Look at other Updates

PACT Update – May 2002

PACT

There has been a further delay in submitting the European Objective 2 Action Plan. Following an initial appraisal by consultants, Ecotec, the plan is being re-written and will be submitted on 24^th June. For further information contact John Payne on 7622 5052.

Work is well advanced on the preparation of a monitoring report on the Hillfields Area Plan 2001 – 2002. This will be reported to the next meeting of the Area Forum and will then be placed on the Hillfields Website and made available to interested people.

Jobs and Training

The WATCH Employment Centre is continuing to be very successful in finding work for local residents. 38 clients have found employment via the centre during May. The following companies are celebrating Hillfields Festival Week: Morrisons, Stanley Casino, Excel, Human Factors and Sword Security. They will all be at the centre offering employment opportunities throughout the week - details to be confirmed later.

The ICT Learning Centre at WATCH is now fully operational. It is anticipated that the formal opening will take place later in the year. For more information about the centre, contact Vicki Urch on 7655 0563.

The survey of employment in Hillfields is nearing completion. Two of the three parts of the survey are complete – community views on unemployment and work with asylum seekers. WATCH is employing two new workers who will be particularly working on the recommendations of the report. These posts are funded by LSC Co-financed European money. 

Environment

National Energy Action and Transco are promoting an innovative scheme in Coventry to train community members as Energy Advocates. The scheme has proved so successful that a second round of applications is being launched, giving people a second chance to make a real difference to those living in fuel poverty. A comprehensive, City and Guilds accredited training course provides skills to provide energy advice and information about grant available for heating and insulation measures. For more information and an application pack contact Judy Best at NEA on 7663 7868. The deadline for applications is 14^th June 2002.

The Spring Clean service operating in the St. Michael’s and Cheylesmore wards has, to date, collected approximately 167 tonnes of waste of which about 18% has been recycled. This operation has been very well received by the public and has generated some good publicity. The service is expected to end in the autumn.

Nigel Fisher and Heather Cauldwell are to set up a partnership team to involve organisations with a view to reduce some of the perceived intractable environmental problems across the area such as fly tipping, deliberate fires, abandoned cars etc. The first meeting should take place before mid-July. Anyone who is interested should contact Nigel Fisher on Coventry 7622 5052.

The City Council intends to implement Fixed Penalty Notices for litter droppers. If people are caught dropping litter they may receive a fixed fine of £50. If they do not pay the fixed fine the person can be taken to court and fined up to £2,500. There will be a 'pilot' of the initiative in the Hillfields and Longford areas in September 2002. This initiative forms part of the Council's Litter Reduction Plan. This will then be taken city wide later in 2002 or early 2003. It is also intended to link Fixed Penalties with campaigns to reduce travel and smoking related litter in the city.

Congratulations to the Hillfields 12 Tenants Group who organised a very successful clean up campaign on the estate over the weekend of 4^th – 5^th May. This campaign received some very good publicity in the Evening Telegraph.

Arts, Sports and Leisure

The Hillfields Football Forum is looking for local players for 2002/2003. If they get enough interest they will run two teams: 12-14 years & 16-18 years. They are also appealing for local people to get involved in a non-playing capacity e.g. referee, assistant manager etc. The Forum will be meeting on Friday 14^th June at 7:30pm at Hillfields Young People’s Centre. Come along if you are interested or contact Rashid Bhayat on 7683 2371 or 0781 258 9005.

The Singer and Sky Blues Residents Groups organised a fun event on Monday June 3^rd to coincide with the Queen’s Jubilee.  The event included indoor activity at the Brewer and Baker and outdoor activity on the East Street Pocket Park, including funfair, street theatre and stalls. There was an official presentation by young City Footbller Avun Jephcott to the landlord and landlady of a plaque designed by ‘Arts Exchange’. This tells of the pub’s history. A second piece of art was given to the pub, this piece was designed by children at Southfields and St Mary's and painted with Arts Exchange at the Sky Blue Resident's event in the Binley Oak last year.  During the day musicians played live music in the pub and later local councillor Dave Nellist was the bingo caller for the evening.

The Freehold Residents Group held a very successful Jubilee Party on Weavers Green on the afternoon of Sunday 2^nd June. There was food, drinks, games, arty stuff, clowns, face painting, bouncy castle and lots of fun! The local residents all chipped in with food for sharing. The event was also used as part of the consultation on the future design of the Green. A final design has now been pulled together and has been strongly supported by local residents. Between now and the end of August the group will be preparing the third phase application for funding, which if successful will support a 3 year plan of action. For more information  contact Lorella Medici on 7623 0068.

The Hillfields Website attracted 2428 visitor sessions during April and 3111 during May 2002 with an average stay of 17.5 and 18 minutes respectively. Visit the site at www.hillfields.org.uk

The Hillfields Environment Action Group is hoping to organise a family fun afternoon in Primrose Hill Park on Wednesday 7^th August to celebrate Play Day. Play Day is a national celebration of play overseen by the Children’s Play Council and this year’s event is the first in a series of activities to promote the use of the Parks in Hillfields. This year’s Play Day theme is “Take a Chance on Play” and although planning is at an early stage, activities on the day could include sports and leisure as well as an audit of the play equipment in the parks. To find out more or to get involved call Anne Cranston on 024 7655 0563.

The Sports Development Team has reached its target of 1000 female supporters for the Race for Life on Sunday 30 June.  They would now like to double it. Race for Life is a unique series of events across the country for women to come together and raise money for cancer research. Please join them in the Memorial park on Sunday 30 June to run, jog or walk the 5km (3 mile) course. Application forms can be sent to you direct from Audrajean on 7683 2444 or you can call Cancer Research UK on 08705 134314.

Hillfields Events Week

Hillfields Events Week is coming! How will you make the most of it?  The week of 22^nd to 29^th June will be filled with activities to include something for everyone.  Come along and enjoy any of the events, or participate in other ways.  Its not too late for your group or organisation to have a stall on Gala Day which could help you to raise money or your profile.  Perhaps you would like to volunteer?  Those who do will receive any training or support required plus the satisfaction of helping others to have fun, whilst you do too! It’s worth it even if you can spare only an hour. Events being arranged include:

Multi-cultural mask making Saturday 22^nd June, 1- 4 p.m. Broadgate

Come down and help to make giant masks with Arts Exchange to mark the start of Hillfields Events Week and the Positive Images Festival. The masks will be used the following week to decorate the Village Square for Gala Day.  This will also mark the end of Refugee Week so between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. expect excitement and possibly music to celebrate the end of a fantastic week.

The Wheel Deal, Monday 24^th June, All Day, Unity House, Victoria Street, Hillfields

A fantastic opportunity to get your bike safe for summer.  A bike maintenance specialist will be on hand on all day to give your bike a thorough health-check.  The Hillfields Neighbourhood Warden will be available to security mark your bike.  The City Council’s Road Safety team will be providing information, and Area Co-ordination will have free high visibility cycling kit to give away. For further details, or to book your bike in, please ring 7622 5052.

Lottery Event, Tuesday 25^th June, St. Peter’s Community Centre

Want to get your hands on £5,000? Then come along to find out more...  Representatives from the Community Fund and the City Council’s Lottery Officer will be on hand to talk to groups about what funding is available and to offer tips on completing Awards for All application forms. It is hoped that all groups who are active in Hillfields will be able to send along a representative to one of the sessions. Awards for All has been chosen because the amount of money available to each group (between £500 and £5000) is enough to help a group really establish itself. Boosting your chances with Awards for All is particularly important since fewer people are playing the lottery and the amount available for good causes has fallen dramatically. There will be two information sessions - one in the afternoon and one in the early evening, although exact times have yet to be confirmed. For more details telephone Anne Cranston at WATCH on 7655 0563.

Older People’s Tea Party, Wednesday 26^th June, 1 p.m. Coventry City Farm, Clarence Street, Hillfields

This wonderful event in a wonderful setting gets better every year.  Come along and have a free lunch before enjoying the entertainment from the Nostaligics. Phone 7622 5052 for more information.

Ladies Asian Event, Friday 28^th June, 7:30pm, St. Peter’s Centre

The Bhandan Ladies Group is planning another one of their extravaganzas! Look out for music, dancing, wonderful food and a very welcoming atmosphere. 

Each day of the week WATCH will be holding a jobs fair with large companies offering employment opportunities.  As always the phenomenal Employment Team will be on hand to help fill out applications and spice up CVs.

The thriving Hillfields Women’s West African Drumming Group will be inviting people to come along and take part in short, lively, noisy, workshops to get into the rhythm.  No skill required.

As always Hillfields Play Centre are planning to organise an Under 11s disco. Plans are afoot to hold it in one of the city’s most popular venues – the Coliseum.

This year St. Peter’s will again be part of events week, but this time from their new Centre.  The final touches are being put to the event which promises to be useful, fun, maybe even slightly crazy.  At the time of writing we have no final details so watch out for the Events Week publicity.

Hillfields Gala Day, Saturday 29^th June, Village Square. 

The Hillfields Events Week finishes off in spectacular style with this annual festival.  Held on the Village Square on Victoria Street between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. this family event will really kick-start the summer fun.  A stage offers the perfect setting for local musicians and dancers to perform in styles from around the world.  Stalls, games, giveaways, competitions, food, fun and hopefully sun.

Please feel free to ring Area Co-ordination on 7622 5052 if you would like more information about any event, can get involved in any way, or are able to display our publicity.

Health

Local residents and workers are encouraged to join a programme about community drugs awareness. If successfully completed, the course gains people a certificate from the Open College Network (OCN). The course has 3 units each of 10 weeks long. Anyone can join the course as well as gaining an OCN it could help in your work or gaining work, or voluntary work by increasing your knowledge of drug issues. The course is being run again this year.  If you want to know more about the course or fees contact: Sarah Horton on 7625 1756 ext 288.

The Hillfields Defibrillator Campaign is making excellent progress. The campaigns began after research showed that 300 out of each 1,000 deaths could be avoided if early defibrillation were available. The campaign received a huge boast to their fundraising thanks to the Howitzers club who raised an amazing £455 by a fundraising evening and a knitting marathon. The campaign is now running a raffle to raise the remaining amount needed for the Heart Start machine, with a star prize of an 18-speed adult mountain bike.  If anyone would like to purchase or sell raffle tickets please contact Natalie at PACT on 7622 5052.

Community Safety

The Police have now appointed a sniffer dog for the Hillfields sector. Named Sam, the four-year-old Labrador is dedicated to the Hillfields sector and is able to undertake both reactive and proactive drug detection work and also sniff out firearms. His handler PC Terry Arnett would be happy to bring the dog to meet children in local schools. He can be contacted on 7653 9010.

A bid is being made to improve the security of shops in the Lower Stoney Stanton Road area. The application is being made under the Capital Modernisation scheme for small traders in disadvantaged areas. The project follows a number of break-ins in the street. For more information contact Karen Buttle on 7622 5052.

Housing

Hillfields HomeChoice, the Midlands’ first choice-based lettings pilot, which was launched six months ago, has opened a new Internet Access Point in the offices of WATCH at 12 Victoria Street, Hillfields. The project involves six local housing associations - Whitefriars Homes (North), and Touchstone, Focus, Orbit, Mercian and Accord - with support from Coventry City Council, and covers 1800 homes in the area.  Instead of allocating a particular property to applicants, it advertises details of every property available and the criteria for letting, in the Coventry Evening Telegraph’s property pages, and on the Hillfields HomeChoice website.  Prospective tenants then ‘bid’ for homes by indicating which they are interested in.  To date 800 members have registered with Hillfields HomeChoice. The new Internet access point will give prospective tenants even more access to available homes for rent by getting them on-line in a more user-friendly environment.

Young People

The ‘Driving Experience Day’ organised by WATCH and the Coventry Rotary Breakfast was a great success. The young people had a great day and were awarded with certificates for driving, road safety awareness and car maintenance. The Lord Mayor of Coventry presented the certificates and Carl Hopkins and Shubna Patel were given trophies for the overall highest scores. An evaluation of the day is currently being prepared to provide feedback, which will hopefully go towards another similar event being organised.

Altogether Now is a project that will work with 1875 Coventry children aged 5 – 16 who need additional support to help them to be part of the wide range of summer learning on offer throughout the city. There will be four summer schools for children with Special Education Needs, a summer school for children of asylum seekers and a summer school for Looked After Children. The project will also assist integration into existing summer programmes. For more information contact Pat Seaman at West District, Allesley FE Centre, Birmingham Road, Coventry, CV5 9GR or telephone 7640 5700.

The new “Playing for Success” Partnership Centre at the Football Ground is now up and running. The Football Club has given over what was previously a bar area on the Thackhall Road side of the ground and this has now been completely refurbished and equipped with an extensive range of computers and other technology. There are also four adjoining workshop rooms. An ICT liaison person, Richard Kemp, has been appointed to support the work. Study Support sessions in the evenings begin on 10^th June. Children will be collected from school and will spend two hours at the centre (primary schools between 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. and secondary pupils from 5.30 – 7.30 p.m.). An extensive array of teaching materials has been produced associated with football. For more information contact Elaine Ingram on 7623 4092.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Refugee Week runs from 17^th – 23^rd June. A full programme of activities has been planned. The week starts with a launch event on Monday 17^th. This includes the launch of “Home” poetry written by refugees. On Tuesday there is an opportunity to taste food from around the world at an event at St. Peter’s Community Centre between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. On Wednesday there is the final of a chess tournament between 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at St. Peter’s and on Thursday a Multi-faith celebration at the Multi Faith Centre at Priory Row at 7 p.m. The week culminates in a party on Saturday at St. Paul’s Church on Foleshill Road between noon and 8 p.m. This will include fun, food, music and creativity. During the event a flame and banners will be taken into the city centre for the start of the Positive Images Festival in Broadgate between 3 – 4 p.m.

All week and during the Positive Images Festival there will be a photo exhibition at the Central Library called “Through the Eyes of Young Refugees”. Between 23^rd June and 29^th June there will be an exhibition of art called “The Colour of Kurdistan” by Ata Kazaz now living in Coventry. For further details of any of these events contact Penny Walker at Coventry Refugee Centre on 7622 7254 or 07960 552040.

We will again be collecting cast off radios for asylum seekers during Refugee Week. If you have an old but working tranny that you no longer need then please bring it into one of the following places during Refugee Week: the Area Co-ordination Office, the reception in the Council House or  Coventry Sports Centre. We are looking for small portable radios and cannot accept radiograms, record players, televisions or anything too big. Coventry Refugee Centre are helping us with distribution. For more information contact the Area Co-ordination Office on 7622 5052.

The “Myth Busting Leaflet” relating to asylum seekers has been updated and will shortly be reprinted. Contact the Area Co-ordination Office if you would like to distribute copies.

Voluntary Groups

“Beyond Labels”, a project organised by Hillfields’ based Minorities of Europe (MoE), provides a broad framework for a range of social cohesion activities. The main focus of Beyond Labels is to bring together 125 young people from the UK and 50 young people from mainland Europe, to a conference in Leicester, between 14^th – 21^st July. The aim of the conference is:

·        To demonstrate to young people that they can use their natural talent in sports, arts, media and writing to challenge racism.

·        To provide the global dimension on Racism and how it affects everyone, irrespective of the colour of his or her skin, religion, and/or ethnicity, etc.

·        To reflect upon the United Nations – World Conference Against Racism & provide opportunities to conduct follow up work, in the UK, Europe and the rest of the World.

To ensure “diversity” of participants from the UK, MoE have established “local contacts” in over 25 towns and cities.  With their help, 4 participants from each town/city will be selected with emphasis on promoting diversity, gender and religion etc. The shared experience of “Beyond Labels” in Leicester may help root relationships between young people from different communities and as part of the follow up to the Beyond Labels conference, MoE plans to support each local group to carry out local community cohesion projects. For more information contact Deepak Niak on 0121 622 6946 or e mail: Deepak@gnaik.freeserve.co.uk

Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

The results of the applications for Neighbourhood Renewal Fund will be announced shortly after the Update goes to press. The decisions will be placed on the Hillfields website as soon as known.

Charterhouse Area

The third Charterhouse Reminiscence afternoon will be held on Thursday 13^th June.  The group will be looking at memories from the past and discussing how life used to be.  Another project is the meaning of street names in the Charterhouse, so if you know who Vecqueray or Botoner were - the group would like to meet you.  Also if you’ve ever lived in the Charterhouse area and have a special memory of something that happened there, the group would love to include your memory in a publication they are putting together. The afternoon includes a free buffet lunch, and starts at 1 p.m. at St Anne and All Saints Community Hall, Acacia Avenue. Contact Anna Farrelly on 7650 2226 or Drew Dolman on 7622 5052

The Charterhouse Residents Association is planning to hold another Charterhouse Fun on the Fields Day. It will be held towards the end of the summer/early September on the Charterhouse Fields. A meeting will be held soon to start the planning of the event.  If anyone is interested in lending a hand please get in touch, via Drew Dolman at the PACT office.

Far Gosford Street

A public meeting to discuss the future of Far Gosford Street is to be held on Thursday 20^th June at 7.15 p.m. at Phat Larry’s (formerly the Hertford Arms). The meeting has been organised jointly by the Far Gosford Street Traders, Charterhouse Residents Group, Sky Blue’s Residents Group and the Singer Resident’s Group.

Cheylesmore

City Development Directorate have gained approval to set up a traffic calming scheme on Quinton Park. The scheme aims to reduce the level of personal injury accidents by making drivers more aware of their surroundings and of the hazards they may encounter. The scheme will include better road markings, red surfacing and more warnings signs. It is also hoped to provide a pedestrian refuge between Brightwalton Street and Blondvil Street. It is hoped to set up the scheme by April 2003.

Consultations

Coventry Local Education Authority (LEA) is carrying out a local consultation, on behalf of the Local Government Association, about the idea of a six term school year. The proposal follows broadly the current pattern of terms and half terms but seeks to provide a longer break during October (2 weeks). The two-week Easter break would be fixed so that it does not change in accordance with the religious festival. The start of the New Academic Year would be in August and there would be a shorter summer break which would be at least 5 weeks and 1 day long. To obtain a consultation response form and further details of the consultation, contact Ruth Gaskell on 7683 1546. There is a copy of the consultation documents available for inspection in the Area Co-ordination office.

The LEA is also consulting on the Draft School Organisation Plan. The document, which continues the work that was undertaken last year, contains proposals for school places in Primary and Secondary schools and provision for children with Special Education Needs. The document can be inspected in the Area Co-ordination Office or in the Central Library, Council House reception, Education Department reception or it can be downloaded from the City Council website www.coventry.gov.uk The deadline for receipt of comments is 5 p.m. on Tuesday 6^th August 2002.

Positive Futures

Funding has been approved for a “Positive Futures” project covering St. Michael’s Ward. The project, which is lead by Sports England and the Home Office, is seeking to use sport as a tool for engaging 10 – 16 year olds who have become excluded from the mainstream or at risk of becoming involved in crime or disorder. A project worker, Rashid Bhyat, has been appointed as the Project Officer and will be based at the Area Co-ordination Office. A steering group of partners has been set up to oversee the project. For more information contact Rashid on 0781 258 9005.

Unemployment

The March Unemployment data has now been published. Information for St. Michael’s and Cheylesmore Wards is shown below.

Jobs and Training

Coventry S.T.O.P. are putting on one-day Bitesize Training courses at 16 Humber Road, Coventry between 20^th May – 21^st June 2002. Courses include “Be a Good Consumer – Know Your Legal Rights!”; “Employee Rights in the Workplace”; “Thinking About Wills” and  “Introduction to Learning”. For more information or to register, telephone Clare or Rebecca on 7663 6433 or e-mail: coventry.stop@btopenworld.com

New Deal 50 Plus. Chris Gibbons and Jittender Kaur from Cheylesmore Job Centre have visited employers to promote the 50 Plus programme. Since the visits two clients have started full time work using the Employment Credit. For more details please contact Jittender on 7681 5114 or Chris on 7681 5103.

Welcomes and Goodbyes

Our best wishes to Amanda Makwashi who leaves her post at Osaba to take up a post in Leicester. Also to Carl Bowen, Youth Service Manager, who is leaving the service in June to take up a post in Bristol. Our grateful thanks to Carl for the commitment that he has made to Area Co-ordination over many years.

Special thanks to Bev Hesson who will be completing her placement with the Area Co-ordination Office this week.

Congratulations to Hillfields resident Rashid Bhayat who has been appointed as the Project Worker for the Positive Futures Project in St. Michael’s Ward. Welcome also to Richard Kemp who has been appointed as the ICT Liaison Officer at the Playing for Success Partnership Centre at the football ground.

Planning Applications

Some of the key planning applications in Hillfields, Charterhouse and Cheylesmore Ward received over the past month are listed below. It is not a comprehensive list. Anyone wanting to be put on the mailing list to receive weekly details of all planning applications should contact Ian Prowse, in City Development on 7683 1227. All planning applications can be inspected in the reception of the City Development Directorate, Tower Block, Much Park Street, during normal office hours.

·        31276/D Regulation 3/92. Southfields Junior and Infant School, East Street. Erection of extension to existing school to provide classrooms, nursery, nurture room and associated ancillary areas

·        24906/F Hillfields Nursery Centre, Clifton Street. Erection of canopy to form covered play area and two store buildings.

·        9456/F 70 – 72 David Road. Demolition of existing Church hall and erection of building for the accommodation of 16 students, new vehicular access, and associated landscaping.

·        49997, South of 9 – 65 Lower Ford Street: Opal Property Group plc, Erection of student accommodation in 7 and 16 storey blocks with associated car parking, 3 no. retail units and communal facilities and  associated landscaping. [A copy of this application is available for inspection at the Area Co-ordination Office].

The following decisions have been made recently on key planning applications:

·        45803/B Faurecia Midland Ltd. Humber Road. Erection of two additional storage silos. Approved with conditions.

·        L/50000/B Listed Building Consent. Lady Herbert’s Garden, Hales Street. Form an opening in the listed perimeter wall to Lady Herbert’s Garden. Decision to be referred to Secretary of State.

·        AD/6681 Advertisement – Express Consent. Land at corner of Canterbury Street and Raglan Street. Approved with conditions.

·        48648/B Land to the rear of 19 – 33 Raglan Street. Erection of 3-storey building to be used as student accommodations with associated bin store, landscaping and means of enclosure. Approved with conditions.

Resources

The second round of Co-financing started on 31^st May 2002. Information is posted on the LSC website at www.lsc.gov.uk/cw Previous unsuccessful projects will receive notification by post of this round.  The closing date is 10^th July 2002. The prospectus will detail in which measures there is funding available. If anyone has any queries they can contact Dean Marjoram on 7644 6094.

The Learning and Skills Council, Coventry and Warwickshire, is launching a programme called LEAP (Learning to Access and Progression).  There is funding available for organisations that are looking to deliver training to unemployed people.  Fliers are being distributed through the CVSC.  The closing date for proposals to be returned is 28^th June 2002.  This pot of funding is up until end March 2003.  If anyone wants any more information they can contact Carol Davies, Learning and Skills Council Coventry and Warwickshire, Oak Tree Court, Binley Business Park, Harry Weston Road, Coventry CV3 2UN or Fax on: 7645 0242

The Royal Society for Nature Conservation has announced a fourth year of the Powergen Environment Fund 2002 – 2003. The deadline for applications is 5^th July 2002. Funding is available for Community Groups and not for profit organisations with projects taking place in eligible areas (including Coventry). There are two categories of eligible projects:

·        Strategic projects helping to deliver local or regional needs identified by the Biodiversity Action Plan or Local Agenda 21 programmes.

·        Local community projects contributing to the regeneration of local communities’ surroundings benefiting both people and wildlife.

Detailed guidance notes on both categories and application forms are available from Powergen Environment Fund, RSNC, The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark.

Further information about resouces