Emily Aitchison

Communities around six Birmingham railway stations can embark on a journey to improved health as experts lead a series of free fitness and wellbeing events and activities. The ‘Thrive Stations’ initiative has launched with the backing of West Midlands Railway and funding has been provided to support a programme of activities until October. The aim is to provide accessible fitness and wellbeing services direct to the community. Areas served by the stations – Perry Barr, Duddeston, Jewellery Quarter, Aston, Witton and Hamstead – will be the venues for the wellbeing pop-ups, designed and operated by wellbeing experts Parveen Talwar from Communities …

West Midlands railway communities on track to fitness in pioneering scheme Read More »

Jobseekers can now receive free expert career coaching thanks to a new community enterprise. The Pay it Forward Enterprise, based in Coventry, offers career advice, CV and cover letter writing as well as proofreading, interview practice and follow up support, all with a focus on improving the jobseeker’s confidence and mental wellbeing. With over 800,000 people in the UK unemployed due to Covid-19, and the West Midlands hit particularly hard, bosses hope this will throw a lifeline to those who need it most. The community project is supplying its services free of charge so is calling for corporate sponsors and …

New social enterprise is offering free support to those made redundant by Covid-19 Read More »

A stunningly sketched black and white graphic diary of the UK’s pandemic experience has gone global after taking social media by storm and providing 25,000 meals for people in need. Vic Lee’s Corona Diary raised £5,000 for the food charity FareShare when it was self-published in the first months of the pandemic last year. Among hundreds of stories in the unique book, which chronicles a whole 12 months, Vic mentions Marcus Rashford’s work with FareShare and was inspired to donate himself. Now, a year on, a second book has gone global thanks to it being picked up by a publisher …

London artist’s compelling Corona diary compared to the work of Samuel Pepys goes global Read More »

A Birmingham restaurant preparing to reopen after lockdown is offering a free exclusive dining experience to thank the unsung superstars who have helped others through the pandemic. Award-winning Thai restaurant Zen Metro is offering 10 community heroes and a guest the chance to enjoy a newly launched three-course Bottomless Brunch, with wine or Prosecco available during Friday and Saturday lunchtimes. The restaurant, in Cornwall Street, is initially reopening its doors on Monday, May 17, and the special ‘thank you’ event will take place later, once restrictions allow. Jaimon George, managing director, said: “As we emerge out of lockdown and open our doors again to …

Award-winning Birmingham restaurant set to open doors to lockdown heroes Read More »