TALK ABOUT
North Solihull
DECEMBER 2016
THE MAGAZINE REFLECTING LIFE IN NORTH SOLIHULL
TALK ABOUT NORTH SOLIHULL
COULD YOU BE A WISH MAKER? “Make-A-Wish® UK exist for one reason – to grant magical wishes to enrich the lives of children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. Whether it’s starring in their own films, walking with dinosaurs, going on an amazing holiday, meeting a celebrity hero, or having a life-changing bedroom makeover; our wishes are varied, personal and, most importantly, magical. A wish gives a desperately ill child and their family time away from the daily struggles of living with a serious condition.
Seven-year-old Ellie from Shard End was diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer. She had surgery to remove her left kidney along with the Wilms Tumour, followed by eight months of chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. She lost her waist-length hair and felt unwell for a long time. Ellie’s family found out about MakeA-Wish® UK so her mum Sarah applied. Ellie told her Wish Volunteers about her love for animals and showed them the soft toy giraffe that always accompanies her for treatment. So her wish,
she said, was “to feed the giraffes.” Her wish became a magical reality when Make-A-Wish arranged for her to become an official zookeeper for the day at Chessington World of Adventures and she got the t-shirt to prove it! Ellie fed not only the giraffes but lots of other animals. A few days later she rang the big bell at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to mark the end of her treatment! Ellie is now back at school full time and will have regular check-ups to ensure the cancer has not returned.
TALK ABOUT NORTH SOLIHULL Ellie’s mum Sarah said: “The minute she was diagnosed with cancer it was like someone took our Ellie away and gave us someone else. She But having a wish has given her a really lovely memory to look back on. We didn’t have to worry about anything for that weekend. It was just lovely for her to be herself - to be Ellie and not someone who’s going through chemo and everything else she’s been through. We didn’t even think about it while we were there. We were just a normal family. Ellie still speaks about her wish now.”
To help raise funds in the local area MakeA-Wish are asking for volunteers to set up a new Fundraising Group. If you’d like to make new friends and have some fun whilst raising money to help, they’d love to hear from you. They offer great training and a dedicated Regional Fundraising Manager to support you with your fundraising activities. To find out more contact volunteering@ makeawish.org.uk or call 01276 40 50 50
“FOOTBALL
IS NOT FOR BALLERINAS!”
Claudio Gentille famously quipped, “Football is not for ballerinas.” But, there are similarities between football and ballet. Many of the same muscle groups are used, both require finesse, strength and balance in bursts.
OR IS IT? Boys’ clubs have been joined in the leagues by 68 teams of female players. In May, the FA announced changes to its elite player football pathway for girls, which would see teams, at under 10 and under 12, competing against boys’ teams. Only just over half the girls questioned in a survey felt that football was a game for them. Four out of five girls who play don’t feel confident in doing so; and parents are less likely to
encourage daughters to play football than sons, and more likely to discourage them. The FA has been campaigning to double the number of girls playing football by 2020 and to counter the negative and antiquated attitudes toward the women’s game. They have themselves been criticised for suggesting that perfumed, colourful bibs and pink whistle might encourage girls to participate.
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WAY TO SUCCESS SJB FC Girls’ team provides an opportunity for girls to participate in football, enjoy training and make friends.
In North Solihull girls’ football is becoming popular both in schools and the community. Ian Bancroft formed SJB F.C. in 2016 in memory of his brother Stephen John Bancroft.
team has just entered the Central Warwickshire Girls’ League, playing on a Saturday, with home games being played just off Buckingham Road by Smith’s Wood Sports College.
The club has a girls’ team that Ian coaches. It was formed after Ian watched his daughter play for her school and found that other girls were also looking to play football outside of school. The
The club is going from strength to strength, with U6, U7, U8, U9 and U10 mixed teams playing on a Saturday, and planning on entering the leagues in 2017. There are also 3 adult teams.
Ian acknowledges that the club’s success is thanks to the dedication of a team who run the club on a week by week basis. “The club is full of great people the secretary, coaches, parents and children. Without the help of these people and the dedication they have shown, we wouldn’t be where we are today and I can only see the club becoming even bigger, “ Ian told us.
4
reasons to join a photography group M
any photographers are by nature loners. Being alone gives them the opportunity to consider their shots, to frame their compositions and to wait for the perfect moment. But, even the loner can benefit from joining a photography group like the one running at Auckland Hall on Thursday mornings.
1
INSPIRATION
Authors get writer’s block, but photographers hit slumps as well. Being around other photographers generates inspiration, exposes you to new ideas and ways of seeing things. It helps you to get out of your comfort zone and try something new, whilst being in a supportive group. For many, it’s an enriching and stimulating experience.
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3
GROWTH
2
EXPOSURE
Camera groups expose you to experiences such as model shoots, lighting studio shots, experimenting with different lenses, and other directions you may wish to pursue, but otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience. They open doors to meeting members and professionals who can help you develop your craft. Members in photography groups will be encouraging and supportive of your personal growth and goals, and will often share equipment and knowledge.
Camera groups are a source of knowledge for people who want to learn more about photography. Many clubs hold workshops, tutorials and talks ranging from the basic principles of photography to studio lighting, and post-production – among other subjects. Many clubs also organise outings, and field trips.
4
SOCIAL
Last, but certainly not least, joining a camera club is a great way to meet like-minded people who share your passion for photography. Joining a camera club will always be about learning, sharing – and having fun together.
“PEACING IT TOGETHER”
How to find happiness in a frantic world We spoke with Emma Walker about how mindfulness can help relieve stress, anxiety and depression. Emma set up Peace it Together, a community interest group, to promote positive well being in the local community, and enable local residents to access services and support. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is simply being aware of the present moment the here and now, by simply being aware and acknowledging our feelings, it can help us to look at things in a calmer and more clear way, by becoming more aware of the present moment it can help us to enjoy life more and the world we live in.
How would I benefit? It makes you more aware of how you’re feeling, it can help towards relieving stress and depression, lowering your blood pressure, improving sleep, can help with chronic pain, substance/alcohol abuse, eating disorders and anxiety disorders, obsessivecompulsive disorder. These are just a handful of things that mindfulness can help to combat. I know first hand what anxiety can be like as I have experienced it many times. I actually found mindfulness helped, it makes you feel calm and able to focus on the now and what’s happening instead of being in next week and constantly worrying!
“Mindfulness is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a way to prevent depression in people who have had three or more bouts of depression in the past.” I know of one man who was suffering with chronic pain all over his body to a point where sometimes he could hardly move. He had tried various medications which were hit and miss. He tried mindfulness not really expecting much if at all anything but thought what have I got to lose! He came away from that session shocked at how much he connected and engaged with the mindfulness session. He now regularly attends mindfulness sessions and uses it as one of his main treatments to help ease and control the pain he has.
Where and when are the sessions? Sessions are every Thursday 9.30am -1.00am and are held at Auckland Hall, Sunbeam Close, Smith’s Wood.
What can I expect at the sessions? When coming along to the sessions you can expect a very calm, relaxing and friendly environment. There will be Light meditations, discussions around our thoughts and feelings and what actually is mindfulness and what can it do for me, there’s also a chance to chat and have tea/coffee. There is a drop in environment and feel so there’s no need to feel you must attend every week there’s no pressure it’s a very easy going and relaxed setting.
Is there a cost? There is no cost all I ask for is a donation of a £1 each week to cover the cost of refreshments.
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Start your journey to a healthier and more relaxed state of mind with
MINDFULNESS
WICKS OF WATER ORTON Email: wowocandles@hotmail.com
OUR BURNING LOVE FOR
SCENTED CANDLES
Donna Shingler established Wicks of Water Orton. She is a 100% soy candle maker. All her candles are hand wicked and poured and 100% natural.
The candle industry is having a resurgence, thanks in part to the rise in luxury candle brands and to the increasing role that mindfulness, relaxation and meditation are having in our lives. It’s a remarkable marketing success, reviving a product that has been virtually obsolete for a century, but today we don’t buy wax and a piece of string, or
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even a candle, we buy an experience. We purchase fantasy, memories and romance. Sandalwood & Rose, Lavender Rose & French Vanilla, Cranberry & Orange, Cranberry Orange, Cinnamon Apple, Warm Vanilla Sugar, Candy Cane and Gingerbread. local Candle seller,Wicks of Water Orton, sells a rich and varied range of scented candles. All evocative of a time or a mood, all appealing to our desire to fill our houses with pleasant smells, and memories. Donna Shingler is the person behind Wicks of Water Orton. In June 2015 she gave birth to her second child, a daughter. When the baby was 12
hours old Donna and her husband were informed that she had a rare critical cardiac condition, and would face open heart surgery throughout her life. Her first 13 months were spent in and out of Birmingham Children’s Hospital, with some lengthy stays of a few months. During this time Donna’s employer made her redundant. Donna told us “When returning home in July 2016, I was greeted by my husband with everything I needed to make candles at home, he had decided that I would need a hobby. And he was right! As our daughter is so poorly it is not safe to burn the usual paraffin wax around her, so I soon discovered the world of soy wax, which
is 100% natural with no harmful chemicals or toxins. I soon realised that I was actually quite good at making candles, with many compliments from friends and family. I quickly decided to make it more than a hobby, and Wicks Of Water Orton was born!” The candles are 100% soy wax, 100% natural. They are highly scented with professional grade fragrance oil, which is also paraben free. The jar is made from recycled glass, and has an aroma seal too. As soy burns at a lower temperature, each jar gives over 30 hours of burn time. Soy wax gives an amazing burn pool, which fills a room with warming fragrance.
THIS CHRISTMAS GIVE THE GIFT OF HEARING 1 in 6 people in the UK have some form of hearing loss, making it the second largest disability in the country. Hearing loss increases sharply with age, but nearly 4 million working age people have hearing difficulties.
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With one out of every six people affected by hearing loss, there’s a high probability that you know at least one individual who has some trouble hearing. And, considering the connection between healthy hearing and physical, psychological and social health, a gift that restores or maintains healthy hearing would make a perfect present. Hearing loss is scary. In the UK we are lucky to have the NHS which provides free loan of hearing aids to those who need them, but encouraging someone to have their hearing checked and accompanying them to a hearing appointment can go a long way towards alleviating their concerns. I recently approached my GP about having a hearing test. I was having to increase the sound on the tv to such a level that the rest of my family found it painful. At meetings, I was struggling to follow conversations, and often found myself having to ask people to repeat themselves. He suggested that I book a free hearing test at Spec Savers and return to him if it was found that I would benefit from hearing aids. The hearing test was
quick and painless, and the reults fully explained to me, so that I understod why I was having difficulties and how hearing aids might help. The NHS funded the cost, and within a week I came awy with two digital aids. I’ve been amazed at just how many sounds I had just stopped hearing, the clock ticking, birds singing, the door bell when I’m up stairs. The hearing aids have given me back those missing sounds. Living with hearing loss today is nothing like it used to be. Modern hearing aids and accessories have replaced the outdated clunky aids of yesterday, offering far superior performance. If you think you may have hearing loss, why not take advantage of the free hearing tests on offer, and find out if you could benefit from hearing aids.
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School Dinners Have Come A Long Way School dinners have come a long way since the days of lumpy custard, chewy meat and overcooked cabbage that some of us recall from our long ago school days; with school cooks working hard to develop interesting healthy meals that children will eat and enjoy. The chef at Marston Green Infants Academy recently won the title of West Midlands School Chef of the Year 2017. Jose Davies Kochakkadan showcased his culinary expertise against two chefs from Birmingham and Coventry to win the award. With a maximum of £1.30 to spend, the chefs had one and a half hours to prepare a main course and dessert which was not only healthy, but also likely to appeal to an average 11 year old. Jose impressed the judging panel with an Indian inspired main followed by mango frangipane using mashed potato as a twist. Jose will now compete against nine chefs for the top culinary title School Chef of
the Year 2017 on Thursday 2 March at Stratford-uponAvon College. Organised by the Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACA), the competition aims to show the high quality of school meals today and the contribution they make to their children’s health as well as physical and educational attainment. Jose said: “I would like to thank all my colleagues and family for their support and blessings for helping me to retain West Midlands School Chef of the Year for 2017 and put Solihull Catering Services on the map. Looking forward for the national final, I will definitely put my heart and soul into competing against the other finalists to achieve one of my goals.”
STYLISH & AFFORDABLE CHILDREN’S ACCESSORIES Cutie Pie specialises in fabulous and unique children’s clothing , tutus, newborn headbands , and gifts. They pride themselves on offering high quality at low prices. Cutie Pie in Castle Bromwich is crammed with delightful gifts for children and adults alike. Along side bobble clips, head bands and fashionable accessories, hang mother and daughter dresses, mermaid blankets , and super hero tutus capes and masks. Paula started the business when her daughter was small. She’d found getting hair bows difficult, and thought there was a need locally for somewhere that could supply them. She started making her own bows and importing some in from America, and opened a stall in Chelmsley Market to sell them. Three years ago she moved into a shop at 2 Hurst Lane North, Castle Bromwich.
Over the years, the range of goods that Paula sells has expanded. When I popped into the shop yesterday, there were the popular Mermaid Tail Blankets, baby shoes, Christmas dresses and fancy dress clothes, as well as plenty of hair accessories and every day clothing. But be warned, the shop is a treasure trove with many items to tempt the unwary shopper. Paula is exceptionally helpful, and nothing is too much trouble. I went in to get information for this article and came out with a bag full of presents for my niece’s children. It was a delightfully stress free and enjoyable, if unexpected, shopping experience.
The clothes are absolutely adorable. I could spend a fortune in there. My little girl looked beautiful and the quality was brilliant for a very decent price. Definiteley recommend to others - Hayley
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Church bells have always had a special significance in Castle Bromwich, ringing out for centuries; celebrating life and honouring the dead. Such is their importance, that a group of volunteers has recently raised the money to augment the original six bells with two new ones and to rehang them all on a new bell frame. I joined them on a trip to Taylor Bells to see the new bells being cast. Whilst virtually all other bell founders now cast their bells using self-setting sand moulds, Taylor still make their bell moulds from the more labour intensive loam process as bell founders have done for centuries past. The making of their moulds takes a considerable amount of time as each layer is dried in a kiln overnight before the next is added, with all inscriptions and decoration being pressed into the final layer of wet loam as the mould is completed. Following traditional methods they also still dig a pit for each bell and bury their moulds in the earth of the foundry floor before casting.
SECRETS
OF CREATION CASTLE BROMWICH BELLS
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LET THE BELLS RING Taylor’s Foundry is well known for pioneering the five tone principle of bell tuning in 1896. This produces the purity and sweetness of tone which allows the bells to sound with rich and full mellowness. The Bell Tuner works on five principle harmonics known as the hum, fundamental, tierce, quint and nominal, and when the correct frequency is achieved for each of these, the bell is in tune with itself. These special tuning principles have been copied by other foundries around the world, but none have managed to match the full-bodied Taylor sound. All of their bells are tuned by hand to ensure each is marginally unique and therefore enjoyable to the human ear.
Three Trees
The centre of the community The end is in sight for Three Trees Community Centre, but in a good way! Work is underway now to refurbish the hall and offices, as well as build four new community rooms to the front of the building. This is the end of a long fundraising and building program, starting over eight years ago when the Baptist Church renamed the building Three Trees and set up a new organisation to run things.
Community Action “We wanted to give the building a new lease of life,” says Neil Roberts, minister of the Baptist Church and chair of Three Trees, “and we also wanted the building to belong to everyone, so we gave the place a neutral name and set up a new charity to manage the activities.” And that is what Three Trees have been doing. Building on 40 years of community action and projects, Three Trees has grown the activities as well as raised over £1million to completely refurbish the
building and extend the facilities. “It’s down to the community around us,” Neil adds, “local support is amazing, not just fundraising but also volunteering and supporting things here. People love coming here and want it to work, that’s why the place is so successful.” The Vision The vision for Three Trees is that everyone sees it as their place, whether that is for a group, such as stitch and knit, guitar club, art or
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a kid’s club, if they drop in for more specialised support, or just use the community owned café, the Olive Branch Kitchen. This has been open for three years, owned and run by a local couple and employing local people. It is an example of how Three Trees works, providing people the space to use their gifts and talents, and letting amazing things happen. The Olive Branch provides a warm welcome into the building, as well as the best coffee and breakfast in Solihull (so they say!). The building work is due to complete just before Christmas, although they hope to re-open the hall and offices at the end of November. On completion Northern Star Community Arts and Entraide will be moving back into their offices on site and the hall will fill up again with kids clubs, martial arts groups, dogs and the community choir. The new extension will have space for training, youth activities and smaller meeting rooms.
Light and Welcoming Three Trees have always wanted the building to feel different to institutional building or the traditional community centre and the design will give a light and welcoming building, surrounded by gardens and nature. With the modern design, green borders and strong
“
We wanted to give the building a new lease of life and we also wanted the building to belong to everyone.
emphasis on being locally led, it certainly doesn’t come across as a musty, underused hall. They are looking forward to what 2017 will hold, with plans for more performances, youth projects and developing activities around health and wellbeing. Want to know more? If you have an interested in what goes on at Three Trees, or in using the space, you can find out more at www.3trees.org. uk or contact them via neil@3trees.org.uk
CREATIVE ACTIVITIES For those affected by Parkinson’s
Activity sessions for those affected by Parkinson’s will be launced at Three Trees Community Centre in January. The activities will singing and art. There will also be a Parkinson’s cafe for those who’d like to chat over some refreshments.
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In January the singing class will run at the community centre on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month, 11am – 12pm, costing £2 per session. The art workshop will also run on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month, 1.30pm – 3pm, and costs £1 per session. There will be a Parkinson’s Café held between the two sessions,.
There is no need to book in advance for the sessions; everyone is welcome to turn up on the day. For further information please contact Jackie Murrall, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Parkinson’s UK, by calling 0344 225 9849, or via email: jmurrall@ parkinsons.org.uk
NO MORE THROW AWAY PEOPLE Some of the best initiatives start in communities, emerging from a local need and a vision for social change and improvement. Popular culture presents entrepreneurs as risk takers, but in North Solihull they have also focused on improving the lives of the disadvantaged. Colebridge Enterprises is a social enterprise that was started to provide meaningful employment and work experience to local people with a broad range of learning disabilities; who were at risk of becoming long-term unemployed; and who required support in getting back into work after suffering mental health issues. The social enterprise started as the Waterloo Woodwork project, in conjunction with Solihull Council. This particular project focused on learning disabled individuals and provided them with an opportunity to do something hand-on, away from the usual day-care settings. Whilst the activity was positive, it was difficult to make the project sustainable overall,
due in large part to the cheap imports of wooden products from abroad and the increasing competitiveness of gardening and fencing specialists. A decision was made to develop a more sustainable model, by leveraging the organisation’s North Solihull location, which is in the heart of the
automotive industry. Today, Colebridge Enterprises is a thriving automotive assembly operation. The diverse workforce has assembled over ÂŁ5 million parts for the Jaguar Land Rover supply chain and has also worked on BMW parts. In order to carry out the work, it
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was essential to up-skill the workforce and introduce the ISO9001 quality standard. The organisation not only meets but in actual fact exceeds the expected performance standards of the automotive industry. In a further move to ensure sustainability and create opportunities for local people, the organisation has developed a packing operation and “In-Work Support” services. Products used in the health and beauty industries are professionally hand-packed and shipped back to customers in different parts of the UK. Meanwhile, closer to home the organisation is providing staff and support to other businesses who want to take on entry level staff or staff with additional needs, but who may not necessarily have the resources to manage this in-house. “The feedback from our customers around the new In-Work Support service has been very positive and they have clearly been able to see the additional benefit that we offer compared to using a traditional recruitment agency solution” said Chet Parmar, Colebridge Enterprise’s Manager. In recent months, the organisation has been able to increase the number of Traineeships and Apprenticeships, offering young people from the local area a valuable route into long-term local employment. Colebridge Enterprises works with a local training
REGULAR WORKS EXPERIENCE FOR LEARNING DISABLED
provider to ensure that the young men and women have the opportunity to improve functional Maths and English skills as well as supporting the skills that are developed within the industrial unit. Links have been made with nearby special schools, including Forest Oak 6th Form who are now able to offer pupils regular work experience. In the near future, it is hoped that a new cohort of learning disabled adults who have been assigned personal budgets as part of the adult social care changes will also opt to use the services that Colebridge Enterprises offers, in addition to the clients that are already supported. Website: www.colent.org Twitter: @col_enterprises Phone: 0121 770 7555
WHAT IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE?
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY SERVICE CASTLE BROMWICH We remember those who fought and the people who waited back home for news.
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Through a frosty winter night In a sleigh with reindeer flight. Bringing joy to large and small Merry Christmas one and all.
CHRISTMAS
SANTA ROUTES
While we will always try to complete our routes, it is possible that we will not be able to finish, especially if the weather is bad.
Monday 12th December 6:30 – 9pm
Tuesday 13th December 6:30 – 9pm
Charlbury Avenue Lambourne Grove Hillys Croft Leyburn Road Buckden Close Oxford Grove Chichester Grove Wavers Marston Clarksland Grove
Perch Avenue Grantley Drive Pendrell Close Conway Road Stapleton Drive Fencote Avenue Elmore Close Hadfield Way Anstey Croft
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Wednesday 14th December 6:30 – 9pm Clopton Crescent Newby Grove Tyne Close Runcorn Close Tay Croft Rowan Way Box Road Whitebeam Road Thursday 15th December 6:30 – 9pm Bluebell Drive Yorkminster Drive Lyecroft Avenue Foxland Close Waterson Croft Ryeclose Croft Hawksworth Road Drake Croft Hawksworth Road Kitegreen Close Heathgreen Close Partridge Close Friday 16th December 6:30 – 9pm Pike Drive Bream Close Graylings Walk Chilham Drive Ludlow Close Wardour Drive Penrith Grove Drummond Way Keepers Gate Saturday 17th December 3 – 6:30pm Elmdon Lane Canterbury Drive Greenway Newlands Lane Digby Drive Elmdon Road Somerton Drive Ashfield Lane
Moat House Lane Wolverton Road Rotherby Grove Farndon Avenue Hidcote Grove St Leonard’s Close Land Lane Hall Drive Aylesford Drive Sunday 18th December 3 – 6:30pm Bickenhill Lane Coleshill Road Station Road Chelmsley Lane Alcott Lane The Orchard Holly Lane Moseley Drive Martin Rise Marston Croft Elm Farm Avenue Wayside Bickenhill Road The Oaklands Mowe Croft Brook Croft Bickenhill Road Lyndon Croft Tuesday 20th December 6:30 – 9pm Shirland Avenue, Ludworth Avenue Holbrook Grove Enville Close Costock Close Maple Leaf Drive Byford Way Harby Close Radlow Crescent