Spend your commute reading our briefing⬇️
Is Brum Pride in debt?
Does our city undersell itself?
Plus, an appeal has been set up for the funeral of the man stabbed to death in Alum Rock last week.
Click the link below to read more:
350 pledges. 150 to go.
If we reach it, we launch 🚀
Click the link below to read more and see our to do list, as well as some quick hits:
🧵Plus, an appeal has been launched to pay for the funeral of a man stabbed to death outside a primary school in Alum Rock last week. Ali Ashmari, 30 and of no fixed address, was attacked on Bridge Road at lunchtime last Tuesday. A 32-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
🧵The Dispatch understands that SJA does not comment on internal communications or discuss commercial matters publicly, but when we reached out to them they did not dispute the legitimacy of the screenshotted email.
“Unfortunately we will not be able to support the event this year due to the organiser’s considerable outstanding debt from previous events.
“Despite extensive efforts by our events and finance team over the past year to assist in clearing these payments, there has been no progress.”
🚨 Monday briefing is here🚨
🧵Today’s top story: Something curious is going on between Birmingham Pride and St Johns Ambulances. Last week, The Dispatch saw an email that appeared to have been sent from SJA to volunteers: (read below)
🚨Our sister title, @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social , is hiring. They're looking for a superb writer to cover Birmingham in depth.
If that's you or someone you know, click here: millmediaco.uk/2026/03/02/w... The deadline is the 22nd March, so get those applications in.
The Dispatch is hiring a staff writer!
We're looking for a third writer to join Kate and Madeleine at our HQ in the Jewellery Quarter. If you love high quality writing and value local news with no ads or clickbait, consider applying.
Click for more:
🚨Our sister title @birminghamdispatch.bsky.social
is hiring! They're looking for a brilliant writer to work with Kate Knowles and Madeleine Rousell and cover Birmingham in depth.
If that's you or someone you know, here's where to go: millmediaco.uk/2026/03/02/w...
Deadline 22 March.
In Birmingham, we’re looking for a really fantastic writer - someone who can document the city with originality and wit, as well as doing in depth reporting.
@birminghamdispatch.bsky.social has two great reporters and has taken off with readers.
millmediaco.uk/2026/03/02/w...
🚨 GOOD NEWS: we’re hiring staff writers in Birmingham and Glasgow 🚨
These are full time roles in which you get proper time to do quality work. You will write ~1 story per week, working with phenomenal @millmedia.bsky.social editors.
Applications close soon. Please share 🙏
millmediaco.uk/jobs/
🎉Nearly the weekend, head into it well informed. Catch up on what we’ve published this week by following the link below to our website. There’s a Monday Briefing to digest, as well as a story about Wolverhampton.
Read both here🔗
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk
On Wednesday, we published an article about the pedestrianisation of a popular street in Wolverhampton.
Plus, in the above article, our Brum in Brief.
Click here for more ➡️🔗
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/where-are-wo...
Catch up with what we’ve published this week:
Our Monday Briefing, where the headline was the battle for the budget (now passed).
There’s also a couple of bits on our to do list that could help you plan your weekend…
Great work by the dispatch. Certainly food for thought for pedestrianisation advocates like me.
You may have missed our Brum in Brief yesterday:
🗞️ A man in his 20s has died following a stabbing on Bridge Road in Alum Rock on Tuesday, which also left a woman with non-serious injuries.
💰Birmingham city council passed its budget on Monday.
Read more below⬇️
Another is a butcher, who has worked in the same shop for 21 years, he says the city in general has gone downhill following the loss of big chain names.
Amidst all of this, however, millions of pounds is being poured into regeneration.
Read more below🔗
www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/where-are-wo...
Banning cars was going to revive Wolverhampton’s centre. Why’s it empty?
We spoke to some shops in Wolverhampton. Three sit on Victoria St, which was pedestrianised in 2023. They say that the move has greatly affected their trade.
📸Ian Hughes
It's nearly lunchtime, and what a great opportunity to get stuck into our popular weekend read on Yorks cafes.
It's completely free to read, you just need to sign up to our newsletter. You'll get high quality reporting on Birmingham landing in your inbox every single week.
🧵However, a council spokesperson said, “due to the wider economic conditions affecting the market” since the first building was completed in 2019, the development cannot afford the repayments.
Click the link below to read more of our Monday Briefing:
Also: Birmingham city council may have to use public money to pay for half of a £60m bailout for the Paradise development on Chamberlain Square. A loan to pay for land and relocating costs was due to be paid off through land receipts and income by 2032.
🧵Last week, the vote on the budget was postponed due to Labour nerves that they wouldn't have the numbers to pass it. The vote will now take place at 2pm today.
🚨Your Monday Briefing is here 🚨
🧵
Is Birmingham a “cesspit”? That’s how Jane Jones, an independent councillor, described the city during a budget debate last week. Labour leader John Cotton, however, said the non-bankrupt authority is a "thriving powerhouse.”
📸: Irina Mackie
Launching a new newsroom is simple in theory:
If 500 people back it, we build it ⚒️
We’re working towards bringing independent journalism to West Yorkshire - and support like this from Robyn Vinter really means a lot.
🧵Just in case you need more convincing to read yesterday's story on Yorks cafes, here are some glowing reviews from readers⬇️
☕️ Don’t miss our must-read weekend piece on Yorks cafes — plus, if you’ve read it and you’re not signed up, why not join for free? You’ll get high quality journalism landing straight in your inbox every single week.
🔗Head to our website to find out more and read the Yorks cafes story.
"Nothing was set up properly, the service was poor, the food was mid. There were issues with the chefs. It was carnage."
- Mark*, former employee
"He has dug himself into a situation and rather than confront it, he kept digging."
- Alex*, investor
*names have been changed
📸Yorks/promotional
