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Lord Mayor of Birmingham goes back to college in Handsworth

Posted on 4th March 2011 by

On the 24 February City College Birmingham – Handsworth Campus were pleased to welcome back former student Councillor Len Gregory, Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham was taken on a tour of the College where he studied Telecommunications after joining the General Post Office as a trainee Telephone Engineer at the age of 16. Len studied at what is now City College Birmingham at the Handsworth Campus, on Soho Road, for 7 years, obtaining a City and Guilds and a HNC in Telecommunications. Later he continued his studies, whilst combining work and family life, with a BSc degree course in Electrical Engineering.

Len, and his wife Gillian, the Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, feel that Birmingham’s greatest strength is its residents and they are keen to encourage people to take pride in the City and to recognise how many opportunities it has to offer its residents. Len will always be grateful that he was given the opportunity to attend College, which certainly had a hand in making him what he is today.

Consultation on the Black Cat Site Villa Rd

Posted on 28th February 2011 by

In 2009 the buildings that were part of the old Black Cat Cafe were demolished as they had been empty and derelict for sometime. The site is situtaed on Villa Rd, Lozells. Birmingham City Council & Urban LIving have been working together to come up with a set of options that have a potential to bring some new life into this part of the Villa Rd.

Proposed Develop Project - options for the black Cat site can be viewed by click here

#Local Governement Challenge

Posted on 22nd February 2011 by

Spent a grate two days with local residents last week during the local government challenge. Great news the team that were sent to Handsworth won – so we consider that HANDSWORTH won. As if we ever doubted that!

They were impressed by local people, Handsworth Park and the wonderful cooking from the Boat House Cafe. Although we didn’t get a prize it was great to see local residents showing people around there neighbourhood. And then on the Friday we all went to the Council House with the great work being done by local residents being talked about!

Thnak you to Groundwork for your support, Chamberlain Forum, Kate Foley,Karen Cheney and all the residents!

Consultation on Green Spaces in Handsworth

Posted on 15th February 2011 by

Earlier this year Groundwork was successful in gaining funding to deliver a project within Handsworth that aims to empower local residents to improve their local area. The focus has been on four key areas;

  • Oaklands Youth Centre – outdoor space
  • New Inns – communal garden area
  • Centenary Drive
  • Albert Rd to Herbert Rd Alleyways

Over the last few months Stephen Cook from Groundwork has enaged with local residents to work up some intial designs for improvements at these sites. I am attaching the designs below which are just a first attempt and will develop following more conversations with residents.

It is wonderful to start seeing these designs and that residents are shaping  the projects. It would be great to see some of the projects now taken forward to actual improvements on the ground. A big thank you to all have been involved so far particulary Midland Heart, Groundwork, Wilkes Green Resident Association, Beverlie Weston, Lincoln Moses and Oaklands Youth Centre.

Oaklands Design

Design for Alleyway

Centenary Drive – Initial Design

New Inns – Initial Design

If you would like to comment on these designs or get involved contact Stephen Cook  from Groundwork on 0121 430 5500 or my self on 0121 303 3401.

Reggae Britannia Features Some Handsworth Reggae artists

Posted on 14th February 2011 by

BBC Four our currently running a season on reggae music if you missed it last week it focused on the British Reggae Music scene from the 1960s and contains some Handsworth Artists. Well worth a view – Reggae Britannia

BBC Music Blog

Next Hands on Handsworth Resident Network meeting Monday 14th at 7pm

Posted on 10th February 2011 by

The next Hands on Handsworth Resident Network meeting will be held this coming Monday 14th Feb at 7pm @ Handsworth Community Fire Station, 41 Rookery Rd, Handsworth.

New members welcome!

Great time to get involved as the group will be becoming a constituted resident network focusing on environmental issues. See attached agenda below;

Agenda HOHRN Feb 2011

Rookery Rd Street Operation #RRAD in #Handsworth today with #WMPolice

Posted on 2nd February 2011 by

Today is the first time West Midlands Police, Handsworth Wood Neighbourhood Police Team in partnership with local agencies and residents have carried out an operation on Rookery Rd. Over the last few months agancies have received a high numbers of complaints from local residents on a range of issues e.g. speeding, litter. The operation started at 10 and will continue today until 3pm.

The aim of the operation is to provide a high visablity operation in the area to respond proactively to local issues and promoted partnership working.

Thorugh neighbourhood management the focus today has been on cleaning up the area of land at the top of Rookery Rd by Trafalgar Rd.

Fleet & Waste Management, local environmental wardens Deb Parsons & Arfan Khan and future jobs fund trainees got involved today in cleaning up the area.

Just to make sure everyone was doing there job for the local area local resident & street champion Sonia Hyman also got involved with the litter pick and walk down Rookery Rd to spot any other problem areas.

For more information on the progress of the day looking at the WM Police West & Central teams news page or follow them on twitter

Generation 0.3 programme of events starts next week

Posted on 21st January 2011 by

Next week the Runnmede Trust along with INHABIT will be running a series of activities and debates to showcase the findings of their Generation 3 project look at ending racisim. During the summer many residents from Handsworth got involved and shared their views on racisim, what it meant to them and how it could be ended.

See attached invitation for more details of what is happening from Monday 24th to Friday 28th Jan

Generation 3 Invitation

Many of the activties will be held at the Harriet Tubman Bookshop off Grove Lane I hope to see some local people there.

Bringing the experts to you: Network Advice Bus in Handsworth

Posted on 17th January 2011 by

 CN4B is launching its pilot mobile advice surgery giving small groups and organisations access to a range of advice on capacity and organisational management issues.

Do you need FREE advice on organisation governance or women’s issues? (advice on women’s issues is provided to groups and individuals).
Then come along to one of the many mobile surgeries being held at locations around Birmingham between January & March 2011.

Get advice on:
Funding, Events, Training, Organisation Management, Domestic Violence, Health, Women’s Support Groups, Networking, Charitable Status and more…

No appointments are required and you will receive 15/20 minutes one-to-one advice with some level of follow-up support.
See list of dates on the publicity flyer >
(Feel free to download, print and display)

This is an initiative of Community Network 4 Birmingham and supported by: The Digbeth Trust/Platform Partnership, W.A.I.T.S., Chamberlain Forum and Birmingham City Council’s Midnight Bus.

A number of other agencies are assisting these sessions by offering specialist advice. We thank all those involved for their voluntary input as advisors, and particular thanks to John Shannon and Kieran Clarke for their assistance in developing this pilot initiative.

For all enquiries email info@cn4b.net or tippa@chamberlainforum.org

The Handsworth dates that we have arranged our:

27th Jan 1.30 until 4.30

24th March 10am until 1.00

All free no appointment need the bus will be parked at Handsworth Leisure Centre, just off Holly Rd

Seasons Greetings

Posted on 23rd December 2010 by
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