The latest news, updates and events in Birmingham
People across the country are being urged to once again wear face masks and to stay at home if they feel unwell, amid mounting pressure on the the NHS in the wake of an influx of winter illnesses. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the advice to the British public as hospitals struggle with soaring…
Thousands of people gathered in the Handsworth area of Birmingham yesterday for the big Diwali lights switch-on. The unveiling of the festive illuminations drew a huge crowd following a two-year break for the public mela event, celebrating the Festival of Lights.
A spectacular free Diwali celebration with singing, dancing, food and fun for all the community will make an eagerly anticipated return to Birmingham city centre this weekend. After being suspended for the last two years because of the COVID pandemic, Diwali on the Square will burst into life once again on Saturday 15 October in…
A ‘Tech Commissioner’ is set to be appointed to help supercharge the West Midlands by helping to build a forward looking, technologically advanced economy that harnesses big data to improve public services and drive business. The commissioner, who would act as a high-profile leader for the region’s digital and tech sector, is one of several…
Manchester Pride has announced the return of its parade for 2022 following a two-year break due to the COVID pandemic, with a brand new theme promoting unity and hope. The Parade, which will take place on Saturday 27 August, is the city’s biggest, with tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people and allies gathering to march…
Plans to improve facilities and capacity at a cemetery and crematorium in south Birmingham have been unveiled, following a surge in city deaths due to COVID. King’s Norton Cemetery, which opened its first two phases in 2005, is set to reach capacity in less than two years and available graves for baby and Muslim burials…
Hundreds of people gathered in Birmingham this afternoon to protest against mandated COVID vaccinations. Congregating in Chamberlain Square, activists rallied as part of international action against a vaccination mandate that could see thousands of NHS staff lose their jobs.
A play exploring how Covid-19 impacts an intergenerational South Asian household is being performed this week as part of a Birmingham arts festival highlighting stories around mental health and wellbeing. Produced by Sampad and written by Farrah Chaudhry, The Walls Between Us brings to the stage researched, personal experiences of Covid-19, looking at issues of grief,…
The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham is reopening its doors after being closed for a total of 491 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. Audiences will be welcomed back with a dazzling reopening season, which also celebrates the 120th birthday of the iconic Birmingham venue, from Tuesday 20 July 2021.
Birmingham City Council has secured almost 30,000 additional lateral flow testing kits following a successful door-to-door operation in COVID hotspots across the city. Three quarters of the 80,000 rapid testing kits supplied by the Department of Health and Social Care when Birmingham became an area of enhanced support on 14 June have now been distributed…