Wednesfield & Fallings Park neighbourhood partnership officer will hike up the highest mountain in Britain to raise money for Cancer Research UK after his own father was diagnosed with the illness.

Simon Hamilton, who works for Wednesfield and Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership, will be attempting the arduous task along with his friend Diane Crutchley, a rehabilitation assistant at Warstone’s Resource Centre, in July.

Simon walked up Snowdon Mountain last year, but this time around the trek will have added significance as he hiking with his dad.

“I walked up Snowdon last year for my 40th birthday with my brothers – this year we decided to do it again but for charity,” said Simon.

“My dad had cancer of the bowel but is in remission now and is back at work and enjoying himself.

Those of you who would like to donate to Simon and Diane’s cause can visit their just giving site by clicking here: http://www.justgiving.com/Simon-Hamilton69. Alternatively, you can get in touch with Simon by calling 07814549416.

WV11.co.uk will be donating a month’s worth of our advertising revenues to Simon’s cause – we hope you join us.

“I’m really excited because last year it was the first time all my brothers came together  as a family for years but this time we will be walking with our dad too, who although is 61 is very fit for his age and celebrating that he is in remission.”

Simon already donates to the charity every month but felt he wanted to do all he could to help others who found themselves in his dad’s position.

“With my dad’s treatment, we thought it would be a good idea to support the huge amount of research that is already being carried out, which helps to save so many lives,” added Simon.

Diane is best friends with Simon’s wife and asked if she could be a part of the slog too.

“I like walking and completed a half marathon – it’s good to stay fit but I’ve never done it for charity,” she said.

“I’m not really getting worried as it’s something I love to do. I’ve started to go out rambling on the weekends in preparation and am really looking forward to it.”

As well as raising cash for Cancer Research UK, some of Simon’s brothers will also donate money to Compton Hospice after it helped the family during an illness that was suffered by a relative.

Simon’s dad Ken added: “I’m really looking forward to the hike with my sons and am proud that we are raising as much as we can for two such good causes.”

The inaugural ‘Local Heroes Award’ evening was held at Edward the Elder School and was attended by around 150 local people.  The categories included volunteer, Good Neighbour, Young Achiever and Team; awards were given to those that had gone the ‘extra mile’ for their community.

The evening was kept on track thanks to Rev Simon Mansfield, Chair of the Local Neighbourhood Partnership and Jan Hickman, LANA co-ordinator.  Wednesfield High School Gospel Choir provided superb entertainment during the evening.

The judging panel were overwhelmed with the number and standard of entries and had great difficulty in choosing a winner, but they eventually decided on:

• Volunteer – John Lees, Wolverhampton Utd FC
• Good Neighbour – Jean Shinton
• Young Achiever -  Preety Kaur
• Team – Wednesfield FC Colts, Under 9’s

Wednesfield and fallings Park LNP would like to congratulate all of the winners and also thank all those that made the evening such a success.  Special thanks should also go to Nick Cunliffe headteacher at Edward the Elder School.

The job requires someone to: “Work in the Local Neighbourhood Partnership (LNP) areas with local communities, businesses, service providers and other partner agencies, to build positive relations in order to respond to community safety and anti-social behaviour issues as identified via the local tasking process and to provide a visible presence and reassurance service across the LNP area. To work in a flexible way that meets the needs of the LNP process including working  outside normal office hours.”

For more information and to download the full job description, visit the City Council website.

A program of activities for adults to take part in have been put together over a fortnight starting on 22 March and running until 2 April. These range from Plastering & Basic Plumbing to the new fitness craze ‘Zumbra’.

Booklets with all the available courses will be distributed to local Community Centres, Schools and other community venues.

For further details, please contact Simon Hamilton on 01902 551750 or Jo Ingleby on 01902 551867.

Wednesfield & Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership are looking for budding artists to design a anti-knife poster.

The Winner will be given £100 in Vouchers Plus have their artwork professionally printed and displayed.

Rules and Conditions of Entry:

1. The competition is open to young people aged 11- 18years of age.
2.Posters must be A4 or A3, only hard copies will be accepted.
3. Full name, address and school must appear on the back of the poster
4. Posters that have been submitted for other competitions will not be accepted
5.The organisers will appoint a fair and impartial judging panel to judge and select the winner. The decision of the panel is final. No discussion will be entered into.

So come on, get drawing!!

Closing date is Friday 26th 2010 and winners will be informed by Friday 19th March 2010.

Please send your entries to:

Christine Lester
Wednesfield and Fallings Park LNP
The Portacabin
Well Lane
Wednesfield
WV11 1XT

For further information please contact Christine on 01902 551750

‘In all walks of life, there are heroes everywhere that don’t get the recognition they deserve, People who have put others first, Overcome adversity, Or made an outstanding contribution to the Community’

If you want more details, or know of someone who deserves to be recognised and nominate them for a Award for their contribution to the Community please visit the Wednesfield & Fallings Park Website to download a form or collect a form from your local Community Centre. Alternatively contact Christine at the Local Neighbourhood Offices on 01902 551750.

The closing date for nominations is 12 February so be quick and get the Nomination form in.

The Local Neighbourhood Partnership and the North East Neighbourhood Safety Coordinator have managed to secure funding from the Small Retailers Capital Fund. This fund was launched by the Government to help retailers that may be impacted by the criminal effects of the economic downturn.

Almost £6,000 will be used to offer target hardening and security works to the shops on the corner of Long Knowle Lane and Blackhalve Lane and the scheme will also see the shops benefiting from a retail radio link. It is hoped that work will start in the next few weeks.

Are you aged 14 or over, live in the Wednesfield or Fallings Park area and would like to break into film, then this could be your chance.

This is a really exciting opportunity for local young people to get to grips, in a creative way, with an important contemporary issue.

Click here for more details and click here to download an application form that you can either post or email back to us at christine.lester@wolverhampton.gov.uk

For further details contact Cas Simpson at Ashmore Park Youth Club on 01902 552371.

All completed applications forms must be returned by Friday 22nd January.

Doreen Evans and Irene Dodd (who has contributed several articles to WV11) are to be recognised for their community work at Wolverhampton Homes’ Good Neighbour Awards for their contribution to making Ashmore Park a better place to live.

The dynamic duo have been running the Ashmore Park Police Liaision Meeting (now Ashmore Park PACT) for years.

Acting Sergeant Pete Cooper, Neigbourhood Policing Sergeant for the area said ‘without the tireless work of volunteers such as Irene and Doreen, the Police’s job would be much more difficult.  We need more people like them!

Congratulations for Doreen and Irene from WV11!