Boo! Where’s the sunshine gone? Things may be getting stormy, but when has that stopped any of us from making the best of things? This week, we’ve been focusing on outdoor activities as we have friends coming to visit for the first time since lockdown. There is so much to do here in the Midlands that we’re sure that rain will not stop play! Cadbury World, The Great Central Railway, Sea Life Centre, National Space Centre, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, King Richard III centre, the National Trust’s Stoneywell and Back to Backs are high on our agenda and, of course, there’s nowhere as atmospheric on a rainy day than Calke Abbey!
Should the sun make an appearance, we’re spoilt rotten with green open spaces in the Midlands and of course there’s everyone’s favourite pastime: shopping! Be rude not to have a spot of lunch too, wouldn’t you say?
So, this weekend, please remember to love where you live as, after all, it takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.
Until next week.
Take care,
Jon, Kevin and the #FUFighters
Image: Bradgate Park courtesy of nationalforest.org
OBLIGATORY BAD JOKE
13 WAYS THAT WORKING LIFE MAY NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN
With Uber, Google, Apple and Amazon joining a long list of companies reevaluating their policies on employees working from home what does this really mean for them in the longer term; have we fully explored the impact on working life?
Toni Robinson, MD of human resources specialists, NucleusHR looks at what we can we expect to change as a result of many businesses not having the confines of an office and asks how will working from home on a larger scale than ever before change the world? Read her thoughts here.
COVENTRY ARTS GET FUNDING BOOST
With the UK arts sector still waiting for details of the Government’s £1.57bn funding package, Heart of England Community Foundation and Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 have joined forces to award more than £56,000 to 95 organisations and individuals in the region. READ MORE
BIRMINGHAM GETS ITS OWN RAINBOW WALK
Visitors to Birmingham’s bustling gay quarter can now ‘sissy that walk’ on the city’s very own Rainbow Crossing and it’s a total selfie hotspot!
Originally planned to coincide with Birmingham Pride, the #crosswithpride project was completed by local drag performers James ‘Gavina’ Cowper and Matthew ‘Blanche’ Stephens.
AN INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL ONLINE NOW UNTIL 23 AUGUST
The festival celebrating South Asian culture, An Indian Summer, is now open online until the 23rd August offering a huge range of things to do with incredible events and acts including comedian Nish Kumar, basketball star Jamell Anderson, influencer and writer Poorna Bell, BBC Music Introducing artist Amrit Kaur, a brand new track from Bandish Projekt, a digital art exhibition, film series and more.
Visit www.indiansummer.org.uk to get involved!
MADE FESTIVAL CONFIRMS ITS RETURN WITH HEADLINER THE STREETS
The West Midlands’ biggest electronic music festival and celebration of street culture, Made, has confirmed it will return for summer 2021 at its impressive new home: Sandwell Valley Country Park. Birmingham’s favourite son, The Streets, will headline in front of what should be his biggest ever home turf crowd. Festival fans can secure a ticket now for just a £5 deposit then pay nothing until 2021.
Check out their tongue in cheek feature length film ‘365 Days Later’ inspired by classic Zombie movies announcement: HERE
Find out more and get your tickets at WWW.MADE-FESTIVAL.CO.UK
HOSPICE CALLS FOR NEW TRUSTEES TO HELP THEM GO FOR GOLD
Up to five trustees are being sought by KEMP Hospice which is striving to achieve “gold standard” status by 2024. Up for the challenge? Find out what it takes here.
Birmingham ACCENTS UNPOPULAR WITH ALEXA
If Alexa and Siri’s misunderstandings are leaving you with a right cob on, a new survey says it could be because your Birmingham accent is too strong and nothing to do with their lugs! According to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service, smart devices struggle to understand over 23% of UK accents with Birmingham being the fourth and Leicester’s being the seventh hardest for smart devices to understand leaving users ready to lamp it one…
MOSTLY JAZZ FESTIVAL CROWDFUND TO LET THE MUSIC PLAY
The wonderful Mostly Jazz, Funk and Soul Festival – one of the jewels of the Midlands festival scene – has been asking for help to keep the festival alive and is close to reaching its Crowdfunding target of £40k (they are currently on £35k).
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP HERE
FREE CINEMA TICKETS FOR KEY WORKERS AT ODEON BROADWAY PLAZA
ODEON is offering thousands of FREE cinema tickets to Blue Light Card members until the 24th August, to show gratitude to these public sector heroes across the country. FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOURS HERE
ENJOY SUMMER SAFELY AND SHOP LOCAL
BID Leicester is backing the government initiative of asking shoppers to support their local shopkeepers by shopping and sharing their experience online using photos or videos using the hashtag #shoplocal to encourage and reassure those that are yet to venture out of doors that shopping is safe.
ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR FOODIE AWARDS
The best of Coventry and Warwickshire’s food and drink scene will be celebrated of a new awards program designed to support businesses as they re-emerge from lockdown with the first Foodie Awards, in partnership with Visit Coventry and supported by Coventry BID. FIND OUT HOW TO ENTER HERE
CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO KEEP KIDS SAFE THIS SUMMER
A hard-hitting NHS campaign aimed at keeping children safe over the summer is acting as a plea to parents and children to be aware of the dangers that they face and to take steps to avoid preventable incidents.
Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) created the campaign which will focus on a different theme every week such as water safety, playing in abandoned and derelict buildings and by railway lines.
READ OUR TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE THIS SUMMER
BIRMINGHAM SNAPSHOTS ILLUMINATE LIFE UNDER LOCKDOWN
The incredible ways Birmingham has adapted to life under lockdown are revealed in a new collection of photographs. See the photographs here and vote for your favourite.
CELEBRATE AFTERNOON TEA WEEK WITH THE PERFECT HOMEMADE SCONE
We all love Afternoon Tea and with many of us working from home, there has never been a better time to pop a treat in to bake in between Zoom meetings! To celebrate Afternoon Tea Week and in anticipation of The Great British Bake Off, which is filming now, here are two recipes for the perfect scones: sweet and savoury for the star baker!
HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG HEALTHY AND HAPPY IN THE HEAT
As dog owners, we will do whatever we can to ensure our dogs are fit, healthy and safe. However, when the weather changes, there is an extra element owners must consider when looking after their dog’s health, extreme heat. CLICK HERE to read the main things you can do to help your dog regulate their body temperature and keep them cool when temperatures soar.
TWO NEW DIGITAL SUMMER SCHOOLS FROM THE REP
With today being International Youth Day, Birmingham Repertory Theatre have launched two new online Summer Schools: Theatre Making for those aged 13-18 and Spy School for ages 7-12. FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED HERE
GET GLAMPING AT WARWICK CASTLE THIS SUMMER
Fancy a night in a four-poster bed? Warwick Castle’s legendary Glamping returns this August and September for a family adventure you’re sure to remember! Find out how you can stay for just over £50p/p here.
GET PAID TO LAZE AROUND WITH YOUR DOG
Looking for a new job? With the summer holidays in full swing, why not use that time to get paid testing bean bags with your pooch? That’s right, if you love lazing around with your four-legged friend, you could now do it for cash!
WEST MIDLANDS WEEKENDERS ANNOUNCED TO KEEP THINGS CULTURAL
A major programme of free arts events has been launched to showcase and support the region’s arts and creative community. Find out more about the WM Weekenders here.
THIS WEEK’S ULTRA MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE…
The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
– Dolly Parton
