Hands on Handsworth – Page 5 – Hands on Handsworth is a community blog, have your say, share your views and get involved

Handsworth School Girl Nominated for Top City Business Award

A 16 year old school girl from Handsworth has been announced as a top contender for one of Birmingham’s most prestigious business awards.

Catherine Munyarari, a student from Handsworth Grammar School, and member of local youth organisation, Birmingham Leadership Foundation (BLF), has been announced as just one of three finalists for the Aspiring Talent category of the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) awards. Hosted by professional network Birmingham Future, the awards, now in their 13th year, recognise the rising stars of the city’s business community, and include a special category for 16 to 23 year olds. Previous winners include Anthony McCourt, former director of The Cube and Aktar Islam, Director of Lasan restaurant and eatery. Catherine, who is currently studying for her A Levels, is one of BYPY’s youngest ever nominees, and was informed moments before setting off on a Geography field trip.

Catherine says,

“I’m ecstatic to have been nominated for a BYPY Award and can not wait for the ceremony in May. I’m really proud of where I come from and want to use this as an opportunity to champion all the talent that exists in my community and put Handsworth on the map. This is one of the most exciting things ever to happen to me.”

Catherine’s recognition arrives on the back of an eventful year for the ambitious teenager. In November she was elected as UK Youth Parliament representative for Ladywood and Perry Barr Constituencies, a role she juggles with her duties as youth representative for the East Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum. She also managed to make her mark on the public speaking circuit with a presenting role at the BLF Charity Gala in October, in front of an audience of 200 business and political leaders including Sir Albert Bore.

New Heritage Trail in Lozells and East Handsworth Ward

Did you know that there is a new Heritage Trail being developed in Lozells and East Handsworth Ward? If you have a keen interest in local history then why not consider signing up to become a tour guide? There is an eight week course starting on the 25th February in partnership with South & City College Birmingham and will be delivered at St Mary’s Convent on Hunters Road in Lozells. For further information contact:

Aftab Rahman on 0121 523 0580 or Mari Micallef on 0121 694 6311

Half Term Holiday Activities

Stuck for places to go with the family this half term? Why not visit some local places of interest like:

Aston Hall – 0121 675 4722 – Guided Tours only – every Wednesday
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter – 0121 554 3598
Soho House – 0121 554 9122

There are also some useful websites for holiday acivities:

www.bbc.co.uk – Search for ideas of places to go

www.familydaysout.co.uk – Search for ideas for free days out

www.Filter.me.uk – Range of projects for arts, sports and heritage

New Alcohol Restriction Area in Handsworth Wood

With the New Year comes new powers to help police reduce problems with street drinking in Birmingham. Large parts of the city are now classed as alcohol – restricted areas (ARAs), meaning that drinking alcohol in public areas could now be classed as a criminal offence. Handsworth Wood is one of the wards covered by the new order.

A unanimous vote by police and Birmingham City Council’s licensing committee voted in favour of the new powers. Inspector Karen Geddes, responsible for policing across the Perry Barr constituency said : “It will now be an offence for any person to fail to comply with an officer’s request to stop drinking when in Handsworth Wood. This order is in place to ensure Handsworth remains a safe place for people to live and go about their business without being affected by alcohol – fuelled crime and anti-social beahviour. Issues such as people hanging around drinking in shop doorways or in open areas can cause real upset for communities not to mention having a damaging impact upon businesses.”

If someone, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the officer’s request they are committing an offence and further action can be taken including issuing a penalty notice for disorder, or arrest and prosecution with a maximum fine of £500.

Councillor Barbara Dring, Chair of Birmingham’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee said: ” Local authorities have the power to deisgnate areas as alcohol – restricted zones to enable the police to take action against those who are, through their drinking, causing a public nuisance or likely to do so.”

Birmingham City Council will be displaying signs to raise awareness of the alcohol restricted areas.

Vacancy for Birchfield Community Engagement Officer

Big Local is a new Lottery Programme that invests in local communites. Birchfield neighbourhood which falls within the Lozells and East Handsworth Ward is to be funded over a ten year period, with the money to be used by local people and organisations to make lasting change in the area. Before the 10 year funding starts local people will need to develop a partnership and an action plan. The Birchfield Big Local steering group would like to appoint an experienced Community Engagement Officer who would help establish the local partnership and identify priorities which would feed into the Big Local Plan.

The post is 20 hours per week (flexible) and fixed term for 6 months starting from January 2013.

The closing date is Thursday 3rd January and interviews will take place on Wednesday 9th January 2013.

For all enquiries relating to this post please contact Raj Rattu on 07515 531 272 or email rajinder@neighbourhoodconsultancy.co.uk

Application form Person Specification Job Description

Disorder on Hunters Road

On Sunday 9th December 2012 at 2030hrs police were called to reports of disorder on Hunters Road Lozells, near to the junction with Wretham Road.

Police need YOUR help, so if you saw anything or you know someone who knows something. The only we can STOP these disorders is by reporting them! This is a serious matter, please dont waste any time.

REPORT IT NOW!

Local Residents WANTED

I recieved a pleasent email from a local student who wanted some help with a project about HANDSWORTH! So who knows this area better than the local residents.

The aim is simple:

Participants living in Handsworth or who know the area of Handsworth (of any background or ethnicity) are wanted to discuss what life is like in the area.

If you are willing to participate in an interview discussing the community of Handsworth, contact Amila Broom.

ameliabroom@hotmail.co.uk

Do not miss this opportunity.

Baker Street Car Park Gets A Makeover

For sometime Baker Street Car Park has been a blot on the landscape suffering from high levels of litter, fly – tipping and evidence of drug taking. Birmingham City Council has taken action and has given the Car Park a makeover with an estimated 3 – 4 tons of waste being collected.

The tidy up took a mamouth 5 days and was completed by Community Partnership Enterprise, a social enterprise that works closely with West Midlands Probabtion Trust.

Measures are being put in place to make sure that the Car Park is kept clean and tidy. Also, Birmingham City Council will be working closely with the Police to tackle any criminal or anti – social behaviour taking place in the car park.

Here are before and after photos:

Lozells & East Handsworth Ward Gives A Warm Welcome to New Police Sergeant

Police in Lozells & East Handsworth have welcomed a new sergeant to the team as the hard work continues to fight crime. Sergeant Kin Devi is now responsible for policing across Lozells & East Handsworth, and will be working with partner agencies and community members to tackle local concerns. Kin has moved to Birmingham from nearby Sandwell where she spent several years in a similar role.

Late night patrols to deter both burglary and anti-social behaviour have stepped up following Kin’s arrival and her team will also be working to reduce drug related crime in the area. Outgoing Sergeant Lucy Bird will continue to support the team and Perry Barr constituency until January when she move onto another role.

Sergeant Devi said: ” I am delighted to be the new police sergeant for Lozells & East Handsworth and look forward to continuing the great work started by Sergeant Bird. Lozells & East Handsworth has a vibrant community and I look forward to working alongside local people to tackle the things that matter most to them. I am fully committed to the principles of neighbourhood policing and want to ensure that people living, visiting or working in Lozells and East Handsworth can do so in a safe and enjoyable environment.”

If you need to speak with a member of the Lozells and East Handsworth neighbourhood policing team please call the non – emergency telephone number 101.

You can also stay up to date with the latest news and events across the area by following @brumpolice on twitter at www.twitter.com/brumpolice< http://twitter.com/brumpolice>