Help the NHS – Give Blood

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Kit Barlow

The Neighbourhood Forum have been contacted by the NHS Blood Service with a request for local people to give blood. They will be collecting in Acocks Green at the end of the month (see below). Blood stocks have dropped significantly over the Christmas period and there is a need for them to build stocks back up. All blood types are needed, but particularly O Groups to maintain their life saving supplies. With heavy demand for blood and many people taking extended holidays over this Christmas and New Year period they have seen falling stock levels. Perhaps you can help? They will be at the Westley Hotel between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 31st January. Phone in advance to make an appointment.

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The Birmingham Cycle Revolution – Free Big Bike Giveaway

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Kit Barlow

To encourage more people to take up cycling in Birmingham, the city council has been given funds to purchase 5000 bikes in 2015. Some will be used in a bike hire scheme similar to the ‘Boris Bike’ scheme in London, others will be put into a draw for Brummies to apply to own. Some postcode areas around Acocks Green are eligible for the free bikes. Fill in the application form on line or pick one up from the Leisure Centre. You can also telephone the project on 0121 464 1020. Click on picture below for all the information.

cycle revolution

There will be two draws – one on 1st February and one on 1st April. You must reside in Birmingham and be over 16 to apply. You MUST also have a valid Birmingham City Council Leisure Card. These are FREE and easily available from your local leisure centre, our nearest leisure centre is:  Fox Hollies Leisure Centre. To take part in the first draw you need to submit your form by 30th January 2015. If you do not qualify then there will be loads of bikes available on FREE short tem hire and lots of FREE cycling activities for you to get involved in. There will also be Learn to Ride, Bikeability and Bike maintenance sessions available at the 20 Cycle Centres opening in January including centres at Sheldon Country Park and Ackers Centre

If you are interested in cycling and would like to pursue your interest with the Birmingham Cycle Revolution there are also lots of volunteering opportunities. You could qualify as a National Cycling Instructor, become a qualified Ride Leader and Learn new skills whilst becoming an important part of your community, boosting your career prospects. It is also a great opportunity to meet new people and get fitter.

cycle revolution2

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Acocks Green PALS

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Kit Barlow

One of the on-going battles faced by the Acocks Green Village in Bloom team is litter. It blights our community and costs a lot of public money to clean up every day. We would like to encourage locals to take action in improving the problem in Acocks Green. People Against Litter was set up by an Edinburgh citizen who was fed up of litter and wanted to take action. It is a grassroots scheme to encourage people to do something positive about litter and to spread the word to others.  Supporters make a simple pledge to become ‘PALS’ promising to pick up at least one piece of litter per week and recruit one other person to do the same. This way more and more people will be taking direct action to clean up their neighbourhood. If there is less litter around people are less likely to drop more. Just click and sign up today:  People Against Litter The majority of the litter you see in the streets is also recyclable, so you can pick it up on the way home and drop it in your recycling wheelie bin, so benefiting the environment by tidying and recycling! If everyone picked up the litter outside their homes and businesses the Green would look instantly better and more appealing.  It’s not difficult and you can start straight away. Why not make it your New Year’s Resolution?!

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A lot of smokers don’t think of cigarette ends as litter but they are; they take years to biodegrade and mount up in the nooks and crannies proving difficult to pick up. Click on the image to read the details and sign up to support the campaign. If you see any dumped rubbish this can also be reported directly to the city council HERE. We can all do our bit to make Acocks Green a cleaner and greener village, so be part of the movement to improve it.

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Free Advice at Fox Hollies Forum

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Kit Barlow

If you need advice or help with working out benefit claims, form filling or phone calls then take advantage of this new free service in Acocks Green.

Fox Hollies Forum Free Advice with benefit & form filling

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Happy New Year from Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Wishing all our readers a healthy and happy 2015.

Below is the programme of new courses starting in January in South Birmingham including  Stone Hall Adult Education Centre in Acocks Green, where new courses includes:
Have a go at… Ebay, Patchwork, Quilting & Embroidery, Creative Writing and Computers – First Step.
Click on the picture below to see the whole directory for South Birmingham courses. You can also phone Stone Hall directly on 0121 464 9150 or call in from Monday 5th January 2015 onwards.

new year new you

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Panto Season in Acocks Green – Oh Yes It Is!

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Until Saturday at our local theatre. Fun for all the family. Check out the theatre’s website for all the information:  HGLT

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Old Dustbin and Recycling Boxes Collection – 13th and 14th December******UPDATE*****

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Kit Barlow

******Update Monday 15th December**** Apparantly the majority of dustbins and boxes were collected over the weekend. If yours was not then leave it at the front of your property and it will be collected in the next 7 days according to our councillors.

If you have received wheelie bins and no longer require your old recycling boxes and old dustbin then you can put them out on the front of your property, for collection by the council over the weekend of 13th & 14th December, they will then recycling them. The council ask that they are, as far as possible, clean before they are collected. Put them out before 6am on Saturday 13th December and they will collect them on either the Saturday or Sunday, or you can dispose of them responsibly yourself.

You can however keep the containers if you wish. An old dustbin could make a water butt or compost bin.

recycling

Also you can now order your Garden Waste Collection for 2015 via the website and save £5 if you order before 31st December – the annual cost is £30

Click here to continue or commence the Garden Waste fortnightly collection in the springtime.

For more about rubbish and litter and what to do about it click on the Village in Bloom Page for the latest in a campaign to clean up our streets.

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Community First Fund – The Benefits

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Managed by the Community Development Foundation Supported by HM Government’s Office for Civil Society, Community First is an England-wide programme which has run for nearly 4 years. Two funds of money, worth £80m, have been created to help communities come together, become more resilient, and make their local area a better place to live. The funding comes to an end in March 2015

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Each eligible Birmingham Ward had the opportunity to apply for this community funding scheme. Each ward had a Community First Panel, made up of 4 to 8 local people who would represent their community to produce a Community First Plan and to recommend local projects/activities for funding. Panel members were all volunteers and no individual received any financial advantage for their work.

It was also necessary to identify and work with a Panel Partner, who were able to offer support and advice to the panel and ensure that all was fully accountable and transparent in carrying out their responsibilities. Acocks Green Ward Panel received excellent support throughout this period from the Birmingham based Chamberlain Forum who were also a member of the panel. The Acocks Green Community First Panel was ably chaired and administered by Jon Morris of Fox Hollies Neighbourhood Forum with support from the Chamberlain Forum and panel members. They were collectively responsible and facilitated near £90,000 funding being made available for local community organisations over the 4 years. The Neighbourhood Forum are very grateful to the team of volunteers involved for this valued and much-appreciated work, on behalf of the community of Acocks Green.  To give you an example of some of the organisations that received support from the Community First funding, here are just a few of the beneficiaries:

  • Friends Community Centre
  • Fox Hollies Skills Club
  • Acocks Green Carnival
  • Sport 4 Life
  • House of Play and Education
  • ReCom
  • Churches Together Acocks Green
  • Jericho Job Club
  • Westley Vale Millennium Green
  • Acocks Green Focus Group
  • 219th Birmingham Scout Group
  • C de Vision
  • Gospel Oak Community Centre
  • Acocks Green Village in Bloom
  • From Zero to Hero Steering Group

Many of our local organisations, working with dedication and passion for the local community, rely upon external funding such as Community First. The fairness and management of the allocation of these funds is an essential part of the process. The community groups have subsequently benefitted many people. As representatives of Acocks Green, once again we say a Big Thank You!

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Acocks Green Carnival **** Update Next meeting Thursday 15th January. If you would like to be a helping hand to the Carnival this year.******

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Kit Barlow

Acocks Green Carnival has been the biggest annual community get together for 41 years. Many local organisations take the opportunity to promote their causes and raise funds at this important family- focussed summer event. The planning for next year’s carnival starts early and the Carnival AGM will take place on:

Thursday 20th November at 7pm at Acocks Green Methodist Church. Shirley Road.

Stone Hall's Carnival Float 1987. Photo courtesy of Acocks Green History Society

.Stone Hall’s Carnival Float 1987. Photo courtesy of Acocks Green History Society

Because of the dwindling committee, 2015 is likely to be the last Acocks Green Carnival. At the AGM the future of the Carnival will be discussed.  New people and enthusiasm for the event could help secure its future. If you are interested in playing a part in the annual organisation of the event then please come along to the meeting or get in touch with the committee:

Acocks Green Carnival
c/o Fox Hollies Forum
Greenwood Avenue
Acocks Green
Birmingham
B27 7RA

0121 706 0652     email: acocksgreencarnival@yahoo.com

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Yardley District Convention – Thursday 6th November

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Kit Barlow

An opportunity to find out more about the goings on in our constituency and voice your opinions to help plan future district priorities.  If you require more information contact: Kam Badhan, Professional Support Officer, Yardley District Office Tel: 0121 464 9095 or  email: kamaljeet.badhan@birmingham.gov.uk Scan039

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