The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES

RIP 'Prime Minister' Glady SEE PAGES 10-12

APRIL 2022

Connecting Communities - Inspiring A New Generation

PASSION, CARE & EDUCATION Active Clinic Moves From Strength To Strength - Pages 4&5

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hen she had her second child, Tammy Takkar had to have an emergency caesarean which damaged the tissue in her stomach.

After testing, doctors informed her that it could take between 6 and 10 YEARS to heal, and after much research, it was this that lead her onto Cryotherapy.

Tammy is the Co-Director at Active Clinic and a Level 4 qualified Laser & Skin Aesthetician with over 12 years experience in dealing with all skin types.

Continued on Page 4

THE GHANA CONNECTION Read more on pages 45 & 46

Page 2 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

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irmingham and Solihull’s new £1.458m Coroners Court was officially opened by the Chief Coroner for England and Wales, His Honour Judge Thomas Teague QC. The former Youth Court on Steelhouse Lane, has been fully refurbished to triple the number of court rooms for inquests from one to three, which will have technology to enable representatives or jury members to attend hearings virtually.

The facility will also provide office space for HM Coroners staff and training facilities, as the first step in creating a centre of excellence for the city and wider region.

Councillor John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities, said: “The new Coroners Court not only means there is room to accommodate more inquests, it also provides the space required by families and representatives at what can be difficult times.

"It’s also great to welcome the Chief Coroner to Birmingham to officially open this new facility which will help the Coroners Service accommodate larger and more complex inquests.”

Previously the Coroners Court was housed in Newton Street with one court room, with these facilities supplemented by the hiring of rooms elsewhere in the city.

l Chief Coroner for England and Wales, His Honour Judge Thomas Teague QC opens the Coronors Court

NEW £1.4M CORONERS COURT OFFICIALLY OPENED

BY CHIEF CORONER The new court also has a larger jury room and facilities, as well as a faith room and space for bereaved families to spend time before and after hearings.

Louise Hunt, Senior Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, welcomed the new facilities and

the difference that will mean for the Coroners Service.

“Our former home was unable to accommodate more than one inquest at a time, no longer meeting the demands of the service,” she said.

“During the pandemic this was

tested especially with the need to maintain social distancing.

This new facility means we can accommodate more cases and service staff, and future proofs the service for at least the next 25 years.”

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The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 3

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CELEBRATING COMMONWEALTH DAY AT THE ALEXANDER STADIUM T o celebrate Commonwealth Day, former, current and future stars of athletics in Birmingham tried out the track at the newly transformed Alexander Stadium and they were joined in the impressive new facility by 72 school children from across Birmingham.

Each pupil represented one of the nations and territories that will participate in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, with the facility in the Perry Barr area of the city set to play a crucial role at Games time, hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as 59 athletics events.

The stadium, which has been the proud home of Birchfield Harriers athletics club since 1978, an athletics club which has produced a huge number of Commonwealth stars, will house up to 30,000 spectators at each Commonwealth Games session, before reverting to a permanent capacity of around 18,000 post-Games.

With constructors in the final stages of commissioning the building and the decoration and snagging being completed, some of the temporary infrastructure such as the additional seating and lighting are already being installed in the venue.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, who own the venue and have overseen the redevelopment, said: “The interest and excitement for Birmingham 2022 is growing on a daily basis as the finishing touches are made to the preparations for the biggest event to ever be staged in the city.

“It was a special moment to see pupils from schools

l Rhiana Burrell from Birchfield Harriers holds the Commonwealth flag aloft at the Alexander Stadium

located in many different areas of our Proud Host City on the Alexander Stadium track on Commonwealth Day in the year of our Commonwealth Games.

"These are the Games for Everyone and everything we gain from our bold decision to bid for the event will be of the greatest

long-term benefit to young people like those who visited the venue today.”

Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022, said: “Today is very special as it is a day when the Commonwealth is united in celebration.

“Many of these celebrations will

highlight the countdown to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and it is now just 136 days until athletes from all of the 72 nations and territories will gather together at the Alexander Stadium for the official start to 11 days of fantastic sporting action.

"The Alexander Stadium looks

l The Lord Mayor, Games partners, athletes and school children celebrate Commonwealth Day at the Alexander Stadium

fantastic, and it has been great to get out on the track to celebrate Commonwealth Day with our partners, local school children and with athletes who have strong links to this world-class venue.”

As celebrations took place in Birmingham, at Westminster Abbey and around the

Commonwealth, the Queen’s Baton Relay was in New Zealand to mark Commonwealth Day. The day unfolded with community and ceremonial events.

Lewis Clareburt, swimmer and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and Irene van Dyk, the most capped international netball player of all time, were among the Batonbearers to take on the Relay in the former Commonwealth Games host country.

Birchfield Harrier and Team England’s Commonwealth Games 1500m finalist, Sarah McDonald, said: “It was amazing to visit the new Alexander Stadium on Commonwealth Day. "The transformation of this facility is incredible, and it is going to be areally special venue for athletics at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and for athletics events for years to come.”

Birchfield Harrier, Rhiana Burrell, who is 18 years old and recently came fifth in the high jump at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships, said: “I’m really excited that the Commonwealth Games is going to be held in Birmingham, it’s inspiring to have such a major event happening in my home town.

“I also can’t wait to be back training here at the Alexander Stadium. Having a world-class facility like this will benefit Birmingham athletes for years to come.”

To find out the latest information about Birmingham 2022, including ticket availability for athletics sessions at the Alexander Stadium, and the next locations for the Queen’s Baton Relay, please visit birmingham2022.com.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

Page 4 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

NEWS Continued from Front Page

She came to the UK from India, where she was originally from a middle class family, and had studied Fashion Design and Business Studies.

After getting married to someone in the UK when she was 20, Tammy survived 4-5 years of domestic violence. “I ended up in a hostel with my little boy, 2 years old at the time,” Tammy explained. “People at the hostel helped me to get back on track, they showed me where I could go, and what I could do study wise.

“I started English and Maths with LearnDirect while I was in the hostel, after the manager of the hostel recognised that I was educated, but I just needed to get qualified over here.

“Since that day until now I still study, I still enrol on courses to upgrade my knowledge every year.”

Tammy’s first job in the UK was actually on the checkouts at ASDA, but from the first day of walking into the store, she wanted more for herself and her son, and set her sights on working for herself.

“My family background was in business, both my mum and dad ran their own businesses, so I wanted to do the same, so I could give the life I had to my son too.”

“Unfortunately continuing with Fashion wasn’t on the cards, they said I’d need to go to Milan or France to do the assignments, and as I was alone in this country with no family or friends, there was no way I’d have been able to do that.”

Choosing to get into beauty instead, she started as a mobile nail technician while she was still working at ASDA, which picked up really well for a while, visiting peoples homes to do their nails.

“I then became qualified in fitness and became a fitness instructor running a ladies-only gym, doing 1 to 1 training with people.”

“Since I started in health and beauty I’ve always had that health mindset, how we can help people

l The Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

by Daniel Riley

instead of just building a business up. Most of my clientele were 60+ at the gym, but then I started getting younger people in too.”

Tammy continued, “It’s very important in business, to build that relationship with your clients.”

It was around this time that Tammy married again, and had her second child, a baby girl. The damage to her stomach tissue from the emergency caesarean meant that Tammy couldn’t do her work anymore, and took the difficult decision to sell the business off.

“I wanted to repair my stomach in a quicker and more natural way, and after researching about my options I came across cryotherapy. I had 2 sessions of cryotherapy on my stomach and I was able to touch my stomach where I couldn’t do that before.

“I could sit up normally, and was so amazed, I invested in the machine even before we became Active Clinic, and set up from home.

“Because I was working from home I never thought I’d put a clinic together, with the kids etc it would be a hassle.

“But my business partner Hilal Mehdi, also a Co-Director of Active Clinic, convinced me to create the dedicated clinic because it will be more professional, so we named Active Clinic in 2014, and finally established in 2016.”

Tammy remembers how one day she had a Costa Rican player come through her door when she was still working from home, he had travelled from Manchester to Birmingham for a 15 minute treatment on his back, and she thought he was crazy.

“I had a call from him on the evening of the same day, saying he was staying in Birmingham and wanted to book another session the next day because he was already feeling better after the first session.

“At the time, no other clinic or

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OUR PASSION IS CARING FOR PEOPLE - NOT JUST SELLING TREATMENTS

l Hilal Mehdi and Tammy Takkar, Co-Directors of Active Clinic practitioner was doing cryotherapy in Birmingham, so we decided to start up.”

With Tammy’s experience and knowledge, Active Clinic also does everything else including laser and skin treatments.

“We always think about internal health, it’s not just about beauty.

Our lasers are painless, they work with water, so it’s not just laser hair removal but rejuvenation too.

“Our skin treatments deal with pigmentation and acne, and they’re all herbal treatments. We trained with Dr Schrammek from Germany after more research.

“Cryotherapy helps your blood vessels to expand, and improve blood flow, it can also repair muscle 40% quicker than the regular healing time. I had whiplash a few weeks ago, and because of the cryo and oxygen therapy we offer

here, I’m nearly recovered already, instead of what the doctors said which was 8-10 weeks.”

Based at 273 Hagley Road, in Edgbaston, Birmingham, Active Clinic is a bright, clean and inviting place to visit.

Over the last 5 years, Active Clinic has seen many people struggling with stress and depression, unable to walk, skin disorders, and other long term health conditions, all of

l Treatment rooms are bright, airy and relaxing

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whom they’ve managed to help find a solution for.

“It makes us so proud when we see the difference before and after these treatments for people. When we introduced cryotherapy we had a localised machine which offers targeted treatments to the area.

“Because we started having the footfall of boxers, footballers, athletes and the like, we introduced the whole body cryotherapy

l While they don't externally boast about their

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

@PhoenixNewsUK

l The full body cryotherapy walk in pod - you can see how cold it is in there! because of these athletes, but our regular clients have been getting the benefit of the machine too.

“Our youngest client is 18 months old suffering with psoriasis, and our eldest is 85!” exclaimed Tammy.

“We’ve had a number of high profile celebrities and athletes, but none of them are paid to advertise what they’ve had done, they all give their endorsements because of the results of the treatments they have had here.”

Having seen such celebrities and influencers online raving about the results they’ve had from the services offered at Active Clinic, the clinic regularly gets enquiries from people asking for a specific treatments, Tammy says they never just book them in, and will always ask what they’re looking for.

“A lot of the time it isn’t that treatment they needed, something else would be better for them

according to their skin or health issue.”

We are looking to introduce a second oxygen chamber, as we’ve been really busy and booked out with the one we have currently, and we’re looking to expand to a second base in Solihull, after doing a test pilot before the pandemic.

One of the newest treatments on offer at Active Clinic is their hyperbaric oxygen chamber, which has already seen a lot of use and has been booked out by regular clients, celebrities and athletes alike.

“We are already looking to introduce a second oxygen chamber, as we’ve been really busy and booked out with the one we have currently, and we’re aiming to expand to a second base in Solihull, after having done a test pilot before the pandemic.”

With clients from the length and breadth of the UK, including

celebrity clientelle, the Wall of Fame really shows the calibre of past and current clients.

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 5

NEWS

l Dr Med Christine Shrammek Award for Birmingham Clinic of the year 2021 footballers from all the local clubs in the region, this award winning skin and cryotherapy clinic has proven that you don’t have to hard push to advertise your treatments, education is the way forward.

“Our main goal has always been educating people, that there are natural treatments for their health alongside the medications. We use social media to educate people about the treatments and options, rather than advertising our services.

“We’ve had boxer, Isaac Chamberlain, who booked for cryotherapy and the hyperbaric chamber ahead of a fight, which he won, and his performance has gone up - we were in his documentary on Channel 5 as well.”

Staff at Active Clinic are fully trained to the level that Tammy expects; “A number of our girls came for work experience, and we nurtured them and trained them to the level that they are today.

“We’re looking to do more apprenticeships and work experience as well, as we’re hoping to become a training academy too.

“They have to be level 3 qualified, but we then train them to the standard that we require in all areas across the business.

For anyone looking to get into the industry, Tammy has a few wise words. “You need to be focused on what you want, education is very important and you need to make sure you get your education to get where you want to be.

“Crash courses are no good for your future as they can only develop you in a shorter term, we are happy to give anyone guidance and training here. If they want to build a future and a career in this industry, it’s massive.”

With the impressive results already seen for many clients of Active Clinic, the expansion and adoption of new treatments can only spell an exciting future for Tammy, her staff and clients alike.

l The full body cryotherapy walk in pod - the temperature drops to -160 degrees for up to 3 minutes

l One of the targetted cryotherapy treatment rooms

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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aniel, a four-year-old Border Collie, and Mariann Bayliss, 17, from Worcester, won the Young Kennel Club (YKC) Agility Dog of the Year at Crufts.

The competition, which was open to YKC members aged from 6-17 and their dogs, saw top young agility handlers compete for the coveted title of YKC Agility Dog of the Year, before Mariann and Daniel (Lilihaze Spring Dan Sir) triumphed in the Resorts World Arena at the NEC, Birmingham.

Mariann said: “We were going second to last knowing everyone had a foul and that we would likely win with a clear. The pressure was enormous! It is all I have ever dreamed of!”

To reach the Crufts final, YKC members competed at qualifying classes in their categories for under and over 12s, and for small, medium and large dogs, looking to complete an agility course in the fastest time.

Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts Show Manager, said: “We would like to share our huge congratulations to Mariann and Daniel for winning the YKC Agility Dog of the Year! It was great to see Mariann demonstrating such high professionalism and confidence in the ring already, and we will likely be seeing her at many future Crufts.

It is always incredible to see the high skill levels in the YKC competitions and all competitors should be proud of themselves for inspiring other young dog handlers.”

Crufts took place from 10 – 13 March at the NEC, Birmingham.

l Anade Davis

Meet The Former Uber Driver Who Now Owns An $8m Cryptocurrency Business

YOUNG AGILITY STAR CROWNED AT CRUFTS

BCC To Receive Almost £5m To Help Safeguard The Nation's Cultural Heritage GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, libraries and cultural venues across the country - including Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery - are to benefit from almost £50 million of funding which will improve people’s access to the arts, safeguard cultural assets for future generations and power economic growth through culture.

Birmingham City Council has been awarded a grant of £4,998,820 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, delivered by Arts Council England and will be utilising the funding to address specific works as part of a wider electrical upgrade and refurbishment of the city’s flagship museum Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

The grant will allow Birmingham Museums to continue much-needed infrastructure works at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery which will improve conditions for both the collection

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stored there and for visitors.

Works will include repairs to the fabric of the building, upgrading heating, improving physical access and protecting collections in transit with the replacement of lifts.

Arts Minister Lord Parkinson said: “This raft of new funding for treasured cultural institutions up and down the country will help them to continue their great work, advance our work to level up access to arts and culture so they can be enjoyed by people no matter where they live, and protect these cherished institutions for future generations to enjoy.”

Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said: “There’s a great deal of work going on at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery but it will be worth the investment so that everyone is able to enjoy this gorgeous building in all its glory and ensure preservation for the future.”

By Delroy Constantine-Simms and Marlon Weir ANADE DAVIS, the Founder and Chief Data Scientist for the World Data Science Institute, is also now the inventor of CryptoShare, an app that allows users to pay bills, shop, and borrow money using digital currency.

Just five years ago in 2017, Anade was driving for Uber, but now he is the owner of a company that is already valued at over $8 million dollars.

Cryptoshare officially launched in February 2022, and has already raised over $200,000 from more than 400 investors on Wefunder. The app allows users to use both physical and digital assets as collateral to get loans. It also allows them to use their cryptocurrency to buy real-life items.

Anade commented: “I love telling people my story because I want people to understand that I learned how to code at 31-years old.

“I love motivating and encouraging people. I often tell them all it takes is one year of focus to change your life forever.

“I went from driving Uber to being featured in Black Enterprise and Shoppe Black.”

In his accomplishments, Anade is bringing a lot of attention to the growing need for Data Scientists in the country.

In fact, according to Forbes, Data Scientist is one of the most in-demand jobs in America.

To help encourage young ones to take an interest, he plans to offer a free data science training science session for teenagers related to those that invest $1,000 or more.

“I worked hard and focused on my goals. I started being around the people I wanted to be like.

“I started posting articles on Linkedin about Data Science.

Going to events where I knew technical people and recruiters would be.”

He also says that he took as many free courses as he could in Atlanta. “I dedicated my life to being a Data Science and within 5 years, I am already at the point that I will never have to drive for Uber again,” he added.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 7

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ADVERTORIAL

APPRENTICE’S TIM CAMPBELL JOINS MEETING OF AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN TRADE LEADERS

O

ver the past decade, the UK’s major supermarkets have been paying greater attention to the wants and needs of their African and Caribbean customers.

Behind the scenes, companies such as London-based world food distributor Wanis International Foods have been working hard to ensure that authentic products make their way onto the supermarket shelves.

Joined by the Apprentice’s Tim Campbell, Wanis recently brought together a meeting of some of the key players in trade, including Seth George Ramocan, High Commissioner for Jamaica, Vishnu Dhanpaul, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Papa Kow Bartels, Head of Trade for the Ghana High Commission and Alistair Soyode, representing Sararfa Tunji Ishola, High Commissioner for Nigeria.

Celebrating Sainsbury’s extension of their African and Caribbean

food ranges, the esteemed guests discussed the culture and business of food and laid the groundwork for more collaborations between the represented countries going forward.

l BBC Apprentice’s Tim Campbell receiving his African and Caribbean foods goodie bag

l The Wanis Team alongside trade representatives from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Nigeria and Ghana.

The perfect match for a

Happy Easter

Available at independent stores & online on:

TropicalSunFoods.com

Page 8 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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Business & Finance

ASIAN BUSINESSES ‘ALIVE AND KICKING’ - CHAMBER

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he Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has announced several new appointments to their executive committee as they celebrate another year of growth across the 34-year-old network, as Dr Jason Wouhra OBE, CEO of Lioncroft Wholesale Limited, enters his second year of presidency.

In his address, he said: “The ABCC comes into the term with more confidence than ever that we are best placed to represent the needs and be the voice of Asian business.

"Our new team has a broad range of experience in many sectors from business and entrepreneurship to professional services, sport and education.

“We are best placed to give vitality and even more influence to the ABCC and we aim to grow our organisation to reflect its 34year heritage in supporting our community. I look forward to the coming year and contributing to the growth of the ABCC.” Stepping down from the executive committee this year are Dr Nasir Awan, Dal Darroch, Sally Walder and Mani Hayre.

Reselected for the committee were Aftab Chughtai MBE, Fajli Bibi, Neelam Afzal, Pam

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

by Dr. Christopher A. Johnson

I l L-R:Vice-president Omar Rashid, ABCC director Anjum Khan, president Jason Wouhra OBE and vice-president Amina Hussain

Sheemar, Ravinder Masih, Sajid Gulzar OBE and Shani Dhanda, in addition to newcomers Amer Awan and Sapreena Kumari.

Amina Hussain and Omar Rashid were also election as ABCC vicepresidents.

Amina, director and founder of SME Outsourcing, a firm providing a range of accountancy services to SMEs, as well as a multi award winning accountant specialising in forensic and practice accounting, said: “I

am super thankful to be elected as the vice-president of the Asian Business Chambers of Commerce.

"With my 24 years of accounting, finance and business advisory experience, I am able to support businesses through this organisation, in order to help, connect, develop and support businesses locally and internationally.”

Smethwick-born Omar Rashid originally wanted to be a

cricketer but went on to Coventry University to be an accountant - leaving with a Masters in HR Management.

On his appointment, he said: “I am extremely honoured and proud to be vice-president of the ABCC. “I thank the board members who put their trust in me. I am passionate about the ABCC and what it stands for and hope to champion the voice of Asian businesses in the coming year.”

Improving Expertise One Step At A Time

AWA R D - W I N N I N G content marketing agency, HDY Agency, has further strengthened its senior team after appointing an experienced marketeer and brand specialist to join the agency to bolster its national and international expertise.

Beatrice Vears will bring her rich marketing experience, which spans creative leadership, ATL advertising and brand strategy to her new role as Managing Director of HDY Agency.

She was most recently the Marketing Director for the global sports, leisure, hospitality and events brand, Sodexo Live!,

What Are The Effects Of Apprenticeships On The UK A Youth Labour Market?

which is responsible for the catering offer at a wide range of cultural moments and such prolific events as Royal Ascot and RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Beatrice has also held senior roles for national and international brands including Premier Inn hotels and Wolff Olins brand agency.

She now returns to her hometown of Birmingham to take on a new challenge at HDY Agency.

Joining co-founders Angel Gaskell and Ed James, Beatrice’s new role will support the fastgrowing agency’s vision of international growth and further

strengthen its client servicing.

Now in its fourth year of trading, HDY Agency has experienced 12 months of solid growth, which has included winning more than 20 new clients and projects, creating 26 new job roles and moving to a larger office.

It also recently scooped the title of Large Content Marketing Agency of the Year at the 2022 European Content Awards.

Commenting on her appointment, Beatrice Vears said: “I’ve known the team at HDY Agency for a number of years. I’ve witnessed the team’s creative work first-hand and

l Beatrice Vears I’m really looking forward to working alongside Angel and Ed to help grow the business even further."

Angel Gaskell, co-founder of HDY Agency said: “Appointing a new Managing Director to our senior team is a huge milestone for us and represents an exciting chapter for HDY Agency, one that is focused on stabilising our core business whilst exploring international growth.

n March 2021, the Learning and Work Institute and the Prince’s Trust painted a concerning picture about the state of youth unemployment in the UK in view of the effects of the pandemic on the global economy.

The joint report presented these key findings:• The economic cost of youth unemployment is forecast to rise to £6.9 billion (2022).

• The fiscal cost of youth unemployment is forecast to be £2.9 billion (2022).

• The long-term cost of youth joblessness to the economy is estimated at £14.4 billion over the next seven years Prior to COVID-19, young people struggled for work due to Lockdown Measures and perennial structural issues in the labour market.

Between November 2021 and January 2022, 457,000 young people aged 16-24 were reported jobless, with 285,800 on welfare benefit (ONS March 2022).

As of September 2021, under25s, male and female, benefitted from the Corona Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), with male youth joblessness higher than female (Table 1).

There has been much discussion over the years about whether or not young people throughout the UK are receiving quality careers information, advice and guidance.

Even though there have been intensive studies on this subject,

information remains patchy.

Evidence from a government study, found that under-20s confirmed that ‘friends and relatives’ offered 90% of careers advice and guidance, followed by teachers (just over 50%) and less than 10% for the National Careers Service, Universal jobmatch, Apprenticeships website and other statutory bodies (Department for Education September 2021).

In an overview of apprenticeships in England, the House of Commons (March 2021) highlighted the continued debacle in vocational education and training in the nine English Regions.

There was evidence of fits and starts in apprenticeships by age, level, region and ethnicity.

In 2018/19, the total number of apprenticeships across English Regions were 393.4 (figure in thousands) and by 2019/20, was reduced to 322.5 (figure in thousands) or -18% drop.

Data from 2010 to 2020 reflected a significant underrepresentation of minority ethnic groups in apprenticeships. In each of the years 2010/11, 2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20, just over 40,000 young people were involved in apprenticeships.

During 2011/12, 2012/13 and between 2014 and 2017, minorities had a participation rate in excess of 50,000 in each of the 3 years.

If government and independent reports are to be accepted as ‘gospel’, then a collective, herculean effort must be made to address under-representation in apprenticeships overall. A ‘reset’ is possible as the post-pandemic situation creates greater opportunities for all sections of the UK population.

l Table 1: Employment furloughed under the CJRS (Source: Youth Unemployment Statistics, House of Commons Library, March 2022)

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IT’S A JUBILEE CELEBRATION! CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 9

A ROYAL INVITATION

THE PHOENIX NEWSPAPER 10TH ANNIVERSARY GALA AWARDS AND LEGACY TOUR

T

he Phoenix Newspaper is proud, privileged, and humbled to announce it will be celebrating its Glittering 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation Ceremony, as well as Jamaica’s 60th Anniversary of Independence, and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Year at an exclusive venue in Accra, Ghana on the 20th September 2022.

As a Commonwealth Newspaper, we are proud to celebrate with all the countries of the Commonwealth, most of which will have descended on Birmingham just a month prior for the fantastic Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the home of The Phoenix Newspaper.

In the year of Her Majesty

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, it’s fitting that her Commonwealth will be coming together for such an unforgettable event, and in the United Kingdom too!

Once the festivities of the games are over, all roads will lead to Accra, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee, and most importantly, to recognise the traditional Kings and Queens across Africa. For the first time this year the awards categories will not be up for public vote, as this year we will be awarding significant figures across Africa and the diaspora.

On the night, it will be a glorious and spectacular enlightenment as the traditional Kings and Queens of Africa proceed in their glory to an occasion that is fitting for this special Jubilee year. They will

be joined by world leaders, governors, high ranking military officials, dignitaries, specially invited guests and of course our wonderful readers, supporters and friends coming together to share in the successes The Phoenix Newspaper has had over the last 10 years, as well as celebrate their legacy.

In 2019, at the 9th Anniversary of The Phoenix Newspaper, the Jamaica High Commissioner, the Rt Hon George Ramocan made the announcement of the special relationship that Ghana has formed with the Government of Jamaica, and there is a similar agreement that has been reached between Jamaica and Nigeria.

Ghana has one of the fastest growing economies in all of Africa, so it’s an auspicious time for us to bring the positivity of The Phoenix Newspaper to the

region.

We invite you to come to Africa, introducing “The Legacy Tour: Be Bold” – a 3 day conference from the 21st - 23rd September in Accra, Ghana, going back to where we started, showcasing the best that Ghana has to offer, with study tours, talks from our keynote speakers and many networking opportunities.

In Ghana’s Year of Return 2019, President Nana AkufoAddo invited Africans in the diaspora to unite with Africans.

Many Jamaicans took up the invitation during this time, and therefore we will be celebrating the continuation of the Year of Return by highlighting the existing, thriving Jamaican community in Ghana.

This will be a continuation of the celebrations for

Jamaica’s 60th Anniversary of Independence, with people invited to share in this conference and to hear from our Keynote speakers about the opportunities and investments that are available to them.

An opportunity for Birmingham and the West Midlands to seize the opportunity to connect and partner with Africans and the diaspora to continue the legacy of ‘Be Bold’.

Regardless of your race, colour, creed, gender or sexuality, The Phoenix Newspaper is here to spread positive news about all people, combatting the overhyped and sensationalised news pushed by the rest of the mainstream media. Only by coming together in solidarity can we move forward in such uncertain times.

The Phoenix has been promoting and celebrating the power that the diversity of our nation has, inclusive of all of the sectors that make Britain ‘Great’ for a decade, and while it wasn’t an easy journey for us by any means, we now have a publication that is accepted, trusted, and loved by people of all walks of life and nationalities.

This is an awards ceremony that recognises diversity, inclusion and success from all

sectors and walks of life, so this year make sure you don’t miss out.

This will be a royal occasion with an exclusive audience of over 500 seated guests for a grand dinner and networking opportunity with the elite. There are sponsorship opportunities for business and commerce to engage in. These opportunities will be beneficial to all participants.

For further information, or to express an interest, please email us at info@phoenixgalaawards. com.

SAVE THE DATE. 20th September 2022

Special legacy 3 day conference Be Bold!!

Finale Celebration of Jamaica 60th Independence Celebration.

We are inviting individuals, entrepreneurs, local authorities, organisations, who have a vested interest in Africa to join us as we celebrate the Commonwealth, Connecting Communities to Inspire the Next Generation.

Page 10 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

THE FUNERAL OF ARMON 'GLADY' DONALDSON

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REST IN PEACE, 'P

W

ith the pain of his loss etched so clear on her face, the funeral of Armon ‘Glady’ Donaldson proved to be beyond the reaches of his wife Lolita’s deepest of emotions.

As she sat, staring into an ‘abyss’ that was a packed St Mary & St Ambrose Church, that very issue was testament of how much she missed her husband, life partner and best friend.

How high in esteem he was in a community who saw him as a ‘leader’

amongst leaders was plain to see as the tears flew in abundance down the faces of “his people” – young and old, family and friends, Black, White, Asian… and whoever else!

A spiritual embodiment of Rastafari, his farewell was led by Ras Tread, of The EWF Inc Local III Power Of The Trinity, and his team of Africa-inspired drummers, as Minister Pat Brown-Richards welcomed the ever-growing congregation to say their “Good Byes” that was – and will always be – Glady (a reflection of his parent’s happiness on his birth).

A country living man at heart, the Jamaican-born Clarendonian was a ‘teacher’ and father-figure who left his legacy in the community

and with all he met – especially every one of his seven children - his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Always looking for – and finding – the good in people, alongside wife Lol, they remained the beating heart of where he was – and who he was with.

Following a first Scripture reading (John 11 v21-26), a moving eulogy was shared by younger members of the Donaldson clan, whose collective angst was, like Lol, was again too painful to withhold.

“A piece of you will always be missing in me,” said one grandchild. “Today was a ‘salute’ to you and what you left in me.”

“You left me with memories,”

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

@PhoenixNewsUK

PRIME MINISTER' said another, “that will stay with me every day.”

“WHAT A MAN – WHAT A MAN!” said Minister Pat. “Birmingham, London, Leicester Bristol…,” said one very dear friend, “Bless Glady – Glady – GLADYYYY!!! Stand up for Prime Mister’ (Glady)!”

And, not forgetting the ‘engine’ that kept him going, he then bellowed out; “Lolita – Lolita – Lolita! ...as he then shared his memories of times together; with a man who always had time for everyone.

“Wherever he went, he just fitted in with you,” said Ras Tread. . ”From the day I first met him his spirit was deep. He was deep and

very intelligent.

“We, as Rasta, we love people!

We love everybody! We are all one family. And he was one of us.

Late in his speech, he would remind all present; “Death is Not the End! “There is no death. There is a transition.” And this One here; we’re just sending him back to his ancestral home.”

“We all should just salute him (Glady)”, concluded another Ras and friend, Popeye before the commendation for Armon ‘Glady’ Donaldson, as he was led out to his internment. He was 75.

Lolita wishes to thank all the nursing staff at the hospital who supported her during her husband’s

illness. She has expressed an interest to continue to work with Macmillan Cancer Support, for which she has already raised funds to be donated.

Now that she will have a lot of spare time on her hands she wants to use it to support a good cause.

We at the Phoenix looked to him as the teacher. A man of integrity, a respecter of people. We lost a great human being. Special recognition to his devoted wife Lolita, she is a wife we all respect for standing by her husband till death do they part.

Maximum respect my lady!!

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 11

THE FUNERAL OF ARMON 'GLADY' DONALDSON

Page 12 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

THE FUNERAL OF ARMON 'GLADY' DONALDSON

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 13

WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

DAWN STALEY BECOMES HIGHEST PAID BLACK FEMALE BASKETBALL COACH

By Maureen Drackett-Fuller & Delroy Constantine-Simms

D Photo by Chris Gillespie

awn Staley, who made history as the first female Black head coach for South Carolina Gamecocks Women’s Basketball, is now the highestpaid Black coach in women’s college basketball after signing a 7-year contract worth $22.4 million.

As part of the contract, Staley’s base salary will be $1 million per year with outside compensation starting at $1.9 million on the

first year, increasing by $100,000 each year after that. She is now one of the highest-paid women’s basketball coaches in the country, alongside well-known University of Connecticut Huskies coach Geno Auriemma.

Staley hopes this “recognition” could serve as an encouragement to basketball teams to invest in women’s basketball like how it is for the men’s counterpart.

“It’s always been an honour to represent the University of South Carolina, and this contract represents the University’s commitment to supporting me and our women’s basketball

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program,” Staley said in a statement, according to ESPN. “Contract negotiations are challenging, but this one was especially important as I knew it could be a benchmark, an example for other universities to invest in their women’s basketball programs, too.”

Since 2008, Staley has been serving as Gamecocks’ head coach. For 13 years, she has led the team to the NCAA Final Four in 2015, 2017, and 2021, winning one NCAA National Championship in 2017.

Last year, Staley was named the National Coach of the Year, and

the Gamecocks were also ranked Top 1 before the playoffs were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Moreover, Staley also served as the head coach of the U.S. Women’s National team from 2017 to 2021, leading the team in getting the gold medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“Dawn Staley is one of the nation’s top coaches, regardless of the sport,” said Ray Tanner, the South Carolina Athletics Director. “She has built our women’s basketball program from the ground up, and her teams have produced champions, both on and off the floor.”

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Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 14 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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THE EDUCATION, FUNERALTRAINING OF MOMMA AND JEN RECRUITMENT

g n i t o Prom xcellence E

As part of our ongoing commitment to promoting the positive and inspirational individuals and organisations in our communities, The Phoenix Newspaper presents Promoting Excellence - a closer look at our role models, entrepreneurs, community figures and success stories.

ETON LOOKING AT DUDLEY FOR POSSIBLE SITE FOR NEW FREE COLLEGE

E

ton College is set to open selective sixth form centres in three towns in England which will not charge fees. Dudley, Middlesbrough and Oldham have been picked by the public school which is working on the scheme with Star Academies.

The partners said they will bid in the forthcoming round of the government's free school programme in the next few months.

The colleges would admit 240 students annually and could open by 2025.

The focus will be to admit large numbers of students on free school meals, from disadvantaged postcodes or who would be the first in their families to go to university, the partners said. Eton said it would also help pupils with the university

application process as well as interview preparation and they will be invited to summer residential programmes at Eton.

The three towns have been picked as areas with the most need for a college to stretch high-achieving young people, the partnership said.

They added the colleges' small size would target a very special academic education and claimed they would not disrupt existing local post-16 education.

Final decisions on sites have yet to be made but Eton College and Star Academies said they were in talks with local authorities. The boys' public school near Windsor, Berkshire, charges fees of more than £44,000 a year and said it would make an ongoing funding commitment to the colleges "in perpetuity".

Star Academies is a not-forprofit academy trust with dozens of primary and secondary schools across England. Politicians in all three towns welcomed the announcement including Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, who said it would give students "an accelerator to the top universities".

Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said: "Eton College in Middlesbrough. It's incredible to win the support and backing of the world's most famous school - a phenomenal result."

Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, added: "My first and foremost responsibility is to fight for Oldham and draw in support and investment from every corner. I'll work across political and ideological divides to make that happen."

Why China Is The World's Biggest Exporter Of Students

CHINA IS the world's biggest exporter and one of its most contentious exports of late is students.

Every year it is estimated that more than 700,000 Chinese people leave their country to study abroad.

And many of these end up in the UK, learning at British universities.

There are about 144,000 in Britain according to the Higher Education Statistics Authority, a number that is up 50% in just five years. As the flows of Chinese students into the UK have grown in recent decades there's been growing scrutiny of their impact.

The chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugendhat, last year argued that the increasing financial reliance of UK universities on the tuition fees of Chinese students, some with hardline nationalist views, could compromise the academic freedom of these institutions.

Another growing theme is that so-called Crazy Rich

Asians - the sons and daughters of rich Chinese industrialists - are swamping campuses and crowding out domestic British students.

Yet there's been rather less focus on the views and attitudes of these Chinese students themselves.

Glasgow is a popular destination for Chinese overseas students, with more than 6,000 studying on its campus, according to the university's authoritie The majority had never left China before they arrived and experienced a culture shock on arrival. The initial

attraction of Glasgow - as well as its solid academic reputation - to many was how the Victorian university buildings looked on the brochures, rather like Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films Glasgow University said: "As well as language assistance, the university offers international students a host of dedicated services, from practical and academic advice and guidance, to health and wellbeing support, from pre-departure right through to graduation and beyond."

As for politics, despite the fear that students are intolerant Communist Party mouthpieces who impose their views on others, what we found more often was a reticence to get involved in political discussions.

One student said she felt uncomfortable because of the nationalist political attitudes of some Chinese students. Yet the point is that there is no typical overseas Chinese student experience - just as there is no typical overseas Chinese student.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 15

FUNERAL OFRECRUITMENT MOMMA JEN EDUCATION,THE TRAINING AND

Aspiring Electrician Reaches Semi-Final Of Screwfix Trade Apprentice Competition CLAYTON BROWNE, an apprentice electrician from Birmingham, is a step closer to winning the ultimate title – Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2022.

The aspiring winner applied for the competition earlier this year and has now been selected to go through to the semi-final.

Following the semi-final, 10 apprentices will face a panel of industry experts at the national final in April, where one winner will receive a career-boosting £10,000 prize package made up of tools, trade, and tech – everything to get started in their chosen field.

Clayton, 21, studying for level 3 in electrotechnical installation, says: “Being one step closer to the final is exciting and I will put my all into demonstrating my skills, commitment, and passion for the trade to help me get through to the final.

“To be crowned Trade Apprentice 2022 would be an incredible accolade that would help me realise my potential and help me to pursue my dream of becoming a professional tradesperson. If I were to win,

SIR LENNY HENRY CENTRE TO FUND NEW RESEARCH INTO MEDIA DIVERSITY

A l Clayton Browne I’d love to donate some tools to an ambitious unprivileged person like myself, to help them make a start in their career as a tradesperson too.”

He aims to apply the same level of attention to detail and care as somebody who has been in the trade all their life. During the final, the apprentices will all get the opportunity to share their expertise and ambitions with a panel of industry-leading judges.

second year of industry fellowships totalling £15,000 to support short-term research into diversity in media have been announced by Birmingham City University’s Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity.

The fellowships are open to five experienced media practitioners from across the UK to produce research that better informs policy and practice addressing diversity deficits across different sectors of the media industry.

The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) is a research centre bringing together the expertise of established media professionals and academics.

Since launching in March 2020, LHC has released a number of notable and impactful research publications, including the Black in Fact report into Black representation in UK documentaries, B.A.M.E: A report on the use of the term and responses to it for the BBC, Black

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to Front report for Channel 4, and academic and industry journal Representology, which explores diversity in media.

Nina Robinson, who secured a fellowship in her capacity as a longstanding radio reporter and producer, said: “My report on ‘Diversity of Senior Leaders at BBC Radio News and Current Affairs’ uncovered important findings around the existence of not just all-white senior leader teams but also all-white newsrooms covering large areas of the UK. “There is more academic work here now to build upon, which is what the initial industry fellowship funding has allowed me to think about and pursue.

"For me, it was important to contribute to the ‘institutional memory’ on diversity issues to avoid past mistakes and provide evidence of the true state of progress, as well as offer solutions.”

Each successful industry

fellowship applicant will be teamed with an academic mentor with research to be completed by Friday 1 July 2022.

Completed research will be published on the LHC website and considered for publication in the journal Representology.

Cherish Oteka, award-winning documentary filmmaker and 2021 fellowship recipient, said: “The 2021 grant provided a rare, important and much-needed opportunity for the exploration of Black representation in UK documentaries.

I'm so pleased to have done this work and to have been thoroughly supported by academics at the LHC and would I'd encourage all who have the desire to deeply explore the industries they work in to apply for this new round of industry fellowships.”

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l Sir Lenny Henry

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ADOPTION & FOSTERING

L

GBT+ people were encouraged to consider adoption during LGBT+ Adoption and Fostering Week. Adoption@ Heart, the Regional Adoption Agency for the Black Country, backed the national campaign which returned for its 10th year last month.

It called for LGBT+ people to #BeTheChange and consider either adoption or fostering as a route to parenting. LGBT+ adopters created the campaign to raise awareness and drive change, following statistics that one in 31 adoptions in England were to same sex couples – in 2021, the figure stood at one in six.

New Family Social, which founded Adoption and Fostering Week, provides support to people from the LGBT+ community going through the adoption and fostering process. It works directly with its members and agencies to find families for children in care.

Mark Tobin, Head of Service at Adoption@Heart said: “We are proud to be members of New Family Social and to be supporting the 2022 campaign to encourage more LGBT+ people to come forward and find out about adoption.

“Adopters come from all walks of life and all applications are welcome and will be treated equally. Adoption@Heart will always encourage enquiries from LGBT+ people - if you're interested in finding out more or feel ready to start your adoption journey, call us today.”

Anyone can adopt, whether they are single, living together, married, a same sex couple, in employment or not working, or already have children or not.

Potential adopters must legally be

£700,000 New Investment In Fostering Fees

A

#BETHECHANGE DURING LGBT+ ADOPTION AND FOSTERING WEEK a UK resident and have been so for at least 12 months, as well as being aged 21 or over.

They should have a spare bedroom and be able to provide a stable home for a child until

adulthood and beyond. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 gave unmarried couples, including same sex couples, the right to adopt.

It became law in December

2005.

LGBT+ couples don’t need to be in a civil partnership or married to adopt and single adopters are also welcome, whatever their gender or sexual orientation. Adoption@

Adoption Support Lifeline For Adoptive Families Receives £144m Injection ADOPTION UK IS delighted £144m of vital adoption support funding has been secured to help vulnerable children across England over the next three years.

This represents an increase on the current allocation of £46m for this year.

The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) pays for therapeutic support for families whose children left care through adoption or special guardianship arrangements.

These children are likely to have experienced severe trauma prior to coming into care and many need support to help them thrive.

Since its introduction in 2015, the

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Government has invested more than £144m in the ASF. Almost 40,000 adoptive families have benefitted from the fund to date.

Responding to the Government announcement, Adoption UK’s Director of public affairs and communications Alison Woodhead said: “This increased investment in the ASF is nothing short of a lifeline to families bringing up some of the most vulnerable children in England.

"A third of adopters told us the support they accessed via the ASF has helped them to avoid a potential breakdown of their adoption.”

Heart continue to run virtual information sessions every two weeks and are the perfect place for those who are ready to start their adoption journey or would like more information.

The announcement comes after the Government acknowledged in its adoption strategy, published last year, the need to listen to the voices of adopted people and adopters, and committed to give families the support they need, when they need it.

The strategy draws on evidence from Adoption UK’s Adoption Barometer.

The Barometer, based on a large annual survey of adopters and adopted people, is listed as one of the Government’s tests for success.

The Government has also announced £19.5 million to strengthen the work of Regional Adoption Agencies, to improve matching between parents and children, and to increase the recruitment of prospective adopters from diverse communities.

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new fairer payment structure for foster carers, which focuses on the needs of children and young people has been agreed

by Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet.

It will mean investing an additional £700,000 a year to pay higher fostering fees to carers who look after children with the highest needs.

It will also increase fees for those who look after more than one child.

The change would make Norfolk fostering fees among the highest paid to carers across England and Wales and replace a system that has been in place for 30 years.

Councillor John Fisher, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “Foster carers do tremendous work and we are hugely grateful for the contribution they make to the lives of children in care in Norfolk.

“There are two key principles at the heart of this change – to ensure the majority of our children experience the best family-based care possible, and to ensure a fair and equitable payment system for our foster carers.

"We want to recognise those foster carers who looked after children with the greatest needs, as well as invest in training and support for all of our carers.”

The changes have now come into effect for new foster carers. Existing carers' rates will continue to be funded at the current rates for 18 months, so the council can work with individual carers to plan for the future.

Some carers could see their allowances reduce under these proposals, but the council has pledged to work with each carer to ensure they are not disadvantaged.

Under the new proposals, minimum foster care payments will rise from £200 per week to approximately £375-£425 per week and maximum payments will rise from £550 per week to approx. £800-£900 per week.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 17

MUSIC FASHION FILM GADGETS HOLIDAY EDUCATION HEALTH AND FITNESS

APRIL 2022

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RARING TO GO

LEWIS HAMILTON TALKS ABOUT THE NEW SEASON, HIS CAR, AND WHAT MOTIVATES HIM TO COMPETE

Page 18 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

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THE HOTTEST ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLEMENT

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BTS the top-selling act P in the world last year TOP TEN

1. BTS 2. Taylor Swift 3. Adele 4. Drake 5. Ed Sheeran 6. The Weeknd 7. Billie Eilish 8. Justin Bieber 9. Seventeen 10. Olivia Rodrigo

op group BTS, whose catchy, upbeat songs have won them legions of fans, have been named as the world's bestselling artists for the second year running.

The South Korean band beat the likes of Drake and Adele to top a chart compiled by music industry body the IFPI. It comes after a hugely successful year for Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook - who topped the US Billboard chart three times, and earned a Grammy nomination for their Michael Jackson-inspired single, Butter.

In Asia, BTS released a Japanese language greatest hits album, BTS: The Best, which was the year's biggest-seller on Japan's Oricon album chart.

It was the first time in 37 years that a foreign act had topped the chart. The last artist to do so was Michael Jackson, with his blockbuster 1984 album Thriller.

In BTS' home country, the CD release of Butter also topped the year-end charts - marking the sixth year in succession that the band

have managed the feat.

Added together, their sales, streams and downloads made them the world's most successful act of 2021, said the IFPI, which awarded them its Global Recording Artist Of The Year award.

"BTS' phenomenal success over the last year is a testament to their creativity, hard work and ongoing commitment to continuing to find ways to bring their music to the world," said chief executive Frances Moore.

"By performing in three different languages, they demonstrate their extraordinarily unique global appeal, and their dynamic and passionate fan-base has helped to make them the first artists in history to top the Global Artist Chart in two consecutive years."

American songwriter Taylor Swift took second place in the chart - the same position she held last year - while Adele came third.

BTS were joined by fellow K-pop stars Seventeen, who made their debut on the chart at number nine, while Olivia Rodrigo made her first appearance, in tenth place.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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ASHANTI, TREY SONGZ AND MARIO ON TOUR THE UK THIS SUMMER T he Grammy awardwinning, multi-platinumselling singer, songwriter and actress Ashanti has announced her return to the UK for a new four-date arena tour starting from the end of May this year.

The tour will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the singer’s self-titled debut album and chart-topping global smash hit single, ‘Foolish’.

With support from R&B favourites Trey Songz and Mario, the muchawaited UK tour will head to Birmingham this June. Ashanti’s highly anticipated new tour will see the superstar bring her show-stopping live spectacle along with her backcatalogue of globally adored hit songs

like ‘Rock Wit U’, ‘Only U’ and ‘Foolish’ to her huge UK fanbase.

Since bursting onto the scene 20 years ago, Ashanti has sold a staggering 15 million records across six studio albums.

With her eponymous debut album, she is famous for breaking the world record for achieving the highest firstweek sales for a debut female artist.

Since then, Ashanti has received a number of illustrious rewards including eight Billboard Awards, a Grammy, two American Music Awards, two Soul Train Awards and six ASCAP Awards. Supporting Ashanti are two of the biggest names in R&B. The Grammy-nominated chart-

topper Trey Songz is set to bring some of his greatest hits to the tour, including ‘Bottom’s Up’, ‘Say Aah’ and ‘Heart Attack’.

Since releasing his acclaimed debut ‘I Gotta Make it’ in 2003, Trey Songz has gone on to sell 25 million records worldwide.

Special guest, Mario shot to fame in the early 2000s with his number one selling singles ‘Just A Friend’ and ‘Let Me Love You’, which earned him two Billboard Music Awards and led to him being included in Billboard’s ‘Artist of the Decade’ list.

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SELL-OUT DINOSAUR EXPERIENCE RETURNS

J

urassic Encounter will see 50+ animatronic creatures from the Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous periods resurface in parks in London, Buxton, Edinburgh and Bristol, as well as making their way across the sea for a stint in Rotterdam.

Roaring into London for its launch, the event will feature two, life-sized T-Rex beasts, which roar and snarl at passers-by.

Other family favourites include Pterosaurs that shriek from the trees and a 15m tall Brachiosaurus guarding her eggs. The event will tour from April 2 - October 30 and makes for the perfect family day out, taking in venues by the Scottish coast and Peak District as well as London and Bristol.

Naz Kabir, spokesperson for Jurassic Encounter, says: “Last year, thousands of visitors all over the UK enjoyed a day out with our prehistoric beasts, and we’re delighted to return for another tour in 2022. This year we’ll have new dinosaurs, even more interactive exhibits including a VR experience and an education cinema where families will be able to learn more about these incredible creatures.”

The animatronic installations will feature information panels, containing interesting facts about each dinosaur, ensuring a visit to Jurassic Encounter will be as educational as it is exciting. And guests will be invited to watch documentaries about the period in the Education Cinema Marquee

along the route, bringing the beasts to life and showing how they roamed the earth.

An excavation sand pit will allow children to dig for their dinosaur skeletons and fossils, and learn how archaeologists discovered the extinct species of past eras. And a VR experience will offer the chance to escape into a different world.

Food and refreshments will be available along the route and a merchandise trailer at the end of the route for children to purchase a souvenir. Guests are free to roam the park as they wish, and discover the animals lurking behind bushes and creeping through the undergrowth.

Birmingham Rep Reveals £2.87m New Look BIRMINGHAM REP have officially unveiled a £2.87m new look to their historic home on Birmingham’s Centenary Square, 50 years on from the theatre first opening its doors.

Brand-new elements of the design include a fully accessible front entrance and terrace which connects directly to the popular city-centre square, the first time The Rep has been able to welcome visitors and audiences through the heart of the building.

Other features include beautiful new cafe, bar and restaurant spaces which complement the original striking RiBA awardwinning 1971 building design and brand-new 10 foot signage that welcomes

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visitors from across the square.

Sean Foley, Artistic Director of The Rep, said: “First founded in 1913 by Barry Jackson, Birmingham Rep is the longest-established of Britain's buildingbased theatre companies - it is simply one of Birmingham’s crown jewels.

“Now, 50 years since The Rep moved to its iconic ‘new’ home on Centenary Square, we are thrilled once again to re-new the Company by re-modelling this beautiful building. The theatre will, for the first time, have a front door and the new bars and foyers will ensure we can give audiences and all of our

0121 339 5885

visitors a great night out from the moment they first step into the building.”

Executive Director of The Rep, Rachael Thomas added; “With thanks to Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, and all our generous funders, we have been able to lay the foundations for a fantastic future at The Rep past our 50th anniversary on the square. We are now able to welcome visitors direct from the recently reimagined Centenary Square and ensure an accessible, high-quality theatregoing experience for all who visit Birmingham’s only premiere producing theatre.”

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Cadbury World Launches Adult And Toddler Pass And A Special Trail With Freddo

PERFECT FOR THE little ones, Cadbury World has announced the return of the popular Adult and Toddler pass, as well as a special trail featuring Freddo.

The Bournville-based attraction has relaunched its Adult and Toddler pass, so one adult and child aged five and under can enjoy discounted entry Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays during term time, with combined tickets priced at just £18.

What’s more, Cadbury World will be giving little ones a special way to experience the attraction, as young detectives can set off on an adventure to discover the names of Freddo’s friends.

An assortment of clues will be hidden throughout the attraction’s chocolatey zones as children are invited to follow the trail and solve the mystery. Each child taking part in the challenge will receive a special Freddo treat.

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Jason Derulo teams with Robinson and Rema

M

ulti-platinum g l o b a l superstar Jason Derulo teams up Belgian artist/ producer Robinson and afrorave prodigy Rema for a new trendsetting single.

Robinson & Jason Derulo feat. Rema’s ‘Ayo Girl (Fayahh Beat)’ is available now via Future History/ Artist Partner Group/ Atlantic Records at all DSPs and streaming services.

The single sees Derulo joining forces with multilingual musician of African descent, Robinson, with roots in Cameroon and DR Congo.

Heavily influenced and inspired by gospel music and French Afrobeats, Robinson uploaded his beat for ‘Fayahh’ to YouTube last year, spawning a breakout sound on TikTok where several versions of the instrumental beat have been created, combined with thousands of UGC videos.

The sound has sparked multiple trends from the belly dancing/waistline challenge, comedic/relatable content, and the two finger zoom challenge. In addition, “Fayahh” has also garnered UGC on YouTube with several TikTok compilations and more than 1M unofficial music videos.

Now adding 21-year-old, global phenomenon Rema to the mix, who initially came onto the scene debuting his first project ‘EP’, the afrobeat genius has created a haze of excitement that is spreading across the continents. Stamping his name in the genre, the he proves his undeniable energy with Derulo, making for a dynamic force on the track.

“Jason reached out to me to be on the record,” he says, “so of course I had to pull up. We met up in the studio and caught a vibe. I hopped in the booth to bring my energy to it and we created

a great song. It’s a fun song that we had fun making and I think you can hear that when you listen to it."

“Afrobeats reignited my obsession for music,” says Derulo. “That’s why I was so excited to create this song alongside Robinson and Rema. I hope y’all love it as much as I do.”

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Page 22 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

FOOD

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Food & Fine Dining PIES TO THE PEOPLE!

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ipton-based pie makers Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory is raising a toast this week as it celebrates the anniversary of the launch of their popular Pies by Post home delivery service.

Faced with the prospect of being unable to welcome diners to their Tipton pub and restaurant during lockdown, Mad O’Rourke’s owners launched Pies by Post in March 2021 to bring its famous pies to the masses.

Covering the whole of the mainland UK, Pies by Post lets customers buy boxes of up to six of Mad O’Rourke’s freshly baked favourites including the 100% Bullocks pie featuring tender cuts of beef slow cooked in their famous gravy and the minted lamb filled Wham Bam Thank You Lamb. Best of all, the service offers free delivery.

Customers can even pair their pies with two bottles of the restaurant's famous Lumphammer Gold beer to enjoy the full Black Country experience - no matter where they are in the UK. Having supplied nearly 10,000 pies to Mad O’Rourke’s fans nationwide since launching last year, customers from as far afield as Scotland have tucked into the pies, with Black Country ex-pats delighted to have a familiar taste

of home.

With a ready-made production facility in the form of the restaurant's development kitchen and a team of skilled chefs, the pies available through Pies by Post are the very same, handmade, high quality, delicious pies that customers can enjoy at the Tipton restaurant, something that owner Peter Towler says was a key consideration in the development of the delivery service.

The launch of Pies by Post wasn’t without its challenges

though as Peter explains: “One of the biggest challenges we faced establishing Pies by Post was perfecting the packaging and finding a method of delivery that wouldn’t compromise the quality of our pies. We wanted to make sure that customers could enjoy the same classic pies that we’re so well known for but in the comfort of their own home.”

Despite having been able to reopen the restaurant in May last year, once owner Peter had seen just how popular the service was,

he knew it was something that he would continue to run postlockdown. “It's a concept that we really believe in and as a small, family owned business it’s proven to be a fantastic way to get our name out there on a nationwide scale,” Peter says.

“It's also allowed us to reach Mad O'Rourke's fans wherever they are in the country, meaning that people can always get their Black Country comfort food fix.”

Popcorn Kitchen Introduces The Platinum Jubilee Popcorn Bottle

DOES ANYTHING say party more than a humongous bottle of hand-popped artisanal popcorn? Popcorn Kitchen founders Louise & Andy both remember the Silver Jubilee all too fondly, with vivid childhood memories of street parties, never-ending tables of homemade fare and an over-arching sense of feel-good.

According to co-founder Andy Valentine; “We fervently believe that our gigantic plastic bottles taps into the communal coming together & sharing' vibe courtesy of our classic Sweet & Salty fill that appeals not only to 'popcorn purists' of all ages BUT both sides of the sweet & savoury flavour divide.”

Better than that, each bottle turns seamlessly into an ample-sized money box (push through slot in the lid), which means it can seamlessly convert to the perfect communal collection box for supporting your local's community's chosen cause.

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Kanye West Suspended From Social Media Following Racial Slur

The Script share the new acoustic version of ‘Superheroes’

T

he Script shared their new acoustic version of their international hit and fan favourite ‘Superheroes’.

The song features on ‘The Acoustic Sessions 3’ collection.

The band also released their longawaited vinyl format of their Silver-certified UK and Ireland #1 greatest hits album ‘Tales From The Script’.

Originally released in 2014, ‘Superheroes’ is one of The Script’s biggest hits to date. Peaking at #3 in the UK and hitting Top 10 charts all over the world, the single has since exceeded a phenomenal 500 million streams.

Stripped back to acoustic guitar and drums, the song maintains its uplifting energy as Danny O’Donoghue’s towering voice celebrates the underdogs and unsung heroes that surround us, hidden in plain sight.

‘The Acoustic Sessions 3’ will be

KANYE WEST WAS suspended from Instagram for 24 hours after using a racial slur in reference to comedian Trevor Noah.

The rapper posted about him after he said Kanye's actions towards his ex-wife Kim Kardashian were terrifying.

Kanye's been criticised for repeatedly posting remarks about Kim, their children and her partner Pete Davidson.

Meta, which owns Instagram, said the rapper violated the platform's policies on hate speech and bullying.

The company also said its policies on harassment had been violated.

Although his account remains visible, Kanye was unable to do things like post, comment or send direct messages. Other recent posts from Kanye have accused Kim

completed by new takes on ‘Paint The Town Green’, ‘I Want It All’ and ‘Good Ol’ Days’.

‘Tales From The Script’ documents The Script’s story so far, as it highlights classic cuts from the trio’s catalogue, including the #1 smash ‘Hall of Fame’ (featuring will.i.am) and the Top 10 hits ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’, ‘For The First Time’and ‘Superheroes’.

The album is available on green double-vinyl, its colour reflecting their Irish heart as it came ahead of St. Patrick’s Day next week.

The band kick-started St. Patrick’s Day celebrations by sharing a live video of ‘Paint The Town Green’. Captured during their show at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, it’s a song that turns your city into Dublin wherever you may be.

The Script are on their North American tour, before returning to play their UK and Irish shows.

Verdi’s La Traviata To Be Performed Live On Screen THIS SPRING, people can enjoy Verdi’s ever popular La traviata, broadcast LIVE from Covent Garden to over 800 cinemas, in 18 countries, around the world.

Richard Eyre’s production, with sumptuous belle époque-inspired designs by Bob Crowley, has long been a Royal Opera favourite, winning critical acclaim for its exquisite sets, lavish costumes, and unforgettably dramatic staging.

The production will be

broadcast live on Wednesday 13 April 2022, and sung by an international cast that includes renowned South African soprano Pretty Yende, celebrated American tenor Stephen Costello and Greek baritone Dimitri Platanias. Encore screenings will run from Sunday 17 April 2022.

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of stopping him from seeing their children - something she's denied.

In a statement, Meta said that it would take additional steps if it saw further violations of its policies. "We often take additional steps against accounts that repeatedly break our rules by placing restrictions on their account," it said.

Meta added that it had also deleted content from Kanye's account. The comments from Trevor Noah were made during an episode of the satirical news show which he hosts, The Daily Show.

Page 24 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

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PIONEERING RECORD label, Peckings Records, was awarded a Blue Plaque by Nubian Jak Community Trust.

Two years before Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, started importing Jamaican music to England, in the 1960s, George 'Peckings' Price brought the sound of the island to London - and beyond.

Music for George 'Peckings' Price started in Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, where he formed a partnership with legendary Studio 1 producer, Coxsone Dodd, who set up his own sound system, which included members like Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Prince Buster.

To stay ahead of their rivals Coxsone travelled to the US to collect music exclusives, leaving Peckings in charge of bookings and arranging the dances.

In 1960 George came to the UK, with a suitcase full of vinyls from Prince Buster and Coxsone - supplying UK-based Jamaican soundmen like Duke Vin, Count Suckle and Daddy Vego with RnB, Ska and Reggae records, before opening his own record label and shop in 1973.

He would go on to cater for legendary sound systems like Coxsone, Jah Shaka, Fatman, Hawkeye, Dub Vendor, Daddy Cool - and a young David

Pioneering Record Label Honoured With Blue Plaque Rodigan.

When George Price died, in 1994, the Peckings legacy was continued by his sons - Tony and Trevor - whilst younger brothers, Chris and Duke, took the Peckings Records label to another level, solidifying its place in Reggae history.

Peckings Records has been responsible for breaking some of the most influential Reggae artists including Bitty McLean, Gappy Ranks, Peter Hunningale and Tarrus Riley. The label has released almost 100 records and albums since 1994 - and in recent years, it was awarded both ‘Best Label’ and ‘Producer’ at the British Reggae Industry Awards.

Founder of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, Jak Beula, said: “Peckings Records is an oak tree that grew from the acorn of Jamaican music enthusiast, George Price, whose love for the music of his island helped to create the phenomenon of Ska and Reggae in the United Kingdom.”

DJ David Rodigan MBE OD added: "George ' Peckings' Price, made an immeasurable contribution to the evolution of Jamaican music in London with his tireless passion and enthusiasm for the promotion of Studio One music, a catalogue quite unlike any other. For this, and so much more, we all owe Peckings a huge debt of love and respect."

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SIR LEWIS HAMI INSPIRES FANS EXPO 2020 DUB S

even-time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton delighted fans with a live Q&A session at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Al Wasl.

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton told cheering fans in Dubai that he was ready to fight for his eighth championship title this season.

On Monday, Hamilton visited Expo 2020 Dubai for a short talk at Al Wasl Plaza, where thousands of excited fans turned up to see their sporting hero.

He shared his thoughts on the racing season ahead, which begins in Bahrain next weekend, his car and what motivates him to continue to race at the highest level.

As the only Black Formula One driver in history, Sir Lewis Hamilton' has become most successful driver in F1 history, with a record-equalliing 112 victories.

Bestowed with one of the highest honours in British culture, Hamilton has transcended the sport bringing to light unconfronted, decades-old issues within the industry.

Hamilton's drive to change the sport's representation rather than win titles, shows his appetite to change the buildings blocks of the industry he conquered.

Lewis Hamilton, lost the championship to Max Verstappen in the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12, but in February denied he had said he would quit Formula One.

How have you enjoyed your off season, lessons that you’ve learned, & how have the last couple of months been for you?

“The off season has been a bit different, it’s been a bit crazy Abu Dhabi, obviously was a difficult period of time for all of us, obviously we are living in crazy times in the world.

I just had to unplug, just so you know, if any of you want to do it, unplugging from social media is really really a good thing but I missed everyone that follows and supports.

But I really needed the time to re-centre and focus. I was with my family, trying to be the best Uncle I can be, recreate memories with my family, rebuilding and come back to fight.”

What lessons have you learned about yourself, over the last couple of months?

I think for me, my whole life has been about winning. I’ve been racing for 29 years.

By Delroy Constantine-Simms

So, I think that having that mentality of always knowing that you can be better, but I think during this time, realizing that winning is not everything and sometimes when you lose, you actually win and grow.

My advice to people is doesn’t be afraid of failure, because you will always meet failure, on the way to success. I could not do what I do without the support of all you guys.

I’ve come back to fight for that 8th.

What version of Lewis Hamilton are we going to see in 2022?

I am always trying to be better, a better version of myself. We are living in crazy times, but I think for all of us we should focus on being happy, finding that happy centre, every single day.

Today, I feel the healthiest and fittest, I have ever been, more focused my ethic has been better than it’s ever been, and I know what I want, I know how to get there it’s not an easy road, but I know together we can do it., stay with me.

What would winning the eighth Formula 1 world title mean to you?

It would mean everything. It’s impossible to know what the future holds and what it would feel like but doing something that no one else has done before will be mind-blowing.

I know it would mean so much to all of us, who go through all these different emotions through the year.

Whether you’re on the road with me, at home or at the racetrack – you’re there with me in the car and I’m carrying you with me and still I rise!

It would mean the world to my family. I’m very proud of my family name, Hamilton.

Most of you won’t know that my mum’s name is Larbalestier, and I’m going to include that in my name because I don’t fully understand the whole idea that when people get married, the woman loses her name.

I really want my mum’s name to continue on with the Hamilton name.

It’s been your 16th season in Formula 1. In all of what you have achieved and all that you have learned, in the cock pit and outside the cockpit? What’s been the biggest lesson?

My biggest lesson through my whole career is to never give up on yourself, never stop believing in yourself. Keep pushing. Every

single one of us have to have that in everything that we do.

I think that’s what I have learned the most, just continue to Believe, yourself, value yourself. Love yourself, we are all so Unique, so different in our own way.

There is no other you. You just have to believe that, you’re are unique, you are powerful, you are beautiful, you are strong.

There is nothing we can’t do if we put our mind to it. I tell myself every day. No matter how many times you stumble, it’s not how you fall, it how you get up.

103 race victories, 12 more than the legendary Michael Schumacher. No-one has won more races than you Lewis, is there one drive, one race win that you lie in bed at night, and think, wow, think is incredible?

Brazil, yes Brazil 2021, you know it’s crazy, but I don’t remember every single race win or even the failures, 2008 Silverstone, was awesome.

Even though it wasn’t my best.

My first Grand Prix win in 2007, I remember looking down and watching my dad smiling at me. That was real deep for me.

He was a very very hard parent.

Not necessarily the most living, because he felt that he had to be a solid rock always, but in that moment, I knew that I made him proud.

I think Brazil was something I did not know I had in me. Again, that just shows, you can always be better, always be better

Alot of parents and children are here today. What’s your message to those that are striving, whether it’s in motor sports or in a different sport, the arts or in any walk of life, or any industry, what would be your message?

I touched on it earlier, but I think it goes back to what I was saying.

Keep believing yourself We are all learning; we are all on this crazy journey called life. I know you are all working on something.

Make sure you find a good balance between that and family, ultimate happiness, enjoying yourself and creating memories. I say just keep challenging yourself, never be comfortable, with everything being okay.

Always challenge yourself, physically, mentally. Just know that you can always progress, you can always be better I think for parents, the best part of our story, not just as a family, we’ve

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magazine.com

Thinkfarm celebrate the Stones at SIXTY

THE ROLLING STONES have unveiled a new look for 'SIXTY', their 60th anniversary tour of Europe in 2022, designed

by Creative Director Mark Norton and his creative team at Thinkfarm, the award-winning British design and branding agency.

Norton worked with other Thinkfarm designers Elke Pettitt, Zoe Prosser and Will Naish to create a brand new look for this

Your’re not just making an impact in Formula one, you’ve a lot of charities close to your heart, you’re a conservationist, talk to us about what exciting you. What’s the next chapter in the Lewis Hamilton story.?

We are on Mission 44, 44 has been my race number since I was eight. It was the registration number on my dad’s car number plate, was F44.

That was the number my dad used to put on my go kart, when I first started

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ILTON AT BAI

had success, it’s really the journey of having a dad, not knowing what to do with this crazy kid with all this energy.

I am sure there’s loads of people here with children, that just want the best for them, but they are not always given all the tools, straight way. we are learning on the go, that’s how it is for my sister at least, and that’s how it is for me as an uncle want the best for my niece and nephews.

I am trying to create change in the industry, trying to get more people from diverse backgrounds into STEM subjects, trying to really make sure we utilize the time we have here, in the best way we can.

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 25

racing.

I think for me personally, I have had all these years of success I was always having all this success, but not really understanding why, I was the only person of colour to get through to this role, and not only that, and to be at the forefront, but having all this success, surely there a greater reason for it.

But I think for me, I found my greater calling in the last year or so. We launched the Hamilton Commission in June 2020, to try to understand what the barriers are for young minorities, trying to get into the sport, because it is not diverse.

I think for all companies, are realizing today that a more diverse work force is better for success moving forward.

In our sport, I am really leaning on all the leaders in our sport to do what’s right, and make sure that they invest in the youth, make sure they and push down those barriers by creating greater pipelines, and hopefully in the next five to ten years you’re going to see the sport looking look similar to the multinational crowd at Expo.

year's heavily-anticipated tour, which returns to home turf UK venues along the way. Along with a vivid new 'cyberdellic' version of the famous Tongue-and-Lips logo, designed to celebrate the future as much to the past, the Thinkfarm team contributed to the naming of the Stones' SIXTY Tour and developed a complete set of integrated artworks as part of a comprehensive design system for the project.

We talked about what you are doing outside the car, I know you’re not finished any time soon I know you are only 37, you look like a man of 27 are you going to be around this sport, a little while longer yet?

I hope so, I think one day at a time, right? one day at a time. What I do know, is that I love what I do. I am so challenged.

I didn’t think that at this age, I would still feel so sharp, feel and so energized. I am still getting up for my morning runs, still putting those workouts in, still putting the time in, more than the other youngsters do.

I have had the success that I have had, so and I am grateful that I still have that hunger, so we will see, I love seeing all you guy on the and support throughout the racing year, it really means the world t me s thank you, I really appreciate it.

Do you have a message for your fans?

I love you guys, thanks for your time, thank you for all your energy, I just wish you all an amazing year, I sending lots of positivity and keep your fingers crossed.

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The design theme will extend beyond the normal promotional material that rolls out across all advertising and merchandise, into the look and feel of the touring stage set itself – as it tours multiple stadia and cities this summer.

As a central part of the design system, there's also a newly drawn version of the classic red Tongueand-Lips logo which takes late60's-early-70's style clues in a conscious nod to the first version of the logo, drawn by renowned British designer John Pasche.

The SIXTY project is the 10th individual branding and design project that Norton and the Thinkfarm team have undertaken for the Stones, in a relationship that started in 1989 with the design of the logo and core look for the mould-breaking Steel Wheels tour and album:Vodoo Lounge Uncut Live album, 2018 Norton comments: "When you get asked to get involved again, you really want to make it work well. It matters because the Stones are an institution. They're not 'any old band', they are THE band – they've shaped popular culture.

We're proud – and probably quite lucky - to have worked on such a wide range of Stones projects over 33 years but this one really does feel like something special".

Page 26 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

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Billboard set to launch first US Afrobeats chart

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illboard is teaming up with festival company Afro Nation to launch America's first ever Afrobeats chart, it says.

It went live on 29 March and ranks the top 50 most popular Afrobeats songs in the country based on streams and download.

“The last decade has seen Afrobeats explode into a worldwide phenomenon, influencing culture and fashion across the globe and I am humbled to have made a contribution to growing the genre alongside many talented, passionate people,” Billboard quotes Afro Nation founder, Obi Asika, as saying.

US magazine Billboard publishes music charts showing the most popular albums and songs in various genres. Its executive, Silvio Pietroluongo, said: "As with much of the world, Afrobeats has grown tremendously as a genre in America and we are proud to showcase the top songs and artists with this new weekly ranking."

Several Afrobeats songs have had international success recently including Ckay's Love Nwantiti, Fireboy DML's Peru and Wizkid's Essence.

The Gruffalo Discovery Land Confirms Opening Date THE GRUFFALO DISCOVERY LAND – a brand-new multi-million pound land and a UK first – is opening at Twycross Zoo on Saturday 9 April – with tickets available to buy online, and entry to the land included in the Zoo’s daily admission price.

The new four-acre land has been developed in partnership with brand managers Magic Light Pictures and is inspired by the bestselling picture book The Gruffalo written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The partnership brings together this evergreen children’s character and a conservation organisation that exists to protect wildlife, preserve endangered species and educate the next generation on the importance of protecting our planet.

The announcement comes as Twycross Zoo unveils some of the land’s most important inhabitants, including Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and of course the Gruffalo, giving visitors an exclusive sneak peek of some of the characters.

Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, CEO of Twycross Zoo, said: “Much-

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loved children’s books, such as The Gruffalo, can inspire the imaginations of young children and encourage them to learn more about the natural world around them. The Gruffalo Discovery Land is a real celebration of both children’s love for animals and nature and we’re so excited to bring these wonderful creatures to life here at Twycross Zoo. “Our aim for this groundbreaking experience is to engage and inspire more young children than ever before about the importance of conservation and the natural world. Recent global reports have highlighted the need for urgent action and we’re committed to educating more young people than ever before about the part they can play in protecting our planet – each one of us can make a real difference.”

With real-life animals, animatronics, film clips and much more, visitors to The Gruffalo Discovery Land at Twycross Zoo will encounter Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo along their interactive journey through the deep dark wood.

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Reggae giants UB40 wow audience at Expo 2020 Dubai

By Delroy Constantine-Simms

B

ritish reggae legends UB40, featuring Ali Campbell, got the good-vibes party rocking on when they hit the open-air stage at Sustainability Plaza.

Backed by a seven-piece band, the show aptly kicked off with Here I Am. Celebrating some of the group’s biggest hits, including (I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You; I Got You Babe; Cherry Oh Baby; and Red, Red Wine, the band also performed new music. The international crowd of all ages swayed in time to the hits, while smart phone flashlights shone in the air for Many Rivers to Cross.

When the Expo fireworks started at 2225 GST, the band belted out Guns in the Ghetto, with an impressive solo by drummer Jimmy Brown

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followed soon afterwards.

UB40 are one of the most commercially successful reggae acts of all time in terms of record sales (over 70 million), chart positions and touring schedule. During their threedecade long career, they have been performing sell-out shows worldwide and headlining the Reggae Sunsplash music festival in Jamaica, as well as spreading reggae to Russia, South America, etc.

They have performed twice at the Night of the Proms, in 2000 and in 2006. The band, which formed in 1978, has had more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and achieved success around the world, including Grammy nominations for Best Reggae Album four times.

UB40 have been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, and in 1984 were nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group. In October 2011, UB40 were commemorated with a Heritage Award, a ceremonial plaque from the UK's PRS for Music.

A plaque was placed at the Hare & Hounds Pub in Birmingham, England, the location where they played their first gig.

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ENTERTAINMENT MOTORS

Volvo Cars To Open New 700-Job Tech Hub In Stockholm

VOLVO CARS is expanding its presence in Stockholm by investing in a tech hub in the centre of Sweden’s capital, creating a workspace for more than 700 professionals skilled in software engineering, data science and analytics, product management, online business and user experience.

The tech hub is an expansion of Volvo Cars’ current downtown Stockholm location and will build on the company’s established competence in online sales and software product development, which are key focus areas for the company in its ongoing transformation.

The expansion will support Volvo Cars’ strong growth, as well as its mid-decade ambitions to sell at least half of all its cars online and to develop at least half of all software in-house.

Volvo Cars aims to attract hundreds of new team members from all over the world to its tech hub.

As the home and birthplace of several globally successful billion-dollar tech companies, Stockholm has an international appeal to the global tech scene.

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INTRODUCING THE NEW V12 VANTAGE

F

or fifteen years the V12 Vantage has boldly represented Aston Martin’s passion for performance.

Fast and fierce in equal measure, successive iterations of these great cars have formed an iconic bloodline. One built around the premise of fitting the most compact and driver-

focussed model with the largest and most potent series production engine. With this unique lineage nearing its end, Aston Martin is proud to introduce the fastest, fiercest and most dynamically accomplished of them all; the new V12 Vantage.

With production of the V12 Vantage strictly limited to 333 examples globally, this final

edition celebrates the end of an epic era in fitting style. The ultimate expression of extreme performance and driver-focussed thrills, this remarkable machine mixes blistering straightline speed and scintillating handling with spectacular looks and enviable exclusivity: An extremely enticing proposition.

So enticing, that since V12

Vantage was confirmed in December last year, Aston Martin have seen unprecedented demand for this future icon with all examples sold ahead of release and an oversubscribed register of interest eagerly waiting in the wings.

Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Moers, said of the V12 Vantage: “Every great sportscar brand has a hero car.

For Aston Martin in more recent years that car has been the V12 Vantage.

"Right from the moment the first V12 Vantage RS Concept was shown back in 2007 our customers and fans around the world fell in love with the idea

of fitting our biggest engine into our smallest and most sporting model.

"The recipe has been refined over the years with great success, but the essence has remained the same. Now it is time to bring this bloodline to a close, fittingly with the most spectacular example yet – the fastest, most powerful and most dynamically capable V12 Vantage ever.

"A celebration of its forebears and an embodiment of Aston Martin’s intensifying focus on driving dynamics, it ensures the V12 Vantage goes out on the highest of highs”.

Suzuki Signs MOU SUZUKI MOTOR Corporation (SMC) signed and MOU with the State of Gujarat, India to invest approximately 150 billion yen (approximately 104.4 billion rupees) for local manufacturing of electric vehicles (BEV) and BEV batteries.

The MOU was signed on 19 March 2022 at India-Japan Economic Forum held in New Delhi, India, in the presence of Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Furnia Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.

Mr. Toshihiro Suzuki,

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Representative Director and President, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Mr. Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited were joined by eminent senior government personnel of India and Japan at the ceremony.

Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Toshihiro Suzuki said, "Suzuki's future mission is to achieve carbon neutrality with small cars."

He added, "We will continue active investment in India to realize Self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat)."

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MOTORS

ŠKODA SET TO HELP IMPROVE POLICE BEATS NATIONWIDE WITH ALL-NEW FABIA

T

he much-loved ŠKODA FABIA has been a part of police fleets since the first generation arrived over two decades ago, and now the award-winning fourth generation is the latest to join the ranks.

With a combination of bold design, enhanced connectivity, plus class-leading safety and interior space, it’s the ideal beat car for police forces across the UK, whether on city streets or country lanes.

The new FABIA – launched in the UK in March – builds on the legacy of its predecessors with a dynamic new design and a raft of advanced comfort and safety technologies.

Despite its increase in size it remains a compact and easyto-drive car, making it an ideal solution for police forces nationwide.

The FABIA’s incredible ability and value are far from its only traits to appeal to emergency services customers, however.

A choice of four EVO petrol engines is available with power outputs of 80 PS to 150 PS, propelling the FABIA to 62 mph in as little as eight seconds and on to a top speed of 139mph for the range-topping Monte Carlo spec

Morgan Triumphant At Salon Privé London With Super 3 UK Show Debut

with the 1.5-litre 150 PS engine.

This performance is balanced with excellent fuel consumption and improved emissions, making the FABIA efficient and economical.

The new FABIA also features the latest connectivity features and cutting-edge technology,

including ŠKODA’s 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit technology, which makes its debut in the model and, alongside a 9.2-inch touchscreen, means that civilian and police drivers alike have easy access to all the information they need.

For blue light services, this includes 360-degree lighting and a

full integration of the emergency services’ communication platform within the existing infotainment setup, ensuring all functionality, such as the lighting and siren, can be controlled through one accessible central platform.

THE ALL-NEW Morgan Super 3 will make its UK show debut at Salon Privé London, from 21-23 April 2022 at Royal Hospital Chelsea, as the Morgan Motor Company showcases its entire range at the exclusive new luxury car event.

Recently revealed to the press, the Super 3 continues the 113year legacy of three-wheeled Morgan vehicles yet introduces a new product family with a design language inspired by the Jet Age. Offering a unique combination of feel and connection to the driving experience, the Super 3 has been designed from the ground up to offer new levels of character, thrill and adventure.

Built in Malvern, Worcestershire, like every Morgan since 1909, the Super 3 draws on the skilled men and women that handcraft vehicles in

Honda Meets ‘Electric Vision’ 2022 Target And Announces Three All-New Electrified Models HONDA TODAY unveiled its next electrified model for Europe, the all-new Civic e:HEV. Available to European customers later this year, the 11th-generation Civic completes the brand’s commitment to electrify its entire mainstream European automobile range by the end of 2022.

Honda also confirmed

the further expansion of its electrified product line-up in 2023, to create its widest European line up for many years. New additions include an all-electric B-segment SUV, previewed as the e:Ny1 Prototype, a C-segment full hybrid SUV, and the all-new CR-V, which will be available with both full hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options for the first time in

Europe.

Coming to market in 2023, the e:Ny1 electric vehicle (EV) will be at the centre of Honda’s future product line up.

Offering the unique blend of dynamics, technology and design that Honda is known for, the compact SUV will provide a great option for families looking for their first EV.

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the renowned red brick buildings on Pickersleigh Road.

“As one of the UK’s longest established marques, it’s a privilege to receive the new Morgan Super 3 at Salon Privé London for its UK show debut,” said Director David Bagley.

“Rarely does a car evoke such delight from both owners and onlookers, and it’s testament to the passion that drives Morgan that the famous 3 wheeler returns fit for the modern age.”

Despite retaining the aesthetic integrity of the previous 3 Wheeler, the new Super 3 has been brought up to date with modern design and engineering and is the first Morgan with a monocoque structure. Powered by a 1.5-litre Ford three-cylinder engine, it significantly exceeds the power and performance figures of previous threewheeled models.

Page 30 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

Game Of Thrones Attraction At The Linen Mills Studio Is Now On Show In Belfast GAME OF THRONES is one of the most ground-breaking, breathtaking and popular TV series ever broadcast. Always brutal and controversial, it gained millions of fans around the world.

For eight seasons the show was filmed at the Linen Mills Studio near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Now that production has ceased, the studio has been turned into a permanent attraction called The Game of Thrones Studio Tour.

Steve Collins, the Executive Producer of Podcasts and Videos for TellMeWhere2Go, chatted with Brad Kelly,

General Manager of The Game of Thrones Studio Tour about the impact the show had on Belfast, and the exciting exhibits on display.

They include everything from design drawings to displays of the intricate costumes, whole sets, including Winterfell Great Hall, the armoury containing thousands of unique weapons, examples of the special effects makeup, and interactive displays of how many of the special effects were created.

It is a most enlightening interview and a "must listen" for those who are fans of the show.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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CALVIN HARRIS RETURNS TO SCOTLAND TO HEADLINE HAMPDEN PARK

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alvin Harris has announced that he will be making his long-awaited return to Scotland with a huge headline show at Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow on Saturday 2nd July.

After selling out two nights at the OVO Hydro in 2013 in a matter of minutes and having dominated headline slots over the years at the world's biggest festivals, Calvin is sure to make history once again at this momentous homecoming show at Hampden Park Glasgow.

He has topped the charts across the globe with his many hits, amassing 27 top 10 singles in the UK alone.

Fans can expect to hear these massive tunes along with an arsenal of exhilarating dance music from the powerhouse producer/DJ at this one night only special event.

Producer, DJ and songwriter Calvin Harris stands as the figurehead for modern dance music, having broken world records and dominated the charts.

He has over 35 billion combined audio and video streams in his career history, making him one of the most viewed artists on YouTube and one of Sony Music's biggest streaming artists.

Calvin has collaborated with global artists including Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, The Weeknd, and Travis Scott to name a few.

His work has garnered a number of top music awards and nominations, including 14x MTV VMA nominations and 2x wins, 5x Grammy nominations and a 2013 Grammy Award win in the Best Music Video category for “We Found Love”, making him one of the most celebrated Scottish artists of all time.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 31

ENTERTAINMENT

Forum Birmingham Announces Global Names

BACK 2 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES MASSIVE DANCE TENT LINE UP AND ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENT

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he most outrageous trip down memory lane, Back 2 Festival is returning for summer 2022. This year’s event at Catton Park in Derbyshire, takes place from Thursday 30th June – Sunday 3rd July..

Back 2 Festival will welcome a plethora of back-to-the-noughties talent as well as a huge roster of dance music legends from the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s. Heading up the Dance Tent across the four day festival will be DJ and record producer JFK; Swedish DJ of ‘Now You’re Gone’ fame, Basshunter, German dance hit machine, Sash!, Liverpudlian electronic music group, Ultrabeat, and garage icons Artful Dodger, Oxide & Neutrino and Sweet Female Attitude amongst many more. Between them, this conglomeration of acts have helped create some of the world’s most iconic dance anthems.

In addition to this stellar dance tent line up, Birmingham’s

oldest and largest LGBT venue, the Nightingale Club will be presenting ‘The Big Queer Rave!’

DJs including Simon Baker, DJ Corey, DJ Simon Harris, Robbie Lewis, Just Soriah, Glittershit, Gaydio’s Craig Laws and Nightingale Drag Residents will be blasting out classic dance and pop anthems from the likes of Basement Jaxx, Kylie Minogue, Fatboy Slim and Britney Spears; festival-goers can get ready for four days of non-stop dancing!

Plastik Ibiza has also been added to the mega lineup.

Delivering an unrivalled VIP experience, it will bring a touch of Ibiza’s number one party spot, San Antonio, to the festival.

Plastik has always been the meeting place for celebrities and clubbers who prefer a more glamorous place to dance, and attendees will be able to channel this vibe at Catton Park.

There will also be an all-new Back 2 Festival VIP section, plus alternative entertainment in the form of zorb balls, performances

Gamer Crowned FIFA 22 Champion

AN AMATEUR GAMER from Alum Rock in Birmingham has taken victory for the city as his FIFA skills saw Jabraan Hussain crowned The TalkTalk Future Fibre City Clash Xbox tournament winner.

After more than 30 matches, Jabraan eas ‘City Clash Champion 2022’ and walks away with a £500 cash prize, as well as six-month free Future Fibre from connectivity provider TalkTalk

and an Amazon eero package.

Gamers across Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Leeds went head-to-head in a number of virtual FIFA 22 tournaments from qualifying stages through to the finals, all competing to win first place and take victory for their city.

As the tournament reignited historic rivalries across the likes of Liverpool/Manchester/Leeds, the competition was always set

ONE OF THE UK’S newest venues and club spaces has announced a series of major new shows along with further investment in its historic building, in line with the music and night-time industries welcoming fans back following the global pandemic.

Forum Birmingham will host international reggae star Sean Paul; electronic music legends Faithless, Pete Tong and A Guy Called Gerald; and leading dancehall duo Govana and Skeng, in addition to upcoming dates from Mercury-nominated UK rapper Slowthai; leading reggae broadcaster David Rodigan MBE with Shy FX and special guests, and Birmingham smash hit indie-

rockers Editors – all over the coming months.

The 3,500 capacity newly upgraded complex featuring a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system is investing further in facilities to include an exclusive room for VIPs and a cutting edge audio-visual offering in its second room, Space54.

Forum Birmingham is also broadening its programme to present more live music and community and city-focused events.

Forum Birmingham co-director Billy Chauhan said: “We’re thrilled to see audiences and revellers returning back to music performances and club nights across Birmingham and the UK.

from the Enchanted Players Theatre Company and all the way from Louisville, Kentucky, the former WWE champion Al Snow alongside his wrestling academy Slam Wrestling. Also on-site bringing the party vibes will be ‘The Box that Rox’ – a mobile karaoke and live video room in a horsebox, which can hold up to eight singers at a time, alongside lasers, smoke machines and disco lights for full ‘on the stage’ effect!

Headliners across the fourday event include Steps, UB40, Cascada and Aqua. With nine UK Number 1s and over 145 weeks spent in the UK Top 10 between them, the artists are set to get the crowds singing and dancing along to all the pop mega hits. Catton Park, located next to local gem Catton Hall, is in the heart of the National Forest and equidistant from London, Manchester and Norwich, making it the ideal location for festival goers from across the UK. to be fierce. More than 130 people battled it out over the tournament, all aiming to take the trophy for their city.

Birmingham scored an impressive 149 goals across the tournament, taking overall victory for the city, with Jabraan leading as the Xbox champion.

With players across the city winning a total of 76 matches for Birmingham.

The virtual tournament, hosted on Battlefy – the leading online esports tournament platform saw almost 200 matches take place, with more than 325 goals scored across the four cities.

Xbox championship winner, Hussain, said: “As an avid gamer, I really enjoyed taking part in the TalkTalk Future Fibre City Clash tournament, it was great to connect with the wider community of UK gamers - and winning for my city made it that extra bit more enjoyable.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 32 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

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Soul II Soul Announces Their ‘Feel Free’ UK Tour SOUL II SOUL have announced their Feel Free tour for November 2022 starting at De Montfort Hall in Leicester and ending with a festive London headline show in December.

During the course of their stellar career the band have sold over 10 million albums worldwide and

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

main man Jazzie B was awarded an OBE for services to music in 2008, as well as winning an Ivor Novello Award for Inspiration, as “the man who gave British Black music a soul of its own”.

With huge hits including ‘Keep On Movin’ (which sold over a million copies in the US alone) and the UK number one single ‘Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)’, Soul II Soul progressed from being one of the leaders of the 1980s warehouse scene to pioneering British Black music around the world, and securing commercial success for themselves and the huge amount of artists they have influenced.

Damascena relocates its headquarters

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ndependent coffee house Damascena has relocated its head offices to Birmingham after agreeing an additional 1,200 sq ft lease at SevenCapital’s Lyndon House development in Edgbaston.

The popular Middle Eastern coffee house, delicatessen and bakery, which has four existing venues located in key areas across Birmingham, previously agreed to take a total of 2,570 square feet (sq ft) of space on a 10-year lease to launch its fifth branch.

With a lease now agreed for an additional 1,200 sq ft, the ground floor of Lyndon House will form the businesses new headquarters and will include 3,343 sq ft of indoor space, alongside an attractive 590 sq ft garden terrace. Plans for the venue also include a barista school. Work to fit out the new space, which has been designed by Faber Design, is now underway, with the new

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Damascena Coffee House at Lyndon House expected to open by spring 2022.

Anas Zein Al-Abdeen, managing director of Damascena, added: “We are thrilled to locate our headquarters at

SevenCapital’s Lyndon House, as well as to launch our fifth branch in Birmingham city centre.

“Lyndon House offers a fantastic location, not only for our latest Damascena

0208-865-1922

Coffee House, but also for the operational side of our business due its outstanding office accommodation, enviable location and accessibility from the city centre. We look forward to moving into Lyndon House later this year and welcoming customers to enjoy our fresh, flavoursome beverages and food.”

Senior director at SevenCapital, Simon Dicken, said: “It has been fantastic to work with Damascena and to provide additional floorspace at Lyndon House to support their operational move.

“The building offers a fantastic location for the business as it continues to grow and expand, as well as providing a further dynamic to the growing café culture within Edgbaston Village.

We look forward to welcoming Damascena to Lyndon House.”

Damascena Coffee House’s location at Lyndon House occupies a prime position along the Hagley Road and within the parameters of the increasingly popular Edgbaston Village. It is easily accessible from both inside and outside Birmingham city centre by car or via the new Metro line, which will stop adjacent to the building.

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Barrington Patterson

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“larger-than-life” character, and mentor, he was a well-known member of Birmingham City's Zulu Warriors hooligan group.

‘One-Eye Baz’ – as he became known as – then worked with young people, boxing groups and anti-gang initiatives throughout the city and beyond.

Born in Handsworth, the successful kickboxer, mixed martial artist and cage fighter featured in a TV series presented by actor Danny Dyer called Britain's Deadliest Men and the Bravo documentary The Real Football Factories.

He went on to write a bestselling autobiography, as well as feature as himself in 2014 British crime film The Guvnors, before setting up Birmingham’s Homeless Support Team, as well as campaigning in schools for the #knivesdownglovesup initiative.

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He died of a heart attack, leaving his wife, Tracey, to write: ‘We didn’t get to finish our story the out pouring of love brings myself and the family great comfort it wasn’t supposed to end this way.’

He was 56.

Emilio Delgado

presence in children's lives for 45 years, he played the fix-it shop owner Luis on the long-running Sesame Street series for more than four decades.

Born in Calexico, in California, the Mexican-American joined the show at a time when there were few ordinary Latino characters on TV. First appearing in 1971, he was praise for avoiding the Latin American stereotypes which were commonplace on television.

Cast in the show without having to audition, he starred alongside a diverse group of children and the famous puppets Elmo, Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. He left Sesame Street in 2016.

Other TV credits included Quincy M.E., Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and House of Cards, before being honoured by former New York mayor Bill de Blasio, who declared 15 October

2019, ‘Emilio Delgado Day’.

Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020, he was married with two children. He was 81.

Sandeep Singh Sandhu

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escribed as a "legend" by the president of the England Kabaddi Association, the champion British kabaddi player, from West Bromwich-based player was killed in northern India.

One of the best stoppers in the world, the “gentleman” of the game, he was a "legend" of circle kabaddi, and was like the "David Beckham" of the sport. He settled in West Bromwich, in the UK, in 2007 represented both India and the UK. Born in Shahkot, he settled in the UK – starting his career playing state level matches before becoming professional.

He competed in kabaddi leagues in United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States and Australia and captained the Singhs team in the inaugural World Kabaddi League in 2014 – which they won.

Voted ‘Player of the Final’ at the 2014 World Kabaddi League tournament, he became president

of the Major League Kabaddi Federation as well as President of the Shahkot Lions Kabaddi Cup. Assaulted by an unknown in his native Punjab, he survives a wife and two sons, age 40.

Rupiah Banda

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Rodney Marsh MBE

and Wales Cricket Board national academy (2001-2005), he also worked with the Global Cricket Academy in Dubai.

Following a heart attack, he died age of 74.

Madeleine Albright

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Czech immigrant who went on to become the first female secretary of state in US history, born Marie Jana Korbelova in Prague, she was the daughter of a diplomat who was forced into exile after the occupation of his country by Nazi Germany in 1939.

A long-time foreign policy veteran, she worked at the White House during the Jimmy Carter administration and later as foreign policy adviser to a number of vice-presidential and presidential candidates - becoming America's top diplomat in 1997 during the Clinton government. She was instrumental in efforts to end ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.

Her death from cancer was confirmed by her family in a statement. She was 84.

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OBITUARIES

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Betty Codona OBE

n unrivalled colossus of women’s Basketball in the UK, she dedicated 60 years to inspiring thousands of people to play the sport that she loved.

Originally a PE Teacher, she founding the Sheffield Hatters - the most successful club in women’s basketball - in 1961, before growing the game nationwide.

Accumulating an array of basketball titles along with the BBC Unsung Hero for Yorkshire, she had the Women’s British Basketball League Trophy Final named after her and last year she was shortlisted for The Sunday Times Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Her daughters Vanessa Ellis and Loraine Gayle played to the highest level in England throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Vanessa was assistant coach for

he former Zambian president was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago. His death came a day after current President, Hakainde Hichilema, paid him a courtesy call at his residence - where he found him in high spirits.

As the country’s fourth president, he was in power from 2008 to 2011. Leader of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, he was appointed

by Vice President the late Levy Mwanawasa in 2006 after serving in serving in several diplomatic posts under the presidency of Kenneth Kaunda.

Following Mwanawasa’s death in 2008 he ascended to acting President and narrowly won against opposition leader Michael Sata during the 2008 by-elections.

The father of seven children, he was 85.

orn in Perth, the Australian wicketkeeper’s Test career spanned from 1970 to 84. In 96 Tests, he set a world record of 355 wicket-keeping dismissals.

One of the finest in the sport’s history, in 2009 he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. His brother, Graham, was a professional golfer.

The first Australian keeper to hit a Test century - 118 against Pakistan at Adelaide in 1973 – he made his final Test appearance, again against Pakistan, in 1984.

Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1982 before becoming a commentating. He then coached at the Australian Cricket Academy before becoming its director - from 1990 to 2001.

As the Director of the England

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 33

O

Shane Warne

ne of the greatest bowlers in cricket history, he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 1994, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 1997 and 2004, and in 2000, was selected as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century.

Making his Test debut in 1992, the Melbourne-born former Victoria (in Australia) and Hampshire spinner bowled the 'ball of the century' with his first ball in the 1993 Ashes Test, in England, to bowl out Mike Gatting.

Taking over 1,000 wickets in Tests and One Day Internationals, his 708 Test wickets was a record for the most taken by any bowler in Test cricket - until 2007.

He retired in 2006 and was named in Australia's ‘Greatest

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Great Britain and led England to a Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2008.

Her grandchildren: Tyler a Hatters coach; Georgia a star player for the Sheffield Hatters WBBL and GB representative; Quinn a prospect playing for Capo d’Orlando in Italy.

She was 84.

ever ODI Team’ - with Wisden naming him in their all-time Test World XI. Surviving three children, he died from natural causes on the same day as fellow Australian cricket icon Rod Marsh. He was 52.

Taylor Hawkins

he drummer with US rock group Foo Fighters, he played with Foo Fighters for more than two decades, joining shortly after they finished making their 1997 album The Colour and the Shape. The band was on tour in South America.

Foo Fighters were formed in 1994 by Dave Grohl, after his previous group Nirvana disbanded following the suicide of lead singer Kurt Cobain.

Before joining Foo Fighters, Hawkins drummed for Alanis Morissette.

While visiting London in 2001, he took an overdose of heroin and spent two weeks in a coma.

After news of his death was announced many fans shared clips of him singing Queen's Somebody to Love.

The band had been due to perform at the Estereo Picnic festival in Bogota, Colombia.

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He had opioids, marijuana and other drugs in his system before he died, Colombian investigators say. He was 50.

Page 34 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Husband Of St Giles Patient Urges People To Join In Orange Week A DAD whose wife spent her final days in St Giles Hospice is calling on people to get up and go orange for the charity’s Orange Week fundraiser next month.

Gareth Hine’s wife, Karen, aged 49, who had bowel cancer which had spread to her lymph nodes, died at St Giles in August 2021, following nine months of care from the hospice. Now Gareth, aged 50, who has two sons, is urging people to join the colourful annual campaign at home, work or school to help raise funds to ensure that St Giles can continue providing care and support for local patients, and their families, living with a terminal illness.

During Orange Week (Monday, 25th April to Sunday, 1st May), everyone is invited to raise money by going orange for a day or even a whole week or by taking part in orange-themed activities to support the hospice.

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Substance Misuse Service Treats 130 People In First Day Of New Mobile Treatment Unit

BIRMINGHAM-BASED CLINIC AWARDED BEST IN UK

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l L-R Janet Dymott from Dr Schrammek UK, Active Clinic Co-Directors Hilal Mehdi & Tammy Takkar

ctive Clinic in Edgbaston have won Dr Schrammek’s, Best In The UK category award for Best Green Peel Clinic.

German based, global skin pioneering company Dr Schrammek started more than 60 years ago, Christine Schrammek provided the foundation for the original Green Peel Herbal Peeling Treatment which helps

people with various skin problems to get a clean and even skin.

The basis is a mixture of eight selected herbs containing enzymes, minerals and vitamins, which are massaged into the skin.

The Herbal Peeling Treatment was further medically developed and extended by her daughter, the dermatologist Dr Med. Christine Schrammek-Drusio, and is applied today by aestheticians and doctors worldwide.

Janet Dymott from Green Peel UK comments: “We were pleased to present Tammy and Hilal at Active Clinic with our Dr Schrammek Award for the Best Green Peel Clinic in UK. "We would like to thank Tammy and her team for all their wonderful work helping their customers with their skin issues.”

After an initial investment and many hours of training at Green Peel’s HQ in Germany, the team

at Active Clinic have now been offering Green Peel treatments since 2016.

Tammy Takkar Co-Director at Active Clinic comments: “Wow, what an honour. I honestly can’t believe we have been awarded best in UK. "The treatment has been very popular since we launched it back in 2016 and has certainly exceeded our expectations in terms of demand.”

W O LV E R H A M P TO N SUBSTANCE misuse service, Recovery Near You, treated 130 locals after opening the doors of their new mobile support unit.

For the next six months the service’s NHS team will be travelling around the local area offering an array of different services which include a needle exchange, blood testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitsi and assessments to anyone who passes by.

The project got off to a great start with 130 people visiting on the first day.

Wolverhampton saw the number of drug-related deaths increase six-fold compared to 2019, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. This is one of the worst figures in the region with a death toll of 29.

In an effort to reduce the numbers of drug related deaths, the mobile unit is also offering Naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of opioids in the body. On the first day Naloxone was given to two people.

The service aims to provide support for people who find that they have difficulties managing their substance use at any level and welcomes anyone that may need their help.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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Voice For Our Black Elders

18 Summers of Influence

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e celebrated a n o t h e r Mother’s Day last month and, for some of us, it was a time to be truly grateful to have family around us in the same space.

I was overwhelmingly happy to have three generations in the same room and a sibling from across ‘the pond’.

It was while I sat basking in the love, laughter and adoration that I was struck by a statement I heard recently. The statement, extracted from an article entitled, “Why I hate the ‘You only get 18 Summers with your Child”.

The article itself was mostly about how pressured being a parent is these days and how parents need to make the most of the limited time they have with their children.

Generally, I think the sentiment and thrust of the article is true in the most part, but, for me my thoughts were more about the period of influence parents have over their children.

I have reflected on the fact that I only had fifteen Summers with my ‘parents’ before they retired to Jamaica.

Nevertheless, I have marvelled at the influence they had on the shaping and moulding of who I am today and how, in turn, I have influenced my off spring.

I carry the values and traditions of being brought up by my grandparents.

As I am now a very proud grandmother, I regard myself as an ‘Elder’ and I believe I had and still have a responsibility to use my “Summers of Influence” as a positive and productive period to shape the future of my child and grand babies.

With that in mind, I ask myself, “Should I, in 2022, believe and take it for granted, that I have a role in shaping and influencing the development of my grand babies?

"In fact should any of us, as Grandparents, believe and take it for granted that we have a role to play in their lives?”

Based on conversations with my peers, the answers are very mixed and varied. There are those who believe the Elders have every right to be central in the beliefs and values instilled in their grandchildren as the younger generation have lost their way and turned their backs on traditional family values.

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 35

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

RENEWED CALLS TO PRIORITISE CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN SCHOOLS

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he British Psychological Society (BPS) has raised concerns that the Education Committee’s report into the government’s catchup programme does not go far enough to prioritise children’s mental health and wellbeing in schools, especially as the committee did not hear evidence from relevant experts in mental health.

The BPS acknowledges the report does focus on children’s mental health, and makes a series of recommendations to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in school, but it is concerned it does not go far enough, with the focus still predominantly on academic ‘catch up’.

We are particularly disappointed

that the advice of experts has not been heeded and it is telling that the committee did not hear evidence from any psychologists or mental health professionals, despite the BPS writing to the chair of the committee.

It is clear that the committee has been selective in their reception and acknowledgment of evidence.

There is currently a huge national shortage of educational psychologists, with one for every 3500 children between the ages of

5-19 in England.

So while it is well-intentioned that the report recommends that schools have a designated mental health lead, and that all pupils should undergo a mental health and wellbeing assessment to identify needs, there are questions as to how this will actually happen in practice.

There also needs to be a robust monitoring and evaluation process in place for mental health support teams and leads in schools, and

l Sherril Donaldson – NU:GEN CARE CIC Others have shared their view that the old and traditional ways have no place in the modern world of microwaves and Wi Fi. As you can imagine, there are those who sit on the fence and respond by saying the ‘parents’ will decide how much influence a Grandparent has and how many ‘Summers’ they are allowed to have with their grandchildren.

As Elders, I believe, we need to have those internal conversations and decide on whether we fight to take an active role in the ‘Summers of Influence’ for our grandchildren or just let them pass.

I also believe we need to fight to maintain the family traditions as without them we will continue down the road of detachment, isolation and bewilderment. “.. a people without knowledge of their past history origin, and culture is like a tree without roots” - Marcus Garvey “...a tree without roots is just piece of wood” - Marco Pierre White If nothing else, the pandemic has clearly demonstrated that we need our families around us in order to survive.

Our children and grandchildren need to be reassured that they are a critical part of our existence and they, in turn, need to acknowledge the value of our knowledge based on our life experiences.

Always, remember WE need to work together to identify our challenges and pressure points along with the existing organisations in a position to lead a movement to alleviate those challenges.

So, I ask you to contact me with your thoughts on the way forward and topics for discussion in this column to ensure we change the landscape of care for our elders.

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these support teams should ideally be led by a psychologist. We need bolder and braver action from the government in terms of funding, workforce solutions and the approach to the curriculum to properly support our children and the education sector.

The report acknowledges the need for a careful balance in the extended school day to give children the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities that promote positive wellbeing, but there is no reference made to unstructured play, which the BPS’ ‘Time to Play’ campaign has advocated for.

Sarb Bajwa, CEO of the BPS, said: “We have a real opportunity as we emerge from the pandemic to re-set our priorities for our children and their education. While we acknowledge and welcome the references made to children’s mental health and wellbeing in this report, we do not feel it goes far enough and we believe this is a missed opportunity to pressure the government into shifting the focus of its ‘catch-up’ programme."

Page 36 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

AZUZA STREET

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BARON SENTAMU CALLING FOR ELIMINATION OF WAR TO ELIMINATE POVERTY

Ugandan Preachers Taking Religion To The Streets WITH THE aid of a loud speaker, Kayemba Stephen's voice booms out above the noise of the traffic and bustle as people make their way to work in this busiest part of Uganda's capital, Kampala.

"Receive Jesus today!" the preacher, known on the streets as Sulphur Teacher, urges passers-by with a swagger as if he believes everyone is closely listening to what he has to say. His work - as well as that of the many other street evangelists - has been the subject of debate in the city, as the authorities have proposed ways to tidy up the capital.

Auma Laura, another member of this group, takes up the microphone, praying and speaking in tongues.

There is a rasping quality to the 28-year-old's voice as if the daily hour of preaching is catching up with her.

But the young woman, who works in customer relations in a bank, is not deterred. "I see God using me,” she says.

“I see myself praying for the sick and they get healed, so I cannot stop now. Uganda is for God.” Uganda is a deeply religious country and when senior Kampala official Hudu Hussein was reported to have said that the missionaries had a month to leave the streets, there was an outcry. He later said he was misquoted and did not wish to make war with God. But he wanted preachers not to harass people in their vehicles or erect loud speakers where their voice would be enough.

But it is unlikely that the city's street clergy will be put off.

E

liminating war is key to eliminating poverty, the former Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has said.

Speaking at the launch of Christian Aid's new report into poverty, ‘Reimagining paths to human flourishing’, Baron Sentamu PD said that the war in Ukraine was a case in point.

"You cannot eliminate poverty without eliminating war," he said.

"In fact, war throws more people into poverty. At the moment, Ukraine is quite a clear example.

"No matter how wonderful that country was, war begins and it drives a lot of people into poverty."

Dr Sentamu, who is Christian Aid's Chair of Trustees, said that Christians must be the peacemakers who work to prevent war.

"We need to be people who love

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our neighbours and do our best to make sure that war does not actually happen because it kills more people, kills more of our neighbours, and we need to make friends with a number of people who are very different from us," he said.

The Baron said the reality of poverty breaks the heart of God and that eradicating it was really a spiritual question. But he also said that Christians need to see Jesus among the poor.

"Those who have the love of God in their hearts don't see Jesus often among people living in poverty, they're looking somewhere else," he said. "When I look at the poor, it is Jesus looking back at me.

“And if it's Jesus looking back at me, that gives me great hope that transforming our world from the world of deep poverty is a possibility. Being part of the

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church, I should be an instrument of transformation where I see everybody as my brother, where when I see people in poverty, it's Jesus looking at me."

He added that the only thing that can destroy Isaiah's vision of a world of peace is the presence of war and the abuse of power and people being silent when others are being slaughtered.

Christian Aid's report is the culmination of a two-year project examining the cause and effect of poverty, and how it can be eradicated. The report says that Ukraine and widespread famine in the Horn of Africa are evidence that too many promises have been "unfulfilled".

It calls for a re-think in approaches to international

development to move beyond the polarity of 'us' and 'them' and recommends a new path that moves on from growth-centred definitions of development and aid dependency to a vision of human flourishing that is just and sustainable and recognises people's interdependence.

Sky Bet One Club Opening Doors For Muslim Women

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group of Muslim women who attend a weekly private gym session were invited to watch a Sky Bet League One football match between Doncaster Rovers and Gillingham after the course - which had been running for six months after Club Doncaster Foundation worked with the People Focus Group in setting up the session.

The sessions provide an opportunity for local Muslim women to exercise in a safe environment where they can choose whether they wear their veils without the fear of being judged. They continue to grow in popularity, with more women each week signing up at the newly refurbished Foundation Fitness gym at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Famila, one of the newest participants, said: “It’s easy to get to, it's clean and it is only women in a closed environment where no one can walk in.

“The staff talk through how to

use the equipment and they are always on hand to help if you need. There’s plenty of space and it is not crowded so you can just get on with what you want to do.”

The group were invited to watch the game on the day the club highlighted the #HerGameToo movement,

0208-865-1922

which aims to eradicate sexism from football.

Akeela added: “I would like to thank Club Doncaster for letting us use this gym on a Sunday.

The staff there are amazing and have been so helpful especially when it comes to breaking down those barriers.”

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

@PhoenixNewsUK

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 37

OVERSEAS NEWS

HOW ARUBA SETS A SHINING EXAMPLE ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

I Expo 2020 Dubai Sees Visitor Boom Near The Closing THERE WAS A rush of visits to Expo 2020 as the closing date for the Dubai-based event approached.

In total, 17.4 million people passed through the turnstiles, with organisers describing this as a “phenomenal increase” of 1.4 million visits in a single week.

The last-minute surge of about 1.5 million visits per week was set to take the number closer to the original 25 million target.

The rising number of international tourists to Dubai contributed – in great part - to higher Expo footfall, as the tourism industry recovers from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In January, the emirate welcomed more than 979,700 international tourists, a growth of 116 per cent compared to the same month last year, according to figures from Dubai Tourism.

slanders in the Caribbean nation of Aruba celebrated the shining example their homeland sets for International Women's Day. In addition to having a woman prime minister, three leading roles for this Dutch Caribbean's economically-vital tourism industry are filled by women.

Eveleyn Wever-Croes became Aruba's first female prime minister in 2017, leading the island's first coalition government through many issues, including the turmoil of Covid.

Meanwhile, the two top posts in the Aruba Tourism Authority are held by women, while the influential Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association's (AHATA) president and CEO is Tisa LaSorte.

An Aruba native who completed her higher education in America, LaSorte's career started as a TV reporter at TeleAruba, after which she moved to the US where she worked for 20 years in broadcast news management.

After returning to Aruba she entered the tourism industry, including a management position at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort.

Following a reorganisation of the Aruba Tourism Authority in 2011, Ronella Croes was appointed its first CEO. Educated in Aruba and the Netherlands, Croes, worked in marketing for AHATA before being named director of tourism for the Tourism Corporation Bonaire.

There she was successful in increasing airlift to the island from key international markets, achieved a record number of inbound arrivals with 17 per cent growth, and increased cruise tourism arrivals from 50,000 to 250,000 annually. For the last decade-plus she has led ATA, building European markets in addition to its key US tourism base, and spearheading the post-Covid recovery.

Completing Aruba's line-up of influential women, Sanju Luidens-Daryanani is the tourism authority's chief marketing officer, a role she has held since 2011. Known for her innovative thinking and passion for the destination, Luidens-Daryanani is dedicated to raising the bar on the island's tourism efforts year after year.

She has more than 20 years of marketing, finance and tourism expertise to effectively lead Aruba's local and international destination marketing units.

Her success as CMO is largely influenced by her previous role as advisor to Aruba's Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Labour.

In only one year, she led the project of privatising ATA from a government department to an independent entity within the public sphere. This new format has allowed ATA to thrive in a highly competitive market and continue to improve as a tourism product.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 38 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

Holiday and

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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Travel

The Viking Mississippi Touches Water in Louisiana

THE MALDIVES DROPS TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAVELLERS

T

he Maldives has eased its entry requirements, announcing that travellers will no longer have to present a negative Covid-19 test on arrival.

Valid from March 14, pre-flight and post arrival tests are no longer a prerequisite of travelling to the Maldives and all travel-related quarantine is no longer required.

The easing of restrictions is valid for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers and there is no proof of vaccination needed

for entry.

Furthermore, there are no restrictions imposed on specific countries due to variants or case levels. Wearing a protective facemask is still mandatory in all health facilities and in outbreak areas. Masks are recommended in crowded areas and on public transport.

The news is a huge boost for the Maldives' hotels and resorts, making holidaying on the islands far easier for visitors. Jennifer Woods, Director of Sales & Marketing at Sheraton Maldives

Full Moon Resort & Spa says, “We are really pleased with the easing of travel restrictions for vaccinated travellers.

"As international travel continues to return to normal, the team at Sheraton Maldives are very much looking forward to more visitors arriving.”

Visitors to Sheraton Maldives are encouraged to try the resort's new Blue Safari programme.

The Blue Safari offered by the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa takes guests underwater on diving and

snorkelling tours to discover marine wildlife, including stingrays, pufferfish, turtles and up to 20 species of coral.

This new experience explores the wonders of the underwater world as a plethora of magnificent marine life is unveiled through clear turquoise waters, where visibility can exceed 50 metres.

With over 40 world-class diving sites surrounding Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, the resort hosts one of the most established dive centres in the Maldives promising guests

a spectacular and memorable experience in the water.

Complimentary snorkelling gear is available for all guests, with lessons also included for beginners.

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa hosts a year-round coral propagation programme with the aim of restoring reefs by placing coral frames around the resort's house reef, rejuvenating the coral, and allowing guests to see the corals grow over time.

ON 7 MARCH Viking celebrated that the new 386-guest Viking Mississippi was “floated out” in Louisiana, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.

Set to debut in June 2022, the Viking Mississippi will sail Viking's highly-anticipated voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi River, between New Orleans and St. Paul.

“It is a proud moment that this new ship has met an American waterway for the first time,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.

“Our guests have long wanted to sail the Mississippi River with Viking, and we very much look forward to welcoming them on board this summer.

"We are grateful to our American partner, Edison Chouest Offshore, who has helped bring to life our vision of exploring the Mississippi in the 'Viking way.'”

The traditional float out took place at Edison Chouest Offshore's LaShip shipyard in Houma, Louisiana and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction.

"In keeping with maritime tradition, the ship's ceremonial godmother, Dionne Chouest, General Counsel of Edison Chouest Offshore, assisted with the float out.

Atlanta Caribbean Carnival To Put Culture On Full Display This May

H

ot on the heels of the recent Trinidad & Tobago ‘Taste of Carnival’, the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Bandleaders Association (ACCBA) is preparing to serve a whole buffet of Caribbean culture this May in the center of Georgia’s energetic capital city with the 2022 edition of the beloved ‘Atlanta Caribbean Carnival’.

Atlanta Caribbean Carnival - in existence for 35 years - is already gearing up to be a major highlight of the Memorial Day Weekend (the unofficial start of the US Summer festival season).

With all of the buzz following

last October’s Miami Carnival, online communities of international carnival enthusiasts have been referring to the upcoming ATL extravaganza as ‘The Next Great North-American Carnival Experience’ on the calendar.

This year’s entertainment cast includes St. Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous, T&T’s Nadia Batson, Barbados’ Lil Rick & Edwin Yearwood, St. Lucia’s Motto and Grenada’s Tallpree.

During 2022’s Atlanta Caribbean Carnival, Skinny Fabulous will also be honoured with a proclamation by the city of Atlanta and will serve as Grand Marshall at this year's parade.

Regarding the importance of hosting the upcoming festival within the metropolitan area of downtown Atlanta, ACCBA President Patricia Henry shared: “It is very important to showcase the culture in mainstream settings where persons from various backgrounds can observe and embrace it. We want folks to come out and see what the Caribbean has to offer so the festival can be a platform for encouraging tourism for the entire region.”

The famous annual downtown Atlanta tradition has previously attracted celebrities such as stars from the Love & Hip Hop and Real Housewives TV show franchises and will this

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year feature Jamaican reggae singer, actress, model, and brand ambassador D’Angel. The festival will support the efforts of charitable organization ‘Blessed

Hands Generous Hearts’.

The overall mission is for the city to have one major, truly united Carnival celebration and to continually use the festival to

0121 339 5885

promote respect and equality for Atlanta’s Caribbean community.

‘Atlanta Caribbean Carnival’ takes place May 27th-30th 2022.

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BUSINESS & FINANCE

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS OF 35 YEARS STILL SERVING THE COMMUNITY

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 39

l Surinder at the opening of the current Wednesbury shop with the Mayor of Sandwell

A

fter 35 years in business, you get to know a bit about both the items you’re working with, and the customers you serve.

This is especially true for the family run West Midlands Electrical Superstore based in Wednesbury in the West Midlands.

Surinder Singh started the business about 35 years ago now, predominantly in Walsall, with their warehouse in the Birchalls area doing trade in Televisions and Video.

Surinder came to the UK from India when he was about 13, moving in with relatives over here. He really had a drive to make something for himself, starting off working in a factory and with a milk round.

In his early 20’s, Surinder was married, and shortly after that, along with a friend, he bought some TV’s at a good price and started to sell them after getting a lease on a small shop, and decided to continue buying stock.

A few years down the road, Surinder added white goods to the business’ inventory and also

l The current West Midlands Electrical Superstore Logo started servicing the general public. It was around 1999 when the business moved to it’s current location in Wednesbury Town Centre with a high street shop front, now covering a large range of appliances including built-in items too.

Focusing on service, offering free local same day delivery from day 1, West Midlands Electrical Superstore pride themselves on looking after their customers.

“We keep checking our competitors prices to make sure we’re competing against them all,” explained Hardy Singh, Surinder’s son who has been working at the store since he was a child, earning himself a tenner on a Saturday for helping out in

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the shop.

“But service is where smaller stores like us thrive in comparison to the larger chains.”

Hardy studied Accounting and Finance at University and came into the business full time in 2011/2012, although he had been working there during his time at university too.

“From 2004/05 we made trade accounts with many manufacturers, becoming a Hotpoint centre, and Canon centre, allowing us to offer affordable prices on the products direct from the manufacturer and good warranties on them too.”

They also offer installation of white goods throughout the West Midlands, and offer a more

personal touch by really engaging with their customers at every stage of the process.

Since adding an ecommerce platform to their website in 2008/9 they’re able to serve the local community even further, and now offer nationwide delivery too, using both their own drivers and local couriers for regional and national deliveries and installations.

The lockdown made work difficult for the company, unable to open the shop for customers, although still able to fulfil website orders. For the few customers that did come to the shop, they went the extra mile in bringing the products to the front door of the store for customers to choose between when it was urgent.

“It was so difficult, and we’ve still got a generation that aren’t that great online and trying to look after them too was very difficult,” Hardy continued, “Installations were still carried out just taking all the precautions.”

With over 700 reviews on Trustpilot and a score of 4.8, West Midlands Electrical Superstore have consistently been proving that going the extra mile for your customers helps.

“The staff we have now are

l The upcoming rebranded logo part of the family, and we make sure that they continue to work in the same way that we started off. We’re up to 8 staff now as it obviously can’t just be me and my dad anymore!”

Hardy is currently developing a brand new website and complete rebrand which should be online soon, so be on the lookout for that!

The 34 year old father of one also makes sure that despite his busy work schedule, he makes time for his family, with the door open for his son to get involved with the

business and expand things even further further down the line.

“But equally if he wants to take up other opportunities out there, then whatever makes him happy is what I will want him to do, I’ll be proud whatever his future holds,” beamed Hardy.

With 35 years already under their collective belts, and plans for expansion to a bigger premises, the future looks bright for this family run business in the heart of the region.

0121 339 5885 or 0208 865 1922

Page 40 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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PERRY BARR RESIDENTIAL SCHEME SMASHES JOB CREATION TARGET

T

he international property and investment group, Lendlease, has announced that more than five hundred jobs have now been created during construction of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham.

Lendlease, the principal contractor for the scheme on behalf of Birmingham City Council, announced that 512 jobs had been created against

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For those thinking of selling their Charity owned; Shaw Lifetime Care (SLC) are currently the only home to fund the costs of their care, they may want to reconsider. providers of this solution. The Care and Home Inheritance Plan The recent Government “CHIP®” could help fund your care announcement to cap care for as long as you require without costs in England will not be the need to sell your home. Dr implemented until at least Neslyn Watson-Druee (CBE), a October 2023, and realistically Trustee of The Shaw Foundation may not be the solution for the (TSF), the charity which developed vast majority of those seeking this solution was recently quoted ways to finance their care home as saying “we believe that no one fees today or in the future. should be forced to sell their There is a modern way to home to pay for care. We have pay for care. spent many years developing this solution which we hope will help Leasing your home to a company growing numbers of families is a new solution, where they across England and Wales from become legally obliged to pay an selling their home to pay for care”. agreed contribution towards your The solution is available to all who chosen care home costs, directly meet the criteria and is not to the care home operator. The subject to any medical assessments. great thing is that you still own Each CHIP® is personalised, the property and all future depending on our clients’ increases in its value, allowing circumstances. you to retain ownership within your family.

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a target of 400, which was one of a number of objectives it was set in order to help support the local economy and bring wider community benefits.

Over £250m has been spent with the local community and more than 1,300 people have been upskilled on the site.

The workforce has also put in more than 2,300 hours of volunteering for local charities including Birmingham Crisis Centre and the food bank at Eden Boys’ School.

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We're determined that success for Birmingham will mean success for the people of Birmingham and this milestone on the Perry Barr Residential Scheme demonstrates the incredible wider benefit for the community of such a transformational regeneration project.

"We're creating jobs, launching careers and delivering muchneeded new homes for Birmingham and I look forward to seeing this vibrant new neighbourhood take shape.”

The tallest building on the scheme tops out at fifteen storeys and the first residents are expected to move in during 2023.

The scheme is part of the wider £700million-plus regeneration of Perry Barr in the north-west

of the city, including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure.

Lendlease are the Management Contractor for the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, working with Kier, Willmott Dixon and Vinci UK to deliver the project.

Lendlease’s Project Director for the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, Anna Evans, said: “This is a major milestone for the Perry Barr Residential Scheme and shows the immensely positive impact that Lendlease is having on the local community.

"Our wider efforts to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability will also have a lasting impact, and it’s something Lendlease will continue to strive for as we aim for net-zero carbon by 2025 and absolute-zero by 2040.”

New site hoardings have recently been erected around the site, designed by students from Birmingham Metropolitan College with the brief of raising awareness of Single Use Plastics (SUP).

The hoardings were inspired by the SUP Ambassadors programme, a project developed with students from Eden Boys’ School, that aims to raise awareness of SUP and its impact on the environment, people and wildlife.

Haringey Landlord Who Let Unlicensed HMO Fined £5000 A HARINGEY landlord has been fined £5000 by the council’s Private Sector Housing Team for letting an unlicensed HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) in Boreham Road, N22.

The fine was issued after the landlord ignored repeated warnings from the council to obtain a license to continue letting the property. The landlord appealed the fine to the FirstTier Tribunal, which upheld the decision in a virtual hearing earlier this month.

A property is classed as an HMO if at least three unrelated tenants are living in the property and they share bathroom or toilet facilities and/or kitchen.

Haringey’s HMO licensing scheme, which requires landlords to obtain a license to let a property which meets the definition of an HMO, has been in operation since May 2019.

In addition to a fine, landlords who fail to comply with the scheme can be issued with a Rent

0208-865-1922

l Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Planning, Licensing and Housing Services Repayment Order, requiring them to return rent paid by tenants while the property was unlicensed.

Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Planning, Licensing and Housing Services, said: “Our HMO licensing scheme is in place to improve conditions in the private rented sector, and to protect tenants from exploitation."

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 41

SU P VO PLE L. ME 13 N T

@PhoenixNewsUK

The Phoenix Newspaper Countdown To The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Celebrating All Things Commonwealth Supplement Sponsored By

Page 42 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT

Mobay Chambers Launches Telethon To Purchase Much-Needed Hospital Equipment THE MONTEGO BAY Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched its 2022 telethon to raise $50 million for the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.

The funds are to be used to purchase much-needed equipment to support western Jamaica's Type A hospital.

The launch, which was held at the S Hotel in Montego Bay under the theme 'Cornwall Regional - a fi wi hospital,' came ahead of the telethon's planned opening at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall. So far, the Chamber has received pledges valued at $3 million toward the telethon, which is being sponsored by the Whitter Village Shopping Centre and the KORE Contact Centre.

Chamber president Janet Silvera stressed the importance of persons coming together to support the hospital, which has been undergoing rehabilitation since the onset of noxious fumes in its ventilation system in 2017.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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PRINCE WILLIAM SAYS FUTURE IS FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE

T

he future relationship between the UK and Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas is for their people to decide, the Duke of Cambridge said; as he went on say that he and the duchess were committed to service – though, he wouldn’t telling people what to do.

Prince William's comments came after an eight-day tour of the Caribbean nations to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The trip saw the Jamaican Prime Minister publicly tell the royal couple that his country would be "moving on".

It also came four months after Barbados replaced the Queen with an elected president. In a written statement reflecting on the trip, the prince said foreign tours were an "opportunity to reflect".

"You learn so much," he said. "What is on the minds of prime ministers. The hopes and ambitions of school children. The day-to-day challenges faced by families and communities."

The trip saw the royal couple visit Belize and Jamaica before a final stop in the Bahamas. "I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future,” the duke said. "In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon."

A Belize government minister announced a new commission would begin consulting with people across the country on how the "decolonization process" should proceed. Speaking in front of his royal guests, Prince William and Kate, Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, effectively gave notice that the country is willing to remove the Queen as Head of State and become a new republic.

Talking about the fierce debate which has been raging in the Caribbean about its future and Britain’s role in the slave trade, Mr Holness said: “Jamaica is a very free and liberal country and the people are very expressive and I’m certain that you will have seen

the spectrum of expression."

The prime minister went on: “There are issues here which are, as you would know, unresolved, but your presence gives an opportunity for these issues to be placed in context, put front and centre and to be addressed as best we can. But Jamaica is, as you can see, a country that is very proud of its history, very proud of what we have achieved and we are moving on and we intend to attain, in short order, our developing goals and to fulfil our true ambitions… as an independent, developed, prosperous country.”

It was a clear statement of intent that Mr Holness plans to push through plans to ditch the Queen as Head of State. Jamaica gained independence from Britain 60 years ago, in August 1962, but it became a Commonwealth Realm with the Queen as Sovereign and a Governor-General representing her in the country.

Barbados officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state and became the world's newest republic in November 2021. Belize could also follow in Barbados' footsteps.

The Bahamas leg included a trip to a primary school, where the duchess spoke to pupils about the importance of being

able to reconnect after being separated during the pandemic.

The couple also visited a church on the Abaco Islands to speak to locals about destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and a coral conservation project that was among last year's winners of the Royal Foundation's Earthshot Prize for contributions to environmentalism.

After the couple left Belize on Tuesday, a government minister announced a new commission would begin consulting with people across the country on how the "decolonization process" should proceed.

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis has not commented on the issue, although last year said it

was "not on the agenda".

However, the day before the duke and duchess arrived in the Bahamas, a letter was released by campaign group The National Reparations Committee, calling for Britain to pay reparations for the slave trade.

In the statement, the duke said he and his wife saw the purpose of their roles as being to serve and support people "in whatever way they think best, by using the platform we are lucky to have".

"Who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future isn't what is on my mind," he said. "What matters to us is the potential the Commonwealth family has to create a better future for the people who form it."

Communities Get Creative

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OVER 100 community groups across Birmingham are to stage their own festival events and projects as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival thanks to funding from Birmingham City Council.

The Creative City programme will see 107 community groups and artists get creative over the six months of the Birmingham 2022 Festival which accompanies the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The aim of the programme is to ensure residents and neighbourhoods throughout Birmingham are given a chance to play their part in the citywide celebration of culture.

Highlights include a largescale mural created by the residents of Druids Heath working with the award-winning Birmingham artist, Mohammed Ali. And in Small Heath Muslim teenagers will gather stories from their family histories to

0121 339 5885

create a theatre show.

Elsewhere GLUE Collective in Shenley will get families and young people working with artists to build a sensory pop-up installation which will tour to community venues in Northfield and Handsworth, and the 100th Birmingham Scout Group – First Bournville Scouts - will create mosaics and glass art to celebrate their 110th birthday.

@PhoenixNewsUK

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 43

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT

Angel Foundation UKJA Afro Caribbean Expo 2022 Info

I Angel Descends On Grace Foods UK HQ

n celebration of Jamaica 60 years of independence, the Angel Doundation presents its 2022 Expo.

An exhibition and market packed full of art, culture, giveaways and more.

Whole families welcome with Wheel Chair Access & Disability toilets.

On the day, you can expect to

• • • • •

see stands and/or presentations from: Grace Foods UK Brands on sale VM Group Finance Going Home Port Royal Patties pick up whole sale Patties TRANSPAKSHIP Celebrity guests and dignitaries

• The Jamaican High Commissioner • Dr Kevin Brown - UK North Global Diaspora • Dr. Cupidore - African Caribbean Dental Association • Angela Clark - RAFFA

Raffle tickets prizes include:

• Special Grace Hampers Grace Foods Brand Sale 5 Brands price of One • Transpakshipping £300 vouchers for the Carribean.

The first 100 guests to the expo will receive a free gift from the exhibitions brands.

Just look for the Sports Hall at Harris Academy, opposite the side entrance of Tottenham Hale Station.

Call 07445582303 or 07970055295 for more information.

• Weekend Holiday Inn full body Spa from Break Away

l Angel with Angela Coy, CEO of Grace Foods International, and Lara Walker, Shopper Marketing Executive, Grace Foods

l Angel with Andrea Reynolds, Assistant Global Category Manager, Grace Foods

l Out and about with RAFFA in London

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 44 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

thephoenixnewspaper.com

THE GHANA CONNECTION I n the celebration of our 10th Anniversary, it is fitting for us to give you, our readers, a little insight into our links with Africa.

Back in 1997, a King was crowned in the Ashanti region of Ghana. This was a unique story that hit the front pages of most national newspapers at the time, along with extensive coverage on the BBC and other major news platforms.

For the first time people were given the opportunity to understand the different traditions around the culture, rulers and ancestors in Africa.

HRH Ohene Nana Agyemang Nyamekye Amlak Aduana Hene of Kwakye Dida Nsuta Ashanti as he was crowned, was originally living in the UK, having moved here from Jamaica, before learning of his African Ashanti roots during a trip to Ghana.

Nana Amlak was first featured in the now defunct Enterprise Newspaper, coverage which we have continued in The Phoenix Newspaper, leading to Amlak becoming an Ambassador for Phoenix Africa.

We have worked with Ghanaians for the past 25 years, providing positive editorial content in order to preserve and enhance the true beauty of Africa, its people and its culture.

In our 10th year, it is fitting for us to demonstrate the importance of

reconnecting with your ancestry.

Since the Year of Return, Ghana 2019, an initiative by President Nana AkufoAddo to encourage African diasporans to come to Africa (specifically Ghana) to settle and invest in the continent, there has been a large influx of people from the diaspora flooding into the continent and especially Ghana.

As a Commonwealth newspaper, which has been endorsed twice by His Imperial Majesty, HRH The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, once when Founder/Editor In Chief Dr Marcia McLaughlin F.Birm.Soc travelled to Nigeria with the intention of meeting this powerful leader of the Yoruba people worldwide, where she was welcomed by all the elders and Phoenix Newspaper was prayed for and blessed by the spiritual gatekeepers of Ile Ife. He confirmed this endorsement again when he attended The Phoenix Newspapers 7th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Awards in Birmingham, after he met with Birmingham City University, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and other leaders of the city, where he reiterated that the trusted link between Africa and the UK was through Dr Marcia and The Phoenix Newspaper.

He made a point of saying that Africa

is in need of positive upliftment and he was proud to endorse the work that we do.

Once again, with the credibility and foundation that The Phoenix Newspaper has laid down across Africa, linking the diaspora with the motherland, as the UK's only Commonwealth newspaper, this year is time to celebrate our unity and strength during Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee year, and her firm connections with her Commonwealth.

l Senior members of the Aduana Clan from From Nsuta Kwakye Dida and settled in Nsuta Kyebi

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 45

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT

l Ashanti Hene Opuku Ware 11 meeting Aduana Hene Nana Agyemang Nyamekye Amlak

l Nana Amlak presenting Marcia at the launch

of Street Cred Magazine in 1997, and right, Enterprise Newspaper coverage of Nana Amlak's football team in Kyebi.

l Nana Amlak at the The Phoenix 5th Anniversary Gala Dinner

l Nana Akouko, Nana Amlak, Ohemaa (Gueen Mother) & Nana Amponsah in Kyebi Nsuta Ashanti, June 1997

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Page 46 - The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

thephoenixnewspaper.com

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT - STRENGTH OF BIRMINGHAM

STRENGTH OF

BIRMINGHAM HOW DO YOU GET TO THE MOON IN A ROCKET SHIP?

R

espect, Confidence, Inner Strength and Mental Resilience, these are the four fundamental components we need in our toolbox for life.

As these four elements are what is required for taking up exercise and participating in one of the most rewarding activities you can take part in.

So if you consider your body as a piece of modelling clay by using exercise, weight training, bodybuilding, power lifting , cross fit etc.

Whatever you call it, it is all about body movement and mind control at the end of the day.

Because you will have two choices for this decision: To exercise or not. To lift the weight or not. To go for a run or not. To

take part in or not. It is all about positive and negative, the Ying and the Yang.

But it all comes around to one fundamental element - mental resilience.

Once you tell yourself this is what my body and my mind needs, you are on the road to a new destination.

For better lung capacity, strengthening your heart , fresh oxygen to your body and looking at your nutrition.

Because I have always said physical training is 20% and the right nutrition is 80%.

You can not get the results you want by eating the wrong food, it is a case of being sensible with yourself.

If you can combine these two crucial components you

can mould and change your body shape. But the right fuel is crucial to your physical and mental well-being.

You would not put petrol into a Saturn rocket and expect it to get to the moon, it just would not work and it is the same principle with the human body.

It needs the right fuel to function properly so it is all about controlling your mind, which translates to converting your own thoughts into action using the correct level of body movement (exercise) and training intensity in conjunction with the appropriate food intake and of course fluids ( water) which is the most essential fluid for your body to take onboard.

These combinations will enable your body and mind to function as one and at full capacity.

Just like charging your phone, if you can do this it will enable you to

reach the outer limits and most importantly what your body and mind is capable of.

This is such a great feeling of personal empowerment that you have taken your own responsibility for the way you look and feel but most importantly your own mental resilience training.

As this will help with so many day-to-day issues, problems and concerns.

Every time I enter the gym or as I call it my own personal battlefield, because as soon as I start my own body movement I go into battle with my body and my mind, so I have those two choices.

I either lift the weights or I don’t - I always lift the weights but most importantly I train, I train hard and I train harder and never say can’t.

Regards BIG DAVE

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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Coventry University Staff And Students Team Up To Provide Fun-Packed Day Of Sport For Disadvantaged Local Children

C

oventry University staff and students welcomed children from around the city for a fun-filled day of sport.

The event took place at Coventry University’s sports facility on Westwood Heath Road, offering a variety of sporting activities and games including netball, basketball, football and more.

To make sure that every child had an opportunity to attend, the university offered all children in attendance free transport to and from the venue as well as free food, in hopes of breaking down barriers of entry to sport and activity to those from disadvantaged and lowincome backgrounds.

Coventry University’s Dr Emma Eyre spearheaded the project, and has led several similar events in the past. Dr Eyre and colleague Dr

Rhys Morris now have hopes of rolling out sports holiday camps for youngsters in and around Coventry with the aim of getting more local children active and giving them the opportunity to make friends and develop personal and social skills.

Dr Eyre, Assistant Professor (Academic) in Coventry University’s School of Health and Life Sciences, said: “We absolutely love running these events and seeing smiles on local children’s faces is priceless. We firmly believe that no child should have barriers to things like sport and education, so this is our way of directly working with our communities to ensure young people in Coventry have opportunities to exercise and socialise in a safe and supportive environment, regardless of their socio-economic background.”

The Phoenix Newspaper - April 2022 - Page 47

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS

OLYMPIC CHAMPION TAMBERI TO STAR AT MÜLLER BIRMINGHAM DIAMOND LEAGUE

O

l y m p i c high jump champion Gianmarco Tamberi will compete at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League, the second meeting of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League series, at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May. The former world indoor and European Championships gold medallist - the Italian national record holder with a best of 2.39m was enjoying his best year ever when he suffered an horrific injury ahead of the Rio Games in 2016.

His journey back to fitness was gradual and challenging, but

he returned to medalwinning form with a European indoor title in Glasgow in 2019.

In a high-quality competition in Tokyo where three athletes cleared 2.37m for the first time in history, the 29-year-old went on to share one of the greatest sporting moments of all time when he topped the podium alongside his friend and fellow competitor Mutaz Barshim (QAT).

“2021 was the year of my life so far, but I have new goals with the World and European Championships ahead this summer,” said the 2021 Wanda Diamond League champion.

“I finished eighth

at the World Championships in Doha in 2019 and I’m so motivated by Eugene. The hard work has already started and I’m looking forward to getting back on the circuit and to competing in Birmingham.

“I won the European indoor title the last time I competed in the UK (Glasgow) and the crowd support was unbelievable.

"After two years of almost silence due to the pandemic, to know that there will again be an electric atmosphere gives me a huge buzz and I can’t wait to get out there and jump.”

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Champion Tamberi to star at Müller Birmingham Diamond League - Page 47

Coventry University Staff And Students Provide Day Of Sport - Page 47

BEARS SHIRT MADE FROM COFFEE BEANS UNMUZZLED FOR VITALITY BLAST B Kerr And Tefera To Headline Müller Birmingham Diamond League 1500m

irmingham Bears have unveiled a striking new shirt for the Vitality Blast for the next two seasons that is inspired by a local graffiti artist and is made from a sustainable material derived from coffee beans.

With nine weeks to go until the opening game of the 2022 Vitality Blast at Edgbaston, the new T20 shirt incorporates the traditional yellow and navy intertwined with a striking electric blue swash and inspired by a piece of graffiti at Edgbaston created by David ‘Panda’ Brown. The artwork and shirt, made by PlayerLayer and featuring Lead Partner Talbots Law, forms part of the Unmuzzled campaign, which encourages players, staff and fans to be bold and brave both on and off-the-field.

As part of the Bears’ commitment to becoming the most sustainable cricket club in the UK, the playing shirts are eco-friendly, made from a mixture of coffee beans and recycled polyester material. The replica shirts are a made from the recycled polyester mix.

The shirt was unveiled today with Bears captain Carlos Brathwaite, spinner Jake Lintott, batter Sam Hain and all-rounder Dan Mousley, alongside students on the Edgbaston-based Cricket Education Programme with Sandwell College and Edgbaston Foundation volunteer Joel Hales-Waller.

Chris Airey, Head of Marketing & Brand, said: “We hope that Bears fans have seen over the last few weeks that we’re taking a very different approach to our T20 cricket this season, on and off-

the-field. Working with PlayerLayer, we took a fresh and innovative approach to the shirt design working with a renowned local artist David ‘Panda’ Brown and his interpretation of Unmuzzled, which is on display at Edgbaston.

“From the artwork, we feel we’ve created one of the most striking shirts in our 20-year T20 history. There is a bold new colour scheme, we’ve gone for a round-neck collar and, most importantly, it is made from a new sustainable material, which we are passionate about and believe is the first of its kind in cricket.

“We can’t wait to see captain Carlos, the team and fans kitted out in it this summer.”

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OLYMPIC 1500M bronze medallist Josh Kerr (GBR) will go up against world indoor champion Samuel Tefera (ETH) at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League, the second meeting of the 2022 Wanda Diamond League series.

Kerr, the Scottish national record holder (3:29.05), is ranked second on the British alltime list behind Mo Farah and is a former European under-20 champion (2015) and World Championships finalist (2019).

A University of New Mexico alumni, he became only the 11th athlete in NCAA history to achieve the collegiate

1500m indoor/outdoor double when he won the titles in 2017.

Based in Seattle with the Brooks Beasts, the 24-year-old races sparingly but does so with impact.

He took down the British indoor 1500m (3:32.86) and mile (3:48.87) records in Boston in February and goes into this summer as

0208-865-1922

a proven championship racer with a realistic focus on winning medals.

Alongside Kerr, the international contingent will be led by newly crowned world indoor 1500m champion Samuel Tefera (ETH), who successfully defended the global title he won in Glasgow in 2018.