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

images

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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Open Day at the Historic Eastbourne House – this Saturday 4th October

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Kit Barlow
Thanks to Acocks Green History Society for photograph.

Thanks to Acocks Green History Society for photograph

Many local people will be interested in the developments at Eastbourne House, Yardley Road. There was much relief that this beautiful Victorian building with many of its original features intact, has been conserved and it now houses a new music school. The owners of the school welcome local people to come along and have a look at this important landmark house and find out more about the music school.  Here is their website for more information: Kimichi Music School . The school will be open from 10am to 4pm and everyone is welcome to come and have a look round.

 

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The Grand Union in Acocks Green – Adopting a Stretch of Canal.

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Kit Barlow
Boat having to navigate around the burnt out wreck
Clear route once again

****** UPDATE: Great news that in the last week the Canals and River Trust have now removed the sunken burnt out barge that had been a serious obstacle to other boats. Thanks to Dave Treadwell for the photos. Also we have had quite a few people say they would like to help with this community project but are still looking for more community-spirited people to come forward.  *****

Many people around Acocks Green enjoy walking and exercising along our ancient waterway, the Grand Union Canal which runs adjacent to Westley Vale Millennium Green, Oak Meadow and through the Grade II listed Vineries Bridge. It almost feels like you are in the countryside here and that time has stood still.  It is a place to escape our busy lives and enjoy peace and quiet, the views and the wildlife.  Back in June a group of locals organised a litter pick along a stretch of canal and quite a few people got involved and took an interest in helping out. Litter is one of the main problems that blights this natural beauty spot. As a way to encourage local communities to take an interest in their local canal the Canals and Rivers Trust  have launched a scheme to encourage local groups to take active role in looking after the waterways. For example this could be a guided walk, nature survey or litter-pick

Autumn on the Grand Union
Bridge 86, built c.1794
Attempts to re-float the sunken canal boat

Click on this link to read more about the scheme: The Canals and Rivers Trust Adopt a Canal Scheme . The campaign is based around the understanding that one activity takes place on the canal at least once a month. Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum is interested to see if local people who enjoy the benefit of having the waterway on their doorstep would like to sign up to be part of this working group. Just a few hours a month would be enough to have the official backing by the Canal and Rivers Trust. As well as improving your local neighbourhood, it gives people the opportunity to get to know others in the area and get some fresh air and exercise. Are you interested? Please contact us by responding to this post or the Contact Us page. We can then go from there. Your details will be kept confidential and not be published on this site (unless you specifically wish us to.).

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September 2014 -Lots to Learn and Enjoy at Stone Hall, Acocks Green ***Update*** Free Computer First Steps

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Kit Barlow

**UPDATE*** 11th September

There are still places left in the Free Computer First Steps course. Do you or someone you know want to gain more confidence using IT? Or learn how to access the internet or use Word? Ask at Reception of Stone Hall or give them a ring. The course runs Monday 12.30 to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 8.30pm and Wednesday 3.30pm to 5.30pm (Unfortunately there is no disabled access to this course).

********   ******

Acocks Green’s Adult Education Centre has a wide array of courses to make the most of this September. Whether you want to learn something for fun, get more out of life, or gain an important qualification to help your job prospects, you may well find a suitable course in Acocks Green, or at one of the many other Adult Education Centres across the city.

Stone Hall Adult Education Centre, Warwick Road, Acocks Green

There are day time and evening courses, from improving your English and Maths, learning how to use a computer, singing, clothes making, British Sign Language, computerised accounts and LOTS more.  Some courses are free of charge, or if you are in receipt of certain benefits you might not have to pay. The full programme of classes is here.  You can enrol for most courses on line, on the phone: 0121 303 4318, or at the centres in person from Monday 1st September to Saturday 13th September. The usual advice is that if possible, turn up at the time of the class you are interested in. At these times you can usually get to meet the tutor. From September you can also phone Stone Hall Centre directly on: 0121 464 9150 Or you can call into Acocks Green Library to pick up the full programmed of Adult Education Courses across the city.   Learning something new cchange your life (in a good way)!

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