“The arts are not the cherry on the cake — they are the cake.” Opening a debate in the House of Lords yesterday, Melvyn Bragg said the UK should realise the full potential of the arts to transform our economy and society.

Good Morning folks! The Jug of Ale pub, Alcester Road, Moseley. Home to an incredible amount of gigs in the 90s (& early 00s). Who was there? Any particularly memorable gigs? I saw Delta, Dub War, Out of My Hair, Dog Food, Novak, Rachel's Basement, Whiteout...

"Louise" talks about the support she received at our wonderful refuge service. She picked her way back from intense coercive control (trigger warning). She also got her freedom back. We're so proud of you Louise - and the team :-) #Dudley #domesticabuse youtu.be/jsUV4a7VDGQ?si…

crack on if you are not yet registered to vote....

3ºC Neighbourhood is a new piece of research co-authored by CIVIC SQUARE Dark Matter Labs on the risks UK urban neighbourhoods face due to climate + ecological breakdown under a high emissions scenario, likely resulting in +3ºC average global temperature. bit.ly/Neighbourhood3

showyourstripes.info/c/europe/unite…

Please vote.

The Commentators now live covering the Birmingham count. All the action. All the ballots. All the results. 👇👇👇 thecommentators.live Up in the media balcony with @skynews @bbc @itv ITN #GeneralElection2024 #thecount

The view from the floor - Stan's Cafe commentators on the balcony working in front of that white square --- listen up for every ounce of Birmingham election detail at thecommentators.live #GE2024 #brillbrum

Listen to Stan's Cafe on BBC Birmingham & Black Country at about 23.34 with Simon Gilbert bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/li… #ge2024 #brillbrum

The Flask is out - commentators digging in as the count continues Stan's Cafe #ge2024

8hrs 42 mins in the commentators are starting to stubble up - but still they say what they see #GE2024 Stan's Cafe Birmingham count

Come down/up to Moseley Festival - lovely people and things #moseley Moseley Community Development Trust #pinkhiviz

Ok, I can really get behind an Ed Miliband + Miatta Fahnbulleh combination. We are ready.

This week I warned Keir Starmer that the prison crisis puts govt's pledge to halve #VAWG at risk. As they consider early release schemes, I urge govt to exempt #DomesticAbuse perpetrators so that victims don't pay the price. Thank you Daniel Boffey theguardian.com/society/articl…

Not my bit of the media LBC . I did two solid hours on why the real weapon is violent men.

I know this is not a very happy site anymore, but if any friends and peers are still here, would really love some support in sharing this #FinancialSystems job role out far and wide, for someone who might be up for an adventure with CIVIC SQUARE please 💚

It's an exciting time for BOM, and we're now on the search for experienced candidates to become the first trustees of our new CIO. 👀