June/July - The Greets Green Partnership Legacy Website

COMMUNITY MAGAZINEJUNE/JULY 2005CrackingcrimetogetherTAKING SHAPE!The brand newGuns VillagePrimary SchoolSPOTLIGHTON CRIME &COMMUNITYSAFETYwww.greetsgreen.net www.greetsgreen.net www.greetsgreen.netGreets Green Magazine July/August 200411

Issue 18Front cover: Greets Green NeighbourhoodWardens are working closely with the newGreets Green Crime Fighting Team to make thestreets safer for all.The Greets Green magazine is distributedto every household in the New Deal forCommunities area, and to other NDCsnationally. If you live in the Greets Green NDCarea and do not receive a copy then please callus on freephone 0800 953 0215.Magazine Contact Details:Call Barbryn direct onT: 01564 741847, E: susan@barbryn.co.ukOr the Greets Green Partnership onT: 0800 953 0215,E: brian_mckinstrie@sandwell.gov.ukIssue 19 will be published inAugust/September 2005.Produced on behalf of Greets Green Partnershipby Barbryn LtdwelcomeWelcome to issue 18 of the Greets Green Magazine.As you can see from our front page, the big feature in this issue is all about crimeand community safety. It’s so important that people of all ages throughout the areafeel safe both at home and on the streets, which is why Greets Green Partnershipis working closely with the new Greets Green Crime Fighting Team and other localorganisations to tackle crime and the fear of crime. Your Neighbourhood Wardensteam is now stronger than ever before and there are lots of new initiativeshappening – find out more in this issue.Turn to the centre spread and you’ll see how the new Guns Village Primary Schoolis taking shape so that pupils can enjoy a brand new school in the Autumn. Plus,we look back on a former pupil’s fond memories at the school which many readerswill be able to relate to.The excellent training work taking place at the William King Learning Centre isalso profiled, along with the Krishna Community Forum which has exciting plansahead. Find out more on the Community Page.And when you’ve read the whole magazine, please spend a few minutes filling in ourspecial feedback form to let us know what you think about it. All your views will beused to make your magazine even better and by taking part, you could win a prize.Happy reading!TEAM CONTACTSALLY ALLERSON T: 0121 533 3181Executive DirectorE: ally_allerson@sandwell.gov.ukJOHN PADDOCK T: 0121 533 3198Deputy DirectorE: john_paddock@sandwell.gov.ukKATHERINE HEWITT T: 0121 533 3185Community Empowerment E: katherine_hewitt@sandwell.gov.ukMARIANNE MONRO, IAN JENNINGSHousing Implementation Team FREEPHONE: 0800 073 0798E: marianne_monro@sandwell.gov.uk / ian_jennings@sandwell.gov.ukROHIT MISTRY T: 0121 533 1866Neighbourhood Management E: rohit_mistry@sandwell.gov.ukKATE MASSEY T: 0121 500 1650HealthE: kate.massey@wwb-pct.nhs.ukPHIL HARTLEY T: 0121 532 6885Crime & Community Safety E: philip_hartley@sandwell.gov.ukROGER CUNNINGHAMEducation & Lifelong Learning T: 0121 533 3184E: roger_cunningham@sandwell.gov.ukPAT PARKES T: 0121 533 3186Jobs & EnterpriseE: pat_parkes@sandwell.gov.ukBRIAN McKINSTRIE T: 0121 532 683CommunicationsE: brian_mckinstrie@sandwell.gov.ukBOB LLOYD T: 0121 533 3185Neighbourhood Support Officer E: bob_lloyd@sandwell.gov.ukSAM WATTS, SIMON WARE AND HARSHAD PATELNeighbourhood Support Team T: 0121 553 5963E: simon_ware@sandwell.gov.ukPAUL ARROWSMITH, JAY ALEXANDERGreets Green Youth Forum T: 0121 525 9509Paul M: 07976 943 638 Jay M: 07974 921 432Or you can contact any of the team on fr eephone0800 953 02152Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

contentsFEATURESSpotlight on Crime &Community Safety456Cracking CrimeTogetherWardens TeamStrengthenedFree Alarms for theElderlyp2271214Your QuestionsAnsweredA 21st CenturySchoolThe brand new GunsVillage Primary Schooltakes shapeWidening Skills atworkThe William KingLearning Centre15 SuperstarsSuperstars photogallery18Bringing up BabyFocus on childrenand familiesREGULARS89p12Community Page:This issue we learnmore about theKrishna CommunityForumPartnership News:Education andLifelong LearningUpdate1011161720Partnership News:CommunityEmpowerment UpdatePartnership News:Jobs and EnterpriseUpdatePartnership News:Health UpdatePartnership News:Housing UpdateGreet News:A round-up ofPartnership andCommunity NewsYOUNG GREETSGREEN22p19Young Greets GreenNews from GreetsGreen’s young peoplep6Greets Green Magazine June/July 20053

spotlight SPOTLIGHT ON on CRIME crime & COMMUNITY & community SAFETY safetyCRACKING CRIMETOGETHERIt’s important that local people canfeel safe in Greets Green which iswhy so many initiatives are in place to tackle crime and the fearof crime. Now there’s a Crime Fighting Team just for Greets Green,more Neighbourhood Wardens, a special hotline for reportinganti-social behaviour and a new Crime & Community SafetyTheme Leader spearheading new projects at Greets GreenPartnership. We’re already making progress – vehicle crimedropped from 32 incidents in March 2004 to just eight this March.But there’s still more to be done and we’re doing it!CRIME FIGHTING TEAM GETS RESULTSJust two months since its launch, the new Greets Green Crime Fighting Team has already achieved some significant results intackling crime in the area and many new plans are in place for the future.■■■■A drug dealing raid on a pub led tosix arrests and a separate arrest hasbeen made for drug dealing in thearea.Following a chase on foot, twoburglars were arrested for breakinginto a property on Grange Road.Both admitted the offence andwere charged.A suspected robber who hasbeen arrested, is currently onbail pending enquiries.Two people were arrested forattempting to rob a 19 year old girlin a Greets Green street.“We’re maintaining high visibility patrolsthroughout the area to deter criminalsand have now begun joint patrols withthe Greets Green NeighbourhoodWardens,” explains Sergeant Rasul.“Information sharing is vital and so weattend many local meetings such as theNeighbourhood Forums and the localretailers and traders’ forum, as wellas holding regular meetings with theNeighbourhood Wardens and housingofficers.“Truancy patrols are also undertaken ona fortnightly basis and leaflet drops andhouse-to-house visits are made in areaswhere burglaries have occurred.“In the future we’ll be increasing publicreassurance with continued high visibilitypatrols, concentrating on anti-socialbehaviour hotspots and working withpubs in the area to control violence andanti-social behaviour during eveningsand weekends,” adds Sergeant Rasul.“We’ll be focusing on drug dealing and drugsissues as well as targeting and managingprominent criminals within the area.”iThe Crime Fighting Team will also bepromoting Neighbourhood Watchschemes. If you are interested in startingone up in your street, give them a call on626 9182.YOUR LOCAL CRIMEFIGHTING TEAMSpecific officers have been allocated toeach of the nine neighbourhoodsin Greets Green to pick up local issues.The team is made up as follows:Hambletts North & South:PC Carter and PC TaylorGreets Green, Oak House Southand Swan Village:PC ShawCarters Green & West Brom Central:PC CullenOak House North and South:PC Evans and PC WhiteSergeant Nathan Grix is also about tojoin the team.4 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

SPOTLIGHT ON CRIME & COMMUNITY SAFETYWardens Team StrengthenedGreets Green Neighbourhood Wardens have been making ahuge impact in the area during the past three years. Now theteam has been further strengthened with the appointment of anew Administrator and three new Wardens, one of whom willbe a familiar face to many.New NeighbourhoodWardensThe Wardens team has such a goodreputation for getting things done thatAnthony Langston moved from Sweden tojoin the team, Parvin Singh Channa cameup from London, while Karen Judge tooka much shorter move from being Wardens’Administrator to becoming a Warden!notified so that they can keep an eye onthat area.The Wardens also post letters to homesin the vicinity warning residents to beextra vigilant. Plus, they visit every victimof burglary in the Greets Green area andprovide a crime prevention pack withinformation from different agencies onstaying safe.New AdministratorAlan Sallis is the new voice you’ll hearon the end of the phone when you callthe Neighbourhood Wardens team.Anthony has many years’ experience ofworking with young people both in the UKand abroad. When he was a teenager hedid voluntary youth work before making acareer out of it. He’s helped set up youthforums, dealt with anti-social behaviourand undertaken peer group work. Forthe past year he’s been involved in youthprojects in Stockholm, Sweden.He explains: “I’m keen to use my youthwork experience to look at new waysthe Wardens can benefit young people inGreets Green. Our role is about helpingall local people.”Parvin spent 10 years as a caretaker andarea estates officer for a council in EastLondon where he dealt with similar issuesto those facing Neighbourhood Wardens.“My wife is from the West Midlands andwhen we decided to return to the areaI applied to become a Warden becauseI knew a lot of the background,” he says.“I come from a highly diverse area in EastLondon and I like the fact that GreetsGreen has so many different communitieswhich we can help to bring together.”Karen has been Administrator for theWardens since they were first launched.She says: “I’ve always wanted to becomea Warden. I’m a real people person andI like being involved in the community.It’s a massive advantage having been theAdministrator before becoming a Wardenas I’ve picked up so much information inthe office and know all the systems.“I’m loving being a Warden as I can talkto everyone I meet while I’m out andabout and wave at them on the street!”The Neighbourhood Wardensteam also comprises SeniorWarden, Neil Woodfieldand Wardens, TonyVogan, Anne Bowenand Sulaiman Uddin.The team is busyworking closely withlocal agenciesincluding the newGreets Green CrimeFighting Team toimprove the area foreveryone. The CrimeFighting Team provides theWardens with crime statisticsso that they can do targetedpatrolling. If a burglary or car crimehas been committed, the Wardens areHe started as Administrations Officer inApril having worked for the past 10 yearsin administration and customer services.“I deal with all the enquiries to theWardens – whether it’s someone callinginto the office or phoning the team,” hesays. “I log all details confidentially andthen pass them to a Warden to deal with.It’s a good friendly team here and I’mreally enjoying it.”NEW ASBHOTLINEA new dedicated hotline has been launchedby Sandwell Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Teamwhich you can use to report general incidents ofanti-social behaviour.Call 0845 359 7500 to report a range of issues such asrowdy behaviour, noise nuisance, harassment, nuisance driving,vandalism, litter, rubbish and graffiti.The hotline is staffed on Mondays to Fridays from 8am to8pm and on Saturdays from 8.30am to 1.30pm. These hourswill be extended in the future if there is sufficientdemand for the service.Don’t forget you can also report incidents to theGreets Green Neighbourhood Wardens on580 4481 or by calling into theiroffice at 380 High Street.Greets Green Magazine June/July 20055

spotlight SPOTLIGHT ON on CRIME crime & COMMUNITY & community SAFETY safetyBE AWARE OFBOGUS CALLERSA bogus caller at your door willpretend to be from an officialorganisation, such as the healthauthority, the council or the waterboard. They may impersonate aworkman and say that they needto check something or make urgentrepairs and then vastly overchargeyou for the work they do.Theme Leader comes on boardRemember these simple, but veryeffective steps, and you can put offnon-genuine or bogus callers andnot get ripped off.1Think2Use3Ask4If5Look6Ifbefore you open the door.Are you expecting anyone?a door viewer and put thechain on before opening the door.the caller for proof of identity.Check it carefully, but keep thechain on.the caller doesn’t have anappointment, ask them to waitoutside while you ring their officeto confirm their identity.at the caller’s clothing.Some official callers will weara uniform with the organisation’slogo on and will be driving avehicle with it on.you have any suspicionsat all, do not let the callerinto your home. Call thePolice on 999.Phil Hartley has been appointed Greets Green Partnership’s new Crime &Community Safety Theme Leader and is looking forward to carrying on the goodwork which has already been done to tackle crime.For the past two and a half years, Phil has been Community Safety Manager at KingsNorton New Deal for Communities where he has been dealing with issues similar to thosein Greets Green including crime, the fear of crime, drugs and alcohol misuse and improvingthe local environment. During his time there, his team helped to bring down crime and thefear of crime significantly in the area.Prior to this, he worked in the regeneration team at Optima Community Association inAttwood Green in Birmingham.He says: “I live just down the road in Handsworth and am keen to work closely with thenew Greets Green Crime Fighting Team to tackle crime and community safety. I’m currentlyfinding out what types of projects are up and running, where there are any gaps and whatservices are needed.“I’ll be looking to put sustainable projects in place so that when Greets Green Partnershipcomes to an end, the work we have started will continue.”FREE ALARMS FORTHE ELDERLYElderly and vulnerable people throughout Greets Green cannow feel safer thanks to the Neighbourhood Wardens.The Wardens spent a week in April handing out 500 free personalalarms at community groups including Ryders Green Methodist DayCentre, Bull Lane Sailors Club, Oakdale Social Club and the KrishnaCommunity Forum.“We asked community group leaders to identify people who couldbenefit from a personal alarm and then visited their group to givethem out,” explained Senior Warden, Neil Woodfield. “If someone isfeeling a bit vulnerable, they can hold the alarm which alsohas a useful torch on it. We hope the alarms will helpreduce the fear of crime amongst older people.”iTo contact the Neighbourhood Wardens,call 580 4481.6 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

Q&AYOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED...Here are the answers to some of yourcrime and community safety queries.Q I often see the Neighbourhood Wardens when I’m outin Greets Green but what do they actually do?A The Greets Green Neighbourhood Wardens provide a linkbetween the local community, local agencies and the Police. If youhave a problem such as anti-social behaviour,vandalism or racial harassment, you can tell theQWardens and they will report the matter to the rightagency eg the Council or the Police. They also makesure environmental improvements are made. Youcan report issues such as graffiti, litter or brokenstreet lights to them and they’ll get action taken.They are often out patrolling, visiting localcommunity groups and calling in on residents tocheck that they are OK. Why not stop and have achat next time you see a Warden and find out moreabout the numerous things they can help with?Q I have some information which I want to tell thePolice but I don’t want to give my name. Can I do this?A Yes, you can call the national Crimestoppers number on0800 555111 and give information anonymously. If the informationleads to an arrest and charge, then you could be eligible for areward of up to £500. You can also call the new Greets GreenCrime Fighting team on 626 9182. If the Police receiveanonymous information they can circulate it to the patrollingofficers and bear it in mind when they are out and about.However, they can’t always act on it. If you are able to give yourname, they can log the information and if there are several similarincidents, they can investigate them better. Giving your name alsomeans that the Police can come back to you if they need furtherdetails. If you don’t want to call the Police, you can giveinformation to the Neighbourhood Wardens and they will pass itto the Police for you. All information is important to the Police,even if you do want to give it anonymously.We’ve just moved house and I want to check that there aren’t anyobvious fire risks for me and my family. I’ve bought smoke alarms – isthere anything else I can do?A If you call West Bromwich Fire Station on 553 2222 or freephone 0800389 5525, you can arrange for the firefighters to come and do a free safetycheck in your home. They will look at any accident or fire risks and give youadvice on how you and your family can stay safe. Now that you’ve boughtsmoke alarms, don’t forget to check regularly that the batteries are still working.Q Bags of rubbish have been dumped in the frontgarden of an empty house in our street. How can I getthem removed?A You can report flytipping direct to the Council’s EnvironmentDirect Enforcement Section for West Bromwich on 569 6625. Youcan also use this number to report abandoned vehicles, litter anddomestic refuse problems. Or, you can call the NeighbourhoodWardens on 580 4481 and they will contact the Council on yourbehalf. The Wardens will give you a reference number so that ifthe rubbish isn’t removed, you can call the Council and quote thisnumber to find out what is being done about it.Q The Police say to only dial 999 in an emergency,but what is an emergency?A You should dial 999 if an incident needs an immediatePolice response eg if there is a danger to life, if there is arisk of serious injury, if a crime is in progress or about tohappen, or if an offender is still at the scene or has just left.Q As the Wardens work from 10.00am to 8.00pm,what happens out of hours?A The Neighbourhood Wardens deal with issues which don’tneed an immediate response. You can still call their office on580 4481 after 8.00pm and leave a message and they will acton it the following day.Q I’ve read that there’s a new Greets Green CrimeFighting Team. I work in Greets Green but live out ofthe area. Should I call the Greets Green team or WestMidlands Police if I want to report a crime?A If the crime happens in the Greets Green area, call theGreets Green Crime Fighting Team on 626 9182 or the dutymobile 07899 714807, even if you live outside the area. If thecrime happens outside Greets Green, call West MidlandsPolice on 0845 113 5000. You can use this to reportanything that is not an emergency eg generalenquiries and general reports of crime anywhere inthe West Midlands. Call 999 in an emergency.If you have any crime & community safety issues you’d like to discuss, please call Greets Green Partnership’snew Crime & Community Safety Theme Leader, Phil Hartley, on 0800 953 0215.Greets Green Magazine June/July 20057

COMMUNITY PAGEIf you would like your community group to be featured on this page,contact Communications Officer, Brian McKinstrie, at Greets Green Partnershipon Freephone 0800 953 0215 or email brian_mckinstrie@sandwell.gov.ukOn a MissionThe Krishna Community Forum is facing exciting times ahead and is keen to share its plans for the futurethrough our Community Page.The Krishna Community Forum (KCF) had a very productive 2004and this year looks even more promising. We are based at aprominent site on Old Meeting Street next to the new Mandirre-building project. We hope this will prove to be a hugelandmark within West Bromwich and the surrounding area.Since the establishment of community activities in 1971, ouractivities and events have flourished with arts projects, healthawareness seminars and fundraising activities to name but a few.Special interest groups have also been formed to offer welfare,recreational and educational support to the local community.The vision of the Krishna Community Forum is to have a positiveimpact on the welfare of the local community as well as increasecommunity participation and involvement. For this aspiration tobecome a reality, a functional community hall is of immensesignificance in delivering key services to the local Hindu population.Currently, local groups are seeking alternative venues to offer theirservices, due to the unsuitability of the premises. As a Forum weare keen for these projects to return to the hall at 81 Old MeetingStreet, so that these services can be made more accessible to thelocal residents and the hall can become a more vibrant place forall members of the community.The Hindu community is well established in West Bromwichand the Greets Green area. It is home to many families of Indianorigin who have remained loyal to their area and neighbourhoodthrough changing times and political climate.Greets Green Partnership has made an agreement, in principle, tofund major refurbishments but first the Forum has been asked toput together a Business Plan. Successful renovation of the hallthrough this proposed project is a key priority for the Forum.The Partnership is assisting us by funding the recruitment of aDevelopment Manager who will help co-ordinate therefurbishment and community activities.The Krishna Community Forum is recognised by Greets GreenPartnership as representing one of six black and minority ethnicgroups alongside the Pakistani, Sikh, Yemeni, Afro-Caribbeanand Bangladeshi communities. We are all represented on thePartnership Board via an elected representative.KCF relies heavily upon volunteers to co-ordinate and deliver localservices. The Forum is made up of a steering group andrepresentatives from each of the special interest groups.The Forum acknowledges and would like to thank all volunteersand members for their efforts and asks that they join us inthe next stage of our development. We would also like toincrease regular attendance from a cross section of residentsin Greets Green including youth, women, minority groups andthose with disabilities.iIf you’d like to find out more about the Krishna CommunityForum and the various activities you could get involved withcall 553 5375.Photos (top and bottom right) courtesy of artist Rob Irving taken as part of the ‘Wonders of West Bromwich’ project commissioned by The Public, in 2004.8 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

PARTNERSHIP NEWS Education & Lifelong LearningLEARNING HAPPENS EVERYWHEREA campaign to promote learning for people of all ages in West Bromwich was launched in April. The West BromwichLifelong Learning Plan, which was unveiled at the National Metal Forming Centre on Birmingham Road, aims to createopportunities for residents to access learning and to boost attainment in all aspects of learning.New film makersand movie starsare emerging inGreets GreenPupils from George Salter HighSchool worked with award-winningfilmmakers, Desperate Optimists inMay to create a digital film at WestBromwich Town Hall as part of ThePublic’s Civic Life project.Organised by Learning4U (formerly the West BromwichLearning Panel), the launch event looked at how local schools,colleges, voluntary and community organisations can getinvolved in delivering the plan.Learning4U brings together education and training providers,companies, guidance agencies, voluntary sector agenciesand community groups across West Bromwich. Membershipis free and open to any organisation who either delivers orpromotes learning for adults living or working in the WestBromwich area.Tony Carroll, Sandwell Director for Black Country Chamber ofCommerce, said: "There is massive investment from CentralGovernment for education in Sandwell. The challenge for us isto take that investment and make a real difference in this area."iFormore information, contact Mohammed Yafai, LocalLearning Co-ordinator on 525 8199.The project was funded through theLottery by the young persons filminitiative, First Light. It saw eight pupilsaged between 14 and 18 years learning arange of film making skills including scriptwriting, producing, editing, acting, sound,lighting and development. The finishedfilm will be eligible for the next First LightFilm Awards.MAKING MOVIESLeigh Thomas, Project Manager for First Light said: “This project is a wonderful example of how First Light gives young people achance to make a real connection with the film industry.” Assistant Headteacher at George Salter High School, Paul Clayton,added: "I'm overjoyed that our students have been given this opportunity. One of them might be the next Spielberg!”Desperate Optimists are UK based artists, Jo Lawlor and Christine Malloy, who have won various awards for their films includingthe short film prize at the Edinburgh Festival. In addition to the young person’s film project, Desperate Optimists have also beenworking with The Public to create a unique film, ‘Civic Life’ which celebrates life in the Greets Green area. Hundreds of residents ofall ages turned up at the Town Hall on 29th May to star in the film which was shot in just one take.iIf you’d like to find out more, call Helen Annetts at The Public on 525 7251.Greets Green Magazine June/July 20059

PARTNERSHIP NEWS Community EmpowermentHAVE YOUR SAY!Do you want to have more say in shaping the projects that Greets Green Partnership funds?Do you want to air your views?New ‘Have Your Say’ workshops have been launched to givelocal residents the chance to look at proposed projects andshare their views on the best ways to make Greets Green abetter place to live, grow and work.The first of these friendly informal meetings took place last monthat Lodge Primary School and they are now being held monthly.They will alternate between Wednesday evenings and SaturdayGET VOTING!The general election may already be a distantmemory, but the Greets GreenNeighbourhood Representativeselections are well underway! Anyoneliving in this year’s election areas willhave already received an informationleaflet. Look out for details of yourlocal candidates, which should bewith you shortly. Don’t forget tovote by 15th July!mornings at a range of community venues to enable as manyresidents as possible to come along. Transport and crèche facilitiesare also available.Greets Green Partnership is writing to everyone on its database,inviting them to join in the ‘Have Your Say’ workshops, but we arekeen to hear from more people.“If you’ve got an interest in a particular subject, let us know andwe’ll get in touch when a project on that subject is being discussedat one of the workshops,” explains Katherine Hewitt, CommunityEmpowerment Theme Leader.Every community has itsshare of unsung heroesand we want to find theGreets Green heroes!Do you know someone who deservesto be recognised for the work they doin your community? If so, write andtell Greets Green Partnership why youthink they are special and we’ll featurethem in the Greets Green magazine.Write to: Simon Ware, NeighbourhoodSupport Worker, Greets GreenPartnership, Court House, 335-337High Street, West Bromwich B70 8LU.iIf you’d like help with putting yourthoughts down on paper, callSimon on 0800 953 0215 or 07810850851.Your Neighbourhood Representativeswill be formally announced atPartnership Board on 20th July.“Our aim is to get more involvement in the project developmentprocess. So come along and have your say!”iThe next workshop will be held on Saturday 25th June atSWAN, STA Building, Phoenix Street, from 10.00am. It’s opento everyone. To find out more, call Katherine Hewitt on Freephone0800 953 0215.Don’t miss Grants launchGrants of up to £1,000 are now available to community groups inGreets Green.Greets Green Partnership is re-launching the Community Funds project and iscalling for both formal and informal community groups to apply for grants.The launch will take place on Tuesday 28th June at Wood Lane CommunityCentre from 3.00-7.00pm when local groups and voluntary organisations canlearn more about the grants which can be used for varied community activity suchas training, equipment or room hire, and find out how simple it is to apply forthem. Funding advice will also be available from Sandwell Council of VoluntaryOrganisations (SCVO), Birmingham Foundation and West Bromwich Town Team.During the four years that the project originally ran, more than 300 grants wereawarded to groups, enabling them to develop and grow. Come along to thelaunch event and see how your group can benefit from the Community Funds.iIf you’re interested in getting involved in the Funding Panel which will decidewhich grant applications are successful, contact Simon Ware on 0800 953 0215or 07810 850851.10 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

PARTNERSHIP NEWS Jobs & EnterpriseWHITE GOODS FOR SALENeed a new washing machine?Help will soon be on hand!Following funding from Greets GreenPartnership, Groundwork Black Countryand Renew Trust are working together todeliver a White Goods Recycling (WGR)programme to local residents.End of life white goods from Comethome stores are being recycled by a localworkforce of trainees at a training andproduction facility in Varney Avenue, WestBromwich. Once refurbished, they will besold at low prices to residents,community groups and charitiesthroughout Greets Green. All appliancesare tested for safety and supported by a three month guarantee for parts and labour.Paul Brooks, Programme Development Manager, said: “This new project is just gettingoff the ground and has major benefits for the whole community. It is giving training andemployment to local young people, encouraging recycling and providing a very usefulservice for local people.”iTo find out more, call Paul Brooks at Groundwork on 525 9734.✁SHARE YOUR VIEWS & YOU COULD BE A WINNER!The Greets Green Magazine aims tobring you all the local news andinformation from Greets GreenPartnership in a way you want to readit. It’s been a year since we created thenew look magazine and we’d like to hearwhat you think of it. Please take a fewminutes to fill in this short feedbacksurvey so that we can shape futureissues of the magazine for you.All surveys received by 31st July 2005will be entered into a prize draw to wina 1st Prize of £100 of shoppingvouchers, 2nd Prize of £50 of vouchersand 3rd Prize of £25 of vouchers.We’re always looking for suggestionsfor stories and articles. If you have any,please contact Communications Officer,Brian McKinstrie on Freephone0800 953 0215 or emailbrian_mckinstrie@sandwell.gov.uk1. What do you like about the Greets Green Magazine?2. What do you dislike about the magazine?3. Do you find the size and format of the magazine easy to read? Yes No4. How do you feel we could improve the magazine?5. Which features and stories have you found interesting in this issue?6. Which issues would you like us to cover in future editions?7. Any other comments?hits the roadThe BECOME project team is stagingroadshows throughout Greets Greento find out what local people want interms of jobs, training, qualificationsand personal goals.The BECOME roadshows were launchedin May and bring together local employers,education providers, training organisationsand a whole host of advisers. Held atdifferent community venues, their aim is tohelp individuals and their families identifythe issues which may be stopping themachieving their goals and look at ways toovercome them.“We want people to come and ask all thequestions they need so that we can helpthem realise their hopes and aspirations,”said Pat Williams, Divisional Head of Stepsto Work.iAll forthcoming roadshows will beadvertised locally so look out for moredetails or call 532 4997.Please cut out and return to:FREEPOST GREETS GREENPARTNERSHIP(No stamp required)If you need more room, continue onanother sheet of paper and attach tothis form.NameAddressTel No. (optional)Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005 11

A 21st CENTUThe brand new Guns Village PrimarySchool is really starting to take shapeand will be ready to welcome pupilsat the start of the Autumn term.“This will be a fantastic school for the 21st century,” says HeadTeacher, Barry Samuel. “It will make a big difference to pupils,parents, staff and the local community.”Guns Village Junior School and Guns Village Infant Schoolstarted life in 1875 as two separate schools just off the HighStreet. When the Junior School moved to Hanbury Road in1980, the Infant School remained in its Victorian building. Theschools were amalgamated in 1997, becoming Guns VillagePrimary School, yet they remained on two separate sites.“Having the whole school on one site is what we’ve beenworking towards for the past eight years,” explains Barry. “It willbe so much better for parents who have to trek from oneschool to the other to pick up their children and it’s often wetand raining.“It will also mean that we can take more children. We currentlyhave 50 children in each year group but this new school will beable to take 60 in each year, creating an additional 70 places.”A real Community SchoolThe school has been designed with the whole community inmind, tying in with the Government’s Extended Schoolsagenda. There will be a new nursery, an infant block and juniorblock plus a big school hall. A modern dance studio will be used by the communityout of school hours, along with a parents / community room which Greets GreenPartnership has funded.Pupils can improve their computer skills in the Junior School’s new ICT suite as wellas the Click! Greets Green suite, and their parents can take advantage of the ITcomputers classes which are planned.GET LEARCommunity Learning Workers SonyaWilliams and Hannah Alkash are busyplanning lots of ways the local communitycan get involved in the school.Plus, the new building will house two school libraries and a host ofcutting edge technology including smart boards in every classroom andcomputer operated windows which open when it gets too hot.It won’t be all work and no play at Guns Village. A nature garden and tyre play areaare being designed along with sports pitches. All this work is being completed in just12 months while the pupils study in portakabins.“It’s going to be a great asset for the whole area,” adds Barry who loves the schoolso much that, having been Deputy Head of Infants from 1987 – 1990, he returnedin 1997 as Head of the newly amalgamated schools. “We’ve just had a good Ofstedreport and our new school will enable us to go from strength to strength.”iGuns Village Primary School can be contacted on 553 1427. You can alsocontact Greets Green Partnership’s Education Theme Leader, Roger Cunningham,on Freephone 0800 953 0215.12 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

RY SCHOOLLooking BackPat Hollyhead has 101 fond memoriesof Guns Village Primary. For 24 yearsshe’s been Secretary at the InfantSchool and before that she was a pupilat both the Infant and Junior School,along with her four brothers.“I was born in Guns Lane in 1942 and cameto Guns Village Infant School in 1947,” shereminisces. “I was terrified. The office I workin now was the Head Teacher’s office andwhen you finished an exercise book youhad to take it to her to get a new one. Iremember shaking in my shoes as I stoodin front of her and she said ‘Patricia yourwork is very untidy’. When I said it wasbecause of my pencil, she told me that ashoddy workman always blames his tools!That memory has stuck with me ever since.NING!The Guns Village Primary School is one of 10 Community AccessPoints (CAPs) throughout Greets Green where residents canundertake some sort of learning. Sonya and Hannah’s role is to find outthe types of things which people want to learn at Guns Village Primary andto arrange courses or sessions to meetthose needs.“We’re already doing a questionnaire withparents to find out what the new parents /community room could be used for,” said Sonya.“As well as catering for parents, we’re also keento get the wider community involved. The dancestudio will be a great venue and we want asmany people as possible to benefit from it.”iWhat would you like to see take place atGuns Village Primary? Call Sonya on 07969918215 or Hannah on 07969 918256 to chatabout your ideas.“I also remember knitting when I was onlyabout five or six. We sat in front of theopen fire where Year 2 are now. We had toknit grey PE knickers and my knitting wasunravelled by the teacher so many timesthat the wool was all thin. Those knickersnever did get worn.“It’s always been an excellent school. I loveit. The new school will be magnificent forthe whole community. I’m excited aboutmoving there in the Autumn as it will begood to work in a lovely new office. But Imust admit that I’ll also be a bit sad to leavethis building.”The new Guns VillagePrimary School is being builton the site of a disused clay quarry– Hambletts Marl Hole. The clay wasused to make Hamblett blue brick alongwith flooring and roof tiles, paving slabsand kerbing. The works were the largestin the area in their day but the firmclosed in 1915. After that, the holeleft by the quarrying wasused as a landfill site.DID YOU KNOW?Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005 13

WIDENING SKILLSAT WORKTwelveWilliam King Ltd on Union Road is a steel service centre withcustomers in the automotive, domestic appliance, buildingand packaging industries throughout the UK and Europe. Itsproducts are used to manufacture cars, washing machines,food cans, compact disc players and much more.The company is widely regarded as an industryleader in terms of quality and training, which is nosurprise when you see the company’s on-siteLearning Centre.months on since the William King LearningCentre was launched, many employees havedeveloped their skills in a whole host of areasboth for work and for fun, while local schoolchildren have been getting a real taste of thefuture. And as the company celebrates itscentenary, it has plenty of new plans to ensurethe Learning Centre continues to be a major assetto the workforce. Training & DevelopmentManager, Dipak Patel, explains more.“We had a portakabin for many years, which wasnot being used,” says Dipak. “We decided to turnit into a learning facility and successfully appliedfor funding from Greets Green Partnership totransform it.“The plan was to run lifelong learning coursesincluding basic skills and language courses. Wewanted to train our own workforce as well asencourage local schools to come in and doprojects as they are our workforce of tomorrow.”In just 12 months, workers have completed awhole variety of courses including fork lift trucktraining, stop smoking sessions with SandwellStop Smoking Service, IT taster sessions, healthand safety tests and quality audit training.Each week, there are drop in sessions on first aid,gardening, history and languages, plus employeescan take the European Computer Driving Licencequalification or undertake Skills Plus with SandwellCollege.Plans are now in the pipeline to run a powerpresstoolsetters course with Sandwell TrainingAssociation, offer a CLAIT computer qualificationthrough Sandwell College, run manual handlingtraining and waste minimisation presentations.“It’s important to us to improve the health ofemployees which is why we ran the stop smokinginitiative last year and will be offering healthassessments this year,” adds Dipak.“If staff learn - whether it’s subjects to do withtheir work or not – it helps both themselves andthe business. They become more motivated andhave broader skills. Having the Learning Centre onsite makes it so much easier for them to learn.”iTofind out more about the William KingLearning Centre call Dipak Patel on 500 4111.A TASTE OF WORKA group of Year 10 students from George Salter High School spent three daysexperiencing the world of work in March when the Learning Centre at WilliamKing became their classroom.The training, which was organised by Sandwell Education BusinessPartnership’s WorkWise project, saw the students finding solutions to a seriesof problems set by the company and presenting them using CAD – ComputerAided Design software. All their work will contribute to their GCSE Design andTechnology course and enable them to achieve a CREST (Creativity in Scienceand Technology) Award at Bronze level.During the three days, the students visited production areas and other parts ofthe factory to see where the problems they were working on exist. In additionto gaining a better understanding of how industry works, they also found outabout possible career opportunities.“The students came up with some very good ideas which we’ll be using in thefuture,” said Dipak Patel.iTofind out more about WorkWise, call Fiona Stone on 569 2347. If your schoolwould like to get involved with William King, call Dipak Patel on 500 4111.14 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

Superstars, Pato Banton and Amarjit Sidhu headlineda great night of new music at the Superstars TalentShowcase and Information Fair on 18th March atWest Bromwich Town Hall.Organised by Muzik Links and Greets GreenPartnership, local performers, including severalfrom George Salter High School, got thecrowd shouting for more.Singers, dancers, rappers, DJs andMCs including “Fire Door Keep Shut”,“Experienced Dialect”, Portia Williams,Abgin Nasir Gall and Leanne Belle, allshowed off their talents, having beaten stiffcompetition to perform at this exciting event.Watch out fordetails of morecommunity artsand musicevents in thefuture.Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005 15

PARTNERSHIP NEWS HealthSPOTLIGHT ON….JOYCE HAYECommunity Development Health Worker, Joyce Haye, hasbeen empowering individuals and communities in GreetsGreen since October 2003. How? We asked her to tell usmore.“I have a wide ranging role to improve health and reduce healthinequalities throughout Greets Green,” she says. “I work withlocal communities to help them identify their health needs andfind ways of meeting them so that their health and their qualityof life is improved.”Joyce has recently been supporting the Pakistani malecommunity who asked to find out more about specific healthconditions affecting their community and receive practical helpand advice about maintaining their health and wellbeing.Joyce worked with the Pakistani Men’s Steering Group toorganise a men’s health awareness event. Others in her team,including a health visitor, doctor and community pharmacists,came along to provide blood pressure, glucose and cholesterolchecks, give medicine management advice, offer weightmanagement and physical activity information and to hand outlots of leaflets and booklets.Joyce explains. “I can provide leaflets and booklets on specificsubjects including welfare rights, transport and medicalconditions, and have acted as an advocate to vulnerablemembers of the community.”Its success led Joyce to stage a health event with the PakistaniWomen’s Steering Group on 9th May at Lodge RoadCommunity Centre.“I also offer help to individuals, such as pointing them in theright direction for the various support services available locally,”Joyce has already visited and worked with local groups includingSwan Village Goldies, OSCAR, SWAN and Dorcas HousingAssociation. Now she’s keen to meet with more groups.iIfyou’re interested in talking to Joyce about your healthneeds and how to meet them, give her a call on 525 4708.GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON HEALTHDid you know that more and more people in the UK are being treated for common mental health problems such asdepression, anxiety, schizophrenia and eating disorders?■■■An estimated 1 in 10 people will have some form ofdepression at any one time.An estimated 1 in 20 people will have serious depression.1% of women in the UK aged between 15-30 haveanorexia, with 50% of cases occurring before the age of 20.The Greets Green Neighbourhood Health Management Teamis currently developing a project around mental health and islooking for your ideas about what it should involve.To enable as many local people as possible to make theirvoices heard, Community Health Forums have been launchedwhere new ideas, such as the mental health project, will bediscussed.The Forums are being held on the second Wednesday ofevery month (excluding August) at various locations inGreets Green from 5.30pm and they are very informal.They offer a great chance to offer suggestions for new healthprojects as well as find out more about the projects currentlyin your area.“Local people are the experts on the health issues thatneed to be addressed in Greets Green,” said Sally Sandel,Health Development Facilitator. “The Forums are open toanyone who wants to have a say on local health issues.Residents can come along to tell us their ideas and we canthen work together to develop new projects and servicesin Greets Green.”iIf you’d like to get involved or find out more about any ofthe above, call Health Development Facilitator, Sally Sandel,on 500 2488.16 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

PARTNERSHIP NEWS HousingHOME VISITS UNDERWAYEDITH STREET/CHAPMAN STREET UPDATEHaving taken on board all the feedback fromlocal residents, Sandwell Council has giventhe green light to plans for demolition andredevelopment in the Housing AssessmentArea (HAA) around Edith Street andChapman Street.Everyone living in the clearance area is nowreceiving a personal one to one home visitfrom the team which comprises Council staffand members of Greets Green PartnershipHousing team. Nearly 190 out of 210 visits havealready been carried out, enabling residents todiscuss the clearance process and getanswers to their questions and concerns.iIf you live in the HAA clearancearea and have not yet received ahome visit, or if you want to find outmore about the redevelopmentprocess in the HAA, call GreetsGreen Housing Team on freephone0800 073 0798. Evening andSaturday morning appointments areavailable for home visits if required, alongwith interpretation services.Transformation work beginsCLAYPIT LANE/WATTLE ROAD UPDATEThe derelict Meadows School, which had been a magnet for vandalism, hasnow been demolished, heralding the start of redevelopment work to improvethe area.Demolition was carried out by Coleman Demolition in April as part of the biggerplan to transform the whole site around Coppice Street and create much greaterhousing choice for local people.A Development Group involving the Council and regeneration partners, RegenCoand the Commission for Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE), has nowbeen set up to create options for the housing which will be developed on the sitein the future. These options will then be taken to the local community to decidethe best course of action.“We promised that the Meadows School/Coppice Street areas would be one of thefour priority sites in our Housing Plan,” explained Ally Allerson, Executive Director ofGreets Green Partnership. “Now we’re doing what we promised and taking actionwhich will benefit local people now and for the generations to come.”Demolition work will also soon begin in the Wattle Road/Claypit Lane area. Twoblocks of flats are being demolished on Wattle Road and clearance is starting onClaypit Lane and Coppice Street. The area is changing!STOPFLYTIPPINGNow that homes are becoming emptyand sites are being cleared to makeway for new developments in areasof Greets Green, they’re easy targetsfor flytipping which makes yourneighbourhoods dirty, unhygienicand unsafe.Don’t let your streets become a dumpingground – do something about it. Clearingflytipping costs a huge amount and reallybrings the local area down.If you see someone flytipping, or noticesome dumped rubbish, call the Council’sContact Centre on 569 6625. Try to getas many details of flytippers as you can,such as their registration number or thecolour of their vehicle. If the Council’sEnforcement Officers can gain evidencethat identifies the source of the rubbishor waste, they can take legal action if flytipping is proved.Remember that flytipping can be anythingfrom a few bags of rubbish to 20 ton loadsof soil or rubble – please help keep the areaclean and safe by reporting all flytipping.Don’t let them get away with it. Call 5696625 and keep our streets clean.Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005 17

BRINGINGUP BABYSTAYINGSAFELots of help andadvice will be on offerduring Child Safety Week whichruns from 20th - 26th June.Its theme is ‘Not every accident is alucky escape’ and events will be heldthroughout the week. Look out fordetails near you!Open days were held in April andMay at OSCAR to gather ideas forevents. Many local parents camealong to chat about home safety andoffer suggestions for the week, aswell as volunteer their time for thenew Child Home Safety Project UserGroup which will discuss how theproject should develop in the future.Local mother, Geneva Myrie said:“I learnt a lot of things about childsafety and also about play groupsfor the baby. I’ll definitely be joiningthe User Group.”iIf you’d like to join the ChildHome Safety Project User Group,call 525 0556 and speak to FloReynolds.Child health needs metA variety of services are being offered to children and families by thenew Greets Green Health Visiting Team.Consisting of four Health Visitors and a Nursery Nurse, the team iscurrently focusing on the 0-5 age group and their families. It provides a corechild health service along with a range of other services including working with localagencies on health promotion activities and child development services which meet theneeds of individuals, groups and families.Two baby clinics are now being held in partnership with Early Steps at Lodge RoadCommunity Centre every Tuesday afternoon from 1.00pm-3.00pm and at Ryders GreenPrimary School on the first and third Thursday of each month during term time.The team is also compiling a Profile of the Community to identify local health needsand look at initiatives which could meet them in the future, such as post natal depressiongroups, stopping smoking,breastfeeding supportgroups, healthy eatingsessions and behaviourmanagement groups.iSuggestions for futurehealth initiatives arewelcomed by the Team,which is based at the LyngHealth & Social CareCentre. Contact them on530 8008 (messagetaking) or 07970 956063.It’s important for every child to get thebest possible start in life. This year, oneof the key areas of focus for Greets GreenPartnership’s health team will be childrenand families. And they’ll be working toimprove the life chances of everyyoungster by ensuring the area offersco-ordinated, accessible servicesincluding good education for youngchildren, support for families, affordablechildcare and plenty of information on allaspects of growing up.18 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

FREE CHILD CAR SEATSFree car seats are now available for families in GreetsGreen thanks to the Child Home Safety Project.The Child Home Safety Project has teamed up with SandwellTraffic & Road Safety Services and Halfords to provide childcar seats on long term loan. To be eligible, applicants mustreceive income support and child tax credit at £20.96 orabove.Simply call in to see Development Worker, Flo Reynolds atOSCAR in Lodge Road and bring proof of benefits and thelog book for your car. Flo will help residents fill in a form andgive them a voucher to take to Halfords in Oldbury. Halfordswill then supply an appropriate car seat.“When I joined the Child Home Safety Project I was keen tolook at how children can be protected wherever they are –in the home, in the car or in the garden,” explains Flo.“I discussed with Sandwell Traffic & Road Safety Serviceshow we could work with them and am pleased that we’vegot this new initiative up and running.”iFor more information about getting a free carseat, call Development Worker, Flo Reynolds,on 525 0556.PARENTS GET INVOLVEDParents are being encouraged to step forward and get involved inshaping the future for their children.Micho Moyo has become the new Parent Involvement Worker, workingalongside Children and Families Programme Manager, Jenny Mahimboat Ryders Green Primary School. Funded by Greets Green Partnership,Micho is inviting parents to get on board with Greets Green Partnership’sChildren & Families Programme, as well as the planned new Children’sCentre which will open next year.“I’m linking in with current childcare providers to meet parents and findout how they would like to get more involved,” says Micho. “I’m alreadyworking with several parents to develop publicity and they’ve beenchoosing a new logo.“My background is in education and I’ve taught at several schools inBirmingham. I feel at home here and am really enjoying my new role.”Micho will soon be launching a membership scheme for all parentswith children aged 0-5 but, in the meantime, he’s looking for asmany parents to volunteer to share their ideas and views to ensurethat the Programme and the new Children’s Centre meet local needs.iMicho can be contacted at Ryders Greenon 553 0658 on Monday and Tuesdayafternoons and on Fridays.Greets Green Magazine June/July 200519

greetnewsa round-up of Partnership and Community newsIf you have any news, get in touch.Call Barbryn on T: 01564 741847,E: susan@barbryn.co.uk or the GreetsGreen Partnership on T: 0800 953 0215,E: brian_mckinstrie@sandwell.gov.ukKIDS GOTO CAMPEveryone was on their bestbehaviour when SWAN teamed upwith Greets Green NeighbourhoodWardens to run an Easter bootcamp.Local children dressed in their armygear to enjoy a great day of activitieson 30th March. The fun includedplenty of games followed by a realarmy style lunch on tin plates, whichthey even washed up themselves!PUPILS GET HELPING HANDSix youngsters at Ryders Green Primary School have been helping fellow pupilsget to grips with school life in England through a new electronic book.Working with Click! Greets Green, thepupils from years 5 and 6 created theelectronic book in English and Bengaliso that children arriving from Bangladesh,who cannot speak English, quickly learnkey words and phrases.“Pupils can click on familiar school iconssuch as a table, pencil and ruler andhear what the words are in both Bengaliand English,” explained Paul Gregg,ICT Co-ordinator at Ryders GreenPrimary School.Rumi Begum, Aminur Rahman,Mohammed Kabir, Mohammed Ahmed,Rumana Rahman and Khadiza Khadunprovided the images and voices for thebook, while Rumana’s dad created theBengali script.The youngsters were invited to a launchat the Mayor’s Rooms in April, along withpupils from Lyng, Newtown and LodgePrimary Schools who have also createdtheir own electronic books.Saleh Saeed, Project Manager for Click!Greets Green, said: "All the books will bea great help to pupils developing secondlanguage skills.”iTocontact Click! GreetsGreen, call 525 8060.iTo find out moreabout SWAN, callElaine Knowles on553 7074.STRETCH& TONELooking for some gentle exercise?Why not try the Stretch & Tone class whichtakes place at George Salter High Schoolevery Thursday evening from 7:30 to 9:30pm.iJustThe classes are free to Greets Greenresidents – you just need trainersand gym wear to take part.turn up or call JohnNicholson on 553 4665to find out more.TOP QUALITY BEERThe beer at The Wheatsheaf is topquality – and that’s official!The pub on the High Street hasreceived a national ParliamentaryQuality Beer Award for its beer andthe way the pub is run in general.David Forrest, who has managed TheWheatsheaf for the past eight months,was presented with a special certificatewhich drinkers can now admire.20 Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!Members of Sandwell Women’s Agency Network(SWAN) wowed a local audience with a brandnew play, “Pull Yourself Together” in March.The women’s group teamed up with the familylearning section of Sandwell Adult Education Serviceand Class Act Drama Centre to create the new scriptwhich highlights mental health issues within thecommunity and their effect on patients and carers.It was performed by members of the SWAN group atAlexandra School Theatre. “The show went reallywell and we were so proud of the group,” saidElaine Knowles.iTofind out more about SWAN, callElaine Knowles on 553 7074.JOIN THE PREMIER LEAGUEThe Central Library in West Bromwich, along with libraries across Sandwell, hasteamed up with West Bromwich Albion stars to encourage local children to readtogether with their parents.The goal of the national Premier League Reading Starsscheme is to get more families interested in reading.All 20 Premiership clubs have nominated aReading Champion, with Ricardo Scimecakicking things off for the Albion. He’s chosenhis favourite book alongside other footballingheroes such as Ryan Giggs and Mark Delaney.Local school children and their parents havealready taken part in fun sessions at the libraryincluding quizzes, word searches and talkingabout what makes a good book, as well as theStudy Support Centre at the Albion.Those who aren’t into reading books have been lookingat match day programmes, magazines and spoken wordtexts to develop their interest in reading. All participants receive afootball goody bag and, at the final session, walk away with three books they’ve chosen.“It’s all about getting parents and children to read together,” says Robert Hazel from CentralLibrary. “With such a winning team, everyone can reach their goal!”iFormore information on the scheme or how to become part of a family reading group,contact Robert Hazel at Central Library on 569 4915.QUEEN’SHONOURIn the February issue we reportedthat Dr Kishori Agrawal fromOakwood Health Centre on IzonsRoad had been awarded an OBEin the New Year’s Honours List.Dr Agrawal has now received herOBE from Her Majesty the Queenfor her services to health care andis pictured here with her award.MONEY ADVICETAKES OFFSandwell Advice & Moneylink(SAM) has celebrated helping its50th client at its 382High Street premises.Since SAM opened inJanuary, requests forhelp have ranged frominformation about benefits andbudgeting to debt and loan advice.iTofind out more about SAM’sservices, call in or phone 553 3110.SUMMERFUNThe date has been announcedfor Greets Green’s great Summerevent, on Saturday 6th Auguston The Rec.Watch out formore details!Doing thebusiness!Got a business idea? A uniqueopportunity is available for local peopleto become involved in the second stageof Tara Consultancy / Greets GreenPartnership’s Business Acumen Project.Following the first successful stage of theproject, places are now available fororganisations or individuals who have anidea for a new Greets Green enterpriseand want to make things happen.Sign up now and learn how to developyour own business plan. No previousexperience required and you will beassigned your own personal mentor.iTo book your free place andto find out more, callIrene on freephone0500 11 80 98.Flipmagazinefor‘YoungGreetsGreen’Flipmagazinefor ‘YoungGreetsGreen’Greets Green Magazine June/July 200521

youngJUNE/JULY 2005TOP GEARYouth buzz is revvingup to hit the streetsww.ggyf.co.uk www.ggyf.co.uk www.ggyf.co.uk www.ggyf.co.uk

TOP GEARIT’S BACK!Wood Lane Youth Club is backafter a six month break!The Youth Club started up again in April and isrunning every Wednesday evening from 5-7pmfor 7-12 year olds and from 7.15-9.15pm for13-19 year olds.And it’s so much better than before.Whenthe Youth Forum asked young people whatthey wanted to do at the club, you said youwanted Playstations, pool, table tennis anddarts.Well, we’ve done even better thanthat and, as well as everything you askedfor, we’ve also bought an X-Box, dance matsand air hockey. Plus, we’ll be running arts& crafts sessions, quizzes, movie nightsand karaoke.Sessions cost 50p. Just turn up on thenight or call Jay Alexander on07974 921432 or Smita Patel on 07976962462 for more information.HANGOUTNow you don’thave to get wetwhen you hangaround! Four newyouth sheltershave been builtat local primaryschools – two atLyng, one at GunsVillage and oneat Lodge Road.They’ve gotseating on threesides and a roofso you can staydry and hang outwith friends.Check them out.22 Young Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005

The Youth Forum’s sessional workers have been askingpeople young and old in the community if they want tosee the bus in their area so that it can head out andabout to the places it’s most needed.And this isn’t any ordinary bus. It’s been completelydesigned by young people and the downstairs has lots ofgames and activities while the upper deck has facilitiesfor workshops and advice sessions. The team will workwith local groups such as the teenage pregnancy unit andthe drugs team to bring as much information as possibleto young people.says Nabeel. “I was doing all this while working as atruck driver and it was hard fitting it all in.“Once I had a taste of youth work, it just snowballed. Iwanted to do more but I needed the time to do it – and Istill had to earn a living. Now I’ve got the job as a youthworker / driver it’s perfect. I’m combining my job withsomething I love.”While the bus is out and about, there will always be asessional worker, a volunteer and a member of the YouthForum helping out, along with Nabeel.Roll up, roll up! The Youth Buzz is revvingup to hit the streets and the team wants toknow where you’d like it to stop.Plus, there’s a kitchen on board while the seats upstairsfold down into beds for residentials!To get a bus like this on the road, you need a driver andNabeel Saleh Audhali is the perfect man for the job. He’sbeen involved in the Youth Forum for the past year,having been on the volunteer programme beforecompleting the Introduction to Youth Work course withthe sessional workers.“A friend introduced me to the Youth Forum and I soonjoined the volunteer programme for six months, helpingto get the new Forum together and operating as a team,”“I was brought up in Greets Green and went to LodgePrimary and George Salter High School so I know allabout local issues,” Nabeel adds. “I can’t wait to get thebus on the road as it’s so exciting. I’m really raring to go.“My ambition is to take the bus to as many places andpeople as possible. Watch out, here we come!”If you want the Youth Buzz tocome to your area, ask yourYouth Forum area rep or contactthe Youth Forum on 525 9509 orPaul Arrowsmith on 07976 943638.PUPILS BUILD BRIDGESPrimary school children throughout Greets Greenhave been ‘Bridging the Basin’ with SandwellEducation Business Partnership’s WorkWise project.‘Architecture Workshops’ was commissioned by WorkWiseto run a half day activity at Newtown, Guns V illage, RydersGreen, Lyng and Lodge primary schools to construct alarge scale bridge type structure.In total, more than 200 children from Years 5 and 6 tookpart in the activities, workingindividually and in groups tosolve the bridging problem!using skills such as problemStop Press solving, teamwork andmathematics.PicturedWe’ll be running anactive summerprogramme withloads of great thingsto do. Look out formore details!iTo“If I didn’t listen I wouldn’t have been able tobuild a bridge,” said one pupil. “It was a lot ofteam work and it was problem solving as well.”contact WorkWise, call Fiona Stone on569 2347.are children from Guns Village PrimarySchool with their finished product.The Greets Green YouthForum is funded byGreets Green PartnershipYoung Greets Green Magazine June/July 2005 23