City charity begins welcoming homeless into Christmas Shelter

Deputy Lord Mayor Michael Wilkes in the hall prepared for homeless shelter. Photo: Richard Hall

One of the country’s oldest charitable homeless shelters is expecting to be at its busiest this year as it tends to the needy and destitute during the festive but demanding Christmas week.

Birmingham Christmas Shelter, a charity which has been working in the city for over 30 years, opened its doors at 10am today providing 24-hour food and accommodation for those in need of a warm bed and will continue to do so up until 10am on Wednesday 28 December.

Strictly winner Harry Judd to appear at Birmingham NIA

Harry Judd will be in Birmingham for the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour 2012

After yet another stunning series, Strictly Come Dancing has come to an end and Saturday night’s fantastic finale saw Harry Judd crowned winner. He will join six of his fellow contestants at the NIA, Birmingham from 20-22 January 2012 for the stunning live show.

McFly drummer Harry Judd will take to the floor at the NIA alongside fellow finalists, Australian actor and singer Jason Donovan and actress Chelsee Healey.

The trio will compete in front of a live audience against each other and contestants including feisty property lawyer and entrepreneur Nancy Dell’Olio, ex-EastEnders legend and national treasure Anita Dobson, former footballer Robbie Savage and ex-Olympic swimmer Mark Foster.

Legendary comic Jerry Seinfeld set for first Birmingham visit

Jerry Seinfeld will be performing in Birmingham for the first time

Celebrated comedian Jerry Seinfeld will be spending one of just two dates in the UK at the NIA, Birmingham next spring. The Brooklyn-born comedian will visit the arena on Friday 11 May, marking his first visit to the city.

Most famous for his hit series ‘Seinfeld’, which ran for just short of a decade, the comedian will be performing his first Midlands gig. Hailed as “the master stand-up comic of his generation” and “the best comedian of our time” by the Washington Post, Seinfeld has an uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere.

Students take to the catwalk for a fashionably good cause

The all-girl group of students behind the 'Rip the Runway'' fashion show

Students in Walsall have taken inspiration from the recent Clothes Show Live event in Birmingham and are holding their very own fashion show, showcasing the best of prom and vintage wear.

A group of young fashion enthusiasts from Aldridge School Sixth Form have been working hard putting together the unique catwalk show, during which they will also be selling some of the stylish pieces on display, in a bid to enhance their potential future prospects in the fashion industry while raising money for a good cause.

COMPETITION: Win tickets to ‘Cinderella’ panto at the Hippodrome

Cinderella pantomime at the Birmingham Hippodrome

With Cinderella opening at Birmingham Hippodrome in just over a fortnight on Saturday 17th December - promising audiences a spectacular start to the festive season with breathtaking special effects, stunning costumes and great family fun – we thought we’d give you all a chance to grab a pair of tickets to the show, which runs at the venue until 29th January, 2012.

With a stellar cast including Brian Conley, Lynda Bellingham, Basil Brush and Kathryn Rooney, the winter pantomime is not only a great day out but a chance to enjoy some great traditional comedy, some outrageous constumes and interactive family fun to boost!

Birmingham Bull gets an early Christmas present…

Bully gets a Woolly: The famous Birmimgham Bull gets a custom-made Christmas jumper

If you visiting the Bullring shopping centre earlier today, you may have noticed that the bull was getting itself a made-to-fit knitted jumper. Don’t be alarmed for this is not the doings of a eccentric flashmob, rather it’s the famous city landmark getting its Christmas present early and all to mark the longer opening hours of the Bullring througout the festive season.

As of today, shops in the centre will be staying open longer than usual – until 10pm during weekdays - so to celebrate, the brains at the complex thought they’d do something extra special for the much-loved bull and have him wearing his new sparkly Christmas jumper for the next couple of weeks.

Hundreds to sleep out ‘so young people don’t have to…’

Creative cardboard dwellings at a previous St Basils Big SleepOut event

Hundreds of fundraisers from across the city are to spend the night sleeping rough in a bid to raise awareness and much-needed cash for a local charity that works with and helps shelter young vulnerable people across the region.

On the first Friday in December every year St Basils hosts one of the UK’s largest and oldest SleepOut events. The charity fundraiser sees hundreds of people volunteering to sleep through the night in a cardboard box, in a car park, in winter. Last year, the evening raised more than £35,000 in sponsorship to help St Basils continue its vital work preventing youth homelessness and helping those at risk in Birmingham and North Worcestershire.