The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

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A Story of Hard Work & Passion Becoming the #1 Most Listened to Asian Radio Show in the U.K. is no mean feat, so we spoke to Noreen Khan about the woman behind the microphone.

M

ost people know Noreen Khan as the bright and bubbly radio presenter on the BBC Asian Network, but there is a lot more to this impressive woman than is seen at first glance.

While radio presenting is no doubt a large part of Noreen’s life, the businesswoman, host, TV presenter, designer and role model is someone who doesn’t like to sit still for too long, and never rests on her laurels.

Born and bred in Bedford, Bedfordshire, she began working at

the age of 18 at an office job for the Inland Revenue, “Not exciting at all, but it was my first job!” she explains.

For the next 2 years she worked in a bank, until at the age of 21 she set up her own clothing boutique in her hometown which she ran for 3 years. “I really had a passion for fashion, and business,” beamed Noreen, “so this was the perfect opportunity.”

But it was going back to her roots, both at home and at school that really ignited her passion for music and entertainment.

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Page 2 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

NEWS

A

s part of making its residents eat more healthy – and more local produce – Sandwell Council are undergoing a stringent programme, linked with local businesses, to make the Borough a leading light in the lifestyles lived by the people it represents.

The ‘Feel Good 6’ is encouraging local businesses and organizations to make sure that their environments are such that it would vastly reduce sickness costs, improve productivity and generate more jobs and greater levels of growth.

At a special business event, at the Council House, invited business people and organization leaders got together to discuss the best ways forward to implement the steps of the Feel Good 6 project.

Feel Good 6 Making Sandwell Feel Great “What’s good for your health is good for your business,” said Sandwell’s Director of Public Health, Jyoti Atri.

“Money in your pocket dictates your health. So, this programme we are introducing will make people healthier – in their body and in their pocket.

“Sickness has a major impact on our local economy and with

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our life expectancy lower than the national average, the benefits of a healthy work place is multiple.

“We don't often take time to stop and check our wellbeing. Our Sandwell Feel Good 6 are simple things that we may take for granted.

“We might not see them as important until they are missing from our lives.

We want every resident – men, women and children – to bring the six ways into their lives.”

Kevin Rodgers, CEO of Paycare, a business which helps individuals, families and businesses protect themselves against everyday healthcare costs and bills, and Vice President of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, backed the campaign,

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saying; “The 800 businesses we work with know that a healthy work place makes a happy work place.

“Companies tend to put up barriers to not tackle health issues – they more tend to look at disciplining workers rather than working to tackle their state of body or mind.

“People are our greatest assets and health and wellbeing in the workplace makes common sense.”

Sandwell Council’s ‘Feel

Good 6’ is targeting; Connecting with people, Moving and being more active, Noticing and paying more attention to the people around you, Learning new life and work skills, Giving more time for people and things around you and simply Talking more.

“Wellbeing is about feeling good and doing well in our day to day lives,” says Jyoti. “The six ways are actions we can take to improve our wellbeing.”

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s the central hub for Birmingham, Grand Central has set upon a mission to find out exactly what makes the people of Birmingham happy.

Since launching over a year and a half ago, it has been hosting many of the cities meet-ups which are often linked to moments of happiness.

Whether for a coffee catch-up, a birthday celebration, some retail therapy bonding or a couples date night – these meet ups evoke a feeling of joy, and knowing good things happen when we meet.

With this in mind, Grand Central has been asking customers what else makes them feel happy on a day-to-day basis.

With responses ranging from time spent with family and friends, to local community spirit, travel, experiences and great tasting food.

The video campaign highlights just how much joy and

happiness there is in our vibrant city.

Jonathan Cheetham, General Manager for Grand Central says, “The video really celebrates happiness and shares positivity within our city.

“Grand Central is a centre with so much on offer creating a real sense of enjoyment in the city where people can meet up to discover a whole range of retail and dining experiences for all of life’s moments – big and small.”

The video content is well timed, as Birmingham was recently ranked higher for quality of living than popular international hotspots such as Hong Kong, Miami and Dubai giving people huge reason to be happy living and working in the city.

“Birmingham is the place to be right now. It has so much to offer providing a real sense of pride from those who live here and furthermore, there is huge positivity from who those who are choosing to visit,” says Cheetham.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 3

SPOTLIGHT - THE MIDLAND LANGAR SEVA SOCIETY

Age-Old Sikh Tradition Aiding UK Homeless

W

ith homelessness forever growing, a group of ‘giving,’ people are finding it duty-bound to feed those who often spend the nights in shop doorways and under railway bridges.

As part of a tradition known as langar, Sikh volunteers have been serving up hundreds of thousands of free meals, as part of the religion’s long standing tradition, in and around UK city streets.

Langar - shared meal - began five hundred years ago, in India, to try to end the discrimination of the caste system.

In Birmingham alone some 150 or so people are fed in the city’s late night streets as the hardy team of men and women endure the cold, rain and often more extreme, to provide for the city’s needy.

In the UK, the homeless have been turning to Sikh community ‘soup kitchens’ for hot meals as demand for food banks rises.

According to Sikh founder, Guru Nanak, sharing one’s time and wealth with those in need is the best possible action. It highlights the Sikh mind-set that sharing a langar – which includes cooking, serving, eating and cleaning up – emphasised the idea of equality beyond any categorizations of caste, gender, social status, ethnicity, or religion.

Suki Sandhu, from the Walsallbased Midlands Langar Seva So-

ciety, is one of a number of volunteers who brave the elements, on a regular basis, to make sure the homeless of Birmingham are fed.

He says; “As an individual, and a Sikh, I feel it’s my duty to help others as best as we can.

I’ve been doing this for three years now and will continue to do so as long as it is necessary.”

Also working alongside Birmingham-based Nishkam Centre and the Albert Street Project, the long standing Sikh tradition of Langar will continue, without distinction of faith, religion or background Homelessness in the UK is a scourge that must be of great risk

to UKplc – especially post Brexit.

Being fed, thanks to a centuries-old tradition, is a luxury for some, so, from the temple to the street, Sikh kitchens are fast becoming the unnecessary necessity for too many.

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Page 4 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

Inspiring Others With Hard Work & Determination Noreen Khan is probably best known for her BBC Asian Network Radio Show, but there is more to this talented woman than meets the eye...

Continued from Front Page

Noreen has a strong bond with her mum, especially being the youngest in the family, and it was this bond that solidified her love of the big screen and film, along with the music and fashion that go with it thanks to weekly cinema trips together to see Bollywood classics from the age of about 3 years old.

“I did music for 6 years at school, learning the oboe and violin, and I played tenor for 5 and a half years in the steel band too. Most of my breaks, lunchtimes and after school was taken up with practices or hanging out in the music block, as anyone who played an instrument at school will know!”

About 11 or 12 years ago Noreen was working in a school as a learning mentor, which gave her the freedom of having her weekends free

to try out other things, which was where she was given the opportunity to work on her local hospital radio.

“I contacted my local hospital after finding out a lot of DJ’s started by volunteering, and I was given the chance to go in, go around the wards getting requests from patients, and then finding the records to pass onto the DJ, which I did for about a month.”

Things started ramping up in Noreens life at this point, as Sunrise Radio, a very popular Asian station was launching a sister station for young people. It was to be a digital-only station back in 2003/4 when digital was just taking off and she was selected as one of 12 from hundreds of applicants.

6 months later, Club Asia started in London going on Medium Wave (MW) and was the first British Asian

radio station to play both Asian and non-Asian music, all by young and fresh DJ’s who were passionate about music.

“I was there for 3 years,” Noreen reminisces, “and then the BBC gave me the opportunity to do the chart show on a Saturday in 2007, which I grabbed with both hands.”

It was around the same time that Noreen toured with a band called Sonik Gurus playing keyboard. “We performed at London clubs, and also did a 6 city tour of Mexico! Although the band no longer exists, it was Asian sounds fused with lots of other genres.”

The youngest of 8 has a very strong work ethic, which she learned from her parents. “Coming from a working class family and with 4 older sisters and 3 older brothers, I’ve had some great role models to look up to, my parents have always been that for me.”

Before she moved to Birmingham in 2009, following 2 years of commuting back and forth, Noreen didn’t know anyone in the second city. Taking the leap, without any contacts in Birmingham or the media industry at all, was a massive step, but after taking more cover shows on top of her Saturday Chart slot, commuting and hotels became too much, and she has “been an honorary Brummie ever since!”

Noreen was invited to Melwood to interview Steven Gerrard, then Captain of both England and Liverpool. Being a die-hard Liverpool fan herself, and massively into her sport, this was one of Noreen’s stand-out

moments. “You so rarely get access to premier league players and clubs, so this was a huge one for me!”

Probably her crowning achievement to date though has to be the fact that Noreen boasts the most listened to Asian radio show in the U.K., a feat even more impressive when you take into consideration the fact that she was one of, if not the only female with her own show on daytime for a good few years too.

Since her climb to the lofty heights of most listened to Asian radio show in the U.K., Noreen has found the time to branch out into her previous loves, business and fashion.

“You have to brand and market yourself in this digital world that we are living in now, and I met up with another designer a few years ago, Gaby Manchanda, and came up with the idea, then launched Noreen Khan Couture in 2014, and the year after expanded into NK Accessories!”

“I’ve been spending more time on the accessories as it’s just taken off, whereas the clothing is more bespoke outfits needing a consultation.”

“I am a business woman at heart, and always have been.”

Nerves can sometimes get the better of even a seasoned presenter, and Noreen is no exception, noting a few key interviews that got her knees wobbling, “Amitabh Bachchan, the Godfather of Bollywood who has been in the industry for 5 decades; just seeing

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 5

WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

him walking into the studio in London in 2015, I was in awe having grown up watching his films.

“Interviewing Madhury Dixit, live in front of 2 to 300 people at the BBC Radio Theatre including a lot of my BBC bosses, and also introducing Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at Wembley in front of 14,000 people, having to go on stage and introduce him about 5 years ago was mind blow-

ing at the time.”

For the personable presenter, being a role model is something that is a real honour and a privilege. “I found there was a lack of British Asian female role models when I was growing up, no one I could really relate to, but now I get messages from young women, mums, and even a lot of male followers too saying that I inspire them and that is amazing.”

“People assume that my following is mainly women but according to recent Twitter polls, my main demographic is 15-34 and male with over 65% of my follow-

ers, which is probably due to my strong sport interest.”

It is often remarked either via tweets, messages or calls while on air that Noreen is a funny presenter, making her listeners crack up during her shows, and it is because of this that she has recently taken the step into stand-up comedy.

“The first night went really well, but I went on a bit and got carried away! I talk about things that I have encountered as a British Asian woman, juggling two cultures. Observational stuff really.”

Not resting on her first night success, Noreen has already got a comedy night planned in Wolverhampton in May with an all Asian female line up, possibly the first of it’s kind.

A hot topic with her social media followers is her relationship status, “It’s a big talking point, to the point that I did a vlog on why I’m single which got over 60,000 views! I’m single, not married, no children – I like the idea of marriage, it’s a brilliant thing that just hasn’t happened for me yet, but I’m happy and content with where I am.”

Noreen has had to work hard to get to where she is today, “I never went to university, I know that is the conventional path, but I had a genuine passion and I’m a real grafter. If they call me up now at 10pm asking me to do the breakfast show I’ll be there.

“You really need to grab the opportunities and not be fussy about it, be prepared to put in a lot of hard work and don’t be fearful of rejections, I’ve been rejected loads of times for things I’ve really wanted to do. Pick yourself up and try again.”

Page 6 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

Monthly views with Anthony Kelly

Dealing with depression

E

arly in April I saw on Facebook the outpouring of grief following the suicide of a talented young footballer named Declan Sullivan from Birmingham who played for Continental Star Football club and also had trials for both West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City Football clubs.

So many people quite rightly have expressed their condolences, shock, disbelief and horror as tributes for this talented young man have come from near and far.

People mentioned in glowing terms how Declan was always jovial, fun to be around, smiling and full of life and this has made his untimely death so much harder to understand for a lot of his friends and those who knew him.

At the time I wrote on Facebook the following tribute even though I did not know him as a clear case of ‘gone too soon’. His tragic death was covered on BBC Midlands Today TV, various radio stations, social media and newspapers.

I wrote back then “Not wanting to diminish the tragic news and out pouring of grief for this popular young man oozing with talent but there has to be some serious work, counselling and therapy done with some boys and young men in our communities to talk through their anguish, their problems, their issues, their hurt, their pain, their troubles, their fears with enough space and time set aside to release their pent up feelings and emotions.

“Boys and young men need to be able to shed a tear and share their problems and not feel as if they have to carry a heavy burden on their shoulders all the time.

“Some men adopt a manly and macho stance in order not to be viewed as being weak.

“As adults we need to look for the tell tale signs of a voice crying in the wilderness or a cry for help and step in to assist.

“May Declan find eternal peace from whatever was troubling him.’

Nearly three years ago I attended another funeral of an aspiring young black man in Birmingham who I knew and gave a tribute at that service as he too ended his life prematurely by committing suicide.

It is with that in mind I would like religious places of healing and worship such as churches, mosques, temples to take a more proactive role with Birmingham City Council’s Social Services department, mental health organisations and other statutory and voluntary groups in addressing this serious issue.

By investing time, resources and energy in tackling the growing problem of getting these young boys and men to open up will hopefully curtail the tragic loss of such young lives.

‘A problem shared is a problem halved’ and no one should suffer in silence and try to put on a brave face as often the tell tale signs of depression are not necessarily visible.

The well known anonymous quote, “Depression is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you have been strong for too long’ needs to be reinforced.

From a practical point of view I am using this medium to remind everyone about the Samaritans as one of the main ports of call if anyone is feeling depressed, sad, fed-up, anxious, upset or distressed.

The Samaritans launched a new number in 2015, 116 123, which is free to call from within the UK and Ireland.

This number is free to call from both landlines and mobiles, including pay-as-yougo mobiles. You do not need to have any credit or call allowance on your plan to call 116 123.

The 116 123 number does not show up on phone bills, which means our callers will not have to worry that other members of their household might notice our number on the bill.

People who are going through a difficult time will be able to access the service round the clock, every single day of the year. But now, you will be able to do this without paying for the phone call.

Can I still call my local Samaritans branch directly?

Yes, Samaritans branches still have their own phone numbers, but local call charges still apply for these numbers.

You can also get in touch with Samaritans by emailing jo@samaritans.org or by post to: Freepost RSRB-KKBYCYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA.

Entrepreneurs generate over £20 million l

Entrepreneurs with Andrea Leadsom at a recent visit

E

ntrepreneurial Spark Powered by NatWest is showing an even bigger impact on its Birmingham hub and wider UK economy than ever before.

The mind-blowing figures in this Impact Report demonstrate beyond doubt that the world’s largest free business accelerator is at the forefront of an entrepreneuring revolution A focus on creating growth mindsets and hands-on enablement by Entrepreneurial Spark with the key support of all its partners in NatWest, KPMG Enterprise, Dell Technologies and Pinsent Masons means that over

1,700 businesses have been helped to grow and scale-up across the UK. Since opening the hub at St Philip’s Place, in 2015, entrepreneurs have created 385 jobs and generated more than £20 million in turnover, an average of £102,000 per business.

Working shoulder to shoulder in the hub are the Entrepreneurial Spark Enablers Joe Trodden and James Powell and NatWest Entrepreneur Development Manager Lee Currier.

The impressive figures are reflected around the UK, with 2016 seeing hubs now open in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and

Wales and across all sectors.

Crucially the number of jobs created by those businesses is 3,152, all of which have a positive impact on the UK economy.

In the areas of turnover and investment the figures are even more impressive.

The businesses supported by Entrepreneurial Spark have now turned over £176m and secured £151m in investment.

A people-centric and action-orientated approach means businesses that have been through their programme have focused and resilient leaders, and a fantastic chance of growing as a business.

85% of the businesses accelerated

are still trading which is more than double the national average.

Lucy-Rose Walker, Entrepreneurial Spark CEO, said: “We’ve given this Impact Report the title ‘Blow Your Mind’ and it’s not hard to see why.

“The stats are truly mind blowing and we’ve enabled our entrepreneurs to create real jobs, huge turnover and significant investment via our focus on developing their entrepreneurial mindsets and behaviours.

“Our entrepreneurs have turned over £176m, so it is clear what an impact we are having on the UK economy.

“Our partnership with NatWest is such a powerful one and enables us to give hands-on practical help to start-ups of every kind, from that first spark of an idea, right up to bigger businesses needing to scale and grow.

“We also love working with KPMG, Dell Technologies and Pinsent Masons because as the experts in what they do they offer so much to our entrepreneurs.”

CEO of Commercial and Private Banking for NatWest, Alison Rose, said: “The Impact Report shows that the support our free accelerators are giving to entrepreneurs is working, enabling them to create jobs across the UK, secure millions of pounds of investment and support their local economies.”

China factory output growth slows

O

utput in China's factories and mines continued to expand in April but at a slower pace than in the previous month.

The purchasing manager's index (PMI) was 51.2 in April, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, down from a near five-year high of 51.8 in March.

A figure above 50 shows growth in the sector, a key driver of wider growth in the world's second biggest economy.

The first quarter of 2017 has seen an acceleration in China's

GDP growth as well as a rebound in retail spending.

Robust trade data has also helped ease concerns about the strength of the economy following last year's slowdown.

"Although the PMI has dropped slightly, we can also see the steady accumulation of positive factors," NBS analyst Zhao Qinghe said in a statement.

Mr Zhao also highlighted increased production of consumer goods and improvements in small business activity as positive signs for the economy.

However analysts said growth

may slow in the second quarter.

"The still-high output and new orders sub-indices suggest growth momentum likely remained resilient in April, albeit slower than in a strong March," Zhao Yang of Nomura said.

"Looking ahead, we see downside pressures looming and main-

tain our call for a shallow slowdown through the course of this year."

Betty Wang of ANZ Research wrote that the April data "suggests that China's manufacturing activity might have retreated from its peak" in the first quarter.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 7

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

New 12-Sided Coin Now In

The new 12-sided £1 coin is now in circulation, as the old “round pound” is set to disappear.

The highly secure new coin has been described as the most secure coin in the world.

It means that the old ‘round pound’ will stop being legal tender on October 15 this year.

Savers have been warned to use up their stash of old coins to make sure they are not left with currency that shops will no longer accept.

But not before they have checked their piggy bank stash to see if they have a rare £1 coin.

From March until September will be what is known as a ‘co-circulation’ period, during which both old and new £1 coins can be accepted.

From October, businesses will stop accepting the old, round £1 coins.

Unlike the old £5 note which will hold its value “for all time,” the current £1 coin has a much shorter lifespan.

Businessmen swap suits for hiking boots in 100km charity walk

T

hree leading Midlands businessmen are taking on an epic 100km walk in July to raise funds towards the £1m Centre Appeal of blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.

Partner at Veale Wasbrough Vizards Clive Read, solicitor at Shakespeare Martineau Josh Hartle, acting chief executive at Coventry City Council Martin Yardley and his teenage son Tom form the team taking part in Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones on the weekend of 15th and 16th July.

The 100km route along Britain’s oldest road ‘The Ridgeway’ has ultra marathon runners, experienced walkers and beginners all taking part and this year Cure Leukaemia is an official charity partner of the growing fundraising event.

Clive, Josh, Martin and Tom all plan to walk the route in under 24 hours which will mean maintaining a very fast pace throughout and walking in the dark too.

The team has been inspired to take on this gruelling challenge for Cure Leukaemia after they

met 49-year-old Deborah Harkins from Belbroughton in Worcestershire.

Deborah, who is Director of Public Health in Dudley, had acute myeloid leukaemia and is treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by Cure Leukaemia cofounder Professor Charlie Craddock CBE and Dr. Sandeep Nagra, whose position is funded by the charity.

As a result of Cure Leukaemia’s funding, Deborah has been given access to a groundbreaking treatment for her condition in the ‘FIGARO’ clinical trial and she’s currently making excellence progress.

“When you are hit by a blood cancer diagnosis you learn to treasure every single second and since I was diagnosed with AML in 2016 I have tried to make sure I make time for the things I love.

“I was delighted to hear that Cure Leukaemia is one of the official charities for Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones and it is an event I would love to take part in.”

Clive, who brought the team together for the challenge believes

l Team members: Josh Hartle, Tom Yardley, Martin Yardley and Clive Read with Deborah Harkins meeting Deborah will really spur them on: “Meeting Debs was very inspiring and humbling. We will be walking through the night to complete the 100km within 24 hours. We will be seeking to raise money with every single step but it will be worth it.”

All funds raised by the team will go towards Cure Leukaemia’s

£1m Appeal to expand the Centre for Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. This transformational £3.2m expansion, which has been granted over £2m in local government funding, will begin now begin with completion expected in November this year.

Cure Leukaemia is committed

to raising the remaining £1m by December to ensure the project is fully funded.

Cure Leukaemia CEO James McLaughlin said: “We are excited to be a part of Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones and immensely grateful to Clive and the team for taking it on to raise funds for the charity.”

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Page 8 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

Theresa May Calls Snap Election

Shining a light on Traditions and Culture

l Marcia McLaughlin, Founder & CEO of The Phoenix Newspaper will be having an audience with the Ooni of Ife

T

PN Media Limited is pleased to announce that it is the Official Media Partner for the 2017 Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria.

It is the celebration of the remembrance of “Ogun”, a deity sent by Olodumare.

Olojo has remained popular in Ile-Ife because of its myth and history. It connotes the day in the year specially blessed by Olodumare (the creator of the Universe).

Olojo can also be literally trans- l lated as the “Owner for the day”.

Prayers are offered for peace and tranquility in Yoruba and Nigeria.

Marcia and the TPN Media team have been invited to have an audience with the Ooni of Ife and his Chiefs in order to provide vital information and invitations to all cultures, as well as to find out why they are keeping the traditions alive, and why the world should be a part of the celebrations.

In addition to this, there will l be discussions regarding The Phoenix Newspapers business operations in Nigeria.

Marcia will also be discussing this years The Phoenix Newspaper Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation Ceremony which will now include Nigeria and the involvement of our Abuja office.

Look out for full coverage of the entire visit in the June edition of The Phoenix Newspaper.

lity a u q High rom f e r ld ca child e years o fiv o t h t

bir

by Vivek Rajkhowa Junior Political Correspondent

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B

reaking with her previous statements about not calling a general election before 2020, Prime Minister Theresa May, announced that she wants a general election to be held on 8th June.

In a statement, the Prime Minister stated that when she came to power in July, 2016, the country was in need of a stable and secure hand, to deliver the results of the referendum. She believes that she has delivers that, and now she feels that in order to properly deliver the fully Brexit package, she must secure a mandate for herself and the Conservative Party.

By calling a general election, Theresa May hopes to prevent the squabbling and nit picking that Labour and the Liberal Democrats had promised to deliver, had Parliament sat until 2020. With the Conservatives polling 21 percentage points ahead of Labour in the most recent opinion polls, the Prime Minister is no doubt confident that she can win a sizeable majority and strengthen her hand, when it comes to achieving her key policy proposals.

However, despite calling for a General Election, Theresa May

l Prime Minister Theresa May is not guaranteed to get one. By order of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2011, in order to dissolve Parliament and have a general election, the Prime Minister would need to get a two thirds majority of votes in favour of a new election.

There are those who think it would be within Labour and the Liberal Democrats interest to prevent the passage of the vote, as they believe that seizing on the potential chaos of the actual Brexit negotiations, could add to Labour and the Liberal Democrats appeal in 2020.

However, both Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron, leaders of Labour and the Liberal Democrats respectively, have stated that they

will support the call for the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of a new election for 8th June.

At the time of writing, it has been confirmed that Parliament will be formally dissolved on 3rd May, and that the deadline for parties to recommend their candidates is a week later. Deadlines for registering to vote will be 22nd May. With this move, Theresa May has guaranteed that things in Britain are to be even more heated for the next few weeks and perhaps for the weeks after the election as well as leading up to it. A potentially smart move, or one that could damn her and her party.

Only time will tell.

WMPCC Lead Debate on Controlling Coercion

O

ver 500 delegates attended as West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson hosted the ‘Understanding Coercive Control - Redressing the Balance’ conference on coercive control to educate and empower professionals to identify coercive control and be able to act to protect victims.

Held at Warwickshire Cricket Club’s Edgbaston Stadium home, in Birmingham, the conference was funded by the PCC and run

by West Midlands Specialist Domestic Abuse Consortium, comprising Birmingham and Solihull Women's Aid, Coventry Haven, Black Country Women's Aid and The Haven Wolverhampton, with key speakers including: Professor Evan Stark, ‘Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life,’ Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women's Aid, ‘Child First Campaign - Safe Child Contact Saves Lives’ and Lydia Mason, National Police Chief's Council, Domestic Abuse Staff Officer, ‘A National and West Midlands Regional Perspective for Policing Domestic Abuse.’

Jamieson said: "Tackling hidden crimes such as domestic abuse and coercive control is one of my main priorities. To do this, we must bring them out from behind

l West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner David Jamieson

closed doors and discuss them openly and honestly.

This brings together a range of voices and speakers to discuss the issues of protecting victims affected by domestic abuse and coercive control - and take tough action where necessary."

Birmingham and Solihull Women's Aid Chief Executive

Maureen Connolly added: "This conference was an important opportunity for professionals and support specialists to discuss the most effective ways to keep local women and children safe, many of who are the most vulnerable in society."

The offence of coercive control came into force in December 2015 and features can include telling someone they are worthless, isolating someone from their family and friends and controlling someone's ability to go places.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 9

Dubai the first to get its own Microsoft font

Dubai has become the first city to get its own font with the typeface, designed with Microsoft, coming in both Latin and Arabic script, and will be available in 23 languages.

The county's Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed al-Maktoum said he had been personally involved in "all the stages" of the development of the font, saying it was "a very important step for us as part of our continuous efforts to be ranked first in the digital world.

We are confident that this new font and its unique specifications will prove popular among other fonts used online and in smart technologies across the world."

Dubai's government said the typeface's design "reflects modernity and is inspired by the city" and "was designed to create harmony between Latin and Arabic

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

Meet The Father of 2G Comms

H

e’s the man who changed our way of living, but as such, isn’t totally noted for doing so. Jesse Eugene Russell, the ‘father of 2G communications’ is the man behind the development of digital mobile phone communication – fundamentally affecting the way it works and how we communicate with each other today.

Russell, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, in the US, and the first Black man to be hired by the AT&T Bell Labs conglomerate, become the leading expert in digital signal processing after attend Tennessee State University where he earned a B.S. in electrical engineering before gaining a Master of Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

He came up with completely

digitizing speech, which significantly reduced bandwidth by using certain modulation schemes and allowed 4 times the number of people on the same spectrum – a technology which took approximately from 1984-1988 to complete, making it the first digital mobile phone system in the world.

Jesse had a successful career at Bell Labs, climbing to leadership positions such as the Director of the AT&T Cellular Telecommunication Laboratory (Bell Labs).

He also served as Vice President of Advanced Wireless Technology Laboratory (Bell Labs), Chief Technical Officer for the Network Wireless Systems Business Unit (Bell Labs), Chief Wireless Architect of AT&T, and Vice President of Advanced Communications Technologies for AT&T Laboratories.

1D Zayn’s Family opens Beauty Salon

l The Father of 2G - Jesse Eugene Russell He is currently chair and CEO of incNETWORKS, Inc in New Jersey, which focuses on 4G Broadband Wireless Communications Technologies, Networks and Services.

Jesse was the person who forwarded the idea of taking the phones out of the car and putting it into people’s pockets, thus creating the truly mobile phones.

With over 100 patents under his

belt, some noted are: Advanced multi-network client device for wideband multimedia access to private and public wireless networks, and broadband cable telephony network architecture.

Although no one person invented the cell phone, Jesse Eugene Russell was at the forefront of the invention of the modern mobile phone.

Striking up their own inimitably collective note, One Direction old-boy, Zayn Malik’s family members have gone out in the world of beauty by opening their own salon – bringing a new flavour of ‘savour fair’ to the West Yorkshire city of Bradford.

The female-only Waliyha Beauty salon set-up by the singer’s mum, Trisha Mailk and two of his sisters – Doniya and Waliyha - offers treatments including spray tans and waxing.

Mrs Malik said Zayn is proud of his mum and sisters’ work on the business and added she was pleased to work with her daughters to open their first venture together.

“We have spoken to Zayn about the salon and he is really proud of us,” she said. “This is something the girls have done for themselves.”

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Page 10 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

SPOTLIGHT - MAZ IQBAL

An A-Maz-ing Force For Good In The Community F rom starting with nothing, to becoming an influential and respected businessman and the driving force behind Highfield Hall, Maz Iqbal has come a long way from the fresh faced young man who arrived in the U.K in 1986.

The Lahore University graduate in Chemistry, Zoology and Botany left the Punjab, Pakistan to join his fiancé in the U.K., but despite already being a graduate, to continue his education over here, he had to either pay extortionate international student fees or wait for a number of years.

“When I came to this country you didn’t start from nothing, you had to start from minus so my whole idea when I got here was to carry on with my studies. But I had to work in a supermarket as a shop assistant on Ladypool Road, taking deliveries, stocking shelves to begin with.”

Eventually Maz moved onto working in a double glazing factory where he became supervisor after a few years.

Sadly this wasn't meant to be and following its bankruptcy Maz was made redundant.

“I took what I knew and started my own business, very small scale, buying windows from someone else, and I became a window fitter on my own, until a

l Highfield Hall friend I knew in the business asked me to go into partnership with him.”

Maz knew he could sell, and Norman Ellis of Heartland Windows based in Saltley manufactured windows, so the partnership was solidified, making Maz the first Pakistani manufacturer of double glazing in the 80’s.

Everything was going well for a while, opening a couple of showrooms, until Norman wanted to split back to focus on the manufacturing side.

“I looked for another ‘Maz’ to inject into the business,” explained Maz, “but my debt was becoming a snowball and I needed to do something else the stress would have damaged my health, so I cut the business back by 50%.”

This bold move left Maz open to continue the community work that he had been part of over in Pakistan and together with some other local Pakistanis formed the Pakistan Sports Forum.

“We introduced things like Kabaddi to this country and got it introduced into schools in the early 90’s.”

Maz’s educational instincts kicked in a few years later and so wanted to do an “easy” course to see how the education system worked over here. “I got my BEng in Mechatronics, which turned out to be one of the most difficult subjects,” laughed Maz. “It was a challenge, and there were stages I thought about dropping it,

l Maz with attendees at the Grand Iftaar during Ramadan last year including The Phoenix Newspaper Editor-In-Chief Marcia McLaughlin

but I like challenges in my live, I’m a sportsman, and I want to be a winner, a champion.”

“I was a full time worker, full time father, and full time student. On the back of my final project I was offered a job at Singapore University, and it

was a hard decision, but I didn’t go.”

2-3 years ago, the City Council was selling off a number of its assets, and Highfield Hall came up. “I am a very community based man, and very passionate about the youth and these diverse communities, wanting to create a safer and better society for all.”

It was a huge project to take on, and with such a huge building and massive overheads, Maz led a group to take it over. That group is now a registered charity, with 5 trustees and Maz as the Founder, Chief Executive and main drive behind it.

Last year one of the stand out

events was the Grand Iftaar with nearly 400 people in attendance during Ramadan, but this was just one of around 30 events that took place at Highfield hall with no funding behind them.

“There are many churches, mosques, temples and faith based centres around, and we wanted to make somewhere that was truly inclusive for everyone. No age limit, no colour, no religion, no political slant, to bring all these communities together.”

Maz was also involved in the Birmingham Chamber, “I was the Vice Chair of the IAB for 6/7 years before they changed it into a presidency. I am very passionate about representing microbusinesses in Birmingham.”

“While people at the chamber want to deal with ‘Big Business’, 70-80% of businesses here are micro-businesses to why aren’t we listening to them?”

Through tailor made memberships and affiliated memberships, Maz brought in 20,000 members to the Chamber.

Maz left all that to focus on the community and on Highfield Hall.

“I used to go walking in Kings Heath park in the morning, so me and a friend, Jo, started our own walking group. So now we have people from different backgrounds, different communities coming together for a common cause.”

“We keep segregating ourselves and we don’t want that. We want to create a better society.”

The hall, which was built in 1929 has been in constant use from community groups since its creation.

Now with events and activities for the youth and elderly, especially a big drive surrounding mental health, Maz wants Highfield Hall to be a safe place for people to come.

“We are setting up a jungle theme garden, like a peace garden. To work with vulnerable people there, counselling so subtle that you don’t realise it is counselling.”

Maz is hoping that his work at Highfield Hall will become his legacy. “Somebody built Highfield Hall in 1929, and they are not here anymore, but the building stands testament to that. If I get this set up and running again, maybe 100 years down the line there will be people sitting here and remembering that there was someone that took it over to continue it.”

“Social and Corporate Responsibilities are not just a check box in your business. We need everyone to take part in social and community work, it is every person’s responsibility.”

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 11

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

SMEs and Alternative Finance for Market Growth

A

s the era of austerity persists, affecting consumers, businesses and the professions, owners and directors of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) especially, need to consider/reconsider financial options to keep their firms afloat.

The British Prime Minister’s official announcement of a June 2017 General Elections puts into spotlight the already tough negotiations on a Brexit/EU deal.

This is worrisome to even the most willing of optimists, and for wealth producers, (including services providers), the situation is rather perplexing.

Most firms depend on finance to either kick start operations, grow areas of the enterprise and/ or to expand via customer loyalty thereby attaining higher profit margins through consequential levels of market share.

Over the past few years, the ‘alternative finance market’ has grown handsomely, mushrooming from £267 million in 2012 to £1.74 billion in 2014 (University of Cambridge 2014).

Above all, they are key issues that pervade this vital market sector. Questions such as: • What type of individuals and business organisations use alternative finances?

• What is the reason for turning to alternative finance platforms?

• What makes this model more attractive than others?

• What is its impact, economically and socially?

• What is the thinking behind the utility of this resource model?

Yet, there are many types of alternative finance(s) to choose from these days including:• Peer-to-Peer Business Lending (valued at £749m) involving debt-based transactions between individual and existing businesses.

• Invoice Trading (valued at £270m): firms sell invoices at a discount to institutional investors to receive funds immediately.

• Community Shares (valued at £34m): withdrawable share capital used by co-operative societies for social good.

• Reward-Based Crowdfunding (valued at £26m): personal donations for specific projects with the hope of receiving a non-financial reward or product.

• Pension-Led Funding (valued at £25m): allows owners/ directors of firms to use their accumulated pensions to invest in the business.

• Debt-Based Securities (valued at £4.4m): lenders receive a non-collaterised debt obligation to be paid back over an extended period –similar to bond purchasing (NOTE: these figures are based on 2014 estimates).

A recent study into alternative finance (NESTA, University of Cambridge and PWC 2014), revealed that the West Midlands Region in particular, had variables in both the awareness and utility of this resource model for

No Disputing ‘Fantastic’ Director Appointment

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w a r d - w i n n i n g journalist, editor and publisher Dr Christopher Johnson writes his monthly column in The Phoenix aiming to inform, educate and entertain.

business and industry per se.

In the area of ‘reward-based crowdfunding’, the region had only 4% of recipients or fundraisers.

With regard to ‘consumer lending’, the region had about 7% participation rate while ‘equitybased crowdfunding’ attracted only 4% of the total business-industry market as a whole.

This low level of awareness vs participation in this resource model, speaks volumes of both the complexity of the financial market and the way in which institutions probably present various models of finance to their respective clients.

Interestingly, like most mainstream studies of this type, no reference was made to the ethnic composition, gender, faith composite, location and other socio-economic indicators of SMEs overall.

There are of course multiple benefits that alternative financing models can create.

Over 50% of users reported that using such finances impacted positively on ‘business growth’ while about a third noted that they increased ‘philanthropic giving and volunteering’.

Approximately 60% of all respondents believed they were ‘unlikely’ or ‘very unlikely’ to begin or continue using alternative finance in the near future.

From all indicators, it seems as though more than 30% of mainstream SMEs are either reluctant or unsure of the effective use of alternative finance for their businesses.

Whilst alternative finance platforms were perceived to be better than banking institutions, they were reservations expressed by business owners.

As we move towards another orbit of economic challenge, they are of course, boundless opportunities on the horizons.

‘Money management’ education is an imperative in the current scenario, to increase the awareness and knowledge by consumers and SME owners of the potential benefits of alternative finance.

With a quarter of the UK’s remaining bank branches facing closure by 2020 (Financial Conduct Authority, May 2016 p44), the ‘uncharted waters’ syndrome means that we must reconsider seriously, both individual and collective options on probably the most formidable economic question for generations - the accessibility to equitable and sustainable wealth for livelihood futurity.

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l New Appointment: Arif Khalfe commercial law firm has announced the arrival of a new Director who has joined, based within the Dispute Management department.

Arif Khalfe joins Yorkshire-based Lupton Fawcett with experience in a wide range of litigated areas including Professional Negligence, Contentious Trusts and Probate as well as Consumer Litigation.

He also has a keen interest in all aspects of alternative dispute resolution and is a qualified mediator.

He also has specialist expertise within Immigration; advising and assisting in all aspects of business and sports immigration which includes advising on sponsorships and visas under the points based systems.

As well as that, Arif also advises clients on applying for sponsor's

licenses from the Home Office and complying with their sponsorship obligations once they are licensed.

He also assists in managing and advising on sponsorship management systems.

Richard Marshall, Managing Director, comments: “Arif is very well-respected and passionate about wanting to help businesses and individuals alike.

“He’s a fantastic appointment for the firm and adds real strength to what is already a very well respected team.

“Clearly Brexit will put immigration onto many employers’ agenda as international recruitment becomes more complex.

“His expertise will help and guide clients through the immigration process and any issues they may face.

Khalfe comments: “I am delighted to be joining Lupton

Fawcett to establish a leading Immigration offering that is commercially beneficial to clients and their workforces.

“I am also excited to be part of a firm that has a clear strategy to

meet our future challenges and I look forward to reinforcing the reputation that the firm already has in the Yorkshire market consisting of Leeds, Sheffield and York.”

Sculptor Cornelia named as election artist Sculptor Cornelia Parker has been chosen as this year's official election artist.

Parker, who was once nominated for the Turner Prize, is the fifth election artist and the first woman in the role.

She will observe the election campaign, which culminates in the vote on 8 June, and produce a piece in response.

She said she felt honoured by the invitation, adding: "We live in scary but exhilarating times. The whole world order seems to be changing."

With "all its challenging issues and complexity", she said, the election "is an event that I'm excited to engage with and I look forward to sharing my finished work."

I Want! I Want!

Art & Technology AN ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION NATIONAL PARTNER EXHIBITION AT BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY

1 APR – 1 OCT 2017 This exhibition will present the work of contemporary artists working with technology.

birminghammuseums.org.uk @BM_AG Funded by:

/birminghammuseumandartgallery

#ACCNationalPartners City of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery Development Trust

Arts Council Collection is managed by Southbank Centre on behalf of Arts Council England.

Image: Rachel Maclean, Feed Me 2015. Courtesy of the artist, Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London.

Donations welcome

Page 12 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT - PROMOTING EXCELLENCE

g n i t o Prom xcellence Historian E Recognized with Cultural Fellowship 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.

New Changes to A GCSE Exams T

l British curator and cultural historian Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford PhD

he Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual have announced new exams which are set to take place this summer, although the “radical transformation” has not gone down well with both parents and teachers alike.

Leading UK awarding body OCR, announced major changes of the new GCSEs includes a new ‘grading scale’ - which will replace the traditional A* to G grading system - to, instead, use numbers 1 to 9 to identify levels of performance, with 9 being at the top end of the scale.

Where performance is below

the minimum required to pass a GCSE, students will receive a ‘U’ grade.

According to Laura McInerney, editor of the education newspaper ‘Schools Week,’ claims that the Government designed the system “deliberately” to prevent things from adding-up.

She said: “This will make it difficult for employers and universities to compare candidates in the next few years.”

The changes, based on an original proposal set out in 2013, by former education secretary Michael Gove in 2013, the new GCSEs will be a lot harder overall to “equip young people

to win in the global race.”

The DfE says that the new exams will include “more challenging course content” and will see all subjects - including English literature, maths, and history – get harder.

McInerney, however, wrote that it will be advantageous for ministers who can “excuse any dip in results on the grounds that the questions got harder rather than schools got worse.”

Something, she added, which will only be unhelpful to employers trying to figure out who the best candidate for the job is, and the heads of schools who will feel “under pressure” to display improvements. Second problem highlighted.

She did, though, say that one of the more “positive” changes is that schools will not be ranked according to the number of students getting five or more A* to C GCSE grades.

Instead, secondary schools will use a ‘progress’ score entitled Progress 8.

A DfE spokesperson said: “We want all pupils to benefit from the reformed qualifications we are introducing.

Improving the exams and curriculum is a key part of our long-term economic plan.”

fter receiving a Fellowship at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), British curator and cultural historian Dr. Gus Casely-Hayford PhD has also been awarded a Cultural Fellowship at King's College Institute Associate, at King's College London.

A much sought-after educator and intellect, the learned lecturer is also currently working on a series, Tate Walks, for Sky Arts. In 2010, as part of th e Wonderful Africa Sea-

son, he presented ‘Lost Kingdoms of Africa,’ four 60-minute television programmes for BBC Two and BBC Four; in 2014, the series was broadcast by the French-speaking TV channel Histoire.

Steeped in his Ghanaian roots, art historian, writer, lectures and broadcaster, Dr. Casely-Hayford co-written and edited the book ‘West Africa: Word, Symbol, Song,’ as well as publishing many articles in popular national and international press.

“I grew up in London and my memories are of aunts coming from

West Africa and bringing wonderful things,” he said, “but leaving behind these incredible stories.”

He has an intuitive take on exhibiting diversity in the UK; “There are no longer specialists focusing on diversity, and the rationale has been that we’ve made important strides and we don’t need to do much more.

That’s a great shame for the whole sector in terms of staff and audiences as things haven’t grown more diverse.

“I think for such an incredibly diverse and dynamic city, going into

'Newest' G in 50 Year

T

he south of England will see the first "new" grammar school in the country for five decades when the Weald of Kent School, in Tonbridge, opens, in September, though Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says it would not "open the floodgates" to more schools being allowed to select by ability.

Despite the ban on new grammar schools the decision to allow this new

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 13

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT - PROMOTING EXCELLENCE

S

utton Coldfield MP, Andrew Mitchell and Strictly Come Dancing’s, AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt attended the launch of Stage Studios, the new performing arts facility at Sutton Coldfield College – giving the building and its students top marks.

Sutton Coldfield MP, Andrew Mitchell officially opened the Stage Studios by unveiling a commemorative plaque.

He said: “Sutton Coldfield has a thriving arts community where individuals of all ages and from all backgrounds can be involved in or be entertained by a range of shows and productions. The Stage Studios will be a vital part of this local scene.”

Dance duo, AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt who first found fame on Britain’s Got Talent congratulated dance, musical

Sutton MP and Strictly stars at Stage Studios launch theatre and acting students for the routines, songs and monologues they performed at the launch event.

These included a vocal performance from Hamilton – The Musical, a Shakespeare monologue and a dance routine to the Austin Powers movie theme song.

AJ and Chloe also took part in a Q&A session with students where they shared their experiences of competing in dance events and becoming national and European Latin dance champions.

l Strictly’s AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt with students Aldane Williams, Georgia Woodward, Jessica Rimell and Natalie Bradnack

A

any kind of gallery or museum, you just don’t see this energy reflected” he says.

‘It’s the same in most further education institutions and also in libraries. Most of the people who work in those institutions are as frustrated as those who use them. This goes beyond demographics. It’s a kind of ethical feeling that we’re out of step with things’.

Invited to sit on the panel to judge and select the British museum of the year, he has also advised the Royal Shakespeare Company and has re-

cently joined the Blue Plaque Group.

He wrote the book ‘Lost Kingdoms of Africa’ in 2012, presented a study of William Hogarth and the 18th century for the television series The Genius of British Art, on Channel 4 and hosted The Culture Show for BBC 2 in 2012.

He is working towards a National Portrait Gallery exhibition on the Abolition of Slavery.

Dr. Casely-Hayford is a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery, a Caine Prize Council Member and an Ambassador for Sense International.

Grammar School rs to Open site, in Sevenoaks, will have places available for 450 girls, raising expectations of similar bids in other parts of the country.

Mrs Morgan said this was a "genuine expansion" of an existing school - describing it as "one school, two sites" - and it "does not reflect a change in this government's position on selective schools." She said that the ban on

new grammars would remain.

Labour described the decision as a "hugely backward step."

Any bids from other grammar schools would still face the "statutory prohibition" on new selective schools and would need to "meet the criteria for being a genuine expansion", said the education secretary.

Srebrenica Genocide Survivor Receives Honorary Doctorate

survivor of the Srebrenica genocide has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire for his outstanding commitment to Human Rights.

Remembering Srebrenica Ambassador, Bosnian Muslim Nedžad Avdić, incredibly escaped death at the hands of Bosnian Serb forces in 1995 and has devoted his life to speaking out on the need to tackle hatred and bring communities together to prevent similar atrocities from happening to others.

He explained what receiving the Honorary Doctorate means to him: “This is an award for all those who fight for justice in a dignified way.

“It gives me back that hope and a new strength to keep

going forward. I know that I must never stop telling the world that hatred cannot bring anything good.”

UK charity Remembering Srebrenica took staff and students from the University of Bedfordshire to Bosnia-Herzegovina on their ‘Lessons from Srebrenica’ educational visit programme where they met Nedžad and other survivors of the genocide.

Bill Rammell, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, said: “It is our honour to confer this Honorary Doctor of Philosophy on Nedžad for his outstanding contribution to human rights.

“It was also a privilege that Nedžad delivered a lecture during his visit to the University. Nedžad is an inspiration to us all.”

New Appointments Welcomed at UoB

T

he University of Birmingham welcomes two new members to highly prestigious positions following international searches.

Professor Kalwant Bhopal joined the Centre for Research in Race & Education (CRRE) in January as a Professorial Research Fellow in Race and Education.

Kalwant was previously Professor of Education and Social Justice at the University of Southampton.

With a great deal of research experience in examining the lives of Black minority ethnic groups as well as Gypsies and Travellers, her areas of interest and expertise are centred on the achievements and experiences of minority ethnic staff and students.

Her research specifically explores how intersectionality, processes of racism, exclusion

and marginalisation operate in predominantly White spaces with a focus on social justice and inclusion.

In 2016, she explored the experiences of Black and minority ethnic academics: a comparative study of the unequal academy.

A Professor of Education and Social Justice and Director of Postgraduate Research Degrees at the University of Southampton, her academic qualifications include BA (Hons) Sociology, MSc (Econ) Sociology, PGCE (FE) and PhD (University of Bristol).

She is Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has recently been appointed Visiting Professor at Kings College London (Department of Education and Professional Studies).

Dr Claire E Crawford has been appointed as BRIDGE Research Fellow in Diversity, Race and

l Professor Kalwant Bhopal Education, as part of the University’s BRIDGE agreement with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Previously teaching at Cardiff University and lecturing in Further Education - where her doctoral research focused on the racialized processes of selection and exclusion in a US High

School – her BRIDGE research will critically examine U.K. and U.S. government published attainment statistics and related policy pronouncements, building into a detailed cross-national study of how the ‘achievement gap’ is constructed, managed and policed on either side of the Atlantic.

Page 14 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

ST GEORGES DAY 2017

For The Queen I t was the perfect opportunity to proudly fly the flag as thousands gathered for the Stone Cross St George's Day parade - the biggest in the country - in West Bromwich, in the West Midlands with an anticipated crowd of around 10,000

revellers celebrating England’s patron saint and the country’s culture in general.

Led by the Northfield Scottish bag-pipes and groups from the armed forces including veterans and the Royal British Legion, a short service by the war memorial was

followed by a minute’s silence, in memory of all those who lost their lives in past wars.

The parade, which began in the Stone Cross area of the town, before culminating in a fun family fete at the nearby Dartmouth Park where there was a host of

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 15

ST GEORGES DAY 2017

n & St George! events to keep everyone entertained, including children’s entertainment, face painting, craft fairs and other attractions.

One reveler, Martina Shawcroft, from Birmingham, said: “I come every year and it’s good to see the community celebrat-

ing. There’s always a really good spirit and everyone enjoys themselves.”

Organiser Mark Cowles said: “This parade is to celebrate our heritage and being proud to be English. It is one of the biggest parades in the country and a fantastic day for the com-

munity.”

West Bromwich was bathed in sunshine and a sea of red and white as houses along the route were decorated in the colours of St George to mark England’s own hero.

Page 16 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

SPOTLIGHT - RAAJ SHAMJI

Raaj Is ‘The Great Pretender’ Juggling many hats, this self-proclaimed ‘Great Pretender’ from the Black country truly has many accomplished strings to his bow, despite what he may say to the contrary!

A

toastmaster, a rock and metal head, an accountant, a performer and MC. It's an eclectic mix of career paths that on first glance don't look like they could belong to only one person, but upon meeting Raaj, you understand how they can.

Born and raised in Walsall, this Black Country boy has always remained true to his roots of an vibrant interconnected diverse community in his hometown.

Despite his family moving to the fringes of Sutton Coldfield in 1989, and as his brother kept reminding him, being “the only darkies in the village” Raaj craved that diverse ecosystem and has chased it ever since.

“There were no community events at that time,” Raaj explained, “everyone got on with their own business behind closed doors, no community events.”

But it had its benefits, Raaj’s brother knuckled down, went to Grammar School and became a GP, then managed to marry his passion of football with his medical skills and became club doctor for Walsall, before 2 years ago being made the Aston Villa club doctor.

“I on the other hand, failed my A-Levels, academically I wasn't too bright, but my dad still pushed me to pursue my education,” Raaj said as he trailed off, “like many other immigrant families at the time there was a lot of pressure on us to do well.”

“I discovered music in my teenage years, and became curious about getting into bands and understanding rock and metal music.”

It was this love of music that brought Raaj to Donnington Monsters of Rock in 1993, with Aerosmith and Extreme headlining.

“At that time there weren't many Asians going to festivals or liking rock and metal music, and again, I felt like ‘the only darkie in the festival’ but it was an amazing time, despite getting

covered in faeces!”

“I’m grateful to my father for making me study, and I ended up in accountancy, I’m a qualified Chartered Management Accountant.”

This was a profession that allowed Raaj stability and to let him, his wife and three children lead a good life.

Raaj found that he liked to do MC work, predominantly in the Asian Wedding industry, and it was thanks to Harvir Sohota that we have the red coated official toastmaster that we know and love. “I believe I was one of the first Asians to become qualified in a professional guild.”

It wasn't until Ninder Johal gave Raaj his first non-wedding event at one of the early Black Country Asian Business Awards (BCABA) that his world was opened to the possibilities outside of wedding events.

“My father passed away back in 2006, and I think a lot of what me and my brother do now is in his name.

Death is a horrible thing, but we lose it as a motivating factor to make the best of ourselves.”

During the day, Raaj is the Assistant Director of Student Services at Birmingham City University, where he also studied when it was still UCE, taking his innings there up to 20 years all told!

“Full time I work at a University, and part time I pretend to be a Toastmaster, Freddie Mercury is a massive influence on me, and that is what I am, The Greatest Pretender.”

Raaj says he is still finding himself and what he wants to be, “Can I put performance and music together? Can I sing and present at the same time?

Yeah lets give it a go!” Raaj exclaimed with an infectious enthusiasm, “I’m not famous, and I’m glad I’m not.”

It was the Birmingham Awards that gave him a chance to put his musical passion into his toastmaster work, as they were looking for someone local, and Ifraz Ahmed gave him the oppor-

tunity to bring a band along with him which was the Dead Sea Skulls.

“We have been doing integration really well here in Birmingham, I don’t like segregated areas, I love when we are all just one community, living together.”

Raaj has been brought into inter faith work through Dr Rao, who in his own words is, “An amazing man, who took a tip in the Black Country, and it was literally a tip and turned it into the Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple” There are 7 hills, all around representing Christianity, Judaism, Zorastrian Parsi, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

“The Zorastrian Parsi Hill is one that I worked on. Probably the biggest thing that I have done in my life that has had an impact, where we unveiled this statue made by Tata Steel using heavy metal and Black Country methods of fabrication.”

“Freddie Mercury’s family were there because he was Zorastrian, as was The Right Honourable Lord Karan Bilimoria.”

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Raaj, who is dyslexic has always tried to push himself, which is something that he wants to pass on to his children and also anyone else trying to make their way in this world.

“I’m very dyslexic, but I want to start doing things I can’t do.

I became a toastmaster because I wanted to push myself, test myself. My memory is shocking, I can’t work with a script, I but can remember points and talk around them.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of people who have given me chances, or got me involved in things outside of

my comfort zone, including Ninder Johal, Ifraz Ahmed, Paul Sabapathy, Dr Rao, Saqib Bhatti, Harvir Sohota, and most importantly my dad and my brother.”

“You’ve got to love what you do.

The people that are good in their job, be it a toastmaster, a DJ, you do it because you love it, it’s not about the money, it’s about the people, or the music, or the focus of your passion so stick with it!”

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 17

20 YEARS AS THE EYE OF ENTERTAINMENT

MAY 2017

www.streetcredmagazine.com

GAMBIMI THE LOCAL BOY TAKES ON A NATIONAL TOUR

Proudly Supporting

Page 18 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

www.streetcredmagazine.com

TV - Online - MAGAZINE /markdwaynehost

/streetcredmagazine.com www.streetcredmagazine.com

Don-E

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on-E, born in London, was commonly known for his debut single 'Love makes the world go around' and the underground soul classic "Unbreakable “which was a number one hit in the memories of 'real' music lovers.

More recently Don-E has been touring with Grace Jones and seasoning with artists such as Brian Eno, Paulo Nuttini and the British collective His musical journey began when his father gave him a handmade guitar on his fifth birthday and he has not looked back since.

Don's influences range from Michael Jackson, Dennis brown,

Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye mixed and blended with his personal love for House, Soul and R'n'B music, which when manifested into song, can only be categorized as the 'Ragga Funk' sound.

Don-E has also produced for legends such as Beverley Knight, Rahsaan Patterson, Mica Paris, Omar and Shaun Escoffrey.

Don-E will Be releasing his new 6 trk Ep "The Lost Tapes" this Easter following the success of his

British Grand prix to Hit City Streets albums "Little star" "Future rare grooves" "Future rares 2" Don-E's forever in the studio songwriting and collaborating with UK and international talent!

Be sure to check out "thebritishcollective", Don-E's new project featuring UK greats "Omar, Lee John, Junior Giscombe and Noel Mckoy"

C

hanges in the law have made it feasible for a Monaco-style street-based British Grand Prix– with London a likely destination for the very first event.

With the GP already currently held at Silverstone, in Northamptonshire, Transport minister Andrew Jones said a race in London would be "spectacular."

He said; “You could have a fantastic backdrop of London — or in fact several cities in the UK could do this.

A major sports event against a London backdrop could be spectacular. Just look at the London 2012 Olympics.”

Plans have reportedly already been drawn up with the proposed circuit to start on The Mall and go past Buckingham Palace, around

Parliament Square and past Big Ben. F1 icon Bernie Ecclestone and foreign secretary Boris Johnson have both previously voiced their support for the idea.

Another city bidding for the GP rights is Birmingham, who, from 1986 to 1990, held the Halfords Birmingham Superprix meeting, which followed a street circuit at the heart of the city. The principal event was a round of the FIA Formula 3000 Championship, but support races included BTCC and Formula Ford 1600 rounds, as well as sports car racing.

Britain's former F1 world champion, Birmingham-born Nigel Mansell, said: “This is a great move forward for the sport and will bring visitors and pride to parts of the country that wish to stage such events.”

He added: “I am delighted that this government is embracing motorsport, which will assist the UK’s world-leading position and improve the sport’s ability to help provide opportunities and focus for young people.”

Under the new rules, the Motor Sports Association, which governs motor sports in the UK, and Auto Cycle Union, which regulates motorcycle racing, will be authorised to issue race permits after satisfying councils, police and other local bodies that the events would be safe.

Local authorities will have the final say over whether a race can go ahead, and may require additional safety measures before, during or after the event as a condition of allowing a race to take place, the DfT said.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 19

www.streetcredmagazine.com

ENTERTAINMENT

Mark Dwayne

The Big 5 City Tour

BIRMINGHAM Kicking off his #SWUG 5 City Tour with a bang, Mark Dwayne certainly embodied the “Show What U Got” message as his elecrifying performance at Birmingham’s Bambu Bar captivated the crowd out to support their home-grown talent.

“I am doing a UK Tour so that my supporters will be able to enjoy a live show in intimate settings,” explained Mark, “We kickstarted the UK tour at the glamourous Bambu Bar famous for attendance of top footballers.”

The night was intended

to give his fans the feel of a concert and party in one, and it really showed as the crowds lapped up everything that Mark had set up for them.

“Tonight was amazing, and our next date is at the Quicken Tree in the Heart of England, Warwickshire. “#SWUG fans will be able to enjoy a deluxe dinner and party in the summer garden overlooking the fields!”

But it isn’t just the 5 City Tour that has Mark buzzing, he is also jetting off to shoot the video for his next single.

“I will be hitting Tenerife in June to shoot the video for my next single, which is produced

By Pale Face who had a massive hit with Kyla.

Besides this, Mark has been in the studio, and he’s really excited for what he is creating.

“It will be an eclectic mix of Soul, Reggae and House Music. The message is love and bringing people together and inspiring people to achieve.”

The #SWUG Tour is supported by The Phoenix Newspaper who are the Official Media Sponsors.

Page 20 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Improv Group Seeing Funny Side Of Their Own Lives

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umprov, Britain’s first improv theatre company made up entirely from artists from Black, Asian & Mixed Race backgrounds are making their collective presence felt on the comedy scene in no uncertain way.

With their completely improvised debut show, at The Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham, the first of what many are predicting to be years of unique on the spot hilarity, the ensemble provides a platform for stories to be told with characters that are free from everyday stereotypes, prejudices and ‘set in place’ inhibitions.

Made up of seven creative performance artists, who include; Jade Samuels, Adaya Henry, Sunny Dhap, Marius Turner, David Jackson, Chantal Erraoui and Jay Droch, Jumprov, born out of the Birmingham Improv Festival, promises to be “an epic story which we are writing as we live,” according to founder, Sunny.

He says; “I decided to start my Homeland_A6_2017 own improv theatre company to help tackle the continuing issue

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a voice and collaborative creative control to the performers and audi-

of under representation in theatre, tele- ences.”

With their May 4 Old Joint vision and film. I created this platform for stories to be told Stock show already creating a with characters that are free from massive storm, they plan to be heard, and seen, for some time whatever shackles that could be 18:10 aw.pdf 1 20/03/2017 to come. faced in this industry.

So, what Jumprov does is give

#SWUG Grand Central Fashion shoot The all purpose clothing line has been launched Show What U Got is for

the bold and who want to be themselves You can find the most

trendy Snapbacks, Hoodies, Dresses fitted T’s.

Facebook.com/swuglabel

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 21

ENTERTAINMENT

www.streetcredmagazine.com

LOCAL ARTIST GAMBIMI HITS THE ROAD WITH PUNCH RECORDS

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ay sees Punch Records bring the first edition of the Welcome To My City tour.

Selecting 5 emerging artistsmaking waves in their local music scenes, the tour will visit each of their cities over 5 days, with each event headlined by the local artist of that city.

R&B Singer/Songwriter Gambini is Birmingham’s representation on the tour.

Since moving to Birmingham at the age of 6 from Brazzaville, Congo, Gambimi has lived and breathed music.

Fast forward to the present day Gambimi’s music is enjoying a wealth of endorsement from national radio and he has built a strong fan base in Birmingham.

Inspired by artists such as Chris Brown and Ne-yo, R’n’B singer/songwriter Gambimi has taken the popular genre and put his own twist on things through clever wordplay and beautifully balanced harmonies.

We caught up with him to discuss his next move, the Welcome To My City Tour.

Do you think artist development programs like this are a much needed resource for local artists?

Yes definitely! The music industry is very competitive and hard to crack into, so music development programs are essential.

They give emerging artists a much needed insight into the industry that they are trying to break into, and they really help us hone our skills.

What are you most looking forward to about this experience?

There's so many different things, I am looking forward to being part of a national tour that has been put together by a respected company with a long history of touring artists.

Being on the road with others and performing in different cities will be incredible as it is something I hope to be doing for many years to come.

It will be great to learn from each artist on the tour and work together to create some really high quality performances in each city.

As the tour is called ‘Welcome To My City’ - If you were to invite someone to Birmingham, what would you tell them were the best things about the city?

I would tell them that we have a great night life here, its a really good place to party.

The transport here is great too, you can get all over the city so easily and it doesn't cost a lot, so you have great access to different places and events it sounds like a small thing but when there's so much going on in a city it really helps being able to get around.

For many of the other artists on the tour 9th May will be their first time performing in Birmingham - What will the artists enjoy about performing for a Brummie audience?

I think the main thing the other musicians will get from performing in Birmingham will be the passion for music that

Brummies have.

I think Birmingham audiences expect a high standard from their artists and when their expectations are met they show real love to performers.

Youth culture in birmingham is thriving, so they can expect to see a young and really energetic crowd. The birmingham show is going to be amazing trust me.

Finally, what are your plans after the tour?

I have LOT of things planned for this year, im currently working on some material for myself as well as a few major collaborations with other artists that are coming soon.

I’m spending a lot of time in the studio with some new producers and myself and my team are working really hard at the moment to make sure that i keep evolving as an artist and the quality of my music is always improving!

Tour Dates

Monday 8th May Liverpool, EBGB’s Tuesday 9th May Birmingham,Sunflower Lounge Wednesday 10th May Manchester, Jimmy’s Thursday 11th May London, Notting Hill Arts Club Friday 12th May Cardiff, Underworld @ 10 feet tall To find out more about the other artists on the Welcome To My City tour and to reserve your FREE tickets, visit www.punch-records.co.uk C

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ENTERTAINMENT

www.streetcredmagazine.com

T L A Y O R HIP-HOP H C U M & T TALEN T

his year’s B-Side HipHop Festival is set to be another massive hit for Birmingham as international dance stars, world-class graffiti artists, award-winning rappers and the biggest names from Birmingham’s own home-grown talent descend on the city to

showcase all things hip-hop.

The streets of Southside will be bustling with the sights and sounds of contemporary hiphop culture across 3 days of jam packed events with some of the biggest names in local and international hip-hop talent produced

by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with artists Break

Mission, Juice Aleem, Mickeal ‘Marso’ Riviere, and Graffiti Artist.com.

From the 19th to the 21st May, you will be able to catch pop-up dance events, live graffiti art, interactive talks and exhilarating outdoor performances, including street dance, workshops and battles.

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alented bboys and bgirls from across Birmingham will be given a second chance to shine in the 7 To Smoke solo breakin’ battle, a secret selection giving underdogs from Break Mission’s Just Jam qualifiers the chance to battle head-tohead on the Hippodrome’s Main Stage on Sunday and be recognized at last!

Meanwhile, wannabe rap artists are invited to showcase their spoken word skills in 7 To Spoke – a fast-paced and fearsome battle between seven participants fighting to be crowned king and queen.

Brand new for 2017, this year’s festival will also see graffiti artists from across the globe take over Southside for a full weekend of live street art and interactive workshops taking place across the Hippodrome’s Main Foyer spaces and surrounding city streets.

Headed by the legendary T-Kid from New York plus Birmingham-based ‘Graff’ talent Graffitiartist.com, this year’s Graff Jam will welcome artists from as far afield as the USA, Italy, Sweden, Ireland and London alongside the best of Birmingham’s home grown ‘Graff’ talent.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 23

www.streetcredmagazine.com

N W O R G E M O H , Y T S ’ E D I S B ‘ E R O M H vocal ic p e r fo t u o k o o L across and dance battles the weekend!

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ringing together the best in local and international DJ and MC talent, this year’s festival will also feature live music sets from Birmingham MC and rap artist Lady Sanity plus Quartz, Strange U, DJ Latifah, DJ Nucleo and many more.

Seeing the weekend out in style on Sunday 20th May, the B-Side Hip-Hop Festival Finale will see the cream of B-Side 2017 come together for an afternoon of live performances and

battles on the Hippodrome Main Stage.

Highlights include sets from Birmingham MC’s Quartz and Lady Sanity as well as preliminaries and finals of competitions including Bonnie & Clyde, 2v2 and Dirty 30s.

For the first time ever, this year’s finale performance will play host to the Midlands Ultimate Street Dance Crew finale, in which talented street dance crews battle it out to be crowned the ultimate champion.

ENTERTAINMENT

Page 24 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

Agony Aunt

www.streetcredmagazine.com

BIGScreen

review

wORDS by antony brown

A Rose Between Thorns

l Dr Saroj ‘Rose’ Duggal

I

’m really worried about heading to University in September as I’m not 100% sure that I want to go.

I received my acceptance letter from my first choice University but since getting it I have been having second thoughts about going.

My whole family are so impressed with me being accepted into University but now I don’t feel that it is the right route for me.

I’ve been looking at apprenticeships and working while learning and I want to go down that route, but how do I tell them?

Do I bite the bullet and just go to University, or do I tell my family what I want to do and hope that they support me?

- Milly, Manchester Thank you for your letter Milly, you really need to speak to your family and bring this all out in the open.

If you really don’t think University is for you, then you will be miserable being pushed into something you don’t want to do.

Talk to them and do the right thing for YOU!

I

am starting to get really confused and disheartened with politicians in this day an age.

From lying to everyone straight to their faces on both sides of the Brexit debate, to the shock snap election decision, and not to mention Trumps election on the back of what was essentially a capaign based on hate and division, I just don’t know who or what to believe in any more.

What do you reckon?

- Jackie, Burton Well Jackie, I’ve got to admit I’m in the same boat as you at the moment!

All I can suggest is that you watch and read everything you can about upcoming votes and elections, and then google everything and check the facts yourself.

Only once you know where you stand can you hope to make a correct choice.

Fast & Furious 8 W ith Dom and Letty on their honeymoon, Brian and Mia retired from the game and the rest of the crew exonerated for their past misdemeanours, the globetrotting team has found some semblance of a normal life for the first time in a long time.

But when a mysterious woman seduces Dom into a world of crime and deceit that forces him to betray those closest to him, the crew will have to unite once again to do battle against the one constant in all of their lives.

The one person who made them a family - Dominic Toretto.

Ah, Fast and Furious. What a journey it has been! From a modest budget action movie in 2001 starring relatively unknown actors to one of the biggest franchises of all time with an ever-growing, Expendables-like cast of zany characters and big name stars.

Fast and Furious is like Rocky Balboa; it started at the bottom and fought its way through the ranks to

BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

May 03 SayWeCanFly 05 The Magic Gang 06 Morgan Heritage & Etana 11 He Is Legend 13 Screaming Quays 13 CKY 17 Wheatus 20 Gehtika 21 Monster Magnet 27 Chronixx 29 Taylor Caniff 31 Bars and Melody / Johnny Orlando Co-headline tour

O2 INSTITUTE

May 02 Marianas Trench 03 Seafret 04 Aston Merrygold 05 Maximo Park 06 Underoath 06 Clean Cut Kid 09 Protoje & The Indiggnation 09 Napalm Death

become something nobody expected and here we are at the eighth instalment.

Yes, EIGHTH. Straight Outta Compton's F. Gary Gray takes over from James Wan on directing duties and he does a terrific job.

His action scenes don't quite have the finesse of Justin Lin (Fast 3-6) or James Wan's (Fast 7) but he still does a solid job of bringing the huge, trademark Fast and Furious action sequences to the big screen.

He also has the added benefit of directing from the most "self aware" screenplay of the series from writer Chris Morgan, whom just keeps pushing the boat further and further out with each new instalment.

He knows they passed the point of no return a long time ago in terms of abandoning all sense of realism, so now he appears to be challenging himself to get so far past the point of no return that they can no longer see it.

While one could argue that the "car sky-dive" featured in Fast and Furious 7 still holds the trophy for

12 Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon 13 The Cribs 17 Natalie Imbruglia 19 Leftfield 20 The Districts 21 Whiskey Myers 27 Party Like Gatsby 31 Coasts

NEC

May 07 Toy Collectors Fair 12-14 BodyPower Expo 2017 18-21 This Morning Live 18-21 World Duty Free Birmingham Summer Sale 19-21 The Baby Show 23-24 Edie Live & Utility Week 2017 26 The Specials Plus Toots & the Maytals 26-28 The Vaper Expo – The Big Weekend 27 Slam Dunk Festival Midlands, NEC

most over the top action sequence of the series, there are a number of scenes in Fast 8 that come pretty darn close - including an adrenaline fuelled climax in the arctic Barents Sea that is up there with the most delightfully ludicrous set pieces in recent memory.

The regular cast return and are all on form. These people have spent so much time with one another over the two decades since the series began that it's almost impossible not to have excellent on-screen chemistry.

Whether you like these movies or not, that's one thing you simply cannot deny. This cast work wonderfully together.

The most notable new addition to the cast comes in the shape of Charlize Theron as the cyber-terrorist known as Cipher.

While Theron is serviceably sinister, she's never given much more to do than stare at dozens of computer screens laden with satellite images and recite some technical jargon.

However, in the rare scene in

l Chronixx storms to the Academy on the 27th

BARCLAYCARD ARENA

May 06 The 51st KUGB National Karate Championships 12 Professor Brian Cox LIVE 13 A Night of Championship Boxing 15 Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone™ 18-20 Micky Flanagan 21 Iron Maiden 27 Gurdas Maan 28 KISS

which she gets to flex her villainous muscles, she shines and thankfully, there are jut enough of those scenes to forgive the more run-ofthe-mill villainous stereotypes none of which are her fault, those issues lie in the script.

Speaking of issues, the most distracting thing about Fast 8 comes in the chiselled form of Jason Statham.

Do not misunderstand, he's an absolute scene-stealer in this movie, but it's difficult not to question his presence within the group.

Deckard Shaw is directly responsible for the death of one or more of their "family" members, yet when the team are told they have to work together, there's very little resistance from both ends.

For a group of friends as fiercely loyal as Toretto's mob, they are weirdly forgiving of serial killers who tried to murder them.

Thankfully, it results in some of the most memorable moments in the entire movie, so it's easy to let it slide, but it sticks out like a sore thumb.

There’s talk of a spin-off revolving around Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham and once you see the movie, you’ll understand why.

Hell, two hours of those two alpha-male action heroes slinging verbal insults at each other would be worth the ticket price alone.

The best thing that Fast and Furious 8 does is making the ingenious move to separate the rest of the group from Dominic Toretto.

He is the glue that holds them together throughout the entire franchise, so to suddenly see a group who no longer have that focal point is very interesting and to see their attempts at working together without the direction he provides is a lot of fun.

There are also a few nice twists and turns along the way that elevate the film and throw some genuine stakes into the mix.

While Fast and Furious 8 may not be the strongest instalment, it is definitely in the upper echelon of the series, behind only 5, 6 and 7.

With this eighth instalment, The Fast and Furious franchise has reached new and profound heights of absurdity.

From the opening scene in which Dom partakes in a drag race across Cuba in a flaming car, to the moment Cipher seizes control of hundreds of cars and causes absolute mayhem in the streets of New York, to Jason Statham single-handedly taking on dozens of henchman while holding a baby, Fast and Furious 8 is pure, joyous lunacy from beginning to end.

The franchise has reached a delightful level of self-awareness and everybody involved knows why audiences keep coming back for more - because they want to have fun - so "fun" is exactly what they bring to the table.

You may think it's ridiculous and you may think it's completely over the top and unbelievable...and that's exactly the point.

The simple fact is the Fast and Furious franchise is one of the most successful in the history of cinema, and also one of the only franchises to drastically yet successfully reinvent itself, from a modest budget, $38 Million first instalment, to $250 Million blockbusting extravaganzas.

It's absolute nonsense, but it's the kind of nonsense you're more than happy to sit and listen to for a few hours.

GENTING ARENA

May 05-06 Take That 10 WWE Live 12 BAMMA 29 18 Ariana Grande 19 The Vamps 26 The Specials 27 Slam Dunk Festival Midlands

Khan (SH) 21 Simple Minds (SH) 22 Imelda May (SH) 24 Jennifer Pike plays Mozart (TH) 26 Shakin’ Stevens (TH) 27 The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (TH) 31 PAM ANN (TH)

TOWN HALL & SYMPHONY HALL

SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON

May 03 Russell Watson and his Orchestra (SH) 04 Alison Balsom: Haydn (SH) 05 Gershwin Meets Bond (TH) 05 Omid Djalili (SH) 07 The Robert Cray Band (TH) 11 The Sound of Musicals (SH) 12-13 Adam Ant (SH) 16 Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra performs The Firebird (SH) 19 Friday Night Classics: Under the Sitars with Citizen

May 04 The King Blue 05 The Noise Next Door: Uproar!

06 UK Guns & Roses 07 Hayseed Dixie 09 Katatonia 13 The Undercover Hippy 17 Evan Dando (The Lemonheads) 19 Black Peaks 20 Cause To Effect 25 Funny Girls Comedy With Noreen Khan 30 Justin Currie

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 25

www.streetcredmagazine.com

ENTERTAINMENT

The Hot Spot Birmingham

THE LOTTO BOYZZ

I

ntroducing Birmingham's Finest "The Lotto Boyzz" A tal­ ented duo from Birmin­ gham, the artists als­o known as Ash and Lu­cas are pushing their­way through the rank­s in the new sub genr­e Afro Bashment and p­lan to take the uniqu­e style of music glob­al.

SHALAMAR LIVE

S

o I heard that R&B stars of the 70s Shalamar were playing at the Jam House and for me it was a must as they are the group that has some of my all time favourite songs.

And of course one of the members Jeff Daniels is the guy that taught my idol Michael Jackson how to moonwalk.

I knew I had to be there to see this. As I am writing this I am remembering probably the best night out I have had this year.

Shalamar are the most amazing group to see live they reminded

me that real music still exists and they deliver the sound of magic.

All I can say is it’s heaven like hearing those old skool melodies and you feel true love. If you know songs like ‘Night to Remember’, ‘Take It To The Back’, ‘I can make you feel good’, & ‘Lover in you’ then you know exactly what i am talking about.

This band is the ultimate in happy feel good soul seeing Jeff do the moonwalk and all the MJ moves left me mesmerised and my god the songs they performed sounded fresh.

I wanted more and more. They

gave pure love to a jam packed crowd of people that wanted good music and memories.

Let me tell you that you haven’t had a live experience until you go to a Shalamar concert.

Seeing that they are still together after 40 years is truly inspiring and the new female replacement is just as fine as Jody Watley who is actually her niece.

The show was hit after hit and for sure we all left feeling amazed and good about ourselves. Pardon the pun but it really was a night to remember.

After the success of ­­­their summer anthem­­ an­d debut single "­Hi­tl­ist", last July­, t­he ­group have re­ceive­d hu­ge amounts­ of su­ccess­ with ov­er 3M views The Boyzz have a­ ls­o p­erformed in fr­on­t of l­arge audienc­e­s at the­ O2 Academy­­ and also with M­ist ­as a supporti­ng ac­t­for his sold ­out

­h­eadline tour.

With reco­g­nition ­from the wor­ ld­ reno­wned Fetty Wa­p a­nd ­UK based artis­ts s­u­ch as Chip, Wre­tch 3­­2, Mist and ot­hers­. Expect to see a lot more of the Lotto Boyzz in 2017

Page 26 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

All Charged Up – Ready To Go!?

The Superkart Charity Chalenge, Wednesday 26th, April.

Karts at the ready, fully charged and raring to go, stage set - bands rehearsed, catering ordered, everyone geared up and the tension building.

This was the situation 48hrs before the night of our first heat scheduled to set The Superkart Charity Challenge off to a flying start, but alas due to last minute glitches we had spanners thrown into the mix and we reluctantly had to make a late decision to call things off and reschedule the event for a later date.

It was a sad day for us as organisers and more than frustrating for our competitors, we were all equally disappointed at having to change plans at such short notice even after the painstaking preparation that had gone into creating this fantastic night of thrills, spills, and great entertainment.

“The Superkart Charity Challenge” the most adrenalin fuelled – fun busting knock - out charity event to take place in Birmingham during 2017.

Why Not Join The Team ?

There’s still time to get involved, you too can show your support and become a team sponsor just like the companies below.

A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors

e c a R # aise ToR nds Fu

We have a variety of opportunites where you can support our cause and maximise your brand exposure, get in touch to find out more.

No matter how well you plan and prepare with an event like this you only need a few small elements out of sync and it can scupper the whole sequence of procedures leaving you with a less than satisfactory experience.

This is something we were not prepared to present, our ethos was and will always be to focus on “The Superkart Charity Challenge” as being a unique and exhilarating fundraising event, to encourage and excite everyone in the support of our nominated charities and to create that very

special occasion where we all can get together and work towards the future of our city.

The Superkart team are busy liaising with our teams, charities and sponsors to reformat the ongoing schedule to ensure things get back on track swiftly, in particular we’re also having to plan for the increased numbers of enthusiastic requests from the general public that have come in and want to join and drive in the challenge, a big thanks to them and we will be finding a way in which we can include you too.

Again, a disappointing start

and our sincere apologies to those who were affected by the short notice.

We are determined that if we are to do this, then we’re going to do it properly, and will be continueing with our vision of presenting a truly unique and spectacular event that will make “The Superkart Charity Challenge” an integeral part of Birmingham’s annual calendar of “not to be missed” events, with our “Challenge Shield and Trophies” to be battled for and displayed with pride by the winners.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 27

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Interactive Exhibition Marks 50 Years for Range Rover Velar

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t’s one of the world’s most iconic vehicles and this year Range Rover is celebrating 50 years as one of the premier car manufacturers with an interactive exhibition tracing its history ‘The Range Rover Story’ visitor attraction, at its Solihull manufacturing plant, is an interactive exhibit created to celebrate 50 years of the world’s most revered luxury SUV - from the first secret prototype, codenamed Velar.

The new exhibition takes visitors on a voyage from inception through to the introduction of the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque, before culminates in an exciting unveil of the new Range Rover Velar, celebrating British design and engineering integrity.

Nigel Blenkinsop, Operations Director at Solihull, said: “We are hugely proud to build the Range

Rover Velar at Solihull, the birthplace of both the Land Rover and Range Rover. Here, we have invested over £2bn in recent years to enable us to triple production. Our business is now Britain’s number one car manufacturer.”

The Velar, produced in one of the largest aluminium body shops in the world, is the third new model in a year to be launched at the plant, following the Jaguar F-PACE and new Discovery.

The Solihull plant has contributed to the company doubling its sales and headcount in the past five years. This has supported the UK’s revival in manufacturing, boosting the British economy where the automotive company provides 240,000 jobs in the supply chain.

The Range Rover family contributes £10bn annually to the UK economy and is Britain’s largest luxury export.

ADVERTORIAL

The One-Stop Car Shop T here’s a new car spares and accessories store that is attracting attention from near, far and even further afield that has just about everything you need to keep your vehicle on the road and in tip-top condition.

Hockley Car Spares, in Birmingham, is the little shop with a massive array of choice for all major car makers – and much more in between.

From providing MOT, diagnostic, battery and alternator testing – at 26A Hamstead Road, in Handsworth - to light bulbs and brake pads, car software programming and servicing to free oil checks, floor mats and liners; big names like Audi, BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Vauxhall, Peugeot, VW, Toyota and many, many more are covered and catered for – and all at very competitive prices. In fact, they will match any price, for any item, from any other car spares store.

They also supply a recognized number-plate service too.

In addition, you have the latest technology in the electronic option to cigarettes.

So, for discount prices on all your car needs – and more, Hockley Car Spares is the onestop shop to keep you motoring.

For all your vehicle needs, at affordable prices owner, Qasim Virgo says; “Bring any quote, from any recognised car store, to Hockley Car Spares, and we will match any genuine price.”

Open 7days-a-week, there’s also their out of hours number (07872942-718) for that all-round service.

MOTORING

Timberlake to Headline at F1 Grand Prix International superstar Justin Timberlake will taking on Lewis Hamiton, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, et al, as he will be performing at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) later this year.

The multi award-winning artist will be on the Super Stage as part of the 2017 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

Justin, who has just won his tenth Grammy Award with his Oscar-nominated hit single ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ has been featured in TIME Magazine’s ‘Most Influential Men of the World’ twice.

Last year’s F1 USGP broke COTA’s attendance records with over 269,000 people coming from all over the world to watch Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team driver, Hamilton, clinch his fifth USGP win—and fourth at Circuit of The Americas—as well as to enjoy turbo-charged live performances by Taylor Swift and Usher & The Roots on COTA’s Super Stage following the racing action.

Page 28 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

GLAMOUR HAIR AND COSMETICS

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hen Zed Mahmood decided to take the plunge from groceries into hair and beauty back in 2011, he couldn’t have imagined where he is now.

Glamour Hair and Cosmetics in Erdington High Street started in June 2011. Although Zed didn’t know much about the hair and beauty industry, a

friend convinced him to take the dive!

“Now we’re doing really well and get great community feedback over the 6 years we have been here in Erdington.”

“Our wigs are very high quality, and we have a large range for all ages, communities and reasons, including party wigs.”

“In 2008 a friend told me he could find a location for

me, and as Erdington had no Hair & Beauty place here at the time we set up here and haven’t looked back.”

Offering an impressive range of wigs, hair extensions and hair care products at a variety of price points, alongside quality brand name skin care and beauty treatents, this truly is your one stop shop for everything to do with your hair an beauty.

Alongside this, Glamour Hair & Cosmetics also offer a range of electronics, including straighteners, hairdryers, clipeprs, curling wands and more.

“We’ve stood the test of time in Erdington, we are happy to serve you here as we have done since 2011, so please do come down to see us!”

So get down to see Zed the next time you need a little something to help feel Glamourous.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 29

www.streetcredmagazine.com

CAMARA’S SPOTLIGHT

Junior Tobin

Welcome to my column where I feature some of the most Welcome to my column where Iand feature some of the most special Charities, Organisations People I have come across. special Charities, Organisations andbeing People I have come across.

Be a part of my journey and enjoy inspired...

Be a part of my journey and enjoy being inspired...

I

n this months’ Spotlight, I would like to introduce you to someone I had the pleasure meeting in 2016!

A young star, courageous and determined – meet 12 year old Junior Tobin.

When I interviewed Junior (and his mum Julia), it was past dinner time and getting close to bed time so we dived straight in…

How did you come to hear about Descendants - the arts focused educational project aimed at children and young people?

Junior: My brothers’, friends’ sister went to Descendants. They told us all about the Project and I wanted to get involved.

Julia (Junior’s mother): He joined when he was 10 years old What do you like most about Descendants?

The performances because they are interesting! We do more than performing, we put a lot of effort into researching, helping us develop our knowledge on history and building our characters.

I enjoy the drumming and the Anancy stories, tales about a trickster spider in Caribbean Folklore.

(Junior and his younger sister in the background excitedly express their love for the stories) Oh, and I also have some great friends at Descendants, especially Aaron! My friends and I are currently making a book and hope to later turn it into a play or short film.

How did you find out about the Parallel London 1K Event and how did you fundraise?

Margaret, founder of Descendants, heard about the event and asked me if I wanted to take part, I did!

We set up an online fundraising page, promoted it on social media and raised £2500 for Descendants!

I felt very proud and so happy that I did it. I ran the first ever Parrallel London 1K Event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Did anyone support you?

My family and friends! I was happy my brother supported by pushing my wheelchair behind me in case I got tired.

Julia: His siblings are very supportive of Junior, all three of them. The older children work but they always support Junior at his events.

What are some of your favourite things to do?

Working! I like learning, building technology, ‘exploration’ which is like a newer version of minecraft and building stadiums.

I enjoy researching, I found one of the biggest stadiums in the world in Texas, this encouraged me to create my own personal Stadium using an App (Junior describes his 3 year adventure in building his stadium - down to the plumbing system!)

I enjoy football and wrestling, politics and business start ups (I asked Junior why he likes politics) Politics is what makes up your country.

So are you a part of any sports clubs?

Feltham Disabled football team. I’ve scored 28 goals between training and matches in the last season. Two weeks ago, my team visited Milton Keynes to play then we went on to watch a match between MK Dons and Gillingham.

All disabled teams walked around the pitch during halftime for ‘Ability Counts Big Day’.

I have been to Wembley stadium before and my school has the exact length pitch so I am used to the intense training.

I am going back to Wembley this month for the Women’s FA CUP Final. I love football.

I got a chance to speak with Julia as I sat in amazement, listening to all of the activities and interests Junior has.

Did Juniors’ disability come as a shock? Were you ever worried about Juniors future?

Right from the start when I had the first scan they said something was wrong, the hospital kept having me come back for scans, something was wrong but they weren’t able to tell me what exactly.

After a lot of stress and worrying, we were blessed when we had Junior. There we no issues apart from him having no leg bones.

We had two options: leg amputation or years and years of operations. We went ahead with the amputation when he was 9months old.

Junior was a hyper baby, into everything. To this day I worry about him. Simple things like, “mum why I can’t walk to the shops by myself?” he has to be supervised at the moment be-

cause his legs can give problems at anytime.

I also worry that other people can pick on him but Junior has no fear or worry about telling people about his simple surgery when he was a baby and now how strong he is.

I am so proud of Junior. It has been a struggle and still is a struggle at times but Descendants and being in the football team, has helped.

He was so shy before secondary school but seems to have settled down. Everyone looks up to him.

How do you manage to balance your time?

The day usually starts at 5:30am, getting Junior and the little one ready for school. The school bus collects Junior and takes him to school which has special needs facilities, unfortunately mainstream school is too crowded.

I take him to Descendants and to Feltham for training, visits to Milton Keynes, Marlowe, Bournemouth Kingston upon Thames.

My youngest daughter does drama in the week, she plays with Junior in the football team and also attends Descendants so that’s a little relief when it comes to travelling. It’s always a busy week.

What do you admire most about Junior?

I love how positive he is, how he gets on with things, so flippant. He has days when he is down, I leave him to come out of that mood.

He enjoys spending time with his dad here at home, using the toolbox. (Junior explains how his dad taught him how to rewire a plug!).

When I’m on the computer he is always telling me what I’m doing wrong, he knows how to work the iPad and computer so always helps me. (Junior asks if he is going to get an Xbox and everyone giggles) I sat in awe at this 12 year old boy and his courageous mum.

Junior and I continued to chat…

Have you ever struggled to complete any activities and how do you overcome your struggles?

I am part of the Sports Crew at school where we assist students and adults with table tennis, bas-

ketball and help run sports days.

It’s a lot of pressure but I try my best to keep calm and practice at home.

Other people have disabilities in my school, so we do activities to make it fair for everyone.

My legs also get sore after Sports Crew, playing football, running. I cream my legs and relax.

I have therapy at school two times a week and physio at home to help my hip muscles and my upper body strength.

I have a pair of walking legs which I use at school and running legs which I use when playing football and other sports activities.

What things are most important to you?

School, learning, my family, politics and exercise.

What are your dreams for the future?

To own my own business. I hope to buy land to build my stadium that I designed. I’d love to be a business man: sports businesses and schools’ businesses.

My love for politics will help me become a stronger business man. I will never stop learning and studying more than one thing.

Is there anybody you would like to give a special thanks to?

Margaret, Collette and Descendants for supporting me, after the 1K run they even surprised me with a full Liverpool kit and signed letter from Jurgen Klopp himself!

Everyone that sponsored me, my family, thank you to MYSELF for motivating myself! I have to be proud of myself.

Thank you to my mummy. I was mad and frustrated about training at times but she motivated me to continue.

I am taking a break from running this year and focusing on a sponsored football match next year with school – my school vs Feltham vs MK Dons and so on.

I want to raise some money for Feltham Bees Disabled Football Team.

I would like to say thank you to Junior and his supportive mum Julia for taking the time to speak with me and share their story.

We laughed and talked for over an hour. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the two of them - a beautiful bond of mother and son.

It is clear that Junior has his head in the game and is not prepared to let anything get in the way of his dreams. I wish him the very best in his future endeavours. Keep shining Junior!

If you have been touched by Juniors’ story, please feel free to send me an email.

Get in Touch with Camara camara@thephoenixnewspaper.com www.camaraofficial.com www.linkedin.com/CamaraFearon Camara (aka mizzcamara for websearch)

Page 30 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

ADOPTION AND FOSTERING

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ith a national shortage of Foster carers across the UK, there are more children than ever who need a caring and loving environment, which every child has the right to experience.

Whether a crisis in the family, illness or relationship difficulties could be some of the reasons why a child is placed in care.

There are already so many fantastic individuals who foster and adopt children into their families- but we need more!

At the Phoenix, all of our team are committed to raising awareness of fostering and adoption through our campaign not just for the month of May, but for an entire 12 months!

We will be highlighting the inspiring work of current carers, the extensive support and training that is available and the difference that you could be making in a young persons’ life.

If you feel that you can offer this, or even if you would like to find out a little bit more – don’t hesitate! It could make the greatest difference to a child’s life.

New Legislation for LGBTQ Carers in Japan Adoption & Fostering Our ongoing campaign to help the children in need in our communities

Charity Launches Drive To Find Muslim Adopters

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ith around 2,000 of the 70,000 children in care in the UK said to be of Muslim heritage, a charity is to launch the UK’s first dedicated programme to tackle the shortage of applications from people of that background.

The Penny Appeal has been awarded £200,000 funding from the Department for Education to support a 12-month project to encourage more Muslim applicants to adopt children.

Current figures are expected to show a third of English councils do not record the religion of children in their care and a number of recently arrived unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the UK are of Muslim heritage.

Very few Muslims apply to foster or adopt and since 2015 the Yorkshire-based Penny Appeal has been running a unique referral service offering information and support to would-be foster carers of all backgrounds.

“Some Muslim families are deterred from applying because they wrongly believe that adop-

tion is a sin,” said Tay Jiva, the charity’s adoption and fostering manager.

“Many Muslims have poor levels of knowledge about adoption,” she said. “They wrongly think that adoption is a sin.

By showing that this is a mistaken belief I am confident that more Muslims will consider applying to adopt a child who desperately needs a safe and loving home.”

The Penny Appeal has invited a group of prominent Islamic scholars to write a guidance document to clarify the religious stance on adoption and fostering.

The initiative will focus on the Midlands, which has a high proportion of Muslim residents, a large number of children being taken into care and the highest percentage of Muslim children being placed in non-Muslim foster homes.

“Being adopted by someone from the same religion could help ensure children’s religious and cultural needs were met,” said Jiva.

A

new legislation in Japan marked a significant change in the country’s law as it officially recognised a same-sex couple as foster parents; after two gay men were allowed to officially care for a teenage boy who has already been living under their watch - signalling a growing accepting LGBTQ rights there.

The couple, one in his 40s and one in his 30s, was certified as foster parents after it was determ-

ined that they “understood the foster care system and had the financial wherewithal to raise a child.”

The couple had submitted their request to be recognised as foster parents in late 2015, before undergoing lectures, training, scrutiny and a screening by a social welfare panel in Osaka before they were certified.

“I am happy we became foster parents [and recognised] as a single household, not just as in-

dividuals,” one of the men said adding that the boy was now “living a comfortable life.”

The legal recognition comes amid what appears to be a society warming toward recognising the rights of LGBTQ people in the coun-

try.

In 2015, Tokyo was the first city in Japan to recognise same-sex marriage, with the ward issuing certificates recognising samesex unions as “equivalent to marriage.”

It recently updated its national bullying prevention policy to include protection for LGBTQ students.

talk about guardianship under Islamic law are contained in different verses of the Holy Qur'an.

Any Muslim who is sane, adult and responsible may be a guardian under appropriate circumstances as Islam has developed its own concept known as kafalah under which a child who cannot be cared for by their biological parents may be taken by another family to live with them permanently but the

child is not entitled to adopt the family name or to inherit from them.

It is enlightening to note, though, that even predominantly Muslim countries, such as Tunisia and Somalia, have adoption legislations.

In at least five laws a juvenile is defined as a person less than seventeen years of age; in Edo and Delta States it is eighteen years.

Communal Spirit Strong for Child Care in Nigeria

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n Africa, and in particularly Nigeria, poverty has often made it impossible to contribute towards communal care of children.

It leads to the inability to afford quality ante and post natal care thus leading to higher rates of maternal mortality which in turn leads to higher numbers of motherless babies in need of foster care or outright adoption.

Child care in the country is different because it is seen more as a communal responsibility than that of the nuclear family.

In the old days it was the extended family system that took care of the child and ensured that he was never deprived nor ever in a

state of want.

Despite this, the nuclear family remains a very important factor in the life of every child. It is mostly from this immediate family that a child enjoys some security and most importantly some warm parental care and affection, which are elements every child needs in order to develop properly.

The resultant effect is that the number of juveniles in need of adoption keeps rising at skyrocketing rates.

In areas which practice the Islamic Personal Law, adoption is unacknowledged. Under Islamic law it is the issue of guardianship that is recognized.

The religious authorities that

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 31

LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE WITH DR NESLYN WATSON-DRUée CBE FRCN FCGI

Leadership Excellence

with Dr Neslyn Watson-Druée CBE FRCN FCGI

Transforming Business

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hat would successful business transformation look like if you were to start with the end in sight?

• There would be principles and models of good business practice that could be modified to meet changing needs and circumstances.

• Your business would be focused on your customers and clients.

• Your business would connect with people in terms of their need and your services and products would engender pride and confidence in their use.

So if the start of transformation begins with people, how do you make the process empowering?

You would work with your teams and supply chain to focus on the development of teams and individual leadership competencies.

You would select the right people with competencies, skills, abilities and vision. You would select people who: • Are aware of what they are deeply passionate about.

• Have excellent relationship skills • Adaptable, confident in their self-belief and self-competence.

Leaders in any business don’t have to be the same but they have to have one common denominator that is “High Emotional Capital”.

Businesses do not tick over through structures –it is through relationships.

You would enhance relationship skills for example, through feedback from the Emotional

Capital Report™, Emotional Capital 360 Report™ and Smart Coaching.

We need Star Performers to lead in difficult and uncertain times.

Emotionally intelligent leaders have the knack to establish and maintain mutually satisfying and positive relationships.

People have varying emotions and what appeals to them will vary.

Nonetheless, communication, trust and genuine care are foundations in all inter-personal relationships.

The energy in business is transformed when people are truly connected in communication rather than communicating in transactional ways.

This means that people need to invest time in fostering relationships and building networks with a range of stakeholders.

Every part of the business needs to ask the searching question – who is critical to our success?

Business environments are transformed when there is care and respect for the success of the business and for each person in the business.

When genuine interest is shown for the success of the business it promotes positive emotions by addressing people’s fundamental need for affiliation, involvement, recognition and accomplishment.

No matter how passionate or well placed, an individual cannot transform a business alone

This is where the concept of high-performing teams comes into action.

Transformation involves leading with incisive questions, enabling people to set in-

spired standards and then take inspired action while confronting the things (personal and business) that need to be transformed. Creating High Performing Teams is not by luck but by design.

How well does the team know its purpose; have clarity on individual roles and responsibilities; possess the competencies and the standards that are required for high performance?

To what extent does the team benchmarks its knowledge and standards to promote relentless improvement?

Given the scale of transformation that is currently required business leaders are really required to get to grips with the transformation required to restructure and reshape in changing environment?

When I work with business leaders I use the TMS approach as one of the key elements in personal and team development.

The Team Management Wheel lies at the heart of the Margerison-McCann approach to maximising personal potential in

building balanced, high performing teams and creating energy and resilience for success.

It focuses on individual development as a critical first step to effective team development within the context of concrete business objectives.

The Team Management Profile offers an easy-touse framework that accelerates teambuilding. Discussions centre on issues central to maximising and leveraging personal and team energies.

Just suppose that I am asking you questions as a leader, what would be your answers be to the following questions: • How much do you really know the potential of your staff?

• How well would your team map onto the Margerison-McCann Team Management Wheel?

• What are the values that are driving the decision-making in your business?

• How focused are your teams on product and service quality?

• How much energy is given to creativity within your business?

• What are the channels for promoting the business?

• Does your team value and use different approaches – seek strength in diversity?

• Is the team balanced, or are there gaps – and what can be

done about the gaps?

• Are people matched against preferences and outcomes in the best way to release their energies?

• Does the team have processes for influencing, understanding and managing conflict?

• Is there enhanced readiness for challenge and change?

I encourage you to: Help and support your people to build their optimism and manage ambiguity through the use of a tool that focuses on a person’s Opportunity Orientation Profile.

This tool provides: A personal profile that shows whether the individual focuses more on seeing opportunities or obstacles.

Benchmark for individual perspectives against a valid model of risk orientation.

Identify whether the team as a whole may take too many risks, or be too cautious.

Vividly demonstrating the complexity of getting a balanced view and enable powerful discussion in times of change and uncertainty.

Improved communication and mutual understanding.

An explanation of why conflict can occur when uncertainty is high.

The QO2 Profile offers valuable feedback for personal coaching session and explores critical issues around the management of unknowns for the whole team.

Improve your emotional intelligence with:

DR NESLYN WATSON-DRUÉE Neslyn@Neslyn.com

There is a limited offer on Leadership Breakthrough Coaching at

http://neslyn.com/breakthrough-coaching you can contact Neslyn at

Email: Neslyn@Neslyn.com http://Neslyn.com

Facebook: https://goo.gl/7HGTu0

Page 32 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Support Column May is Global Employee Health & Fitness Month!

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id you that May is Global Employee Health and Fitness Month!?

The goal of Global Employee Health and Fitness Month is for employers to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to their employers engaging their employees thoughts on how they could do more.

Employers have a incredible opportunity to help their employees with their health. We spend most of our time in the workplace.

Studies constantly show the benefit of a healthy and happy workplace on our mental and physical health.

So how does this relate to gynaecological and reproductive health?

As most women are embarrassed to freely admit they have a gynaecological or reproductive health issue which effects them in the workplace, it is VERY relevant.

The symptoms relating to any reproductive illness can be debilitating, causing time off work, loss productivity, and in some cases disciplinary meetings.

Do you think that employers should take into account reproductive health when dealing with women in the workplace?

Other health issues, such as mental health or a disability is catered for so why not reproductive health?

Should menstrual leave be placed within the same parameters of reproductive health when discussing women’s needs in the workplace.

Interestingly Italy could soon be offering women paid menstrual leave. It will allow women to take time off work, of up to 3 days per month for “painful periods.”

I’m interested in how this would be regulated, also what about those women who have endocrine disorders such as PCOS, Endometriosis, Fibroids or Adenomyosis.

No doubt the decision will have a massive impact on these women who deal with debilitating cramps, allowing them to use this leave rather

than the standard sick leave.

My personal concerns are that women are already subject to a gender bias, unconsciously or not, when it comes to recruitment.

The change in laws could encourage companies to hire more men. Also would the menstrual leave be effective, would it be used?

There is such a negative connection surrounding reproductive health that some women may still be embarrassed to take this leave.

Would it affect salaries for women or even career progression?

If employers engaged more with their female staff, as well as with organisations such as ourselves we can work together to combat these issues in the workplace.

A study on endometriosis alone shows that the United Kingdom economy is hit by £8.2 billion pounds a year due to endometriosis in the workplace.

The NICE Guidelines state that 1 in 2 people will suffer with a reproductive health issue during their life time, so this will all add up and cost the UK economy.

We can help combat this and find better solutions to support women in the workplace.

In order to effectively do so we are appealing for you to get in contact with us and let us know if you have ever suffered pain at work due to your reproductive health and if your employers did anything to help.

Or do you have any tips on how you manage your condition in the workplace?

Do let us know and send us a message.

Facebook: Cysters – Support and Awareness Group Twitter: @cystersbham LinkedIn: Cysters – Support and Awareness Group Website: www.cysters.co.uk Or have your say during our Twitter chat, every Tuesday from 7 – 8pm #CystersChat.

And don’t forget, you are beautiful no matter what illness you are suffering.

Love Neelam x

P

op-rockers, The Vamps’ frontman, Bradley Simpson, joined sick children at Birmingham Children’s Hospital as excitement builds in the city for this summer’s free public art event, The Big Sleuth.

Heart-throb Brad took time out of rehearsals for the band’s upcoming world tour to surprise the kids spending a few hours in the hospital’s Play and Admissions Centre designing and painting one of The Big Sleuth’s miniature bear’s, which could make it onto the 10-week trail.

The excited patients joined the 21 year-old Sutton Coldfield lead singer, as he used inspiration from the kids’ hospital visits and their love of music to add his artistic flair to the project.

The Big Sleuth, so named because sleuth is the collective noun for a group of bears, will see up to 100 giant bear sculptures (and bear cubs created by schools and young people) leave their paw prints all over the city as it gets set to be known as Bear-mingham in 2017.

The project, brought by Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and creative producers Wild in Art comes hot on the heels of The Big Hoot which attracted more than 800,000 visitors and in total raised over £625,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

Vamps’ Bradley A ‘Bear’-illiant Treat at Childrens Hospital

l Vamps Frontman Bradley during his visit to Birmingham Childrens Hospital

Steve Exceeds His Meningitis Now Charity Target of 50k

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here was a long overdue note to ‘Thank You Very Much’ for the kind response to requests back in October 2016 to support Steve Dayman’s Walk through Solihull on behalf of Meningitis Now. Very grateful for the enthusiasm and involvement of all of his supporters on his epic walk, Steve surpassed the £50,000 target set out to reach.

Responding to the successful 344-mile Morpeth, in the north-east to Bristol, in the south-west, walk, Meningitis Now, which was started by Steve himself quoted on their website.

“We are thrilled to report that not only has he arrived safely at his destination but he’s also cracked his £50,000 fundraising target, bringing to £2 million the amount he’s raised from walks alone towards the charity’s work over the last 30

years.”

The work of the Trust, founded by 68-year-old Dayman is invaluable in lobbying the government for immunisation legislation, funding research into new vaccines, providing support to those affected by the disease and also spreading awareness about Meningitis to everyone possible.

“Thank you for the part you played in supporting my efforts to support and publicise the walk,” Dayman said. “It was very much appreciated.”

Steve's son died from meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia at 14-month-old 19 years ago.

"Since that time," he said, "I have dedicated my life to create a better understanding of this terrible disease."

He has competed in many other fundraising events, including 10 marathon walks which has helped to raise money for meningitis research.

l Steve Dayman raised over £50,000 for Meningitis Now

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 33

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Happiness Can Help Children’s Mental Health Every Caribbean Donor Matters – Act Now and Save a Life!

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wo London-based clubs – Croydon Domino Club and Cosmopolitan Sports & Social Club – have announced their support for a major blood donation drive, in association with Kiwanis Brixton, a children’s charity raising money, through raffles and events, to fund a children’s hospital, Saturday Supplementary School, contributing to schools in Africa.

As well as hands-on projects at community centres for adults and children alike. #EveryCaribbeanDonorMatters, a collaboration between RAFFA International Development Agency, Blood4Life and NHS Blood & Transplant,

with support from UK Caribbean High Commissioners and MCW Ltd. are working together to raise awareness and improve Caribbean Diaspora communities understanding about blood donation and it’s life saving contribution to helping people of all ages lead healthier lives.

The overall goal is to increase the number of people from the Caribbean population group to register to donate blood and get involved in health promotion and self-care activities.

#EveryCaribbeanDonorMatters

l Dr. Tayyab Afghani

Pakistani doctor bags prestigious award

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Pakistani doctor has earned prestigious award at Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress held in Singapore.

Dr. Tayyab Afghani, a senior doctor of Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, was honoured with the esteemed award in recognition of his services in the field of eye care.

APAO is the highest forum of Ophthalmology in the Asia Pacific region that include 66 countries.

The awards are given to individuals having contributed significantly in their respective countries.

Dr. Afghani who is Director of Projects and Publications and Head of Oculoplastic Division was awarded with Outstanding Services in Prevention of Blindness Award.

He carries with him extensive experience in dealing with eye tumours and oculoplastic surgery.

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his year’s Children’s Mental Illness Awareness Week brought the warning signs of mental illness to the forefront of conversation - with the fact that people often make the mistake of confusing behavioral problems with mental illnesses - which means that so many children are left undiagnosed.

With the facts that about 75% of mental illness in young people starts before the age of 18 only a quarter referred to services are getting the right care.

Seven in 10 young people haven’t had sufficient care at an early age, whilst less than 30% of the total mental health research spends is focused on children and young people.

Everybody knows someone going through a tough time, and it can be hard to know what to do to help, especially where children are involved.

Children’s Mental Health Week encouraged everyone — adults and children alike — to spread a little kindness.

For those who fowwster a child, then it can sometimes be easy to mistake their symptoms of mental illness for simple misbehavior.

If you have not raised the child, then it is difficult to compare their mood swings, behaviour and actions to their usual self.

The best thing to do for the child in this situation, it has been suggesred, is to firstly ask them about their feelings and behavior, make them feel safe and protected and never ignore the warning signs.

Studies show that being kind can make you happier and less stressed.

It sound simple but in these moments, small acts of kindness can make all the difference.

Page 34 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

VAISAKHI 2017

Vaisakh

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oung and old, of all nationalities, skin colours, religions and backgrounds came together in their masses in Birmingham’s Handsworth Park on Sunday 30th April to celebrate on a day that was all about togetherness.

It was a day that saw an estimated 100,000 people turn out in support of the Sikh Festival of Vaisakhi, with many forming the two massive Nagar Kirtans processing from the Jewellery Quarter and Smethwick respectively.

Organised by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham, dignitaries from far and wide were present to be a part of the festivities that saw the

weather smile upon the second city in its support.

All of the Mayoral Candidates for the election on May 4th were also in good form, drumming up support as they entered the final week before the vote.

Handsworth Park and the roads surrounding it were awash with colour as locals, nationals and internationals alike sported brightly coloured clothing for the occasion.

“It’s a real pleasure to be here. Working with partners across the city to create a safe event,” explained Amrick Singh, Chair for the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham.

“We have Guru Granth Sahib Ji, our Eternal Living Guru who is here in the

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 35

VAISAKHI 2017

hi 2017

park with us to mark this magnificent event of the birth of the Khalsa in 1699.

“I wish everyone here today a fantastic Vaisakhi from everybody at the CSGB” This year sees the celebrations of the 350th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Sahib Ji, and the values of equality and respect, fairness and helping those less fortunate than ourselves were qualities that Prime Minister Theresa May made reference to in her Vaisakhi message.

The Phoenix Newspaper have been in attendance for multiple years, and have seen the evolution of the crowds both in size and diversity, which is why it has now grown into the biggest event outside of India.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham Cllr Carl Rice spoke of the rich tapestry of people that make up Birmingham and the West Midlands.

“Birmingham is far richer and more dynamic because of the contributions of the Sikh Communities.

“We adopt one simple principle. Treat each other as you wish to be treated, with dignity and respect. Values very much integrated into the Sikh tradition and culture.

“I am so proud to be Lord Mayor of such a diverse and multicultural city.”

It was a day of decent weather, community spirit, love and togetherness, showing just what it means to be a part of something bigger. Roll on 2018!

Page 36 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

AZUZA STREET

W Warwickshire and St Basils Join Forces to Address Homelessness

a r w i c k shire County Cricket Club has committed to addressing homelessness in Birmingham and the wider county of Warwickshire by naming St Basils as its Lead Charity Partner for the next two years.

St Basils, which provides accommodation, support and engagement services for young people at risk of homelessness, will work collaboratively with Warwickshire CCC’s charity, the Edgbaston Foundation, on new fundraising initiatives and sporting projects that will give young people more life skills.

The first of these projects is the Edgbaston Sleepout, which saw more than 30 people sleep rough in the grounds of Edgbaston Stadium to help raise funds and awareness of the work that St Basils and other charities supporting the homeless.

Warwickshire CCC Sport Director Ashley Giles, Birmingham City Council Chief Operating Officer Angela Probert and Bishop of Birmingham David Urqhart all signed up as sleepers for the event.

Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire CCC, said: “As a club, we have always been

active in our local community, through cricket coaching and player activity.

This partnership is a novel approach and demonstrates a commitment, on our part, in addressing a key issue in the region whilst helping make a real difference to the lives of young people.

Working in partnership with St Basils, we will be supporting some very innovative projects.

St Basils is a very dynamic charity and we look forward to working with them as our Lead Partner.”

Jean Templeton, chief executive of St Basils said, "We are delighted to be announced as the official charity partner for Warwickshire CC and to work collaboratively with the official charity the Edgbaston Foundation.

Working together, we believe we can increase profile, understanding and action to address youth homelessness.

We are particularly excited about the long-term commitment to our ground-breaking young workers' cooperative in Edgbaston which will help us shape a positive future for young people and leave a lasting legacy in the area."

Religions Expanding in China

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hina is in the grip of “one of the world’s great spiritual revivals” that shows no signs of slowing down, says Pulitzer-prize winning author Ian Johnson.

“The decades of anti-religious campaigns that followed the 1949 communist takeover are giving way to a spiritual transformation,” the author of ‘The Souls of China: The Return of Religion after Mao’ wrote.

“And among the fastest-growing drivers of that transformation are unregistered churches.”

Contending that China is experiencing an “explosion of faith,” he stated that these unre-

gistered churches have “become surprisingly well-organized, meeting very openly and often counting hundreds of congregants.”

He wrote: “They’ve helped the number of Protestants soar from about one million when the communists took power to at least 60 million today.”

Johnson spent six years exploring the “values and faiths of today’s China” as he explained that the persecution China’s Christians experience at the hands of the Communist government hasn’t deterred church growth.

“Any casual visitor to the country can tell you that the

number of churches, mosques, and temples has soared in recent years, and that many of them are full,” he wrote.

“While problems abound, the space for religious expression has grown rapidly, and Chinese believers eagerly grab it as they search for new ideas and values to underpin a society that long ago discarded traditional morality.”

Johnson’s findings echo those of Fenggang Yang, a professor of sociology at Purdue University and author of Religion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 37

OVERSEAS NEWS

Chef Rubén awarded ‘Best Chef in the Canary Islands’

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panish Chef Rubén Cabrera won the ‘Best Chef in the Canary Islands’ award at the prestigious ¡Qué Bueno!

Canarias Heineken regional gastronomy awards after receiving the highest distinction.

This was due to his constant creativity, innovation and passion for gastronomy excellence, which has made La Cúpula a must-visit restaurant for finediners in Tenerife.

The accolade is the latest recognition for Rubén, Head Chef of gourmet restaurant La Cúpula, located within Tenerife’s five-star Hotel Jardines de Nivaria, As well as being the representative chef for the Canary Islands in last month’s Madridfusión Gastronomy

Summit, he was awarded ‘Best Chef’ at Spain’s National Gastronomy Contest for the second year in a row in 2016.

Cabrera has been the Head Chef at La Cúpula since 2007 which has since enhanced his impressive culinary career. He was also given the first prize in the International Creative Cuisine Competition ‘Gamba Roja de Dénia’ in 2015.

The Adrián Hoteles gourmet restaurant, located on the fourth floor of Hotel Jardines de Nivaria, serves fusion food which mixes French and local Canarian cuisines, carefully prepared by the award-wining Chef and his team.

The eatery, which re-opened late 2016 after a full refurbishment, boasts

floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean, making it an ideal spot for visitors to celebrate a special occasion while on their sunny holiday.

Lions Clubs International 2022 convention to take place in India

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he announcement that the 2022 Lions Clubs International Convention will be held in India for the first time in the over 100-year history of the club has deservedly produced much excitement in the Indian Tourism Industry and among official stakeholder circles.

From across 120 countries, 35,000 delegates are expected to attend the convention in Delhi for the 4 day event.

Dr Naresh Aggarwal, who will take over as President of Lions Clubs International in July of this year said in Delhi, India, on April 20 that after the event, he expects the Indian share of world tourism to rise to 3 percent, from the present under one percent.

Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said that the Lions meeting will be a good opportunity to showcase India to the world. Also, 2022 is important as it will be the 75th year of independence for India.

The usual parade on the occasion will be held in the evening in Delhi, as July is a hot month; generally, it is held in the mornings.

The club, which is very active in India, has pledged to scan the eyes of 50 million children for eyesight problems.

Lions leadership has sought

Timberlake to Headline at F1 United States Grand Prix

I help from the government to ease visa rules for the convention.

India won the bid to host the Lions meeting against stiff competition from several other countries.

Over 6,000 rooms have already been booked in five-star hotels in Delhi, and more accommodation will be lined up in due course.

nternational superstar Justin Timberlake will taking on Lewis Hamiton, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, et al, as he will be performing at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) later this year.

The multi award-winning artist will be on the Super Stage as part of the 2017 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

Justin, who has just won his tenth GRAMMY Award with his Oscar-nominated hit single ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ has been featured in TIME Magazine’s ‘Most Influential Men of the World’ twice.

Last year’s F1 USGP broke COTA’s attendance records with over 269,000 people coming from all over the world to watch Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team driver, Hamilton, clinch his fifth USGP win—and fourth at Circuit of The Americas—as well as to enjoy turbo-charged live performances

by Taylor Swift and Usher & The Roots on COTA’s Super Stage following the racing action.

On the announcement, Circuit of The Americas Chair, Bobby Epstein, commented: “We’re thrilled to have Justin Timberlake perform at this year’s United States Grand Prix.

“After five years, the F1 USGP weekend at COTA has evolved into an annual destination where residents and visitors alike can experience a combination of world-class music, entertainment and motorsports.

“The combination of the incredible entertainment off and on-track with the amazing backdrop of Austin—and everything it has to offer—provides fans with an exhilarating weekend that simply cannot be missed.”

The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix covers October 20-22, with Timberlake performing on the middle (October 21) day.

Page 38 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL Seattle’s Pike Place Market to Be Extended

Pike Place Market, for many the heart and soul of Seattle, opens a £57 million extension of three quarters of an acre on 29 June this year.

Extending this world famous farmers market will broaden the attraction of Seattle’s beautiful seafront to visitors and sightseers.

Pike Place Market opened in August 1907 and is one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers markets in the United States with more than 10 million visitors annually.

Pike Place Market is home to over 225 small independent businesses and more than 85 local farmers, all providing stalls ranging from arts and crafts to fishmongers, groceries and sweet treats.

The market offers a diverse range of restaurants, seasonal produce, local hand crafted gifts and Washington made goods.

The diversity of produce and upbeat tempo of Pike Place Market creates a memorable experience for all.

Flying fish you say? Correct!

– only in Seattle. Join the local fishmongers who celebrate a sale by tossing a fish through the air to one another.

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ne of the world's most accomplished photographers is hosting a master class at Anse Chastanet Resort in St. Lucia for National Geographic Expeditions this year.

Joe McNally, whose acclaimed career includes assignments in more than 50 countries, will lead the classes at the eco-friendly resort.

McNally, who has contributed to National Geographic magazine for more than three decades, has been described by American Photo magazine as "perhaps the most versatile photojournalist working today" and listed as one of their 100 Most Important People in Photography.

Dubbed "Advanced Photo-

Anse Chastanet To Host Advanced Photography Workshop

graphy and Lighting Workshop," the session, to be held October 10-15, 2017, is designed for 16 advanced photographers and National Geographic Photography Workshop alumni.

Named a Nikon Legend Behind the Lens and voted one of the 30 most influential photographers of the decade by Photo District News, McNally will deliver lectures and guide participants through the complexities of advanced photography while taking them through the sprawling Anse Chastanet property, which features a tropical rainforest, an organic farm and jungle bike trails.

National Geographic Expeditions chose Anse Chastanet

because it is "blanketed in lush jungles, edged by luminous sandy beaches, and crowned by the staggering twin peaks of its iconic Pitons."

The six-day workshop is de-

signed to ensure participants benefit from daily instruction and critiques of their photographs offered by McNally and a support team of photographers.

Special Occasions Holidays On The Rise Gone are the days when a significant birthday or wedding anniversary was marked with a gold watch or a diamond ring.

Today the entire family can look forward to celebrating together on their dream holiday.

With a special occasion to celebrate, there’s no better way than taking a once in a life time holiday with family and friends.

There has been a massive increase in holidays booked with the sole purpose of celebrating an anniversary or special occasion.

It is no coincidence that luxury family holiday sales have also gone through the roof, as children, grandparents, extended family members and even close friends are now invariably included in the multi-generational trip to mark a silver or gold wedding anniversary, a 40th or 50th birthday, the last family holiday or retirement.

Celebrating Three Years Of Achievement at Health City

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ealth City Cayman Islands, the renowned Caribbean hospital, has treated more than 29,000 patients since it opened its doors three years ago.

As Health City celebrates its third anniversary this month, officials at the Joint Commission International-accredited (JCI) facility are recommitting to its pledge of high quality, affordable healthcare for all, and preparing for a long future of outstanding medical provision.

"As we continue on this journey, we've seen many more milestones achieved, not least more international patients coming to Health

City for treatment," says Dr. Chandy Abraham, Health City's CEO and Medical Director, pointing to a 55 percent year-on-year surge in international patients in the first two months of this year.

"Our positive patient experiences demonstrate our dedication to the highest possible standard of compassionate care," he adds, invoking the hospital's 1,900-plus procedures since opening in 2014, including more than 640 orthopedic surgeries, and over 280 cardiac surgeries, with overall infection and readmission rates of less than one percent.

Health City's medical teams, who treated patients from 60 countries just in 2016, champion

innovation and have scored some notable firsts in the region. Health City became the first hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean to use robotic navigation for joint replacements and the first to install two artificial hearts or left ventricle assist devices (LVADs).

Other Caribbean firsts include performing transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR) or implantations (TAVI); minimally invasive clot extraction for strokes, which dramatically improves post-stroke outcomes; and renal denervation, a minimally invasive procedure using radiofrequency ablation to treat resistant hypertension.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 39

HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL

City Reveals Record-Breaking Tourism Figures A ttracting in excess of 39 million visitors in 2016, Birmingham again established itself as one of the UK’s biggest tourism hotspots bringing in £6.5bn to the city’s coffers whilst shattering previous revenue records.

The figures revealed by tourism research company Global Tourism Solutions and the city’s own Marketing Birmingham showed that a large bulk of tourists visiting Britain’s second city came mainly from the Indian subcontinent, America, China and the Netherlands.

These key target markets brought in the majority of revenue, helping

to support over seventy thousand tourist related jobs in the second city.

Other Birmingham events thought to have contributed to the surge include the BBC Good Food Show, Grand Designs Live, Shakespeare’s 400th Anniversary, the Birmingham and Solihull Jazz and Blues Festival, the Conservative Party Conference and the renovations on Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s Edgbaston Stadium.

The figures beat the previous record in 2014, which saw Birmingham’s tourist numbers and visitor economy grow at a faster rate than any other major UK regional city.

Neil Rami, Chief Executive of

Marketing Birmingham, said: “This year marked an important milestone for Birmingham and the surrounding region.

“These record visitor figures are proof of the city’s rapidly growing profile domestically and across the world, and demonstrate that our collaborative approach has been a resounding success.

“Marketing Birmingham will continue to capitalise on Birmingham’s resurgence, ensuring we maintain and build on the city’s reputation as a globally competitive destination on the rise.

“We have long recognised the significance of working in partner-

Last Minute Deals To See The Best Of Jamaica

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ncredible beaches and a feel-good vibe are just a couple of things you can look forward to on a holiday to Jamaica.

There, all the Caribbean stereotypes are present and correct.

Along the coast, you’ve got white sands fringed by palms, and ramshackle beach bars serving up jerk chicken to Bob Marley beats.

Inland, meanwhile, hidden waterfalls, banana plantations and

soaring mountains vie for your attention.

Best of all, the scenery is served up alongside Jamaica’s famous take-it-easy vibe and its fair share of history, too, thanks to age-old mansions and 18th-century plantations.

The main resorts on the island are Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios, where, in these lively towns, luxury beachfront hotels sit shoulder-to-shoulder with

reggae bars, bric-a-brac huts and nightclubs.

A sleepier scene, meanwhile, comes courtesy of untouched Lucea and peaceful Runaway Bay. Here, you’ll find virgin beaches and a snail-like pace - a bona fide Jamaican blockbuster.

If you are looking for last minute holidays to the tropical Caribbean delight, trips jet off in the next few weeks.

ship with stakeholders across the city to showcase Birmingham’s year of £1 billion transformation to the fullest.”

Reflecting success in tourism across the wider region, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) chair Andy Street said: “These figures are a further example of Greater Birmingham’s significant

contribution to the growth of Britain’s economy.

“The area’s world-class culture, enterprise and innovation is attracting visitors and investment from across the globe, creating employment opportunities, and driving forward its reputation as a powerful gateway to the UK and Europe.

“Perceptions of Greater Birm-

ingham as a leading tourist destination continue to rise, with visitor numbers and revenue standing at an all-time high.

“Our economic and cultural renaissance is enabling us to tap into international visitor markets, and fast become one of Britain’s most thriving and dynamic business and visitor destinations.”

Page 40 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE New SDTL Legislation Correcting System Flaws Benjamin Franklin is credited with having once said that there are, “Two things certain in life: death and taxes.” Since the beginning of time, taxes in some form or another have been levied by governments.

The Stamp Duty Act of 2015 is a breath of fresh air in the business of taxation because it was legislation designed to right a wrong and correct a flawed system.

The Stamp Duty Tax, an important source of government revenue, is a tax on the purchase of property and land in the UK. It is calculated as a percentage of the cost and is applied to the whole purchase price of the property. For example, there is no duty on a house that cost 125,000 pounds, but a house costing 125,001 pays a duty of 1% adding 1250.01 to the purchase price.

Thanks to the Stamp Duty Tax of 2015 that which was once a dream is now a reality. Winston Churchill said that “There is no such thing as a good tax.” He might change his mind when he sees the good this tax may bring.

£23b Rail Improvements Vital To Bolster Infrastructure-Driven UK Property Development

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early two-thirds of property investors rated new and upgraded rail and tram links as providing the most attractive real estate development opportunities from the government’s £23 billion infrastructure scheme over the next five years, according to a new study commissioned by Amicus Property Finance, the specialist short term property lender.

Improved road transport links, local authority-sponsored urban regeneration schemes and airport

upgrades were ranked second, third and fourth respectively among property investors in terms of the potential offered by developing adjacent sites.

Analysis of the government-backed projects on an individual basis shows that three-quarters of property developers ranked Crossrail and Crossrail 2 as offering the most potential for residential schemes, ahead of High Speed 2, Thameslink and superfast broadband.

According to the study, an

overwhelming majority of UK property developers believe that their peers are increasingly looking to capitalise on opportunities generated by the new £23 billion government-backed infrastructure programme over the next five years.

Keith Aldridge, Founder & Managing Director at Amicus Property Finance, said: “The government’s decision to invest in building new infrastructure and upgrading existing assets provides a tremendous opportunity for residential and commercial property developers and we can expect this to continue for many

years to come.

The longer term impact on regenerating existing residential communities and creating new ones cannot be underestimated, particularly when combined with the government’s renewed commitment to addressing the country’s housing gap.”

Amicus Property Finance’s research also revealed that Crossrail and Crossrail 2 as the highest ranked government infrastructure schemes for commercial property development followed by High Speed 2, Thameslink and Manchester Airport.

Future Living Left Hanging

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new form of living/ working accommodation unveiled will leave you agog in astonishment.

Cited as a city of the future, this new concept art from New York design firm Clouds Architecture Office has some beautifully outlandish ideas on the subject.

The firm has proposed a tower that, instead of being supported by the ground and reaching up into the sky, would instead hang suspended from an asteroid.

Named ‘Analemma,’ the proposed skyscraper would be the tallest building ever created, and would travel thousands of miles each day between the northern and southern hemispheres in a figure-of-eight loop - including a daily pass over New York City.

The lower end of the tower, closest to the planet surface, would be given over to offices, and above that would be an agricultural area, with sleeping quarters approximately two-thirds of

the way up. The designers note that the top of the tower would get 40 minutes extra daylight each day due to the curvature of the earth.

"By placing a large asteroid into orbit over earth," they say," a high strength cable can be lowered towards the surface of earth from which a super tall tower can be suspended.

Since this new tower typology is suspended in the air, it can be constructed anywhere in the world and transported to its final location."

The skyscraper would be powered using space-based solar panels, which would be constantly exposed to sunlight.

For water needs, it would have a "semi-closed loop system," filtering and recycling supplies while replenishing them with "condensate captured from clouds and rainwater."

The designers did not stipulate who would be responsible for cleaning the windows.

Countdown for landlords to meet energy target begins

Landlords now have just a year to meet a new energy-friendly target for the properties they rent – or face a restriction on granting new tenancies.

In 2016, the government declared that all tenanted properties must achieve a minimum of an E rating in their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Landlords whose buildings fail to reach this standard by April 2018 will no longer be able to offer a tenancy to new tenants.

Those who let properties with an EPC rating below or close to the required rating must ensure works are carried out to bring their homes up to scratch in the next 12 months.

Allison Thompson, managing director at property specialist Leaders, one of the UK’s largest residential property groups, says: “Failure to achieve a minimum of an E rating will leave landlords unable to let a property to a new tenant, while some recent legal updates have suggested they could also be prevented from renewing an existing tenancy.

As the deadline gets even

closer, we expect tradespeople capable of carrying out ecofriendly home improvements to be in extremely high demand, so landlords would be wise to have work carried out sooner rather than later.

The good news for landlords whose properties fall below the minimum standard is that there are plenty of ways to upgrade a property’s energy performance, including adding insulation to the walls and ceiling, draught-proofing, installing a new boiler and repairing or replacing doors and windows.”

Thousands of older properties across the UK – particularly those that date back to the Edwardian and Victorian periods – are expected to fail to reach an E rating, making green improvements a must.

Allison adds: “Although some landlords will be required to spend significant sums on improving their homes in the next 12 months, it’s worth remembering the benefits of doing so.

These include potentially enjoying significantly lower gas and electricity bills for years to come.”

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 41

Obituaries

Charlie Murphy

B Ugo Ehiogu

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giant on the field of play, and a bigger human being off it, the former West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Leeds United and Rangers star – winning the League Cup twice (in 1996 and 2004) was an England international was feared by centre forwards yet loved by people, in general, for his great humility and fortitude.

A colossus of a centre-half, he worked with the England under-20 football team and was part of Peter Taylor's coaching team at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup before moving on to be the coach of the Tottenham Hotspur U23 team.

Born of Nigerian parents, Ugo died, age 44, after suffering a cardiac arrest at Spur's training ground.

rother of legendary comedian and Hollywood superstar Eddie, fellow-comedian and actor, voice artist, and writer Charlie Murphy died following his battle with leukemia.

Best known for starring in classic films like; 'Jungle Fever,' ‘Lottery Ticket’ and ‘CB4,’ he was also well-known for his popular skits on Comedy Central's 'Chappelle's Show' in which he wrote and co-starred. He also

OBITUARIES AND COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD

Germaine Mason

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he Jamaican born Great Britain Olympic high jump medalist died after a motorcycle crash, in his home country.

Germaine, with the distinction of winning global medals for two countries, won a silver medal for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

The 34-year-old is believed to have lost control of his bike and crashed, dying instantly Britain last medaled in the event at the 1908 London Games.

toured with comedians George Lopez and D.L. Hughley.

“We lost one of the funniest most real brothers…” said actor/ comedian Chris Rock.

Charlie Murphy is survived by his brother Eddie and three children. His wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, died from cervical cancer in 2009. He was 57.

Darcus Howe

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he nephew of Caribbean intellectual C.L.R. James, Trinidad-born Darcus was a leader of the U.K.'s Black power movement which was at the forefront in challenging institutional racism.

He masterminded a campaign to stop the Metropolitan Police from clos-

ing down the Mangrove Restaurant in Notting Hill, in London, a hub of Black culture, after several police raids there. He later organized a march to protest against the failure of police to fully investigate allegations that a racially motivated arson attack caused the New Cross Fire, in which 13 young people died.

On the 2011 riots he said his concern was with Mark Duggan – whose death started the riots in Tottenham - his family and the number of young Black men being subjected to random police searches.

He suffering from prostate cancer and died age 74.

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If you’ve got an event, notice or information that you’d like to advertise on our community notice board, get in touch with us on:

Museums a Night: Lon t don

Museums a opening ho t Night makes you fo urs in rget London’s fe a series of one-off e usual vents at st iv a l of late-nig If the men ht ti you think o on of a trip to the m culture useum ma f stuffy exh ke ibitions an d school tr s w e ll th ips, ink again.

This year’s sp Night’ take ring edition of ‘Muse 17- Saturd s place from Wednesd ums at after-hours ay May 20 2017, with ay May events a serie museums a at some of the capita s of nd unusual l’s attractions. best

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Page 42 - The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS Southgate Pays Tribute to ‘Colossal’ Ehiogu

l Grassroots Athletics will be targetted under the London 2017 Inspiration Programme

England manager Gareth Southgate led the tributes from the world of football after the sudden death of Tottenham Hotspurs’ coach, and former Aston Villa, Middlesborough and international defensive partner, Ugo Ehiogu.

“I was stunned and deeply saddened by Ugo’s passing,” he said. “I probably played more games with him than anybody else in my career and, while in many ways he was a gentle giant away from football, he was a colossus on the pitch.

“It felt like a true partnership because we were prepared to put our bodies on the line for each other.

“Most importantly, he was a gentleman and he is one of those characters that people would find it difficult to have anything bad to say about.

“Ugo was a credit to football, a credit to his family and he will be missed by everybody who was lucky enough to know him.”

Southgate and Ehiogu enjoyed a successful playing partnership in central defence at Villa and Borough, helping both sides to League Cup triumphs, Spurs’ U23 coach, Ehiogu, 44, was rushed to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest before passing away in the early hours of the following morning.

Over £2M Committed to London 2017 Inspiration Programme

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ondon 2017 Limited has announced how the Inspiration Programme will have a lasting impact on sport and community.

‘Team Personal Best’ will inspire a programme of local community activities designed to get people who are encouraged by

London’s role as host to become involved in grassroots athletics.

Investment will be in five key areas – disability, volunteering, schools, community and international – with the aim of removing barriers and growing capacity for increased interest.

With the World Para Athletics Championships taking place in

July and the IAAF World Championships London 2017 taking place in August, organisers and partners have already secured £2m of investment towards the Programme.

One of the partners, England Athletics, will be in receipt of £900k from the Spirit of 2012 over the next three years.

The funding was awarded in response to research commissioned by Spirit of 2012 and conducted by England Athletics and is for the purpose of delivering the volunteer programmes on behalf of the 2017 Inspiration Board, aiming to increase the number, diversity and skill-sets of athletics volunteers.

The grant will secure the delivery of 200 athletics open days manned by volunteers during major events and will lead to increased capacity for athletics participants at club level.

Part of the Programme’s focus will also be on recruiting disabled volunteers and on enhancing the experience of the existing volunteers and officials in athletics.

Baroness Jowell, Chair of the Inspiration group, commented: “I am passionate about sport and the power it has to change lives.

Team Personal Best will give communities across the country the opportunity to get involved

in 2017 and celebrate in the way that best works locally.”

Spirit of 2012 Chief Executive, Debbie Lye, explained: "This research confirms what other Spirit projects are demonstrating – that volunteering plays a crucial role in making things happen.

“When it is well organised with care taken to train, reward and recognise volunteers it also improves people's skills and the wellbeing of both volunteers themselves and the people they support.

“We saw that during London 2012, we're seeing it again now in Hull where we’re supporting the 2017 City of Culture Volunteer Programme and we look forward to helping drive a positive shift in Athletics volunteering."

London 2017 Ltd Championship Director, Niels de Vos, welcomed the investment in volunteering: “You only have to look at the record applications for our Runners Volunteering Programme to see the people are passionate about supporting athletics.

“It’ll be exciting to see our sport harness the interest in the Summer of World Athletics to better support grassroots athletics.”

FootGolf Attracting Converts in Dubai

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combination of football and golf, ‘footgolf’ is proving a fastest-growing sport, with the number of courses set out for it already in the hundreds worldwide.

At the Montgomerie Dubai Golf Club, the par 3 course it’s one of the most accessible ways for eager sports fans lacking the arm-eye co-ordination to drive anything other than big, deep divets.

By no means unique to the state – footgolf has been in play in Abu Dhabi for a while, with several courses dedicated to the sport running leagues.

The PGA is also keen, with American president Ted Bishop describing the game as a way to grow the reach of golf itself.

The rules are very similar to a normal round – officially, players should wear golf attire, and football shirts are strictly banned.

The Montgomerie takes a less strict approach, though, encouraging foot-

ball shirts and casual sportswear.

The rules are all straightforward enough – each hole on the club's course are splits in two, with golfers heading to a hole the right, and footgolfers aiming for a much larger one to the left.

It's clear the club expects the fusion sport to take off – even hinting at the launch of a supporters' club league for Dubai's army of devoted football fans.

While the jury-in general-is still out, this hybrid sport is relentless in gathering more converts, especially in the Middle East.

UKA Create Athletes’ Commission As part of its on-going review process, UK Athletics (UKA) have created an ‘Athletes’ Commission’ to provide a formal mechanism whereby the perspective and expertise of Britain’s international athletes will be heard by the Board and Performance Oversight Committee.

Providing a direct and formal link between athletes and the UKA Board, the driving force behind the creation of the commission is former athlete and three-time Olympics medalist Kelly Sotherton who said: “As athletes, we always need a formal voice and role in the on-going future development of our sport. I’m pleased that we are able to work together to create a platform that allows athletes to provide effective input into decision-making - at all levels.”

l Former Athlete and ThreeTime Olympic Medalist Kelly Sotherton UKA President, Athens Olympics 4x400metres gold medalist, Jason Gardener, said: “This Commission will provide a fantastic opportunity. I’m excited at seeing the positive difference athletes can make to the governance of our sport.”

The membership of the Commission will have at least 33% of members being: male and female; from able bodied and Paralympic events; current international athletes plus have at least 15% of members from non-Olympic/Paralympic events and have no more than two athletes from any one event.

Whilst ensuring that the make-up is representative of the British athletics team in terms of BAME.

The Phoenix Newspaper - May 2017 - Page 43

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS Afghanistan Women's Team Building for the Future

l Heather Rabbatts

Kick It Out and PFA force FA hand in reform plans After Kick It Out chair Lord Herman Ouseley joined the Professional Footballers Association in dismissing the English Football Association’s reform package after it came under extreme pressure to change, and MPs passing a motion of 'no confidence' in its ability to reform itself proposals that would boost diversity have been unanimously approved by the FA council.

Unimpressed with the guarantee that only two of the 11 additions to the 122-strong FA council will be BAME candidates, with no mention of non-white representatives on the FA board, Lord Ouseley said.

"These reforms will no doubt satisfy those who are making demands on the FA, such as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Sport England and UK Sport, but these long-overdue reforms won't satisfy minority groups.

“Until we see real change and inclusion in these positions of power, changes are likely to just be superficial. After decades of campaigning, that is a crying shame."

Now the reforms, which include increasing the number of women on the FA's board, will now go forward to the FA's annual general meeting on May 18.

Branding the FA chair Greg Clarke’s plan a "sham" for failing to properly address the under-representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voices within football's leadership, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said.

"The new governance reforms showed a complete disrespect for key stakeholders in the game - principally the players (PFA), the managers (League Managers Association), referees and supporters.

“Their only transparency is their lack of diversity and such proposals do nothing to bring us in line with the rest of the world or alter the perception of lacking inclusion and being disconnected 'dinosaurs'."

The FA has proposed reducing its board from 12 to 10 members and increasing the number of women on it to three by 2018. Heather Rabbatts is the only woman who sits on the FA board of 12.

The proposals require a 75% majority to be adopted.

F l The centre, above, as well as the teams that call Páirc na hÉireann their home

Gaelic Football HQ Threatened by Relief Road Link

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he future of a sporting institute is under threat with news that a £282m relief road could mean the end of its existence.

Plans are afoot for the road, at junction 6, by the National Exhibition Centre, could be the end for Páirc na hÉireann, home to Warwickshire Gaelic Athletic Association, where, every weekend, hundreds of people play hurling, camogie and Gaelic football there.

The site, near Bickenhill, in Solihull, was built up with money raised by the Irish community which bought the land in the 1950s and is the principal Gaelic games sports facility in the West Midland. It is also the current home grounds of the Britain GAA. Páirc na hÉireann has hosted numerous Warwickshire Gaelic football and hurlingmatches as well as the provincial knockout championships and the British University Gaelic football Championships.

Most recently, with the entry of Warwickshire's hurling team into

the Lory Meagher Cup and the Leinster Junior Shield, it also regularly hosts hurling teams from Ireland.

Treasurer Martin Morgan has a 30-year association with the club, having also played there.

He said: "Highways England wants to take treasured memories away. There's no other complex as big as this outside Ireland. This is prime location and we're not going to move from here."

Highways England said the upgrade is needed to ease severe congestion and prepare for the arrival of a new HS2 station, which will also see traffic grow.

"We are in touch with the club and will keep them fully informed," said a spokesperson.

"As with all of our schemes, we would do everything we can to minimise its impact on the environment, local communities, local businesses, road users and residents."

Three options for the route are being considered with a dual carriageway link due to pass right through the association's land.

or women in Afghanistan, playing outdoor games was out of question under the repressive Taliban government.

But the emergence of a national women’s soccer team in recent years is one of the many developments that symbolize changes the strife-torn country has since undergone.

The team recently competed in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in Islamabad.

Although the team won no matches, players sounded upbeat that they will do better in the future. They are also confident new President Ashraf Ghani will take further steps to promote women's soccer in Afghanistan.

Team captain, Frozan Tajali, 21, said; "Yes, women are now free and can play football [in Afghanistan]. We organized the league recently for selecting the national team and 20 girls came just from one province alone to Kabul to take part in the league.”

Gaelic Football HQ Under Threat - Inside Back

Southgate leads tributes for former team mate - Page 42

NCAA Side Set for Lions and Riders Matches

A Great Birmingham 10K Boosts Commonwealth Bid

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he University of Rhode Island is visiting the UK to face both London Lions and BBL Champions Leicester Riders as part of the pre-season for the 2017-18 campaign.

Known as the Rams, Rhode Island play in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic 10 Conference which will give their British opponents a tough test in the invitational games.

The Americans will step out in the capital against the Lions, at London City University and the Riders, at the Leicester Arena, in August.

Riders Chair Kevin Routledge stated: "We are delighted to be hosting a prestigious US college team like Rhode Island at our new Leicester Arena.

It will give our fans the opportunity to see US college basketball and will be a great way to start the build up to our own pre-season, and the new BBL season.

Rams coach Danny Hurley is looking forward to the match-ups saying: "We are excited to embark on our summer basketball tour.

“We will take on two very talented teams who are top in the British Basketball League.

“The cultural and athletic experiences our team will enjoy during our stay in England will provide our student-athletes with a lifetime of memories and invaluable playing experience on the court."

O

l Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K Commonwealth Run participants Adam Guy, Graham Williams, Alison Fox and Thomas Glave with Ian Stewart rganisers of the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k created a distinctly Commonwealth theme to raise the profile of the city’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games with runners representing Canada, Jamaica, England and Wales, gathering at Birmingham’s Council House in Victoria Square to meet each other for the first time.

Meeting for the first time were runners Alison Fox (Canada),

from Nottingham, Thomas Glave (Jamaica), from Birmingham, Graham Williams (Wales), from Smethwick and Adam Guy (England), from Birmingham who was joined by Birmingham-born Ian Stewart, one of the world’s leading distance runners between the late 1960s and mid-1970s, who flew the flag for Scotland.

Admin worker Alison, who hails from Ontario but now lives in Nottingham, has lost a remarkable 11 stone in weight since she started running following a fam-

ily bereavement.

Her grandfather was born in Scotland and after completing a study-abroad year in Leeds in 2011 she applied for a UK ancestry visa to allow her to live and work in the UK. “I only started running two years ago when I was trying to lose weight,” said the 29-yearold. “I discovered I really enjoyed it. Before, I couldn’t run five-feet, let alone 10K! One of my running heroes is the Canadian marathon record holder

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Lanni Marchant and I asked her for some advice before my first full marathon and she even congratulated me after I finished it.”

The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k was accessible to all levels of ability, whether it was walkers, joggers or runners.

“With a population of over a million people in the city and an array of Commonwealth nationalities, it was a spectacular day in Birmingham,” said Great Run Communications Director, David Hart.

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The University of Birmingham with a large team signed up to take part in the event have pledged to support the campaign.

The Commonwealth initiative is the next stage in the development of the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k in which entrants were treated to a host of music, with themed warm ups from different era’s and up to a dozen bands playing on the route.

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