Every now and then I try and feature a bit of West Midlands trivia on the website, anything from the factual to the fictional, from the sublime to the ridiculous, the more whacky, amazing or obscure the better.
Here are a few short offerings before the holy shrine of West Midlands folklore, custom and myth:
Did You Know?
When King Ethelbert, ruler of East Anglia, died in the 8th century, his body was brought to Hereford for burial. In the place where the King's body was rested before burial, a spring of gushing water rose from the ground. The spring of water no longer exists at the site, but in 795 King Offa of Mercia built a shrine dedicated to Ethelbert on the same site which subsequently was replaced by Hereford Cathedral. Well ...I never!
The Needle's Eye is a cleft in the rock on the summit of the Wrekin in Shropshire which according to local legend first opened up at the moment of the Crucifixion when the rocks were torn asunder. A tradition grew up around the Needle's Eye where girls would climb through the cleft without looking behind them, lest they should never be married. The girl's boyfriend would traditionally meet his love with a kiss on the opposite side of the rocky cleft although in the modern age she is more likely to meet a hoody offering her a swig of his alco-pop.
Arbor Day is an ancient tree dressing festival which takes place annually at Aston-on-Clun near Ludlow. A black poplar tree in the centre of the village is dressed with flags in the run up to Arbor Day itself (29th May), on which occasion the flag of St George is raised above all others. The ceremony is thought to be derived from the very ancient practice of tree worship but these days is accompanied by the far more contemporary entertainment of Morris dancing.
The traditional annual Midlands holiday known as Wakes Week dates back to a custom in the town of Bilston where folk would keep a vigil by the graves of the dead on the eve of St Leonard's Day (6th November). The graveyard vigils were abandoned during the Reformation but moved to the local market square, with the date of Wakes Week changing from November to mid-summer. The religious aspect of the wakes gave way to joviality and amusements such as bear baiting, becoming such a disorderly affair that the whole thing was finally banned in Victorian times. Yet more strangely, the name Wakes Week survived and became the name given to the annual industrial holiday in the Midlands when the factories closed and we all went off to Blackpool. A convoluted history I am sure you will agree, though apparently true!
Do you have any West Midlands stories stranger than these? Let us have them for publication on Spaghetti Gazetti.
editorialgazette@aol.com
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Quirky and amusing photography exhibition Timeslides at Light House Gallery recreates special moments in history
Timeslides, the debut UK exhibition from photographer Simon Cotterill, will be on show at Light House in Wolverhampton from Monday 6 July - Sunday 2 August.
Timeslides is a photographic recreation project which mixes aspects of history, portraiture and theatre. Contemporary recreations of old snap shots have been produced using participants from all over the West Midlands, including bankers, builders, students, solicitors, retirees, and the unemployed.
The Timeslides project began in 2008 and was inspired by ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots on dieting advertisements and Angus McBean’s photographs of The Beatles. With the support of funding from Arts Council England, the exhibition of Simon’s work at Light House will be the first opportunity for the public to experience these amusing and emotive images. The project is ongoing with Simon still on the hunt for participants to recreate their cherished photographs. Admission to Light House Gallery is free.
Timeslides re-imagines traditional portrait photography and involves people ‘playing themselves’ as they attempt to re-capture past facial expressions, postures, and moods. The photo recreations often use exactly the same locations, props, clothing, and framing as the original snap shots, but at times the essence of the originals is captured through incorporating just one or two of these elements. Each recreation is a collaborative effort between photographer and subject, and Timeslides has allowed its participants to become involved in art in a way they never had before.
Simon Cotterill said, “I've been really grateful to the wide range of people who have participated in the recreations. Their help and patience has allowed me to develop this form of photographic portraiture well beyond my original expectations. If anyone else would like to take part in this project just find an old photograph that you would like to recreate and email me at simon_cotterill@hotmail.com.”
Coventry-born and Birmingham-based artist and writer, Simon Cotterill hopes that the Timeslides exhibition both entertains and allows his audiences to reflect on the nature of ageing and change. Timeslides will be on show at Light House from Monday 6 July - Sunday 2 August. Admission to the Gallery is free. For further information visit www.light-house.co.uk, t: 01902 716055 or e: info@light-house.co.uk
Timeslides is a photographic recreation project which mixes aspects of history, portraiture and theatre. Contemporary recreations of old snap shots have been produced using participants from all over the West Midlands, including bankers, builders, students, solicitors, retirees, and the unemployed.
The Timeslides project began in 2008 and was inspired by ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots on dieting advertisements and Angus McBean’s photographs of The Beatles. With the support of funding from Arts Council England, the exhibition of Simon’s work at Light House will be the first opportunity for the public to experience these amusing and emotive images. The project is ongoing with Simon still on the hunt for participants to recreate their cherished photographs. Admission to Light House Gallery is free.
Timeslides re-imagines traditional portrait photography and involves people ‘playing themselves’ as they attempt to re-capture past facial expressions, postures, and moods. The photo recreations often use exactly the same locations, props, clothing, and framing as the original snap shots, but at times the essence of the originals is captured through incorporating just one or two of these elements. Each recreation is a collaborative effort between photographer and subject, and Timeslides has allowed its participants to become involved in art in a way they never had before.
Simon Cotterill said, “I've been really grateful to the wide range of people who have participated in the recreations. Their help and patience has allowed me to develop this form of photographic portraiture well beyond my original expectations. If anyone else would like to take part in this project just find an old photograph that you would like to recreate and email me at simon_cotterill@hotmail.com.”
Coventry-born and Birmingham-based artist and writer, Simon Cotterill hopes that the Timeslides exhibition both entertains and allows his audiences to reflect on the nature of ageing and change. Timeslides will be on show at Light House from Monday 6 July - Sunday 2 August. Admission to the Gallery is free. For further information visit www.light-house.co.uk, t: 01902 716055 or e: info@light-house.co.uk
West Midlands Mum and Farmer Job Swop
Morning,
I’m sure that you’re up to your eyes at the moment but I was wondering if you’d be interested in a ground breaking new study where a farmer swaps jobs with a mum and her children. The project is to help farmers find out why young urban families in the West Midlands are just not eating fresh potatoes anymore. We are looking to do the swop on the 9th July and it would be great if you covered the swop. On the day our West Mids farmer can be thrown right into the deep end and attempt to cope with the hectic pace of modern family life or we can arrange for the children and mum to spend the day on the farm to learn a lot about the skills and passion needed by farmers to produce the food they see in the supermarket or half a day of each its up to you.
We’re rolling it out to across the six main regions of the UK after the eye opening national campaign (link below). After the exchange in the West Midlands the local farmer will feed tips and advise back to the Potato Council that will then appear on Potato Packaging to make cooking them easier for mums and their families.
I’ve uploaded a 30 sec’s clip and the full five min’s film on to YouTube of the recently completed National swop to give you an idea of what we are doing in the West Midlands on the 9th. Please let me know what you think. I’d be delight if you could get involved when we are in the West Mids.
Kind regards
James (0207 039 0105)
The Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjS6iPF0Y9A
Spaghetti Editor: I'd better be careful how I respond to this one as my sense of humour can get the better of me sometimes. Just to say, if there's anyone out there interested in this very original idea ....please get in touch with James and keep us informed.
Your chance to be creative at The New Art Gallery’s ‘Warhol Party’
The New Art Gallery Walsall is inviting young people to get creative and join us for a ‘Warhol Party’ on Saturday 4 July. This free event is open to everyone and is an opportunity to see a selection of Andy Warhol’s early drawings and have a go at creating some of your own works.
Drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm to see the Andy Warhol exhibition on Floor 1 and find out more about his work and chat with our Gallery Assistants about what goes on at the gallery. Visitors can get creative and meet with a real artist between 12.30pm and 1.30pm and create their own illustration, just like Andy Warhol.
See Warhol's ice-cream dessert drawing and stay cool by collecting a voucher for a free frescato in the gallery café, Costa.Visitors to the party can also enter our competition to win a Warhol goody bag worth £40 which includes a Warhol book, Warhol fridge magnets and a Warhol cat colouring book.
Our friendly staff will be on hand all day for you to talk to and find out more about the gallery and our exhibitions and events. This event is inspired by the exhibition Andy Warhol: Early Drawings, 15 May – 5 July 2009, and is part of ARTIST ROOMS, a national collection of art works created by dealer Anthony d’Offay.
Drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm to see the Andy Warhol exhibition on Floor 1 and find out more about his work and chat with our Gallery Assistants about what goes on at the gallery. Visitors can get creative and meet with a real artist between 12.30pm and 1.30pm and create their own illustration, just like Andy Warhol.
See Warhol's ice-cream dessert drawing and stay cool by collecting a voucher for a free frescato in the gallery café, Costa.Visitors to the party can also enter our competition to win a Warhol goody bag worth £40 which includes a Warhol book, Warhol fridge magnets and a Warhol cat colouring book.
Our friendly staff will be on hand all day for you to talk to and find out more about the gallery and our exhibitions and events. This event is inspired by the exhibition Andy Warhol: Early Drawings, 15 May – 5 July 2009, and is part of ARTIST ROOMS, a national collection of art works created by dealer Anthony d’Offay.
Outdoor Theatre Production by the Crescent Theatre
Hello Everyone
As you are aware, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are a unique 18th Century restored walled garden situated 5 miles from the centre of Birmingham. They were rediscovered in 1982, derelict, vandalised and overgrown, but with their basic structure in tact as they would have been in the early 18th century. Once its importance was recognised, restoration work began and the gardens have been open to the public since 1988.
As we are a registered charity, fundraising events are held throughout the year to raise money to help with the continuing cost of restoration and maintenance work and we should be extremely grateful if you would support our next event, thereby helping to ensure that our past will have a place in the future.
Kind regards.
Sue Brain (Administrator)
Castle Bromwich Hall & Gardens Trust
Chester Road
Castle Bromwich
Birmingham B36 9BT
Registered Company No. 1944650 in England Registered Charity No. 516855
Event details:
Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are hosting the Crescent Theatre who will be performing William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” on Saturday 4 July at 7.00 pm.
The performance will take place in these beautiful atmospheric formal gardens and the audience are welcome to bring their own picnic, although refreshments will be available for purchase.
Tickets cost £8.00 and can be purchased at the gardens.
Tel: 0121 749 4100 www.cbhgt.org.uk and are also available from the Crescent Theatre Box Office
Tel: 0121 643 5858 www.crescent-theatre.co.uk
As you are aware, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are a unique 18th Century restored walled garden situated 5 miles from the centre of Birmingham. They were rediscovered in 1982, derelict, vandalised and overgrown, but with their basic structure in tact as they would have been in the early 18th century. Once its importance was recognised, restoration work began and the gardens have been open to the public since 1988.
As we are a registered charity, fundraising events are held throughout the year to raise money to help with the continuing cost of restoration and maintenance work and we should be extremely grateful if you would support our next event, thereby helping to ensure that our past will have a place in the future.
Kind regards.
Sue Brain (Administrator)
Castle Bromwich Hall & Gardens Trust
Chester Road
Castle Bromwich
Birmingham B36 9BT
Registered Company No. 1944650 in England Registered Charity No. 516855
Event details:
Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are hosting the Crescent Theatre who will be performing William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” on Saturday 4 July at 7.00 pm.
The performance will take place in these beautiful atmospheric formal gardens and the audience are welcome to bring their own picnic, although refreshments will be available for purchase.
Tickets cost £8.00 and can be purchased at the gardens.
Tel: 0121 749 4100 www.cbhgt.org.uk and are also available from the Crescent Theatre Box Office
Tel: 0121 643 5858 www.crescent-theatre.co.uk
STORYTELLING CAFE NEWS JULY 2009
Tuesday 7 July 8:00
BIRMINGHAM STORYTELLING SESSION
Enjoy a free night of storytelling, come along to listen or to share a story The Bulls Head, St Mary's Row, Moseley B13 HW
www.tradartsteam.co.uk/storytelling/bhamsession.htm
Monday 20 July, Matlock Storytelling Cafe
Tim Oakes, Coracle Tales CANCELLED
Storytelling Cafe is taking a long break for the summer after just one event in July. There are a number of reasons including the imminent - we hope temporary - closure of the Boat Inn at Cromford. Also the ebb and flow of funding would drive us mad if we are not careful so our view is that we will do what we can do and not kill ourselves trying to do more. However, the signs are very optimistic for the future so we will be back for the autumn with a programme of Cafes, sessions and training. In the meantime we are looking forward to 2010 and a brand new programme of activity
Graham Langley
£2.5 MILLION CELEBRATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH UK SOLIHULL
SOLIHULL Cancer Research UK customers past and present were invited to a Celebratory Party on June 30 2009 to mark the shop reaching £2.5million in turnover for the charity.
Dedicated store volunteers were joined by scores of kind hearted Solihull customers to celebrate this fantastic achievement for the charity.
The party which started at 10am until the shop closed, saw appreciative staff and volunteers giving out bucks fizz, nibbles and of course party cake to
its dedicated customers to thank them for their support.
Judy Parkins, Manager of the Cancer Research UK’s shop in Solihull said “We are delighted that so many volunteers and supporters of the shop in Solihull are here to celebrate with us today.
"In the current economic climate, it is wonderful to know that we still have the support of the people of Solihull and we wanted to hold this party to say thank you and to share our success with everyone who has supported us.”
Despite the Solihull shop’s success in reaching this fantastic milestone, the store is actually desperate for more stock to meet the demand of its faithful customers.
“If you want to help and have any good quality clothes, accessories or bric-a-brac you no longer use, then please drop it into the shop – we would love to see you” added Judy.
Miranda Williams, Cancer Research UK’s Area Volunteer Manager for Solihull added: “On average, more than 400 people die from cancer every day in the UK. However, thanks to research, more people are receiving the “all clear” than ever before.
“Cancer Research UK is funded almost entirely by donations from the public in the form of cash donations or stock that can be sold at the local charity stores.
“This is why the support of the people of Solihull is so important to the charity and without the people of Solihull we would not have been able to reach this wonderful £2.5million milestone.”
For more information about opening times, donating stock or volunteering at the Cancer Research UK store in Solihull, please contact Judy on 0121 704 1557.
For information about other ways that you can support Cancer Research UK, visit http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ or call your local fundraising office on 08701 60 20 40.
Dedicated store volunteers were joined by scores of kind hearted Solihull customers to celebrate this fantastic achievement for the charity.
The party which started at 10am until the shop closed, saw appreciative staff and volunteers giving out bucks fizz, nibbles and of course party cake to
its dedicated customers to thank them for their support.
Judy Parkins, Manager of the Cancer Research UK’s shop in Solihull said “We are delighted that so many volunteers and supporters of the shop in Solihull are here to celebrate with us today.
"In the current economic climate, it is wonderful to know that we still have the support of the people of Solihull and we wanted to hold this party to say thank you and to share our success with everyone who has supported us.”
Despite the Solihull shop’s success in reaching this fantastic milestone, the store is actually desperate for more stock to meet the demand of its faithful customers.
“If you want to help and have any good quality clothes, accessories or bric-a-brac you no longer use, then please drop it into the shop – we would love to see you” added Judy.
Miranda Williams, Cancer Research UK’s Area Volunteer Manager for Solihull added: “On average, more than 400 people die from cancer every day in the UK. However, thanks to research, more people are receiving the “all clear” than ever before.
“Cancer Research UK is funded almost entirely by donations from the public in the form of cash donations or stock that can be sold at the local charity stores.
“This is why the support of the people of Solihull is so important to the charity and without the people of Solihull we would not have been able to reach this wonderful £2.5million milestone.”
For more information about opening times, donating stock or volunteering at the Cancer Research UK store in Solihull, please contact Judy on 0121 704 1557.
For information about other ways that you can support Cancer Research UK, visit http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ or call your local fundraising office on 08701 60 20 40.
Make way for the Super charities?
by Pete Millington
Third Sector magazine today reported on the trend of big national disability charities taking over smaller local organisations which provide services to the same client group. More specifically, John Plummer of Third Sector reports that Lesley-Anne Alexander, chief executive of the RNIB is encouraging a new model of working in which the larger charity becomes the sole shareholder of smaller associate members, which continue operating under their own names but are in affect now controlled by the RNIB.
Lesley-Anne Alexander is quoted as saying "I hope we are setting a trend, when I came to the RNIB I was astounded to find there are more than 700 sight-loss charities. That's lunacy. If I had my way, we would have one national sight-loss charity that was responsible for campaigning, infrastructure, strategic marketing and quality initiatives, and a whole carpet of local sight-loss charities delivering services within a framework”.
Initially the idea makes strategic sense; better coordination of services, less competition and duplication, a potentially more powerful lobby – a single voice. But the history of the disability sector as a whole shows that the reason there has been such a dramatic growth of small, local user-led organisations over the past three decades has been precisely because so many people were totally disillusioned over several generations with the big, powerful institutions who took the lion’s share of the funding, rarely involved service users in decision making and perpetuated the model of disabled people being dependent on the rest of society and therefore reliant on charity.
Surely it is for the government to plan a national strategy for making services more logical, not a self elected champion from the Third Sector?
For many years disabled people have organised themselves through representative and democratically elected groups on a local level, with a coordination (though ultimately not a controlling) role from national groups such as the British Council of Disabled People. These groups saw all disabled people working together through networks to develop the social model of disability and in turn these ideas led to disability based anti-discrimination legislation introduced in the UK from 1995 onwards. But the reason many of these small groups have struggled and even gone out of business in the past five or six years is because the big, professionalised organisations continue to take the lion’s share of the resources, both locally and nationally but haven’t been seen to support smaller groups on the ground.
In the current climate, where government and local authority agendas in regards to disabled people appear to be about deconstructing large, paternalistic, over professionalised services, replacing direct social service provision, for instance, with direct payments and individualised budgets which will in principal give service users more choice, variety, control, autonomy, diversity and freedom in how, where and from whom they receive services, how ironic that national charities like the RNIB have plans to potentially reduce the very same variety of choice and independence.
Lesley-Anne Alexander’s ‘carpet’ of local organisations might sound groovy, but it all depends whose boots are stamping all over that carpet and who has the authority to pull the rug when certain groups don’t lie down obediently (doggy metaphor only partially intended).
In the past 5 years many organisations both for and of disabled people have recognised the importance of working in closer partnerships and new consortiums and networks are on the increase. But are the RNIB going a step too far in presuming that a handful of national mega-charities should be allowed to control the independence of all other local and regional groups? Of course there is a strong argument for more effective networking and more strategic, joined-up delivery of services right across the Third Sector, but surely not at the expense of the autonomy of local organisations, especially user-led organisations?
Project Pigeon
Project Pigeon open evening
6.30–8pm, Friday 3rd July 2009
The Rea Garden, Floodgate Street, Digbeth, Birmingham
6.30–8pm, Friday 3rd July 2009
The Rea Garden, Floodgate Street, Digbeth, Birmingham
The Project Pigeon loft will be open to visitors this Friday, just as the birds are coming home to feed. Come along, see the birds and speak to Ian England about the world of pigeons and future Project Pigeon plans.
The pigeons are quickly developing into athletes; we'll be keeping our finger crossed that the last few months training has paid off as Alex and Ian take them on their first liberation today. The artists have placed their first bet on their pigeons for the start of young bird racing season which kicks off in just a few weeks.
You can also visit the loft every Sunday from 11am – 3pm throughout July, August and September.
Liam Byrne speaks at Birmingham Summit
Speech by Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP to Be Birmingham Summit, 26 June 2009
On Friday, Liam Byrne, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, addressed the Be Birmingham Summit on the challenges caused by the global economic downturn at Longbridge Technology Innovation Centre.
Liam praised Birmingham's fightback against the global economic downturn and the swine flu pandemic, telling the audience: "You are showing off the best of Birmingham and you are showing nothing beats Birmingham."
But he challenged the Summit, saying that the city had to raise its ambitions, on jobs and economic growth, on social mobility, on education and on housing.And he warned that if real visible progress was not made in regenerating East Birmingham, the city would be "overtaken, outpaced and out-gunned by cities that are more agile."
Liam said that he would be exploring interest in "a new East Birmingham alliance, that brings together politicians, business, the not for profit sector and our public servants to challenge the speed of change."
On economic growth, Liam told the audience that Birmingham - like the rest of the country - is at a fork in the road. He urged the summit to reject the path where "the new wealth of the future is concentrated in the hands of the few", warning that it would create "a city of inequality".
Instead, Liam spoke of the need to take the path "to create an economy here in Birmingham with much more 'room at the top'" - a big new supply of better jobs with better wages"
"If we make the right investments today, we can win a large slice of the one billion skilled jobs that will be created in the two decades ahead. Skilled jobs. With better wages. With wider horizons.""This is the progressive opportunity and the progressive challenge for our city."
Liam told the summit that education was the key to ensuring that all of Birmingham's residents benefitted from the new jobs that the city could win. Adding up spending on early years, schools, universities and work-place learning, Liam told the summit: "Birmingham is now a £1 billion + education city"
"Surely, with over £1 billion a year, we should set our sights on becoming Britain's education capital, like we were once before."
Liam noted that while exam results are up, the proportion of Birmingham pupils getting five A*-Cs, including English and maths, is not only below the national average, it ranks 91st out of Britain's 150 councils.He also challenged the city's universities, pointing out that none of Birmingham's universities rank in the top 20 nationally. (The Times Good University Guide 2010 puts Aston at 25 and Birmingham at 22.)
On housing, Liam reminded the summit that a century ago, Birmingham was a leader in town planning. He cited the legacy of pioneers like the Cadburys in Bournville, created model homes, separate gardens, wide roads and said: "We should be pioneers again."Liam said that while Birmingham City Council have consulted on options to deliver between 50,000 and 65,000 new homes in the City by 2026, these will not meet projected demand, 87,000 new households are projected to form in Birmingham by 2026, and he challenged the city to raise its ambition to set out how it will play its part in meeting Britain's housing challenges, even given the pressures of the financial downturn.
Speech to Be Birmingham conference
Friday 26th June
It’s a giant privilege to speak to you this morning and I want to thank my friend Ian Austin for the invite to come along today
It’s a privilege because this is my first chance to make a speech in Birmingham, in my new job as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, almost exactly five years from the moment I threw my hat into the ring of the Hodge Hill by-election, and started my career in public life in the city.
If there is one reason I am in this job today, it is because of the things that so many of you have taught me, and inspired me with, and showed me how to do over the last 1,800 days – and for that I want to say an enormous and very personal thank you.
In your work today you are showing off the finest traditions of public life in this city;
In the way you are facing up to every force ranged against us; the force of this global economic storm; or the force of this global pandemic; you are showing off the best of Birmingham and you are showing nothing beats Birmingham.
That is why I say with confidence that we will ride out today’s rough seas.
And that is why what I would like to talk about this morning is my view of the future that lies beyond. Not based on my experience as a minister. Nor, what I’ve seen as an MP. But on my work as a community organiser, in my corner of East Birmingham.
I said that this week is a bit of an anniversary for me.
But this year is also an important anniversary for our city.
It was a hundred years ago this year that our city took the irrevocable steps to becoming Britain’s second city.
After years of debate in council, it was in 1909, that the government of the day concluded that Aston, Erdington, Handsworth, Kings Norton, Northfield and Yardley should come within the city limits.
To [triple] the size of the city.
To become three times the size of Glasgow and twice the size of Liverpool, Manchester or Belfast.
A century ago Greater Birmingham, which began as an idea, became an agenda for action. So bold, so ambitious that it inspired an American journalist to call our city the “best governed city in the world”.
So my question today is how does Greater Birmingham once again become the best governed city in the world? How do we win again the world’s attention?
Well, let me start by saying that I believe that what is good for Birmingham is good for Britain.
So let me answer the question about the future of our city with a view of what’s good for our country.
My view is simple. Look ahead and look at the world around us. Over the next 10-20 years the world economy will double in size. Vast new growth markets are opening up for our city, our country, our communities.
And if we make the right investments today, we can win a large slice of the one billion skilled jobs that will be created in the two decades ahead. Skilled jobs. With better wages. With wider horizons.
And if we make the right investments today we can open up those new jobs to anybody of any colour, any faith, any background if they are prepared to work hard.
With the wealth that we can create in the years ahead, this city can be renewed, distinguished not by the stretch of its frontiers – but by the strength of its fabric.
This is the progressive opportunity and the progressive challenge for our city.
For the truth is that we are, in this city, at a fork in the road.
One path takes us to a place where the new wealth of the future is concentrated in the hands of the few. That’s a city of inequality that would dwarf anything we’ve seen to date.
But a second path would see us create an economy here in Birmingham with much more “room at the top” – a big new supply of better jobs with better wages,
Where it is easier to get on in life, in your profession, in the pursuit of your ambitions, much as we saw in the revolution in social mobility after the Second World War.
And where we share some of the wealth we create – to enrich our city and community life. Where we are better able to look after each other. Where we are better able to guarantee that no citizen of the city is left behind.
I don’t want to live in a city- and I don’t want to raise my kids in a city- scarred by an irreducible division into “haves, have-nots and have yachts”.
I want a city of fair shots. Of fair chances. Where your background, your neighbourhood, or the cards you were dealt at birth does not determine how far you can rise.
I believe passionately that Birmingham can lead Britain in blazing this new trail.
Next week the Government will set out our vision of the Britain that emerges from the downturn – of new sources of growth, shared by all sections of society. There will be a renewed national purpose - with new propositions and programmes
How will Birmingham respond?
I have said before that part of our problem in our region is that too often we settle for too little; what I once called a malaise of modesty, rather that an attitude of ambition.
So, let me ask:
Why don’t we aspire again to be the best-governed city in the world?
And where would we start?
Growth
Perhaps you will forgive me, as a Treasury minister, for starting with the money.
When Lloyd George was prime minister in 1921 he said of this city:
“The Country, the Empire, the world owed the skill of the engineer to the industry and the resources of Birmingham a deep debt of gratitude.”
Nearly a hundred years later I believe we could soon hear the same words again.
For sure, we have to start by stopping this recession cutting our city deep or long.
That’s why I fought so hard to save LDV, and why I will go to every length to see production start once again on Drews Lane.
But fighting the recession is easier because it is backed by a government determined not to make again the mistakes of the 1980s and 1990s.
In five days time, Birmingham asks for its share of the Government’s £1 billion Future Jobs Fund.
You believe up to 5,000 new quality jobs can come.
Jobs that could bring in up to £100 million in extra wages each year.
Imagine the change that could bring.
And on top of that, over £100 million is now online for the city from the Working Neighbourhood Fund to drive still more jobs into constituencies like mine where unemployment remains unacceptably above the national average.
But beyond the downturn we have to look to the future.
So my call is for Birmingham to lead the way, not lag behind, in opening up the new industries which we know we need to grow our national wealth in the years to come. To rebalance our economy. To offer the jobs of the future; in digital; in Life Sciences; in low carbon.
Last week Lord Carter set out our plans for an active industrial policy to accelerate the digital revolution.
It offered a vision of new digital networks that could help propel our country to leadership in the creative industries of the digital age.
Well, let’s turn vision into reality here.
Already, our region is home to an ICT sector with some 41,000 people in 3,000 businesses turning over £4.4 billion.
The Digital Birmingham partnership is in place. Our Wi-Fi city centre network is in place.
Good foundations. But our ambitions must be, can be, to become Britain’s leading digital city.
Or take Life Sciences. The government has now created the Office of Life Sciences to accelerate the industry’s growth.
Well, let’s turn vision into reality here. Our MedTech cluster is home to more than 600 companies turning over £1.1 billion. AWM is backing projects all over the city and all over the region.
Good progress. Good foundations. But with the unique advantages we have, universities, world-beating hospitals – how do we become one of the world’s leading cities for life sciences?
Or take, low-carbon.
The global market for low carbon goods and services today stands at £3 trillion a year and is growing rapidly. Soon the government will set out its strategy for accelerating that market here.
Well, let’s turn vision into reality here in Birmingham.
Our region’s low carbon economy is already worth £8.4 billion. 4000 firms with over 74,000 staff.
And Advantage West Midlands are playing their part with £30 million to drive the shift to low carbon vehicles - and £15 million for research at the region's universities into hydrogen energy and energy efficiency.
But we must go further. We should set an ambition to become one of Britain’s first low-carbon cities.
So, in the industries of tomorrow it is already clear that we can win.
But only if our council, our universities, our hospitals, our regional agencies, our public, private and not for profit sectors pull together. That is the challenge for you.
Social mobility
But, to reach this goal of creating new industries and new jobs, another challenge awaits.
We cannot, must not, will not live in a city that creates new wealth that is locked up or locked away from all its citizens.
Generations have come to this city to make their fortunes. Men like my great grandfather who fled Communist Russia and came to this city make furnaces for Pilkington – because he heard ‘you can make anything in Birmingham’.
It is the hard work of those generations who turned aspiration into success, who helped create the city of today. So how do we salute their efforts tomorrow?
Surely by aiming, here in this city, to become the most socially mobile city in Britain.
Where, if you want to work hard, you can get on.
Where poverty is not a roadblock to aspiration and where aspiration is a fast track out of poverty.
But if we want a metropolis that’s mobile, there’s no one great thing you can do. There are lots. And it begins and ends with education.
Education
In our nation’s battle for education, this city once led the charge. I believe that we can do so again.
It was in Birmingham - in 1869 – that the Education League began.
And it was in Birmingham, under the 20 year-long leadership of George Dixon, that the Birmingham School Board became a model for educational authorities everywhere.
I believe we have the opportunity to set that standard again.
We know that if you want to promote economic mobility then you have to support and invest in families, children and workers at every stage of their lives – from early years, to school, post 16 and at work
Now, here in Birmingham, we have the chance to build a new ladder for the city’s citizens, backed by the government.
This year will come £54.5 million to develop children’s centres, early years and childcare provision.
This year will come £773 million - 3.5 percent up – for our schools. Money that guarantees every young city citizen at least £4,605 - 9 percent more than national average.
HEFCE funding for Birmingham’s universities has been provisionally set at £214 million for the coming academic year- a 4.1 per cent rise on this year.
And for those in work, over £101 million of Train to Gain funding has been invested in the region in the three years since its launch in 2006.
Together, even if we just take early years, schools, universities and work-place learning, Birmingham is now a £1 billion + education city
Yet, we don’t give all our kids a flying start in life. Our infant mortality rate is almost double the English average.
Our exam results are up; 2008 saw record results. But the proportion of Birmingham pupils getting five A*-Cs, including English and maths, is not only below the national average, we rank 91st out of the Britain’s 150 councils.
And 20 of our schools are below the National Challenge floor target of 30 per cent; our average point score per pupil at A-level at 722, is lower than the national average of 740.
None of Birmingham’s universities rank in the top 20 nationally.
Surely, with over £1 billion a year, we should set our sights on becoming Britain’s education capital, like we were once before.
We must reshape not only our city’s education system, but our system for educating the city.
Not education as a one off event that consumes the first quarter of life, but something that stays with us for all of life.
Once we built communities around the manor house. Then we built communities around the factory.
In the 21st century, communities should be built around the school.
In the next decade we have an extraordinary opportunity to do exactly that.
We have to find a way of taking down the fences that divide schools from the world around them and the communities on their doorsteps.
In the inner city, I often hear teachers say their schools are an oasis. That’s right, they are. But in the future they need to be the communities’ water supply.
Last year I held youth conferences in all the schools in my constituency to ask the young people I represent what they wanted to see in our community in the years to come.
We have an ambition in Hodge hill to create the best place in Birmingham to be a young person and I wanted young people to tell me what that looked like.
But when I asked them their top priority for new investment- you know what they said? ‘Learning a skill’ came top of their poll.
It tells us that we’re not yet connecting with young peoples’ ambition in the right way in our classrooms. Our new schools need to change that.
Now we are running a programme in our schools backed by the Templeton Foundation. Designed to help develop kids’ understanding, not only of what’s around them. But what’s inside them.
And our research tells us, some 80 percent of our youngsters want to go to university. Well above the national average. That tells us that the next generation of Birmingham’s citizens, the people who will lead this city into the mid part of the century, are up for it, they’re ambitious, they could do more.
Growth that is shared
So this is why I have always said that as city we need to be more ambitious.
Because I believe that we can lead the way in creating new industries and new jobs
And because I believe we have it within our power to open up those new opportunities to the untapped potential in every ward
But I don’t believe there is anyone here who wants to live in a city of soulless wealth. We want a city with a wealth of soul.
Which is why I say that with the new wealth we can build a new degree of unity in the community - where new growth is shared in a new way that helps make sure that no Birmingham citizen is left behind.
So yes, we must grow; yes, we must help people to get on and up. But so too must we use new wealth to create a richer community life.
I do not believe that wealth should all disappear into the pockets of the successful. I believe that we should seize the possibilities of the future, and share them.
Since I came into politics five years ago, I’ve been a passionate fighter for neighbourhood policing and a tougher fight against anti-social behaviour.
Everything I have seen in Hodge Hill tells me this; respect is the ground floor of renewal.
And I want to pay tribute this morning to the leadership of Sir Paul Scott-Lee, who here in this city oversaw a plunge in crime by 26.8 per cent over the last 5 years.
Now, we must go further.
With a new partnership between police, community prosecutors, and the criminal justice system – so that citizens can see justice done; can have a say in how punishment is delivered; can see that if you offend the community, you must payback to the community.
I’ve already said that in the future, unlike the past, our success won’t be defined by the stretch of the city’s frontiers.
We’ll be judged on the strength of the city’s fabric.
And if we want to use new success to strengthen the city fabric, we have to start with the city’s homes. Communities aren’t empty ideas. Communities are made of people and families.
And families need homes. Homes are the building blocks of a community that is stronger in the years to come.
And a century ago, we were leaders. We should be leaders again.
It was Birmingham, that helped invent the town-planning movement.
Pioneers like the Cadburys in Bournville, created model homes, separate gardens, wide roads.
The Melbourne Age in 1910 wrote that “Bournville is as important to England as a dreadnought.”
We should be pioneers again.
Between 2001 and 2008 around 23,000 new homes were built in the City. Nearly all of these in recent years have been on brownfield land.
Birmingham City Council have consulted on options to deliver between 50,000 and 65,000 new homes in the City by 2026.
But these houses will not meet the projected demand: 87,000 new households are projected to form in Birmingham by 2026.
So Birmingham needs to raise its ambition and set out how it will play its part in meeting Britain’s housing challenges, even given the pressures of the financial downturn.
CONCLUSION
So here are some first thoughts, about how we can once again aspire to be the best governed city in the world.
We once set the national standard. We should seek to do that again.
But, when you look at challenge after challenge, opportunity after opportunity, one theme stands.
No-one can do this alone. There is no lone gun, no single force that is master of this agenda and which will deliver it for the people of this city.
Only by acting in concert will we make progress. And here we must step up the pace.
If you will forgive me for saying so, five years as a community organiser in East Birmingham has taught me that we spend too long in the city talking about structures and too little talking about action.
We have to get the barriers to working together out the way.
So at the Treasury I will be championing the 'Total Place' strategy that will, in cities like Birmingham, knock down walls between you.
But, in parts of our city, like East Birmingham, we have to dramatically raise our game. Here in one place, across an urban area the size of Manchester, we have four of the most unemployed constituencies in the country.
For five years I feel I’ve been talking about the prospects of the East Birmingham corridor. Yet, progress is nothing like visible enough.
Let me tell you straight.
If we are not able to transform – I mean literally transform – the speed with which we deliver change in major parts of our city, home to hundreds of thousands of our residents, then we will be simply overtaken, outpaced and out-gunned by cities that are more agile.
So, I will be exploring the interest in a new East Birmingham alliance that brings together politicians, business, the not for profit sector and our public servants to challenge the speed of change.
On Friday, Liam Byrne, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, addressed the Be Birmingham Summit on the challenges caused by the global economic downturn at Longbridge Technology Innovation Centre.
Liam praised Birmingham's fightback against the global economic downturn and the swine flu pandemic, telling the audience: "You are showing off the best of Birmingham and you are showing nothing beats Birmingham."
But he challenged the Summit, saying that the city had to raise its ambitions, on jobs and economic growth, on social mobility, on education and on housing.And he warned that if real visible progress was not made in regenerating East Birmingham, the city would be "overtaken, outpaced and out-gunned by cities that are more agile."
Liam said that he would be exploring interest in "a new East Birmingham alliance, that brings together politicians, business, the not for profit sector and our public servants to challenge the speed of change."
On economic growth, Liam told the audience that Birmingham - like the rest of the country - is at a fork in the road. He urged the summit to reject the path where "the new wealth of the future is concentrated in the hands of the few", warning that it would create "a city of inequality".
Instead, Liam spoke of the need to take the path "to create an economy here in Birmingham with much more 'room at the top'" - a big new supply of better jobs with better wages"
"If we make the right investments today, we can win a large slice of the one billion skilled jobs that will be created in the two decades ahead. Skilled jobs. With better wages. With wider horizons.""This is the progressive opportunity and the progressive challenge for our city."
Liam told the summit that education was the key to ensuring that all of Birmingham's residents benefitted from the new jobs that the city could win. Adding up spending on early years, schools, universities and work-place learning, Liam told the summit: "Birmingham is now a £1 billion + education city"
"Surely, with over £1 billion a year, we should set our sights on becoming Britain's education capital, like we were once before."
Liam noted that while exam results are up, the proportion of Birmingham pupils getting five A*-Cs, including English and maths, is not only below the national average, it ranks 91st out of Britain's 150 councils.He also challenged the city's universities, pointing out that none of Birmingham's universities rank in the top 20 nationally. (The Times Good University Guide 2010 puts Aston at 25 and Birmingham at 22.)
On housing, Liam reminded the summit that a century ago, Birmingham was a leader in town planning. He cited the legacy of pioneers like the Cadburys in Bournville, created model homes, separate gardens, wide roads and said: "We should be pioneers again."Liam said that while Birmingham City Council have consulted on options to deliver between 50,000 and 65,000 new homes in the City by 2026, these will not meet projected demand, 87,000 new households are projected to form in Birmingham by 2026, and he challenged the city to raise its ambition to set out how it will play its part in meeting Britain's housing challenges, even given the pressures of the financial downturn.
Speech to Be Birmingham conference
Friday 26th June
It’s a giant privilege to speak to you this morning and I want to thank my friend Ian Austin for the invite to come along today
It’s a privilege because this is my first chance to make a speech in Birmingham, in my new job as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, almost exactly five years from the moment I threw my hat into the ring of the Hodge Hill by-election, and started my career in public life in the city.
If there is one reason I am in this job today, it is because of the things that so many of you have taught me, and inspired me with, and showed me how to do over the last 1,800 days – and for that I want to say an enormous and very personal thank you.
In your work today you are showing off the finest traditions of public life in this city;
In the way you are facing up to every force ranged against us; the force of this global economic storm; or the force of this global pandemic; you are showing off the best of Birmingham and you are showing nothing beats Birmingham.
That is why I say with confidence that we will ride out today’s rough seas.
And that is why what I would like to talk about this morning is my view of the future that lies beyond. Not based on my experience as a minister. Nor, what I’ve seen as an MP. But on my work as a community organiser, in my corner of East Birmingham.
I said that this week is a bit of an anniversary for me.
But this year is also an important anniversary for our city.
It was a hundred years ago this year that our city took the irrevocable steps to becoming Britain’s second city.
After years of debate in council, it was in 1909, that the government of the day concluded that Aston, Erdington, Handsworth, Kings Norton, Northfield and Yardley should come within the city limits.
To [triple] the size of the city.
To become three times the size of Glasgow and twice the size of Liverpool, Manchester or Belfast.
A century ago Greater Birmingham, which began as an idea, became an agenda for action. So bold, so ambitious that it inspired an American journalist to call our city the “best governed city in the world”.
So my question today is how does Greater Birmingham once again become the best governed city in the world? How do we win again the world’s attention?
Well, let me start by saying that I believe that what is good for Birmingham is good for Britain.
So let me answer the question about the future of our city with a view of what’s good for our country.
My view is simple. Look ahead and look at the world around us. Over the next 10-20 years the world economy will double in size. Vast new growth markets are opening up for our city, our country, our communities.
And if we make the right investments today, we can win a large slice of the one billion skilled jobs that will be created in the two decades ahead. Skilled jobs. With better wages. With wider horizons.
And if we make the right investments today we can open up those new jobs to anybody of any colour, any faith, any background if they are prepared to work hard.
With the wealth that we can create in the years ahead, this city can be renewed, distinguished not by the stretch of its frontiers – but by the strength of its fabric.
This is the progressive opportunity and the progressive challenge for our city.
For the truth is that we are, in this city, at a fork in the road.
One path takes us to a place where the new wealth of the future is concentrated in the hands of the few. That’s a city of inequality that would dwarf anything we’ve seen to date.
But a second path would see us create an economy here in Birmingham with much more “room at the top” – a big new supply of better jobs with better wages,
Where it is easier to get on in life, in your profession, in the pursuit of your ambitions, much as we saw in the revolution in social mobility after the Second World War.
And where we share some of the wealth we create – to enrich our city and community life. Where we are better able to look after each other. Where we are better able to guarantee that no citizen of the city is left behind.
I don’t want to live in a city- and I don’t want to raise my kids in a city- scarred by an irreducible division into “haves, have-nots and have yachts”.
I want a city of fair shots. Of fair chances. Where your background, your neighbourhood, or the cards you were dealt at birth does not determine how far you can rise.
I believe passionately that Birmingham can lead Britain in blazing this new trail.
Next week the Government will set out our vision of the Britain that emerges from the downturn – of new sources of growth, shared by all sections of society. There will be a renewed national purpose - with new propositions and programmes
How will Birmingham respond?
I have said before that part of our problem in our region is that too often we settle for too little; what I once called a malaise of modesty, rather that an attitude of ambition.
So, let me ask:
Why don’t we aspire again to be the best-governed city in the world?
And where would we start?
Growth
Perhaps you will forgive me, as a Treasury minister, for starting with the money.
When Lloyd George was prime minister in 1921 he said of this city:
“The Country, the Empire, the world owed the skill of the engineer to the industry and the resources of Birmingham a deep debt of gratitude.”
Nearly a hundred years later I believe we could soon hear the same words again.
For sure, we have to start by stopping this recession cutting our city deep or long.
That’s why I fought so hard to save LDV, and why I will go to every length to see production start once again on Drews Lane.
But fighting the recession is easier because it is backed by a government determined not to make again the mistakes of the 1980s and 1990s.
In five days time, Birmingham asks for its share of the Government’s £1 billion Future Jobs Fund.
You believe up to 5,000 new quality jobs can come.
Jobs that could bring in up to £100 million in extra wages each year.
Imagine the change that could bring.
And on top of that, over £100 million is now online for the city from the Working Neighbourhood Fund to drive still more jobs into constituencies like mine where unemployment remains unacceptably above the national average.
But beyond the downturn we have to look to the future.
So my call is for Birmingham to lead the way, not lag behind, in opening up the new industries which we know we need to grow our national wealth in the years to come. To rebalance our economy. To offer the jobs of the future; in digital; in Life Sciences; in low carbon.
Last week Lord Carter set out our plans for an active industrial policy to accelerate the digital revolution.
It offered a vision of new digital networks that could help propel our country to leadership in the creative industries of the digital age.
Well, let’s turn vision into reality here.
Already, our region is home to an ICT sector with some 41,000 people in 3,000 businesses turning over £4.4 billion.
The Digital Birmingham partnership is in place. Our Wi-Fi city centre network is in place.
Good foundations. But our ambitions must be, can be, to become Britain’s leading digital city.
Or take Life Sciences. The government has now created the Office of Life Sciences to accelerate the industry’s growth.
Well, let’s turn vision into reality here. Our MedTech cluster is home to more than 600 companies turning over £1.1 billion. AWM is backing projects all over the city and all over the region.
Good progress. Good foundations. But with the unique advantages we have, universities, world-beating hospitals – how do we become one of the world’s leading cities for life sciences?
Or take, low-carbon.
The global market for low carbon goods and services today stands at £3 trillion a year and is growing rapidly. Soon the government will set out its strategy for accelerating that market here.
Well, let’s turn vision into reality here in Birmingham.
Our region’s low carbon economy is already worth £8.4 billion. 4000 firms with over 74,000 staff.
And Advantage West Midlands are playing their part with £30 million to drive the shift to low carbon vehicles - and £15 million for research at the region's universities into hydrogen energy and energy efficiency.
But we must go further. We should set an ambition to become one of Britain’s first low-carbon cities.
So, in the industries of tomorrow it is already clear that we can win.
But only if our council, our universities, our hospitals, our regional agencies, our public, private and not for profit sectors pull together. That is the challenge for you.
Social mobility
But, to reach this goal of creating new industries and new jobs, another challenge awaits.
We cannot, must not, will not live in a city that creates new wealth that is locked up or locked away from all its citizens.
Generations have come to this city to make their fortunes. Men like my great grandfather who fled Communist Russia and came to this city make furnaces for Pilkington – because he heard ‘you can make anything in Birmingham’.
It is the hard work of those generations who turned aspiration into success, who helped create the city of today. So how do we salute their efforts tomorrow?
Surely by aiming, here in this city, to become the most socially mobile city in Britain.
Where, if you want to work hard, you can get on.
Where poverty is not a roadblock to aspiration and where aspiration is a fast track out of poverty.
But if we want a metropolis that’s mobile, there’s no one great thing you can do. There are lots. And it begins and ends with education.
Education
In our nation’s battle for education, this city once led the charge. I believe that we can do so again.
It was in Birmingham - in 1869 – that the Education League began.
And it was in Birmingham, under the 20 year-long leadership of George Dixon, that the Birmingham School Board became a model for educational authorities everywhere.
I believe we have the opportunity to set that standard again.
We know that if you want to promote economic mobility then you have to support and invest in families, children and workers at every stage of their lives – from early years, to school, post 16 and at work
Now, here in Birmingham, we have the chance to build a new ladder for the city’s citizens, backed by the government.
This year will come £54.5 million to develop children’s centres, early years and childcare provision.
This year will come £773 million - 3.5 percent up – for our schools. Money that guarantees every young city citizen at least £4,605 - 9 percent more than national average.
HEFCE funding for Birmingham’s universities has been provisionally set at £214 million for the coming academic year- a 4.1 per cent rise on this year.
And for those in work, over £101 million of Train to Gain funding has been invested in the region in the three years since its launch in 2006.
Together, even if we just take early years, schools, universities and work-place learning, Birmingham is now a £1 billion + education city
Yet, we don’t give all our kids a flying start in life. Our infant mortality rate is almost double the English average.
Our exam results are up; 2008 saw record results. But the proportion of Birmingham pupils getting five A*-Cs, including English and maths, is not only below the national average, we rank 91st out of the Britain’s 150 councils.
And 20 of our schools are below the National Challenge floor target of 30 per cent; our average point score per pupil at A-level at 722, is lower than the national average of 740.
None of Birmingham’s universities rank in the top 20 nationally.
Surely, with over £1 billion a year, we should set our sights on becoming Britain’s education capital, like we were once before.
We must reshape not only our city’s education system, but our system for educating the city.
Not education as a one off event that consumes the first quarter of life, but something that stays with us for all of life.
Once we built communities around the manor house. Then we built communities around the factory.
In the 21st century, communities should be built around the school.
In the next decade we have an extraordinary opportunity to do exactly that.
We have to find a way of taking down the fences that divide schools from the world around them and the communities on their doorsteps.
In the inner city, I often hear teachers say their schools are an oasis. That’s right, they are. But in the future they need to be the communities’ water supply.
Last year I held youth conferences in all the schools in my constituency to ask the young people I represent what they wanted to see in our community in the years to come.
We have an ambition in Hodge hill to create the best place in Birmingham to be a young person and I wanted young people to tell me what that looked like.
But when I asked them their top priority for new investment- you know what they said? ‘Learning a skill’ came top of their poll.
It tells us that we’re not yet connecting with young peoples’ ambition in the right way in our classrooms. Our new schools need to change that.
Now we are running a programme in our schools backed by the Templeton Foundation. Designed to help develop kids’ understanding, not only of what’s around them. But what’s inside them.
And our research tells us, some 80 percent of our youngsters want to go to university. Well above the national average. That tells us that the next generation of Birmingham’s citizens, the people who will lead this city into the mid part of the century, are up for it, they’re ambitious, they could do more.
Growth that is shared
So this is why I have always said that as city we need to be more ambitious.
Because I believe that we can lead the way in creating new industries and new jobs
And because I believe we have it within our power to open up those new opportunities to the untapped potential in every ward
But I don’t believe there is anyone here who wants to live in a city of soulless wealth. We want a city with a wealth of soul.
Which is why I say that with the new wealth we can build a new degree of unity in the community - where new growth is shared in a new way that helps make sure that no Birmingham citizen is left behind.
So yes, we must grow; yes, we must help people to get on and up. But so too must we use new wealth to create a richer community life.
I do not believe that wealth should all disappear into the pockets of the successful. I believe that we should seize the possibilities of the future, and share them.
Since I came into politics five years ago, I’ve been a passionate fighter for neighbourhood policing and a tougher fight against anti-social behaviour.
Everything I have seen in Hodge Hill tells me this; respect is the ground floor of renewal.
And I want to pay tribute this morning to the leadership of Sir Paul Scott-Lee, who here in this city oversaw a plunge in crime by 26.8 per cent over the last 5 years.
Now, we must go further.
With a new partnership between police, community prosecutors, and the criminal justice system – so that citizens can see justice done; can have a say in how punishment is delivered; can see that if you offend the community, you must payback to the community.
I’ve already said that in the future, unlike the past, our success won’t be defined by the stretch of the city’s frontiers.
We’ll be judged on the strength of the city’s fabric.
And if we want to use new success to strengthen the city fabric, we have to start with the city’s homes. Communities aren’t empty ideas. Communities are made of people and families.
And families need homes. Homes are the building blocks of a community that is stronger in the years to come.
And a century ago, we were leaders. We should be leaders again.
It was Birmingham, that helped invent the town-planning movement.
Pioneers like the Cadburys in Bournville, created model homes, separate gardens, wide roads.
The Melbourne Age in 1910 wrote that “Bournville is as important to England as a dreadnought.”
We should be pioneers again.
Between 2001 and 2008 around 23,000 new homes were built in the City. Nearly all of these in recent years have been on brownfield land.
Birmingham City Council have consulted on options to deliver between 50,000 and 65,000 new homes in the City by 2026.
But these houses will not meet the projected demand: 87,000 new households are projected to form in Birmingham by 2026.
So Birmingham needs to raise its ambition and set out how it will play its part in meeting Britain’s housing challenges, even given the pressures of the financial downturn.
CONCLUSION
So here are some first thoughts, about how we can once again aspire to be the best governed city in the world.
We once set the national standard. We should seek to do that again.
But, when you look at challenge after challenge, opportunity after opportunity, one theme stands.
No-one can do this alone. There is no lone gun, no single force that is master of this agenda and which will deliver it for the people of this city.
Only by acting in concert will we make progress. And here we must step up the pace.
If you will forgive me for saying so, five years as a community organiser in East Birmingham has taught me that we spend too long in the city talking about structures and too little talking about action.
We have to get the barriers to working together out the way.
So at the Treasury I will be championing the 'Total Place' strategy that will, in cities like Birmingham, knock down walls between you.
But, in parts of our city, like East Birmingham, we have to dramatically raise our game. Here in one place, across an urban area the size of Manchester, we have four of the most unemployed constituencies in the country.
For five years I feel I’ve been talking about the prospects of the East Birmingham corridor. Yet, progress is nothing like visible enough.
Let me tell you straight.
If we are not able to transform – I mean literally transform – the speed with which we deliver change in major parts of our city, home to hundreds of thousands of our residents, then we will be simply overtaken, outpaced and out-gunned by cities that are more agile.
So, I will be exploring the interest in a new East Birmingham alliance that brings together politicians, business, the not for profit sector and our public servants to challenge the speed of change.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Christmas came early to Coleshill
6 months early in June as Coleshill Town Band recorded it’s first Christmas CD!
Everyone had barely finished putting Christmas decorations away and finished off the turkey sandwiches and turkey curries before the Christmas music folders were dusted off and preparations begun for a summer Christmas! For three months in spring/early summer the seasonal sounds of Christmas echoed from the band room and the homes of band members, confusing friends and family. But Coleshill Town Band was preparing for its long awaited Christmas CD recording, something supporters and listeners of the band have been wanting for a number of years.
The actual recording weekend begun on Thursday as the band assembled for it’s final full rehearsal, adding the finishing touches – the extra sparkle and glitter, as the usual Friday rehearsal was scheduled to be a ‘setting up’ session.Early on Friday evening band members helped transport and set up equipment in our recording location – St Edwards RC School. With this done there was the opportunity to play and adjust to the acoustics of the school hall, running through a couple of carols and pieces.
Towards the end of our rehearsal session our friends, Keith, Rob and Rick, from KMJ arrived. After the welcomes, KMJ emptied their van and begun the setting up process with band members leaving for an early night or an early drink!Day one begun early (very early) for KMJ as they completed the laying of cables and setting up of microphones. Band members arrived in good time ready for the first session but DISASTER… We were then informed that the school had booked for a tree right outside the hall to be chopped down!
We were asked ‘would the noise cause us a problem?’ Well, not if we were playing ‘the Woodchoppers Ball’ or ‘the Lumberjack Song’. This was a major frustration for everyone as our start time of 10.00am came and went. At 11.00am not a note had been recorded but at least the tree was down. Now it only had to be chopped up – argghhh!
After many cups of tea to sooth the nerves, the chainsaw and tree shredder had gone and work could begin. Sound checks were completed and the first piece, a carol, could be recorded. The late start to the day now meant we had time to make up and so we had to work hard. A sensible schedule, lots of help and encouragement from KMJ and a fantastic approach to the task by the band meant that by 5.00pm on day one we had seven pieces (Christmas Festival, Jingle Bells, Lullaby, Mary’s Boy Child, Merry Christmas Everybody, Schneewalzer, When A Child Is Born) and a carol recorded. Good work!The decision to start day two (a Sunday – father’s day) early at 9.00am was well accepted by band members and everyone was ready to start without interruptions from chainsaws etc. We had six more pieces plus a couple of carols to record so the hard work begun.
Highlights of day two were the recording of Claire’s solo (In The Bleak Midwinter), a beautiful performance that will be a fantastic track on the CD and also the first ever recording of Rob Collinson’s Christmas March Medley. The band had enjoyed rehearsing this new piece and wanted to put on a good show with Rob in the other room listening through his headphones.
At lunch on day two excellent progress had been made with just two pieces and a carol left to be recorded. The lunch break provided the chance for a photo call with band members donning Santa hats for a number of photos taken by Tina and Rob. After lunch the band knuckled down for the final session and by 3.00pm everything was done and, after the late start the previous day, who would have thought we would finish ahead of schedule! All that was left now was for band members to put down and then transport the equipment back to the band room and for KMJ to disassemble their rig. With this done, tired band members headed home for what was left of the weekend and our friends from KMJ headed home to begin the next step of the CD production process.
Coleshill Town Band, as always, were fantastic. A tiring but thoroughly enjoyable weekend has resulted with the band having its first Christmas CD recorded – an ideal Christmas present.
Visit the band's website to find out more:
HOSPICE CHECKS OUT WITH STORE CUSTOMERS AND STAFF
A Birmingham Hospice has come up with a shopping list for a Castle Vale Store.
Customers and staff of Sainsbury’s Castle Vale store have chosen the nearby John Taylor Hospice as their preferred charity for the next 12 months. This is part of the celebrations of the 140th year of the foundation of the Company.
The first of many joint activities starts this week.
Staff at the store will support the Hospice by giving their time to the charity through volunteer work - and by organising various fundraising activities throughout the year.
Ray Woods, the Marketing and Fundraising Officer for the League of Friends of the Hospice said,
“We plan to work with Sainsburys Castle Vale to:
- Raise awareness of how the Hospice can help local families
- Increase the number of volunteers both at the Hospice itself and also helping with fund-raising. We are currently holding taster days for those interested in helping to support the bereaved
- Encourage people to join our lottery not only to support our Hospice but also Birmingham St Mary's Hospice, Acorns Birmingham Children's Hospice and Birmingham Focus on Blindness - 4 local charities.
- Last but not least - to work with and help the staff of Sainsburys Castle Vale to have fun helping the Hospice.
Funds raised will go towards building refurbishment, holistic therapies and one-off grants to help patients and their families by giving them the help that they need.
The Hospice was chosen by the employees of the store following nominations from their customers
Staff member Sheila Hyland who was involved in the selection process, said,
“The John Taylor Hospice really stood out as a local charity that we could really help - both by volunteering and by fundraising.
It’s great to be supporting a local charity that helps local people not only on Castle Vale, but across the whole of north Birmingham and also Sutton Coldfield and Great Barr.
Sharon Neal Sainsburys’ Store Manager added,
”Although the Company was founded 140 years ago, this is a first for us at Castle Vale and we are really pleased and excited to support the Hospice.
The hard work starts now, but I can definitely see our store building a strong relationship with the staff and volunteers at the Hospice.
In-store collections are starting this week and customers will be invited to join in and support planned fundraising activities.
The John Taylor Hospice helps patients with life threatening illnesses and their families. It has a day hospice, an inpatient unit and community based nursing and bereavement support teams. Care for families encompasses the children of those families and that support has no time limit.
To contact the League of Friends of the Hospice, go to http://www.johntaylorhospicelof.org.uk/ or Freephone: 0800 781 1898.
Customers and staff of Sainsbury’s Castle Vale store have chosen the nearby John Taylor Hospice as their preferred charity for the next 12 months. This is part of the celebrations of the 140th year of the foundation of the Company.
The first of many joint activities starts this week.
Staff at the store will support the Hospice by giving their time to the charity through volunteer work - and by organising various fundraising activities throughout the year.
Ray Woods, the Marketing and Fundraising Officer for the League of Friends of the Hospice said,
“We plan to work with Sainsburys Castle Vale to:
- Raise awareness of how the Hospice can help local families
- Increase the number of volunteers both at the Hospice itself and also helping with fund-raising. We are currently holding taster days for those interested in helping to support the bereaved
- Encourage people to join our lottery not only to support our Hospice but also Birmingham St Mary's Hospice, Acorns Birmingham Children's Hospice and Birmingham Focus on Blindness - 4 local charities.
- Last but not least - to work with and help the staff of Sainsburys Castle Vale to have fun helping the Hospice.
Funds raised will go towards building refurbishment, holistic therapies and one-off grants to help patients and their families by giving them the help that they need.
The Hospice was chosen by the employees of the store following nominations from their customers
Staff member Sheila Hyland who was involved in the selection process, said,
“The John Taylor Hospice really stood out as a local charity that we could really help - both by volunteering and by fundraising.
It’s great to be supporting a local charity that helps local people not only on Castle Vale, but across the whole of north Birmingham and also Sutton Coldfield and Great Barr.
Sharon Neal Sainsburys’ Store Manager added,
”Although the Company was founded 140 years ago, this is a first for us at Castle Vale and we are really pleased and excited to support the Hospice.
The hard work starts now, but I can definitely see our store building a strong relationship with the staff and volunteers at the Hospice.
In-store collections are starting this week and customers will be invited to join in and support planned fundraising activities.
The John Taylor Hospice helps patients with life threatening illnesses and their families. It has a day hospice, an inpatient unit and community based nursing and bereavement support teams. Care for families encompasses the children of those families and that support has no time limit.
To contact the League of Friends of the Hospice, go to http://www.johntaylorhospicelof.org.uk/ or Freephone: 0800 781 1898.
First U.K. show of Sumera Jawad from Lahore,Pakistan @ Chameleon Gallery
This is quite an exciting show, part of a 3 part localised tour, Sumera's images are quietly subversive and strong with the female form being shown as almost goddesss like, the colour red remaining dominant suggesting the homage to the sufi culture.
'Carpe Diem' is at the gallery from 10th-17th July daily from 11a.m.-7p.m.
Opening night view on the 10th July 6p.m.-8p.m. All welcome.
Alan Cheeseman
Chameleon Arts Ltd.
Chameleon Gallery,
23-25 Sandwell Street,
Walsall, WS1 3DR
01922 646724
Carl Chinn to Give Charity Talk on Local History
Local historian and broadcaster Carl Chinn is holding one of his special evenings for local people at St Mary's Church in Pype Hayes.This is being held on Thursday 9th July at 7.30pm.
This will feature an evening of local history and is part a a year of celebrations of the 80th anniversary of St Mary's Church.
The proceeds of all events during the year are being donated to 'Mercy Air' South Africa, a charity that provides a safe, professional and cost effective aviation service to the wider humanitarian aid and mission community in southern Africa.
The goal of Mercy Air is to provide lasting aid to victims of natural and human disasters in the southern African region in a swift and un-bureaucratic manner.
For more details, go to http://www.mercyair.org/ or email office@mercyair.org.
Tickets for Carl Chinn evening cost £5 per ticket and this includes refreshments.
Anyone interested can contact Thelma Sharpe of St Mary's Church on 0121 373 4370 after 6pm.
International Food Fair hits the spot
The first ever Birmingham International Food Fair drew to a close last night with Council leader Mike Whitby labelling the event ‘a huge success’. And, with around 250,000 visitors enjoying the inaugural event, Cllr Whitby is confident the fair will go from strength over the next few years. Running over nine days (June 20- 28) the fair featured over 60 stalls, located in Victoria Square and New Street, showcasing dishes and flavours from a wide range of countries, including France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Australia and the Far East. The best of British food and drink was also represented with traditional produce and locally brewed drinks.
Cllr Whitby said: “The summer fair has been a big success – one that we’ll look to build on over the next few years. “The visitor figures show a definite appetite for a summer sister to our now world famous Frankfurt Christmas Market and that event has grown from 200,000 visitors in 2001 to a massive 2.8million last year.
“Visitors to the International Food Fair have been able to enjoy cuisine from around the world and the best of British and I’m delighted to say it’s been a huge success.
“And, with Birmingham playing host to the 2009 Rotary International Convention last week, the event perfectly showcased our multicultural city to visitors from across the globe, enhancing Birmingham’s reputation as a destination city.”
The International Food Fair was staged in partnership European market specialists Geraud UK and Birmingham market event and equipment specialists Event Men.
Francois Mauraisin of Geraud UK said: “This has been a fantastic event and the traders have been made to feel very welcome. The success shows there is definitely an appetite for the International Food Fair in Birmingham and I expect it will be even bigger next year.”
Cllr Whitby said: “The summer fair has been a big success – one that we’ll look to build on over the next few years. “The visitor figures show a definite appetite for a summer sister to our now world famous Frankfurt Christmas Market and that event has grown from 200,000 visitors in 2001 to a massive 2.8million last year.
“Visitors to the International Food Fair have been able to enjoy cuisine from around the world and the best of British and I’m delighted to say it’s been a huge success.
“And, with Birmingham playing host to the 2009 Rotary International Convention last week, the event perfectly showcased our multicultural city to visitors from across the globe, enhancing Birmingham’s reputation as a destination city.”
The International Food Fair was staged in partnership European market specialists Geraud UK and Birmingham market event and equipment specialists Event Men.
Francois Mauraisin of Geraud UK said: “This has been a fantastic event and the traders have been made to feel very welcome. The success shows there is definitely an appetite for the International Food Fair in Birmingham and I expect it will be even bigger next year.”
Simon Widdowson of Event Men added: “By combining British cuisine with tastes from around the world, this event had something for everyone and the people of Birmingham responded to make it a big, big success.”
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to host event in Birmingham
The Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office has announced it is to host an exclusive event in Birmingham to encourage nominations from across the area for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the National Honour for outstanding volunteer groups equivalent to the MBE.
The event will take place on 30th June at the Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, Birmingham B16 8SZ at 10.30am. It is one of 15 in a UK-wide programme offering eligible groups and all those from their communities able to make a nomination the chance to learn more about this prestigious Award.
It will be hosted by the Queen’s representative in the West Midlands, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant David Burbidge OBE DL, and a previous winner from the local area will talk about their own experiences and what winning the Award has meant for their group.
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said,
“The voluntary sector is a vital part of community life whose efforts often go unrecognised. We want to share with groups all over the country how the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service can prove an important way of bringing recognition to those often hidden groups who have dedicated themselves, in some cases over many years, to improving local people's lives.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, and is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of individuals who give their time freely for the benefit of others in the local community.
750 groups around the UK have won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service since 2002, 58 of which have been awarded to groups in the West Midlands.
For further information on the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, or to download a nomination form, visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk.
The event will take place on 30th June at the Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, Birmingham B16 8SZ at 10.30am. It is one of 15 in a UK-wide programme offering eligible groups and all those from their communities able to make a nomination the chance to learn more about this prestigious Award.
It will be hosted by the Queen’s representative in the West Midlands, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant David Burbidge OBE DL, and a previous winner from the local area will talk about their own experiences and what winning the Award has meant for their group.
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said,
“The voluntary sector is a vital part of community life whose efforts often go unrecognised. We want to share with groups all over the country how the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service can prove an important way of bringing recognition to those often hidden groups who have dedicated themselves, in some cases over many years, to improving local people's lives.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, and is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon groups of individuals who give their time freely for the benefit of others in the local community.
750 groups around the UK have won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service since 2002, 58 of which have been awarded to groups in the West Midlands.
For further information on the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, or to download a nomination form, visit www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk.
BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS SET TO ROCK WITH THE ALL STAR JAM SESSION
Birmingham Botanical Gardens will come alive on Thursday 9th July 2009 at 7.00pm as it hosts the
ALL STAR JAM SESSION. This main feature of the 25th Birmingham International Jazz Festival will see an amazing array of the top British jazz talent on stage together for the first time in years.
The show-stopping line-up features Digby Fairweather, Festival Patron, who will be leading the show on trumpet, alongside Enrico Tomasso trumpet, Robert Fowler and Art Themen, tenor saxophones Mark Nightingale and Ian Bateman, trombones, Jim Hart, vibes, David Newton, piano, Dave Green, double bass, Ralph Salmins, drums and Val Wiseman, vocals. Between them, they have clocked up appearances alongside the biggest names in the music business from Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Humphrey Lyttelton, and the Count Basie Orchestra to Van Morrison, Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Diana Ross and Bob Dylan.
Organised by Big Bear Music, the Birmingham International Jazz Festival will bring a real buzz to Birmingham from 3rd-12th July with 180 jazz festival performances in 70 venues across the City with 90% free to the public, then Birmingham is the place to be this summer for lovers of jazz. Europe’s biggest free jazz party will take place in shopping centres, arcades, bars, museums, hotels, café’s, on the streets, even on canal boats.
Tickets for All Star Jam Session are available at £10 For information and to book - contact 0121 454 7020 or 0121 454 1860.
ALL STAR JAM SESSION. This main feature of the 25th Birmingham International Jazz Festival will see an amazing array of the top British jazz talent on stage together for the first time in years.
The show-stopping line-up features Digby Fairweather, Festival Patron, who will be leading the show on trumpet, alongside Enrico Tomasso trumpet, Robert Fowler and Art Themen, tenor saxophones Mark Nightingale and Ian Bateman, trombones, Jim Hart, vibes, David Newton, piano, Dave Green, double bass, Ralph Salmins, drums and Val Wiseman, vocals. Between them, they have clocked up appearances alongside the biggest names in the music business from Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Humphrey Lyttelton, and the Count Basie Orchestra to Van Morrison, Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Diana Ross and Bob Dylan.
Organised by Big Bear Music, the Birmingham International Jazz Festival will bring a real buzz to Birmingham from 3rd-12th July with 180 jazz festival performances in 70 venues across the City with 90% free to the public, then Birmingham is the place to be this summer for lovers of jazz. Europe’s biggest free jazz party will take place in shopping centres, arcades, bars, museums, hotels, café’s, on the streets, even on canal boats.
Tickets for All Star Jam Session are available at £10 For information and to book - contact 0121 454 7020 or 0121 454 1860.
All on board a new bus service at Wellington Heath
Villagers in Wellington Health are hopping on board a newly-introduced bus service which they have fought for with the help of Herefordshire Council.
Locals in the village, situated near Ledbury, rallied round and contacted the council when they wanted a replacement for a poorly-used service which picked up in the village just twice a week.
“It’s great news,” said Patrick Adams, chairman of Wellington Heath parish council.
“We’ve now got a much-improved two-hourly service running six days a week which began on Saturday, June 27,” added Patrick.
And there’s even more good news for villagers as the bus service, provided by Malvernian Coaches, has agreed to divert one service per day to collect from the Farmers Arms pub in the village, which will enable older people and those with mobility problems to catch the bus without having to negotiate a difficult climb up a steep hill to catch the bus on its regular route.
Herefordshire Council is working with its contractor, Amey, to install six bus stops around the village at locations chosen by residents.
“For many of our rural villages, a regular bus service to and from the village is a lifeline,” said Herefordshire Council’s public transport officer Paul Williamson.
“We’re delighted that Malvernian Coaches has come on board with the scheme and we hope villagers make best use of the new service which gives them quick and easy access into Ledbury and other parts of the county,” added Paul.
Local CHARITY car wash turns into a bigGER funDRAISER
A local funeral home organising a car wash on 4 July to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), is seeing its event getting bigger and better.
Staff from Midlands Co-op Funeral Service in Pershore Road, Stirchley, will use buckets of goodwill to turn foam into charity money and, thanks to the huge support from local businesses, they can now hold a terrific raffle alongside other staff fundraising initiatives.
The many raffle prizes available will include a family season pass for the Nature Centre in Canon Hill Park, a family pass for Dudley zoo and Twycross zoo, six passes for Hall Green dog racing, a family pass for Cadbury World, two adult and two child hand printed t-shirts from a new shop Printigo, a bottle of champagne, wine and spirits and toys.
Staff will also compete in a sunflower growing competition for a donation and the winner of the tallest will win a prize.
Funeral Administrator and charity champion, Shirley McDonald said: “Support from local businesses has been tremendous; we really thank them for their generosity. We now hope to make this event a fun day raising much needed funds for the BHF’s services. Some of us are dressing in ‘70s costumes and local professional piper, Andy King, has kindly offered to play the bagpipes when we open. We are doing everything we can to raise money for the BHF and appeal to people who would normally not visit us. We almost made £100 among staff already, by selling a homemade cake from an old Scottish fruit loaf recipe and eggs kindly offered by our local barn. Everyone is invited to come along and take part in our raffle and car wash.”
The fun day will be held on Saturday 4 July from 10am to 3pm. Raffle tickets are £1 each. All proceeds will be donated to the BHF.
Other unanswered Spaghetti questions
Just like the elephant, we never forget a readers' conundrum or request for information here at Spaghetti Gazetti Towers. Just a reminder of past queries, we're still trying to locate a statue of three characters seen on a West Midlands building about 40 years ago, one of which was a boxer in Queensbury rules stance.
Another reader requests information about the hippo sculpture in Walsall and somebody else asked if anyone knows the history of an old gatehouse building in the vicinity of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We also heard from a relative of Rusty Lee in Australia who was trying to make contact with the UK's first tv chef. I haven't heard from that lady for a while but did hear recently that Rustie had stood as a candidate in local elections recently, so she shouldn't be too hard to track down.
Another reader requests information about the hippo sculpture in Walsall and somebody else asked if anyone knows the history of an old gatehouse building in the vicinity of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. We also heard from a relative of Rusty Lee in Australia who was trying to make contact with the UK's first tv chef. I haven't heard from that lady for a while but did hear recently that Rustie had stood as a candidate in local elections recently, so she shouldn't be too hard to track down.
The tale of the Coleshill elephant
Some months ago I posted up the briefest local news story about the discovery of elephant bones by builders in Coleshill. Just to prove that Spaghetti Gazetti readers never forget a good elephant tale (or indeed 'tail'), here is an update from Linda Blackburn:
"Hi. We were up at the car park in COLESHILL and the workmen reminded me of what my granddad told me or my dad. They were COLESHILL people. Apparently there was a circus in town and the elephant died. This was in 1910 and they buried it in the Sons of Rest allotments so the story goes. This is by the car park opposite the cricket field and behind the houses that were built at the back end of Summerfield. This would be Parkfield Road area. Can you shed any light on it?
Regards
Linda "
Editor:
Thank you for this email Linda. You have actually shed more light on the subject than I have been able to so far. This is going to have to become a feature for the Coleshill Gazette I feel. Watch this space as they say.
Has anyone got any other local elephant tales? I think I have already related the one I heard from a West Bromwich resident who said that when the circus came to town many years ago the elephants refused to cross a road over the canal at, this is from memory, either Tipton or Great Bridge so had to be taken around a different route to West Bromwich which involved a three or four mile detour. Amazing creatures.
Or what about the elephant on the Coventry coat of arms. What's the story behind that? Just heraldic symbolism like the Warwickshire bear, or a connection with real hefelumps? All jumbo stories and assorted trunk calls welcome.
BE A ‘FRIEND’ TO SOMEONE AFFECTED BY AUTISM in Birmingham
Training in Solihull in July 2009
The National Autistic Society (NAS) in Birmingham, is offering training on July 4th and July 11th in Solihull to people from all walks of life to share their interests with a local adult, child or family affected by autism by becoming a volunteer befriender.
Volunteers do not need to know much about autism, rather they need to be people who are open-minded and willing to learn. Could you spare a couple of hours a week to help someone in need of a friend in your community? A small amount of time can make a huge difference.
The NAS Befriending Scheme in Birmingham is supported by Legal & General.
Children and adults with autism often have problems making sense of and coping with the world around them. They have difficulty developing friendships or understanding other people’s feelings. Many lead lonely lives. Whether you enjoy sport or TV, computers or cinema, going out for coffee, shopping or staying in playing board-games, YOUR time could make a real difference.
Jennifer Williams lives in Halesowen and has been befriending for a few months. She said: I started befriending as I am a third year ‘Learning Disability’ student and I have always been very interested in autism. Being a befriender is better than I ever imagined it could be. I befriend Ellie who is eleven years old. I usually see her for a couple of hours once a week. We go bowling and on day trips. We sometimes go out for some food or to the park. Some of the time we just spend in her room playing games. I have made a real friend in her and I really feel like one of the family now.”
Nicola is from Northfield and is Ellie’s mum. She said: “I am a member of the National Autistic Society and was thrilled to hear about the Befriending Scheme. At the time I was going through a divorce and finding it quite hard to cope with the demands of being a mum to an adolescent with autism as well as my other son, too. I do not have any family nearby so was struggling to get any support. Luckily Ellie and Jen bonded almost instantly and they have been enjoying themselves, going on outings and spending time together. It has been great. It gives me the opportunity to spend time with son and to have a bit of a breathing space once a week. The NAS Befriending Scheme has been a lifeline for me – it has been wonderful. Jen has become a family friend with myself and my son, too.”
NAS Regional Officer Ruth Howard, says: "Autism is a lifelong disability that affects one in a hundred people. The aim of the NAS Befriending Scheme is to provide voluntary support to individuals with autism and their families. The scheme is going from strength to strength, but still needs more volunteers to meet the needs of families. Befrienders receive training in autism and are supported all along the way. Befrienders can make such a difference to the life of an individual with autism and their family. Are you able to ‘be a friend’ to someone with the disability?"
Sarah Caines, Senior Communications Executive at Legal & General’s general insurance business, said: “We are extremely proud to be associated with such a worthwhile scheme that makes such a difference in our local community.”
NAS Volunteer befriending training will take place on 4th and 11th July between 10-4pm at Solihull Methodist Church. There will To find out more about volunteering as a befriender, please contact Sharlene Davis on 079175 17375 or email sharlene.davis@nas.org.uk.
The National Autistic Society (NAS) in Birmingham, is offering training on July 4th and July 11th in Solihull to people from all walks of life to share their interests with a local adult, child or family affected by autism by becoming a volunteer befriender.
Volunteers do not need to know much about autism, rather they need to be people who are open-minded and willing to learn. Could you spare a couple of hours a week to help someone in need of a friend in your community? A small amount of time can make a huge difference.
The NAS Befriending Scheme in Birmingham is supported by Legal & General.
Children and adults with autism often have problems making sense of and coping with the world around them. They have difficulty developing friendships or understanding other people’s feelings. Many lead lonely lives. Whether you enjoy sport or TV, computers or cinema, going out for coffee, shopping or staying in playing board-games, YOUR time could make a real difference.
Jennifer Williams lives in Halesowen and has been befriending for a few months. She said: I started befriending as I am a third year ‘Learning Disability’ student and I have always been very interested in autism. Being a befriender is better than I ever imagined it could be. I befriend Ellie who is eleven years old. I usually see her for a couple of hours once a week. We go bowling and on day trips. We sometimes go out for some food or to the park. Some of the time we just spend in her room playing games. I have made a real friend in her and I really feel like one of the family now.”
Nicola is from Northfield and is Ellie’s mum. She said: “I am a member of the National Autistic Society and was thrilled to hear about the Befriending Scheme. At the time I was going through a divorce and finding it quite hard to cope with the demands of being a mum to an adolescent with autism as well as my other son, too. I do not have any family nearby so was struggling to get any support. Luckily Ellie and Jen bonded almost instantly and they have been enjoying themselves, going on outings and spending time together. It has been great. It gives me the opportunity to spend time with son and to have a bit of a breathing space once a week. The NAS Befriending Scheme has been a lifeline for me – it has been wonderful. Jen has become a family friend with myself and my son, too.”
NAS Regional Officer Ruth Howard, says: "Autism is a lifelong disability that affects one in a hundred people. The aim of the NAS Befriending Scheme is to provide voluntary support to individuals with autism and their families. The scheme is going from strength to strength, but still needs more volunteers to meet the needs of families. Befrienders receive training in autism and are supported all along the way. Befrienders can make such a difference to the life of an individual with autism and their family. Are you able to ‘be a friend’ to someone with the disability?"
Sarah Caines, Senior Communications Executive at Legal & General’s general insurance business, said: “We are extremely proud to be associated with such a worthwhile scheme that makes such a difference in our local community.”
NAS Volunteer befriending training will take place on 4th and 11th July between 10-4pm at Solihull Methodist Church. There will To find out more about volunteering as a befriender, please contact Sharlene Davis on 079175 17375 or email sharlene.davis@nas.org.uk.
Back-Up before you lose it!
It’s been almost 2 years since I wrote an article on backing up your computers. Several phone calls over the last week involving clients who have lost their data has prompted me to do an update and remind you all to backup your personal files in case the inevitable should happen.
There are many ways you can unintentionally lose information on a computer; children, a virus, a power surge, lightning, floods and hard drive failure. Modern hard drives have an average lifespan of only 3-5 years but can fail at any time!
If you regularly make backup copies of your photos and files and keep them in a separate place, you can reduce the risks.
Deciding what to back up is highly personal. Anything you cannot replace easily should be at the top of your list. For example:
· Digital photos
· Music files
· Office documents and personal projects
· Your e-mail address book
· Your bookmarks or favourites
There are many options available to you when it comes to backing up but remember to test your backup to make sure it works:
1. Copy your data to a CD/DVD or memory stick. But remember that these media types degrade over time. The average life of these types of media is about 10 years.
2. Copy data to an external hard drive. These can be purchased from as little as £40.
3. Use an online backup service. I would recommend www.carbonite.com. You simply pay an annual fee (around £30) and install the software. You designate which files are to be backed up and the software does the rest for you. I would suggest only using this method if you are on broadband.
5. A sneaky option for a few important files is to email them to your web mail account (e.g. Yahoo / Hotmail / Gmail) and store them in a folder for safe keeping.
Too many people do not think about backing up their family photos until it is too late and they are lost. If the worst happens there are companies out there that specialise in extracting data from broken hard drives. The cost incurred can enter into a four figure sum but in the worst case the data may not be recoverable!
Written by Caroline The ‘PuterTutor
There are many ways you can unintentionally lose information on a computer; children, a virus, a power surge, lightning, floods and hard drive failure. Modern hard drives have an average lifespan of only 3-5 years but can fail at any time!
If you regularly make backup copies of your photos and files and keep them in a separate place, you can reduce the risks.
Deciding what to back up is highly personal. Anything you cannot replace easily should be at the top of your list. For example:
· Digital photos
· Music files
· Office documents and personal projects
· Your e-mail address book
· Your bookmarks or favourites
There are many options available to you when it comes to backing up but remember to test your backup to make sure it works:
1. Copy your data to a CD/DVD or memory stick. But remember that these media types degrade over time. The average life of these types of media is about 10 years.
2. Copy data to an external hard drive. These can be purchased from as little as £40.
3. Use an online backup service. I would recommend www.carbonite.com. You simply pay an annual fee (around £30) and install the software. You designate which files are to be backed up and the software does the rest for you. I would suggest only using this method if you are on broadband.
5. A sneaky option for a few important files is to email them to your web mail account (e.g. Yahoo / Hotmail / Gmail) and store them in a folder for safe keeping.
Too many people do not think about backing up their family photos until it is too late and they are lost. If the worst happens there are companies out there that specialise in extracting data from broken hard drives. The cost incurred can enter into a four figure sum but in the worst case the data may not be recoverable!
Written by Caroline The ‘PuterTutor
Sunday, 28 June 2009
The Father Teds at The Barn
Saturday 11th July - Birmingham
Hi all,
Just letting you know we are playing a show at great Birmingham venue The Barn in Witton on Saturday 11th July, The Barn specialises in hosting live shows of all types and this will be our first public appearance there. Tickets are available from http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.thebarnbirmingham.co.uk or on 0121 356 5706 and includes support act JJ Wallace.
Promises to be a great evening!
Hope to see you there
Hi all,
Just letting you know we are playing a show at great Birmingham venue The Barn in Witton on Saturday 11th July, The Barn specialises in hosting live shows of all types and this will be our first public appearance there. Tickets are available from http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.thebarnbirmingham.co.uk or on 0121 356 5706 and includes support act JJ Wallace.
Promises to be a great evening!
Hope to see you there
Enta launches New Website and prepares to move to New Premises!
Enta CIC has recently launched a brand new clear and user friendly website which aims to provide useful and relevant information to Enta’s service users, clients and partners, both current and future. We invite you to visit www.entapeople.com and welcome your feedback. Can you find the information you are looking for? Is the site easy to use? Senders of comments received by 30 June 09 will be entered into a prize draw.
In Autumn 2009, Enta’s city centre training centre and head office are moving into a larger, refurbished premises in Mill Street adjacent to Aston Lock which will mean more space and better facilities for our trainees and clients. The building will also be home to a 50 place day care nursery, conference centre and canalise café. Please visit our new website for more information. If you would like to receive updates and an invitation to an Open Day, please email info@entapeople.com
Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to welcoming you to our new website or new premises soon.
Kind regards
Charlotte
In Autumn 2009, Enta’s city centre training centre and head office are moving into a larger, refurbished premises in Mill Street adjacent to Aston Lock which will mean more space and better facilities for our trainees and clients. The building will also be home to a 50 place day care nursery, conference centre and canalise café. Please visit our new website for more information. If you would like to receive updates and an invitation to an Open Day, please email info@entapeople.com
Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to welcoming you to our new website or new premises soon.
Kind regards
Charlotte
Jobs @ Punch
Full time project and office administrator
We are currently looking for an energetic, organised and adaptable full-time administrator to support the work of our lively office. This is a busy role that requires proven admin experience and the ability to juggle multiple priorities. This job is full of variety and challenges and a keen interest and commitment to music, social inclusion and education is advantageous.
The Administrator will be responsible for maintaining admin systems, keeping detailed records of all incoming and outgoing invoices and supporting the Punch’s project work. They will also prepare all financial records to assist the company bookkeeper. With access to confidential company records, we are looking for somebody responsible, trustworthy and with the ability to act with discretion. Our new team member will also be responsible for administrating two national music tours per year - Very exciting!
To apply, download an application form from the Punch Website and return to cynthia@punch-records.co.uk by 2pm Friday 10th July.
CVs will not be accepted.
www.punch-records.co.uk
We are currently looking for an energetic, organised and adaptable full-time administrator to support the work of our lively office. This is a busy role that requires proven admin experience and the ability to juggle multiple priorities. This job is full of variety and challenges and a keen interest and commitment to music, social inclusion and education is advantageous.
The Administrator will be responsible for maintaining admin systems, keeping detailed records of all incoming and outgoing invoices and supporting the Punch’s project work. They will also prepare all financial records to assist the company bookkeeper. With access to confidential company records, we are looking for somebody responsible, trustworthy and with the ability to act with discretion. Our new team member will also be responsible for administrating two national music tours per year - Very exciting!
To apply, download an application form from the Punch Website and return to cynthia@punch-records.co.uk by 2pm Friday 10th July.
CVs will not be accepted.
www.punch-records.co.uk
Erland and The Carnival @ Lunar Society
Plus Electric Shed & Geff Stone
Friday 3rd July
We're back at our regular venue The Hare & Hounds for July's Lunar Society and are pleased to be hosting yet another fantastic line up.
Erland And The Carnival are a British folk rock band formed in London, England by multi instrumentalist Simon Tong (formerly of the the Verve / Blur / The Good, the Bad & the Queen), Orcadian folk guitarist and singer Gawain Erland Cooper and Drummer / Engineer David Nock (who recently worked with Paul McCartney on his Firemen project)
http://www.myspace.com/carnival
Veterans of the West Midlands music scene, the members of Electric Shed have been playing together in various line-ups of various styles, including blues, folk, indie, rock and psychedelia for over twenty years. The band consists of Pete Holder (lead vocals /guitar /mandolin), Ian Rushbury (lead vocals/bass/guitar), Paul Miller (viola/backing vocals) and Craig Shipley (drums).
They first came together in blues band T's Basement before splintering off to form/join such diverse bands as Little Red Schoolhouse, Diabolo Go, Prussian Blue, Bleeding Hearts, Druidspear and The Valuable Fools before eventually reconvening as 57 varieties covers band, Anorakula and simultaneously an early version of Electric Shed.
The band's sound incorporates elements of country (alt and trad), British folk, Americana, Canadicana, Antipodicana, Anglicana, Celticana, the blues and powerpop.
http://www.myspace.com/theelectricshed
Starting the evening we have a set from Geff Stone who plays covers of people like The Doors, Neil Young, Velvet Underground or The Rolling Stones but with his own special twist.
Friday 3rd JulyUpstairs at The Hare And HoundsKings Heath, Birmingham
Doors Open 8pm
Admission £5.00
Moseley Folk
Light House Media Centre to offer Video Production and Post Production Workshops for Women
Following the success of previous workshops, Light House Media Centre have another round of courses designed specifically for women. On Wednesday 8 July, there is another opportunity to take part in the Video Production Workshop and a new course, Post Production for Women, runs on Wednesday 15 July.
These workshops are designed for all skill levels, whether a beginner, an enthusiast or someone in need of a refresher. Both workshops are led by Nerina Villa, an experienced documentary director who has made films for Channel 4 and regional ITV and has been shortlisted for a Royal Television Society Award. The Video Production Workshop costs £35+VAT, and the Post Production Workshop costs £65+VAT, lunch included. For more details, please contact Kelly Jeffs on t. 01902 716055 or email kelly@light-house.co.uk
The Video Production Workshop runs on Wed 8 July from 10am till 4pm. This 1-day workshop gives an introduction to video production, including an overview on camera functions and lighting techniques. The course costs £35+VAT, with an early bird discount of 10% if booked before Friday 3 July.
The Post Production Workshop, running Wed 15 July from 10am till 4pm, is designed as a technical introduction to editing using Final Cut Pro. The workshop will cover capturing footage, how to create a timeline, inserting footage into the timeline, methods of cutting and the manipulation of footage, the main objective being to build a short sequence. There are 6 places available and the course costs £65+VAT, lunch included, with a 10% early bird discount for bookings received before Friday 10 July.
These workshops are just two of a variety of education events coming up at Light House. Light House has been supported to develop its media and film education activity and establish itself as an Education Hub through Screen WM's Investment Fund with funds from The National Lottery through the UK Film Council.
Light House is located in the historic Chubb Buildings in Wolverhampton City Centre. For further information contact Light House box office on t.01902 716055 / e. info@light-house.co.uk or visit www.light-house.co.uk
Sickle Cell Awareness Day - Walsall
Walsall Centre for Independent Living will be holding an information event for people with Sickle Cell Disorders on Tuesday 28th July.
Come along and find out more about the illness, what support people with Sickle Cell and get first hand advice about any benefits you may be entitled to.
The event is on from 11.00am – 2.00pm at the CIL in Bridge Street, Walsall
Come along and find out more about the illness, what support people with Sickle Cell and get first hand advice about any benefits you may be entitled to.
The event is on from 11.00am – 2.00pm at the CIL in Bridge Street, Walsall
FAMILY FUN WITH PARTY IN THE PARK!
Sebastian Conaghan as Sportacus (aged 2)
Family fun and entertainment will fill Victoria Park next Sunday (5 July) with the annual Party In The Park in Stafford
Everyone is invited to come along to the Borough Council run event on Sunday 5 July and to celebrate this years ‘get active’ theme, the Sportacus UK actor – officially approved by LAZYTOWN will be leaping into the park, appearing at various intervals throughout the afternoon (12noon, 1.50pm and 4.00pm).
The new Mayor of Stafford Borough, Councillor Mrs Jean Tabenor will open the event at 12noon and there are a wide variety of activities available throughout the day until 5.00pm.
Join in with Jo Jingles’ music and movement (at 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm), take part in the circus skills and hula hoop workshops, get your face painted, ride on the land train, watch ‘The Not so Dangerous Boys’ perform (at 12.30pm, 3.00pm, 4.30pm) or get creative with art workshops.
Admission to Party in the Park is free, face painting and art workshops cost 50p.
To find out more about Party in the Park or other Stafford Festival events visit www.staffordbc.gov.uk/staffordfestival or call 01785 619 300.
Everyone is invited to come along to the Borough Council run event on Sunday 5 July and to celebrate this years ‘get active’ theme, the Sportacus UK actor – officially approved by LAZYTOWN will be leaping into the park, appearing at various intervals throughout the afternoon (12noon, 1.50pm and 4.00pm).
The new Mayor of Stafford Borough, Councillor Mrs Jean Tabenor will open the event at 12noon and there are a wide variety of activities available throughout the day until 5.00pm.
Join in with Jo Jingles’ music and movement (at 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm), take part in the circus skills and hula hoop workshops, get your face painted, ride on the land train, watch ‘The Not so Dangerous Boys’ perform (at 12.30pm, 3.00pm, 4.30pm) or get creative with art workshops.
Admission to Party in the Park is free, face painting and art workshops cost 50p.
To find out more about Party in the Park or other Stafford Festival events visit www.staffordbc.gov.uk/staffordfestival or call 01785 619 300.
West Midlands films hit silver screen at Glastonbury as part of L2012 Cultural Olympiad
Revellers at Glastonbury Festival this weekend were treated to a unique silver screen experience, when short films by filmmakers and animators from across the West Midlands were broadcast as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
17 short films made by West Midlands based film-makers have been submitted by the West Midlands Creative Programmer for London 2012 and the regional screen agency Screen West Midlands, shown on a specially erected BBC Big Screen, called The Village Screen, at Glastonbury on Saturday 27 June 2009.
The project is a unique collaboration led by the London 2012 Creative Programmers across the UK, Glastonbury Festival, Team South West, Relays (Legacy Trust UK programme) and the BBC’s Live Sites team. Throughout the festival, which runs from the 24-28 June 2009, two 25m² screens have been broadcasting a mixture of specially-commissioned short films from around the English regions, interactive gaming sessions and archive Festival footage from 10am to 3am each day. The films made by West Midlands film-makers were a focus for Saturday’s screening, with most submitted films making it on to the big screen and each short lasting between 5-15 minutes in length.
The project has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark – which recognises unique projects inspired by the London 2012 Games – and has been realised as part of the four year London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the official UK-wide cultural programme for the London 2012 Games that will see celebrations of culture and creativity taking place in every corner of the UK in the run up to 2012. This project celebrates the creative talents of young and established film-makers working across the UK and will provided an alternative source of entertainment for the thousands of people attending this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
The West Midlands films range from dance films, a comedy about a group of disabled young people visiting the country which won the ‘best short film award’ at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, to a magical contemporary fairytale called ‘Momster’ and a Royal Television Society award-winning tale of a girl’s descent into heroin addiction.
Paul Kaynes, the West Midlands Creative Programmer for London 2012, who along with Screen West Midlands (the region’s screen agency) helped to curate the West Midlands ’ selection of films, said:
“This is a brilliant project and an excellent example of how the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is bringing creative and cultural experiences to new audiences right across the country who wouldn’t ordinarily have the chance to see this work. It’s great for our region as well as we have such fantastic film and screen talent based here in the West Midlands . And with Glastonbury being such a huge, global festival – and the weather set to be half decent – it’s fantastic to see the region’s talent getting the kind of exposure it deserves..”
A full list of West Midlands films that have been submitted for screening is below and further information about the Village Screen is available at: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Decsurveillance
Caroline Bridges and Dom Breadmore
8 mins approx
Interesting dance film by London-based team; film made in West Mids. No dialogue. Suitable for late night watching as it’s very dark (light-wise not content).
Made in West Midlands
I Saw a Girl
Arty Party performance Group
8 mins
Film made by group of adults with learning disabilities in Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire. Won best film award 2008 at the Oska Bright Disability Film Awards, Brighton.
Filmaker based Shropshire
RE…..Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Dance film by Sajja Arts Collective and Rising Brook Films
10 mins
‘’RE…reduce, reuse, recycle’’ is a dance film that attempts to draw attention to the environmental emergency we are faced with. Funny.
Filmaker based Staffordshire
Special people
Justin Edgar/104 Films
12 mins
A short film about the outing of a group of disabled young people to the country. Funny. Won Best Short Film award at Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
Set in West Midlands
Momster
Steven Spencer
16 mins
A stylised contemporary fairytale. A magical tale of a girl and her hugely huggable imaginary friend who escape from a council skyscraper where they are violently abused.
Filmaker based Birmingham
The Gleaming
Screen WM/Swish
25 mins
The story of a couple who find themselves stranded and helpless set against picturesque woods. Haunting, and filmed on the beautiful Long Mynd in Shropshire.
Filmaker based Birmingham, set in Shropshire
The Visit
Screen WM/ Paul Fogg/Matt Cope
10 mins
A plumber, a priest, a man with a dictaphone and a suitcase with a child's remains...tenuous family links are brought into sharp focus in this provocative drama. Enigmatic and intriguing.
Filmaker based Birmingham
Eclipse
African and African-Caribbean Support group part of Arts for health project in Stoke on Trent
5 mins
A journey into the depths and despair of depression and mental illness.
Film maker based Stoke on Trent and film set there.
My Brown Friend
Steven Spencer
04:20
RTS award-winning tale of a girl's descent into heroin addiction; doesn’t glamorise drug-taking at all. Highly charged and powerful piece. No dialogue.
Filmaker based Birmingham
The Animal Book
Second Home Productions
10:01
Highly acclaimed stop-motion short set in a clockwork metropolis. No dialogue
Set in West Midlands.
Train Track
Big Red Studio
05:44
An oil painting brought to life by animation. No dialogue.
Filmaker based Stoke on Trent.
Flash Harry
SMA Studios
02:22
CGI short involving an obnoxious speed camera.
Filmaker based West Midlands
Tom Cruise: Back in Action
Joe Butcher
03:37
Very funny Flash-based web animation of a brief animated interview with Tom Cruise.
Filmaker based Brierley Hill.
Runner
Ravi Deepres/Michael Baig-Clifford
11 mins
WM regional film makers, commissioned by Great North Run and made in the North East. No dialogue
Filmaker based West Midlands.
Into Pieces
Babis Alexiadis
5.5 mins
Animation and dance, produced by someone who has been commissioned for our regional dance programme. No dialogue.
Filmaker based Birmingham
Don't Touch
Dice Productions
03:10
250,000 and counting views on YouTube so far for this comedic short.
Filmaker based Birmingham
William the Cog
Paul W J Martin
6mins
2006 short about a man trying escape the system
Film maker based West Midlands
17 short films made by West Midlands based film-makers have been submitted by the West Midlands Creative Programmer for London 2012 and the regional screen agency Screen West Midlands, shown on a specially erected BBC Big Screen, called The Village Screen, at Glastonbury on Saturday 27 June 2009.
The project is a unique collaboration led by the London 2012 Creative Programmers across the UK, Glastonbury Festival, Team South West, Relays (Legacy Trust UK programme) and the BBC’s Live Sites team. Throughout the festival, which runs from the 24-28 June 2009, two 25m² screens have been broadcasting a mixture of specially-commissioned short films from around the English regions, interactive gaming sessions and archive Festival footage from 10am to 3am each day. The films made by West Midlands film-makers were a focus for Saturday’s screening, with most submitted films making it on to the big screen and each short lasting between 5-15 minutes in length.
The project has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark – which recognises unique projects inspired by the London 2012 Games – and has been realised as part of the four year London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the official UK-wide cultural programme for the London 2012 Games that will see celebrations of culture and creativity taking place in every corner of the UK in the run up to 2012. This project celebrates the creative talents of young and established film-makers working across the UK and will provided an alternative source of entertainment for the thousands of people attending this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
The West Midlands films range from dance films, a comedy about a group of disabled young people visiting the country which won the ‘best short film award’ at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, to a magical contemporary fairytale called ‘Momster’ and a Royal Television Society award-winning tale of a girl’s descent into heroin addiction.
Paul Kaynes, the West Midlands Creative Programmer for London 2012, who along with Screen West Midlands (the region’s screen agency) helped to curate the West Midlands ’ selection of films, said:
“This is a brilliant project and an excellent example of how the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is bringing creative and cultural experiences to new audiences right across the country who wouldn’t ordinarily have the chance to see this work. It’s great for our region as well as we have such fantastic film and screen talent based here in the West Midlands . And with Glastonbury being such a huge, global festival – and the weather set to be half decent – it’s fantastic to see the region’s talent getting the kind of exposure it deserves..”
A full list of West Midlands films that have been submitted for screening is below and further information about the Village Screen is available at: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Decsurveillance
Caroline Bridges and Dom Breadmore
8 mins approx
Interesting dance film by London-based team; film made in West Mids. No dialogue. Suitable for late night watching as it’s very dark (light-wise not content).
Made in West Midlands
I Saw a Girl
Arty Party performance Group
8 mins
Film made by group of adults with learning disabilities in Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire. Won best film award 2008 at the Oska Bright Disability Film Awards, Brighton.
Filmaker based Shropshire
RE…..Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Dance film by Sajja Arts Collective and Rising Brook Films
10 mins
‘’RE…reduce, reuse, recycle’’ is a dance film that attempts to draw attention to the environmental emergency we are faced with. Funny.
Filmaker based Staffordshire
Special people
Justin Edgar/104 Films
12 mins
A short film about the outing of a group of disabled young people to the country. Funny. Won Best Short Film award at Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
Set in West Midlands
Momster
Steven Spencer
16 mins
A stylised contemporary fairytale. A magical tale of a girl and her hugely huggable imaginary friend who escape from a council skyscraper where they are violently abused.
Filmaker based Birmingham
The Gleaming
Screen WM/Swish
25 mins
The story of a couple who find themselves stranded and helpless set against picturesque woods. Haunting, and filmed on the beautiful Long Mynd in Shropshire.
Filmaker based Birmingham, set in Shropshire
The Visit
Screen WM/ Paul Fogg/Matt Cope
10 mins
A plumber, a priest, a man with a dictaphone and a suitcase with a child's remains...tenuous family links are brought into sharp focus in this provocative drama. Enigmatic and intriguing.
Filmaker based Birmingham
Eclipse
African and African-Caribbean Support group part of Arts for health project in Stoke on Trent
5 mins
A journey into the depths and despair of depression and mental illness.
Film maker based Stoke on Trent and film set there.
My Brown Friend
Steven Spencer
04:20
RTS award-winning tale of a girl's descent into heroin addiction; doesn’t glamorise drug-taking at all. Highly charged and powerful piece. No dialogue.
Filmaker based Birmingham
The Animal Book
Second Home Productions
10:01
Highly acclaimed stop-motion short set in a clockwork metropolis. No dialogue
Set in West Midlands.
Train Track
Big Red Studio
05:44
An oil painting brought to life by animation. No dialogue.
Filmaker based Stoke on Trent.
Flash Harry
SMA Studios
02:22
CGI short involving an obnoxious speed camera.
Filmaker based West Midlands
Tom Cruise: Back in Action
Joe Butcher
03:37
Very funny Flash-based web animation of a brief animated interview with Tom Cruise.
Filmaker based Brierley Hill.
Runner
Ravi Deepres/Michael Baig-Clifford
11 mins
WM regional film makers, commissioned by Great North Run and made in the North East. No dialogue
Filmaker based West Midlands.
Into Pieces
Babis Alexiadis
5.5 mins
Animation and dance, produced by someone who has been commissioned for our regional dance programme. No dialogue.
Filmaker based Birmingham
Don't Touch
Dice Productions
03:10
250,000 and counting views on YouTube so far for this comedic short.
Filmaker based Birmingham
William the Cog
Paul W J Martin
6mins
2006 short about a man trying escape the system
Film maker based West Midlands
It’s a Knockout - Castle Bromwich
Can you rise to the challenge, have a great day out and help to raise money to fund local community projects? Then you'd better put Saturday, September 12th in your diary as that's the day that Castle Bromwich Youth & Community Partnership will be hosting a community festival and Castle Bromwich will see its very own “It's a Knockout Contest” at Lanchester Park.
Some of you may remember the 1970s “It's a Knockout” hosted by Stuart Hall on TV or the” Royal It's a Knockout” from the 1980s. Now's your chance to have your own go. So start getting your team together and join in the fun. Entry is free, but teams are asked to raise sponsorship which will be used by the Partnership to fund future community projects and activities. Teams should consist of 10 team members. Anybody under the age of 16 requires parental consent to participate and teams should not mix adults and children together for safety reasons.
Further details and entry forms can be obtained by phoning Terrie on 0121 246 6727 or downloaded from www.castlebromwich.net.
Editor: Terrie's team are also organising a dance workshop on the same day as the It's a Knockout contest in Castle Bromwich and are seeking dance groups from a wide range of traditions. Would your group like to take part? Contact Terrie on the above number.
British Asian Musicians Exhibition at The Drum, Aston
British Asian Musicians
By Jaskirt Dhaliwal
The idea of a British artist being as successful as Madonna or Eminem used to be unimaginable. However, the emergence of artists like M.I.A and Jay Sean has made that a possibility.
British Asian Musicians is a photographic exhibition that celebrates and documents the achievements that British Asians have made in music and exhibits the lesser know artist emerging onto the scene.
The cultural and historical importance of these musicians is immense, they represent, reflect and connect with today’s second and third generation of British Asians and despite differing styles of music or the message they project, all have commonalities; South Asian roots and a place in British Asian culture.
All of the artists who feature in British Asian Musicians were photographed in a place of importance to them, places where they have drawn some of their musical inspiration, whether this is Soho Road, The Tate Modern, old school parks or garden sheds.
The visual artist and photographer behind the exhibition is Jaskirt Dhaliwal. Jaskirt specialises in portraiture and telling stories through her bodies of work. Exhibiting previously at the NEC, UN Headquarters in New York and AOP’s London gallery, Jaskirt also won the Photo Imaging Council Award in 2006/07 for her work on Women’s Football.
“When I first started this body of work I didn’t envisage that it would become as big of a body of work as it has, and I’m immensely proud to be documenting what is also my own personal cultural history. Right from Bally Sagoo and Apache Indian in the 90s to H Dhami and MIA right now, British Asian musicians have reflected or represented the culture and identity of British Asians, giving them a voice or something to relate too. Having had the opportunity to see what has inspired and played a real significance in the lives of all the musicians and then to try and capture that spirit on film has been both a privilege and a thrill. I hope to document this work into a book eventually so in 20, 50 or 100 years time it will be used as a primary source of information on the history of British Asian musicians.” - Jaskirt Dhaliwal.
British Asian Musicians runs from Mon 6 Jul to Fri 28 Aug. On Wed 8 Jul at 7pm there will be an artist talk, featuring a Q & A session with Jaskirt Dhaliwal and performances by some of the artist that appear in the exhibition, including Dhol Blaster G Mall, singer/songwriters Neeta, Sups and Vijay Kishore and DJ sets from Drum and Bass/Breakbeat and Electro geniuses Audio Dakoos.
The Drum details:
- Venue: 144 Potters Lane, Aston , Birmingham B6 4UU
- Date: Mon 6 Jul – Fri 28 Aug, 10am – 5pm / Artist Talk Wed 8 Jul, 7pm
- Box Office :0121 333 2444 / http://www.the-drum.org.uk/
- Ticket prices: Admission Free
- FaceBook: Drum Arts Centre (West Midlands)
- MySpace: www.myspace.com/thedrumb6
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/the_drum
By Jaskirt Dhaliwal
The idea of a British artist being as successful as Madonna or Eminem used to be unimaginable. However, the emergence of artists like M.I.A and Jay Sean has made that a possibility.
British Asian Musicians is a photographic exhibition that celebrates and documents the achievements that British Asians have made in music and exhibits the lesser know artist emerging onto the scene.
The cultural and historical importance of these musicians is immense, they represent, reflect and connect with today’s second and third generation of British Asians and despite differing styles of music or the message they project, all have commonalities; South Asian roots and a place in British Asian culture.
All of the artists who feature in British Asian Musicians were photographed in a place of importance to them, places where they have drawn some of their musical inspiration, whether this is Soho Road, The Tate Modern, old school parks or garden sheds.
The visual artist and photographer behind the exhibition is Jaskirt Dhaliwal. Jaskirt specialises in portraiture and telling stories through her bodies of work. Exhibiting previously at the NEC, UN Headquarters in New York and AOP’s London gallery, Jaskirt also won the Photo Imaging Council Award in 2006/07 for her work on Women’s Football.
“When I first started this body of work I didn’t envisage that it would become as big of a body of work as it has, and I’m immensely proud to be documenting what is also my own personal cultural history. Right from Bally Sagoo and Apache Indian in the 90s to H Dhami and MIA right now, British Asian musicians have reflected or represented the culture and identity of British Asians, giving them a voice or something to relate too. Having had the opportunity to see what has inspired and played a real significance in the lives of all the musicians and then to try and capture that spirit on film has been both a privilege and a thrill. I hope to document this work into a book eventually so in 20, 50 or 100 years time it will be used as a primary source of information on the history of British Asian musicians.” - Jaskirt Dhaliwal.
British Asian Musicians runs from Mon 6 Jul to Fri 28 Aug. On Wed 8 Jul at 7pm there will be an artist talk, featuring a Q & A session with Jaskirt Dhaliwal and performances by some of the artist that appear in the exhibition, including Dhol Blaster G Mall, singer/songwriters Neeta, Sups and Vijay Kishore and DJ sets from Drum and Bass/Breakbeat and Electro geniuses Audio Dakoos.
The Drum details:
- Venue: 144 Potters Lane, Aston , Birmingham B6 4UU
- Date: Mon 6 Jul – Fri 28 Aug, 10am – 5pm / Artist Talk Wed 8 Jul, 7pm
- Box Office :0121 333 2444 / http://www.the-drum.org.uk/
- Ticket prices: Admission Free
- FaceBook: Drum Arts Centre (West Midlands)
- MySpace: www.myspace.com/thedrumb6
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/the_drum
Wolverhampton Deaffest
Wolverhampton’s Deaffest on the look out for films by Young Deaf Filmmakers
Deaffest, the UK’s only Deaf-led Film and Television Festival which celebrates the talents of Deaf filmmakers and media artists, returns on Friday 27 - Sunday 29 November 2009 at Light House Media Centre. The festival celebrates the talents of Deaf filmmakers of all ages and is currently on the look out for young Deaf filmmakers, either individually or within school and community groups, to submit films for the Young Deaffest part of the festival, which this year will include an awards ceremony.
Films can be submitted within 2 age groups: 8-11 year olds and 12-16 year olds, and must be submitted by Tuesday 1 September 2009. More information on how to apply can be found at http://www.deaffest.co.uk/
Festival Coordinator Marcella Stratton said, "We are really excited to open the call for film submissions for young Deaf filmmakers for this year’s festival. Any category of film is accepted from drama to animation, to experimental film. It must just fit into one of the 2 age group categories, 8-11 or 12-16 year olds and there should also be a significant Deaf involvement in the film. We are also pleased to be rewarding our young Deaf filmmakers this year at an awards ceremony on the Saturday of the festival."
Submitted films must be sent to the following address: Zebra Uno Ltd, Creative Industries Centre, Wolverhampton Science Park, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, WV10 9TG, along with information about the filmmaker’s profile(s) and the synopsis of the film.
This year Deaffest will take place from Fri 27 Nov - Sun 29 Nov include screenings of films produced by UK and International Deaf filmmakers, Young Deaffest which showcases work produced by young Deaf filmmakers, a Gala Awards ceremony featuring the winners of the general film competition, and plenty of panel discussions, networking opportunities and social events. Deaffest 2009 will be the eleventh festival to be held in Wolverhampton since 1998. Deaffest aims to nurture new talent in the Deaf community and showcase the work of Deaf filmmakers and producers to a wider audience.
Deaffest is supported through Screen WM’s Investment Fund with funds from The National Lottery through the UK Film Council, and through the UK Film Council Festival Fund. It is supported by Light House, Wolverhampton City Council, Zebra Uno and University of Wolverhampton. For more information about the programme as the festival takes shape or for more info on how to submit your film to the festival visit www.deaffest.co.uk or email: info@deaffest.co.uk
Deaffest, the UK’s only Deaf-led Film and Television Festival which celebrates the talents of Deaf filmmakers and media artists, returns on Friday 27 - Sunday 29 November 2009 at Light House Media Centre. The festival celebrates the talents of Deaf filmmakers of all ages and is currently on the look out for young Deaf filmmakers, either individually or within school and community groups, to submit films for the Young Deaffest part of the festival, which this year will include an awards ceremony.
Films can be submitted within 2 age groups: 8-11 year olds and 12-16 year olds, and must be submitted by Tuesday 1 September 2009. More information on how to apply can be found at http://www.deaffest.co.uk/
Festival Coordinator Marcella Stratton said, "We are really excited to open the call for film submissions for young Deaf filmmakers for this year’s festival. Any category of film is accepted from drama to animation, to experimental film. It must just fit into one of the 2 age group categories, 8-11 or 12-16 year olds and there should also be a significant Deaf involvement in the film. We are also pleased to be rewarding our young Deaf filmmakers this year at an awards ceremony on the Saturday of the festival."
Submitted films must be sent to the following address: Zebra Uno Ltd, Creative Industries Centre, Wolverhampton Science Park, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, WV10 9TG, along with information about the filmmaker’s profile(s) and the synopsis of the film.
This year Deaffest will take place from Fri 27 Nov - Sun 29 Nov include screenings of films produced by UK and International Deaf filmmakers, Young Deaffest which showcases work produced by young Deaf filmmakers, a Gala Awards ceremony featuring the winners of the general film competition, and plenty of panel discussions, networking opportunities and social events. Deaffest 2009 will be the eleventh festival to be held in Wolverhampton since 1998. Deaffest aims to nurture new talent in the Deaf community and showcase the work of Deaf filmmakers and producers to a wider audience.
Deaffest is supported through Screen WM’s Investment Fund with funds from The National Lottery through the UK Film Council, and through the UK Film Council Festival Fund. It is supported by Light House, Wolverhampton City Council, Zebra Uno and University of Wolverhampton. For more information about the programme as the festival takes shape or for more info on how to submit your film to the festival visit www.deaffest.co.uk or email: info@deaffest.co.uk
Friday, 26 June 2009
COMMUNITY ARTS EXHIBITION WILL OPEN A DIALOGUE ABOUT LIVING, DEATH AND DYING
A three-day multimedia experience of visual streaming and photography by community groups from across Birmingham goes on show next month, using the arts to open a dialogue where words can often be difficult to find.
Saying the Unsayable: Opening a Dialogue about Living, Dying and Death includes performance art, video streaming and photographic images taken by 96 individuals from local community groups.
NHS West Midlands has commissioned the community arts exhibition as an innovative way to explore the often ignored topics of living, dying and death through a safe outlet. It will be open to the public in Centenary Square from Thursday July 2nd – Saturday July 4th.
Pauline Smith, End of Life Care & Dementia Lead, NHS West Midlands, said: “The exhibition is the result of a photography project which commissioned local community groups to think about living, dying and death - and what it means to them. It was fascinating to see the ease with which participants found their images as a way to depict subjects such as compassion, remembrance, love and loss.
“Saying the Unsayable really is an apt title for the exhibition. It opens a dialogue for people to talk about an issue that, unfortunately, is so often ignored or diverted. We want people to feel comfortable talking about the subject. It is an emotive issue for so many people but it is important and shouldn’t be neglected.”
Eleven community groups took part in the photography project, ranging from young people with special needs and A-level art students to carers and older people.
Groups met with the project leader, Birmingham photographer Ade Marsh, for camera and photography training before each participant was provided with a camera and given a period of between two and four weeks to capture images around a series of themes linked to the journey of life.
Over 7,500 photos were taken in total and the most poignant have been grouped into exhibition topics including Remembering and Continuity, Living Life Well and West Midlands Connections - Decay, Regeneration and Renewal. More than 100 images will be displayed with comments from the photographers, and hundreds more will be streamed on a multimedia projection and on information kiosks in the exhibition.
Saying the Unsayable will also include video and sound streaming while ceremonial arts organisation, ONCE, will offer attendees the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops addressing the exhibition’s key issues.
Saying the Unsayable: Opening a Dialogue about Living, Dying and Death will be in Centenary Square, Birmingham, from Thursday July 2nd – Saturday July 4th, 10am – 7pm. Entrance is free.
Saying the Unsayable: Opening a Dialogue about Living, Dying and Death includes performance art, video streaming and photographic images taken by 96 individuals from local community groups.
NHS West Midlands has commissioned the community arts exhibition as an innovative way to explore the often ignored topics of living, dying and death through a safe outlet. It will be open to the public in Centenary Square from Thursday July 2nd – Saturday July 4th.
Pauline Smith, End of Life Care & Dementia Lead, NHS West Midlands, said: “The exhibition is the result of a photography project which commissioned local community groups to think about living, dying and death - and what it means to them. It was fascinating to see the ease with which participants found their images as a way to depict subjects such as compassion, remembrance, love and loss.
“Saying the Unsayable really is an apt title for the exhibition. It opens a dialogue for people to talk about an issue that, unfortunately, is so often ignored or diverted. We want people to feel comfortable talking about the subject. It is an emotive issue for so many people but it is important and shouldn’t be neglected.”
Eleven community groups took part in the photography project, ranging from young people with special needs and A-level art students to carers and older people.
Groups met with the project leader, Birmingham photographer Ade Marsh, for camera and photography training before each participant was provided with a camera and given a period of between two and four weeks to capture images around a series of themes linked to the journey of life.
Over 7,500 photos were taken in total and the most poignant have been grouped into exhibition topics including Remembering and Continuity, Living Life Well and West Midlands Connections - Decay, Regeneration and Renewal. More than 100 images will be displayed with comments from the photographers, and hundreds more will be streamed on a multimedia projection and on information kiosks in the exhibition.
Saying the Unsayable will also include video and sound streaming while ceremonial arts organisation, ONCE, will offer attendees the opportunity to participate in interactive workshops addressing the exhibition’s key issues.
Saying the Unsayable: Opening a Dialogue about Living, Dying and Death will be in Centenary Square, Birmingham, from Thursday July 2nd – Saturday July 4th, 10am – 7pm. Entrance is free.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)