Dear readers — welcome to your Monday Briefing.
First up, we’ve had an incredible response to the news of our upcoming (and slightly bonkers) campaign to get 1,000 new paying subscribers in November. If we hit that target, we’re committing to five pledges to help transform Birmingham for the better — selected by you. Hundreds of you have voted from our longlist of 25 already, and we’ll be revealing the results very soon. Look out for that.
A BBC Panorama documentary airing tonight will explore a topic The Dispatch has been reporting on consistently since we launched in 2023: the exploitation rife in Birmingham’s housing sector that is meant to support vulnerable people. That’s the top item in today’s briefing.
And some final housekeeping: We are incredibly excited for our event on Thursday, in which author Luke Kennard will discuss his Booker-Prize-shortlisted novel Black Bag. Kate will be chatting with him at the Actress and Bishop pub with drinks, conversation, and book-signing afterwards. There are just a few tickets left for Dispatch members. If you’re yet to sign-up, why not take this opportunity and enjoy half-price entry to the show?
General Admission is officially SOLD OUT for Thursday!
If you didn't manage to grab a £6 ticket to see Luke Kennard, not to worry! There’s a quick loophole ...
The last batch of seats is reserved strictly for Dispatch members.
By signing up today for £8/mo, you’ll unlock a £3 ticket and enjoy a full month of brilliant, independent Birmingham reporting.
Cheaper than a takeaway, vastly better for your brain.
Catch up and coming up:
- This weekend we took you inside the so-called ‘Patriot’ groups patrolling our streets — after a video of three international students being surrounded in a park in Solihull got global coverage. Read it here
- On Friday, Kate published a letter sent by two councillors to Birmingham City Council leader Roger Harmer, accusing officers of failing to take basic measures to block exploitative housing providers — ahead of tonight’s Panorama documentary
- And on Wednesday Jess documented the many lives of the buffet restaurant that refuses to die: Jimmy Spices. If you have fond memories of plates stacked with pizza and chicken chow mein, followed by a trip to the chocolate fountain, share them in the comments here.
Eastside Jazz Festival is back
After an unforgettable launch earlier this year, Eastside Jazz Festival returns in spring 2027.
The festival brings together the very best of Birmingham’s thriving jazz scene (as covered many times in these very pages) for a series of showstopping performances – featuring Soweto Kinch, Niki Iles, Camila Nebbia, Jeff Ballard, Kit Downes and many more. Expect samba, saxophones and the next generation of jazz greats – students at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – for a three-day celebration of unforgettable live music. Whether you're an established jazz lover or new to the genre, find out more about how to get involved and book your tickets below.
Photo of the week
A lone pedestrian crossing the Selfridges footbridge from street and landscape photographer Darius Anderson. Instagram: @darius_photography97
Brum in Brief
Supported Exempt Abomination?
Tonight, BBC Panorama will air a special episode about supported exempt accommodation, exposing the exploitative practices that are rife in the sector in Birmingham. The hour-long documentary (online now) uncovers how companies are receiving large sums of public money while failing to support vulnerable people. There is also evidence that some companies are even making benefit claims on behalf of people who do not actually live in their properties. Providers are freely advertising for ‘ghost tenants’ online and signing up residents who can claim enhanced housing benefits without actually needing to house them. The BBC has uncovered details of a provider called Windrush Alliance which has written off £1.8 million that was paid to former directors and companies under their control.
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