Cannock Chase to host mountain biking

Comprehensive and realistic solutions

Mattia Group are performance management consultants in education, business and sport.

With a particular interest in cricket, we work with professional cricketers, before, during and after their careers in areas including elite performance, mental health and career management.

In addition, we work with educational providers, businesses and sporting organisations to develop and implement performance and business strategies. Finally, we continue to give our time, free of charge, to help young disadvantaged people from all cultural backgrounds improve their lives through sport.

Chairman Roger Newman is a recognised expert in performance management in education, business and sport. He turned down the opportunity to play professional cricket to pursue a career in education and then business.

Having sold his businesses in 1997, he returned to cricket as director of cricket at Oxford University and then academy director at Warwickshire. During that time players like Jim Troughton, Ian Bell, Kabir Ali, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali all progressed into the professional game and Andy Flower, the England coach, once said: “When we worked together at Warwickshire and Oxford, Roger’s cricket knowledge and man-management skills ensured our success and enjoyment. These qualities are founded on openness and honesty not often seen in any walk of life and will, in my view, always guarantee a positive influence on individuals and teams he is working with.”

We are pleased to discuss our range of services with potential clients and can always assure them of a positive return on any investment they make with us. Whether you are involved in education, business or sport, Mattia has the expertise and experience to help you.

Contact: Roger J Newman, chairman, Mattia ltd. Email: rogerjnewman34@gmail.com Call: 07399 887503

Cannock Chase gears up to host mountain biking

On your bike! Bikers are due to enjoy the new bike trail in Cannock Chase

Picture: Birmingham 2022

As Birmingham takes to centre stage to host events as part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, other venues across the West Midlands are gearing up to host other events.

Cannock Chase District in Staffordshire will entertain the men’s and women’s mountain biking competitors during August, 2022.

The Birches Valley site in Cannock Chase Forest, managed by Forestry England, will be the Games’ most northerly venue.

Councillors have already agreed to contribute £50,000 to a new, blue-graded mountain bike trail which is currently under construction by Forestry England and will form part of the Games’ course.

They are also considering spending a further £40,000 to £50,000 allocated to upgrading the interpretation and way marking for the existing 10mile Cannock Chase Heritage Trail.

The trail links Cannock, Rugeley and Hednesford and takes in the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet.

The council’s portfolio holder for heritage and leisure, councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald said: “While the mountain biking event will be staged for one day only, we recognise that being a host district during the Games will present significant legacy opportunities that can last for years beyond the event in August 2022.

“The Heritage Trail is a great way for people to explore our district and appreciate its history and keep healthy at the same time. It takes in many local attractions including going past the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet and the Museum of Cannock Chase.”

A further £8,000 will be spent on local volunteering plans – in addition to Birmingham 2022’s own Commonwealth Collective volunteering programme - and £2,000 allocated towards hosting Birmingham 2022 Roadshows in the district.

With local businesses in mind, the council will be taking part in the Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP).

In addition to the Games, there will also be a local programme of events and activities taking place.

Rallying call for Games volunteers

More than 13,000 volunteers are being sought for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The volunteers – known as the ‘Commonwealth Collective’ – will be a dedicated and dynamic group that will reflect the diversity of the West Midlands as well as the modern Commonwealth.

The majority of volunteer roles don’t need any formal experience or qualifications, with full training provided.

Volunteers will be used as drivers, first aiders, meet and greeters, venue preppers, kit carriers, courtside assistants, amongst other roles.

The 13,000 volunteers who form the Commonwealth Collective will receive approximately 250,000 hours of training and complete one million hours of volunteer time.

Twenty-five thousand shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview at the Volunteer Selection Centre between September and December 2021.

To mark the launch of volunteering applications, Birmingham 2022 enlisted the help of para swimming legend and Birmingham 2022 board member Ellie Simmonds, Team England rugby sevens player Heather Fisher and Commonwealth gold medalwinning boxer Galal Yafai to encourage applications.

Ellie spent the day helping to help clean up Walsall’s canals with litter picking charity ‘World Against Single Use Plastic’.

Galal spent the day disguised as a volunteer at the 5UP community boxing gym in Handsworth, a project supported by the United By Birmingham 2022 community programme.

Heather helped set up a training session at Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club, before surprising young players with some coaching tips.

• Coleshill-based Incorporatewear Ltd has been appointed by Birmingham 2022 to design, produce and supply the uniform to the entire Games workforce.

As Official Workforce Uniform Provider for the Games, the business will also be responsible for delivering the uniform for technical officials, for Batonbearers during the Queen’s Baton Relay and the Commonwealth Collective.