Canal Tidy Up – Sunday 30th Sept

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Kit Barlow

The team of volunteers were out today pulling up dumped rubbish from the canal, planting daffodil bulbs, litter-picking, sweeping and cutting back overhanging branches. Very busy waterway on a Sunday morning – we saw boats, walkers, cyclists, runners and even a lady who is walking the whole of the Grand Union Canal from London to Birmingham – all 143 miles of it.

Thanks to everyone who came out and helped and especially to Scott and Sharon who turned up in their new kayaks to help pull litter from the water.

Mike Sweeping the steps
Sharon, Scot and Ian – new volunteers.
bikes, wheelbarrow, chair and other rubbish pulled out.
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Hooray for Village in Bloom!

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Representatives from Acocks Green Village in Bloom attended the award ceremony for the Heart of England RHS In Bloom Ceremony in Burton on Trent on
Thursday 20th September.

The Golden Team 2018

The Golden Team 2018 – the hard work has paid off.

Great news! Acocks Green Village has won Gold for the forth year in a row.  It has been a real team effort and so many people, businesses and organisations have supported the work of the Bloom team – this is a big part of their success. The motivation remains the same as Bloom Co-ordinator Fran Lee said about the award ceremony:

People were present today from all walks of life – from lovely rural towns to Soho Road in Handsworth but all of us have the same philosophy – a love of being involved in shaping our surroundings and giving pride to the people who live in these places.

Next on the agenda –  the RHS Heart of England Neighbourhood Awards – around 300 people have been personally invited to Acocks Green to attend these Bloom Awards next week.  We have been chosen as the host because of our established involvement in Village in Bloom and our continued success.

And then we will be advertising dates for Mass Autumn Bulb-Planting Sessions so that our village can be full of even more beautiful spring flowers next year. Watch this space!

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Public Meeting – Tuesday 18th September

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Our next Public Meeting (and AGM) will be held at our usual venue – the Baptist Church Hall on Yardley Road at 7.30pm.  There will be community updates from the local police and other community representatives.  This time we are also honoured to have a very special guest speaker: West Midlands Elected Mayor – Andy Street.  He will talk about his role and responsibilities and how he oversees the different regional councils to work on major policies around housing, transport, jobs and economic growth.  We are sure that it will be a fascinating insight into the policy-making and decisions that can directly affect residents across the West Midlands. So do come along and make the most of this opportunity on your doorstep.

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Guest Speaker – West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

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My Guides for Birmingham

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Eleanor Stephens from the Guide Dogs charity has been in touch with us. The charity are looking for volunteers (over 18yrs), in our area as ‘My Guides’  As Eleanor says about the role:

a rewarding and flexible volunteering role – even giving a couple of hours once a fortnight can make all the difference, particularly if someone has just lost their sight! No previous experience is necessary and full accredited training is provided.

My Guide

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Watering Duties

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Village in Bloom Team have been working hard to keep planters alive around the village in this exceptionally hot and dry weather. They have worked out a watering system with the use of a large water tank on wheels to pull through the village.

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George with the Village in Bloom’s Watering tank.

In this continued hot weather think about the planters and trees in your neighbourhood. If you have a tree on a grass verge by you, especially a young tree, give it some water. Most have a pipe in the ground that you can see from the surface this goes down to the roots. You might help keep it alive and help keep Acocks Green Green!

You can read a lot more about the work of Acocks Green Village in Bloom on their page on this site Village in Bloom

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Summer Reading Challenge at the Library

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Kids – what a great way to enjoy the free time of school holidays than to lose yourself in a book – whether you like great stories or facts and figures, the choice is yours – the Challenge – to read 6 books over the holidays. Are you up for it? Call in at Acocks Green or South Yardley Library to join in. All the info is HERE

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Summer Activities for Young People and Children in AG

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Thanks to the Acocks Green Youth Project for this very useful document showing all the great things to occupy local young people and children during the summer holidays. The activities are helpfully grouped in age order. Check out the links to Facebook, instagram and Twitter too, so you can find out updates.

4 to 1211 to 1813 to 18

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Help Local Children with their Reading

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Everyone knows how important reading and writing is, if children have difficulties with these basic skills, without extra support their futures can look bleak.  But all around the country volunteers are helping children overcome their struggles and setting them on a path to a successful life. What a difference the Beanstalk Volunteers can make to young lives! If you feel inspired to help children with their reading and have some spare time Beanstalk are looking for people to help out in a primary school in nearby Hall Green.
beanstalk

Prospective volunteers would need to give 3 hours of their time each week, split over two afternoon visits to school to support 3 children with reading. Beanstalk requires a 12 month commitment. Training will be given and a DBS would be arranged.

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Bike Haul !

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Kit Barlow

Thanks to all the volunteers who came out on this blistering morning to help clean up our adopted waterway with the support Canals and Rivers Trust.  It was actually nice and shady on the water’s edge. As well as the usual litter-picking the towpath and floating rubbish on water, the guys got the grappling hooks out and in a short space of time had pulled out 8 dumped pushbikes, 3 shopping trolleys and a motor scooter!

Mark and Dave proud of their haul!
Brian on Lincoln Road
Painting finished
What a collection!
Resurfacing the motorcycle

Canals and Rivers Trust sent a truck over to take away all the old bikes and trolleys, the metal will be recycled.

We painted the canal signage on Lincoln Road and swept and tidied the access steps.  The local police turned up by chance and took the motorcycle off to their compound to check it out to see if they could locate the owner.

A good and rewarding morning’s work. If you would like to help next time just get in touch to go on the mailing list.

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Acocks Green Foodbank Call Out

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Kit Barlow

This is a message from our friends at Acocks Green Foodbank

“During the last two months the local Acocks Green Foodbank helped over 200 people, in some desperate situations from single men who are homeless with no income at all, to families with unexpected bills to pay and growing debts.  Every person leaves with at least one bag of shopping and many with several.  This month we will have been working for two years with an amazing team of volunteers and heard countless stories of hunger and desperate need.  We are determined to see an end to hunger and poverty in Acocks Green. foodbank2

 

The closing of Sainsbury’s in the Green after Easter has made a serious dent in our stocks and ability to provide the kind of help we would like to provide. We are calling on everyone who has previously helped and anyone in the local area to donate whatever they can afford to help us to keep helping others.You can help in a few ways:

  • Donate food and bring in to the Acocks Green Christian Centre, Rear of 100 Westley Road, Acocks Green, B27 7UL on a Tuesday or Friday 10-12pm.  As much as you can spare.  If you can’t deliver it, please think about making an order online and ask a supermarket to deliver it!  Any dried or tinned goods are more than welcome.
  • Pop in to Iceland in the Green and add a few items to the collection basket in there.
  • Pop in to Westley Road and donate money if you don’t have time to shop.  Every penny will be used for Foodbank.  The church does not charge the foodbank for operating in its premises.
  • If you are a community group, you can collect food for us and deliver it once a fortnight or perhaps hold a fundraising event.  We are more than happy to connect with you and provide feedback about the difference you are making.   We desperately need people willing to partner with a shop or school and deliver food to us when you’re free.  All you need is a car and half an hour.
  • We’re always on the lookout for volunteers who can commit to attending one day a week for 2.5 hours.  Training will be given and the team is great!

We really do rely on the generosity of the local community to help us to keep going.  Please help support your local foodbank.”

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