Coronavirus
Birmingham LGBTQ nightclub offers closed premises as free NHS vaccination centre
As the UK’s coronavirus vaccination roll-out gets underway with the newly approved Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine suitable for standard refrigeration, a nightclub in Birmingham has offered their premises for use by NHS staff. Management at the aptly-named Nightingale Club in the city, which has been closed since March last year, have offered the venue to NHS staff for…
Miss Black Country nominated for ‘Unsung Hero Award’ at BBC Sports Personality ceremony
Isobel Lines, the current Miss Black Country who has worked tirelessly for charities during the pandemic, was nominated for the ‘Unsung Hero Award 2020’ at this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony. The 20-year-old from Wednesbury, who is a former Sports Scholarship student studying Sports Science at the University of Worcester, has been…
INTERVIEW: Ruth Jacobs on celebrating Hanukkah in Birmingham during COVID-19
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah – also spelt ‘Chanukah’ – began last night for Judaism’s faithful followers across the world and indeed, in Birmingham and the West Midlands too. While festivities are less visible and quieter than usual due to national coronavirus restrictions, the region’s Jewish community continues to persevere and is marking the eight-day…
Hanukkah begins for Birmingham’s Jewish community amid COVID-19 restrictions
The Jewish festival of Hanukkah – also spelt ‘Chanukah’ – began last night for Judaism’s faithful followers across the world, and it was no different in Birmingham and the West Midlands. While festivities are less visible and quieter than usual due to national coronavirus restrictions, the region’s Jewish community continues to persevere and is marking the…
Edgbaston dad Saeed Ahmed wins national charity ‘Campaigner of the Year’ award
Edgbaston father Saeed Ahmed has been named ‘Campaigner of the Year’ by a national disability charity for sharing his family’s story of caring for his 21-year-old disabled son, Azhar, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Saeed, 44, was recognised at the Sense Awards 2020 for supporting the charity’s #ForgottenFamilies campaign, which called on Government to reinstate services…
Deaf Birmingham teenager wins award for teaching over 50,000 people sign language online
A 15-year-old boy from Birmingham, who taught British Sign Language to more than 50,000 people during the first lockdown, has won a national award for his efforts. Student Tyrese Dibba, who is deaf and partially sighted, was named ‘Young Person of the Year’ at the Sense Awards 2020.
Councillor calls on Brummies to end COVID-19 “fake news” and “conspiracy theories”
A Birmingham councillor has released a video message urging the city’s Pakistani community to stop the spread of “fake news” around coronavirus. Warning about the dangers of sharing and spreading false COVID-19 information across social media platforms, Cllr Waseem Zaffar has suggested unverified and inaccurate information about the virus is putting lives at risk.
Tier 3 lockdown brings changes to Christmas ballet show in Brum
The Birmingham Royal Ballet has vowed to bring the annual Christmas ballet spectacular – ‘The Nutcracker’ – by looking at other ways to bring the show to audiences during the Tier 3 lockdown in Birmingham. The REP theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet are looking at other alternatives to bringing the exciting family show to the…
Over 100 lockdown violation fines issued as illegal rave broken up in Digbeth
West Midlands Police have confirmed that over 100 lockdown violation fines were issued after officers broke up an illegal rave despite being pelted with missiles by the hostile crowd. Police constables acted on information and discovered an unlawful music event being held in a disused warehouse in Birmingham last night (28 November) despite a COVID-19…
Dudley shopper fined by police for not wearing mask, despite claiming health exemption
A supermarket customer in Dudley has been fined by police for not wearing a face mask despite her claiming she is exempt on health grounds. Captured in footage circulating on social media, the woman is shown being handed a fixed penalty notice for failing to put on a face covering at a branch of Farmfoods in…