Community
Birmingham's Historic Friends Institute Community Centre Closes Amid Safety Concerns
Birmingham City Council has closed the Friends Institute community centre in Sparkbrook due to urgent health and safety concerns, ending its long history of serving local residents through education, recreation, and charitable activities.
Business
Dr Martens Moves to New Bullring Unit, Leaving Former Shop Vacant
Dr Martens has opened a new store in Birmingham's Bullring, taking over the former Diesel unit, while its old shop remains vacant. This follows a trend of retail shifts in the centre, with other brands like Kiko Milano and LuluLemon also making changes.
Culture
Croydon Unveils Vibrant Cultural Programme for Art On Your Doorstep Season
Croydon launches a free season of circus, art, and family events from March to July, expanding The National Gallery's outdoor exhibition with workshops, talks, and festivals celebrating local creativity and diversity.
Politics
State Pension Age Rises to 67 from Monday in Major DWP Rule Change
The state pension age is increasing from 66 to 67 starting next week, with the gradual rise set to continue until April 2028. The Institute for Fiscal Studies warns this could heighten poverty among older people.
Transport
Sport
Health
UK Storm Alert: Get Batteries and Torches by Saturday 6pm
The Met Office warns of 90mph winds this Easter weekend, urging households to prepare for power cuts by gathering essential items like torches and batteries before 6pm on Saturday.
Firefighters Secure Electric Cinema's Unstable Sign on Station Street
West Midlands Fire Service temporarily closed Station Street in Birmingham to remove a precarious sign from the 116-year-old Electric Cinema, which has been shut since 2024 and is showing signs of decay.
Wirral Charity Expands Free Men's Mental Health Activities
Mersey Mind Project, a Wirral-based charity, is inviting more local men to join its free weekly sessions, including football therapy, fitness boot camps, and peer support groups, to tackle isolation and improve wellbeing.
Junior Doctors' Six-Day Strike to Proceed After Talks Fail
Tens of thousands of junior doctors in England will walk out for six days from April 7 after last-minute negotiations with the government broke down, disrupting NHS services nationwide.
Mushroom coffee swap improved sleep and focus for £1.50 daily
A journalist tried MOGU's Lion's Mane mushroom coffee as an alternative to regular coffee and discovered significant improvements in sleep quality while maintaining mental clarity throughout the day.
