You may have seen from our forthcoming events calendar http://www.wombourneparishcouncil.org.uk/civic-centre/forthcoming-events/ that Wombourne Civic Centre has recently been home to Pilates classes on Monday evenings from 6.30pm – 7.30pm.

For anyone interested, the classes will be continuing throughout March. Come to the rear of the Civic Centre – the classes take place in the Bourne Room.

For more information, call Natalia on 07835 011438 or email natgymuk@gmail.com

Do you care for someone with dementia?

Seek support from Dementia Singing Friends who meet every Wednesday at The Community Room, Wombourne Library from 1.00pm to 3.00pm.

Dementia singing friends understand what it is like to live with dementia or care for someone with this condition.  They are not professionally qualified, just friendly faces who care for people with dementia and realise the stress such a condition causes.

Music and dance are great ways to ease the stress and have an enjoyable time out together. They chat and socialise whilst having a cuppa (and maybe a biscuit or two). They ask only for £1 pp to cover the cost of room hire and refreshments.

If you are interested why not along or, for more information please contact Sarah on 01902 892781 (leave name and number if not in) or email wv5.dementia.friends@gmail.com

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help please get in touch as all help will be gratefully received (Tea making skills and sense of humour paramount).

Please note this is for people who are able to attend safely on their own or who are accompanied by someone to support them – there is no provision of direct support for people with dementia.

Don’t miss the new CASS Carers Cafe coming to Wombourne Civic Centre

From Wednesday 13th March 2019 in the Brook Room from 10.30am – 12.30am.

If you are looking after a family member or friend, join CASS The Carers Association for information, support and advice at their new Cafe for Carers.

Pop in on the launch date for a cuppa and a cake.

Contact CASS on 01785 222 365 for more information.

Mega Slam Wrestling – Saturday 2nd February 2019

Don’t miss out on great family entertainment right here in Wombourne this weekend!

You can purchase your tickets by visiting http://www.megaslam.co.uk

THE JOAN WILLIAMS CIVIC AWARD 2018

Wombourne Parish Council is again making its Annual Civic Award to be presented by the Council to the person who has made a significant contribution to village life in Wombourne in 2018.

The Award was first instigated by the late Councillor Mrs Joan Williams in 1980 and there have been many worthy winners over the years.

As a mark of respect and in recognition of Mrs Williams’ thirty six years’ service on the Parish Council it was agreed that this Award should be renamed the Joan Williams Civic Award.

Last year’s winner, Mr John Reynolds, pictured with former Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor John Pike, said it was honor to receive the award.

John’s work in community dates back well over 35 years, and he is an active member of several committees, including Wombourne’s Best Kept Village Committee, Wombourne Community Association and Wombourne Carnival Committee.

In closing sentence of the nomination for John, it said ‘Over the last 35 years Mr Reynolds has fully committed himself with dedication, loyalty and hard work to the various organisations in Wombourne of which is he a member’.

If you wish to nominate someone for this Award for 2018, please put your nomination in writing and send it to Mrs R Wright, Clerk to Wombourne Parish Council, Council Offices, Civic Centre, Wombourne, WV5 9HA or email it to enquiries@wombourneparishcouncil.org.uk

You should provide the name of the person you wish to nominate and the reasons you feel they would make a worthy winner.

All entries need to received by 5.00pm on Friday 1st March 2019 and the award will be presented at the Meeting of the Full Council on Monday 13th May 2019.

If you have any queries, you can call the Parish Council Office on 01902 896300.

Your local, bookable bus service
Zone 3 – Wombourne

The South Staffordshire Connect bus returns to the
Wombourne, Seisdon, Trysull, Lower Penn, Himley,
Swindon and Gospel End area.

This service will make cross-border links at
Sedgley Market (Lloyds Pharmacy side)
and Wolverhampton, Langley Road bus stop.

Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 3pm.

If you want to visit friends or family, pop to the shops, or travel to an appointment, the Connect
local, bookable bus service is here to help you live the Good Life in South Staffordshire.
The Connect bus service is for any resident of any age living in the zone who:
• Doesn’t live near a regular bus route.
• Finds it difficult to use standard buses.
• Wants to make a journey which is not possible by a regular bus route.
• Can’t use a regular bus because of disability or mobility difficulties.

Available for short, local journeys within the zone.

We pick up from your home and drop you off at your destination.

Need a little extra help to get on board?
No problem. Our drivers are trained to take excellent care of you.

Our buses also take wheelchairs so everyone can travel.

Fares
Passengers pay a flat rate fare of £3.00 for a single journey or £5.00 return.

How to book
Call 01902 910263 between 8am and 5pm to register and book your journey.
You can book your journey up to seven days in advance or up to two hours before travel. Once your
call is booked, we aim to be at your pick-up point within 10 minutes of the agreed time.

Terms and conditions
For full terms and conditions, please visit:http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/connect

Come along to the Good Life Energy Bill Surgery to find out more…

Wednesday 23rd January 2019 – Wombourne Civic Centre from 9.30am – 1.00pm

Good Life Energy has been set up by South Staffordshire Council to help you get the best energy deal and save money.

Many people find their energy bills confusing and feel they don’t have time to switch. The friendly, local team can talk you through the best deal for you, making switching quick and easy.

Book an appointment now so you don’t miss out. Call Freephone 03333 058 671 or email info@cebltd.com

Help local volunteer group Friends of Wom Brook during 2019

All work parties meet from 10am – midday.

Meet at Gravel Hill picnic benches.

For more information, call Anita on 01902 892187.

January – Saturday 5th & Thursday 17th

February – Saturday 2nd & Thursday 21st

March – Saturday 2nd & Thursday 21st

April – Saturday 6th & Thursday 18th

May – Saturday 4th & Thursday 16th

June – Saturday 1st & every Thursday

July – Saturday 6th & every Thursday

August – Saturday 3rd & every Thursday

September – Saturday 7th & every Thursday

October – Saturday 5th & Thursday 17th

November – Saturday 2nd & Thursday 21st

December – Saturday 7th & Thursday 19th

Non-members are welcome to any of the work parties, MORE HELP IS NEEDED WITH ALL TASKS in and out of the brook – litter collection, removal of fallen twigs, branches and selected vegetation both for the benefit of wildlife and flowers, and creating/maintaining an attractive, pleasing Wombrook Walk.

Don’t miss the latest Carnival news…

Wombourne’s Carnival Committee have announced via the Facebook page that the theme for the 2019 Carnival will be ‘Bringing books to life’.

The Carnival is taking place in the grounds of the Civic Centre on Sunday 7th July this year with the parade from 12pm until 1pm and the Carnival continuing until 4pm.

There will be an entertainment arena, food and drink stalls, charity and local business stalls, the Wombourne Women’s Institute show, quacky races, a fairground, competitions and a brilliant atmosphere.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/#!/Wombournecarnival for more informaiton or contact the Committee at Wombournecarnival@gmail.com

This week’s news from South Staffordshire Council 

• Be A Councillor

The Council is holding two ‘Be a Councillor’ sessions in the New Year on Tuesday 8 January 2019 from 1pm to 4pm and from 5pm to 8pm for people interested in standing as a Councillor in the elections next May. During the sessions, we will explain out what the Council does, what the role of a Councillor is and the important skills that Councillors need to have. Click here to find out more and to reserve a place at either of the sessions, please contact the Elections team.

Email: elections@sstaffs.gov.uk or call 01902 696231. 

• My Account reaches 3,000

This week, the number of My Account users exceeded its target and gained its 3000^th registration. Well done to the ICT team. 

• Warmer Homes – funding now available for broken gas boilers

Do you or anyone you know need help to replace an old or broken has boiler? Funding is available through the Council’s Warmer Homes scheme so please get in touch. Funding is for South Staffordshire residents on limited household incomes with hard to heat homes or for residents who are vulnerable to the cold through ill health or age. Please apply now before the funding runs out.

Warmer Homes South Staffordshire.

Freephone 0800 193 1902 or email info@mea.org.uk 

• South Staffordshire Connect to return in January

The South Staffordshire Connect dial-a-ride bus service will be returning to the areas of greatest demand in the district from Tuesday 15 January 2019. This local, bookable bus service will once again help many people who struggle to get out and about and it is aimed at residents who live away from regular bus routes or who find it difficult to use a standard bus.

The new Connect service will operate between 10am and 3pm on the following basis:

• Locality 3 (Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay, Essington, Featherstone, Shareshill, Wedges Mills and Hilton) on Tuesdays and Fridays. This service will connect with Cannock Bus Station.
• Locality 4 (Codsall/Bilbrook/Perton/Pattingham) on Tuesdays and Fridays.

• Locality 5 (Wombourne and the surrounding villages of Seisdon, Trysull, Lower Penn, Gospel End, Swindon and Himley) on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Further information about how to access the South Staffordshire Connect service will follow shortly. 

• Leisure Centres – festive opening times

Click here for your local South Staffordshire Leisure Centre opening times and programmes over Christmas and the New Year. 

• Green bin collections

Green bin collections have now finished for the year and will recommence from Monday 14 January 2019. Click here to view your bin collection dates. 

• UK Youth Parliament

Applications are now open for the 2019 Youth Parliament Elections in Staffordshire. The UK Youth Parliament provides opportunities for 11-18 year olds to encourage young people in their local area to make a difference on issues that matter to them. Four young people will be elected to represent Staffordshire at a national level and they will be in their role for one year, until February 2020. Applications close on Monday 7 January 2019.

For more information, please click here. 

• Lottery’s festive super draw

Buy a lottery ticket for the South Staffordshire Community Lottery and as well as the chance to win a £25,000 jackpot you could win six 50% off tickets to see the Sleeping Beauty pantomime at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Play today at www.southstaffslottery.co.uk or call 01902 213777 to find out more.

• VCSE Locality Forum – Volunteer Star Awards

Earlier this month, the awards presentation took place for the 2018 Volunteer Star Awards – click here to see some of the pictures taken at the event. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to our sponsors Heaven (health and beauty), Support Staffordshire, Jeremy Lefroy MP, the Co-op, Supported Futures, SCVYS, and South Staffordshire Housing Association.

• Coming soon – Big Energy Saving Week (21 to 28 January 2019)

The New Year is when high winter energy bills start coming in and our Good Life Energy team is here to help residents and business check they are getting the best price for their energy and make them aware of any savings they can make. We would love Parish Councils and partners to support us by hosting our Energy Surgeries during Big Energy Saving Week, a national campaign taking place in January that encourages residents and local businesses to ‘Check, Switch, Save’.

If you can host an energy bill surgery for residents or would like a no cost one-to-one energy review for your Parish or community buildings, please email the Good Life Energy team now. Email: a.munro@sstaffs.gov.uk to book a preferred location, date and time between Monday 21 January and Friday 25 January 2019.

Many residents and local businesses have already saved hundreds of pounds on their energy bills and have seen the benefits and been quick to praise the initiative. Local MP the Rt Hon. Gavin Williamson CBE gave his wholehearted support to the Good Life Energy Bill scheme earlier this year – read more at www.sstaffs.gov.uk/energy  

• Community safety advice

When you’re out shopping:

• Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you.
• Keep valuables in your inside pockets of clothing or bags.
• Only carry the cash and cards that you need and always shield the PIN pad when entering your PIN.
• Avoid going back to your car to leave your shopping part-way through your trip. If you have to keep presents in the car, make sure they are out of view in the boot, the car is locked, and keep the receipts with you.
• Deter pickpockets and muggers. Don’t overburden yourself with bags/packages. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Always carry a purse close to your body and not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front trouser pocket, likewise with your phone and keys.
• Shopping with children? Make sure they learn to go to a store attendant or security guard if you get separated.
• Never leave your bag unattended on your trolley whilst shopping and don’t leave it in your vehicle when returning your trolley.

At home:

• Never keep large amounts of cash at home.
• Make sure you keep your doors and windows locked at all times.
• Keys should always be kept out of sight and not left in doors or in view of windows.
• Make your house look occupied; use a timer switch to operate lamps as it starts to get dark and leave a radio on.
• Don’t open the door to anybody you don’t recognise. Not sure? Then don’t open the door. 

• 5 Rating

The following organisation has achieved a 5 Rating following its food inspection this week – Dunsley Hall Hotel in Kinver. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

 Remember that the District Council offices will close at 12.30pm on Monday 24 December and will re-open on Wednesday 2 January 2019 at 9am 

Everyone is encouraged to submit news items, please email: comms@sstaffs.gov.uk