Partial road closure for water works

Walsall Advertiser reports on seven weeks of a partial road closure along Lichfield Road – see here for details.

St Michael’s Church activities -summer timetable

Volunteers needed for this week’s Big Spring Clean

The Big Spring Clean is set to continue this week in Walsall – and volunteers are being asked to help in Pelsall.

The second half of the six-week project will see local groups, residents and Walsall Council come together to improve the area by litter picking and undertaking general tidy ups.

Monday , June 8

2pm – volunteers to meet at the junction of Ashtree Road and High Street, Pelsall, for a two-hour clean-up session.

Tuesday, June 9

10am – volunteers will meet at High Heath Park, High Heath for a two-hour litter pick.

2pm – meet at the junction of Woodbridge Close and New Street, Shelfield, for a two-hour clean up of the area.

Friday, June 12

10am – meet at Trevor Road at the junction with Wood Lane, Pelsall, for a two-hour litter pick.

Councillor Khizar Hussain Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Culture stated: “We are aiming to keep up the momentum during the coming weeks and would ask for anyone who has an hour to spare to come along and help to improve health and wellbeing in the community.”

Anyone interested in taking part should contact Laura Terry, Area Manager – Brownhills, Pelsall, Rushall – Shelfield Area Partnership on 01922 653705 or email laura.terry@walsall.gov.uk

Food bank plea as some provisions run out

Walsall North Foodbank, which is based at Pelsall Methodist Church, has issued a plea for some items that are running out.

The food bank issues emergency food parcels to 12 families every week but is now running low or has run out of on a number of items.

It has asked for donations of:

• Long-life milk
• Long-life fruit juice
• Sugar (500g and 1kg packs)
• Biscuits (small and medium packets)
• Teabags

The food bank, which is operated by trained volunteers from the church in Chapel Street, operates on Tuesdays 11am-1pm and Fridays 1-3pm, and is run in line with guidelines from The Trussell Trust.

People in need are referred to the food bank from agencies such as children’s centres, social services or their family GP, and they can collect a bag of provisions twice in a week, up to three times.

Each foodbox contains a minimum of three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food, including milk (UHT or powdered), sugar, cartons of fruit juice, soup, pasta sauces, tinned puddings, rice, pasta, tea bags, coffee, tinned meat and fish, and snack bars.

People who attend can also get advice from the volunteers about benefits they may be entitled to.

If you would like to help or donate food items, telephone 07582 869895 or email: info@walsallnorth.foodbank.org.uk

Evening of Music

Managers and players needed for new Pelsall Villa Colts’ girls’ team

Teddy bears sought for parachute jump

Pelsall Youth Voice campaign begins

Young people are urging urged Walsall Council to think again about its plans to close down Pelsall Youth Club.

Pelsall Youth Voice with Coun Garry Perry

Pelsall Youth Voice was launched at the weekend, following reports that the youth club would be one of ten across the borough to close as part of the local authority’s budget reductions in targeted youth work from £1.96m to £888,000.

Youth club goer Brendan Delaney said: “We feel very strongly about the closure and don’t feel as though we have been consulted about this. Is this right?

“Nobody came and spoke to us about the youth club and what should happen, and we are the ones that use it, so we should have our say.

“The youth leaders support us in ways that family and teachers sometimes can’t; they offer advice and help us plan our leisure time. They help us think about our futures and help us become better members of the community.”

Katie Palmer added: “We know the council has lots to pay for and there isn’t much money but closing places for kids is not the answer to saving money – it’s likely to cost more in the long run. All we are asking is for people to listen to us, give us a chance and help us save our youth club. It’s all we have.”

The teens have been backed by Councillor Garry Perry.

He said that Walsall Council currently provides direct delivered services to Pelsall, which will change to out-reach provision only should the centre close, as planned, from the end of August 2015.

“The group fully understand the difficult decisions councillors have been making regarding cuts as a result of central government budget reductions,” he said.

“Regardless of who the Government of the day is, cuts will still be made and undoubtedly this will result in less services being provided and a more targeted provision for those most in need.

“Pelsall Youth Voice do, however, believe that their views have not been asked for and they want to ensure that no decision is made about them without them. They want to provide a formal line of communication with the council and other voluntary and third sector organisations about the future.”

Pelsall Youth Voice has agreed a five-point plan that will form the basis of their discussions with the council and other organisations as they seek to secure the future of the centre.

These are:

Creating a safe environment

For young people to meet, access information, advice and support

Learning something new

Training and employment support, apprenticeship opportunities and equipping young people with the skills to apply for jobs and be successful at interview is something seen to be desperately required.

 

Opportunities to work in partnership

Pursue sharing of resources and support for young people. There are a whole host of opportunities to progress this further with the voluntary sector, local community organisations, secondary schools and churches.

Building better relationships with the community

Anti-social behaviour, perceptions of young people’s behaviour and listening to each other is seen as a positive. How can we tackle this together?

Growing the opportunities – targeting resources

Pelsall Youth Voice realises there is more to youth support than just a building.  Opportunities exist and they want to be given the best chance to access them. Pockets of need exist in all areas, and in Pelsall’s case the centre and some services are accessed by young people from neighbouring areas with higher levels of need.

Walsall Council Cabinet members are due to discuss the situation further at its meeting on the 18 March, 2015.

 

Pelsall Youth Centre users plan campaign to save facility

A group of young people is planning to launch a campaign to save Pelsall’s Youth Centre following reports that it is one of ten centres earmarked for closure.

Councillor Garry Perry said users of the centre were prepared to look at how they could keep the village’s youth facilities.

The campaign is being launched after the Walsall Advertiser revealed this week that ten local youth centres, including Pelsall, could close as part of measures to save £86 million over the next four years.

“The young group will be setting a ‘save the centre’ campaign group and they have asked for my help,” he said.

“We have had a positive discussion about the approach we will be taking, which will not be about ‘don’t shut the centre’ but more so ‘how can we do things differently?’.”

Speaking to third sector organisations, such as churches, community groups and academies, will be central to the campaign to see if any could help with running the youth facility.

“If Walsall Council pulls out, it does not mean that others cannot deliver a more engaging service,” said Coun Perry.

“The positive thing about this is the young people want to be the driving force and I think it’s our duty to support and empower them in doing so. This isn’t political but about doing our best within a limited resource.”

The campaign group is meeting tonight (March 13, 2015) to discuss first steps.

Could you be Pelsall’s next carnival royalty?

Anyone wishing to enter the competition should call Ian Rhydderch on 01922 684695.