-off. It’s a sun-kissed fusion of bold indie hooks and tropical alt-pop rhythms, with his sparkling guitar motifs boosted by punchy synths and a surprising denouement. His topline brims with passion, adding a joyous urgency to lyrics that explore awkward and contradictory emotions.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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Page 18 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

ENTERTAINMENT

I'm A Celebrity Moving To A Castle In Wales

www.streetcredmagazine.com

he next series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! will be filmed at Gwrych Castle in north Wales, ITV has confirmed. The long-running reality show has had to relocate from Australia this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ant and Dec will return as hosts, and the winner will be crowned the King or Queen of the Castle (instead of the Jungle). The celebrities taking part in the 2020 series have yet to be announced. ITV's director of television, Kevin Lygo, said the majority of the contestants had been booked before the relocation, raising fears they might pull out. "We were worried they thought they were going to hot sunny bug-infested Australia, and now they are going to north Wales in the dark, but everyone is still there and excited," he said. "I think it will be fascinating to see and to have this reboot of a treasured brand forced upon us, I think, is a good thing." Gwrych Castle, meaning "Hedge Castle" in Welsh, was built on the site of a late medieval fortress near Abergele, on the north coast of Wales, between 1812 and 1822 by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh as a memorial to his mother's ancestors, the Lloyds of Gwrych. During World War Two, it was used by the government to house 200 Jewish children who had fled the Nazis in Europe; and later became a training ground for boxer Randy Turpin, ahead of his title fight with Sugar Ray Johnson. The 2019 series was won by former EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa.

he Grammy Award-nominated multi-Platinum artist Lukas Graham has teamed up with chart-topping rapper G-Eazy for the anthemic new single ‘Share That Love’. Produced by long-term producer Rissi (Kygo, Julia Michaels), the song is accompanied by a time-lapsed lyric video created by acclaimed Copenhagen street artist Rasmus Balstrøm, who painted a massive ‘Share That Love’ mural at a landmark music venue in Lukas’ hometown of Christiania, Denmark. Lukas explains: “I grew up in a neighbourhood where if you had something, you shared it. The place is called Christiania. It’s an old army base that got squatted in 1971. “The community operates from the concept that nobody owns their house and that you can do what you want, as long as you don’t inhibit others from doing what they want. For all the upsides to living in Christiania, there was also trouble with the police, or issues with gangs in the city. “I’ve tried to embody all of that in this song, and when I listen to it I’m reminded of some of the ways our community has really come together, like all the great parties we’ve thrown, or the huge protests where we’ve marched against the government threatening to evict us from Christiania. “In these troubling times, I guess it is more important than ever to share what we have, especially your love.” The Danish superstar Lukas Graham recently exceeded 6 billion streams worldwide following ‘Love Songs’, ‘Scars’ and last year’s ‘Lie’. ‘Love Someone’, from 2018’s ‘3 (The Purple Album)’, has been streamed more than a billion times and has been certified 18 x Platinum across multiple continents. Lukas Graham made his global debut with his 2016 self-titled album, which featured the huge global hit ‘7 Years’. The track went on to spend five weeks at #1 on the UK’s Official Singles Chart as it amassed over 3 billion streams at Spotify and three Grammy nominations. It became the biggest selling single by a debut artist in 2016. ‘7 Years’ catapulted Lukas to sold-out

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tours all over the world as he earned critical acclaim from the likes of the New York Times, Rolling Stone and Billboard. It also resulted in performances at the Grammy Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards, where he was also nominated for Best New Artist. The song transformed Lukas’ life into a whirlwind — a world away from his beginnings, born on a couch in Christiania, an impoverished quasi-commune located in the centre of Copenhagen.

0208 865 1922 (London)

@PhoenixNewsUK

The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 19

EDUCATION BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

Your Future!

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Page 20 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Welcome To Our Back To School Supplement

hy do we make such a big deal about education? The healthy way to a a purposeful future is to equipped yourself with the best knowledge you can allow yourself to embrace. These past few months have been very difficult for students waiting for their exam results, and with the issues that plagued results days for people up and down the country, let us take a minute to celebrate the hard work and effort that everyone put in. Let us embrace the values that come with education. Let’s connect with each other and educate yourself about other cultures countries and history. Education starts at home, and never really stops throughout your entire life.

l Daniel Riley, Assistant Editor Learn everything you can, about everything you can. Keep rising together, and inspire the next generation!

the right prescription for BAME achievement

he University of Wolverhampton has shown it has the right prescription for inclusivity after ranking third in the UK for BAME attainment gaps in its School of Pharmacy. Latest figures from Universities UK have shown that there is a still an attainment gap of 13% nationally between the proportion of white students achieving a higher (first or 2.1 classification degree and their Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) counterparts. The Office for Students (OfS) has tasked universities with eliminating these gaps by 2025. Leading trade magazine, The Pharmaceutical Journal recently

evaluated data provided by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and highlights the University’s third place position among UK Schools of Pharmacy in its awarding gap table. The University of Wolverhampton shows a negative awarding gap of -2% which means that BAME students are attaining First and 2.1 Master’s of Pharmacy (MPharm) degrees at approximately the same rate as white students – one of only five Schools in the country with a negative or zero awarding gap figure. Dr Colin Brown, Head of the Wolverhampton School of Pharmacy, said: “We are really proud of our longstanding tradition

of positive action in the recruitment of, support for, and development of students and staff who represent all groups within society. “We recognise the needs and challenges faced by all of our students and we use teaching methods which breakdown barriers, promote inclusivity and develop the skills and attributes needed for success.” Lanna Zouabi, a second year MPharm student, said: “The course itself is brilliant. There is so much to do, so many people to talk to and learn from, especially the support given by the staff to improve your studies – they are always so open and friendly. “I’d like to work in a

pharmaceutical company, taking their products around the world, combining the two things I love together – pharmacy and travelling.” The University of Wolverhampton has invested £1/2 million in interactive teaching spaces offering Pharmacy students flexible learning. First, second and third year students studying on the MPharm course have benefited from the £250,000 Team Based Learning facilities at the University’s City Campus. It has also invested £250,000 in a new Pharmacy Practice Suite to support clinical aspects of the course.

Welcoming back all pupils to schools Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, talks about how schools are safely welcoming back all Birmingham pupils. As schools and early years settings are welcoming back all pupils I know head teachers, managers and staff were really looking forward to seeing children back. It was really important that they returned, not just for their academic and child development progress but for social wellbeing too – children will learn and see their friends again. So it is vital that parents and carers were confident that schools and settings were ready and safe for children to return. Head teachers, managers and staff continuingly worked hard through the summer holidays to prepare for full reopening. They are doing risk assessments and have been working closely with public health colleagues; schools and settings are wellprepared to deal with any cases and fully understand public health procedures. So, what should parents, carers and children expect? Things will vary from school to schools, but here are some examples:

• Classes may be organised in ‘bubbles’ as it is difficult for everyone to socially distance, particularly very young pupils. • Drop-off and pick-up arrangements will be organised to ensure there aren’t too many people at school during busy times. • There will be no large assemblies • Play times and lunch times will be organised to ensure there is no over-crowding and children can enjoy playing with their friends in a safe environment. Early years settings look different too, with the examples above applying too – but there are also changes to spaces with less soft furnishings and sharing of toys and equipment. Yes, things are a little different, but schools and settings are trying to make any changes as easy as possible, and it is all done to keep children and staff safe. If parents or carers have any concerns they should contact their school or early years setting. Members of staff were really looking forward to welcoming back the children and young people and working with them to catch up with any learning they may have missed out on since March. Stay safe and enjoy your return to school!

l Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture

The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 21

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NEWS

Scholarship Offer FOR 11-Year Old Ballet Dancer TO Prestigious Dance School A nthony Mmesoma Madu, an 11-year old boy from Nigeria whose video of him ballet dancing in the rain went viral on the Internet, has been handpicked by a prestigious dance school in New York City to receive a full scholarship. Madu is one of 12 students mentored by Daniel Ajala Owoseni, a dance instructor and founder of the Leap of Dance Academy, a dance school in Lagos, Nigeria. Owoseni is teaching children for free and hopes to “change stereotypes around ballet dance.” Most recently, Madu posted a

video of himself showing off his ballet skills outside in the rain. It eventually went viral and caught the attention of Cynthia Harvey, the artistic director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance. Harvey then got in touch with Madu to offer him a full scholarship to attend the ABT virtual Young Dancer Summer Workshop. Harvey also offered Owoseni to be a part of ABT’s National Training Curriculum which helps instructors improve their skills more. “A child who shows this much dedication, you just have to help. If there is anything the world has

taught us, it’s… that we all have a lot to learn from one another. Providing opportunities for Daniel and Anthony is the right thing to do,” Harvey said. Meanwhile, Madu hopes he can also inspire other young dancers, girls and boys alike, to try ballet dancing. “The feeling that comes over me (when I dance) is as if I am dreaming,” Madu said. “When people see ballet they think it is only for girls. How I want them to see me is when I am dancing, they know that there is a male ballet dancer.”

l Anthony Mmesoma Madu, centre

Best university towns for student accommodation and investor potential revealed

Last year nearly 2.4m people enrolled in higher education across the UK according to the HESA, with 56% of students opting for either provider maintained properties, private-sector halls or other rented accommodation. While Covid-19 may see these figures decline for the coming year, many students will remain hopeful of starting or returning to university in the coming months. Property developer StripeHomes has taken a look at the best universities for student accommodation availability and those currently in the highest demand amongst the returning

student body.

Best student accommodation availability

When it comes to the best universities for student accommodation availability, Warwick ranks top. Currently, the amount of student-specific accommodation available accounts for 71% of all rental properties listed online. Kent (67%), Dundee (59%), Swansea (58%) Newcastle and Northumbria (56%) also rank as some of the best universities in terms of the volume of studentspecific accommodation as a percentage of all available rentals.

Worst student accommodation availability

In contrast, King’s College London, Imperial College London and London School of Economics and Political Science rank as the worst. Just 5% of the accommodation currently available to rent in the City of Westminster is specifically designated as student accommodation. Queen Mary’s in Tower Hamlets (6%), the SOAS University of London (10%) and UCL also rank as some of the worst where the volume of current, available student accommodation is concerned.

Most in-demand

Where current demand for student accommodation is concerned, the University of York ranks top. Of all current student accommodation available, 73% has already been rented by those starting or returning to the university. Student specific accommodation near the UCA in Farnham is also in high demand with 61% of stock currently listed already let agreed, with the universities of Stirling (45%), Surrey (44%), Bristol (41%), Exeter (36%), Essex (36%), Royal Holloway (35%), Nottingham (35%) and Nottingham Trent (36%) also ranking high for current student rental demand. Managing Director of StripeHomes, James Forrester, commented: “Investing in student accommodation can be a smart move as the ever-revolving carousel of tenant demand for student-specific properties can ensure a constant stream of rental income. “Many students will have completed their current year in an online capacity, but going to university is a physical life experience that is unlikely to be replaced by the trend of remote working currently sweeping many workplaces.”

Over half a million disabled young people facing ‘double disadvantage’ More than half a million disabled young people will be hit by a double disadvantage as they try to move from education to employment unless urgent action is taken, disability groups have warned. In a joint letter to government ministers, a coalition of nine organisations led by the National Deaf Children’s Society has asked for changes to the Government’s Plan for Jobs to avoid a looming employment crisis among disabled young people aged 16-25. Without the amendments, the group says that the double disadvantage of disability discrimination and a huge increase in competition for jobs caused by COVID-19 will leave disabled young people at a significant risk of long-term unemployment.

The organisations signing the letter include Thomas Pocklington Trust, Disability Rights UK, Genius Within, Leonard Cheshire, the National Development Team for Inclusion, Natspec, the Institute for Employment Studies and the Council for Disabled Children. Among eight suggested changes, they want to see the Kickstarter Scheme expanded, Careers Advisors trained to work with disabled people and online job searching made more accessible. They are also calling for the number of Disability Employment Advisors to be doubled and the £1,000 incentive for businesses taking on apprentices to be extended to all disabled young people, rather than just those with Education, Health and Care plans.

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Page 22 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

How other countries got their children back to school Teachers in France will be wearing masks as schoolchildren return with a somewhat relaxed version of the rules. Schools are encouraged to stagger start and finish times to prevent large groups building up as surfaces that are touched regularly will be cleaned and disinfected at least once a day. In Italy class sizes are smaller with students being seated 1m apart. Entry will be staggered and schools will be open for lessons on Saturdays. Students have to wear masks and teachers will wear face shields. Some lessons will be held outdoors where possible or in big spaces with distance learning available for secondary school students who live with vulnerable family members. Germany's 16 states are in charge of education with school year starting at different times in different states with classes reorganised into groups of several hundred students. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was the first state to reopen schools, although one there had to close in the first week after a teacher tested positive for coronavirus. A primary school also closed for two weeks after a pupils tested positive.

Prestigious university status For Professor Julian Lloyd Webber A

cclaimed music education advocate, broadcaster and renowned solo cellist Julian Lloyd Webber has announced his departure from his role as Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC). He confirmed his departure after leading the Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, for five successful years. Having overseeing the move to a new £57m building and seen the organisation be granted Royal status, he will, though, retain links with the Conservatoire and Birmingham City University as he has been awarded the prestigious status of Emeritus Professor in recognition of his work. Professor Lloyd Webber’s tenure, which started in July 2015, has included many notable achievements, including the appointment of the Conservatoire’s first Royal Patron in HRH, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; receiving the Royal Title from Her Majesty the Queen, and overseeing the successful move to a new £57m state-of-the-art building at the heart of the University’s city centre campus. His leadership also include a merger with the School of Acting; securing the largest ever single donation in the history of the Conservatoire and attaining outstanding National Student Survey results year on year, with music achieving the highest result of any UK conservatoire in 2020 for the third successive year. BCU Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Plowden said: “The Royal

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Birmingham Conservatoire has thrived under Julian’s leadership. What has been achieved has been exceptional. “Working with Julian has been a delight, and I am delighted that he has accepted the award of Emeritus Professor and will retain links with the Conservatoire and BCU. I look forward to continuing to work with him and wish him the very best as he steps down as Principal.” Professor Lloyd Webber said: “I will always treasure the many happy memories of my time at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. It has been a privilege to work with such a marvellous team and such wonderful students. I thank the University for the award of an Emeritus Professorship and wish the institution ongoing success.” Under his leadership, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has forged a unique partnership with leading international record company Naxos for a series of recordings featuring Conservatoire students, celebrated Junior Department student pianist Lauren Zhang win BBC Young Musician of the Year and awarded honorary doctorates to artist Laura Mvula and actor Daniel Day Lewis. Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, Professor Alison Honour added “We will always be grateful to Professor Lloyd Webber for his outstanding leadership during his time as Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and for his immense energy and passion for music and performing arts education. We are delighted that he will continue to play a part in the success of the Conservatoire.”

0208 865 1922 (London)

The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 23

@PhoenixNewsUK

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Construction commences on 3 West MidS schools

Last-minute advice on reopening criticise Teachers and headteachers criticised the government for "lastminute" guidance on what to do during virus outbreaks and local lockdowns as guidance for England was published just days before many schools began term. The NAHT school leaders' union said the timing was "reprehensible". In local lockdowns, secondary pupils could be kept home every other fortnight and, in an outbreak, large groups could be told to self-isolate. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT, said the decision to publish the guidance just before a bank holiday was "nothing short of reprehensible and demonstrates a complete lack of regard for the well-being of school leaders and their teams". The guidance says this would only happen after "all other measures have been exhausted" - but if cases continue increasing, all students might have to move to remote learning apart from those in vulnerable groups.

onstruction work at three existing schools, which will accommodate an additional 990 students in Sandwell, took another step forward as local contractor Willmott Dixon commences works on the sites. With a total value of £23.8m, the three projects including Q3 Academy Langley, West Bromwich Collegiate Academy and Bristnall Hall Academy, will provide much needed school places. Designed in conjunction with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and ADP Architecture, the facilities are part of the Council’s Schools Capital Programme 2019-2021 with national contractor, Willmott Dixon working on-site at all three developments simultaneously. Michelle Cotterill, operations director at Willmott Dixon said: “We are very excited to be on-site and these schemes will provide much-needed school places for the local community throughout its period of rapid expansion.” Procured via the Constructing

West Midlands Framework – the specifications for the developments included; extending the existing teaching accommodation including providing a theatre, new multiuse hall and completion of all external spaces at Q3 Academy Langley, the completion of a new specialist teaching block, a sports hall and a new sports pitch at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy and the provision of a new stand-alone building comprising of teaching, kitchen and dining facilities at Bristnall

Brand new community centre launching in Birmingham At a time where many youth/art centres have closed down, Eloquent Arts Centre is in the process of opening their doors to something truly special and needed for the young people in Birmingham. The team at Eloquent Praise & Empowerment Dance Company have previously done a lot of work within the Birmingham community, which has driven

their inspiration for this new project. Directors, also mother and daughter duo Romanah Malcolm (pictured on the right) and Janice Davis (pictured on the left) said: “On the back of the work that we have been doing in the community for the previous 6 years, we also recognised a need for a space/ a home away from home for

Hall Academy. Michelle added: “We aim to deliver a total of over £1.2m worth of social value across all three schools by introducing initiatives that include the improvement of staff wellbeing, supporting local people into employment and providing NEETs students with employability skills and training opportunities. It is planned for the schools to be ready for the intake of pupils at the start of the 2021-22 academic year. those who want to explore and develop their creative arts, build business ideas and other opportunities.” It will be a multi-purpose hub, committed to providing a safe space for creative arts development, business and community. This will be an open space for creatives to grow artistically and unleash their full potential. It will hold several studios including dance and music studios, classrooms, photography rooms and much more.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 24 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT ADVERTORIAL

entral Saint Michael’s Sixth Form has safely re-opened its doors to hundreds of prospective students looking to enrol and secure their place for this September’s intake. Based in the heart of West Bromwich, the university-style sixth form has implemented an extensive Covid-19 safety plan, to ensure that all prospective students can benefit from on-site enrolment and have access to a full experience when the new term starts. After months of uncertainty for school leavers, Central Saint Michael’s has prioritised its students to ensure that they can still benefit from a rich learning environment. The sixth form’s September Study Promise means that whether your GCSE results were better than expected, or not quite what you were hoping for, your place is safe and secure.

WHY CENTRAL SAINT MICHEL’S?

Proving itself as a centre for high achievement, Central Saint Michael’s has this summer continued to bolster its track record of success. Recent A Level results saw a record-breaking number of students who received grades A and B, with an overall pass rate of 99 per cent putting the sixth form ahead of national averages. A supportive team of tutors, who are experts within their respective fields, means students will have access to a first-class level of teaching whilst gaining the tools to prepare for a bright and successful future. Alumni have gone on to secure higher apprenticeships and employment in a range of industries, including trainee doctors and pharmacists and with professional service companies such as KPMG, as well as furthering their education across the UK, from the University of Birmingham to Oxford University.

HOW WILL THE COLLEGE KEEP ME SAFE?

Over recent months, a Covid-19safe plan has been implemented to ensure that learners across every subject are able to receive a safe and fulfilling classroom teaching experience when term begins again. New measures that students can expect to see include thermal scanning stations upon entry, enhanced cleaning regimes within communal areas, social distancing

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE WITH CENTRAL SAINT MICHAEL’S SIXTH FORM within classrooms and routed systems throughout the site. Matt Lamb, Principal of Central Saint Michael’s, said: “There has been a lot of uncertainty over recent months, but we want to reassure school leavers that they can expect to receive our usual high quality standard of teaching, delivered within a safe environment. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to create a safe place from which students from any background and of any ability can thrive, and we are committed to providing them with all the tools they need to continue their learning journey and move closer to achieving their aspirations, whether that be with a leading employer, at one of the UK’s top universities or onto their dream career path. “It has been fantastic to welcome so many prospective students for enrolment already, and to speak to

them in person about their future at Central Saint Michael’s, as well as provide tailored guidance and advice. “For anyone who has just left school and is worried about what to do in September – please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or visit us. We value all past, current and future students and will help find the best path for you.”

HOW TO ENROL

If you haven’t yet applied for a place at Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form, it’s not too late – now that you have your GCSE results, you can visit and enrol on-site until 11th September. If you’re unable to attend for whatever reason, simply call the dedicated team who will help to ensure you have a place when term begins. Enrolment at Central Saint Michael’s is now open, to find out more, visit www.centralstmichaels.ac.uk.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 25

Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form A UNIVERSITY-STYLE SIXTH FORM

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EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT Poor pupils facing 'two-year catch up after lockdown'

Head of Ofqual steps down after exams chaos The head of England's exams regulator, Sally Collier, quit after thousands of students' marks were downgraded for exams they were unable to sit. Ofqual chief Ms Collier was under fire for a controversial algorithm which changed GCSE and A-level marks, making them unfair, according to heads. It also led to many A-level students losing university places they had been offered, and a crunch on degree places. After being thanked by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson for her service, teaching unions were saying questions remain about the fiasco, despite Ms Collier's resignation. "The move follows the failure of the statistical model that led to this year's grading fiasco, but the fault is not hers alone," said the head of the Association of School and College Leaders, "Ministers have questions to answer over the extent to which they scrutinised and challenged the methodology and reliability of the statistical model, particularly given the enormity of the task and the importance of getting it right."

excellent results FOR WOLVES Adult Education students A s GCSE results are announced around the country, adult education students in Wolverhampton students are celebrating an excellent set of results. Despite a disrupted year of teaching and learning, due to the coronavirus pandemic, pass rates in Maths and English have exceeded expectations with some 95% of students achieving a pass of Grade 5 or higher in English while 40% got a grade 6 or higher. One student scored a

Grade 8. Meanwhile, in Maths, 93% of students achieved a Grade 4 or higher and 53% got a Grade 5 or above. GCSE English and Maths student Gemma Russell said: “There is no better place than Adult Education Wolverhampton to study for your GCSE in English and Maths if you are an adult learner. “I have tried other colleges but, for me, Adult Education Wolverhampton is the very best. I hope others will enjoy the very

best learning on offer.” Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “I would like to congratulate our adult learners on their success this year. “If you are looking to improve your English and Maths skills, either to increase your job prospects or just to prove to yourself that you can achieve a qualification, it’s time to act. “Get in touch with Adult Education Wolverhampton and

find out about the courses which are beginning next month and, in summer 2021, you too could be celebrating GCSE success.” Adult Education Wolverhampton offers a range of courses which help people train for a specific career, while its Access to Higher Education courses provide a fast track to university. To find out more about courses starting this September, visit www.aes.wolverhampton.gov.uk.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found that lockdown widened learning gaps between richer and poorer primary school children, an analysis of thousands of families in England suggests with children from poorer families doing at least one hour less learning a day compared with those in richer families. One head teacher says it could take up to two years to bring some children back to their correct attainment level. The government said a £350m tutoring scheme would help disadvantaged pupils. The IFS surveyed the parents of 5,500 school-aged children in England during lockdown. It compared the richest 20% of pupils with the poorest 20%. The IFS said children from wealthier families were spending more time studying during the pandemic than poorer children. Its findings suggest richer primary school children spent 75 minutes a day more on educational activities, compared with those in poorer families during lockdown. Data from five years ago suggested there was no gap in learning time among primary school pupils. Resources provided by schools are also unequally distributed, the IFS suggested. Around 42% of poorer primaryaged children received some sort of online lesson, conference call or support from their school, compared to 58% of richer children.

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EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

unding has now been allocated for 580 building projects at academies, sixth form colleges and voluntary aided schools in England to transform facilities and improve school buildings. The funding will be used to repair and upgrade school facilities and create modern, fit-for-purpose spaces that meet schools’ needs. It also allows for a small number of expansion projects to increase school capacity. Projects range from the upgrading of boilers to new green, energy-efficient models, to the complete refurbishment of a classroom block with brand new facilities. The works can begin as soon as schools are ready, and the majority should be completed this financial year. The funding comes from the £560 million announced by the Prime Minister last month to help the nation bounce back from the pandemic, investing in schools to help teachers deliver a world-class education and create jobs. The government is also bringing forward £200 million for FE colleges this year, as part of plans for £1.5 billion of investment over five years to transform the FE college estate. The Prime Minister’s transformative new ten-year

green light FOR school improvement projects

school rebuilding programme also starts this year, supported by over £1 billion in funding for the first 50 projects. This investment will be targeted at school buildings in the worst condition across England – including substantial investment in the North and the Midlands – as part of the Prime Minister’s plan to level up opportunity for all.

Emilia Romagna Celebrates Cooking Educator Artusi’s 200th Anniversary

The Italian region of Emilia Romagna celebrated the bicentenary of the birth of Pellegrino Artusi, author of the world’s first recipe book. And, for this, Casa Artusi Cookery School carried out a series of online cooking classes for everyone to learn and enjoy the dishes of the acknowledged father of Italian domestic cuisine on the 200th anniversary of his

birth. Artusi was born on 4 August 1820 in the town of Forlimpopoli, at the foot of the last hills of the Apennines. As well as being the father of Italian domestic cuisine, he is also the author of the internationally renowned book, ‘Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well’, considered worldwide as the ‘Bible’ of Italian cuisine.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “This investment in our school and college buildings helps create modern environments that lend themselves to great teaching, making sure every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. “We have now allocated over £2 billion this year to improve the condition of our school

He rose to prominence after collecting over 700 Italian home recipes and their stories to create, what is often referred to, as the world’s first recipe book. Published in 1891, it was not only a showcase of gastronomic traditions from both northern and southern Italy, but also contributed to the cultural formation of the newly-born nation. Over the decades the book was, and still is, a hugely popular work that has been translated and sold throughout the world and it continues to be considered by many as a cornerstone of Italian culture, language and traditions, holding it in similar estimate as Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Casa Artusi Cookery School is a complex devoted to Pellegrino Artusi, featuring a cooking laboratory and restaurant where people take a wide variety of cookery lessons. To celebrate the bicentenary, Casa Artusi has taken its inperson cookery classes online. People from all over the world can now learn how to prepare some of Artusi’s most popular and tasty recipes from the comfort of their own homes. These include the renowned Tagliatelle all'uso di Romagna (Tagliatelle Romagna style), a simple but tasty pasta recipe topped with one of Emilia Romagna’s most desired products: Parmigiano Reggiano PDO – recipe at the end of this press release. All virtual classes are tailored according to the level of participants, as all abilities are welcome. Online cooking classes start from €80 (approximately £70) per person.

buildings, paving the way for our new transformative ten-year school building programme starting later this year with over £1 billion funding for the first wave of 50 schools.” The 580 building projects are

supported by over £180 million in funding distributed through the Department’s Condition Improvement Fund and have been selected based on bids submitted to the fund for the main funding round earlier this year. The remainder of the £560 million is being provided to local authorities, larger multiacademy trusts and large voluntary aided school bodies to spend on improving the condition of their schools. This additional funding comes on top of over £1.4 billion already allocated in 2020-21 to improve the condition of the school estate. Over £1 billion is being invested to fund the first 50 projects of the new, ten-year school rebuilding programme, starting later this year. These projects will be confirmed in the autumn, and construction on the first sites will begin from September 2021.

Multi-million pound funding package for school transport Thousands of students will be supported with new dedicated school and college transport to get them to school or college in the autumn term, the Education Secretary said. Delivering on the national priority for all children and young people to return to fulltime education in September, local transport authorities will receive more than £40 million funding for the autumn term which will help them create extra capacity and allow hundreds of thousands more students to use alternatives to public transport, while social distancing measures remain in place. Students and staff who have the option to walk, cycle or use a scooter are encouraged to do so, benefitting from £2 billion of government investment to increase active travel. This will be supported by a new campaign due to be launched shortly to reduce demand on public transport at peak times and minimise overcrowding. The Department for Transport also announced further funding for the bus and light rail sectors to help increase services ahead of expected increase in public transport use.

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Page 28 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

g n i t o Prom xcellence E Student S presents research at online workshop

atwant Kaur, a second year student studying for a Computer Science degree in the School of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Wolverhampton student, presented her research at a high profile workshop profiling Machine Ethics run by the Machine Ethics Research Group in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin alongside practitioners, professionals, junior researchers, and senior academics from across the globe. The Machine Ethics Research Group is an inter-disciplinary group that investigates technology and its impact on society, law, ethics, philosophy and fiction. Satwant was one of five students

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who won a scholarship earlier this year to present a research poster to the British Computer Sociey Lovelace Colloquium at the University of Stirling, but because of the pandemic, was unable to attend due to the event being cancelled. She said: “I love to travel and I was really looking forward to going to Scotland but sadly in the end, the whole trip had to be cancelled due to the lockdown. “My poster proposed a system of ethics for technology based on the work of Polish science fiction author Stanislaw Lem. My lecturer, Dr Herb Daly, told me about an opportunity to develop my idea into a piece of research.” The Machine Ethics Research

Group held their second annual workshop online for the first time and although this is usually a Postgraduate forum, Satwant submitted her work and hoped it would make it through the selection process. “I have always been keen on philosophy, so I re-wrote the contents of my poster as an academic paper. I was surprised and delighted when they accepted it and it was an amazing experience to present it online.” Dr Herb Daly, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “Satwant was brave enough to take an opportunity in the middle of a global crisis. It is fantastic that she has been able to present her work

University Honours Awards The University of Wolverhampton is celebrating arts, diversity and business leaders in this year’s Honorary Degree awards – with two high profile local people, Cold War Steve and Jacqui Oatley MBE, both receiving accolades. It is also marking its celebration of 25 years of deaf support and deaf studies by honouring key filmmakers, producers, screenwriters and presenters who have championed diversity in the arts including Charlie Swinbourne, Maggie Woolley and Louis Neethling. The University awards honorary degrees and fellowships to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise. This year, 19 people have been recognised and will graduate in July 2021. Birmingham-born Cold War Steve - real name Christopher Spencer - is an artist who specialises in surreal, satirical collages.

l Satwant Kaur at this level and contribute to international academic discourse. We hope that other students will follow her example in the future.”

New arrangements for a new term

Christopher, who is being awarded a Doctor of Arts Honorary Degree, has exhibited his work at three solo exhibitions. He has written two books with Thames & Hudson, been commissioned for work for the National Galleries of Scotland, Whitworth in Manchester, Birmingham Museum and Gallery, created a giant billboard installation at Glastonbury Festival and appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. Wolverhampton-born Jacqui, the first female commentator on the BBC’s Match of the Day -n has been named Pro-Chancellor at the University. She was awarded an Honorary Degree in 2016 in recognition of her outstanding contribution in sports broadcasting as well as championing diversity in sport.

Ahead of pupil’s return, parents and carers were being asked to follow the new arrangements that will be in place at the start and end of the school day at their child's school. Schools have put measures in place to help keep children and families as safe as possible at the beginning and end of school days. In Sandwell, in the West Midlands, Councillor Joyce Underhill, cabinet member for best start in life, said: "The new term is now just started and we and our schools and academies have some important continuing messages for parents to keep them and their children safe. “The majority of children will be kept in specific groups or bubbles to ensure reduced contact with others and we ask parents to make sure they are aware of new arrangements for their children. “Please check with your child’s school to update you on relevant data - and please stick to the times set out by the school.” The council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Maria Crompton added: “We need all parents to adhere to what is set out by our schools and academies and ask for everyone’s co-operation with this.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 29

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EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

free childcare for two-year-olds

arents and carers of children who are about to turn two, or who are already two years old, are being encouraged to find out about a free childcare scheme. Terrific for Twos gives children of eligible parents up to 15 hours of funded early education per week, either at a participating nursery, pre-school, school nursery or childminder. Children are eligible for 15 hours free under the scheme if their parents or carers receive one of a number of certain benefits, or if they are a looked after child, are adopted, or have a statement of special education needs or an education, health and care plan. For full details of eligibility, please visit www.terrificfortwos.com. Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Accessing early education gives your child the chance to learn, play and make new friends and the opportunity to develop and master new skills.

“It also supports them as they prepare for school by helping them to communicate, explore new experiences and be active and healthy. “I would encourage all eligible

parents and carers of two-yearolds, or little ones who are about to turn two, to take advantage of the Terrific for Twos scheme.” Eligible parents and carers should have received a Terrific for Twos

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postcard from the council. This is proof of entitlement and should be presented to a chosen Terrific for Twos childcare provider.

University set for £5 million expansion to its City South Campus Birmingham City University is set for a £5 million expansion to its City South Campus, which will provide additional teaching and training space for more than 1,000 healthcare and education students. The University has acquired a new property at 12 Harborne Road, close to its campus in Edgbaston, to boost capacity and learning space for students taking up courses at its Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences. The building has been purchased for £2.2 million with a further £2.8 million to be invested to transform it into a state-of-the-art training facility for students. The new building will provide a host of additional

teaching space for existing students, as well as creating capacity to train over 1,000 more public service professionals of the future. The Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences is the largest trainer of undergraduate nurses in the Midlands, and also offers training for a range of public service careers, including allied health professions and teaching. Executive Dean of the Faculty Professor Ian Blair said: “This is a truly fantastic acquisition for the University and Faculty. It will facilitate practical skills development for our nursing programmes and provide much needed teaching space for all courses based in City South.”

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EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Back To School: Worries About The Impact On Mental Health

s schools, colleges and universities get ready to welcome back students, new data reveals almost half (44%) of 11-18-year-olds in the East Midlands are worried that returning to education will impact their mental health. The survey, commissioned by the mental health anti-stigma campaign, Time to Change, showed that many young people are harbouring concerns about returning to education, but less than a third of parents in the East Midlands (29%) have spoken to their child about their mental health since the start of the summer break. Run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, it is urging all parents to act now and start a conversation about mental health, even if they do not suspect their child is struggling. The campaign says broaching the topic of mental health before school or college begins will show your child you are open and ready to support them if they need it now or later. Encouragingly, almost 74% of parents in the East Midlands said they would know how to spot the signs if their child was struggling

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but the fact that so few have broached the topic suggests less confidence around how to manage a conversation about mental health. Time to Change has compiled some tips to help parents start the conversation. 1. Normalise it: 1 in 8 young people have a mental health problem, and many more are worried about their mental health. 2. Check in: Your child’s feelings may change as the weeks and days go by and they adjust to the new normal. 3. It doesn’t need to be about them: Talking about mental health in general might help open a

dialogue. For example, ‘It can be stressful dealing with change can’t it?’. 4. Talk side by side: You don’t need to have a face-to-face sit down chat. Lots of young people might feel awkward about having a conversation, so take the pressure off by doing it while walking, cooking or driving. 5. Make it relevant: Some young people might not think mental health is relevant to them. But we all have mental health, which can range from good to poor. These are unsettling times and it’s important to discuss mental health even if your child isn’t in need of support Director of Time to Change,

Jo Loughran, said: “At this time, many young people are concerned about their mental health – regardless of whether they have a diagnosis. “It’s great that parents feel able to spot the signs, but we want to reassure them that having a conversation with their child won’t make them more susceptible to mental health problems or create issues that aren’t already there. It simply means they will know you are open to the topic, willing to listen and ready to support them if and when they need it.” Adam Howard, 20, experienced depression and anxiety throughout school and is now preparing to start University. He said: “I don’t want to cause my mom stress, but when I can I try to speak to her about how I’m feeling. “As I’m preparing to go to University I’ve told her that there’s a lot to take in right now, as my move in date is fast approaching, but I know we need to chat as it’s not good to suffer in silence.” As schools and colleges reopen, Time to Change will be working with education providers to help students and their parents learn more about mental health.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 31

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ENTERTAINMENT

Strictly's Bruno Tonioli to miss some of new series

runo Tonioli will not be behind the Strictly Come Dancing judges' desk for some of this year's series, while he takes part in the US version. The impassioned Italian usually appears on both Dancing With The Stars and the BBC show, flying back and forth. But that's not possible this year. He won't be replaced on the UK panel. The BBC said Tonioli would still "be involved remotely" in the Sunday results shows and then return, full time, "towards the end

of the series". This year's series will be will be "slightly" shorter than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic, the broadcaster has said. It normally begins in September and ends in mid-December. Its run largely overlaps with Dancing With The Stars, which normally ends in late November. The BBC hasn't said how long this series will be, or how long Tonioli will be away. The timing of his return is likely to depend on the transmission dates of Dancing With The Stars and any

quarantine requirements. Previously, Tonioli has commuted between the shows every week. However, the current rules say anyone flying from the US to the UK and vice versa must self-isolate for two weeks. The BBC also didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give any details of how he would take part in the results shows remotely. Tonioliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fellow UK judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood will all return.

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ENTERTAINMENT MOTORS New Bentley Fragrance Bottles A Signature Attitude For Men Bentley Fragrances, the international luxury brand, introduces Silverlake, an exciting new addition to its Bentley For Men range. Crafted from the highest-quality natural materials, this spirited new fragrance meets the same exacting standards as Bentley cars. The scent opens with a rush of icecool notes, as lemon and peppermint essences blend to create the effect of a gust of pure, invigorating mountain air. As the heart of the fragrance unfolds, the green, moist-earth accents of violet leaf absolute evoke a majestic forest, touched by the frosty bite of pink pepper essence. The cool sheen of lavender hints at the silver water of a lake, reflecting the clear blue sky. Boosting these bracing accords, a powerful blend of ambery woods carried by a breeze of pure white musk give the scent its crisp, modern, long-lasting trail.

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NISSAN GIVES A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL TO REMEMBER

issan is bringing e l e c t r i f i e d excitement to the UEFA Champions League Final by giving a lucky group of Nissan LEAF drivers a socially distanced game-day experience. With fans unable to attend this year’s game in person, Nissan is setting up a drive-in cinema for 50 LEAF owners, whose cars will be parked in team formation facing a giant screen, bringing them closer to the action while still maintaining social distancing. The watch party will take place at a secret location communicated only to the selected fans, each of

whom can bring a guest. Among those attending will be the owner of the 5,000th LEAF sold in Portugal and UEFA Champions League legend Nuno Gomes, who will join an exclusive meet-and-greet. With all necessary hygiene measures in place, the fans will also have access to the UEFA Champions League trophy for an exclusive photo opportunity, before it heads to the stadium. Nissan is in its sixth season as the official automotive sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, the world’s largest annual sporting event. “For six seasons now, we have been electrifying the UEFA

Champions League Final,” said Gareth Dunsmore, Vice President for Marketing Communications, Connected Car Services and Customer Experience at Nissan Europe. “This year, we felt even more motivated to add to the excitement of the event. “Nothing can recreate the excitement of being in the stadium, but we hope we can give our LEAF owners the next best thing.” In addition to hosting the watch party, Nissan will parade the UEFA Champions League trophy through Lisbon to Estadio Da Luz aboard its electric performance car, the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC.

Elfyn Evans Revved Up For WRC Restart In Estonia Elfyn Evans is relishing the restart of the FIA World Rally Championship – even more so as the Welshman currently holds a strong second place in the 2020 title race having made his best-ever start to a season. After the opening three rounds staged in Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico before the global COVID-19 lockdown, Evans is only topped in the points standings by Sébastien Ogier, his six-time World Champion teammate at Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.

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Now, after a six-month hiatus due to COVID-19, the WRC is ready to resume on the super-fast gravel roads of Estonia at the start of next month (4-6 September) and Evans is excited to be back behind the wheel. “It’s been a long lay-off for sure and I’m really looking forward to finally getting going again,” he confirmed after spending much of the last six months trying to keep match fit at home in north Wales by combining his mountain biking activities in Snowdonia with regular gym and

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weight sessions. To dust away any cobwebs, Evans and co-driver Scott Martin will be back together in their regular Toyota Yaris WRC to contest this Sunday’s nonchampionship South Estonia Rally. “We will treat that as a final warm-up to get us, and the team, back in the competitive groove,” he confirmed. “We will try to fine-tune a few different chassis set-ups and use the event as a competitive test session in the build up to Rally Estonia itself.”

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MOTORS

ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE GTE FIGHTS TO DOUBLE-PODIUM FINISH IN SPA

ston Martin Racing fought back from adversity in a fiercely-contested Total 6 Hours of Spa – Round 6 of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) – to record a hugely competitive double-podium in Belgium and maintain its convincing lead in the GT Manufacturers’ and GTE Pro Drivers’ standings. Despite two torrential rain showers, one of which forced the race to begin behind the Safety Car, three further Safety Car periods, two punctures and several critical strategic calls to manage an ever-changing race,

the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE driven by Danish duo Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen raced through to second place – finishing just 5.6s behind the GTE Pro leader. Behind them, in third position were their team-mates Maxime Martin (BEL) and Alex Lynn (GB), who came within seven minutes of fuel’s-worth of winning the Belgian race for the second year in succession. Another short Safety Car period was all they needed to save enough fuel for a brilliant victory, but alas in the end it required a spash-and-dash with two laps to go and they dropped

to third position. Moreover, the #97 crew had been nursing a brake issue in the closing stages and Martin drove brilliantly to fend off his rivals and take the podium. Aston Martin now leads the GT Manufacturers’ Championship by 29 points with 219, while Thiim and Sørensen hold a 19-point lead in the Drivers’ standings. The result also means that an Aston Martin Vantage GTE has finished on the podium 15 times out of 24 attempts, while at least one works Aston Martin Racing crew has stood on the podium at every race this season.

l Lynn and Martin

l Thiim and Sorensen

Countdown Underway To UK’s Biggest Motor Show

August should have held the opening day of the return of the muchanticipated British Motor Show. So although we are all a little sad here, we thought we would remind ourselves about what’s already planned at next year’s event. No other Motor Show has even delivered such a variety of content, celebrity guests and live action, nor has it had such a focus on supporting out incredible industry, which

contributes £18.6 billion to the British economy at a time when it needs it most. So today, it’s time to take a look at the list of what’s planned for the country’s premier automotive expo at Farnborough next August. There is so much already confirmed, so to celebrate the start of our 365-day countdown we thought we would summarise what is already confirmed for the show. Already confirmed are: Live Arena – One of the main

attractions is surely going to be the Live Arena. Paul Swift will be putting on no less than 3 different stunt shows each day, with a variety of classic and new cars. When Paul isn’t in the arena, we will have a variety of classic car and supercar parades, record breakers, solar cars, live group tests, mountain bike displays and more… Live Stage – Want to hang out with some of the most famous faces in motoring, take part in a quiz or have a bit of fun? The Live Stage is where you will find it, hosted by Mr Wheeler Dealer himself Mike Brewer. The stage will host celebrity interviews, quizzes, prize giveaways, panel sessions, new product launches and more, sure to be packed throughout the weekend Celebrities - Mike Brewer will be joined by a host of celebrities from the motoring world including Tim Shaw & Fuzz Townshend from CAR SOS, Mike Brewer, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Zef Eisenberg, Mike Rutherford and stars from the world of motorsport and TV and much more!

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Birmingham Hippodrome cancels Christmas season

s a theatre which stages one of the UK's most popular p a n t o m i m e s Birmingham Hippodrome has announced that it has cancelled its Christmas programme due to Covid-19 and will not reopen this year and that its major live performances were "not financially viable" amid social distancing. With productions in the main auditorium not resuming until February at the earliest, it said, it means that the festive pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, will not go ahead. Annual performances of The Nutcracker by Birmingham Royal Ballet, which uses the theatre as its home venue, have also been scrapped there.

The Hippodrome said the move followed discussions "at length" with both the ballet and pantomime producer, Qdos. Fiona Allan, the theatre's chief executive and artistic director said it was "a massive blow" to lose the shows. "It leaves us in a very difficult financial position... a quarter of our annual income comes from this Christmas season, 150,000 people come through our doors between pantomime and The Nutcracker, so it's really quite devastating. We're just trying to weigh-up it up, what it means, if we can continue to operate as we did before." The Hippodrome had previously announced scale backs because of the pandemic. In June, the theatre said about 60 employees - around

half its staff - could be made redundant in a bid to stay afloat. It benefitted from the government's £1.5bn support package for the arts, announced in July, but Ms Allan said social distancing prohibited full-scale productions. Goldilocks, starring Jason Donovan, has been rescheduled for the 2021 Christmas period. Reacting to the news on Twitter, Emma Rowley said: "My heart literally breaks with this news. I'm so sad to everyone at my absolute fave [sic] place." Leon Phillips added: "This is sad to hear, but at a time like this what else can you do, safety of your audience and staff members is very important, and your [sic] being very responsible at this moment.

"It's nice to see how understanding your audience member [sic] are as well." Birmingham Royal Ballet says it is "working hard" to find a new host for The Nutcracker and The Hippodrome said it would be contacting ticket-holders for the ballet production over the coming days. Qdos announced it was pushing back pantomimes in Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh and Southampton to next Christmas amid ongoing uncertainty about when theatres would be able to reopen fully. Its managing director Michael Harrison said: "The Birmingham Hippodrome pantomime is the UK's biggest regional panto and postponing the show has been a difficult decision."

Birmingham REP and BRB form creative partnership B irmi n gham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) have announced they are embarking on a creative partnership to work on new shows together, starting with a ballet inspired by social distancing. The two companies have joined forces to work together and develop dance productions for Birmingham audiences and help revive the city’s cultural life following lockdown. It is the creation of the companies’ new artistic leaders, Sean Foley at Birmingham Rep, and Carlos Acosta at BRB, both of whom joined their respective organisations within the past year. Acosta said: “I hoped the cross-sector collaboration would maximise our different creative networks and represented a shared vision to making Birmingham the greatest city in the arts". The partnership will begin with four shows staged for live audiences at the Birmingham Rep in October. These will include the premiere of a new ballet by Will Tuckett, Lazuli Sky, which is inspired by and uses social distancing. Of the plans Foley said: "This is the beginning of an exciting partnership that will encompass

full-scale productions, and new ways to create audiences together. Combining the Rep’s own history with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s reputation for worldclass ballet gives us both hope that we can help establish Birmingham as the very best city for theatre, for dance and the creative arts. "The arts must find new and inventive ways to collaborate and create new works. The new collaboration will deliver excitement and artistic excellence for the people of Birmingham and wider afield - both nationally, and internationally". Lazuli Sky will be part of a triple bill of ballet, with music by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, running from October 22 to 24 which will also include the neo-classical Our Waltzes by Vicente Nebrada and solo piece Liebestod, by Valery Panov. Birmingham Rep and BRB are also developing a new work for 2021 entitled City of a Thousand Trades, which will be part of a season celebrating 30 years since BRB moved from London to Birmingham. The one-act ballet, inspired by the stories of Birmingham and is residents, is due to premiere next May.

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 35

BIG DAVE’S SAFE PAGE

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Adapting To The New Classroom Environment

he role of a parent is to nurture, love and guide the early learning of their newborn babies and

toddlers. As an infant, we all show desire to imitate and copy others around us, for example when a baby see you standing up, they will try to do the same but of course until their limbs are strong enough and they are strong enough to stand on their own two feet , then they will topple backwards and their will be someone to catch them. As a parent we are there to prevent them from hurting themselves and show them how with a bit of support and by helping them to stand up they will be soon be making their first baby steps. As they get more confident we are able to let go of them but still are close by to catch them in case they start to topple over. As the child grows they become more inclined to imitate both good and bad behaviours that they see and hear around them, so it is important that the parent teaches them what is the difference, the Do’s, the Don’t, The How To’s and so on. On their first day of school, everyone including the parents and the children themselves are both anxious and excited to be taking this new step forward. Parents will always have a place to guide, develop and nurture their children’s future when they are at home. But now when the child enters the school classroom the parents and the children are given a helping hand in the form of the Teacher. The Teacher is there to support and feed the desire for knowledge and learning that all children have, they all want to know more about the world around them and having this hunger for knowledge develops our brain power. For the child themselves, this is a journey like no other. They will make friends of course and come across challenges with other children and adults alike. Some will handle this better than others and some will no doubt struggle to deal with the challenges they face. However, what is common is that no

matter how they decide to deal with these challenges, that come in many different ways, that they all need support and guidance to overcome and deal with them. Going back to school during the Coronavirus Pandemic or even joining a new school or class presents many complexities both for the children and for the teaching staff. For some this will just be part of their life’s story and adjust easily but for others there may well be fear and dread

of doing so. The children themselves and their parents will feel many different types of emotions ranging from the positive, upbeat and enthusiastic to the negative, downbeat and sadness and depression. For some children they will be seeing their school friends that they have missed seeing but there may be others that they would not have missed seeing for a number of reasons. One of which could be around the issue of peer pressure leading to bullying and being fearful of. So how should a child deal with the fact that they are being bullied themselves or indeed witnessing other children who are being bullied by

others around them - See my website www.bigdave.online for more help for the children and for the parent. The two things that really helped me when I was younger and being bullied was talking to someone who properly listened to what I was saying. A child must tell someone and not suffer in Silence. They must be encouraged to ‘Talk, Talk, Talk’ talk to their Parents, talk to their Teachers, talk to friends and or other adults. And when a child does talk to you, you should listen and act as appropriate. The second thing was by developing ‘A Never Say Can’t’ attitude, which has been the underlying characteristic that drives me on to achieve what I have been able to achieve. You are more powerful than you think. It is not the physical strength but it is the mind strength that we possess. Your Mind Is The Highest Level Of Strength. Big Dave can help to support both the children and the parents alike and has a lot of information and coping strategies to deal and manage some of these challenges. This can be found on my website www.bigdave.online. As adults we have to learn and adjust to the new norm with the Coronavirus Pandemic and our children will have to do the same. But they need the support of others, especially their parents, their teachers and friends around them. We are all learning new lessons in life and new words to describe what is happening and the meanings of these new words such as social distancing, lockdown, facemask and bubble. It is important that our children are supported through this critical time for their learning on life’s journey. Big Dave Says; Knowledge is power and with this power comes great responsibilities and we all need to support the children to understand the world around them and to get through together what is surely a dramatic period of everyone’s life journey and to adapt to the new classroom and dare I say world environment. Stay Safe Everyone and Spread The Love

The Art of Forgiveness

o’oponopono is a healing technique that was first practiced by the ancient Hawaiians and it has the simple message of repentance, gratitude but above all taking 100% responsibility for everything you say and do. The purpose is to clear negativity from the mind and thoughts and is used as a daily practice for healing, selftransformation, inner peace and love. Ho’o means ‘to make’ and Pono means ‘right’, as it’s repeated, it is being right with yourself and others ..... Ho’oponopono. It can be practiced in four easy steps and this is called the ‘Ancient Hawaiian Prayer’. Step 1. SORRY... Once you realise that YOU are responsible for everything you do and say, you will naturally feel sad or sorry. Maybe you’ve drunk too much, added a little more weight than you’d have liked to , started smoking again. So let’s say ‘I’m sorry’ to ourselves and mean and believe it. Step 2. PLEASE FORGIVE ME... It doesn’t have to be anything specific, you can just say those words and truly feel and believe that you want to be forgiven . Step 3. THANKYOU... Practice gratitude, be grateful for everything. Thank yourself for being YOU... Thank

your God, the Universe, the Angels, your Family/Friends , the food you eat, the Sunshine ... Step 4. I LOVE YOU... Nothing is more powerful than LOVE. Say I love you to the air you breathe , the food you have, Mother Earth, family/ friends/neighbours that surround you with love ... These four powerful phrases complete the Ancient Hawaiian Prayer .. I’m sorry, please forgive me, thankyou and I love you . You can say these words as a daily mantra as many times as you need to for yourself and others , just add your or their name or situation first then the prayer/mantra.. Believe me it is not an easy one to use, your ego will get in the way and say .. “Why should I say sorry or forgive” etc But Why Not? This is all about Self-transformation, making YOU a better person , the best life, relationships, friends etc that you can have. What’s Not To LOVE.

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ENTERTAINMENT

New Amazon Prime Video Announcements from Edinburgh TV Festival

t the Edinburgh TV Festival, Director of European Originals for Amazon Studios Georgia Brown announced two new Amazon Original shows, including a brand new eightpart immersive reality dating show and the brand new musical drama series, Jungle. The eight-part reality dating show, produced by Studio Lambert, will see a cast of grade-A unlucky-in-love Brits try to find ‘the one’ by going back to High School for a second time. The participants won’t just be going ‘back to school’ but entering the nostalgic pictureperfect world of 80s, 90s and 00s American High School movies to complete a search for love. Jungle follows the connected lives of two separate strangers, each facing their own struggles, viewed through the prism of UK grime and drill music. The series will be told through a unique blend of music and dialogue, working alongside creatively ambitious cinematography and design to create a tilted, timeless version of today’s world.

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Council chiefs welcome reopening of The Way Youth Zone C ouncil chiefs have welcomed the reopening of Wo l v e r h a m p t o n ’s state-of-the-art youth zone to more children and young people for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March. The Way began running evening sessions for limited numbers of visitors, bookable in advance, from Monday 13 July, and intends to deliver more evening sessions, mentoring, detached work, a targeted holiday club and a new dinner club, providing affordable

and healthy meals for families for £1, this month. To ensure the safety of young people, staff and volunteers, social distancing and additional hygiene measures are in place, with up to 40 visitors able to attend The Way at any one time,

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in ‘bubbles’ of 10. The centre had to close its doors in late March but was able to provide remote support to around 4,500 children and young people online and over the phone. This service continues. Councillor John Reynolds, the

City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "The Way is a fantastic facility which we should all be very proud to have in our city. “It managed to keep hundreds of children and young people active, entertained and engaged online throughout the coronavirus pandemic and it's great news that it has now reopened its doors in a Covid-secure way and is providing face to face activities to dozens of visitors every day. “Obviously, the full range of activities will not be available

immediately, but I would encourage children, young people and families to take advantage of the opportunities which are now on offer." Carla Priddon, CEO of The Way Youth Zone, said: “At the start of the coronavirus crisis, we pivoted our delivery model to ensure thousands of youngsters could still gain vital access to trusted, professional youth workers remotely. “Youth services are an essential part of helping a generation of young people that stand to be hit hardest by the economic, social, health and mental wellbeing implications of the crisis for many years to come. Achieving this whilst protecting the health and wellbeing of young people, employees, volunteers and the wider community is our primary focus. “We are delighted to be up and running in person once more, and it’s great to be able to welcome children and young people back into our centre. We will continue to monitor and review the coronavirus restrictions and respond accordingly.” The £5.5 million Youth Zone was developed by national charity OnSide Youth Zones, the City of Wolverhampton Council and the local business community and opened in 2016. In more normal times it supports over 1,000 young people aged eight to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, each week, offering state-of-the-art facilities including basketball courts, football pitch, climbing walls, dance studio, fully-equipped gym, music room and a gaming room, all for just 50p a visit. For further information on The Way Youth Zone, please visit www.thewayyouthzone.org.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 37

OBITUARIES AND NOTICE BOARD

Sir Alan Parker CBE

orn in London, the acclaimed double Oscar nominated British director of such films as Fame, Evita and Bugsy Malone, had many other credits including Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, The Commitments, Angela's Ashes and Birdy. Known for using a wide range of filmmaking styles and working in differing genres, his early career was spent as a copywriter and director of television advertisements. After about ten years of filming adverts, he began screenwriting and directing films. A founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain, he was also first chair of the UK Film Council receiving the CBE in 1995 then knighthood in 2002.

Fredie Blom T Dying after a lengthy illness, he is survived by his wife Lisa Moran-Parker, five children and seven grandchildren. He was 76.

he South African whose identity documents showed he was born in Eastern Cape province in May 1904, although that was never verified by Guinness World Records, was thought to be the oldest man in the world. When he was teenager, his entire family was wiped out by the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. He went on to survive two world

A.B. Raj

A wars and illegal apartheid regime. He once said that there was no special secret to his longevity. "There's only one thing - it's the man above (God)” he said. He spent most of his life as a labourer and only retired when he was in his 80s. due to the Covid crisis, he was unable to buy tobacco to roll his own cigarettes on his 116th birthday. He was 116.

fter moving to Sri Lanka, from 1951 to 1960, the director of Malayalam movies directed ten Singalese (Sinhala) movies followed by directing 65 Malayalam movies from 1963 till 1984. He has also directed two Tamil movies. During his 10-year-long stay on the island nation, he directed 11 Sinhalese movies, Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) Directors' Union said in a statement in Kochi. The director, producer and screenwriter is the father of National Award-winning actress Saranya Ponvannan - who is a leading actress in Tamil cinema – and was the Second Unit Assistant

Jack Morris Sherman Deidre

orn in Miami, Florida, the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist played on their debut album, and cowrote much of their second album ‘Freaky Styley’. He went on to collaborate with musicians Bob Dylan, George Clinton, Feargal Sharkey, and Peter Case. He was fired from the band when founding member, Hillel Slovak wanted to return to the band. In spite of this, he later provided the backing vocals to the band's albums Mother's Milk and The Abbey Road E.P. He later collaborated with Bob Dylan, funk musician George Clinton, as well as Feargal Sharkey and Peter Case.

Davis Butler

B When the Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, neither he nor guitarist Dave Navarro, were inducted. He died age 64.

orn in New Jersey, in the USA, she was a disability rights activist and federal official. The daughter of Hilton, a lawyer, and Bernice, a teacher, in her childhood, a spinal tumour and the surgeries and its treatment affected her ability to walk; she used leg braces and canes, and then a wheelchair. She attended Brandeis University, and Howard University School of Law, completing her degree in 1980.

From 1995 to 200D she served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel 1, and was head of the ADA Technical Assistance Division at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She was awarded NCIL's Max Starkloff Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, just before she died age 64.

Tony Morris

orn in Portsmouth, in Hampshire, he was a newsreader for Granada Reports, after working as a reporter and bulletin presenter for BBC North West Tonight and, for a brief period, a

Director of The Bridge on the River Kwai by David Lean. He directed about 65 Malayalam movies and many more in other languages and was also the president of Tamil Nadu Directors’ Union. He was 95 years old. reporter for the BBC national news. He also co-hosted BBC Birmingham's morning programme The Really Useful Show, in 1997. Prior to being a television journalist and news presenter, Morris worked as a DJ and served in the RAF. He joined BBC North West Tonight initially as a reporter for the flagship programme based in Manchester, later going on to present shorter bulletins, usually weekend bulletins and the regional bulletin following the BBC News at Ten. For a brief period, he worked as a reporter for the national news, being based in London. He had two adult daughters and died at Bury Hospice after being diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019.He was 57.

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Cancer fighting couple raise thousands for NHS Charity

couple whose lives have been blighted by cancer are urging people to get checked out if they suspect they have symptoms of the disease. Marjorie and Kenneth Davies, from West Bromwich, have both battled cancer and lost loved ones, but remain positive and have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity. Mr Davies, aged 79, is currently living with prostate cancer, after overcoming the disease in his

bowel and lungs, whilst Mrs Davies fought breast cancer in 1994. The couple were both treated at Sandwell Hospital over the years and have regularly raised money for cancer services through Your Trust Charity, the registered charity for the hospital. “The care we’ve received is second to none, and my husband is still receiving treatment. It is important that people remember cancer care is still going on throughout this pandemic,” Mrs

Davies, 83, said. She watched her mother die in 1955 of cancer. She recalled: “At the time there was no treatment at all, apart from morphine to help ease the pain. I had the same again in 1988 with my father, who used to be a miner. “In 1994 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and thought ‘that’s it’. I said to my husband ‘if he is going to take me, he’s got a fight on his hands’. “After my operation and a month of radiotherapy I returned to work

l Marjorie and Kenneth Davies within four months. All was going well until 2007, when my husband received a bowel screening test through the post. The result came back positive and within seven days he had undergone an operation. “Four years later he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had

chemotherapy and part of his right lung removed”. The couple remain strong: “I just want to stress to everyone that over the last 13 years, we have fought this together”, she says. However, the main backbone was the fantastic treatment and help we both received from the

doctors and nurses at Sandwell Hospital and the Macmillan staff everything was first class. “We cannot stress enough to people who receive a bowel screen test through the post, please do it, it has saved my husband’s life”, she added.

Council leaders praise efforts of health and social care workers l Social distanced meetings The continuing efforts of health and social care workers have been praised as they continue to face up to the coronavirus pandemic. Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, Councillor Ian Brookfield, and Cabinet Member for Adult Services Councillor Linda Leach visited the council-run Bradley Resource Centre and HARP (Home Assisted Reablement Programme) to meet staff who provide short term intensive reablement for people when they are discharged from hospital. And they paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of care workers across Wolverhampton

who have continued to support the city's most vulnerable residents throughout the national emergency. Cllr Brookfield said: "It was a pleasure to visit Bradley Resource Centre and speak to the team who work there. They have had a really difficult time over the last four months, but their energy and commitment to the elderly and vulnerable people who need their help has been absolutely amazing. “We got the chance to speak with staff and service users and see for ourselves the various safety measures that have been put into place at Bradley, like other council facilities, to make

them Covid-secure.” Cllr Leach added: "We should all be incredibly proud of the work of health and social care staff in our city. "They have shown incredible dedication and compassion through what has been a terrible time for our country, and on behalf of the council I want to thank them all for their fantastic work." The council’s Stay Safe, Be Kind campaign offers clear and simple advice about how people can help themselves, and how they can support others who may be particularly vulnerable at this time.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 39

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

New competition launched to honour the unsung heroes OF OUR NATION Oliver Ramirez, Brand Manager at Right Guard, said: “It’s interesting how when the chips are down, people place more value on the simple necessities they may not have paid much heed to before. We have always held NHS staff in high regard, but we now seem to have more appreciation for those who do what we might previously have thought of as more menial work.” Each lucky applicant sent a video of them speaking to camera, explaining exactly why the person they are nominating should be crowned Britain’s Unsung Hero and be awarded £2000 towards that life-changing experience.

nsung heroes of the pandemic – such as NHS workers, delivery drivers and supermarket workers – are at the top of Britain’s new pecking order and the most respected in society, a study shows. Research into attitudes during the coronavirus crisis shows a remarkable change in the social pecking order of how people who do different jobs are now regarded. Almost all those in key worker roles – such as food shop staff, bin men, delivery drivers, postmen

and carers – have joined NHS staff and paramedics and are now held in higher esteem than before. A study for toiletries giant, Right Guard, found that while the health and social work industry made the most difference during the pandemic (53%), followed by the whole sale and retail trade (31%), the Government were in the bottom half of the list (20%) along with the education sector who polled (8%). The findings come as Right Guard launches a nationwide competition to find the biggest unsung hero of the pandemic,

• • • • • • • • • •

THE CATEGORIES

NHS Worker Carer Great Neighbour Bin Man Shop-worker Sports/Fitness Legend Charity Fundraiser Community Hero Spirit Raiser Best of the Rest (please specify) Ramirez continued: “We want to celebrate the courage and hard work of these everyday superstars and reward them for being Britain’s unsung heroes by making their bucket-list dreams come true.”

Covid cases down but no room for complacency West Midland councils have warned that there is no room for complacency as public health teams continue their efforts to prevent further Covid-19 lockdowns across the region. The number of cases per 100,000 population for the seven metropolitan authorities dropped from 13.1 in the seven days up to and including July 27 to 11.5 for the seven days up to and including August 1 - significantly lower than the rates that prompted new lockdowns across parts of northern England and Aberdeen. Even so, the leaders of Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils insist businesses and individuals must continue to play their part in reducing the risk of a further significant spike.

with the prize of an incredible £2,000 towards a bucket-list moment of a lifetime for the winner. The survey of almost 170 adults in the West Midlands found that two-thirds of people now have more appreciation for essential shop workers and delivery drivers, while over half say the same for posties and bin men. But their opinions of journalists and politicians have gone down during the crisis, while attitudes to teachers have largely remained the same.

Survey Shows Positivity Is Harder For Women Women, particularly working mothers, are finding it harder than men to stay positive during the Covid-19 pandemic. That’s the result of a survey, carried out by Ipsos MORI online among 2,125 adults aged 18-75, which shows that over half of women say they are finding it harder to stay positive day-to-day compared with 44% of men. In addition, six in ten women say they are finding it harder to stay positive about the future compared with half of men Women are also more likely to say they are finding it harder to keep entertained, staying fit and healthy, being able to work and being able to afford their usual expenses. Women are also more concerned than men

about the mental and emotional toll the pandemic will have over the next 12 months. While there are similar levels of concern over these measures among working parents, working mums are

significantly more likely than working dads to be concerned about the impact it will have on their mental health However, on a more optimistic note, half of parents say that the Coronavirus crisis is likely to have a positive impact on their relationship with their children over the next year, compared with just seven per cent who say it will have a negative impact. On this measure, there is no difference between working mums and dads. The one area where men are more concerned than women is the impact it will have on their relationships; single men are more worried about the impact of the pandemic on their romantic relationships than single women.

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OVERSEAS NEWS

Finnish town offers rewards for cutting CO2 emissions Lahti, a town in Finland, offering cake, free transport tickets and other rewards to locals who cut their carbon emissions, has developed an app that tracks residents' CO2 outlays based on whether they travel by car, public transport, bike or on foot. The app, called CitiCAP and developed with European Union funds, gives volunteers a weekly carbon quota. If their allowance is not exhausted, participants get virtual money that can be used to buy bus tickets, access to the swimming pool or a piece of cake. Ville Uusitalo, the project's research manager, said: "You can earn up to two euros (per week) if your travel emissions are really low. But this autumn, we intend to increase the price tenfold.” Currently, around 44% of trips in the city are considered sustainable. Head of the project, Anna Huttunen, said: "Lahti is still very dependent on cars. Our goal is that by 2030 more than 50% of all trips will be made via sustainable means of transport”. On average, a resident Lahti — population 120,000 people — "emits the equivalent of 21 kilograms of CO2 per week", according to Uusitalo. The app challenges users to reduce their carbon emissions by a quarter. So far 2,000 residents have downloaded the app, with up to 200 of them using it simultaneously. CitiCAP's developers hope similar tools in the future will help people manage their consumptionrelated emissions. "Mobility is only part of our carbon footprint," Uusitalo said.

US Virgin Islands adopts strong measures to counter COVID-19

s part of the US Virgin Islands’ firm public health response to the recent spike in positive COVID-19 cases, accommodation-providers are barred from admitting or checking-in leisure guests for 30 days, unless Governor Albert Bryan Jr’s order is lifted earlier. However, the Islands’ Department of Tourism has assured stakeholders that it is working closely with airline partners to ensure the territory has ample airlift during and after the current restriction on leisure travel. Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte explained that, even though the territory was currently in the “Stay-atHome” (Orange alert) phase of its COVID-19 response,

airlift connectivity remains critical for travel to and from the territory as residents, business travellers, flight crews, emergency personnel, and government guests, with written authorization from the relevant government agency, are still permitted to travel. Hopeful for a smooth reopening to leisure travellers when the latest 30-day ‘leisure lockdown’ is suspended, he said: “We are hoping for another swift and seamless reopening to leisure visitors provided we can flatten the current curve. “We must work together to avoid further shutdowns, which will help to restart economic activity and generate important revenues and income for our government and our residents. “We are blessed to work with some wonderful partners who, at a difficult time for us, continue

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l Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and her husband, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli

Bollywood star Anushka Sharma and cricket legend Virat Kohli expecting a baby

l US Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte to transport passengers to and from our islands and maintain critically important links to the U.S. mainland.” Commissioner Boschulte continued that, in these uncertain times, residents should not let their guards down “for one

minute” and had to recognize the fact that “only together are we stronger and able to overcome the enormous challenges thrust up by this pandemic of biblical proportions”.

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B ollywood actress Anushka Sharma and her husband, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, have announced that they are expecting a baby. The couple shared the news on Twitter, where an amalgamation of their names - Viruskha - started trending right after. Posted from their respective accounts they both said: "And then, we were three! Arriving Jan 2021”. Bollywood celebrities, including Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Priyanka Chopra, have congratulated the couple on social media. The star couple got married in Italy in December 2017 in a close-knit affair. Shortly after the announcement, fans took to Twitter to celebrate the news. The couple are extremely popular on social media - millions follow them across different platforms. Sharma's Instagram post has received 2.6 million likes within just two hours. Sharma is one of the most successful actors in Bollywood. Her hits include PK, Sultan, Dil Dhadakne Do and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. She recently produced the critically acclaimed crime web-series Pataal Lok. Kohli is in Dubai, along with his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammates, to play in the Indian Premier League. The 13th edition of the Twenty20 cricket tournament will be played in the United Arab Emirates from 19 September to 10 November. The tournament is being held in Dubai due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in India.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 41

OVERSEAS NEWS

Dorsett Wanchai and Mongkok Win 2020 Travellers’ Choice Award

ovid-19 has definitely affected many people in one way or another, but it hasn't stopped the two sister hotels - Dorsett Wanchai and Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong from achieving more. Both hotels saw their hard work being paid off when they were announced the award-winners of the 2020 Travellers' Choice Award by TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel platform. The annual award recognizes the top 10% of hotels that perform exceptionally well in the hospitality businesses based on a large volume of positive travellers' reviews received globally and verified by TripAdvisor in the past year. Ms Anita Chan, General Manager of Dorsett Wanchai and Dorsett Mongkok said: "Despite tourism industry being heavily impacted by Covid-19, our commitment to serving our guests with genuine hostility has never once been shaken by the pandemic. Winning this award has a special meaning for us this year. Not only does it assures our

guests that we are still a trusted place to stay, it also proves that nothing is impossible with a passionate heart. At Dorsett, the safety and wellbeing of the guests and staff has always been the top priority. In the past few months, they have been taking cautious steps to upgrade our safety measures. They have partnered with Ecolab and use their medical grade disinfectant; we also incorporate technology to increase cleaning and disinfecting efficiency, such as the AI vacuum cleaner and AI thermal scanner. They have also launched a new foodpanda menu to enhance our in-room dining experience, and a vending machine fully-stocked with sanitizing amenities and daily necessities to provide convenience for in-house guests. "We are better prepared than ever in face of the pandemic in Hong Kong. When you are ready to travel again, we are ready to serve you at Dorsett," said Ms Chan.

Tributes paid worldwide for 50th Anniversary of MV Christena disaster Commemorations were afoot as the people on the Caribbean island of Nevis marked the 50th anniversary of the M.V. Christena Disaster. MV Christena was a 160-foot, government-owned and operated ferry boat, which for the previous 11 years had worked the 12-mile route between Basseterre, the capital of the island of St. Kitts, and the Nevis island capital of Charlestown. It was on Saturday 1 August 1970 – which marked the annual Emancipation Day holiday - when the ferry boat was overloaded on her final run of the day from St. Kitts to Nevis. With a passenger capacity of 155, on that day there was approximately 320 people aboard on the fated vessel. Only 91 people survived, and the great majority of those were people that had to be rescued.

Caribbean Islands Form an Eight-Pronged Travel Alliance A group of eight neighboring islands have joined forces to rethink and re-imagine their tourism marketing strategy in the post-Covid era, Loop Cayman Islands reports. Nevis, St. Kitts, Saba, Statia, French Saint Martin, Dutch St. Maarten, Anguilla and St. Barths have come together to form a Caribbean Group of 8, recognising that through a joint collaboration they can amplify their presence in the marketplace and create new travel possibilities and fresh itineraries for consumers. “We are delighted to launch this new initiative,” said Jadine Yarde, CEO, Nevis Tourism Authority. “Our common objective is to promote intraregional travel, capitalising on our proximity to each other, and today’s travelers’ desire to discover new experiences, collecting passport stamps along the way for bragging rights.” The collaboration has produced an introductory video, with highlights of what makes each island special and different from their neighbours. The twominute video will be rolled out across all their social platforms starting this week. The underlying message is

l Jadine Yarde, CEO, Nevis Tourism Authority. that there is no better place than the Caribbean for travelers who are ready to venture forth when the time is right. “St. Eustatius welcomes the coming together of all the neighbouring Islands in producing this video which is testimony to our solidarity and our unison as one Caribbean destination, said Charles Lindo, Director of Tourism for Statia.” “Saba welcomes this collaborative initiative and looks forward to welcoming visitors to the Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean, a safe haven where culture, history and nature abound,” stated Glenn Holm, Director of Tourism for the Saba Tourist Bureau. Nevis, St. Kitts, Saba, Statia,

Saint Martin, St. Maarten, Anguilla and St. Barths represent a combination of current and former Dutch, British and French island territories. Each island is a unique encounter, reflecting the vibrant Caribbean culture, creativity and hospitality which has made the region the preferred destination for travelers across the globe. Together they offer a huge array of experiences, cuisines, art, music and literature, against the backdrop of stunning landscapes, spectacular beaches, land and water sports, and boutique accommodations at a range of price points.

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HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL

Don’t miss out on our Education, Training & Recruitment Section

Coverage on Pages 14 & 15!

Longleat's Christmas Land of Light L

ongleat will be magically transformed into a festive Land of Light this winter as part of a brand new Christmas event. Running from 7th November to 21st January 2021, Land of Light features over 6,000 spectacular light sources, illuminating seven themed areas across the Wiltshire estate. Specially created for Longleat, the Land of Light's technology, art and interactive installations provide a stunning alternative to the Festival of Light, which has had to be postponed due to coronavirus, and will return in 2021. See sensational projections light up the iconic Longleat House, dancing fountains and amazing animated laser shows suspended above Half Mile Lake. Venture into the 70-metre long sensory tunnel before heading inside The Longhouse for a 360° infinity experience featuring mirrored walls and hundreds of diffracted laser beams. Longleat famous 20-metre tall singing Christmas tree returns to the Stable Yard and the Santa Train will be back to whisk visitors away to Father Christmas' magical woodland grotto and much much more.

Mexico's Longest Beach Is Getting Ready for a Summer of Social Distancing

laya Novillero Beach extends way past what the eye can see and is a truly majestic spot along the north coast of Riviera Nayarit. Not only is this beach the longest in Riviera Nayarit, but also in Mexico, and is among the top five longest beaches in the world. You

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really have to see it to believe it! Located in Riviera Nayarit, along Mexico's Pacific coast, Playa Novillero stretches almost 56 miles and is nearly half a kilometre wide. This means that over 40,000 people would be able to visit this beach and comfortably social distance from another person… that's the size of a

large town! It's the perfect spot for some real nautical adventures or simply for an afternoon of total relaxation watching the stunning sunsets. Playa Novillero also offers some great long walks, canoeing, and boat tours. This untouched paradise has fine, soft sand—the perfect complement to its calm waters. The warm,

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tranquil waters are ideal for children and novice swimmers; meaning that the whole family will be able to enjoy the safe water together. Beach-goers can walk out into the open Pacific Ocean waters for almost 100 metres, and flipflops can be left on their towels as the silky golden sand provides the ultimate cushioning.

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n awe-inspiring 25-minute seaplane journey from Male, offering breathtaking aerial views over whitesanded, turquoise fringed cerulean atolls of the Maldives, brings guests to the pristine South Ari Atoll and the beaches of lti Maafushivaru. Having welcomed their first guests on the 16th August 2020, lti Maafushivaru is a newly renovated world class resort, offering sophisticated and discerning travellers contemporary luxury fused perfectly with small island charm. The island resort of Maafushivaru has been totally refurbished complete with spacious, chic villas both on the beach and over the water; dining has been a focus for the newly designed resort which blends international tastes and iconic architecture with incredible views and unique twists. Each of the perfectly designed luxury villas available come complete with thoughtful touches and modern luxuries, enabling you to enjoy a relaxing break up close to nature. Choose your personal sanctuary with uninterrupted bespoke views of the white sandy beach or the endless turquoise expanse of the Indian Ocean; wander out of your villa onto the beach or walk directly down into the water below from your private decking. Beach Villas feature an outdoor bathroom and a spacious oceanfacing sundeck for you to enjoy the picture-perfect seascape. Water Villas, positioned over the water, offer stunning views of the lagoon alongside a spacious bedroom, sun deck and panoramic views from the bath. The Beach Pool Villas, just mere steps away from the sea, offer a private infinity pool to dip in if the mood takes you, as

The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 43

HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL

Reimagined & Ready Blenheim Palace Invites Kids to Go Really Wild Budding Bear Grylls and mini Megan Hines will be able to hone their survival skills as part of a summer of bushcraft activities at Blenheim Palace. Launching on Saturday, 15th August, Bushcraft Summer Entertainment features archery and axe-throwing as well as shelter building and the art of camouflage and concealment. Taking place daily in the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site's walled garden, which is normally off limits to visitors, youngsters take part in one-hour sessions under the expert guidance of leading outdoor activity specialists The Bushcraft Company. well as a silver glass crystal tiled bathroom, with separate indoor and outdoor shower in your private garden. The stunning Duplex Pool Villas are the perfect choice for families or friends travelling together; built on two-levels, with each floor featuring a spacious bedroom comprising of a kingsize bed, bathroom with rainfall shower and toilet, and a balcony on the first floor with amazing views of the turquoise lagoon. The garden bathroom comes with a free-standing bath and open-air shower for a truly indulgent tropical experience.

At the front of the villa, the sparkling private pool invites you to enjoy sea views from the comfort of the cool water. Back over the ocean, The Water Pool Villas offer the perfect Maafushivaru experience with luxurious space from the private walkway access to the bedroom and separate bathroom complimented by the stunning views of the blue lagoon. Each bathroom features a freestanding bath, twin vanity and rainfall shower, while outside, the private deck with pool blends seamlessly into the ocean vista.

Pure Grenada Recognised As A 'Safe Travels' Destination The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has recognised efforts of the Government of Grenada in introducing enhanced health and safety measures and creating a safe, gradual plan in restarting its Tourism industry. In a letter written by President and CEO of the WTTC, Gloria Guevara to the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), she thanked the GTA for implementing health and safety measures in line with â&#x20AC;&#x153;WTTC global Safe Travels protocols, developed to optimise sector-wide recovery efforts by rebuilding confidence among travellers.â&#x20AC;? This vote of confidence was given after the GTA submitted its health and safety protocols developed for the six subsectors of Tourism to the WTTC for review, and complments the launch this month of the latest social media and travel trade campaign by the island: Pure

Grenada, Just-For-You. The subsectors include: Attractions, Food and Beverage, Accommodation, Transportation, Tourism Services and Watersports. The WTTC approved the protocols and has now given its permission for Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean to use its WTTC 'Safe Travels' Stamp. The Safe Travels stamp is

the world's first global safety and hygiene stamp for Travel and Tourism, designed to address COVID-19 and similar outbreaks. Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is now part of a growing global network of leading destinations that have committed to rebuilding confidence among travellers, and within the sector, so 'safe travels' can be enjoyed.

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Page 44 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

AZUZA STREET

Celebrating 25 years of London Mandir A s with the opening of the Mahotsav in 1995, its 25th anniversary commenced with the Janmashtami festival, where swamis explored the life and messages of Shri Krishna Bhagwan and reflected on the beginning of its inspiring journey. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj inaugurated BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, as it created history – it was the first traditional Hindu Mandir of its kind in the western hemisphere as it crafted the future for thousands of worshippers and well-wishers. Affectionately known as ‘London Mandir’ and ‘Neasden

Temple’, it serves as a place of devotion and learning, every room, passageway and corner there is infused with unforgettable memories and inspiring moments with Pramukh Swami Maharaj with its internationally acclaimed architectural marvel, and sanctuary of peace, harmony and community service, it is seen as a precious, eternal gifts that the Mandir has presented - to men, women and children for the last 25 years. A regular venue for members of the Royal family, on the forth of his visit to the west London place of worship, His Royal Highness Prince Charles emphasised how hugely inviting the Mandir was,

and still is as “they always afforded the most marvellous welcome there” he enthused. “First, I was struck by the beauty and craftsmanship of the building” He said. “One marvels at the remarkable spirit of community and volunteer service and the sheer sense of peace and tranquillity one gets when there. On His meeting with His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, The Prince of Wales said: “I first met his Holiness in Neasden in 1997 and I was deeply touched by his sincerity, warmth and humility as he exemplified kindness and humility – qualities that guided all your volunteers from across the

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UK to complete the construction in only three years. “It’s remarkable that it has become a thriving centre for Hindu community and I am particularly

impressed with how it has reached out beyond the Hindu community and welcomed visitors from all faiths – as well as those of no particular faith - to share and learn from each other. He went on: “I am immensely proud of how the Hindu community have been so active for those in need, especially during these trying times of the Covid-19 pandemic. The work the Neasden Mandieer lies in the message; ‘In the joy of others lies our own’.” Built entirely using traditional methods and materials, the Swaminarayan mandir has been described as being Britain's first authentic Hindu temple. Hailing 25 years of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, Indian Prime Minister,

Pope calls for Covid-19 vaccine that includes all

In an address from the Vatican, Pope Francis said any potential Covid-19 vaccine should be made available to all. The Pontiff said: “It would be sad if, for the vaccine for Covid-19, priority were to be given to the richest! It would be sad if this vaccine were to become the property of this nation or another, rather than universal and for all”. He issued his comments followed a warning by World Health Organization DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, against “vaccine nationalism.” In his speech Pope Francis said:

Narendra Modi, said: “The Neasden Temple has been at the forefront of many community service initiatives”. A colourful programme to mark its anniversary explored and celebrated the inspirational sacrifices of the people who made the Mandir possible and their continuing contributions over the last 25 years, especially highlighting how and why women of all ages are an indispensable part of its past, present and future. The unique Vedic ceremony was conducted from the shrines of London Mandir by resident swamis as prayers were carried out in the name of peace, protection and prosperity for our families and the world.

“The pandemic has laid bare the difficult situation of the poor and the great inequality that reigns in the world. And the virus, while it doesn’t make exceptions among persons, has found in its path, devastating, great inequalities and discrimination, and it has increased them.” “If we can work together, we can ensure that all essential workers are protected, and proven treatments like dexamethasone are available to those who need them, he said. “Sharing finite supplies strategically and globally is actually in each country’s national interest. No one is safe until everyone is safe”. Tedros said: “While there is a wish amongst leaders to protect their own people first, the response to this pandemic has to be collective”.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 45

LET’S TALK WITH DONALD CAMPBELL

Let’s Talk

With Donald Campbell

Children of the Sun Summer School

hildren of Summer school asked TNCMC Representative Donald Campbell 20 questions on the 12th & 18th August 2020. An impromptu opportunity germinated in the moments before a scheduled presentation of The National Caribbean Monument Charity (TNCMC) on 12th August 2020. While waiting for my appointment, I struck up a conversation with Marcia Anderson, founder and coordinator of Children of the Sun Summer School. Marcia asked if I could speak to her summer school attendees that day as it would provide extracurricular learning for the 7 – 15 year olds. Delighted,

I immediately accepted her invitation to engage with this most precious captive audience. The children were challenged to ask 20 questions in order to discover my current and past profession. Bursting with enthusiasm, their hands raised eagerly, posing numerous questions. Their interest and excitement to learn about an unusual subject was evident. The children quickly figured out my current profession as a chauffeuring company director and also my previous occupation as RAF Serviceman. My Royal Air Force experience soon became the kid’s focal interest point. They learned the main difference between the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air

Force as being sea going, land based and airborne, respectively. They further learned that the 3 divisions are collectively called the Armed Forces with the Royal Navy being the oldest and the Royal Air Force, the youngest. It was important to inform the children that the Armed forces defend our nation and prevent wars so that we can all remain free. The children learned that sailors serve in the Royal Navy, soldiers serve in the Army and airmen and airwomen serve in the Royal Air Force. Collectively, they are called Service Personnel or Servicemen and women. The questioning led to The National Caribbean Monument Charity (TNCMC) and its mission to recognise their

grandparents or relatives who served in the military. The charity seeks to establish a monument for Caribbean Servicemen and women at the National Memorial Arboretum - the UK’s living centre of remembrance in Staffordshire. This was a marvellous experience where learning certainly flourished. It is vitally important that youngsters appreciate their rich heritage and the valiant contributions made by their predecessors in defending the liberties enjoyed today.

It was hugely rewarding to raise the awareness of these young minds in understanding the proud legacy they are called to build on. It was refreshing to observe the innocence of these youngsters who appeared unfettered and unduly influenced by our heavily biased and often cynical world. Education from the earliest age is critical to unification of mind and soul of mankind. Children of the Sun Summer School is Marcia’s wonderful initiative to bridge the gap on

Saturdays and between school terms, exacerbated now by COVID-19. My visit was so successful that a second visit to the school on 18th August occurred allowing me to follow up on the children’s retention and also present visual aids of both the military and charity. For more information about the school Marcia Anderson can be contacted on 07933823505 or email: marcia.anderson21@yahoo.com.

A MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE Maybe it’s true Maybe it’s not Sometimes blue Often so trapped Variety, the spice we need It determines the life we lead The ingredients of life In abundance, or just tripe The meagre setting Or dripping with fat Give your tongue a wetting Or exist, just that A walk in the park A kiss in the dark Where’s the eye upon? Around the corner you look Only to find a book The cover, which takes your fancy Is the content so dandy? Who cares? By Donald Campbell 24th August 2020

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Page 46 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020

PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE

Martineau Gardens are Finalists in Persimmon Homes’ Building Futures

artineau Gardens, a Therapeutic Community Garden in Edgbaston, in Birmingham, is on the shortlist to win a share of Persimmon Homes’ Building Futures £1million pot supporting under-18s nationwide but first they need online votes to win. Persimmon Homes West Midlands is backing Martineau Gardens to be a prize winner in October, where cash awards of £100,000, £50,000 or £20,000 will be made to those winning the most online votes. Tim Bruton representing Martineau Gardens said: “It is a huge achievement to have been selected as a regional finalist, but now we really need people to get behind us and get voting so that we are in the strongest possible position to earn one of the top

three cash awards on the night. “We have an excellent Environmental Education programme and thousands of family visits each year. If we are fortunate enough to win the public vote we will be able to build a dedicated classroom and improve the children’s play area to enhance the natural play experience.” He added: “Voting could not

be simpler. Just log on to www. persimmonhomes.com/buildingfutures/finalists and select Martineau Gardens and vote for us. We would really appreciate everyone’s support. Please vote as often as you can.” Building Futures is being delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation. Through the scheme, a total of 128 grants

of £1,000 have been awarded to groups supporting sport, education & arts and health across Persimmon’s 31 regional businesses and its head office. Persimmon Homes is an official partner of Team GB and the Persimmon Charitable Commission enlisted the help of athletes Jason Kenny and Laviai Nielsen to help determine the three regional finalists for each business division. One initiative from each category will go on to win £100,000 each through a national award scheme to be decided by a public vote. As well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize in each sector; while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000. Online voting opened on 27 July and will close at midnight on 18 September 2020.

West Midlands Zero Carbon Economy Outlined In Report

new report by the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) sets out the potential for a regional strategy, which includes direct input from workers, to create new highquality jobs on the path to netzero carbon emissions. Figures commissioned by the TUC from Transition Economics show how many jobs would be created in the next two years in English regions and Wales as part of a national programme to fast-track investment in green infrastructure. The report estimates that 46,576 jobs would be directly created over the next two years in the West Midlands, with thousands more new jobs in supply chains likely to be supported in the region as well. The direct jobs include: • 13,249 jobs building new social housing; • 12,141 jobs retrofitting social housing to higher environmental standards; • 14,122 jobs creating sustainable transport networks, with expanded rail, electric car charging points and more cycle

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lanes and pedestrian routes; • 1,013 jobs in reforestation. The report, ’Voice and place: how to plan fair and successful paths to net zero emissions’, is based on research in five UK nations and regions and draws on the expertise of local union reps on the challenges and opportunities in their area. The results are presented as a series of case studies for Northern England, North West England, the Midlands, Wales, and Yorkshire and Humberside, with recommendations for regional and national policy. While each case study reveals specific opportunities and challenges, the findings collectively demonstrate the importance of having a placebased strategy – tailored for the industry, culture and geography of each region – giving workers a voice this time, as they had no say in the transition from traditional industry to an economy based on services in the 1980s, and regional recovery and transition panels. Lee Barron, TUC regional

secretary for the Midlands said: “The West Midlands has huge economic strengths. Our central location, our fantastic universities and our leading role in advanced manufacturing puts us in a strong position to secure growth and good jobs. “Indeed, the West Midlands has been synonymous with manufacturing in general, and the motor industry in particular. It is very much in the DNA of the region. But a just transition must ensure that the skills and future of the automotive sector is secured for future generations. “We want to work with the West Midlands Combined Authority and other West Midlands partners, using local knowledge and expertise to meet our region’s needs and build on our strengths.”

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2020 - Page 47

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS

JACK LESLIE STATUE CAMPAIGN reaches TARGET C rowdfunders have raised £100,000 to erect a statue of a footballer who was dropped from the England team when selectors discovered he was Black. Jack Leslie would have been the first Black person to play for the nation having been selected in 1925. A campaign for his statue outside Plymouth Argyle's Home Park stadium has attracted donations from nearly 2,000 people since July. Campaign co-founder Greg Foxsmith said he was "delighted" by the news. Leslie joined Argyle in 1921 and stayed there for 14 years, making 401 appearances and scoring 137 goals. Club chairman Simon Hallett said: "Jack was not just a great footballer. He has become a symbol of the injustices in our game and in our society. "I hope that when we have his statue up it will become an enduring symbol of the progress we can make in fighting the evil of racism." Leslie's granddaughter Lyn Davies said: "I nearly fell over

when I realised we had gone over the £100,000. It's just amazing, I'm stunned." Lesley Hiscott, another granddaughter, said she was "over the moon" and "ecstatic". Former Argyle player Ronnie Mauge described the campaign as "phenomenal" and said he was "so proud of the Plymouth people and the club". "He [Leslie] laid the foundation for someone like me to go to Plymouth," Trinidad and Tobago international Mauge added. Argyle supporter and comedian Josh Widdicombe said the campaign had "shined a light" on racism in football. Mr Foxsmith said: "We want to use the Jack Leslie story to highlight those issues, to challenge prejudice, to challenge discrimination, and to show in 2020 we can be better than we were in 1925." Fundraising for the statue will continue, with proposals for its design considered by Leslie's family and fans.

CW Games 2022 athletes’ village plan scrapped Organisers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have abandoned plans for an athletes' village. Instead, student accommodation at the universities of Birmingham and Warwick will be used to house competitors, as well as the National Exhibition Centre. The decision to move away from a new single-site - the village in Perry Barr was set to cost £500m - has been blamed on delays in construction due to Covid-19, but new housing and transport links will still be built, but with under two years to go until the £778m event, the decision will be seen as a major setback. Birmingham City Council had pledged to build accommodation for up to 6,500 athletes for the 2022 games, under its host city contract.

British Athletics World Class Programme Update British Athletics has announced that it has accepted a request from World Championship finalist Sophie McKinna to take up the original offer of membership to the Olympic World Class Programme (WCP) for 2020. Shot putter McKinna enjoyed a memorable 2019 reaching her maiden World Championship final in Doha with a personal best of 18.61m, rounding a progression of 85 centimetres from 2018, and winning the first British titles of her career indoors and outdoors. She was given the chance to join the WCP at the start of December however athletes can use their discretion should they not wish to accept membership. Following a request to British Athletics, McKinna will now take up her membership, which remains open to all athletes offered it for any given year. She will be welcomed at Podium Potential level.

Sophie said: “I am very pleased to be accepted into the WCP. during the season British Athletics have supported me through injury and allowed me to get back to full fitness quickly. “I am very much looking forward to pushing on with the remainder of the 2020 season and onward to 2021.” Head of Field & Combined Events at British Athletics, Peter Stanley, said: “Sophie is a brilliant young athlete who we believe will benefit greatly from being on the World

Class Programme and we look forward to working closely with her as she continues her development guided by her coach, Mike Winch.” The British Athletics WCP is UK Sport’s National Lotteryfunded initiative to support the delivery of success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Membership onto the WCP for 2020 is based upon an athletes’ potential to win a medal at Tokyo 2020 or Paris 2024.

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Jack Leslie Statue Campaign Reaches Target - Page 47

British Athletics Update - Page 47

the Sisters putting Malawi women's football on the map

McCaskill Becomes The New Undisputed World Welterweight Champion

hen the Chinese Women's Super League resumed it featured Malawian sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga and was the first time the sisters played against each other competitively having appeared together for the national team, Malawian club DD Sunshine and Swedish side Kvarnsveden. Following in her big sister's footsteps after Tabitha, 24, was recently voted the league's Player of the Year for a second year in a row, Temwa, 21, who plays for Wuhan FC admitted: "Both of us always do our best to see who the best was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Back home the family are very happy about us. My parents never thought their children would be playing football outside of the country. But now it's happening." Tabitha said: "She's a very good player, and the thing is everyone will be working hard to make her team and fans happy." She added: "Growing up, I never saw myself as different from boys - whatever they did, I believed I could, and went for it." Her big break came when an American lady working for a local NGO was persuaded to join DD Sunshine, by two colleagues who were players at the club. She was later transferred to Sweden by the NGO, where she would continue to pursue her newly-found passion

l Jessica McCaskill with her 6 belts

of football. When she approached Krokom Dvarsatts, the club contacted DD Sunshine to discuss terms for the American and he said they could take her without paying on condition they would try out another of his players whom he believed was more talented. "When Krokom Dvarsatts hesitated, Mr Dube offered to pay visa and flight costs for me to travel to Sweden for trials," Tabitha said. "I joined the team for training on

the same day I arrived and they were immediately impressed with my strength, dribbling, shooting from far and scoring skills." The pair are helping to improve the fortunes of the national team as they led them to the second round of Tokyo Olympic qualifiers with 14-1 aggregate win over neighbours Mozambique. They won the home leg 11-1 with Temwa scoring five times to outshine her big sister, who 'only' managed a hat-trick. In the

second round they beat Kenya 3-2 in Malawi, with two goals from Tabitha, but then lost 3-0 in the return leg. The sisters' achievements have not gone unnoticed back in Malawi with Tabitha not only being named captain of her national team but also being named Malawi Sports Personality of the Year and Sports Woman of the Year in 2019.

Jessica McCaskill handed Cecilia Braekhus her first professional defeat in a huge upset to become the undisputed world welterweight champion. American McCaskill, 35, won by majority decision in Tulsa to take Braekhus' WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO and WBO belts. Victory would have seen Norway's Braekhus, 38, beat Joe Louis' streak of 25 straight title defences in an 11-year reign. "This is for the fourth-gradeyear-old homeless Jessica," said McCaskill. "This is for the little girl that just didn't care what people thought about her and learned

to love herself even though she was really weird." Braekhus, who became welterweight world champion in 2009, said: "If this is my last fight, I could leave women's boxing and just say, 'I was a part of this. I was a part of taking women's boxing to this level.'" McCaskill, also the unified world light-welterweight champion, is now expected to face the winner of the rematch between Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon on 22 August. Ireland's Taylor beat McCaskill by unanimous decision in December 2017 to retain her WBA world lightweight title.

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