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Home What is Walsall's New Deal? Themes Area Map Newsletter Media Releases Staff Events New Deal Documentation Links Job Vacancies Contact Site Map |
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'ChTitt-ChTatt' is the monthly e-letter that aims to keep board members and stakeholders up to date on projects. 1. Employment, Skills and Business Incubation to the formal economy - the process has started to procure a project deliverer to assist with developing business ideas or migrating existing businesses from the formal to informal economy. It is intended that the support comes mainly from advice about business planning although grants may be paid to those with workable proposals. The aim for this project is that 20 businesses start or migrate in each year of activity and it is proposed that initially this should operate for two years. Drivers Training Phase III - Research is ongoing to see if and how driving lessons help to make a person more employable. Currently the indications are that this sort of activity is used as diversionary tactic for young people and that a link to employability is less clear. Retailer support - research is ongoing to see how projects designed to improve the performance of retailers have been carried out in other areas. There is a commitment to support local businesses which is reflected both in the development of proposals to improve the physical environment around small shopping areas (Bloxwich High Street and Blakenall Heath having been supported already) and in this proposal to provide business support to increase profitability. Improving the skills of local people in employment - since the start of ND : NH employment and training project and the opening of Work on the Horizon, the major emphasis has been placed on assisting unemployed residents into employment and training. However support is also available for those who are currently employed who wish to improve their skills and qualifications to progress their career, safeguard their job or obtain better employment opportunities. There is a broad range of potential courses that lead to nationally recognised qualifications. While some people have already benefited it is intended to promote this opportunity much more over the coming months. The first port of call is the Work on Horizon shop who will respond to all queries. More information contact Bob Crundwell 01922 712858 2. Education & Learning Access to Learning in the Community - delivered by the College of Continuing Education they are reporting that most targets are being achieved but that some are still being worked towards. Appointment procedures have slowed down the commencement of the project but it is underway and the College are confident. Blakenall Virtual High School / Blakenall Primary Education Improvement Fund projects were recently approved. Designed to improve educational performance at junior and secondary level, funds will be made available to schools through a formula reflecting the number of ND : NH pupils per school. It’s attained from September applications will be received detailing interventions from the schools calculated to meet their individual precept needs with the overall objectives of improving attainment and achievement. Basic Skills and Outreach Learning - ContinYou had a slow start due to the need to appoint workers, but has picked up on a lot of requests and referrals. Some courses have started, a report on outcomes are a number of weeks away as these courses begin to deliver. Nursery Plus and Learning Interventions - a community newsletter is to be distributed with the next edition of 'ChTatter'. You Can Do It! - Prospects reported the ongoing success of this project and its achievements. A full report on progress with the Access to ICT in Schools Project was given to the theme group and the conditions to which the schools had signed up were outlined. A question about changes in percentages in New Deal pupils at the participating schools was discussed. The outcome is that in the case of a substantial change in the balance of New Deal pupils between schools an application could be made for a further project to supplement the notebook computers to redress any imbalance in their allocation. Projects under Development for Primary and Secondary schools and the development of an application process for school funds and a formula approach to funding are being developed. Guidance has been given on the nature of likely projects that would be supported. Proposal for the constitution of the steering group that would approve applications was considered and found favour. These projects were noted as proceeding towards the approvals process. Projects that are under development are - Transitions, NEETs and 14-19. More information contact Bob Marsh on 01922 712858 3. Housing and Environment The opening of new fully disabled male and female toilets on Blakenall Heath signifies the completion of the next phase of improvements to the local shopping centre. The toilet facilities will offer a service to shoppers using the local centre and are located within the new entrance archway and colonnade structure across the road from the new public square. The visual location of the toilets will mean that they will be easy to police and less easy for people to abuse. More information from Steve Pooni 01922 712858 4. Crime and Community Safety Neighbourhood Policing went live on April 1st across the West Midlands. Our area now has its own Police team of 1 SGT and 10 officers, who are deployed purely to police the area and no other. Every neighbourhood in the Borough will have a similar policing team. This new structure is in response to Government demand in closing the gap and delivering the respect agenda in terms of making the police more accountable to local people and their communities. New Deal is already well ahead of the process in that it already has the structures of community contact in place. The area has a well motivated resident population who are well engaged and have a clear idea of what the issues are that need tackling. We also a have a clear neighbourhood management strategy that will address a lot of the issues that will be raised. The police team have moved from the Police station at Bloxwich and are now working fulltime from the BIC. This has already had an impact, with a number of arrests being made for crimes occurring close by. The location will improve accessibility to the team. The Neighbourhood Wardens are now situated next door to the policing team and are developing a closer working relationship. More information and intelligence is being exchanged and problems are being dealt with jointly. The Wardens project is set to end March 2007. Discussions with Walsall Regeneration Agency and Safer Walsall Borough Partnership are taking place regarding the feasibility of a future service. With Wardens accredited with powers to deal with community crime such as litter, abandoned vehicles, parking, alcohol confiscation etc. The neighbourhood policing team is to be expanded with 2 dedicated police community support officers this autumn. As well as looking at having accredited wardens, the option of increasing the number of pcsos has to be assessed as an alternative and or joint option. After being appointed to the New Deal team in February, Sergeant Craig Smith has wasted no time in getting to grips with his new role. The team have also been getting used to their new ‘home’ in the Blakenall info Centre. At the start of February an Anti-Social Behaviour Operation began on the High Street and Blakenall Heath, due to reports of shoplifting and criminal damage. Police made 11arrests for shoplifting and five for criminal damage. This operation will continue. In February the team carried out a drugs warrant at Davies House, where an occupier was found in possession of cannabis plants and a small quantity of cocaine. A licensing operation was conducted in March in order to curb the selling of drugs in our area. Officers with a specially trained force drugs dog, visited licensed premises in order to detect drugs. Three arrests were made and drugs were recovered. Due to the success of the operation, the drugs dogs will be used again. Extra weekend and evening patrols took place in February and March aiming to combat vehicle crime in Blakenall. Eight known offenders were arrested and charged, victims of the vehicle crimes are being supplied with car alarms. Officers have been working with Gareth Jennings New Deals Football Coach by taking part in coaching sessions with young people from our area. Classes were held at Shelfield School with the officers having a great time joining in with the children and showed the ‘other side’ to policing. Due to a high level of patrols and visibility on St. Georges Day, the day passed off without incident. April saw the team carry out a campaign in partnership with the Local Authority, DVLA and officers from the force Road Policing Unit. The aim was to promote road safety, and to detect crime and criminals travelling into our area. 3000 vehicles were checked, with 14 recovered for no insurance. One person was arrested for driving whilst disqualified. With the onset of the World Cup, extra patrols will be out and about to ensure that the community has an enjoyable world cup, even if England doesn’t win! (Heaven forbid!! editor) The team will continue to build upon these successes, with more operations planned in the near future. More information contact Inspector Mandy McPhee on 01922 712858 5. Health and Well Being We currently have 4 evening centres running (2 Nike Joga Soccer sessions, 1 Girls & Women's session and 1 unemployed adult football session). The 2 Nike Joga Soccer Centre's (3 people versus 3 people mini football) are proving to be very popular, we have now had over 50 young people attending. The Sports Development Programme Proposal was recently approved taking forward the ND : NH Sports Strategy. Comprising of number of key areas including the appointment of a Sports Strategy Manager, development of sporting facilities, programmes for pre-school, school age, adults and older people linked with developments of sports clubs. This project will operate for the next three years. The Young People Sexual Health Project was recently approved. Reflecting the finding of the ND : NH Health Strategy a range of activities will be undertaken, focusing on reducing teenage pregnancy, improving the health of mother and child, as well as addressing the overall sexual health of young people, combining elements of direct support information, guidance and training (particularly for school governors). This innovate project will operate for just under three years. We have set up a number of Out of School Hours Learning (OSHL) clubs within local primary schools. These currently cover Football and Athletics. Two new clubs will be up and running very soon in Dance and a Disability Multi-Skills. We have formed links with Blakenall Cricket Club and Cresswell Wanderers FC to provide sporting opportunities for young people in the area. Both clubs will work with us to set up evening coaching centres and develop school to club links. On Saturday mornings Club Development Coaching sessions take place for local junior football clubs at Shelfield Sports College. Sessions give local clubs an opportunity to experience high quality coaching (UEFA B) and the chance to work towards Charter Standard (Walsall MBC/The FA). We will be assisting in a World Cup tournament for primary schools that is being organised by Shelfield students. They have organised the competition as part of their Junior Football Organisers course. We hope that the students who complete the course will help us on a voluntary basis. The Drugs Aftercare Project commenced on April 3rd. The project ensures that residents who have drug problems can be supported to remain off drugs and have positive futures as part of a structured day care programme. Volunteer recruitment is underway and interviews will take place soon. The Complementary Therapy Service & Bereavement Service is up and running with all staff appointed and patients being referred. Patients are seen in clinics at Blakenall Village Centre and in their homes if they are unable to attend clinics. Patients are also seen on wards if they are admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital. Carers of cancer patients are also seen at Blakenall Village Centre during the evening, (sometimes it is hard for carers to take time out during the day). Patients and carers have said how wonderful the service and the BVC is. The complementary therapy service is planning an Open Day for people to find out more about the services on offer and to sample 'taster' sessions of complementary therapies. A display is being organised in the reception area of the Blakenall Village Centre to provide the public with information about services available. 20 volunteers have been recruited for the Complementary Therapy Service. Volunteers are qualified therapists who are taking further training in cancer and palliative care before working with cancer patients and their carers. Interviews for the Bereavement Service will take place this month. Volunteers have already expressed an interest. Other services being delivered at the Blakenall Village Centre include;
6. Community Empowerment A second group of young people have now completed Chef's Special. They were supported by the young people who attended the first chef's special. The supporting young people have used the work to go towards their Silver Youth Achievement Award. The young people also cooked for board members and staff at the BVC. Projects are planned to run every 4 weeks. The team continues with its Out-reach Detached Work in the area on Wednesday evenings from 6.00pm - 8.00pm. This allows the team to meet young people on the street who are not accessing youth provision. The young people are then 'signposted' to a range of opportunities. They also have the opportunity to get involved in 'street football'. The team is also working with young people on Tuesday evening's at the football sessions at the Blakenall Community Association. The 'Youth ChTatt' magazine will be distributed in June. Young people from our area write articles for other young people on issues that concern them. They will also be participating in article writing training and working towards a Youth Achievement Award. Chill Chat Café 'drop in' is held on Wednesday evenings from 5.30 - 7.30 to coincide with dance classes and detached youth work. The 'drop in' is an opportunity for the youth team to meet with young people in an informal setting. Young people can meet new friends, listen to music and talk to the youth workers. The Baby think it over programme began in May with groups of young people. The 'babies' are programmed to cry regularly, hopefully acting as a deterrent to having a real baby. Young people also learn about sexual health and staying safe. Following the success of this project, the youth team have now received training on delivering workshops and have purchased their own 'babies' to run more courses. The community involvement team and Walsall's New Deal Community and Voluntary Sector Forum are currently working on National Volunteers Week Celebration. The week and aims to recognise, reward and recruit volunteers. The Accorn Fund continues to provide support to community and voluntary organisations at work in our area. As the financial year closed a number of groups are being supported through the monitoring process of their grants. The following organisations have been successful in obtaining funding;
3 Board members attend the "Empowerment Making Your Voice Heard" Conference in Birmingham in May. It was geared around sharing best practice and was specifically for resident Board members. More information contact Michelle Parry 01922 711228 Communications Following comments received from Board development and Promotions Sub Committee the web site is currently being updated. Recent media releases will be available on the web site by Friday 9th June. Media cutting service, whilst this service has stopped for board members in general a basic service is still provided for officers to keep them informed of local news etc; should individual board members wish to opt into receiving this service please contact Andy Bradley or Sally Gamston at the Blakenall Village Centre. Diary Dates A diversity event is being planned in Leamore Park for Saturday 15th July 11am until 3.30pm to celebrate the diversity, identity and culture of our area. Please contact the communications team for a copy of the arrangements for the day. The Great Summer Festival will be taking place at Walsall Arboretum on Sunday 23rd July 12pm until 6pm. New Deal will be supporting the event by sponsoring the star attraction and children's entertainer Barney the purple dinosaur. The communications team will also be supporting an information stall during the event promoting ND : NH. Bloxwich Carnival Saturday 5th August. We are supporting this event with a float (Alan Venables has volunteered to drive it), New Deal stall, coconut shy, sponsorship of the raffle tickets and advertising within their brochure. A member of the communications team represents New Deal at Carnival Committee planning meetings. In October we are planning a major consultation event over 4 days. A New Deal and partner organization road show will tour the district centers from Tuesday 3rd October, culminating on Friday 6th October with the 1st year celebration of the official opening of the Blakenall Village Centre. The 21st edition of 'ChTatter' is now being prepared with distribution taking place in June. 'ChTitt - ChTatt' 26th edition the deadline will to be 12.00hrs Thursday 29th June. More information contact either Andy Bradley or Sally Gamston 01922 712858 If you know of an organisation or individual that would like to receive 'ChTitt - ChTatt' please forward their email address to Andy Bradley on bradleya@walsall.gov.uk or Sally Gamston on gamstons@walsall.gov.uk Walsall's New Deal for Communities, New Deal : New Horizons is registered as a company limited by guarantee with Companies House registration number 04582937 and as a charity with the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales registration number 1098036. 'serving the areas of Blakenall, Bloxwich and Leamore' |
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