The Wednesfield & Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership is holding an open forum meeting to discuss neighbourhood priorities for the area this week.

The meeting will be an opportunity to share your views on local priorities for Wednesfield, Fallings Park & Ashmore Park directly with the people who provide services in these areas.

The open forum meeting takes place at the Jennie Lee Centre, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield on Thursday 28th July at 6:30pm and is open to all.

This is your chance to have your say on what happens in your neighbourhood – so come along and share your views!

For further information, contact Simon Hamilton on 01902 552 623 or simon.hamilton@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

It’s that time of year again – Wednesfield & Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership are looking for your ‘Local Hero’ nominations.

If you know someone who has gone that extra mile for a neighbour, a local business that has supported local fun days, or someone that has helped the community, why not nominate them as a local hero?

To find out more – read the PDF document below and if you’d like to nominate someone, download the form, fill it in and return it the address on the bottom.

Entries need to be in by 11th February.

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• The Wardens have been working closely with Wolverhampton Homes and the Police to solve problems with anti-social behaviour in a number of areas in Wednesfield. As a result of this, gates are due to be put up at the garage site of Whiston Avenue and also the rear of shops on Moathouse Lane.
• Wardens have been collecting information for the police and visiting residents in several areas, Wednesfield park area and Perry Hall area with regard to both anti-social and criminal behaviour. Work is ongoing and welfare checks are regularly made and advice given to the residents living in the area.
• Due to a rise in distraction burglaries in Ashmore Park, advice is being given and awareness increased by the wardens. A leaflet drop is being planned for the area also.
• A number of bicycle locks have been donated to a number of schools in Ashmore Park. This is to encourage children to get fit and active by riding to school.
• The Wardens and the LNP are purchasing a banner for the Pickering Road friendship club. This is to encourage new members to the club.
• The Wardens are currently involved in an allotment project with the students at Wednesfield High School. This project is ongoing.
• In the near future the Wardens are to attend an Eco club at Wood End School. This is a great opportunity for the Wardens to engage with children from the area.
• An inter-generational project is being arranged by the wardens with the Brownie pack from St. Gregory’s Church. The Brownies are to sing their favourite songs to elderly residents at a local residential home. In return, they are having a trip to their anniversary celebrations funded by Wednesfield LNP.

Wardens have recently dealt with several resident concerns which have included:

• Several elderly residents suffering from anti-social behaviour from neighbours in Ashmore Park
• A couple in the Perry Hall area suffering with problems caused by children from another area playing football; when spoken to the children were aggressive and abusive
• Ongoing concerns about a family in the Wednesfield area causing anti-social behaviour and possible drug dealing
• An elderly lady having problems with her neighbour’s dog
• A resident in Long Knowle experiencing harassment from several neighbours
• Problems with the garage site on Whiston Avenue; possible drug dealing and drug activity taking place

ACTIONS TAKEN

The wardens have taken various actions to resolve the above problems. They include:

• Reassurance visits to homes of residents with concerns
• Information gathering
• Shared information with relevant partner agencies including police and anti-social behaviour unit
• Provoked interest in setting up a neighbourhood watch group. Delivered the relevant information and contact details

INITIATIVES

• Wardens have distributed bike safety locks to children at Corpus Christi school. The idea behind the initiative is to get children more active by cycling to school over a set period of time. In return they are rewarded with a new bike lock. The wardens are looking to introduce this idea to other schools in the Wednesfield area
• Wardens are working closely with the Brownies at St.Gregory’s Church. In return for funding for their Brownie anniversary celebrations, the Brownies are to commit some of their time to a community project; the type of project, is yet to be decided

Click here to see what the Wednesfield and Fallings Park Neighbourhood Wardens have been up to during August in their latest Newsletter.

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.