Red Devils set to land at Edgbaston Community Open Day

THE Red Devils parachute display team is ready to land at Birmingham’s Edgbaston Stadium on Saturday 16 May as Warwickshire County Cricket Club hosts its free Community Open Day.
 
In partnership with official charity partner Fisher House UK – a home away from home for families of injured soldiers who are being treated at the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital – the Red Devils will parachute in to Edgbaston equipped with a cricket ball ready for a Twenty20 match between a Warwickshire Legends XI and the Combined UK Armed Forces team.
 
Martyn Dobson, community development manager at Warwickshire CCC, said: “The Red Devils made a huge impact at last year’s Community Open Day, after landing on the ground here at Edgbaston with the Fisher House UK flag.
 
“Last year’s inaugural event attracted more than 4,000 people and we hope that we can build on this in 2015 and raise even more money for Fisher House UK.”
 
Warwickshire CCC has committed to raising £10,000 for Fisher House this year through its Community Open Day and other fundraising activities that it stages; last year several members of the club staff took part in a sponsored parachute jump.
 
Mike Hammond, chief executive at QEHB Charity, which runs Fisher House, said: “We are thrilled to have the Red Devils on board again at this year’s Community Open Day.”

HomeServe rallies behind the Midland Langar Seva Society

A CHANCE conversation between a HomeServe call centre worker and one of its directors has led to “overwhelming support” from the business and its employees for an inspiring charity helping people in need in cities across the Midlands.
 
Founded in Walsall by Randhir Singh Heer, the brother of HomeServe employee Bhupinder “Pops” Heer, the Midland Langar Seva Society offers an open kitchen to “all and everyone” in need of food.

Rooted in 500-year-old Sikh traditions of offering open kitchens at temples for anyone of any background, the Midland Langar Seva Society’s teams of volunteers distribute hot food, treats and clothes to the community in Walsall, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Leicester.
 
Home emergency cover group HomeServe has thrown its support behind the project, by providing teams of volunteers and food collection banks at its Walsall HQ.
 
It has also now donated one of its vans – with Midland Langar Seva branding with its insurance, tax and MOT paid for at least a year – to enable volunteers to use to get food directly into the communities they serve.
 
HomeServe volunteers are now booked in every Thursday night with the Midland Langar Seva Society up until the end of June at least.

Peopleline recruits team for 10k challenge

BIRMINGHAM recruitment firm Peopleline has put together a team of ten runners to enter the Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k on Sunday May 3rd, as part of the run’s Business Challenge.

Based on Bennetts Hill in the city centre, the Peopleline team will be raising funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Its 10k team includes directors Richard Chandler and James Cronin, a former professional footballer with Walsall and Kidderminster Harriers.

Team coordinator Sharon Plevin said: “We have a wide range of abilities – everyone’s at different levels – from those who’ll be happy to make it round to those who want to set a good time.”

To sponsor the team, go to www.justgiving.com/Peopleline

West Midlands firms shortlisted in Responsible Business Awards 

TWO firms from the West Midlands – The Midcounties Co-operative and Central England Co-operative – are celebrating after making it onto the shortlist of the 2015 Responsible Business Awards, announced by the charity Business in the Community.
 
The Responsible Business Awards are the UK’s longest running responsible business awards programme. They celebrate inspirational companies that are taking action to address social and environmental issues and transform their communities.
 
Raksha Pattni, west area director, Business in the Community said “We congratulate each of the shortlisted companies in the West Midlands today for playing their part in creating a fairer society and more sustainable future.”

The overall winners will be announced in London at Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Annual Gala Dinner on July 7.