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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 our bi-monthly e-letter that aims to keep residents, Board Members and Stakeholders up to date on projects. 1. Employment, Skills and Business Work on the Horizon is a small, friendly and professional team based at our purpose built 'shop' on Bloxwich High Street where local people and companies can benefit from a wide range of free help, advice and support in relation to training, employment and recruitment. We also deliver outreach services across the area and participate in many local events to engage with the community. Despite the present economic climate Work on the Horizon still has many vacancies coming in to be filled. This month alone we have assisted 17 people back into employment. Work on the Horizon has the only Job Point in Walsall not located in a Job Centre and also advertises vacancies for local companies who are recruiting, and provides facilities for interviews to take place if the company requires this. The local vacancies can also be accessed though the Work on the Horizon website www.workonthehorizon.org which is proving to be very successful. Our website also has details of forthcoming events the next being the Jobs & Training Event on 12th November 2008 10am - 4pm at Blakenall Village Centre, Thames Road, Blakenall where Walsall Council in partnership with Work on the Horizon will provide people with an opportunity to find out about job vacancies with the council and other local employers as well as accessing advice and information about other services. Work on the Horizon works in partnership with many organisations who hold surgeries on the premises. They range from Job Centre Plus, Disability Advice, Prospects, Connexions, Business Link, Citizens Advice Bureau, Turning Point, Walsall College and Walsall Primary Care Trust. A timetable of these events is available on the Website. More information contact Bob Crundwell 01922 712858 2. Education & Learning The Kidz Crew programme was a 3 week holiday programme funded by New Deal's Education Theme. The children are aged between 7 - 11 years and are selected by their primary schools as having low self-esteem and confidence. This year activities included a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon for a Shakespeare workshop, and back in Shelfield trampolining, judo, cheerleading, dance and drama and much more. The children spent a weeks residential trip at a PGL outdoor activity centre in Weymouth. The activities included, abseiling, climbing, dragon boating, kayaking, quad biking, zip wire and rifle shooting. There were 42 children involved in the project which was an amazing experience. Many had not been away from home before and most of them would not have otherwise had these opportunities. The scheme also utilised 2 New Deal young dance volunteers Becky Saunders and Amy Betterley who gave up a lot of their free time to run workshops for the children. On the final day of the programme the children performed a show at the Shelfield theatre. Many parents and relatives came to watch their work, and it showed how much these children had come on. More information contact Bob Marsh on 01922 712858 3. Housing and Environment Since April the New Deal Community Wardens name and role changed to The Environment Community Team. Our new role has more of an environment nature and the team have been trained to use environment equipment for clean ups in the area, such as trimming overgrown bushes, gardens, and tidying up green space areas. The team has already made a difference in areas such as Abbotts Street where a void property had an over grown garden and the hedge encroached over the pavement. This was cleaned up and the area looks a lot better for it. Other areas that have benefited are in Millfield Avenue where the washing areas were unable to be used by the residents were cleaned up as was the washing area in Stoney Lane. Although the team's role has changed from dealing with crime issues to environment issues the team still performs other duties, such as visiting the elderly in their homes and visiting them in other centres. The team also visit local schools and train some of the pupils to Level One of the cycling proficiency standard. The team works a late shift twice a week and you can still see them walking the streets and engaging with the young people that they see around the area. More information from Steve Pooni 01922 712858 4. Crime and Community Safety Performance figures for crime reduction within the area have continued with excellent results. In July the reduction in total recorded crime was 12.6 % compared to the same period last year. In August the reduction figure was 15.3% and for September the figure was 29.8% reduction in total crime compared to last year. These figures represent the hard work, joint initiatives, intelligence and community cohesion between local residents, New Deal and West Midlands Police. Some of you will be aware that our neighbourhood Beat Sergeant Jamie Checkland is moving on. His replacement is Hannah Davis. Hannah attended our recent crime theme meeting, and we are excited and looking forward to working with her, Hannah is committed to continue with Jamie's excellent work. A more in depth profile of Hannah will appear in the next addition of 'ChTatter'. The Copper Card Scheme has now been rolled out. The scheme which New Deal has supported is running over 3 months with two new cards being published in the Walsall Advertiser each week. These collectors' cards can be obtained from the local Police team at the Blakenall info Centre, or from myself at the Blakenall Village Centre. The cards when put together make a set. We will also be looking at running some 'swap days' where local children will be able to get together to exchange cards. The initiative was launched with great success with a video interview being made that included our Chair Tom Perrett being aired on the Express & Star internet site. Our 'Trick or Treat' initiative, run with our Young Advisors, Police, PCSO's and myself visiting residents within the area was a great success. As well as receiving crime prevention literature residents are given verbal reassurance and offered the opportunity to raise any community issues. Due to its success this is something that we will look to repeat again next year. The monthly Police Surgeries continue at the Blakenall info Centre; the dates for your diaries are Saturday 18th October, Saturday 15th November, and Saturday 13th December. I continue to have my own weekly Crime and Community Safety surgeries each Tuesday between 12:00 and 14:00hrs. If anyone does have any community issues or concerns please call in to see me. More information contact David Benbow on 01922 712858 5. Health and Well Being Complementary Therapy Service; Following on from the success of the Well Being Skills courses consideration is being given to extending the course to cover food and nutrition. The promotion of healthy eating and nutrition in an interactive way will be facilitated by Steve, the chef from New Horizons restaurant. Bereavement Service; A small number of clients are currently working on a creative project exploring their grief. This project is facilitated by an artist from an organisation called Rosetta Life, a creative group which specialises in working with end of life and bereaved people. (http://www.rosettalife.org ) Drugs & Alcohol Day Programme
Expert Patient Programme; 34 People have completed self care management courses, we are currently holding a course at St Johns Methodist Church and another at Blakenall Community Centre. Health Trainers; Clients are offered one to one support to increase physical activity, improve their diet or stop smoking. Clients seeking weight management advice are given the option to attend Weight Watchers or Slimming World free of charge. Older Persons Support Worker / New Deal 50 Plus Forum Foot Care Practitioner is available every Friday, 9.30 to 1.30pm at Blakenall Community Centre. Working in partnership with Walsall Community Transport, we have promoted a visit to Southport Flower Show and a Chester trip. One Stop Information Event held on Tuesday 9th September at Blakenall Community Centre; 32 people attended the event, 16 agencies provided information and advice. Other Activities and Events International Day for Older People took place on Tuesday 30th September on Blakenall Heath. Circuit Training taster course start on 31st October, 10.00 to 11.00am. Team Building Barge Trip for the project volunteers and forum members on Monday 15th December, places still available. Ladies Keep Fit, Monday's at 6.30pm and Badminton from the 1st September (courts must be booked in advance at the Blakenall Community Centre). New Deal 50 Plus Forum meeting is on Thursday 27th November, 3 pm at Bloxwich Leisure Centre, the speaker is Richard Maunders, Addaction. A Christmas event has been organised on Friday 5th December at Blakenall Community centre, 11.00 to 4.00pm. Your Money Matters project with Help the Aged is having a surgery at Blakenall Community Centre at Monday 6th October, 10.00 - 12.00pm. Please book an appointment on 01922 712069. Young Persons Sexual Health Project 5 young parents have been supported into education by the Support Worker The Top Trumps Event was held on the 29th September at Forest Arts Centre. Workshops continue to be delivered on money management, confidence building, smoking cessation, job searches and any specific issue that have arisen that week, by the Young Persons Health Information Worker. The Smoking Cessation programme continues with new clients being signed up regularly. Sports Development Programme The Netball Club which was set up through the project and funded by the sports strategy has now set up a constitution, committee and bank account. They now run the club and have entered a team in the local league. Their training venue for the summer was Leamore Park and has now gone to Blakenall Community Centre on a Thursday 6.30 - 8.00pm. Evaluation of the project is underway. Summer Activities Football Camps held 3 days a week for 3 weeks were successful; an average of 35 children attended each day. Extreme Games are run at Blakenall Community Centre; children participate in a range of games. 23 children attended in the first week and 13 the second week. Dance Leadership Award - This Sports Leaders UK recognised award was run at Shelfield for over 14's. 5 students completed the 5 day course. They will now complete some volunteering hours to gain the qualification. Olympic Day - On Friday 29th August all the children who had taken part in the summer activity were invited to participate in a sponsored Olympic Day. This event tied in with the Clic Sergeants charity Kick It events. The charity supports children and their families who have cancer, and the day raised over £240. The day was supported by Adams Tours, Tesco, Buffet Express, Lissport and Maudesport. West Midlands Streetgames tournament - the team took the Shelfield Knights Cheerleading squad along with a girls and boys under 11 football team. They all competed brilliantly, and the cheerleading squad won the Fair Play Award. The boy's football team finished 3rd and the girls 2nd. More information contact Harjinder Singh 01922 712858 6. Community Empowerment New Deal Notice Boards - are updated on a fortnightly basis and include New Deal information and other community and voluntary service information. There are plans to have another board installed at Mallory Crescent. If anyone would like to display information in the boards please contact Kelly Mayo or a member of the team 711228. Patch Rep Drop In's - sessions are held in locations around the New Deal area so that residents can meet their Patch Rep and talk to them about their local area. Information is available about the New Deal programme and partner agencies activities. If anyone would like to hold a session or would like information please contact Victoria Westwood or Jo Toft on 711228 Urban Forum Conference - Urban Forum has announced that the National Conference will be held in December in Manchester, the theme of the conference is Poverty. The conference will be held on the 8th and 9th December and further details will be circulated when they are received. Walsall's New Deal is has been asked to host the National NDC Residents Conference in 2009 and further information and details will follow. Walsall Gypsy & Travellers Forum - The group are still working with the Strategic Health Authority on the Pacesetters project and the development of a Hand Held Health Record for people from the G&T Community. The Forum will be holding their Annual General Meeting at the October meeting. The Community Involvement Team are looking to produce an engagement toolkit which will detail best practice information of how to work with the Gypsy and Travelling community, based on their experience so far. Pleck Boxing Club and Green River Development has been successful in obtaining planning application from Walsall Council. A number of decisions are due in October and November regarding funding for the project. The steering group meet regularly. Green Rivers Community Association and Pleck Boxing Club are discussing governance issues that will contribute to the long term project. Blakenall Fishing Association - now owns a stretch of water on the Canal in Blakenall. The stretch runs from Little Bloxwich Bridge to Freeth Bridge. Members of the club are able to fish in the water at their leisure, and members of the community can fish the canal for £2.00 per day. The club is trying to recruit new members and more information is available at Blakenall info Centre on 711228. Youth ChTatt edition 6 will be distributed in October with a new style and different articles - the publication is still written for young people by young people. The editorial panel for the magazine is majority of young people who work with youth workers to produce and edit articles. New Deal's Aloud Dance group is held at Shelfield Sports College on Thursday evenings for young people over 11 years. The dancers performed at the Blakenall and Leamore Park Summer Festival and Bloxwich Carnival. They have completed an accredited course organised by the Sports Development Team. The group will be entering local competitions in the near future. Pauline Merrick Memorial Fund; congratulations to two applicants who were awarded funding by Pauline Merrick 'My Aspirations' for Martial Arts and Kick boxing lessons and equipment. Pauline Merrick Memorial fund awards grants for up to £2000. There are two pots of money that can be applied for 'My Aspirations' for talented individuals and 'United Quests' group activities for young people. More information contact Michelle Parry 01922 711228 Communications Diary Dates 'ChTatter' edition 30 deadline is the 2nd February 2009 distribution taking place during April 2009. Forthcoming Events:-
For more information or if you can help at any of the above events or your organisation would like to get involved please give Sally a call on 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' Walsall's New Deal supports the Walsall Partnership "We are Walsall" campaign. |
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