Friends and Neighbours (FAN’s)

Young or just feeling young?

Energetic or not so agile?

Lonely or busy?

Wise or willing to learn?

You are needed, so can you spare an hour?

Why join a Friends and Neighbours (FAN’s) Network?

Because

• It’s fun and you will meet new people
• You can make a difference
• It’s local and it’s informal
• It might help someone in need
• You will feel involved
• It could keep your household safer
• You can learn new skills and you might just save a life!
• Every one hour of your time can make a difference
• It fits around your availability
• Support is on hand and insurance to cover your activities

Aim of the Friends and Neighbours Project (FAN’s)

To set up networks, small or large

To connect people via their preferred means of communication so they can benefit from –

• Local information
• Social activities
• Knowing about local crime prevention
• Finding out about issues of immediate concern in their neighbourhood
• Look out for vulnerable neighbours
• Take part in activities and events
• Help to maintain the local surroundings
• Decide on the priorities for their own street, neighbourhood or village
• Bring in extra services, raise money and funding activities directly where needed
• Take part in training events
• Insurance is provided for most activities

For any local groups or individuals; if you would like to find out more please contact Jan Wright, Community Project Leader via email at communityva@hotmail.co.uk

Skills and Jobs Fair – Wednesday 26th September 2018

Don’t miss out on this free event, places are limited, so please visit http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/skillsandjobsfair or call 01902 696255 to reserve your place.

Free transport is available from a number of locations.

This week’s news from South Staffordshire Council.

 Independent review praises council

Local government experts have praised the political and management leadership of South Staffordshire Council in a report, stating that it is “very impressive” and recognised the organisation as “an effective and well-functioning Council that cares for its people.” Earlier this year, the local authority invited the Local Government Association (LGA) to carry out a corporate peer challenge – a voluntary assessment to check how the Council is performing and test its future plans. Click here to read more and click here to read the report. 

• Community innovation fund now open

The South Staffordshire Community Innovation Fund is now open and applications have until 5pm on Friday 28 September 2018 to submit an application. Grants of up to £1,000 are available for all community and voluntary sector organisations in South Staffordshire including those registered to the South Staffordshire Community Lottery. Please contact policyadmin@sstaffs.gov.uk for an application form and guidance notes. 

• Catching offenders in the act

Over the past three months, the Council’s Enforcement team has been running a successful fly-tipping campaign deploying covert trail cameras in an attempt to catch offenders in the act.

Three fly-tippers have been identified and interviewed and will be prosecuted at Court. The cameras have also caught four people dropping litter and these offenders have been issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice. Remember – if you fly-tip or drop litter in South Staffordshire, we will take action. Click here to see more.

• Community Lottery – August DOUBLE super draw

Buy your lottery tickets today for this month’s double lottery super draw on Saturday 25 August 2018. You could win either a cream tea for two people at Halfpenny Green Vineyards or a round of golf for up to four people at 3 Hammers Golf Complex. Lottery tickets are only £1 a week and available from www.southstaffslottery.co.uk or by calling 01902 213777. Together we win! 

• Annual Canvass 2018

Annual Canvass forms were sent out by the Elections team at the Council last week and so far, we’ve had a 33% response. Please make sure that you return your form as soon as possible (or complete it online). Don’t lose your voice on matters that affect you – with all our District and Parish elections taking place in South Staffordshire in May 2019, this is an important opportunity for residents to make they can take part. Click here for more information.

• Skills and jobs fair

There’s been a great response to news about our forthcoming Skills and Jobs Fair at the Council Offices on Wednesday 26 September 2018 between 10am and 2pm. Lots of businesses have confirmed their attendance, all of whom have a variety of vacant job opportunities, and there will also be live talks and support organisations on hand to help anyone looking for employment, volunteering or work experience.

The number of exhibitors is growing daily and if you know any business or support organisation who may be interested in attending, please contact either Michelle Kettles (m.kettles@sstaffs.gov.uk) or Hayley Cooper (h.cooper@sstaffs.gov.uk). The event is free to attend for both exhibitors and members of the public and free transport is also being provided. Visit www.sstaffs.gov.uk/skillsandjobsfair for more information.

• Universal Credit

If you are in receipt of Universal Credit and are struggling to manage a monthly payment or need support to make or manage your claim online, our Universal Support team can help – ring 01902 696228 or email universalsupport@sstaffs.gov.uk for more information. Click here for more information. 

• What’s on in the Leisure Centres this summer

There are lots of things going on this summer in our Leisure Centres in Cheslyn Hay, Codsall, Penkridge and Wombourne. Find out more about our summer school holiday swimming and activity programmes by clicking here for more information.

Don’t forget that young people aged 10-19 can swim for just £1 per week thanks to funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner Staffordshire and the SPACE scheme.

• £1 per week for a weekly swim pass (aged 10-19 years).
• £2 per week for a weekly membership pass allowing access into gyms, exercise classes and swimming (aged 16-19 years).

• Village and community events – diary dates
• Sandon Fete on Saturday 11 August 2018, starting at 2pm.
• Family Fun day on the Village Green in Huntington on Saturday 18 August 2018 from 10am to 4pm.
• Perton Village Show on Saturday 15 September 2018, from 12.30pm onwards. Show schedules available from Perton Civic Centre and Perton Library. Enquires can be made to the Show Secretary by calling 01902 741822. 

• 5 Rating

The following companies have achieved a 5 Rating following their food inspection this week – Kings Fayre Bakery in Kinver, Café @ No5 in Kinver, the Dog and Partridge in Calf Heath, the Sizzling Wok in Penkridge, Coffee 212 in Wombourne, Leonard Cheshire Disability in Penn and The Hollybush in Trysull. 

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

Gymnastic Sessions at KOSSMIC

Supported by District and Parish Councillor Barry Bond’s local members grant, KOSSMIC (kids of South Staffordshire making it count) held gymnastics sessions during the summer holiday for its members.

Natalie Bolton from NN Cheer & Dance Academy ran the sessions. She opened NN Cheer & Dance Academy in June 2012 with 1 class of 6 students and now proudly offers a range of classes across the week. The academy offers classes in Pom Dance, Cheerleading, Tumbling skills, Street Cheer and Jazz for children aged 3+ years.

They have continued to grow year on year and their aim now is to develop an all inclusive programme and to welcome more students from SEN Schools and colleges in the local area.

NN Cheer & Dance Academy offer training and leadership skills to students who volunteer their time to the Academy and are working towards young volunteers becoming future coaches.

They believe in giving everyone the opportunity to perform and work on self confidence, wellbeing, making strong friendships and being part of a team. Building and developing skills in a safe, positive environment.

Councillor Bond’s funding paid for the coach’s time to carry out a number of sessions with the young people as well as funding for materials for members to make up some planters and boxes for their homes and the community.

KOSSMIC (Kids of South Staffordshire Making it Count) is a registered charity youth group run by volunteers during the 6 week summer holiday for children aged 9-15 based at Ounsdale High School. All KOSSMIC volunteers are DBS cleared and give up their time to run activities for children whilst they’re off school. Activities range from playing pool, x-box, table tennis and gymnastic sessions to going out once a week on trips such as laser quest, go-karting, scuba diving and to Drayton Manor. Registration is £5 per child to cover the cost of insurance. All drop in sessions are free and coaches for trips are paid for by the group to keep the costs to parents to a minimum. For more information, please visit Wombourne K.O.S.S.M.I.C Youth Group on Facebook.

For more information about NN Cheer & Dance Academy, please visit http://www.nncheer.wixsite.com.

Don’t forget about the summer holiday discount available to local residents at Wombourne Leisure Centre.

Full and half day child care for children aged 5+

Call 0845 456 3233 for more information.

A note from Matthew Ellis, Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire

I re-introduced the Space programme to bring together public, voluntary and private sector organisations to help nurture, support and guide Staffordshire youngsters.

The scheme attracted more then 18,000 attendees across the summer holidays in 2017 – an increase of 5669 from the previous 12 months.

Space is all about fun, learning and growing in confidence. Staffordshire, like many areas, experiences higher rates of ASB during summer holidays than at other times and I’m keen that efforts are made to tackle this.

Space 2018 will continue with its aim of increasing skills, improving heatlh and wellbeing, and creating opportunities for young people to take part in positive activities to make communities safer.

Visit http://www.staffordshirespace.uk to sign up for updates over the coming months or email space@staffordshire.pcc.pnn.gov.uk for more information.

Use and follow #StaffsSpace2018 on Twitter for updates during the coming months.

You can also follow Space on:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/StaffsSpace/

Instagram: http://@StaffsSpace

Wombourne Parish Council provide accommodation in the Civic Centre for the Senior Citizens’ Day Centre Club who meet Monday to Friday from 9.30am to midday and Tuesday’s from 1.30pm – 2.30pm for bingo.

The club run trips from April to October for just £15. The upcoming trips are –

Wednesday, 4th July – Aberystwyth

Wednesday, 8th August – Llandudno

Wednesday, 12th September – TBC

Wednesday, 3rd October – Trentham Gardens and shopping

If you are interested in joining the club or know someone who is, please call Beryl on 01902 894 835 or pop along to the Club (the entrance is on the right hand side of the Civic Centre building) for more information.

Wombourne Carnival will be back this year on the first Sunday in July with a theme of “Animal Antics”. The carnival will be taking place at the Civic Centre on Sunday 1st July 2018, along with the much-loved Carnival Parade taking place through the village.

The parade will start at 12pm to allow residents and guests of Wombourne to line the parade route to cheer on the floats and follow them up to the main carnival site for the official opening at 1pm. The Parade will start at Wombourne Civic Centre, passing down Gravel Hill, Common Road, Giggetty Lane, Planks Lane, Church Road, High street and back to Wombourne Civic Centre. There will be temporary road closures during the parade so we ask for your patience during this time and hope people join in the festivities.

Wombourne Show

The Wombourne Show is back this year. Organised by members of the Wombourne Women’s Institute and part of Wombourne Carnival to be held at Civic Centre, Gravel Hill, Wombourne.  The hall is open for staging exhibits at 9.30am, closed for judging at 11am and reopens to the public at 1.30pm.

For more information please email lyndapacker@hotmail.co.uk