This is a sponsored article with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to shine a light on inspiring young people in the West Midlands.

With the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games just around the corner, there has never been a better time to get excited, inspired, and involved with one of the biggest events the West Midlands has ever seen.

Birmingham is one of the youngest cities in Europe, and the city and region is bursting with talented, dedicated and selfless individuals that are doing incredible things to make their community proud. And these are the people that Birmingham 2022 is shining a spotlight on…

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to make a difference in your local community, then look no further than Birmingham’s own Hattie D’Souza, the co-founder of homeless charity Let's Feed Brum.

Hattie and her volunteer-led team strive to ensure that those who are homeless are not left hungry by providing them with food, drinks, and essential supplies. However, Hattie also provides one other essential lifeline: genuine friendship.

“Birmingham actually had a huge homeless population, more than those sleeping rough, there were loads of people who were hidden homeless,” says Hattie.

“A lot of people who were staying in hostels, people who were sofa-surfing, staying in hotels.”

Hattie’s selfless work has become a surefire inspiration to not only those close to her, but to locals in and around Birmingham.

Her charitable efforts have played a huge role in ending the stigma surrounding homelessness. And what makes Hattie and her charity stand out is the level of approachability and genuine care she and fellow volunteers have towards people in the community.

“Every single person is so willing to give up their time and I think that’s just a testament to this region and its people,” she states.

Hattie is, of course, not alone in this sentiment.

If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that we are stronger when we pull together.

And if Hattie’s story has inspired you to get more involved in your community or to be part of something special in your city, you could apply to be a volunteer at Birmingham 2022 and join the Commonwealth Collective. The Commonwealth Collective will be made up of over 13,000 spirited, dedicated, and dynamic volunteers that will come together to help deliver the biggest sporting and cultural event the West Midlands has ever seen.

Volunteering at the Commonwealth Games will give you the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and ultimately, make your mark on your city.

With a wide range of roles available across the Games, there’s an opportunity for everyone. And no formal experience is needed to apply.

Applications to volunteer at Birmingham 2022 are now open. The process is simple, and takes around 20 minutes. Just head to Birmingham 2022 where you will be directed to an application form. Enter your personal details, choose which areas you’d like to volunteer in, and add any skills and qualifications you have, although you don’t need any specific experience to apply.

Volunteering at Birmingham 2022 will be a once in a lifetime chance to celebrate and represent your city, and to make memories that will last a lifetime.

And if you’d like to learn more about Hattie and her incredible team, check out the Let’s Feed Brum website HERE.

Featured image credit: Birmingham 2022

This is a sponsored article with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to shine a light on inspiring young people in the West Midlands.

If you’ve ever stepped foot in Birmingham, you’ll know exactly what we mean when we say it’s the heart of the West Midlands.

And we don't just mean because of its geographic location. It is quite literally the beating heart and soul of the region. With its artsy attractions, mouth-watering street food scene, and quirky museums, the city is bursting with opportunity.

Birmingham, which will be hosting next year’s highly anticipated Commonwealth Games, is also a major hub of all things sport, entertainment, and just pure talent.

And as far as young, up-and-coming talent goes, the community-driven city has given countless individuals a new lease of life - not least 23-year-old Dance With Stago founder Steven Agho.

It's inspiring people like Steven that Birmingham 2022 is shining a spotlight on...

As a teen, Steven was affected by a traumatic knife crime incident. Moving to Birmingham, massively helped him to overcome the depression he developed as a result of the encounter.

There’s a real sense of togetherness in Birmingham which inspired Steven, at a young age, to launch a dance company with the aim of bringing teenagers off the streets and give them opportunities to express themselves.

“Working with the community means a lot to me,” he says. “It brings me that fulfilment... My favourite thing about Birmingham is the community. Birmingham is so welcoming.”

Steven went on to say of the city’s open nature: “If you come here, you'll be surprised at the way people love you - despite your race, your age, your colour, your ethnicity, religion. It's all welcome.”

Dance With Stago provides dance classes for children and young teens and has done a lot to cultivate the incredible talent of youngsters in the city.

It just goes to show that talented individuals do not have to be limited by their circumstances and they can do incredible things with just a little perseverance.

Without such perseverance, we wouldn’t have the pleasure of witnessing some of the world’s most accomplished athletes reaching new heights and shattering world records - something we can look forward to at the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, held from 28 July to 8 August, is set to be the biggest sporting event to be hosted in the UK since the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The event, which takes place every four years, will be packed with history-making performances from some of the most iconic athletes in the Commonwealth.

The 11-day spectacle will see athletes proudly represent their countries across 19 sports, with eight para-sports fully integrated into the programme. From boxing, to gymnastics, to weightlifting - it’s sure to be an unmissable couple of weeks.

But here’s the important part to note if you want to secure a ticket for the Games: Birmingham2022.com is the ONLY place where you can do so! Tickets start from £8 for children under the age of 16 and from £15 for adults. There will also be £22 tickets for every session of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the medal sessions.

To apply for tickets, you must first register for a ticketing account using your email address. You will then be able to enter a ballot to apply for the tickets - this is the fairest way of giving everyone a chance to be at Birmingham 2022.

As the host region, those who live in the West Midlands can apply to enter an early release of tickets from 14 – 30 July.* Then, the majority of tickets will be available in the Main Ballot in September 2021. If you would like to learn more about tickets, including which areas are covered by the West Midlands ticket ballot, check out the Games’ website.

In just over a year’s time, you could witness history in the making as next year’s exceptional lineup of athletes go for gold.

In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about Steven and the rest of the team behind Dance With Stago, check out their website HERE.

*West Midlands residents only. Subject to online registration, availability and T&Cs. Find out more at birmingham2022.com.

Featured image credit: Birmingham2022

Jamaica's bobsleigh team has qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics for the first time in over two decades.

Per ABC News, the upcoming Winter Olympics, which will take place in Beijing, will see a four-man bobsled team, a two-man bobsled team, and a female athlete competing in the monobob competition.

This marks the very first time that a two-man bobsled team and an athlete in the monobob competition, which is a new event, will be represented by Jamaica. It's also the first time Jamaica has qualified for three different bobsleigh events.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, January 17, to announce the exciting news, Team Jamaica's account paid tribute to the 1993 Disney movie Cool Runnings with the quote: "It will be fire on ice."

The film took its inspiration from Jamaica's Olympic debut at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games.

The full tweet read: "Jamaica, we have a bobsled team heading to Beijing! It will be fire on ice as #TeamJamaica secured their spot at the 2022 Beijing #WinterOlympics.

"This will be the first time Jamaica has qualified in three Olympic bobsled events. These events are the four-man, two-man and women's monobob."

The last time Jamaica had a four-man bobsled team competing at the Olympics was at the 1998 Nagano Olympics - 24 years ago.

The four-man team has not yet been named, but Shanwayne Stephens is expected to lead the squad. Rolando Reid, Ashley Watson, and Matthew Wekpe have competed alongside Stephens for all of this season's races and are expected to join him.

Watson has confirmed he will be representing Jamaica next month, writing in a post on Facebook: "IM GOING TO THE OLYMPICS! I honestly can't believe I'm saying this! I'm going to be representing @jamaicaolympic at the @beijing2022 Winter Olympics!

"A childhood dream has come a reality. I gave up on this dream a few years back although I knew the elite athlete in me hasn't died yet and had unfinished business."

He continued: "Blood, sweat, and tears went into this and it has paid off! Best day of my sporting career! I was honored to be selected to compete in 13 out of the 16 races this season and gave it all I had."

Featured image credit: Golib Golib Tolibov / Alamy

This is a sponsored article with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to shine a light on inspiring young people in the West Midlands.

As the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games draws nearer, we’re continuing to celebrate the inspirational people of the West Midlands and remind you that there’s never been a better time to get involved with one of the biggest events the region has ever hosted. 

Located in the northwest of the West Midlands, Wolverhampton has long been a city defined by its diligent and compassionate people, who work tirelessly to make a difference in their community. It is these people that Birmingham 2022 is continuing to shine a spotlight on… 

One proud Wolverhampton native striving for change is 23-year-old Lucy Palin, who is the co-founder of the not-for-profit organisation, Project GIVE.

Lucy and her team of volunteers are not only on a mission to eradicate period poverty, but to also put an end to the stigma surrounding menstruation once and for all. 

“Considering half of the population of the UK go through a period every single month, we just don’t talk about it - no one wants to talk about periods,” Lucy says.

In an effort to combat this, Lucy is striving to guarantee that those in need have access to free sanitary products. And thanks to the team’s tireless efforts and the community’s donations, Lucy proudly states: “Project GIVE ensured that every single high school and primary school in Wolverhampton had free and unlimited access to sanitary products.”

From reusable sanitary pads to menstrual cups to period underwear, Project GIVE aims to be there for anybody who needs them - whether it’s people who have just started their periods or those who are premenopausal.

Lucy’s message is simple: “If you menstruate then we’re here for you.”

“Eradicating period poverty would be monumental,” Lucy says, adding: “To eradicate that massive barrier for so many people… it would be incredible.”

And Lucy is aware that without her local community’s support, Project GIVE wouldn’t be in the position it is today.

“The hidden gem of Wolverhampton would undoubtedly be the people. I have loved and lived with people from Wolverhampton for my entire life. I am incredibly grateful to come from there,” she says. 

Lucy’s story is proof that amazing things can happen when we come together as a community. And if the Project GIVE team has inspired you to be part of something special in your city, then you should apply to be a volunteer at Birmingham 2022 and join the Commonwealth Collective. 

The Commonwealth Collective will consist of over 13,000 spirited, dedicated, and dynamic volunteers that will band together to help deliver the biggest sporting and cultural event the West Midlands has ever seen.

Being a part of the Commonwealth Games is your chance to meet like-minded people, learn a host of new skills, and, most importantly, make a real impact on your city.

No formal experience is required, and with a wide range of roles to be filled, there is something for everyone.

Applications to volunteer at Birmingham 2022 are now open. The process is simple and takes around 20 minutes. Just head to Birmingham 2022 to be directed to an application form. Enter your personal details, choose which areas you’d like to volunteer in, and add any skills and qualifications you have, although you don’t need any specific experience to apply.  

Make memories that will last a lifetime and embrace this not-to-be-missed opportunity. Volunteer at Birmingham 2022 and make your city proud.

And if you would like to learn more about Lucy and her team’s incredible mission, CLICK HERE.

Make the West Midlands proud!

Register to volunteer at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games HERE.

Featured image credit: Birmingham 2022

Per BBC News, the organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have agreed to a one-year postponement of the event because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the International Olympic Committee had agreed to delay the global games, which were due to begin on July 24.

"I proposed to postpone for about a year and [IOC] president Thomas Bach responded with 100% agreement," Abe said.

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The Prime Minister added that this would also apply to the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

He said: "This will make it possible for athletes to play in the best condition, and will make the event a safe and secure one for spectators."

The decision came after a number of nations and athletes involved in the Games spoke out against holding the event this summer amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Per The Telegraph, the decision was made over a phone call earlier today (Monday, March 24,) between IOC president Thomas Bach and Abe.

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In the Olympics' 124-year history, this is the first time a postponement of this nature has ever been arranged.

Global Athlete, an organization that represents athletes, said in a statement the IOC’s previous reluctance to cancel the Games was “unacceptable” and “irresponsible”.

The statement read:

“Covid-19 virus will sadly take more lives, and without a clear answer, athletes are still being indirectly asked to train. If anyone knows how competitive athletes work, they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. We understand it is a difficult decision, but the IOC and IPC have a duty of care towards athletes which they have not exercised. A clear message should have been sent to all athletes to stop training and observe Government mandates to self-isolate. Sport should never be prioritized ahead of public health.”

This is a developing story, more to follow...