The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021

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BIRMINGHAM 2022 ON TRACK TO BE T A KNOCKOUT

he full event schedule for Birmingham 2022 has been released, allowing sports fans to see the detail of exactly which events will be held in each of the 286 sessions that will feature at next summer’s Games.

Women’s cricket T20,

Double Black Excellence Award win for Delroy - Page 26

Ramesh The Crazy Golfer raises thousands for Charity - Page 3

basketball 3x3, wheelchair basketball 3x3 and mixed synchronised diving will all debut in Birmingham, with the schedule set to includes two ‘Super Sundays’ for spectators to look forward to, with the second set to be the ultimate showcase of women’s sport.

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CAN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS REALLY REMAIN FREE FROM POLITICS?

By Dr Tony Talburt

I

n 2016 when Colin Kaepernick knelt during the playing of the American National Anthem as a protest against racial injustice, police brutality and systematic discrimination and oppression in the country, this divided opinions in America and across the world.

While former USA President Donald Trump lambasted the move as outrageously disrespectful, others, supported the ‘taking of the knee.’ Today, the situation is as polarised as it was in 2016.

While the main international sports bodies generally appear to be requesting their members and players to avoid making political statements, it seems, player power and politics is still very much part of international sports.

Can politics, therefore, ever be totally absent from major international sports? It seems very difficult to rid the game entirely of politics, especially from the sports people themselves.

Sports people have long used their status to make political statements. Who can forget Tommie Smith and John Carlos, standing with raised arms and clenched fists on the winners’ podium, taking a firm stand

against racial inequality in the USA. Or what about the Zimbabwean cricket players who wore black arms bands protesting against the ‘death of democracy’ in Zimbabwe.

After warnings from the International Cricket Council (ICC), two players, In a subsequent match against India, Flower and Olonga, both wore black sweatbands on their heads.

This was their way of engaging in a compromise position so they could continue their protest without appearing to be totally disobedient to the ICC. In fact, we could go back a little further, we can see that politics has never been too far from mainstream global sports One of the biggest political ‘scandals’ occurred in 1938 in Berlin.

The venue was the Berlin's Olympic Stadium, 14 May 1938, where an international football game was to be played between Germany and England.

As the English players lined up alongside their German counterparts for pre-match ceremonies, the England team, following instruction from their management and British officials, issued a Nazi salute to the crowd.

Although the players were shocked and not supportive of this, as the late great Sir Stanley Matthews, would later point out,

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they obeyed instructions.

As discussed by Talburt in his book, Andrew Watson: the World’s First Black Football Superstar, in the immediate pre and post war period, racial discrimination, especially against Black people, was a normalised feature of British society.

The main reason for the Nazi salute in 1938 was probably to appease Adolf Hitler and his regime.

Today, although the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rules forbids players from displaying any political, religious, or personal slogans on or under the football kit, this has not stopped players from doing so.

In 2014 players in the summer's World Cup were informed they would be banned from displaying any messages on undershirts and new rules warned players from displaying any personal slogans at all on shirts they are wearing under their kit.

But players seemed to have found other ways to make political statements. Recently, we saw Portugal captain, Ronaldo, remove two bottles of Coca-Cola and encouraged people to drink water.

The very next day, France midfielder, Paul Pogba, a practising Muslim, appeared

to discreetly remove a bottle of Heineken beer from in front of him while giving a post-match press conference.

Italy's Manuel Locatelli also replaced Coca-Cola with water. When Ronaldo removed the Coca-Cola bottles, we are informed that the next day, the company lost $4 Billion Dollars in its stock value.

This helps to demonstrate one of the main reasons why sports cannot be completely separated from politics because the very sponsors of these sports and some of its top players, are major companies which have invested vast amount of their money into the sports industry.

Just as how the British authorities insisted the England team should issue the Nazi salute in 1938, today, it seems big business is dominating global sports and they can have a say in terms of how players project themselves.

However, this is not as clear cut as it seems, because players are finding ways to make statements which are not completely about sports.

The English Premier League players who continue to take the knee demonstrate that there are times when political statements need to be made even if these are on a sports field.

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20 5THOUSANDS RAISED

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 3

NEWS

ROUNDS OF GOLF CRAZY DAYS

FOR CHARITY

F

Garry Peal CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

l Ramesh Parmar "The Crazy Golfer" on one of his rounds

ollowing an extremely difficult time for everybody, especially charities, one erstwhile charity fundraiser took on his most difficult challenge to date when he played 4 rounds of golf a day for 5 straight days (June 15-19) whilst playing around 2000 golf shots and walking 130 miles, which took over 16 hoursa-day.

The painful 5-day stint saw Ramesh Parmar go through with a great sense of achievement, that he said “was well worth the pain.

“I have always wanted to carry on helping people in need after my

dad passed away”, he said, “as he was a very caring and charitable man who always helped people, one way or another. He always found time to help.

“I raised money for some wonderful charities like Help Harry Help Others because they are a remarkable and caring charity.”

He played 16 rounds of golf in 2016 to raise £17,800 - some of which saw 57 HHHO cancer centre users taken on a trip to London’s West End to see the smash-hit show Mamma Mia, as well as taking a further 20 cancer centre users for a night out for the

l Ramesh with members and friends of Enville Golf Club

Birmingham Hippodrome’s Mama Mia production.

Ramesh was joined by 17 members and friends of the Enville Golf Club, in 2018, to play 18 holes of golf – after walking for 18 miles – raising £21,340 for Help Harry Help Others.

“Playing the rounds of golf raised £17,800, and it was a privileged to have taken 57 HHHO cancer centre users on a trip to London to see the West end Show Mamma Mia. We also had a night out to the Hippodrome to see the same show for another 20 cancer centre users.”

Following a difficult 2020, an excited Ramesh is more than making-up by continuing to help charities who have struggled through.

“This time around I have a team to help me get through this challenge,” he said, “and I would like to thank them all for their support.” 79% of the £20,000 target was raised, immediately after the challenge, by 186 supporters, raising a staggering £15,940 so far.

l Ramesh with members and friends of Enville Golf Club

You can still donate to the JustGiving campaign at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ramesh-parmar2

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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NEWS

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Nicole Riley CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

est Bromwich company Jacopa has given something back to its local community by working with Sandwell Council to restore steps at the popular Sot’s Hole Local Nature Reserve.

Sot’s Hole is locally important for wildlife, geology and education. It has over 5 hectares of some of the oldest woodland in the borough.

A stream flows through the site and a small pool has recently been created. The wet woodland supports a variety of tree species, plants – including water horsetail and marsh thistle – and a range of woodland bird species, such as sparrowhawks and great spotted woodpeckers – as well as many other woodland creatures.

Close to Dagger Lane/Church Vale, the semi-ancient woodland provides excellent access to Sandwell Valley Country Park and the restored steps form part of this route.

With their head office at Millard Industrial Estate in West Bromwich, Jacopa were ideally situated to support the project.

The park’s well-trodden steps had started to show their age and were desperately in need of being refreshed.

Jacopa provided staff to help restore the steps to their original condition free of charge as part of the Community Social Responsibility/Social Value programme.

Sandwell Council arranged materials for the work, supported by the Countryside Ranger Team, and organised assistance from volunteers who observed current Covid-19 guidelines.

The work on the steps took place

STEPPING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY

l Left to right: Jason Wood (Jacopa), Matt Darby (Operational Manager Parks and Countryside, Sandwell Council), Tom Willis (Jacopa), and Tom Willis (Jacopa). over three days, from 25-27 May. Alex Lloyd of Jacopa said: “Jacopa is very pleased to support this project to improve green spaces for the local community and work closely with Sandwell Council.

“Our business has been located within the Sandwell community for many years, we are an environmental company helping to protect the UK’s natural water resources and most of the people who work for the business live in

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the Sandwell area.

“So, this and future green spaces projects, fit very well with the support Jacopa can give its local community.”

Councillor Maria Crompton, Cabinet Member for Strong and Resilient Communities, said: “Jacopa’s role has been key in restoring the steps at Sot’s Hole.

Visitors to the Local Nature Reserve will now have better access to the wider country park from this popular site.

The steps provide the only access into the country park from the Local Nature Reserve, giving visitors the opportunity to explore wonderful open areas of countryside.”

Council Leader, Rajbir Singh, said: “I hope that this joint approach will inspire other local companies looking to give something back to communities across Sandwell. The restoration of the steps at Sot’s Hole is a great example of how Sandwell Council

is bringing partners together to support environmental issues and create a safer, cleaner and greener borough.

“With the commitment and effort from Jacopa’s staff and management we have enhanced this valued green space for local people and visitors, so that they can enjoy the experiences provided by the Local Nature Reserve and Sandwell Valley Country Park.”

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Page 6 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

RYDERS EXPANDS NATIONAL FOOTPRINT AS DEMAND SURGES

C

ourier-centric digital platform launches operations in Bristol, Manchester, and Cambridge; company CEO pledges ‘same passion, swiftness and rider advocacy’ in new operations as rapidly growing start-up eyes European territories.

Ryders, fast becoming a disruptive force in the UK's last-mile delivery market, today announced it has expanded its national operations to Bristol, Manchester, and Cambridge amid growing demand for its unique commitment to riders, and its ability to offer same-day delivery pledges to customers.

The company is also eyeing European markets for expansion by the end of the year, spurred by observations of investor sentiment favouring last-mile courier

businesses with substantially better records on workers' rights.

"Our riders-first ethos got us immediate recognition in the British last-mile market," said Duncan Mitchell, CEO of Ryders.

"We were able to grow on the back of that promise to the point where we could offer instant delivery and grow our partner network."

Ryders recently joined forces with Shopify partner Zapiet for exclusive last-mile delivery in the UK. Zapiet was largely enticed

by Ryders' focus on improving conditions for couriers, merchants, and aggregators.

"We will bring the same passion, swiftness, and rider advocacy to our operations in Bristol, Manchester, and Cambridge, and we have every confidence that Europe will be a future success story for us," Mitchell added.

ONE OF THE biggest problems we face today is the impact of man-made materials on the environment.

For example, if you look at pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, 95% of the waste in its waters is plastic.

Similar problems are being experienced all around the planet, and the only way these problems can be solved is by implementing real change.

To create lasting change, its vital that we educate children and show them how to look after the environment.

They will then become

advocates of a major shift in how we treat our planet and help to create an eco-friendly future.

Mondo has launched ReNewToys, a brand-new set of beach products (buckets, rakes, spades and more) built using recycled materials coming from the pre-consumer food chain.

Food grade plastics cannot contain dyes or other additives deemed harmful to humans, therefore enhancing the chemical safety of Mondo toys which are often used by toddlers.

How Can We Challenge The Circumstantial ‘Scourge’ Of Youth Worklessness? with Dr Christopher Johnson

I

Say Bello as Minions arrive in McDonald’s Happy Meal Italian Toymaker Mondo Launches New Eco-Friendly Toy Series To Save Our Shores

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MCDONALD’S IS excited to announce the launch of the Minions Happy Meal.

Available for a limited time only (until July 20), McDonald’s is encouraging families to laugh until their face hurts, with the hilarious, mischievous fun of Minions.

Each Happy Meal will come in a limited-edition box, featuring m i sc h i e v o u s Minions themed activities on the back, to give

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families a much-needed dose of funny business. McDonald’s will offer a range of paper construction toys and books featuring Gru, Kevin, Stuart, Bob and Otto, dressed up in their classic overalls, disco wear or kung fu get-up. How despicably cool is that!?

The Minions promotion will be available as part of McDonald’s ongoing Book or Toy initiative, which gives families the option to choose between a book or a toy with every Happy Meal.

Both options are paper-based and 100% sustainable following an announcement last year to remove all non-sustainable plastic from McDonald’s Happy Meals in 2021.

Minions Happy Meal aims to ignite inner childhood joy amongst parents and active play amongst families – perfect for children who are natural mischief makers!

The world would be a funnier, sillier and happier place if we could all just… Unleash Our Inner Minion…

n mid-July 2020, ‘SME Loans’ suggested that 83% of under-25s ‘dreamt of self-employment’ (https://bit.ly/3zE0nX9).

This statistic was in keeping with over 60% of the UK workforce who also wanted to ‘set up a business’, despite persistent challenges to the national and global economy.

Is there any definitive policy for youth entrepreneurship in the West Midlands and the UK as a whole? If there is one, is the approach more reactive than proactive?

In a pandemic-restricted environment, can we ill-afford not to define the future of our young people from an economic perspective. It that really possible, or not?

Recent Labour Market Information (LMI) data and anecdotal evidence in parts of the West Midlands Region, all seem to suggest the importance and relevance of appropriate remedial measures to help young people regain confidence, faith renewal and trust in self, their local communities and society.

Figures up to April 2021, showed that 768,000 residents were considered ‘economically inactive’, with young people making up 223,900 or 28.1% of the total regional population experiencing chronic unemployment.

Nearly 300,000 residents or over 8% of the regional population have ‘no [formal] qualifications’. Over 220,000 students are classed as jobless too.

So, when you breakdown the overall joblessness affecting young people aged 16 to 21 respectively, there are variables in regional inner-cities.

Approximately 50,000 residents aged 18- to 24, claimed welfare benefit and 27,575 or nearly 10% of 18- to

A

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

21-year-old were also described as ‘claimants’.

While there are millions of pounds designated for youth employment, there is little vocational training taking place with any degree of consistency.

Some academies in the region are keen to ‘beat the pandemic blues’ by encouraging former students to ‘cashin’ on vocational education and training to help access information, guidance and some level of certification, to gradually progress into employment.

At the time of writing, a small group of under-18s were participating in a two to three-week sampling course to prepare them for gainful employment opportunities.

A third are keen to pursue careers in science, technology, the arts, leisure and other professional occupations.

The remaining two-thirds are unsure of jobs in manufacturing, creative industries among other industry sectors.

According to the first quarter of 2021, ‘workforce jobs’ existed in roughly 16 different industry sectors -ranging from ‘Agriculture’, ‘Manufacturing’ and ‘Construction’ to ‘Administrative and Support Services’ to ‘Education’.

Hundreds of thousands of micro, small, medium-size and large companies do exist, in spite of under-performance due to the effects of Lockdown measures.

Perhaps the key to young people’s current jobless quagmire, is for responsible agencies and institutions to offer young people employability/ enterprise programmes.

These will provide disadvantaged youngsters especially, with the knowledge, resilience and techniques needed, to manage accordingly, the stigma associated with inexperience, poor timekeeping, lack of interest in work and service as well as related labour market biases.

l Figure 1:Young people categorised as benefit ‘claimants’ (Source: Labour Market Profile -Nomis Labour Market Statistics, April/May 2021)

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NEWS

Reigniting Mums after the Pandemic IT’S TIME for mums to reemerge more confident, more energised and feeling better after the pandemic.

Mums have been keeping things together making sure that everyone else is OK and have been supported, putting themselves last.

Mums became teachers overnight. They balanced work (without the downtime of the commute).

They kept the house going.

They lost touch with themselves because everyone needed them, all the time. Not to mention…

All the sleepless nights they had worrying about everyone and everything. And it’s taken a toll.

Mums are coming together virtually for one day to take some time for themselves with the help of a great range of bestselling authors and experts at the Reignited Mamma Retreat. www.thereignitedmamma.com

ART STUDENTS CREATE STRIKING TRAIN TICKET MURAL AT EUSTON

A

group of art students have created a striking new mural to welcome back thousands of returning passengers to London Euston station.

The public artwork was officially unveiled on Friday June 18 after a team of 16 painters spent 392 hours brightening up

Euston's entrance.

Local artists ‘Artmongers’ from the Lewisham School of Muralism were posed the question ‘how far can your ticket take you?’ as a starting point for the piece of art.

Their response: a painted mural of iconic orange rail tickets folded into origami shapes.

Letyour

Goals take

Flight

Their canvas: hoardings at the main entrance to the major London transport hub. The artistic concept is that each ticket each has its own different story, but once folded a new space is made creating another dimension where 'anything is possible'.

The work was commissioned by Network Rail to brighten up the

station with increasing passenger numbers returning to rail travel after Covid-19 lockdowns.

Gareth Parry, Station Manager for London Euston, said: “We’re blown away by the Artmongers mural and we hope that passengers are as impressed as we are.

“We’ve been working really hard during the pandemic to get

the station in the best possible shape for passengers. This mural is another example of how the rail industry is committed to building back better from the pandemic so people can travel in confidence on the railway.”

Director of Artmongers, Patricio Forrester, said: “It’s been a real pleasure for our artists to work at Euston. Our work is a provocative space for everyone who wants to find inspiration by being on the move.

“The students have worked together, inspiring each other, pinching from each other and elevating each other’s games – and in this way, we came up with the reversible orange ticket idea.

Each ticket has a different story and a wider meaning – we hope passengers will be inspired by our work and will enjoy working out the meanings behind the tickets”.

Meanwhile passengers are urged to keep following government advice around the use of public transport. People should wear face coverings on trains and in stations unless exempt for medical reasons and make space for others where possible to maintain a safe distance while travelling.

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Petition Calling for Plaque to Honour Thames Hero Jimi

DINOSAURS RETURN TO THE UK WILD

J

urassic Encounter - an unmissable, familyfriendly event - makes its UK debut, touring London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Leeds from 24 July until 7 November.

Each of the cities will play host to prehistoric playgrounds, featuring more than 50

animatronic dinosaur scenes, including a fearsome, 18m tall T-Rex that breathes and sways its tail as it hunts for prey; an Iguanodon’s furious battle against a Deinonychus; Pterosaurs that screech as they soar through the trees; a 15m tall Brachiosaurus, guarding her eggs and a 16m long Diplodocus,

who cries out to passers-by.

And for those who want to relax after walking the perilous path through the dinosaurs’ domain, a refreshment area will offer street food.

Naz Kabir, spokesperson for Jurassic Encounter, says: “Dinosaurs have always captured the imagination of

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children and adults alike, and Jurassic Encounter will be a fantastic, interactive way to learn more about these fascinating creatures. We can’t wait to welcome our guests - and our Prehistoric visitors - to parks up and down the UK this year.”

The tour begins at Grovelands Park in London at the start of the summer holidays (every day from 24 July - 10 Aug) before moving to Birmingham Botanical Gardens (21 Aug - 5 Sep), Glasgow Cuningar Loop (2-17 Oct) and Leeds Roundhay Park (23 Oct - 7 Nov).

Advanced booking is advised, although walk-ups will be admitted, subject to availability.

OVER 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for a memorial plaque in honour of FolajimI Olubunmi-Adewole.

It comes after the 20-year-old known to his friends as Jimi – was called a ‘hero’ after jumped into the River Thames, with a friend, to rescue a woman who had fallen in.

Following the heroics, the City of London Police contacted the Royal Humane Society to nominate him, saying that it was absolutely the right thing to do and that his bravery and selfless actions be recognised.

Following that a spokesperson said: "We feel that is absolutely right to recognise the bravery and selfless actions of Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, known as Jimi.

"To honour his memory and heroism, we have contacted the Royal Humane Society to start the nomination process for their bravery award, and we are

also looking to award Jimi a commissioner's commendation from the City of London Police.

Our thoughts remain with his friends and family at this difficult time."

Olubunmi-Adewole was on his way back from a work shift at The Cinnamon Club Indian restaurant at around midnight when he saw the woman in distress. His body was recovered from the water six hours after he tried to rescue the woman who had fallen in. Sadly, he was no longer alive.

His friend and the woman were recovered from the water alive five hours beforehand, but rescue services had been unable to locate young Jimi. Some members of the public have nominated him for the George Cross - the highest award that the British government can give to people for non-operational gallantry - award for bravery posthumously.

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

Page 10 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021

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EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

g n i t o Prom xcellence E

ENGINEERING FIRM BOOSTS RANKS WITH EMPLOYMENT INTAKE

A

Birminghamheadquartered engineering firm has accelerated its strategic growth with several senior appointments.

And the move coincides with an overall boost in employment which has seen the business employ over 50 new employees since the start of the year.

The multi-disciplined adi Group, which covers a broad range of sectors including aerospace and defence, automotive, food and beverage and manufacturing markets, has recently taken on 12 new senior figures at the company, bolstering its 30+ divisional offering.

Accelerating its numbers

ality u q h Hig rom f e r ld ca child e years o iv f o t irth

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to 700+ staff across the Group, which is situated at Kings Norton, the business has undergone significant growth as it looks to support the manufacturing market throughout the coronavirus crisis and beyond.

Celebrating 30 years of the Group last year, founder and CEO Alan Lusty, said: “Rather

Day Nursery

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. than bunker down and hope for the best, we’ve actively recruited in a number of key areas of the business, which has enabled us to continue serving a wide range of manufacturing markets.

“It’s our ears to the ground approach, actively monitoring and responding to changes in the marketplace, that has enabled us to continue our success over 30 specialist service divisions over the years. We now look forward to the future ahead, which will be increasingly shaped by needs to lower carbon footprints, drive production efficiency and lower operational costs, something which is always at the forefront of our minds and business philosophies.”

The business has also extended its commitment to youth skills development in the sector, continuing both of its apprenticeship schemes throughout the pandemic, as well recently ranking as one of the Best Companies to Work For in the Midlands in The Sunday Times annual survey list.

“We’re immensely proud of the success of the Group, particularly given the year that businesses like us have endured in the past year,” Group strategic account director James Sopwith said.

“What we’ve been able to do is focus on our foundations, which are fuelled by a belief that building sustainable communities, from regional to nationally, are the

building blocks for propelling forward our industry and those that want to work in our sector.

“Our pre-apprenticeship scheme really is the best example of this, a partnership with a local school that educates young people on the

Families Asked To Nominate Their School Superheroes

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rewards our industry has to offer at an early age, dispelling outdated perceptions of the sector and going some way to fulfilling an evergrowing skills gap that we as a business face and tackle head-on.”

Young Entrepreneurs Invited To Compete In MAAC Moguls

MIDLANDS AIR Ambulance Charity in partnership with M6toll, is launching its ‘MAAC’s Moguls’ competition for schools, a Dragons’ Denstyle challenge, designed to give secondary school pupils across the region the chance to develop their business skills.

Schools, and Year 10 students (academic year: 2021/22), in the West Midlands are being encouraged to register their interest in the competition before Monday 12 July 2021. Teams of six will have the chance to pitch

their entrepreneurial ideas to five local business leaders to request funding for their plans.

The successful teams from across the whole of the Midlands will be presented with £100 each for their concept, which they must grow into a £500 donation or more for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. As part of the initiative, the teams will be mentored through the process by the business leaders, providing them with a unique experience to help make their CVs stand out from the crowd.

A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN by Scottish fintech Miconex is asking families to nominate their school superheroes who have made a positive contribution to their school community.

One school superhero will receive a £50 Town and City Gift Card for their choice of over 60 schemes around the UK and Ireland, with their school or class receiving a £250 cash prize.

The School Superheroes campaign comes at a time when many families will be considering how best to say thank you to school staff.

Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex, said: “The School Superheroes campaign is about saying thank you to people who work in our schools."

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 11

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

l Sky Sports’ Ian Crocker giving his Commentary Masterclass

Mykal Brown MBE

GLASGOW PRIMARY SCHOOL TREATED TO B CANEY GROCERS FRESH CARIBBEAN FRUIT AND VEG COMMENTARY MASTERCLASS P

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

upils at a primary school in Glasgow were treated to a commentary masterclass by Sky Sports anchor Ian Crocker after winning a competition encouraging schoolchildren to recreate the infamous commentary from the night Scotland qualified for UEFA EURO 2020.

As part of the ‘Learning Through Football’ UEFA EURO 2020 Glasgow legacy project, schools across the country were invited to hone their literacy skills by recreating Crocker’s spinetingling commentary of David Marshall’s momentous penalty save which sent Scotland through to their first major men’s tournament since 1998.

Submissions to the competition were made by teachers and pupils from all corners of Scotland on Twitter using the #LearningThroughFootball hashtag.

The winning entry came from Primary 5b pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School in Glasgow and Crocker visited the school to

pass on some words of wisdom and congratulate them on their achievement, together with UEFA EURO 2020 mascot Skillzy.

As a key legacy project for UEFA EURO 2020 Glasgow, the Learning Through Football resource has galvanised pupils with varying interest in the national game by providing the opportunity to participate in themed projects which showcase the skills needed to fulfil roles within the football industry, both on and off the pitch.

Ian said: “It’s been 23 years since Scotland last qualified for a men’s finals, but it was wonderful to see just how enthusiastic and excited they were about Scotland and UEFA EURO 2020.

“Learning Through Football is a powerful tool which provides teachers with a platform to use football and UEFA EURO 2020 to support schoolchildren across a number of the curriculum areas and it’s humbling to see how they’ve recreated the commentary from Scotland’s penalty win over Serbia

within the programme!”

The digital teaching tool, developed in line with the Curriculum for Excellence, provides free downloadable resources for teachers to use in their classroom environment. Exploring the world of football commentary has proved a popular hit amongst pupils and has helped them to develop their literacy skills.

Primary 5b teacher, Jennifer McFadden, added: “When the kids found out they’d won they were absolutely buzzing! They were so excited for the EUROs and made their own timetable whilst researching the players this term.

“Learning Through Football was a great way for them to enjoy the EUROs.” “The visit from Ian was fantastic,” St Vincent’s Primary School head teacher Vincent Gillon said. We have children from all over Europe in our school and there’s so much good banter between the children and the staff – lots of excitement!”

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SOHO ROAD/BOULTON ROAD, HANDSWORTH CALL FOR MORE INFO - 07835271725

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WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

EMPOWERMENT OF FEMALE FARMERS IN NIGERIA T

by Alex Emeka Akwaeze Africa Correspondent

he effects of the global Covid-19, pandemic has left many vulnerable. But, with this, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has taken the bull by the horn in empowering women farmers in the north central geopolitical zone of the country.

In this drive about 7,500 smallscale farmers, mostly women, were empowered - part of President Mohammed Buhari efforts to cushion the effects of the pandemic in the lives of Nigeria citizens.

“Efforts should be encouraged by both private and public sectors in the country,” he said, “because this pandemic has left Nigeria women farmers in limbo.”

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory under the leadership of

Mohammed Bello made available the agric-input palliative, for distribution to the women farmers and processors.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Nanono, in his speech noted: “The government of President Buhari is fully committed in making sure that productivities in the agricultural sector is greatly increased at the same time wastage is greatly reduced so as to encourage our farmers”.

He also noted that this administration has great regards for women in farming. As such, the government has 35% inclusion of women.

The 7,500 women benefited in areas such as (planting material, agro-Chemicals, growth enhancer) soybean, mazi, yam, cowpea, ginger, horticultural crops, cassava, potatoes.

Nutritional value kits are being distributed to the farmers who are women - the distribution of

the crops was purely based on comparative advantage in its production within the region.

In the Ministers remark he stressed that globally there has been a significant decline in poverty-levels within the last 22 years, but the advent of this Covid pandemic has greatly affected the economy globally, with joblosses and loss of livelihoods.

The Minister further noted that women, who socially and financially were disadvantaged, are seriously affected negatively hence the need for this palliative in other to caution the negative effects of the pandemic on our Nigeria women in farming activates.

He buttressed that because of the poor nature of some Nigeria women in farming activities, who were seriously left unprotected with some of the simple basic protective materials, whilst also informing that a recently-released report shows that the pandemic

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will push millions of people into extreme poverty toward the end of 2021 (47 million are women and girls) - noting that women typically earn less and hold less secure jobs than their male counterparts.

This economic tumbling there, mostly affects vulnerable women who end up being layoff in their job place, and, as such, lose their little livelihoods.

He points out that the resurgence of extreme poverty as a result the pandemic has unveiled women’s hazardous economic security.

Women’s Affairs and Social Development Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen, applauded the efforts of President Buhari in bettering the lives of Nigerians going with the negative Covid effects to its citizenry - especially the women who are fully engaged in the farming activities, at the same time taking in the efforts of the Agriculture Minister and rural development in addressing

the needs of the women in the agriculture sector, who depend on farming produce for survival.

She said: “What befalls Nigerian women in farming activities during the pandemic was like the pains women go through in the labour room,” as she called on all relevant agencies, both international and locally, to see that the “pains women undergo in providing food for the table is reduced drastically, as this will bring about transformation in the country’s economy.”

“Women are key in every sectors of the economy,” she stressed. “Nothing progressive can be achieve without the inputs of women. They are highly strategic in nature as when women are carried along and issues which relate to women are properly addressed, half of the nation’s problems would have been solved.”

She also pointed out that the presence of women farmers is

found in every state within the country and their commitments in their farming activities cannot be underestimated.

If more women are properly encouraged and the problem facing their farming activities are adequately addressed the problem of food scarcities would be a thing of the past within the country.”

The ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, assured the Minister of Agriculture support, promising that the initiatives for women farmers would be sustained and also more productive. She said: “The Covid pandemic took everyone unaware, hence shook everything in our lives.

“We lost some of our dear ones and the livelihoods of many was greatly affected going by the restriction imposed to control the effect of the pandemic.

"This has left many farmers handicap in their activities, with, as a result, a hic in their farming inputs.

"She promises ministry involvement in providing support to all vulnerable Nigeria women farmers who are true Women of Excellence who deserve as much support as they can get.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 13

MUSIC FASHION FILM GADGETS HOLIDAY EDUCATION HEALTH AND FITNESS

JULY 2021

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LORDE GETS SOLAR POWER

New Single and Album Drop For the NZ Songstress

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ENTERTAINMENT

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THE HOTTEST ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLEMENT

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Empress of Soul to return for UK tour T he great ones endure, and Gladys Knight has long been one of the greatest. Very few singers over the last 50 years have matched her unassailable artistry.

Now Gladys Knight – The Empress of Soul and seven-time Grammy winner – have announces a series of special UK dates for June 2022.

Starting June 18th in Manchester, the 9-city tour concludes with two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 29th and 30th.

Gladys comments: “UK I have missed you! I can’t wait to be back in 2022 and very much look forward to seeing you all soon!” Since she

began her career in the 1950s performing with The Pips, the award-winning singer has recorded more than 40 albums and enjoyed No.1 hits on the Pop, Gospel, R&B and Contemporary charts.

Known for her collection of classic hits such as Midnight Train To Georgia (which remains one of the most famous Motown records to date and was honoured as one of 'The Greatest Songs Of All Time'

by Rolling Stone Magazine), Help Me Make It Through The Night, Licence To Kill (the official theme song to the James Bond film), The Way We Were, Baby Don't' Change Your Mind, and You're The Best

Thing That Ever Happened To Me, Gladys Knight is one of music’s icons, and her contribution to pop culture unparalleled.

Gladys Knight has been honoured with the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has dozens of TV, film and theatre credits.

Tour Dates June 18 Manchester O2 Apollo June 19 Birmingham Symphony Hall June 21 Bournemouth International Centre June 22 Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

June 23 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall June 25 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena June 26 Leeds First Direct Arena June 27 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall June 29 London Royal Albert Hall June 30 London Royal Albert Hall

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ENTERTAINMENT

Ash Williams Returns in Evil Dead: The Game

S

aber Interactive and Boss Team Games have released a new gameplay overview trailer for Evil Dead: The

Game.

Featuring Bruce Campbell as the original boomstick-brandishing, chainsaw-wielding hero Ash Williams, this video is your first major look at the co-op and PvP multiplayer action game, coming later this year to PC, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

You’ll also get a glimpse of new surprises like Cheryl Williams and Henry the Red as playable characters, plus Ash’s Delta (and yes, you can drive it).

Inspired by the iconic horror, humour, and action of the "Evil Dead" universe, Evil Dead: The Game brings the biggest characters from the franchise together in an over-the-top, gorefilled experience against the forces of darkness.

Work as a team of four survivors,

including Ash, Kelly Maxwell, Pablo Simon Bolivar, Scotty, Lord Arthur and more, to fight the Deadites and banish the vile Kandarian Demon.

Or become the mighty Demon yourself, using your powers of possession to stop the good guys dead and swallow their souls!

Battle across memorable sights from the franchise, including the infamous Knowby cabin, brought to life with tons of terrifying visuals and all-new dialogue from Bruce Campbell.

Discover more than 25 weapons, including Ash’s Gauntlet, Boomstick, and chainsaw, and level up a variety of skill trees to grow even stronger and survive the night.

Evil Dead: The Game is a collaboration between Saber Interactive, Boss Team Games, Renaissance Pictures, Creative Licensing on behalf of STUDIOCANAL, leading entertainment company Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), and global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B).

Inhaler To Headline Birmingham O2 Institute In October DUBLIN'S INHALER have released their new single It Won’t Always Be Like This on Polydor.

The song launched as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record In The World on Radio 1 alongside a video directed by James Slater.

Sharing its name with the band’s debut album, which is set for release on July 9th, It Won’t Always Be Like This is a re-recorded version of an early single that the Irish rock quartet wrote over four years ago, but its meaning has changed between now and then.

It Won’t Always Be Like This is a coming-of-age record, an album about adolescence, love, getting lost and finding yourself again. It closes one chapter of the band’s life and opens another.

Inhaler will play an 18-date tour of the UK & Ireland later this year.

New Single FOR Old Dominion

A

fter teasing its arrival, GRAMMY n o m i n a t e d Nashville band Old Dominion released their brand-new single ‘I Was On A Boat That Day.’ It marks the group’s first new music since their 2019 selftitled third full-length album, Old Dominion—which became their second straight #1 bow on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and second consecutive Top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200.

Of the new track, front man Matthew Ramsey said: “When you listen to ‘I Was On a Boat That Day’ you are hearing us in the full joy of making music together.

From the moment I counted the band off we were smiling from beginning to end. The tequila was flowing, the laughter was loud, and we knew in that moment we were creating something that would

bring people as much joy as it was bringing us.”

Amplifying the hallmarks of their signature sound, the track ignites an instantly chantable hook buoyed by a massive groove and arena-size scope. ‘I Was On A Boat That Day’ features songwriting contributions from all five band members— Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi, Whit Sellers, and Geoff Sprung— alongside co-writers Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.

The band will return to the road in 2021 for their We Are Old Dominion: Live at The Ballpark Tour across North America.

Teaming up with Indigo Road Entertainment, the group’s first full-scale headline run since 2019 kicks off July 17 at The Ballpark at Jackson in Jackson, TN, visits major markets and historic venues coast-to-coast with more announcements on the way.

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

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New partnership sets gold standard for Covid secure events Lady Leshurr And Toddla T Team Up To Release ‘2gether Now’

G-Man CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

TWO OF THE UK’s most distinctive talents, Lady Leshurr and Toddla T, have teamed up to release ‘2Gether Now’, a modern update on The Farm’s 1990 Top 5 classic ‘All Together Now’, which has been adopted as an iconic football song.

The track is released as part of JD Sport’s #JDPassItOn campaign on TikTok, which has already achieved a staggering 2.1 billion views.

Built around a sample from the original track, ‘2Gether

Now’ kicks the song firmly in 2021, with punchy UK hip-hop production from Lady Leshurr and Toddla T’s ferocious fullthrottle flow.

Her rhymes expand upon the message of unity that the original expressed, this time celebrating the nation coming together as lockdown eases and excitement for EURO 2020 reaches fever pitch. The track’s immediacy will also introduce the song to a whole new audience at TikTok.

T

he London Festival has announced a landmark partnership with Knights Security Group (KSG) to deliver a Covid safe event in 2023.

The London Festival is an extravaganza of live music performances, cultural events, engaging new technology and feel-good entertainment.

Knights Security Group will work in collaboration with The London Festival to deliver a strategic and fully comprehensive 360-degree Covid-safe blueprint.

It will deploy their wide range of COV-RID products across multiple locations in the festival to keep festival goers safe.

Planning is already under way and will continue as arrangements are made to kick off the inaugural event.

With significant experience in dealing with high traffic locations, the KSG Team will ensure that over 250 hand sanitiser stations are kept in operation throughout the two-week festival, regular thermal fogging will be deployed to ensure that all attractions are clean and safe.

Going above and beyond, The London Festival will offer free 50ml hand sanitiser bottles to families with young children free of charge on entry to the festival.

All COV-RID products to

be used during the London Festival are alcohol-free and are specifically designed to be nontoxic and non-hazardous to use.

The COV-RID products are natural and friendly to the environment as they are derived from plants and biodegradable.

Achieving the gold standard for disinfecting locations with lots of visitors and people, KSG will become an integral part of The London Festival team throughout the event with pre-tested teams continually disinfecting all areas of the immersive and technologically advanced event at regular intervals.

Mr Andrew Knights, CEO of Knights Security Group Ltd said: “The London Festival will be provided with the full range of COV-RID products to achieve levels of hygiene and cleanliness that no big event has experienced before.

“All products planned for the festival are alcohol-free, non-toxic and non-Hazardous. By thermally fogging all of the exposed surfaces in the enclosed locations the London Festival will ensure they are disinfected and safe for the whole family.”

The London Festival is organised

by Empower London Foundation in partnership with the Nascent Vek Group.

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HANGING OUT WITH HIGGINS

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MONTHLY COLUMN steve@stevehigginsproductions.com www.stevehigginsproductions.com

JAMAICAN FOLK MUSIC

“D

ip an’ Fall Back! Dip an’ Fall Back! My advice- Dere is Notting nice, Like de Dip an’ Fall Back!”

Dr. Olive Lewin taught me this Jamaican Folk Song But what does it mean? How about ‘Peel Head Jahncro’ siddung pan tree tap, pick aff de blassam’? (See answers below) Decades ago, Jamaica’s history -written by otherswas sometimes questionable.

That changed when as a young nation, Jamaica produced brilliant, passionate

scholars, who took pride in the research, documentation, and preservation of Jamaica’s culture and artforms. Thanks to them, generations to come can learn about our Foods, Customs, Language, Dance and yes- Folk Music!

These scholars included the erudite Professor Rex Nettleford (dance), the effervescent Louise BennetCoverly (speech), and of course, Olive Lewin (music).

Born in Hayes, Clarendon, (Jamaica), Olive nurtured a love and respect for music, and became a distinguished

luminary of Jamaican Folklore, specifically, Jamaican Folk Music. In fact, she was hand-picked by independent Jamaica’s first Minister of Culture (Edward Seaga), to go into the deep recesses of Jamaica, interview purveyors of our heritage and document our own narrative!

This Associate of the Royal School of Music (London), not only researched and documented, but used her musical brilliance to arrange Jamaican folk songs, so that, years after we all have exited this stage called life, your

descendants will have our rich music and be able to teach their children. Olive founded the Jamaican Folk Singers (1967), who have taken our authentic Folk music worldwide, to critical acclaim! Her work resides at the Memory Bank,

Institute of Jamaica, Kingston.

So, plan a visit to Jamaica!

Teach your children our Folk songs and dances! Get them culturally aware! Share it with the world!

Answers: Folk Song#1: (Recipe for) Mackerel

RunDung.

Song#2: Until you see a ‘Johncro’ picking blossoms, we shall always be friends!

More songs at https://www. stevehigginsproductions.com/ physical-music-store

JAMAICA HI-5 5K WALK/RUN! H

undreds turned out on Saturday June 5th 2021, for Jamaica’s Consul General in MiamiOliver Mair’s annual 5K Walk/ Run. The mission of the Hi-5 5K Walk/Run is to raise funds for Jamaica’s Ministry of Health’s Adopt A Clinic Initiative, which was launched some years ago, to support some of Jamaica’s over 300 clinics. The adoption of each is a 3-year commitment, whereby charitable organizations or individuals support specific clinics to the tune of J$1M per year for three (3) years. Partners are recognized at the starting point of the engagement with the clinics as well as with the

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community. The clinics are mostly in rural towns and funds go towards training, equipment, and supplies.

An enthusiastic crowd of almost 700 folks met at The Miramar Regional Park, (Miramar, Florida) to support the cause.

The high-octane electricity filled the air throughout the event as we had great music pumping up the ‘vibes’.

Georgia, Jamaica, New York & Canada also participated virtually, as they did their own Walk/Run in full support.

Link with us at w w w. j a m a i c a h i 5 k r u n . c o m for more information or to participate.

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S Club 7 Star to Release New Solo Album

J

o O’Meara enjoyed phenomenal success with S Club 7 as the group landed four UK #1 hits, won two BRIT Awards and repeatedly packed arenas all over the UK. Now one of British pop’s most distinctive voices is set to return with the news that her new solo album ‘With love’ will be released on August 27th. The album has today been launched alongside its first single ‘On The Surface.’

And how better to mount a

comeback than with a song like ‘On The Surface’? The voice that powered some of the era’s most irresistible pop classics is back and sounding better than ever before.

Full of passion and soul, Jo’s timeless vocal is the midas touch that elevates an already elegant power ballad to new heights. It’s reflective and emotional too, as Jo sings about how we portray ourselves and how we can be let down by how others choose to portray themselves.

Jo says, “This song is about

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how we can keep things bottled up inside, And people never knowing the true pain of what maybe inside someone!

Sometimes it’s easier to put on a smile ! Everyone is ok ….. on the surface <3 ” “I’ve made this album with all my love,” she says, “but I’m also sending it with love to all the fans out there that have been so supportive to me for all of these years, through the ups and downs. I’m so proud of what I’ve done with this album, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Lorde Embrace Solar Power FO NEW ALBU I

n 2013, a 16-year-old Lorde quietly, yet confidently asserted herself as the voice of a generation with her full-length debut, Pure Heroine.

The album would go tripleplatinum, win two Grammy Awards, and spawn the seventimes platinum record-breaking international juggernaut single, “Royals,” and quadruple-platinum follow up “Team.”

The former reached #1 on the UK Official Charts and cemented Lorde as “the youngest solo artist and the only New Zealander to achieve #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1987.”

Time exalted her amongst the “Most Influential Teenagers in the World,” she landed on Forbes’s “30 Under 30” List, graced the cover of Rolling Stone and performed alongside Nirvana during the 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

She also curated the official soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and recorded “Yellow Flicker Beat” as the lead single.

In 2017 Lorde released her second full-length studio album,

Melodrama which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart, making her the first ever NZ artist to land a #1 debut album in the United States.

The album reached #1 in over 45 countries and earned Lorde a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

She won the Brit Award for International Female Solo Artist in both 2014 and 2018.

Lorde makes her highly anticipated return with critically acclaimed new single, “Solar Power,” from her third full-length studio album, Solar Power, due out August 20th.

Lorde currently has over 12 million albums sold worldwide and over 10 billion streams worldwide.

In a surprise move, Lorde released her new song “Solar Power.”

The song, which appropriately dropped timed to the only solar eclipse of the year, came alongside the announcement of her highly anticipated third studio album of the same name, Solar Power.

She has additionally revealed the album release date as August 20th and announced her 2022 World tour dates.

The 40+ show tour begins in her homeland of New Zealand in February 2022 and takes in dates in Australia and North America before arriving in the UK for six shows beginning on May 25 and

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Patron To

es

OR UM

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

Page 20 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT Malaria tracker launched to help Commonwealth countries tackle the disease

A NEW tracker has been launched to help Commonwealth countries monitor progress towards halving malaria cases by 2023 and ultimately ending the disease by 2030.

Developed by a group of malaria experts and the Commonwealth Secretariat, the tracker was due to be launched this week at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases taking place on the margins of the nowpostponed Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The tracker supports a new report on progress towards the malaria commitment made by Commonwealth leaders in 2018 to halve malaria across endemic countries by 2023.

This reduction would prevent millions of malaria cases and save thousands of lives. The report shows significant progress with nearly one-third of malariaendemic Commonwealth countries on track to halve their case incidence and mortality rate from the disease by the end of 2019.

Despite country-level progress, as a grouping, the Commonwealth is currently not on track to reach the 50 per cent reduction target.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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T

he man Nyah knows nothing better than to maintain the purity of good, healthy, wholesome food.

And, especially during these most testing of times, his very existence is never more needed – or appreciated!

Owner, proprietor and muchloved Head Masterchef at his ‘Granny’s Original Take Away’, Nyah Stewart has proved that, after 20-years of creating some of the most succulent Caribbean dishes of its kind, both near and very far, his is still one of the most sought-after cuisines – by all the communities he served.

Born in Hanover, the proud Jamaican native is never prouder than to serve his - and wider array of – communities, all, and more, who make efforts in making sure of being regular visitors to his eat-in diner and takeaway in St. Vincent Street West, Ladywood, in Birmingham.

With the Covid-19 pandemic still a presence in people’s daily lives, the health of the nation has never been more prominent need than now.

That is where Nyah comes to the fore!

Mindful of eating only good, wholesome, unfettered food, he only uses the most natural of sources and ingrediencies, which he deliciously prepares, and, thus, creates incredible, 100% authentic Caribbean cuisine, which remains arguably the best, by a very long way.

From Jerk chicken with rice & peas, curry goat, stew, steamed or fried fish, Caribbean curried beef, all ‘washed’ down with his sumptuous, equally unique, ‘Sexy’ – a smooth, creamy, stout-based punch that’s “to-die-for”.

Nyah Is Cooking Up A Legacy That Will Live On For Years To Come “People have been following my food from the day I opened up here,” a very proud Nyah says.

“And, simply through word-ofmouth since the ‘year-dot’, a regular flow of people has always come here, from all corners

of the Midlands, and further afield, because of the standards I set – my detailed preparation, the ingrediencies I use and the presentation of my food. All of which is paramount in upholding the high standards I set.”

With long-time assistant, Robin ‘Fingers’ Brown, leading a host of young talent to benefit from the wisdom of the erstwhile Mr. Stewart, the future of Granny’s Original’ – well beyond the pandemic - can only be positive!

“That, (the pandemic) was difficult at first – even frightening.

I was locked for 1 month, but since re-opening the flow of customers built and has remained steadily increasing to pre-lockdown levels.”

Having overcome the travails of Covid, he faces a new challenge with the advent of the new ‘Green Air Zone’ introduced to the city.

“It’s a big problem as customer base has been affected heavily,” he says.

Despite that, he remains open 7 days-a-week to make sure the services of his ever-growing customer base are met – with a nod and a smile of appreciation on both sides.

“And that, he says, “is the legacy I want to leave with Granny’s Original Takeaway.”

Nyah Stewart’s cooking is legacy itself.

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PRIDE MONTH 22 VOICES PODCAST SPECIAL: SWIMMER MICHAEL GUNNING

T

o mark Pride Month, the latest episode of the 22 Voices podcast series features Team Jamaica swimmer and LGBT+ trailblazer Michael Gunning.

The swimming star talks openly about the positive reaction he received

Applications Now Live For Birmingham 2022 Creative City Grants

F

rom June 17 applications went live for Birmingham 2022 Creative City Grants – an extraordinary opportunity for community groups in Birmingham to apply for a grant of up to £20,000 to deliver creative projects that impact positively on their community.

Thanks to funding from Birmingham City Council, the projects will be a part of the upcoming the six-month festival of culture accompanying the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Up to 150 individual community groups will benefit from grants, with the goal to ensure that every ward in the city benefits from the £2m fund.

A full breadth of community groups based in Birmingham were encouraged to apply, from local sporting teams and youth groups through to disability groups and LGBTQI+ networks who want to create arts as part of the six-month festival of culture accompanying the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Encouraging artists and communities to work in partnership, the programme aims to be fully representative of the people of Birmingham with a panel of community leaders involved in the selection process.

Thanks to generous investment from the Council, the grants will provide an opportunity for Birmingham residents to come together to co-create artworks, creative works and performances to occupy the high streets,

neighbourhoods, parks, waterways, venues and civic spaces of the city.

Lydia Harrington, Grants Programme Manager (Cultural Programme), said: “We want to build a programme of creative projects that showcase the people that make Birmingham so special.

"We’re a diverse and young city so we want to see that in the people who lead and participate in the projects.

"Successful applicants will also be offered training to increase their confidence in applying for further sources of funding in the future.”

Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture at Birmingham City Council, Councillor Jayne Francis, said: “We always said the Games are more than 11 days of fantastic sporting competition.

"These grants will enable groups and organisations with their roots in Birmingham to showcase the very best of the city’s creativity to an international audience, and prove what we have always known – Birmingham is a great place in which to live, work or visit.”

Martin Green CBE, Chief Creative Officer of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games said: “Birmingham City Council’s significant commitment to the Games culture programme will see the work of residents and organisations from across the city standing proudly and equally next to that of major cultural and artistic institutions from across the region.”

to coming out, how being his authentic self has improved his performance in the pool, and gives advice for anyone struggling with their sexuality.

Gunning’s infectious personality shines throughout the episode; listen and bring a bit of sunshine to your day!

Page 22 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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THE UK CELEBRATES WINDRUSH DAY – A DAY OF RECKONING AND REMEMBERING

M

arking the anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship in Tilbury Docks in Essex, in 1948, June 22nd celebrates the contribution of the ‘Windrush Generation’ – the moniker used for the ship which brought the first group of people from countries in the Caribbean to live and work in the rebuilding of the UK, following the Second World War. Introduced in 2018 - the 70th anniversary of the Windrush migration - this year is the fourth national Windrush Day. It was brought in following a campaign by Patrick Vernon, an activist and a former Labour councillor in the London Borough of Hackney, who called for a celebration of the contribution of people from the Windrush Generation and migrant communities to UK society.

The day that the Empire Windrush discharged its passengers at Tilbury was not the first-time black people arrived to live in Britain. Black people were here before 1948.

The Empire Windrush ship is the first to be given such publicity and is more widely known because it was the first visible mass migration of black people to Britain; this noteworthy occurrence changed Britain forever.

The new arrivals were met with unease by some. It prompted complaints from some Members of Parliament. One MP remarked the new immigrants would be on the first boat home once the British winter sets in.

The Empire Windrush ship was followed by other ships such as the SS Auriga, the SS Orbita, the SS Reina del Pacifico, the SS Castle Verde and the SS Georgic.

One of the Windrush projects

was the Back to Eden Community Allotment Project which is based at the Heath Town Allotments, situated on the New Park Village estate in Wolverhampton.

The project initiated by Churches 4 Positive Change focuses on using horticulture and gardening activities, encouraging all age participation to grow fruit and vegetable crops, adopting healthier lifestyles, improving physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, whilst providing community social interaction for seniors and others to share Windrush stories in a relaxed natural environment.

To get involved in the project visit them at facebook.com/ C4PCWolverhampton.

Birmingham Museum Trust West Midlands commemorated the Windrush Generation through 4 short films and interviews, including a schools learning resource supported by the digitisation of The Birmingham Black Oral History Project, and an online lecture as part of the Museums on Demand programme, whilst the Equality and Inclusion Partnership (Equip) West Midlands, had a series of workshops to gather creative materials that celebrate, share & illustrate the journey of the Windrush generation to the UK, culminating in an exhibition and event.

Citizens for Change West Midlands, a community allotment project to enable the Windrush Generation to pass on knowledge and skills about plants, cultivation and cooking, marked the Day with their own celebratory events whilst wider afield organisations throughout the UK, including the Leicester Caribbean Cricket Club East Midlands, who documented stories from the local community there who established cricket activities and developed resources

for local schools and youth clubs from those stories.

Open Doors Forum East Midlands captured Windrush stories via a podcast and videos/ short films to produce a ‘mixtape’ alongside music and photographs for publication online, with a magazine, school resource packs and community outreach events.

Telford African & AfroCaribbean Resource Centre produced specially designed thank you cards for Windrush elders, had a Windrush Day celebration, a Windrush themed art competition and school workshops documenting Windrush oral histories.

The Vine Community Centre East Midlands documented Windrush stories through film & photography, a church service on Windrush Day, costume workshops for Nottingham Carnival and other creative workshops with a legacy day in October.

The UK Government has backed the day with the Windrush Day Grant Scheme, with grants for projects commemorating the unique day in history.

Highlighting all of the events and activities that were happening across the UK to celebrate and educate the day, the events have been largely funded by the government’s Windrush Grant Scheme to get wider recognition and understanding not just from the Caribbean community but all communities in the UK about the Windrush Generation and their contribution to our country.

In 2018 Kingsway Project commissioned the Royal Mail Windrush 70 Stamps. The group continues to produce informative booklets, calendars and short films to inform people about Windrush. For information visit windrush70.com.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 23

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT - STRENGTH OF BIRMINGHAM

STRENGTH OF BIRMINGHAM

LOOKING TOWARDS A 'TASTY' FUTURE DESPITE LOCKDOWN SETBACKS L ike many businesses, Tasty Pastry, a Birmingham based Caribbean Pattie producer, has been hit hard by the restrictions of lockdown over the last year, but despite these troubles, owner Tom Arscott hasn’t taken his eye off where he wants the business to be, and definitely hasn’t forgotten how far they’ve come.

Tom and his brother originally set up Tasty Pastry in the late 90’s, and in his own words “grew really quickly, too quickly.”

The brothers brought consultants in to aid the business, but this decision ended up killing it because they didn’t share the vision they had.

“I stepped out of the business to do other things, but came back in 2009,” explained Tom. “The business had gone through different locations and other people letting my brother down and taking advantage of him. I came back in so that wouldn’t happen.”

“Everyone thinks patties are easy to do, until they actually try it. It isn’t just putting together some pastry and meat, it’s a difficult system.”

The brothers worked from a smaller location on Holyhead Road from a store called Tasty Pastry, until 2012 when they moved to their new place to start afresh.

“That store is still there but being run by other people now, although they’re still selling patties, the patties aren’t ours. We still get calls from people saying that our product doesn’t taste

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the same but it turns out to have been bought from there instead!”

When they moved to their new premises off the Handsworth New Road, they struggled to set up. “Banks wouldn’t lend us money, and to this day we’ve never had an overdraft.

Thankfully we got a City Council grant which allowed us to buy the production line, big mixer and dough press.”

“Along with our oven and a fridge we had to go to London to get, we were on our way and making progress,” reminisced Tom. “We’ve learned to do everything ourselves, including learning to be a plumber, electrician, and mechanic to create or fix what we needed.”

In 2019 they put in for a grant as they needed a bigger oven, one that they had been looking at for 5 years, but all the grants come with stipulations including things like employing certain people, or match funding, and it was just at that time that the lockdown hit.

“Lockdown really slowed things down, to the point that we were going to have to shut everything down because some of our staff were getting stopped on the train by the police while going to work, telling them not to go to work, despite us being keyworkers as we’re working in food.”

A lot of Tasty Pastry’s customers are event caterers, looking after weddings, funerals, engagements and the like.

“One of my biggest clients was one of those and he hadn’t worked for a year through lockdown. The Government keep moving the goalposts, and when some of our customers plan 3-6 months in advance for events, and the week before it takes place they change

things again it’s really difficult. I can see many of the customers we have not making it back after this,” Tom explained sadly.

Thankfully, there was still demand for Tasty Pastry patties during lockdown, and although they had to close their shop on Westminster Road near One Stop Shopping Centre, the factory remained open and was surprisingly busy.

“Thanks to that we’re ok at the moment, and looking to develop the business and move it forward,” beamed Tom, “we’re looking at the possibility of franchising the shop side of the business, as well as certifying the business, registering with SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) to be able to supply things like football grounds and cruise ships.”

At the moment though the main focus is on keeping the doors open and the lights on, which has been made more difficult by the extensive roadworks near the shop due to the redevelopment in the area. “It can take you 15-45 minutes depending on the time of day to get down that road, which has obviously affected our passing trade.”

“We want to connect with the Caribbean food shops in the region to work together so that all businesses can thrive,” mused Tom. “Buying our patties in rather than the time spent and cost of making your own could work out cheaper, with a better result for the customer.”

Tasty Pastry has a number of existing lines, including chicken, beef, vegetable, ackee and saltfish (more expensive due to the rising cost of ackee), saltfish and callaloo, prawn, and their top selling pattie – mutton.

They are also working on an extensive Vegan range, which is headed by the Vegetarian and Calliackee, with a spinach and sweet potato pattie on its way.

If you’ve never tried a Tasty Pastry pattie, then you’re doing yourself a disservice, get down to the shop and get your mouth around one today!

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New WHO Representative To Sri Lanka Commends Country’s Healthcare System FOREIGN MINISTER Dinesh Gunawardena received the newly appointed representative of the WHO (World Health Organisation) to Sri Lanka Dr. Alaka Singh at the Ministry.

Welcoming Dr. Singh to Sri Lanka, Minister Gunawardena recalled the close cooperation between Sri Lanka and the WHO, being the very first UN agency to be established in Colombo in 1952.

He appreciated the WHO’s assistance to Sri Lanka during the Covid pandemic, and requested continued support in securing Covid-19 vaccines to the people of Sri Lanka.

Minister Gunawardena also

recalled that Sri Lanka was among the first countries that stood in strong solidarity with the WHO in its efforts towards addressing the Covid19 challenges.

While appreciating Sri Lanka’s solidarity with the organisation, representative of WHO Dr. Singh assured the continued collaboration of the WHO in both addressing the Covid pandemic as well as in ensuring the sustainable delivery of other health care services during this period.

She commended Sri Lanka’s excellent health care system producing impressive health care indicators and the country’s standing as an example for the

other countries in the region.

The representative of WHO to Sri Lanka Dr. Singh assured WHO’s assistance in securing Covid–19 vaccines to Sri Lanka, and also in the post Covid recovery phase.

She expressed hope that the availability of vaccines will increase significantly in the 3rd quarter of this year.

Minister Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka looks forward to collaborate with the WHO among other things, to enhance the capacities of the health care system and research facilities in the Sri Lankan universities.

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STADIUM REDEVELOP PROGRESS & FULL EV SCHEDULE RELEASED Continued from Front Page

With limited opportunities to attend live sports events in recent months, a huge amount of interest in tickets for the Games is expected, especially as the sports programme is the biggest in Commonwealth history and from today Birmingham 2022 ticket accounts can now be set up.

The event schedule was launched with the help of Team England hopefuls who visited the host city’s Alexander Stadium - an important Games venue currently undergoing a £72 million refurbishment which is on budget and on schedule to be completed in Spring 2022.

The Phoenix Newspaper team were on hand to view the refurbishment of the stadium ahead of the event schedule release.

Birmingham City Council and its Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “The summer of 2022 is set for a spectacular Commonwealth Games, with 11 days of world-class sport in our city and wider region.

“The redeveloped Alexander

Stadium will be at the heart of the Games, as the venue will not only host the athletics but the opening and closing ceremonies.

“The Alexander Stadium redevelopment is progressing at a

lightning speed, with the roof of the new West Stand now complete.

“Once finished the Alexander Stadium will be truly befitting for the world’s best track and field athletes and as a bold centre piece

l Kelly Petersen-Pollard, Delicious Orie and Hannah England at the Alexander Stadium

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PMENT VENT D of leisure, health and well-being activity in a regenerated Perry Barr.”

“To see a world-class stadium developing on budget is fantastic, said Director of Sport for Birmingham 2022, Matt Kidson.

“With more detail for our sports programme now revealed, the Games is really taking shape and it’s time for people to start planning which sessions they want to attend next summer, as our tickets will go on sale very soon,” he continued.

Aspiring Team GB Olympic heavyweight Delicious Orie said: "Some say I'm the new Anthony Joshua, but one day I aim to be even better and dominate."

Raised in Russia, built in Wolverhampton, in Britain, the Super-Heavyweight England Boxing National Amateur Champion is targeting Birmingham 2022 and Paris 2024.

“This is a dream period in my life,” he said. “I originally played basketball and knew nothing about boxing.”

Away from the ring the calm and

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 25

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT

l Daniel Riley & Steve Williams, Team Phoenix humble Delicious is appreciative of the sacrifices his family made to give him the chance of a better life away from racism in Russia.

He said: "I was born in Moscow and life was harder out there. We didn't have a lot of money and some people didn't like me purely because of the colour of my skin.

"I was seven when we moved to the UK and although it was difficult because I didn't speak the language and there were cultural differences, I could see there were more opportunities for kids to succeed."

His father, Justin, left Nigeria in 1995 hoping for a better life in Russia and although he met his wife Natalie while studying, he had arrived in a country where Black people were often subjected to severe discrimination.

Orie, 23, found a love of sport as soon as he came to the UK and settled in Wolverhampton, but he had not even considered boxing before turning 18. "My first love was basketball and I looked up to Luol Deng,” he recalls.

“Born in Sudan, he was ‘killing it’ in the NBA. I knew nothing about boxing until I was introduced to the Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club. Now I aim to do the same in my sport”.

Orie's ultimate target is an Olympic title for his adopted nation at Paris 2024, but first he must secure British citizenship.

“With 19 different sports and eight Para sports, we have such a rich and varied programme and there will be medal moments on every single day of competition,” says Matt Kitson.

“We also have a really interesting mix of venues, with established facilities like the NEC and Arena Birmingham, beautiful parks like St Nicholas Park and West Park and exciting redevelopments like the Alexander Stadium, where the progress in the last 12 months has been phenomenal.”

As a new Alexander Stadium is coming on in leaps-and-bounds, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games just can’t come soon enough!

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Ghana President, Akufo-Addo, Plants One Of Five Million Trees

G

hana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has planted a tree in the capital, Accra, as part of a plan to put five million trees in the ground across the country in a single day.

The Green Ghana Project is supposed to become an annual

event and aims to reverse the process of deforestation.

It has been going on across the country's 16 regions and everyone from school children to judges have been taking part, it was reports.

The focus has been on people planting trees in places where

they can easily maintain them, Hugh Brown from the Ghana Forestry Commission said.

In other words, people have been encouraged to put the saplings in the earth in their homes or in places like school, college and church compounds.

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TWO BLACK EXCELLENCE AWARD WINS FOR UK AUTHOR AND PSYCHOLOGIST IN DUBAI U

K born Psychologist and author and photojournalist Delroy Constantine-Simms, is the winner of two Black Excellence Awards (Middle East).

The inaugural Black Excellence Awards organized by Marsha Fry, the CEO and founder of online and print publication “ Out and About Magazine.

The Awards ceremony took place on June 4th 2021 at the luxurious Sofitel, Palm Resort Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

The awards consisted of 18 categories, ranging from lifestyle

l Emirati Businessman Mr.Yaqoob Al Ali presents Delroy Constantine-Simms with one of his awards

coaching and education to inventors and aviation professionals.

The ceremony was hosted by former Dubai TV presenter Layne Redman, featured performances by Afrobeat musician MKO, Singers Kande Sill, Khandice Taylor, Poet Samantha Rodgers, and guest speaker Omar Tom, Founder and Managing Partner, Dukkan Media.

Constantine-Simms’s awards were presented to him by wealthy Emirati Businessman Mr. Yaqoob Al Ali for the following categories.

The Out and About Photographer Award, in acknowledgment for his work in photojournalism, on contemporary social political issues, street art, sports and entertainment in the Middle East, Cuba, Brazil and the USA. The Out and About Author Award, after writing and editing two consequential books, #Take A Knee Political Awakening of Colin Kaepernick, and The Brazilian Covid Catastrophe.

Constantine-Simms says, “I am extremely happy to be the recipient of these awards. I was initially nominated for three awards, unfortunately, I lost out to my Canadian Colleague, Donavan Patterson, but just to be nominated is an

honour, but to win two awards, I am ecstatic and extremely happy, not only for me, but for the people that have supported me over the years, especially Dale Williams, Ivor Patterson, Maureen Drackett-Fuller, and the Briscoe, Simms and Dixon family world-wide, and my peers from Wolverhampton, and all the staff at the Phoenix Newspaper and Blacknet."

He went on to say, “When I first arrived in the Middle East, I was very wary of the usual stereotypes of Islamic culture, but having lived in Dubai for a few years, you quickly realise that in the UAE anything is possible.

"The UAE has over 200 nationalities living here. It’s a place where black professionals thrive, and are succeeding, I am happy to be part of the community journey of professional success.

"A success that's been pioneered by groups such as the UAE AFRICA Networking Group, Woment Talk and the online website AFRIKANEKT. Leisa Grace Wilson Editorial Director, Teach Middle East Magazine, said "Black excellence is evident in nearly every facet of life in the United Arab Emirates.

"The Black Excellence Gala and Awards is a celebration of the indelible mark that Black people have been making on all sectors of society, across the Middle East”.

"The Black Excellence Gala and Awards represents an idea that is long overdue." said Garfield Kerr CEO, Mokha 1450 "The event proves what many of us in disparate fields in the UAE, and the Middle East, at large have always known that there are many people of colour in this region at the pinnacle of the industry and the creative arts that are worthy of recognition."

Constantine-Simms is currently a freelance journalist and psychologist pursuing part-time study at the University of Oxford, while running his book publishing company Think Doctor Publications and author agency Black Book Collective with Christopher Sill and acclaimed author Kande Summers.

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INSPIRING SKIPPING SIKH AWARDED MBE A 74-year-old man dubbed the skipping Sikh for starring in exercise videos that inspired his community during lockdown has been awarded an MBE. Rajinder Singh was concerned that the closure of Sikh Gurdwaras would lead to his fellow worshippers in Slough, Berkshire, feeling isolated. His resulting videos proved a hit on

social media and also helped raise more than £14,000 for NHS charities.

He received the honour for services to health and fitness.

Speaking after the ceremony at St James's Palace - hosted by the Prince of Wales, Mr Singh said: "I'm very grateful for this honour.

"I spoke with Prince Charles and he said he will try skipping, and then he said we were born in the same month. He was very

pleased. "He added that he would happily give the heir to the throne skipping lessons.

Mr Singh, who lives in Hayes, west London, moved to England from Punjab in the 1970s and became a Heathrow Airport driver. He said his father, who was a soldier, taught him to skip at the age of five, and his daughter, Minreet Kaur, who attended the ceremony with him, encouraged him to share his skipping videos

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on Twitter.

"The turban makes it harder to skip because you have to raise the rope higher," he said.

"But my advice to old people is to just try - do whatever you can, even if it's sitting down exercise and don't give up."

Later this year he will be taking part in the London Marathon for Mencap, which supports people with learning disabilities.

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 27

ON YOUR MARKS SUPPLEMENT

BEPE

GHETTO PRIEST SPREADING THE LOVE

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EASTERN CARIBBEAN SOLIDARITY WITH USVI OVER CRUISE TOURISM

H

eads of government across the Eastern Caribbean have thrown their support behind calls made by U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Governor Albert Bryan Jr. to encourage the state of Florida to allow cruise lines to enable vaccination checks for Caribbean-bound passengers.

In a letter to the USVI leader, Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica and Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), expressed the subregional group’s deep appreciation to Governor Bryan for writing to Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis seeking special consideration in the Florida legislation to aid the revitalization of the cruise industry in the Caribbean.

As increasing numbers of Americans receive COVID-19 vaccinations, Governor Bryan argued that ensuring the cruise industry reopens with vaccinated passengers is essential to the tourism economies of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the wider

Caribbean.

“We are deeply concerned - as you are - with the grave inherent difficulties for our effort to safeguard lives and to reignite livelihoods as we are among the most tourism dependent economies of the world.

"While the new law is not specific to the cruise business, it will potentially have a huge deleterious effect on it because almost all cruise ships (especially to the Caribbean) originate from ports within the state of Florida,” stated Prime Minister Skerrit, who observed the new Florida state law (which goes into effect on July 1) appears to conflict with Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) health and safety guidelines, which include the vaccination of 95% of passengers and crew members.

“For us as small island developing states whose economies are largely fueled by tourism, the vaccination status of industry players (both visitors and industry workers - whether cruise or land-based) is essential

to our strategy in the OECS to safeguard the lives of both our people and visitors and restore our economies,” Prime Minister Skerrit asserted.

He disclosed that the OECS leaders propose to advance arguments in further support of the advocacy undertaken by Governor Bryan, “and will urge partners in the cruise as well as the land-based tourism industry to add their voices in appeal to Governor DeSantis.”

Governor Bryan thanked the OECS leaders for their support: “As Caribbean people it is important that we stand united on these important issues. Cruise ships don’t just sail to one destination.

"We are one Caribbean and our health care infrastructure is too vulnerable to handle widespread outbreaks of illness.”

“Smart public health safety guidelines can coexist with the restart of the Caribbean’s economic engine,” he reiterated.

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USP Support For Students FOR THE delivery of tertiary education, Covid-19 has affected the face-to-face activities of universities and educational institutions.

Universities have had to find online learning solutions for students to continue with their studies remotely. The University of the South Pacific (USP) has responded to the crisis by closing face-to-face activities of the institution, especially within its main Laucala Campus in Suva and its other Fiji-based campuses, to ensure the safety of students and to prevent the spread of the virus.

It has reinforced distance and flexible learning and deployed remote learning modalities using various formats and platforms (online and offline), to ensure that students can pass their courses amidst the uncertainty of the Covid-19 crisis.

The University has offered students maximum flexibility with regards to assessments and exams.

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Channel 4 Sets Out Black To Front Off-Screen Commitments CHANNEL 4 sets out Black to Front off-screen commitments following report from The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity Channel 4 has announced its offscreen commitments as part of Black to Front, following the publication of a report for the Channel by The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) at Birmingham City University.

Black to Front is an ambitious project focused on a day in September 2021 when Channel 4’s entire programming schedule will be fronted by Black talent and contributors.

It will encompass every genre – from news to drama - and will involve all areas of the business including advertising, marketing, All 4 and social.

The day aims to amplify Black voices, talent, and stories, and is part of the Channel’s ongoing commitment to improve Black representation both on and off screen.

To ensure the project drives significant and sustainable change within the industry, Channel 4 is working with LHC at Birmingham City University to help shape ambitious and meaningful offscreen commitments and to address specific challenges, barriers and issues identified in the industry.

Based on the recommendations of this extensive piece of work, Channel 4 is committed to increase Black representation on all shows featuring as part of Black to Front.

As many as possible of the commissioners and staff with editorial input working for Channel 4 on Black to Front day will also be Black.

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 29

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ACE PROGRAMME LAUNCHES IN BIRMINGHAM

T

he ACE Programme is officially underway in Birmingham, delivered by Warwickshire County Cricket Club and the Warwickshire Cricket Board to help reinvigorate love for cricket within the city's Black community.

With seven schools in North West Birmingham signed up, local youngsters recently took part in a special ACE Programme cricket session at Handsworth Cricket Club.

Since the start of the school summer term, each for the schools has received a full day of cricket delivered by former

Bears fast bowler Recordo Gordon and fellow coach Ron Barker.

Local youngsters can also take advantage of further sessions, delivered for children aged nine to 18, every Monday at Handsworth CC and every Friday at Holford Drive Community Sports Hub in Perry

Barr.

"Getting ACE underway in Birmingham is a huge step forward for the local cricketing community," said Eaton Gordon, Warwickshire Cricket Board Cricket Development Manager (Community) and Birmingham Lead of ACE. "Cricket in the city's African Caribbean community has dropped significantly in recent years, and we are certainly not underestimating the challenge ahead in revitalising this love for the game.

"Our initial focus is on growing the level of participation in schools, but we hope that these new cricket sessions will inspire many of these youngsters to join in each week at Handsworth CC and Holford Drive and to get involved in the local Club game."

Warwickshire Cricket Board is also using the weekly cricket sessions to inspire youngsters to take part in wider cricket programmes that are delivered by local recreational clubs, including the All Stars programme for children aged five to eight and Dynamos for children aged eight to 11.

Stuart Cain, Chief Executive of Warwickshire CCC, said: "We must represent the communities we serve and can't avoid the fact that cricket isn't what it was to the region's African Caribbean community.

"ACE has the potential to provide a spark which reignites a passion for cricket and unearths the Bears players of the future.

Alongside this, we want to rebuild a vibrant club scene as this used to be the cornerstone of the city's African Caribbean community providing strong foundations for wider social cohesion.”

Single-use plastics ban to begin in ACT

THE FIRST PHASE of the ACT's (Australian Capital Territory’s) ban on selected singleuse plastics was set to take effect in the country.

The sale, supply and distribution of single-use plastic cutlery and stirrers is now prohibited in the territory. Expanded polystyrene containers are also included in the ban, comes into force on the same day all Canberrans become eligible for free bulky waste collection services.

City Services Minister Chris Steel said that the ACT was taking a big step forward in cutting harmful waste. He said: "We know from over 700 face-toface business visits conducted in the past few months that there is strong support from the business community and Canberrans to reduce our plastic use.

"It's now important that every Canberran does what they can to reduce their use or support the switch by embracing alternatives to plastic. The ACT will also be the first jurisdiction able to declare public events as single-use plasticfree.

More plastic products are set to be cut from the Canberra landscape in the future, with single-use plastic straws in a list of things set to go in July 2022.

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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Lorde Embrace Solar Power FO NEW ALBU

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es

ENTERTAINMENT

Full Cast Announced for World Premiere of Disney’s Bedknobs And Broomsticks MICHAEL HARRISON has announced the cast for Disney’s Bedknobs And Broomsticks, which will make its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical, visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 April 2022.

Dianne Pilkington will star as Miss Eglantine Price, the mysterious lady that the three orphaned Rawlins children are evacuated from wartime London

OR UM

culminating in two dates at the Roundhouse, London, on June 1 and 2.

“Solar Power” debuted to fan and critical acclaim, with Billboard stating, “Solar Power” is a fresh

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 31

chapter in a riveting book, and Lorde fans should be thrilled to meet this new author.”

The Guardian called the song, “… a distinct reinvention, one that gleefully puts a gap between Lorde and everyone else in terms of her creativity” while noting, “Lorde’s comeback single is a lesson in letting pop stars take their time.”

The song is the first single from Lorde’s forthcoming third studio album which will be released via Universal Music New Zealand on August 20th.

The album includes 12 tracks and is produced by Jack Antonoff who she collaborated with on her charttopping last album, Melodrama.

“The album is a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors," explained Lorde.

"In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learned to breathe out, and tune in.

This is what came through.”

Of the single she added, “The first song, also called Solar Power and written and produced by myself and Jack, is the first of the rays.

to live with. Dianne’s West End credits include Les Misérables, Wicked, Mamma Mia and Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein.

Charles Brunton will play Emelius Browne.

Charles starred in the iconic role of Miss Trunchbull in Matilda both in the West End and on Broadway. Other credits include Love Never Dies, Chess and Scrooge.

The rest of the company includes Mark Anderson, Jessica Aubrey, Georgie Buckland, Kayla Carter,

Jonathan Cobb, Jacqui Dubois, Matthew Elliot-Campbell, Sam Lupton, Rob Madge, Vinnie Monachello, Nathaniel Morrison, Conor O’Hara, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Robin Simoes Da Silva, Emma Thornett and Susannah Van Den Berg.

The Rawlins children will be played by Dexter Barry, Izabella Bucknell, Haydn Court, Poppy Houghton, Evie Lightman and Aidan Oti.

It’s about that infectious, flirtatious summer energy that takes hold of us all, come June…”

To honour the natural world the artist is presenting the album in a first-of-its kind, discless format.

An eco-conscious Music Box will be available for purchase as an alternative to a CD. This innovative offering will contain extra visual content, handwritten notes, exclusive photos, and a download card.

The card will give purchasers a high-quality download of the music, two exclusive bonus tracks, and access to some special surprises along the way.

When talking about the concept Lorde says, “I decided early on in the process of making this album that I also wanted to create an environmentally kind, forwardthinking alternative to the CD. "I wanted this Music Box product to be similar in size, shape and price to a CD, to live alongside it in a retail environment, but be something which stands apart and that’s committed to the evolving nature of a modern album.”

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ENTERTAINMENT MOTORS

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Cornwall Crowned As Europe’s Most Pinned Road Trip Destination

Highfields Amateur Boxing Club Saved From Knockout A DONCASTER boxing club, which helps young people around Adwick, Bentley and beyond, has been saved from the brink of closure – thanks to the support of a significant local business donation.

Since being established in 2001, the amateur club has trained people of all ages and skill levels, becoming a vital resource in the area. As well as taking boxers to English National Levels, the club has become a pillar of the community – aiding the mental health of young people and encouraging the importance of discipline and other life skills.

After a series of national lockdowns left the club on the ropes, coach John Loosemore launched an appeal in the local area.

“Since we started Highfields ABC over 20 years ago, we’ve always managed to generate our own income through memberships, shows and school visits.”

Thanks to a significant £2000 donation by SYNETIQ – the UK’s leading integrated vehicle salvage and recycling company based on Bentley Moor Lane - Highfields ABC has surpassed that target, and is now ready to take on 2021.

SYNETIQ’s donation will go towards the training and certification required by the ABA Governing body, such as First Aid and Child Safety, as well as COVID-19 safety measures.

PETROLHEADONISM

P

etrolheadonism Live has launched its premier event in the park of Knebworth House; this must-see family spectacular will bring some of the world’s most exclusive and desirable cars to this epic weekend to celebrate all things automotive!

On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September over 1,000 cars will be on display from Supercars to Classics, Americana to the Highly Modified and the ‘Interesting’, at this must-see event for any automotive fan.

Petrolheadonism Live will host a £50m+ Hypercar

enclosure in the shadows of Knebworth House.

Our event supporter Zach’s Garage will be hosting Hypercars and Supercars as well as extremely valuable vehicles worth in excess of £1m each with some very rare cars joining the display including our Hero Car of the event, the 24Ct Gold Leaf inlayed Koenegsigg Regera.

The Koenigsegg Regera is one of the most expensive and fastest cars in the world! It’s limited production combined with its cutting edge revolutionary technology as well as crushed diamonds and 24ct gold make

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it one of the most exclusive cars on the road, in the world, today.

In addition, over 50 car clubs are set to attend the event, so enthusiasts will see an incredible array of Classics, Highly Modified, American and Supercars to rival any automotive event.

There will be a programme of events within the Main Arena; the highlight of which will be the ‘Petrolheadonism Elite 2021’ competitors, displaying the most astounding vehicles from 7 varied classes presented by 7 different experts in their class. These cars will parade around a ‘catwalk’ each day

creating a moving masterpiece of horsepower.

The event takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Knebworth Park. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic and stay all day. Once you have looked at the vast range of cars why not explore some of Knebworth’s other attractions.

Perfect for a family day out your ticket to the event also includes free on-site parking and FREE entrance to the adventure playground, the dinosaur trail with 70 life-sized dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures and 28acre formal gardens including a maze!

CORNWALL has been revealed as the most ‘pinned’ road trip destination in Europe, according to a new study.

The research conducted by Honda used Pinterest data to look at more than 650 popular destinations across Europe.

The study ranked the most ‘pinned’ road trip locations based on the number of boards made for each place, as inspiration for future travel.

Cornwall was revealed as the most ‘pinned’ destination for road trips with 78 boards dedicated to the coastal county.

The picturesque coast has also seen a surge in Google searches, with a 50% increase in people searching for ‘Cornwall’ from January 2021 to March 2021.

Tuscany came out second in the research, attracting visitors with its architecture, history and renaissance art.

Italy topped the list for having the highest number of road trip locations feature in the top 15 with Amalfi, Rome, Sicily and Florence also appearing as top road trip locations.

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NISSAN CELEBRATE NEW QASHQAI

N

issan Sunderland Plant is marking the start of production of the third generation Qashqai with a renewed pledge to inspire future generations of manufacturing talent.

Following a £400m investment, the latest version of the segment-defining crossover is now rolling off the plant’s production Line One, as the plant celebrates 35 years of manufacturing in the UK. Qashqai represents one in five of all cars built in Britain since its launch 14 years ago – and to celebrate the new generation model, Nissan is offering every schoolchild in North East England the opportunity to take part in a Nissan Skills Foundation event

BENTLEY MOTORS has announced the appointment of Richard Leopold as Regional Director for UK, Middle East, Africa and India, commencing 1 September. He replaces Sarah Simpson who leaves Bentley to join Porsche GB as CEO. As part of a career that spans two decades in the automotive industry, starting with Saab Automobile, Richard joined Bentley in 2007 when he assumed the role of Director of Product Marketing.

He then moved to China as Brand and Marketing Director playing a crucial role in establishing the region as one of Bentley’s largest markets.

After three years in China, Richard became Head of Bentley Russia with sole responsibility for all the luxury marque’s activities in a period where the country was one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world.

– the company’s programme of activities designed to excite youngsters about careers in manufacturing and engineering.

Alan Johnson, Nissan Vice President for Manufacturing in the UK, said: “Sunderland Plant is built on 35 years of manufacturing excellence, and from the skills and expertise of our world-class team comes a car for the future.

“More than 3.5m customers have chosen a Qashqai made in Sunderland since it went on sale in 2007, and the third generation model delivers the new levels of technology, design and performance that people have come to expect from the original crossover.

“We know it has been a tough year for young people, so we’re using the launch of this

next-generation car to step up our efforts to inspire the nextgeneration of manufacturing talent. We want every child in the North East of England to have the opportunity to be inspired by the Nissan Skills Foundation.”

Since the launch of the original model in 2007, Qashqai has broken record after record. It was the fastest UK car to reach one million, two million and three million units built, and more than 3.5 million have now been produced in Sunderland – about a third of the plant’s all time total.

Those numbers also mean that one in five cars built in the UK since 2007 has been a Qashqai – the highest-volume car made in Britain.

MOTORS

International Women Drivers' Day - June 24th

24 JUNE was a day of celebration.

International Women Drivers' Day, an initiative promoted by the Women's World Car of the Year, aims to draw attention to the importance of women in the automotive world.

Just three years ago on 24 June, the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia was lifted. On that day, one of the great remaining walls in the automotive world came down.

Women gained mobility, personal freedom and a passion for cars. They became more visible and made society aware of the potential of more than 50% of the population.

Today, women influence more than 80% of car purchases in advanced countries.

Bentley Announces New Regional Director

After six years away from Crewe he returned in 2016 to the position of Sales Planning and Operations Director. This before commencing his current role four years later

as Global Sales and Network Director responsible for Bentley’s sales planning, operations and retailer development around the world.

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Birmingham Royal Ballet Returns To Birmingham Hippodrome

A

fter 14 months away, Birmingham Royal Ballet have announced their plans to return to Birmingham Hippodrome with a season from Director Carlos Acosta that again balances the new and the classic, beginning with contrasting tellings of, arguably, the greatest love story ever told.

Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s passionate Romeo and Juliet choreography and Prokofiev’s score will set hearts alight in this enduringly popular, classic interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy created especially for Birmingham Royal Ballet.

From the balcony scene’s ecstatic pas de deux, exploring love in all its soaring wonder, to the lovers’ heart-breaking

ends, Romeo and Juliet is ballet at its most poignant and beautiful.

R&J Reimagined sees Romeo and Juliet get a very different treatment with the Company premiere of Romanian choreographer Edward Clug's Radio and Juliet, a reinvention of the classic story set to the music of Radiohead, featuring tracks from Kid A, Amnesiac and OK Computer.

This version explores what could have happened if Juliet decided not to take her own life, and is an exhilarating, emotional rollercoaster that has toured the world to widespread acclaim since its premiere in 2005 - it will form a double bill with a new work from Birminghambased choreographer Rosie

Kay, further details to be announced.

This festive season, Birmingham Royal Ballet will bring The Nutcracker back to the city when Birmingham Hippodrome welcomes the return of Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in November.

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s superb dancers and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia weave their magic with the timeless choreography and glorious Tchaikovsky score to create a quintessential Christmas treat for all the family.

For spring 2022, Acosta promises entertainment for all ages when he brings an explosion of Spanish sunshine, spectacular dance and vivacious comedy to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage.

Ed Sheeran backs footy mad rapper’s England EURO 2020 anthem

G Coventry Moves To Form UK City Of Culture Centrepiece Event PEOPLE ARE being invited to turn on radios at their doorsteps to premiere a piece of music as part of Coventry's year as UK City of Culture.

Nine radio stations played different parts of the piece in June forming the full version when they were heard at the same time.

Residents in the city were asked to talk to neighbours to plan who listened to which station to mark the culmination of the signature event.

Coventry's year as UK City of Culture officially launched in May with thousands of people tuning in to watch a short film posted on the festival website.

Its centrepiece, Coventry Moves, was originally due to coincide with the launch, but was moved to today to because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Like other events planned for the coming months, it has had to negotiate Covid-19 restrictions, including social distancing.

Broadcasting on the festival website and social media, as well as coverage on television platforms, the day included the retelling of the city's pioneering past, present and future.

Digital content also featured six people with Coventry connections representing the city's energies - described by organisers

as resilience, social justice, youthfulness, sustainability, people power and innovation.

One of the six, Pauline Black, from 2-Tone band The Selector, performed a new song written for the event.

The day's activities also included 14 modern Lady Godivas, chosen from more than 140 nominations, to represent the city's women.

Although details were a closely guarded secret, some of them were learning to ride a horse for the first time as part of films planned on the day.

lobal music star Ed Sheeran has thrown his support behind an England song recorded by a diehard football fan and rapper ahead of the Euro 2020 tournament T8PES, who releases ‘This Is Football’ across streaming services, counts the best-selling singersongwriter amongst his friends and fans.

Sheeran said, “I love this England tune from my old mate T8PES. England’s gonna bring it home – make sure you check the song out!” Described as a ‘people’s anthem’ by Birmingham artist, youth worker and Aston Villa fan Jimmy Davis, who records and performs under the moniker T8PES, the track is a rousing call to arms for fans to get behind Gareth Southgate and team progress through the major sporting event.

Unlike previous international tournaments, the FA did not endorse an official single ahead of the delayed Championships as yet.

As bookies slashed the odds of England winning the tournament to clear favourites, the song came at the perfect moment to rally support following a difficult year for sports and music fans alike.

T8PES said: “The last 14 months have been a rollercoaster for musicians, footballers and

their fans. It was a dream to combine two of my biggest passions – I put ‘This Is Football’ out there for supporters of all teams to unite under one song and help cheer England all the way to the final.”

"The great England songs of the past like ‘Three Lions’ and ‘Vindaloo’ were not official so I was hoping that the country took this tune to their hearts. After the year we’ve all had, the Euros was set to be a joyous explosion with

‘This Is Football’ being part of it.”

The track features a myriad of musical styles, including rapped verses from T8PES, guest vocals from emerging local talent Wolverhampton indie singer Jack Cattell and Hertfordshire pop artist Zoe Philips, as well as the brass section from UB40’s favourite tour support band Kioko. This Is Football is out across all streaming platforms.

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Junodream New ‘Travel Guide’ Mixtape Out Now

L

ockdown should be the worst environment for a rising live band to emerge from, but Junodream have been flourishing in recent months.

They were recently named Radio 1 Future Artists Tune of the Week and Jack Saunders has consistently championed the band, highlighting them in both the Next Wave and Future Artists segments, while other key airplay has included John Kennedy at Radio X plus BBC Introducing.

Meanwhile, they’ve just sold-out their headline show at London Omeara and streaming support has constantly grown, culminating in two big cover moments: Hot New Bands at Spotify and Indie Britain at TIDAL. Junodream now crown their recent achievements with the release of their brand new mixtape ‘Travel Guide’.

The band’s most ambitious body of work to date, the mixtape is released alongside the new single ‘White Sunday’.

The ‘Travel Guide’ mixtape is informed by new ideas and sounds.

Set to a wider hybrid of influences from synth-pop to punk and even prog, Junodream take us back to 2000 and the potential for a bright new future that was promised by the new millennium. The benefits of an increasingly digital world are countered by the claustrophobia of 24/7 rolling news and the constant demands of progressively more polarising social media. On a more personal level, it also looks at how perceptions change during the transition from childhood to adulthood, and the realisation that seemingly innocent events often had a darker undercurrent.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dave 'Big Dave' Gauder

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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Blessed strikes positive chord with ‘Black Man’ and ‘New to You’

A Nathan Dennis

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

ward-winning Jamaican Reggae sensation Blessed has been echoing in the consciences of the musicloving masses with his song ‘Black Man’.

The Toronto-based artiste has been enlightening listeners with this uplifting offering which is the lead single off his recently released EP, ‘New to You’.

Black Man was written by Blessed and produced by Jumpshot Records.

The single was inspired by the 2020 murder of George Floyd, tackles issues such as black-onblack crime and seeks to effect positive change as well as dispel several falsehoods which have lingered around society’s fabric for generations.

According to him; “The track Black Man is a call to all black men to unite against the forces that are destroying us.

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“It’s a call to stop killing each other and to recognize why others feel justified killing and mistreating us.

“It’s a reminder that our history doesn't start at slavery! It ultimately aims to boost the selfesteem of all black people.”

With its melodious flow and expressive lyrics, Black Man has resonated within the public psyche and has already amassed over 100,000 streams on Spotify, with its accompanying music video racking up over 50,000 streams on the Reggaeville YouTube channel.

The song is nominated for a Juno Award (Canada's equivalent of a Grammy Award) in the Best Reggae Recording category and has generated immense anticipation for Blessed’s newly released EP ‘New to You’.

The nine-track EP, New to You is a collection of conscious and uplifting songs which tells

a story from first track to last. It provides a platform where both entertaining and inspirational musical material co-exists in unique harmony.

New to You explores different dimensions of the Reggae & Dancehall experience and features dynamic collaborations with industry heavy-hitters such as roots Reggae stalwart Bushman and Grammy-winning producer Walshy Fire (of Major Lazer fame).

Also featured is the song ‘The Question’ which was produced

by Jah Waxman and was mixed & mastered at the famous Tuff Gong Studio in Jamaica.

Though humble and hardworking Blessed is quite accomplished and renowned in his field.

He is a two-time Juno and Urban Music Association of Canada Award winner and in 2017 was the recipient of a

JunCtian Award of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award.

Even with all the accolades throughout his 20-year professional music journey which also includes several major Caribbean and NorthAmerican festival performances and numerous dub-plate requests from international DJs, Blessed remains steadfast in his goal to be a positive example for

other artistes and the younger generation to follow “In these unpredictable times.”

Blessed says, “stay strong, help wherever help is needed and live in love knowing we are all a part of the Human Family.

“Please continue to support Reggae Music!”

‘New to You’ is distributed by Zojak Records and is available now on all streaming platforms.

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C

omputer pioneer created the McAfee antivirus software before selling his stake in his antivirus company in the early 1990s.

He led an eccentric life, unsuccessfully seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for

T

he Indian film actress was big in the Tamil film industry. Born as Shanthi, she adopted the stage name of Reshma and made her debut with Kizhakku Mugam in 1996 alongside Karthik.

She then signed to appear in

O

ne of India's greatest athletes died from Covidrelated complications.

Growing up in a small village in what was still British India, he lived in a remote village in Multan

Jack Adams

Kalanjiyam's Poomani, and also briefly shot for Nandha featuring Ramki, which did not get completed. Aththai Ponnu and Vignesh was also shelved during shoot in 1997.

She also signed on to play the title role in Vennila to appear alongside Ajith Kumar, Vignesh and Amar Siddique. Though to began production works in 1996, it was delayed due to financial problems but released with the title Ennai Thalatta Varuvala in 2003.

Married to actor Hamsavardhan, her co-star from Vadagupatti Maapillai they had two sons and a daughter. She died following complications caused by COVID-19. She was 42.

T

he former Gloucester centre died after being diagnosed with cancer.

The former rugby star, who also had spells with Moseley and Bristol and featured for the England Sevens team, made 35 appearances for Gloucester

K

nown as KK, he was the president of Zambia (1964-91) and was at the forefront of the struggle for independence from British rule.

Born in Chinsali, in Zambia, he was the youngest of eight

children. His father, Reverend David Kaunda, was an ordained Church of Scotland missionary and teacher.

Known to constantly wearing a safari suit, he wrote music about the independence he hoped to achieve, which came in 1973 - he became the first president of an independent Zambia in 1973.

He married Betty Kaunda in 1946, and had eight children. She died in 2012, in Zimbabwe, age 84. It was recently revealed that he was being treated for a recurring pneumonia problem before confirmation that he died.

Survived by 30 grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, he was 97.

between 2005 and 2009, and was head coach of Hucclecote RFC. A statement on the Gloucester website said: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to Jack's family and loved ones in this incredibly difficult time. Jack was a local lad who lived his dream of representing his hometown club.

"The outpouring of love and support from the rugby community shows just how adored he was."

A former Cinderford RFC player before retiring in 2017, he was first diagnosed with cancer in midApril.

The Rugby Players Association set up a fundraising page to support his family and a local charity. He was 34.

Gift of Gab

Kenneth Kaunda

Milkha Singh province.

Popularly known as "the Flying Sikh", he won four Asian gold medals and finished fourth in the 400m final at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

He was awarded the Helms World Trophy in 1959 for winning 77 of his 80 international races.

He also won India's first Commonwealth gold in Cardiff, in 1958, and finish fourth in the 400 metres at the Rome Olympics.

He was invited to take part in the 200m event at an International Athletic competition in Lahore, Pakistan, from where he fled in 1947. He eventually did go.

He died, age 91.

OBITUARIES

Reshma

John McAfee U.S. president in 2016 and 2020.

Born in Cinderford, in Gloucestershire, he founded the companies Tribal Voice (makers of the PowWow chat program), QuorumEx, and Future Tense Central, among others, and was involved in leadership positions in the companies Everykey, MGT Capital Investments, and Luxcore, among others.

He was charged in the U.S. Prosecutors with evading taxes after allegedly failing to report income made from promoting cryptocurrencies while doing consultancy work, as well as income from speaking engagements and selling the rights to his life story.

He was found dead age 75.

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 37

B

orn Timothy Jerome Parker the rapper was better known for performing in the Bay Area hip hop duo Blackalicious along with DJ Chief Xcel and was also a member of Quannum Projects,

a Bay Area hip hop crew and record label, and performed and recorded as a solo artist.

Often praised for his rapping skills he contributed to Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti, a tribute to the music and work of the Nigerian musician and collaborated with Lateef the Truthspeaker to remake Fela Kuti's song, "Kalakuta Show."

He also collaborated with Del the Funky Homosapien and Brother Ali on "Dreamin'" on his solo album, Escape 2 Mars, as well as making tracks with DJ Vadim, Cut Chemist, Ben Harper and Chali 2na of Jurassic 5.

He died, aged 50.

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urprise!

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March 17 2020

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MONTHLY COLUMN

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER WITH DR TONI LUCK

I

PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE LEAVING AFRICA AN EDUCATION MODEL TO EMULATE

have been in the US for the first time in more than 18 months due to the travel restrictions associated with the Pandemic.

It seems that I have come when all hearts and minds are on the captive Africans and their descendent in the United States who have endured the horrors of slavery and racism.

From “Black Lives Matter to the 100-year commemoration of the Black Wall Street Massacre of 1921, and in mid-June a law was passed to celebrate Juneteenth, commemorating the day of emancipation from Slavery of the Captive Africans after almost 250 years; both events tinged with sad remembrances, yet jubilation that there is recognition in our young people’s lifetime of the evils we have endured.

So many thoughts run through my heart and mind during these times, and today as I write, while I thank those mighty African descendant warriors of the American captivity struggle for liberation, my thoughts are on one of my African heroes, Robert Mugabe the long-time president of Zimbabwe.

He would have appreciated the historical significance of these events taking place more than 10,000 miles from his home.

That is because President Mugabe was an astute lover of history and appreciated the acquisition and utilization of education and knowledge.

No matter what is said about him negatively by those who seek to convince Africans that their only means of advancement is directly dependent on surrendering their sovereignty, education, culture, wealth a n d

resources to western imperialism, there can be no debate that the legacy that he left has inspired many to think, to do, to act and to remember.

So, as we consider the history of Juneteenth, I wanted to take a brief moment to share what a leader with insights and foresights can really do as did those great men and women of the Greenwood Section of Tulsa, Oklahoma lovingly referred to as the Black Wall Street did when they were free and had their own power.

Today we have as a legacy for freedom that continues to draw upon the Black Wall Street history in the North Atlantic Captivity and on the freedom struggles on the African Continent framed in many instances on the insistence of President Mugabe (and a few others like him, like the late President Magafuli of Tanzania) not to submit to the dictates of western paternalism on education, or health, or culture or how to do business and amass wealth.

President Mugabe had to insight and courage to demand our right to self-govern and which allows us to take ownership of our resources, culture and destinies.

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Without a doubt, one does need knowledge and understanding in order to actually take and then keep the control over one’s life and resources.

Robert Mugabe, no matter the naysayers in and out of Africa, left us many models of excellence on how to emancipate a people and one of the most critical tools is education.

To advance his vision of emancipating his people, Mugabe put education as the foundation of delivering total liberation.

He clearly understood that African countries did not have colonies and they wouldn’t receive a Marshall Plan or colonial reparations to lift themselves up.

Thus, the black mind was the only means by which the final leg of mental, economic and spiritual liberation would be achieved.

When we consider the state of Zimbabwe educational system when President Mugabe came to power, we will see the magnificent sustainable results of a mind and soul that is free, a model to emulate Taking over a country with a literacy rate well below 30%, barely 177 secondary schools of which 60% were white - only five of them preparing non-white students [black, coloured and Indian] for university- and less than 100 black graduates in 1980, President Mugabe and his team embarked on the miracle of building the best black education system the world had ever seen, on a shoe string budget.

In the process lifting Zimbabwe’s literacy from below 30% at independence to 89% in just 20yrs.

To put the magnitude of his grand achievement into perspective: the literacy rate of African Americans after 240yrs of emancipation, in the biggest economy on earth, currently stands at 68%.

A far cry from the 91% that Mugabe

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with Dr Toni Luck

delivered in a third world Zimbabwe.

Underpinning this phenomenal system, basic education began in liberation camp bush schools, in Zambia and Mozambique during the struggle.

Much like the strategy of Nehemiah, of the building and the battling, Zanu PF believed that liberation by the gun was just the first step of liberation, but it needed to culminate in Zimbabweans educating and skilling themselves enough to build a prosperous and truly liberated nation.

From the bush, Mugabe and his comrades began to implement the most ambitious education project on the continent, to equip Zimbabweans with both academic and technical skills that would leverage the nation’s aspirations.

The academic subjects were standard, while the technical subjects included business, building, agriculture, fashion & fabrics, mechanics, woodwork, plumbing, technical drawing and metalwork to give Zimbabweans tangible life skills to drive the economy into a middle-income country in the shortest time.

Over the next 37yrs, President Mugabe and his government painstakingly built more than 5709 schools [3462 Primary and 2247 secondary], 13 teacher training colleges to capacitate educators, 13 universities, 13 polytechnics, 43 vocational training centers, 16 research institutions, 8 nursing schools and 3 medical schools using a food for work program and the District Development Fund.

This

ensured that every Zimbabwean had access to subsidized quality primary to secondary education, despite the budgetary constraints and punitive sanctions (apartheid government sanctions; Matebeland unrest and the war in Mozambique).

Today, this standard of education set by President Mugabe is still the benchmark to beat in Africa, in fact across the developing world according to UNESCO rankings.

Meanwhile in math and science, Zimbabwe ranks 4th despite the 18yrs of economic sanctions and the preceding economic sabotage imposed by the West.

With this level of excellent education, Zimbabwean human talent and skills have become the nation’s biggest export to the developed world; enabling Zimbabweans to travel across the world, learning and gaining new skills to allow them to return home and leverage their natural resources to industrialize their country that is endowed with vast strategic mineral resources [in the center of the Persian Gulf of strategic mineral resources] that western countries are dependent on to maintain their economic, industrial and military leadership.

If only they and many other Continental Africans would, they have an excellent model to follow and continue.

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SPIDER-POPE, I SPIDER-POPE!

l Pope Francis receives his Spider Man mask from Mattia Villardita

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 39

AZUZA STREET

n what was probably the most unlikely meeting of the year so far, Pope Francis met SpiderMan himself – as a man dressed in a full-blown Spider-Man costume attended the Pontiff’s general audience at the Vatican.

It was unclear whether he drove there, or simply swung his way in.

Seated beside a black-clad priest in the VIP section in the Vatican’s San Damaso Courtyard, the ‘webbed crusader’ looked somewhat out of place, but the Pope seemed to take it all in his stride.

Pope Francis was seen to be greeting the iconic comic book character, with the ‘hero’ gifting him with his very own Spider-Man mask.

In a heart-warming turn of events, the man behind the mask, 27-year-old Mattia Villardita, from northern Italy, appeared to be a real-life superhero in his own right as he was honoured with a place in the VIP section on account of his work with sick children in hospitals, visiting them while clad in superhero costumes.

Last year, Italian President Sergio Mattarella awarded Mattia for his caring work, appointing him as Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

Believed to have had health problems since birth, Mattia was awarded for his ‘altruism and imaginative initiatives,’ which have helped to ‘alleviate the suffering of the youngest hospital patients’.

Father Of Amazon Founder Donates $12m To Catholic School THE FATHER of Amazon. com founder Jeff Bezos has donated US$12 million to a Catholic school that housed and educated him when he arrived as an unaccompanied minor immigrant in the early 1960s.

Miguel Bezos attended Salesianum School in Wilmington, Delaware, after fleeing post-Revolution Cuba, along with over 14,000 other minors brought to the United States through Operation Pedro Pan, a program organized by the Catholic Church with the help of the U.S. government.

In a 2016 interview posted on the website of the Smithsonian's National

Museum of American History, Bezos said: "There was a priest in charge of us, and it was a tremendous experience for me.

"We also visit with the priest that was in charge of us. In the middle of all the chaos, it was a wonderful experience." The donation, honours the priest, who died last year, and will be used for an endowment to fund the Rev. James P. Byrne, OSFS Scholarship.

The gift from Bezos and his wife, Jacklyn, will fund 24 scholarships and also help with incidental expenses such as books, retreats, service trips and college entrance exam fees.

Celebrating

the 67th birthday of our dear friend

Gus Willock

Break In Centuries-Old German Male Choir School Tradition As Girls Now Allowed

GIRLS WILL be accepted for the first time at a church music school attached to one of Germany's most famous boys' choirs - the Regensburger Domspatzen (cathedral sparrows).

The Bavarian city of Regensburg has had a boys' choir at its Roman Catholic cathedral since 975.

Girls trained at the school from next year will join a new girls' choir, and sing at church services too, with the boys' one, which includes men for bass and tenor parts, remaining male-only. The decision to open the Domspatzen

high school (Gymnasium) to girls in 2022 was taken unanimously by the governors running it, the cathedral's website reports.

The statement said: "The choir for girls and women will be a new, additional musical pillar in Regensburg Cathedral's music."

Regensburg lies north of Munich in south-eastern Germany. Boys cannot sing in the choir unless they attend the cathedral school.

The statement, quoting the governors, says; "increasingly in recent times good singers have not been enrolling at the high school, preferring to attend a co-educational school". The

Regensburger Domspatzen choir has a female high school head Christine Lohse - and the musical director is Christian Heiss, both of whom were appointed some 18 months ago.

The local website Regensburgdigital says the numbers enrolling at the cathedral school have declined continuously since 2010.

The Catholic Church in Germany - as in most other Catholic countries - does not allow women priests, unlike the German Protestant Church.

We would like to honour his passing with a small gathering of his close friends. We will celebrate his birthday as a matter of respect and what his friendship meant to us all.

BBQ | Bouncing Castle | Music | Games Caribbean Stall Family and friends, join us in the birthday celebrations

Saturday 28th August 2021 14.00hrs- 22.00hrs St. Marys & St. Ambrose Church Hall Pershore Road B5 7PF

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING Rare And Complex Syndromes In Children To Be Investigated By New Research Network EARLIER THIS MONTH, Cerebra, the charity that supports children with brain conditions and their families, in collaboration with an academic team from four leading institutions, launched the Cerebra Network for Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

This pioneering research network will expand upon the work of the Cerebra Centre, which developed a worldleading research programme through which the behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics associated with complex disorders and rare genetic conditions have been documented.

This next phase will comprise a collaborative and dynamic network of researchers.

The Cerebra Network for Neurodevelopmental Disorders will be led by four alumni of the Cerebra Centre; Dr Caroline Richards (University of Birmingham), Dr Jo Moss (University of Surrey), Dr Jane Waite (Aston University) and Dr Hayley Crawford (University of Warwick).

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CARERS WALK THE WALK AND TALK THE TALK

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arers enjoyed a socially distanced stroll around West Park and a cake and cuppa in the Tea Rooms to mark the culmination of Carers Week.

They were joined on the ‘walk and talk’ by the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Councillor Linda Leach, who paid tribute to their incredible efforts in providing care and support for their loved ones.

She said: "We have over 27,000 unpaid carers in Wolverhampton

who look after family members or friends who have a disability, mental or physical illness or simply need extra help as they grow older, and it was a privilege to meet just a few of them on our stroll around West Park and listen to their inspiring stories.

Each and every one of our unpaid carers is doing an incredible job, often in the most trying of circumstances, and Carers Week was a chance to highlight the help that is available to them through our Carer Support Team.”

Wolverhampton’s Carer Support Team offers a range of

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help to people who care for a friend, relative or neighbour, ensuring they are supported in their caring role, have access to the services they need and are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

Meanwhile, a weekly social group for carers takes place over Zoom every Friday from 2pm4pm, and Friday’s event at West Park was so successful that the team hope to launch a regular carers group at the Tea Rooms in the near future.

Councillor Leach added: “If you are an unpaid carer, and you need any help at all, please don't

hesitate to get in touch with the Carer Support Team – they are ready and waiting for your call."

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. The theme of this year’s Carers Week was to Make Caring Visible and Valued – recognising the fact that many people have taken on more caring responsibilities for relatives or friends as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ronaldo And Pogba Star As Healthy Winners CRISTIANO RONALDO and Paul Pogba were both ‘winners’ during the European Championships as they both ditched the ‘fizz’ to maintain their respective ‘healthy lifestyles’.

At a press conference ahead of his country's first match at Euro 2020, against Hungary, Portugal captain Ronaldo was shown opting for water over sponsor’s Coca-Cola, whilst the day after Ronaldo made headlines by removing two bottles of CocaCola at a news conference and then encouraging people to drink water instead.

A day later, Pogba, a practising Muslim, went viral after removing a visible bottle of Heineken beer during his press conference.

Despite the incidents involving two of their high-profile sponsors, UEFA did not see the players' actions as issues of concern.

Coca-Cola’s market value, though, did lose around $4bn after Ronaldo's actions.

Two of Euro 20’s biggest stars showing that a healthy lifestyle brings healthy rewards.

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HEALTH AND WELLBEING

'Walk This Way’ To Help Fund Vital Research Into Rare Autoimmune Condition

P l Sherril Donaldson – NU:GEN CARE CIC

Voice For Our Black Elders M ay appeared to be the month nominated to focus on mental

health issues.

So, the many media platforms and outlets has been full of videos, articles and debates that feature the challenges faced by those with mental health issues, carers with the responsibilities of caring for their loved ones, the professionals working to deal with the current crisis levels of need and the politicians grappling with the financial burdens of dealing with the situation.

The month, for me, has only reinforced my view that the Black Communities have been left behind when it comes to dealing with our particular crisis. Why do I say this?

Well, the diagnosis of mental health illness has been easy to make for black youth, particularly our young men, for decades. However, dealing with the root cause has not featured highly for those in the position to take action to deal with the disproportionate numbers of black people in mental institutions or on medication.

Given that has been a major challenge in our community, should we be surprised we are faced with the same situation when we look to the mental health of our elders?

This month has featured Dementia as the topic for our focussed attention. So, what does that mean for us a Black Community and what is Dementia?

Dementia, simply put is a collective term for the loss of memory and thinking skills.

According to studies, Black people in the UK are more likely to develop dementia than those from other ethnic groups but are still much less likely to be diagnosed and receive support, warned the authors from University College London and King’s College London who conducted the study.

Dementia affects more than

eople across the West Midlands are being invited to lace up their trainers and get walking this summer in aid of people living with a chronic, lifelimiting autoimmune condition called scleroderma.

The charity Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) is asking people to get involved with its nationwide walking challenge and raise money for vital research and support.

Participants have the option of making their walk physical or virtual and as long or as short as they need.

The fundraiser aims to raise at least £19,000 to represent the 19,000 people in the UK living with scleroderma.

The money will be used to support people affected by the condition and fund research to improve diagnosis, treatment and quality of life.

Sue Farrington, SRUK Chief Executive, said: “Scleroderma affects thousands of people and there is currently no cure.

“Through our research, information and support services we’re taking steps to improve the lives of everyone affected by scleroderma. And now we’re asking the public to quite literally do the same.

“The past year has taken a toll on many people with scleroderma who have been forced to shield and, in some cases, have their treatments put on hold. We want to make sure we can be there for

everyone who needs us, which is why we’re asking people to put their best foot forward - a simple act that will help make a world of difference.

“We know how supportive those in the West Midlands can be, so we’re hoping as many people as possible get involved.”

Scleroderma occurs when the body’s immune system becomes overactive and begins to attack healthy tissue, causing hardening

of the skin and, in some cases, other organs.

It is most common in adults over the age of 40 and can also affect teenagers and young adults, although this is much rarer.

SRUK is the only charity solely focused on improving the lives of people with scleroderma and Raynaud’s in the UK through information, support and groundbreaking research.

25,000 people from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in the UK. The population makeup of the UK means that these numbers will only increase with time. In fact in 2017, research findings predicted that by 2051 the number of people suffering from dementia will double, however, in the BME community the numbers will increase by 7 fold!

So, what is it that makes our life and death, and more importantly our health and disease patterns, so different?

One answer lies in what challenges we face in life and the toll it takes on the brain to constantly overcome those challenges. The most immediate environment in which our brain is born and developed, and later interacts with during our adult life, makes all the difference.

It impacts how we view the world and react to it, and affects our brain health tremendously.

If that environment is full of injustice, discrimination, and racism, our brain experiences huge amounts of stress that dramatically decrease its healthy function.

The question we always have to ask ourselves is, “Armed with the findings from the many research and studies, what should we be doing to change the landscape of care for our elders?”

I believe we need to learn more and speak more openly about the subject. Too often we deny these health issues and therefore deny the support that should be demanded for us and our loved ones.

WE need to work together to identify our pressure points and the existing organisation 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. sherril@nugencare.org.uk

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OVERSEAS NEWS

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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GLOBAL LEADERS PROMISE ONE BILLION COVID VACCINE DOSES FOR POORER NATIONS Central America & the Dominican Republic Join Hands to Foster Regional Travel THE WORLD TOURISM industry is enduring a historic moment and is opening with hope for the future.

Central America and the Dominican Republic are not lagging behind and are certainly betting on making a joint projection with the launch of a campaign entitled "Central America + Dominican Republic: The Healthiest Trip in the World", which will be carried out by the Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA).

Featuring a motto that goes #JuntosSumamos, the campaign is aimed at creating tourism

products for tour operators from both territories in a bid to put them on the map to wholesalers in Europe and America, as well as to take advantage of the airlift in the Dominican RepublicPanama route as a bridge between the region.

The initiative hinges on a concept of health and biosecurity symbolized through a healthy heart where the Dominican Republic is reflected as a strategic partner of Central America for the promotion of offers linked to wellness, combined with beach, nature and heritage that allows travellers to enjoy as a whole.

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l G7 Leaders pose during the summit in Cornwall, UK eaders of some of the major global industrial nations have pledged one billion Covid vaccine doses to poor countries as a big step towards vaccinating the world, Boris Johnson has said.

At the end of the G7 summit in Cornwall, in the UK, the hosting Prime Minister said countries were rejecting nationalistic approaches. He said vaccinating the world would show the benefits of the G7's democratic values.

There was also a pledge to wipe out their contribution to climate change. After the first meeting of world leaders in two years, the PM said that the world was looking to

us to reject some of the selfish, nationalistic approaches that marred the initial global response to the pandemic and to channel all our diplomatic, economic and scientific might to defeating Covid for good.

He said the G7 leaders had pledged to supply the vaccines to poor countries either directly or through the World Health Organization's Covax scheme including 100 million from the UK. The communiqué issued by the summit pledges to end the pandemic and prepare for the future by driving an intensified international effort, starting immediately, to vaccinate the

world by getting as many safe vaccines to as many people as possible as fast as possible.

It also includes steps to tackle climate change, with leaders re-committing to the target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest and pledging to eliminate most coal power.

Mr Johnson rejected suggestions the vaccines pledge was a moral failure by the G7 as it was not enough to cover the needs of poorer countries.

He referred to the UK's involvement in the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, saying: "Already of the 1.5 billion vaccines that have been

distributed around the world, I think that people in this country should be very proud that half a billion of them are as a result of the actions taken by the UK government in doing that deal with the Oxford scientists and AstraZeneca to distribute it at cost."

He added: "We are going flat out and we are producing vaccines as fast as we can, and distributing them as fast as we can.

“The target to vaccinate the world by the end of next year would be met very largely thanks to the efforts of the countries who have come here for this summit.”

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OVERSEAS NEWS

132 Million American Adults Set To Travel On The Fourth Of July

RIP Former President of Zambia Dr Kenneth Kaunda C O M M O N W E A LT H S E C R E TA R Y- G E N E R A L The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC has expressed sympathy and a sense of loss at the passing of Zambia’s founding President, HE Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

She said: "I have learned with great sadness news of the death of President Kaunda, who passed on earlier today. On behalf of the Commonwealth family, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Zambia. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and particularly with the family of President Kaunda at this time of grieving and profound loss."

The Secretary-General said that President Kaunda was a great African statesman and

Commonwealth leader whose legacy of fostering unity, equality, peace, and human dignity will endure.

She added: "His contribution towards building the modern Commonwealth is one of his enduring legacies. President Kaunda hosted the 1979 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which saw the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration of the Commonwealth on Racism and Racial Prejudice, which was a reaffirmation of the Commonwealth commitment to fighting inequality and racial prejudice."

The Secretary-General gave her assurance of the Commonwealth’s solidarity with the people of Zambia during this difficult period.

A

new survey from The Vacationer showed 132 million American adults planned to travel for this year’s Fourth of July celebrations.

Of those traveling, 83 million adults planned to spend $500 or more on flights, hotels, tickets, gas, and other travel expenses.

The Vacationer polled 531 American adults over the age of 18 between June 1 and June 2, 2021, with results analysed

by The Vacationer's Eric Jones, who is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Rowan College South Jersey.

With COVID-19 cases waning in the United States, more Americans feel comfortable traveling.

More people planned to travel for the Fourth of July this year than Memorial Day and Easter combined. Additionally, the expected number of people travelling this year was expected to be 3.5 times more

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than for the Fourth of July last year.

Of those who planned travel on the Fourth of July, planned to do it primarily by plane, with 36.59% primarily by car. The remaining 3.56% planned to so do it by bus or train. Despite it only being 11.26%, nearly 29 million American adults planned to fly on a plane.

Nearly 83 million Americans planned on spending more than $500 for Fourth of July travel.

Additionally, more than 17%

of adults or over 44 million people set to spend more than $1,000.

Almost 2 out of every 3 American adults still rate COVID-19 as "Slightly a Concern" or "A Big Concern" when planning for the Fourth of July. Despite more than 50% of Americans having at least one vaccine shot, it is obvious that many people are still very cautious about the ongoing pandemic.

Becky Humphries

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Page 44 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021

HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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U.S. Virgin Islands & Jamaica Explore Tourism “Coopetition”

l USVI Commissioner of Tourism Joseph Boschulte (right) presented a portrait to and exchanged ideas with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett in Jamaica THE U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is interested in collaborating with its Caribbean neighbours on tourismenhancing initiatives as the region’s bread-and-butter sector rebounds from the adverse impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking in the wake of a recent visit to Jamaica to meet with public and private sector stakeholders, Joseph Boschulte, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism, reported successful talks with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and other private sector officials about the potential for regional economic revitalization with the unleashing of pent-up tourism demand.

Part and parcel of the recovery Commissioner Boschulte affirmed will be embracing “coopetition”, a concept Minister Bartlett supports.

“The Caribbean is the most desirable warm weather destination, and we know how to deliver worldclass experiences for our discerning guests,” said the Commissioner, who believes it is important to connect

the best brains across the region to advance Caribbean brand marketing in the global marketplace.

Commissioner Boschulte and Minister Bartlett agreed about the need to leverage the strengths of regional destinations to overcome any weaknesses, and both observed trends that had emerged over the past 15 months, such as the loyalty and resilience of urban African American professionals who have been key to the travel recovery in both destinations.

“Regional collaboration is important to our success and we must continue to share best practices, especially as they relate to public health safety protocols even as the traveling community becomes vaccinated,” Commissioner Boschulte said.

The Commissioner added that “while we have made great strides curbing the spread of COVID-19, variant strains remain a cause for concern, and we must be vigilant on all fronts to keep our communities and travellers safe."

COVID-19 DRIVE-THROUGH SERVICE LAUNCHED AT BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

l The new drive through testing service at Birmingham Airport

C

ignpost ExpressTest (a division of Cignpost Diagnostics Ltd) have opened a drive-through Covid-19 screening service at Birmingham Airport.

The new facility is particularly useful for members of the public who are asymptomatic and so do not qualify for NHS emergency testing, but require a negative result either to visit family members, or to fly abroad to since international travel resumed.

The tests on offer are priced at £80 per person for travel passengers and £99 per person for the test-only service.

ExpressTest is delivered using the latest gold standard PCR equipment that is fully CE-IVD certified and manufactured to the highest possible standards, and tests are carried out by trained Screening Practitioners.

Since the resumption of

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international leisure travel on May 17, Birmingham Airport has seen an increase in passenger numbers with airlines restarting several new flights to Portugal, Madeira and Greece.

The drive through facility builds upon an existing partnership between Cignpost ExpressTest and Birmingham Airport, with a walk-in site being open since January.

The facility will accommodate 8 drive-through lanes with a testing capacity of 8,064 tests per week.

The Birmingham Airport facility is one of ten new Cignpost ExpressTest sites to open across the UK before the end of June.

This expansion means that 80% of the population will be within a 60-minute drive of a Cignpost ExpressTest site.

As well as being a selected provider of discounted COVID-19 testing to British

Airways, the company also provides gold-standard PCR tests at Gatwick, Heathrow and Edinburgh Airports, as well as at Brent Cross Shopping Centre.

Christian Corney, CEO of Cignpost ExpressTest said: “At Cignpost ExpressTest we are passionate about providing customers with very best testing experience as they prepare to travel.

“We have seen increasing desire for testing since international travel resumed in England and expect to see increased demand in the coming days and weeks.

“Our new drive through centre at Birmingham Airport builds upon a strong pre-existing partnership and will be a great addition to our nationwide services.

“We are proud to bring Covid-19 screening services to the local community, and

whether for personal or business travel, we remain committed to delivering the best possible service at an affordable price.”

Al Titterington, Terminal Operations Director of Birmingham Airport said: “We are pleased to have developed and expanded the fit to fly testing service here at the Airport.

“Following the success of Cignpost, which opened in January within the terminal building, this new drive through service ensures our customers can book tests with even more ease and convenience.

“Here at Birmingham we are continually putting our customers first by ensuring that as the travel restrictions change we have the right facilities in place to assist our customers and guarantee they are fully prepared for their trip.”

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The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 45

HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE CONFIRMS PLANS FOR JULY RESTART

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arnival Cruise Line has confirmed its plans to return to guest operations from Port of Galveston on July 3 with Carnival Vista, followed by the return of operations on Carnival Breeze on July 15.

These cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination, in accordance with current guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"We appreciate the progress and support for our U.S. restart from the CDC and other key federal agencies; however, the current CDC requirements

for cruising with a guest base that is unvaccinated will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect, especially given the large number of families with younger children who sail with us.

“As a result, our alternative is to operate our ships from the U.S. during the month of July with vaccinated guests," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

The other ship and port identified for a July restart is Carnival Horizon from PortMiami. Carnival continues to work with both the State of Florida and the CDC for Carnival Horizon sailings and plans to provide an update by Friday concerning protocols specific to these sailings to all

booked guests.

Duffy also acknowledged the strong support of both Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, as well as other state officials, in making vaccinations available to cruise line personnel, which has expedited the restart process.

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St. Kitts And Nevis Open For Vaccinated Travelers Only ST. KITTS and Nevis has changed its entry guidelines for travellers: only fully vaccinated travellers can now enter, effective May 29, according to Timothy Harris, Prime Minister.

There is no timeline as to how long this regulation will be in effect.

The country changed its entry regulations due to a cluster of 16 cases of Covid-19. The first case was reported on May 19 and involved a national with no travel history. A curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily took effect on May 25 for 14 days.

Fully vaccinated travellers must "vacation in place" at one of seven Travel Approved hotels for nine days. Those travellers staying beyond nine days must be tested on day nine; the cost of

the test is $150.

Families traveling with unvaccinated children under 18 who are staying 10 days or more must vacation in place until day 14, when the child will be tested.

Vaccinated travellers

must complete the Travel Authorization Form and submit a copy of their vaccination card.

Travelers must also upload their negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to travel.

SALEH & SONS

Specialising in Caribbean Produce Fresh Meat & Vegetables TEL : 0121 551 1736 250 LOZELLS RD, BIRMINGHAM B19 1NP

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Page 46 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021

PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE

LIVERPOOL PROPERTY CLUB 2021 WITH TONY REEVES

Cassandra Maria

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF POSITIVE NEWS

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owntown in Business Liverpool hosted an exclusive breakfast event the first live ‘Liverpool Property Club’ event of 2021.

They were joined by a panel of esteemed speakers, CEO of Liverpool City Council, Tony Reeves, CEO of Knowledge

Quarter & Sciontec, Colin Sinclair and Principal & Managing Director of Avison Young and Chairman of the Liverpool MIPIM delegation, Stephen Cowperthwaite at Malmaison Liverpool.

The Liverpool Property Club came together to discuss Liverpool post-Covid and the

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l

CEO of Liverpool City Council, Tony Reeves, CEO of Knowledge Quarter & Sciontec, Colin Sinclair and Principal & Managing Director of Avison Young and Chairman of the Liverpool MIPIM delegation, Stephen Cowperthwaite

recovery from the pandemic, the property and regeneration sector across Liverpool, plus the developments across the city including The Spine building up in Paddington Village, to the new Everton football stadium down at Bramley Moore Dock and the need for repurposing parts of the city.

CEO of Liverpool City Council, Tony Reeves commented on how Liverpool ‘has the potential to do some amazing things starting [today]’ looking beyond lockdown restrictions across the region, particularly following the success of the pilot schemes across the city.

Knowledge Quarter CEO, Colin Sinclair addressed the guests in attendance about the importance of returning to work from the office and the increase in productivity and career/business developments when working collectively in person, plus the

exciting new projects taking place in the Knowledge Quarter.

Lastly, MD of Avison Young and Liverpool MIPIM Chairman told the attendees of the plans for the changes being made to MIPIM in now becoming the ‘Liverpool Place Partnership’ to cover a broader spectrum of sectors in Liverpool.

Malmaison Liverpool hosted the first live Liverpool Property Club of the year as DIB also extends their thanks to sponsors Project Four, Morgan Sindall, Liverpool MIPIM and Sutcliffe.

Transition to new housing allocations policy underway CITY OF Wolverhampton Council’s new housing allocations policy will come into force on September 28, 2021.

Prior to the new policy going live, all applicants will have to re-apply to determine their eligibility to join the Housing Register.

The council has started the process of contacting all current applicants over the coming months to provide them with instructions on how to reapply so that their circumstances can be reassessed under the new policy.

Until then all current applications are still valid, and no action is required.

The Council consulted with customers about changes to its housing allocations policy.

The changes are designed to ensure that council homes in

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Wolverhampton are let to those in the greatest housing need.

All current housing applications will be closed after September 2021.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, said: “This is a crucial piece of work focusing on how we allocate our limited council housing stock.

“The consultation enabled people to have their say and addressed the challenges being experienced by residents, which is reflected in the new housing allocations policy.

"The Council remains committed to the objective of giving people in the greatest housing need the greatest opportunity to access suitable housing that best meets their needs.”

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The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2021 - Page 47

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS

SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX – 6 MONTHS TO GO!

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he Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) Promoter of the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - has revealed exclusive renderings of the state-of-the-art Pit & Team Building that will be the centre-piece of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit – F1’s newest track.

With just 5 months until the greatest drivers in the world line up on the grid in Jeddah to fight for victory at the 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, SMC has unveiled brand new images of the spectacular home to teams, drivers, staff and VIP guests alike during the inaugural F1 race weekend in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Considered the heart of an F1 circuit, the newest Pit & Team Building in F1 will overlook the starting grid and back on to Jeddah’s majestic Red Sea coast.

Designed by renowned Tilke GmbH architect, Ulrich Merres, the 280m-long, four-storey, cutting-edge structure takes the

form of a composed landscape of multi-storey staggered buildings sitting splendidly alongside the main straight of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, defined in its detail by straight and sleek lines.

Housing all team garages as well as the race control centre and the exclusive Paddock Club premium hospitality suites, the Pit & Team Building will provide guests with a magnificent view down on to the Pit Lane and starting grid where the most crucial moments of the racing action will occur when Formula 1 makes its debut in Jeddah for the penultimate round of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Designed to fit harmoniously within the track and its surroundings, its architectural expression is equally inspired by its idyllic location on the banks of the Red Sea and the layout of the circuit.

Indeed, the building's functionality, visual connection to the track and sensible positioning mark it out as

Phoenix Confirm Coaching Line Ups B I R M I N G H A M PHOENIX have finalised their coaching teams ahead of the start of The Hundred.

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will step up from his Assistant Coach role to the role of Men’s Interim Head Coach this summer while McDonald will continue to support the side in an advisory role before his planned return as Men’s Head Coach in 2022, subject to international commitments.

Former England cricketer Caroline Foster (nee Atkins) is one of three Assistant Coaches alongside Dominic Ostler and Gareth Davies who currently coach the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Women’s sides.

one of the most unique and innovative structures of its kind, guaranteeing spectacular views of the racing action as well as of the breath-taking Jeddah waterfront.

Commenting earlier, HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) said: “We are delighted to share these exclusive renderings of our stunning Pit & Team Building with the world today. The Pit Building stands as a symbol of all that this race represents: welcoming, modern and spectacular.

“With only 6 months to go until the pinnacle of motorsport reaches Saudi Arabia, preparations are progressing at an incredible rate as our dedicated team gears up for the first ever Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. We can’t wait to welcome you to Jeddah next December for a weekend of record-breaking racing and world class entertainment.”

UK Athletics Statement – 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships UK ATHLETICS has made the decision that it will not be able to send a team to the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships currently scheduled for 17-22 August 2021, in Kenya.

This decision has been reached for a number of reasons including UK Government guidance not to travel to red list countries; the associated risks with Covid-19 variants; the significant cost and time required in quarantine both in Kenya and UK, but most importantly the wellbeing

of our athletes, coaches and support team.

As stated in the original selection policy for the age group championships, to best support athlete development through the U20 competition pathway and to provide

opportunities for more athletes to gain a British vest, UK Athletics will take all qualifiers (three per event) to the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia on 15-18 July.

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6 Months To Saudi Arabia Grand Prix - Page 47

World Athletics Championship Update - Page 43

LOCAL SCHOOL RECEIVES SPECIAL VISIT FROM BIRMINGHAM PHOENIX CRICKETERS

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irmingham Phoenix cricketers Marie Kelly and Kirstie Gordon joined children from Colmore Junior & Infant School for the ‘Dynamos Cricket Does The Hundred’ to encourage more kids to pick up a bat and ball this summer. The young participants had the opportunity to play with their heroes and take part in a Dynamos session.

This session at the school in Kings Heath was one of eight taking place in the cities hosting The Hundred up and down the country, encouraging more children to get involved in cricket – both through playing Dynamos and watching The Hundred at their local city ground.

Each session is attended by top players from the local city-based team, inspiring children from Birmingham to play.

The events are also designed to provide a taste of everything Dynamos Cricket has to offer. The brand-new programme for 8 – 11-year-olds of all abilities will see

kids get active, have fun and make new friends while developing their cricketing skills and playing a fastpaced, exciting game of countdown cricket – a new format that mirrors The Hundred.

Kids who sign up for Dynamos will receive free gifts and moneycan’t-buy experiences associated with The Hundred and its partners.

Dynamos is also supported by an app which includes a whole host of features and content designed for those just starting out on their cricket journey.

Like Dynamos Cricket, The Hundred is designed to open cricket up to new audiences. Whether kids are new to cricket or already love the game, they can have fun playing through Dynamos and then watching all the live action and entertainment with their family at The Hundred. With June being ‘Women’s Big Cricket Month’, the taster sessions were an exciting opportunity for more girls to try out cricket through Dynamos and The Hundred.

Nick Pryde, Director of Participation and Growth at the ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board) said: “Dynamos Cricket really is designed for everyone in the 8-11 age bracket. Whatever their skill or knowledge level, it is a programme truly designed for inclusivity.

“It was wonderful to see boys and girls of all abilities learning in Birmingham, inspired by local heroes Marie Kelly and Kirstie Gordon. To have the Dynamos programme open this month whilst children and their families will also have the chance to watch Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred means that we have a very exciting Summer ahead in terms of both participation and inspiration.”

Dynamos Cricket will be running alongside The Hundred during the school summer holidays allowing plenty of time to sign up (at www.dynamoscricket. com) with the ECB’s All Stars Cricket programme for 5-8-yearolds is also open for registration at www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars.

Grassroots Clubs Pledge To A Sustainable Future BIRMINGHAM COUNTY FA (BCFA) have just announce that its ‘Save Today, Play Tomorrow’ project has teamed up with Pledgeball for the 2021/22 season to enable all clubs, teams and supporters to sign-up to the first-ever County FA Sustainable Football Pledge and make a difference.

When clubs affiliate with BCFA for the forthcoming season they will be asked to sign the Sustainability Pledge, which is linked to simple and small lifestyle changes that collectively make a huge impact on the planet.

Pledgeball offers a

mechanism by which behaviour change can be brought about in a fun and easy way, empowering individuals by demonstrating the potential impact we can have by making small lifestyle changes, particularly in association with

our football clubs.

Offering the facility for football fans to support their professional club, it recently announced partnerships with Huddersfield Town Supporters' Association and Bristol City Football Club, giving an unparalleled platform to bring about this change and Pledgeball offers a means by which to do this.

Katie Cross, Founder of Pledgeball, said: “The football community is a unique place from which to initiate transformational change, with the regular fixtures, the unity, the wide-reach and the emotion that accompanies the sport.

"I am delighted about the partnership with Birmingham County FA – our potential to have a real impact, both in reducing our footprints and in spreading this much further afield, is huge.”

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