Support for Children in Care at the Albion Foundation

I enjoyed an extremely rewarding morning at the Hawthorns when I got to observe and engage with a summer holiday session being run for Children in Care, As well as a Stadium tour, the children got to engage with a range of of sessions to support life and communication skills, as well as an exercise […]

CFO Activity Hub in Wolverhampton

I had a really interesting visit to the CFO Activity Hub in Wolverhampton with the Mayor, where we were hosed by Mel Eves. This facility is part of a national network of Activity Hubs which provide community based voluntary support centres funded by the HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities programme, aiming to help individuals on probation […]

Bulls in the City raising money for Birmingham Hospice

I was delighted to visit Herd HQ in central Birmingham and then wander around the city centre to see a number of the Bulls which have provided much colour and fun over the summer months. The Bulls in the City trail is also supporting vital fundraising for Birmingham Hospice who provide care to in excess […]

Marking the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day

I was pleased to have the opportunity to join David Heeley OBE DL and the Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Steve Melia to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day. It is really important to continue to remember those who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War in the Far East and […]

Citizenship Ceremony in Sandwell

I was delighted to join John Wood DL and the Mayor of Sandwell Steve Melia and his Mayoress Valerie, at a Citizenship Ceremony held at Highfields House in West Bromwich. It was a real joy to share the occasion with over 20 new British Citizens and members of their family, as they took their oath […]

Meeting the Chair of the Sandwell Business Ambassadors

I had a very useful and enjoyable meeting with Alan Taylor, the Chair of the Sandwell Business Ambassadors. Alan is also the chair of the Smethwick Partnership Board which provides leadership for two major government funded programmes, namely the Smethwick Town’s Fund and the the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, and so we had a wide […]

Visit to Birmingham Crisis Centre

I was pleased to be invited to visit the Birmingham Crisis Centre which has operated since 1988 to provide a refuge for female victims of domestic abuse. I was able to get a real insight in to the extensive support that is provided to these women in a wide range of areas, including practical advice […]

Meeting with Nasar Iqbal from Black Country Innovate

I caught up with Nasar Iqbal from Black Country Innovate CIC which works as part of Walsall for All with a particular focus on Hate Crime Reduction Initiative. Nasar and his team worked with De Montfort University to research ways in which victims of hate crime can be better supported. They then coordinated a community […]

Engagement with West Midlands Police Commanders

I have had an opportunity to meet with the Commanders for West Midlands Police in each of the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall in the last couple of weeks. It has been great to understand some of the key issues that they are facing as well as the success of initiatives that have been […]

Showcasing the RSC to Midlands judges

It was a real pleasure for me and Amanda to entertain a number of judges from Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton at a performance of The Winters Tale at the RSC, showcasing another jewel in the arts sector of the West Midlands. We were joined by the Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey who explained the history of […]