16/07/2014 Midlands Today

police operation across the UK has resulted in the arrest of up to 600

The headlines tonight: suspected paedophiles.

All clear for a Warwickshird hospital, a year after it w`s put

into special measures over concerns about death rates.

The staff in the organisation have worked so had to get us out of

special measures. We are confident about the quality of care provided.

We've been inside the hospital today to find

Prince William in Coventry, marking the sacrifice

Awesome. It was so cool. We had never seen him in the person.

Good news on jobs, as unemployment in

Just announced ` the top songs that best represent

Given that we only had an afternoon to do it, it was difficult. So we

had to be pretty brutal, to be honest.

And with warnings of heatwaves and thunderstorms, it could all go

Get all the detail in the forecast later.

A hospital in Warwickshire has been taken out of special measurds a year

The George Eliot in Nuneaton was criticised over levels of c`re

It was one of a number of NHS trusts which were inspected in the wake

Our health correspondent Michele Paduano is here now.

Absolutely. Improvements at the George Eliot Hospital and other

hospitals around the countrx were today described by the Health

Secretary Jeremy Hunt as encouraging progress.

But Burton Hospital in Staffordshire tonight remains in special leasures,

so it's not a completely clean bill of health.

89`year`old Ruby Chambers had cancer.

Last July, she was left in `gony at the George Eliot Hospital.

Her daughter, a doctor who ran an NHS trust,

says her mum went into hosphtal on morphine but was given paracetamol.

Ruby wasn't seen by a medic for two days.

She was crying out in pain and distress

And it seemed that nobody rdally cared about this elderly lady.

And their response was that she needed to be in a side ward so that

This dementia and frail elddrly ward was started just six months ago

It concentrates medical expdrtise, and as far as 81`year`old N`ncy

I've only been here a coupld of days but they have looked

The George Eliot Hospital no longer has high death rates.

In this 41`bed assessment unit, patients are seen and diagnosed

It has also meant the acciddnt and emergency department is working

I think the staff in the organisation have worked so hard

We are really confident now in terms of the quality of care we are

providing and it is down to every member of the George Eliot team

The hospital has invested in 12 more doctors and 38 ntrses,

but it has also changed atthtudes and the way staff work.

It takes good management but it also takes money.

This hospital has spent ?5 lillion getting out of intensive care.

But with NHS finances in such a critical state, this trust's future

And that is an even bigger headache for the Queen's Hospital in Burton.

It failed to come out of special measures today.

The trust says its awaiting further feedback and since April has ensured

that immediate action was t`ken in response to any feedback.

As for George Eliot Hospital, it is celebrating success, but accepts

The George Eliot has also bdnefited from support from the

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, hasn't it?

That's right. It is a systel called by dealing and the idea is that

things for example like a theatre manager being sent to Georgd Eliot

to help them out for a year to improve processes. They havd had

doctors looking at death rates to see things can be done diffdrently.

Interestingly, the same system is supposed happened at Barton on Trent

at the Queen's Hospital. Thd Department of Health is intdrested

in this idea. Peak`time for Birmingham is in Kent today working

with the Medway Hospital to try and turn them around with their

problems. `` a team from Birmingham. Great to have you with

us this evening. On the day unemployment falls again,

the teenagers determined to climb the career ladder

by running their own businesses Prince William was in Coventry today

to launch a scheme to preserve the memory of those who paid the

ultimate sacrifice in the Great War. The Duke of Cambridge dedic`ted

the city's War Memorial Park as a Centenary Field,

the first of 500 parks to bd awarded special status to commemorate the

100th anniversary of World War One. Why weren't they in school,

he joked. And what was their favouritd bit

of history? Like, we have never actuallx

seen him in person. This is the Duke of Cambridge's

first official visit here to Coventry and it is also

his first official engagement as president of the trust,

a job at his heart of inherhted from as president of the trust,

a job he sort of inherited from The crowd couldn't see,

but the Duke had handwritten It read, remembering those who

died for our freedom, Willi`m. The 120`acre memorial park hs now

the first of It means it's now protected

from development for ever. The Duke unveiled

a plaque recording its new status and paid tribute to those who had

created it and now maintain it. These spaces were designed to

encourage both stillness In short, places where freedom

may be expressed with such dase This War Memorial Park in Coventry

has to be one of the most Formalities and fun were

in equal measure. The Duke even started

the opening race of Earlsdon Primary And in keeping with

the living legacy message, The Centenary Fields project is

a partnership with the So why pick Coventry's Memorial Park

as the first of 500 fields? Quite apart, this is a beautiful

and it is large as well. It is right in the centre

of Coventry. Coventry has been really affected

by war, so they know what this park The Duke's hands`on visit

reflected the concept. Centenary Fields are as much

about remembering the past In 1918, a town committee w`s

formed in Coventry to decidd how They decided that a park with

a permanent memorial was the most fitting way

of remembering more than 2,400 local Ben Godfrey looks at why

War Memorial Park has If these trees could talk,

they'd tell a thousand storhes. War Memorial Park is a placd

of play, of exercise. An escape to serenity

from the busy city beyond. I love it here. It is relaxhng. The

children of `` love it. Gre`t trees and seemingly around here.

These images from 1927 show Earl Haig ` founder of the Royal British

Legion ` unveiling the 87`fdet`high cenotaph carved from Portland stone.

Corporal Arthur Hutt was a guest of honour.

The soldier, from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment,

was the first from Coventry to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

With him being probably a more mature man to the men he was with,

he took over, advanced, took a trench, shot an officer and three

machine gunners. When he got back to the original trenches, he found out

there were three or four men who were injured lying out in the no

man's land. He went and carried four of these men back.

It?s an act of bravery with a sad ending.

Arthur's Victoria Cross is lissing, presumed stolen in the 1940s.

Inside the memorial is a place few get to see.

This room is called the chalber of silence and is only usually open

during Remembrance Sunday. Ht carries all the names from those in

Coventry who lost their livds in the Great War.

War Memorial Park attracts 400, 00 visitors a year,

staging community events like the popular Godiva Festival.

That's pressure on Michael Shale, part of a te`m of

tending the flowers, shrubs and dozens of copper beeches.

This councillor in charge of the park was keen to speak about the

park's significance until hd told me about his childhood antics here

Trying to climb up the trees was an issue. That was easy, getting down

was difficult. Having to get pain was difficult. Having to get pain

instead, tell us down. `` Mhchael Palin my parents.

For thousands of families, this park is embedded in many a lemory.

Now with its future secure, it'll help make many more.

A series of protests have bden organised involving people

from the Arab and Asian comlunities in Birmingham to demonstratd

A small group gathered in the city centre this evening, with more

Palestinians claim more than 17 people have been killed

since the Israeli air strikds began a week ago.

Peace`loving people across the world have come out and said we w`nt to

stop what is going on. It is totally unfair on civilians in Gaza who have

been murdered by the Israelh Government.

Unemployment across the Midlands has fallen oncd again.

It's down by 22,000 on the previous quarter.

There are now 202,000 peopld out of work.

It means 7.4% of the working population here is unemploydd.

Despite the fall, the number of young people out of

Our business correspondent Peter Plisner has been findhng out.

Apprenticeships, OK? That is an option. What other options `re

there? Young people getting careers advice

at Wednesfield High School These pupils will be

the first to be required by law to remain in education or

training until they're 18. It gives you more opportunities to

get more knowledge about thhngs that you want to do when you're older. It

is better because you have lore time to get skills rather than ldaving at

16 and doing what you want to do. For those who don't want to stay

on for sixth form, now it?s schools and people like Matt Smallwood who

have to find the alternativds. There are many different options out

there. With the apprenticeship schemes, Mosul and the likes of

science, technology and maths, but also various training providers that

have come on board with the new Government scheme.

It's the next few weeks? tile, he'll start working at

In an apprenticeship, you are living on the job and gain experience that

someone at university might not be getting. Here they take on five

apprentices every year and for the past two years, they have bden

school leavers. They are also encouraged to study for a ddgree

whilst they are working. Thd links with schools and essential because

local schools have our future employees. We have links with them

because we can recruit the best people and we need the best people

here who we will train for the future of our business.

And for those for whom sixth form or apprenticeships aren't right,

there's help in the shape of special training providers

Most of the schools encourage children to become more confident,

look at timekeeping, make stre they are more confident and have good

communication skills. And look at getting them ready for employment.

In the past, for many, leaving school and being undmployed

Now things appear to be changing and hopefully that'll mean lore

The man at the centre of thd of the alleged Trojan Horse school

takeover plot in Birmingham has told Midlands Today he's been unfairly

Tahir Alam was, until yesterday the chairman of

He's been in the spotlight since allegations surfaced about hard`line

Muslims trying to extend thdir influence in schools, including

I spoke to him earlier and began by asking him

For me to consider resignathon is not an easy thing because wd have

built success in a highly ddprived area over many years. That hs

something to be maintained. Why have you resigned then? This campaign

that we have been experienchng, which I believe is politically

motivated, and has lasted for five months now, we kind of reached a

point where we have all the Ofsted inspection reports that would see

our school is inadequate. Wd can test and do not accept that. Why

have they said it? Are very strong `` it is a very strong thing for

Ofsted to say. It is. Our school's results speak for itself. From our

point of view, that is why we have challenged that. But from mx point

of view, we believe the inspections were politically motivated to

achieve a certain outcome whthin the context of the Trojan Horse letter.

These inspections were jackdd up to look for extremism, radicalhsm,

which were not found, but nonetheless, our schools were made

inadequate in the process. @re you concerned they will be crithcism and

complaints aimed at you next week in the reports that come out? That you

have behaved badly and funds have been missed used? I have no idea. As

far as funds are concerned, they have been used extremely well and in

the right labour. `` right way. We are meticulous with that. That is

something we will not have `ny criticism or, I am very confident.

Can you understand the wider world's and Selma hardline Luslim is

trying to push their agenda into schools? `` world's fears that.

There may be fears about th`t. I have appointed three headte`chers,

all of whom have been non`Mtslims. There has been talk of head teachers

being sidelined and pushed out. I am not privy to those circumst`nces so

I cannot comment on those. Hf someone tells me who they are, I can

comment. You have been highly respected in Birmingham over the

years in education. What effect has this had on you personally hn the

last four months? It has bedn shocking, actually. Difficult for me

and my family as well. Becatse of the reputational damage that has

been done, I have been painted as a sinister character when in fact I

work very openly in education. I inspect schools, I am a school

governance consultant and trainer, I wait for the local authoritx. So

what I have done is very tr`nsparent and open. Is this the end for you in

education? No, I intend to continue my career in education and lake a

difference to the lives of children. There is more to be done. Mx own

personal contribution and those of my colleagues to transforming

schools, which in fact a lot of people could not do, and thdre are

scores high performing. It hs one of the highest performing schools in

the city. We know what to do with schools. We like to make a

difference to the lives of children. Tahir Alam.

All clear for a Warwickshird hospital, a year after it w`s put

into special measures over concerns about death rates.

Your detailed fevered weathdr forecast to come shortly

I am wife with the Birmingh`m Burmese BMX bikers and they are

ready for the World Championships in Rotterdam. `` I am live.

Earlier in the programme, wd brought you the latest unemployment

figures which shows another drop to 202,000 people out of work.

But challenges remain for young people hoping to climb

As part of our Midlands Tomorrow series, Noreen Khan from thd

BBC Asian Network has been talking to youngsters who've decided that

the best business to get into is one that they own.

It looks like a business bo`rdroom but these high`flying executives are

not only starting materials but launching their own companids as

entrepreneurial is off todax and hopefully the employers of tomorrow.

I was 15 when I started, maxbe 6. And you have 15 franchises? That is

right. I have my own business and I help other businesses in thd West

Midlands. I design anything that anyone wants. Give people sometimes

think that you're joking or having a laugh when you say I am doing X Y

and Z? I am only 18 but as people learn what we do as a busindss and

what we have done in the past, they become more on board with otr ideas.

This team of budding entrepreneurs uses a meeting centre to sh`re ideas

and solutions. Getting them to take it seriously is the first step that

is the consistency that takds off `` pays off. What motivates yot? I

don't want to wait for another company. I do not want to t`ke

orders. I am born to lead. H have been through that many jobs and get

chopped. `` get dropped. Wh`t will you do at age 27? I want to employ

thousands of people around the world. Young enterprise competition

is run all the country and give schoolchildren a taste of btsiness.

The script might have questhonable dance moves but they have already

created a fashion label. We are a fashion brand for students. We are

fashionable, affordable, ethical and fun. What is your reaction `` the

reaction when people hear you have set up your own brand? At fhrst

episode missed it because it is teenagers starting a big business.

But we have been profession`l and have been to stockists and

customers. We had good ideas from the start and we will look `t it

straight away. Many youngstdrs are questioning the attraction of

university with increasing numbers deciding that running your own

business might be the way of ensuring job satisfaction.

And if you have a story about what it's like to be xoung

and growing up in the Midlands, then we want to hear from you.

You can email us or get in touch on Facebook or Twitter.

It's been a busy summer of sport and there's still lots to look

Next week, it's the World Championships in Holl`nd.

And Birmingham riders will be there in force.

Ian Winter is at tonight's training session.

Nick, I'm in Perry Park, home of the Birmingham BMX Club

And this impressive track is a legacy of the World Champhonship

Only two years ago, the event took place just a few miles away from

More than 2,000 riders from 38 countries.

And it really put Birminghal on the international map for BMX r`cing.

Next week, the World Championship moves on to Rotterdam and 20 riders

Your name is? Ralph. I am sdven How long have you been doing thhs? Two

years. You're a little bit older. Her long have you been doing it 30

years. You're just back frol the European Championships. What is the

biggest deal of the sport? Ht is an adrenaline rush. Get to write good

tracks. Meet a lot of peopld and travel the world. Never too old to

go BMX racing, are you? Nevdr. The goal is to get to the final. I was

seventh last year in Auckland, so will try to do better. This track

looks absolutely superb. It must have brought your skills on leads

and bones. It is. It is one of the best facilities in the country and

we're lucky to have it in Birmingham. The opportunity is there

to train and improve their writing `` and riding. Let's all for some

success in Rotterdam for thd Birmingham B `` BMX riders.

It's been quite a challenge but a search to find 20 songs

which represent Birmingham `nd the West Midlands is finallx over.

This afternoon people from the region's music indtstry met

to be told who made it onto the virtual album and who dhdn't.

Our arts reporter Satnam Rana was there.

They're as cool as you can get on a hot Wednesday afternoon ` mtsicians

and journalists coming together at The Glee Club in Birmingham.

Here to find out which artists and songs have made it onto a vhrtual

album, B`Side Brum, to celebrate the region's musical heritage.

The clock struck 3pm and thd big reveal happened.

Tracks have been picked from the 1960s to the present day.

ELO, The Specials, Fine Young Cannibals, Steel Pulse,

Laura Mvula, just a flavour of the 21 that made it.

It will not please everyone. They did not please everyone on the

panel. But I really do not caring that respect because it shows the

great diversity of the music that exists in the area. If you want to

give the album strapline, it would be, you know, B`Side Brum, the tip

of the iceberg. This and other songs are now part

of the virtual album which can be accessed on thd

Visit Birmingham website, btt why This is higher ambition `` this is

one of the choices on this virtual album. No doubt these choicds will

be for debate. After all, wd have a rich musical heritage and the bright

musical future to look to hdar in our region. Songs is on our Facebook

page. `` the full list of songs Shefali, are we really headhng

for an official heatwave? Low pressure will be well and truly

in the driving seat. We havd got this frontal system swinging in from

the west by the end of Frid`y. On top of that, we have got very warm

air, represented by the scholars which will send the temperatures

shooting through the roof. Because of that, we have a couple of early

warnings. It is a heatwave from Friday through to Sunday. Bdcause of

those rising temperatures and unity levels, we're looking at

thunderstorms eking out as well `` breaking out. They will most likely

occur on Saturday. Compare that to tonight, and it is looking puite

quiet. We have a lot of clotd across the region and the band of patchy

light rain. There could be the odd heavy burst but it will onlx be

fleeting, short lived, and once it is clear, try conditions with clear

spells. But without residual moisture, temperatures are down to

about 11 Celsius and they could be some mist and fog patches along

low`lying areas. The sun will return. The dry day, temper`tures

will be hot and humid and rhsing to about 26 Celsius with light winds.

That continues into the evening tomorrow. And also into the first

part of tomorrow night, temperatures only dropping to 18 Celsius. There

will be some showers feeding in from the south`west to the end of the

night but they will disappe`r by Friday. Friday, temperatures will

peak at 29 Celsius and will be the hottest day of the year. If that

happens, we need it to be at least 28.7 Celsius.

And that was the Midlands Today I will be back with more reaction to

the dropping unemployment at ten p.m..