Birmingham Mail

Festive Concerts Offer Cheer to Charities

THE City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is spreading Christmas cheer by inviting charities to collect funds at a concert. Festive Favourites, hosted by TV favourite Alan Titchmarsh, will offer a limited number of charities the chance to generate funds. To participate, the charities, which must be registered or have a branch operating in West Midlands, have to submit a 100-word application to the CBSO by November 4 stating why they should be considered and how the money raised will benefit t...

Funding Cut Is a 'Death Sentence' ; Health: Recovering Addict's Horror at Cash Shake-Up

WITH her alcohol addiction spiralling out of control, Jeanette Siret saw no reason to carry on. After surviving her suicide attempt the 50-year-old managed to find the help she needed at Acocks Green-based Tenchlee House - a residential care unit run by SIFA Fireside.

Faith Groups in Showcase ; Culture: Celebration of Work Done in Communities

RELIGIOUS leaders will join together for the city's first ever Inter Faith week. An array of workshops, seminars, celebrations and other culturally enriching activities will take place for seven days to highlight the work which has been done to build strong relations in the city.

Lights, Camera, Brum?

IN TROUBLED times we need big hopes and bright dreams, and visions don't come more technicolour than Jonathan Stuart Brown's bold plan to make the West Midlands the UK's movie capital. Give him five minutes of your time and the Walsallbased screenwriter and journalist will sweep you along in a tide of enthusiasm for his grand project.

Championing Street Pride

STREET champions are wanted in Selly Oak to help spruce up the area and to deal with its problems of graffiti and fly-tipping. The new Environmental Working Group wants people to join up to help look at ways of improving their streets and encouraging others to take pride in the area.

Close Encounter with a Sculptor

LICHFIELD artist Kirsty E Smith will give a talk about her psychedelic new exhibition tomorrow. The sculptor will describe the story behind Close Encounters of a Frillip Moolog Kind, which features at Solihull Art Gallery until November 14. Familiar domestic objects are combined with fabric, wood and metal to create a series of unexpected "beings".

Area Is Cradle of Inventions ; Map: West Midlands Is a Hotspot for Scientific Innovation

THE West Midlands has been hailed as a scientific powerhouse packed with inventions and innovations on a new online map. THE WEST SUCCESSES The jet engine and Brylcreem are among ten local scientific and engineering feats that feature on a map which will help decide which region has the greatest scientific heritage. The British Science Association has invited the public to explore each of the regions' achievements on the onlinemap, before casting a vote to decide which has the proudest scient...

Mp in Appeal for Arthritis Sufferers

A BIRMINGHAM politician has called for better services for people with rheumatoid arthritis after meeting sufferers at an event in Westminster. Steve McCabe MP (Lab, Hall Green) spoke to members of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and discovered how the disease, which affects more than 580,000 people in England and can cause severe disability, impacts on people's working lives.

Plea Over Charity Night

THE organiser of a charity night is desperately looking for an entertaining volunteer to kick-start the event on Friday. Dawn Turner, the mother of two serving soldiers, is running a Halloween party at Oceana to raise funds for Help for Heroes. However, the firedancer who was due to perform outside the club has let her down and she is now looking for someone to fill the gap.

Showcase for Asian Comics

Justice in Question

Beeb 'Not Fair' with Parties

A MINOR political party has accused the BBC of allowing voters to 'slip through the cracks in democracy' by not inviting a wider range of parties to televised discussions. The swipe fromNew Party spokesperson Richard Vass comes in the aftermath of last week's Question Time controversy which pushed the broadcaster firmly into the spotlight. Mr Vass said it was inevitable the British National Party would enjoy a surge in interest following leader Nick Griffin's appearance on the BBC show which ...

Presenter in Charity Duel

Recycling Helps Africa ...

EVERY time you recycle aluminium drinks cans, empty aerosols and clean foil, you are helping to grow fruit trees in Malawi, tackling deforestation where it is really needed and providing good food. As the trees grow and cropping improves, it is planned to launch small community businesses to dry and juice the fruits.

Kids On Song

AROUND 600 children from schools across Birmingham featured on a BBC television programme after taking part in a city-wide musical project. Sing For All was a project between Town Hall Symphony Hall, Birmingham schools and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Picture This for a Prize ; Competition: Win a Day with Mail Photographers

are in the frame to enter a competition which aims to to show off the best of the Midlands and gives the chance to win top prizes. We are inviting readers to take a photo that shows how much you 'Love Where You Live'.

Rose Scoops Justice Prize ; Awards: 'Utter Surprise' at Top Communities Honour

A MIDLAND Victim Support volunteer has won a national award recognising top staff and volunteers working in the Criminal Justice System. Rosemary Bishop, 59, from Bromsgrove, won the top prize in the Justice Awards Engaging Communities category.

Straw's Lecture

Oap Hurt in Crash

A PENSIONER suffered a leg injury after being hit by a BMW. Police in Bloxwich are appealing for witnesses to yesterday's collision.

Life's Looking Peach-Y ; Chat

Fearne and - Peaches Geldof (ITV2, 10pm) PEACHES Geldof is a figure who has repeatedly made the headlines in the British tabloids. The daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates is known for her wild ways and outrageous partying.