New Mayor of Sandwell
It was a pleasure to meet the recently appointed Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Steve Melia. The Mayor has been serving the people of Sandwell for over 40 years and it was great to meet someone with such deep affection for the Borough that he represents. Steve’s chose charities for his mayoral year are the British […]
Showcasing the CBSO
I had the pleasure of hosting a number of senior Judges from the West Midlands at a Concert at Symphony Hall by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra was joined by soloist Hisako Kawamura for thrilling performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 followed by a magnificent performance of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. The […]
Visit to Birmingham Crown Court
I had a really interesting and informative few days at Birmingham Crown Court which operates 16 court rooms and hears a wide range of complex and serious cases. I had an opportunity to meet a number of the Judges who sit in the Court as well as the HMCTS staff who manage so much of […]
Carer’s Appreciation Day
I was delighted to attend a Carer’s Appreciation day organised by Mrs Erma Lewis BEM at the H Suite at Birmingham. I have a much better appreciation of the role played by carers having spent recent years providing support to my elderly parents and so I was pleased to be able to thank the audience […]
New Bishop of Coventry
It was a great honour to attend the Service of Welcome and Installation for the Right Reverend Sophie Jelley as the Tenth Bishop of Coventry. The Diocese covers Coventry and Warwickshire and so I was delighted to be joined by the High Sheriff of Warwickshire Karen Lynch as well as by Martha, my WM Police […]
West Mids Ambulance Service Awards
It was a real pleasure to be invited to attend the West Midlands Ambulance Service’s annual Excellence in the Community Awards. The awards ceremony highlighted the amazing work done by Volunteers and members of the Public in helping to save lives during the year as well as recognising those who have given extended periods of […]
Care Leaver Covenant – Visit to Spectra
I had a really interesting meeting at Spectra in Wolverhampton, which is the organisation that has been tasked by the Department of Education with delivering the Care Leaver Covenant. The Covenant was established in 2018 to support young people leaving care services and offers mentoring, work placements, internships, apprenticeships and employment, as well as financial […]
WM Police Awards
I was delighted to attend the WM Police Citizens in Policing Awards and help celebrate the outstanding contribution made by Cadets and Cadet Leaders, Specials, Police Support Volunteers, volunteers at the Police Museum, Dog Volunteers, Street Watch and Chaplains. A number of the recipients have been providing support to the WM Police for an incredibly […]
Visit to NSPCC in Birmingham
I visited the NSPCC offices in Birmingham and met a number of members of staff as well as members of the Business Board who support the charity in their fundraising efforts. I learnt more about critical work that is being done through Childline and the Helpline facilities and the brilliant support provided by a significant […]
Visit to St Basils Homeless Charity
I am most grateful to Jean Templeton, Chief Executive St Basils for taking the time to meet me and show me a couple of the supported accommodation schemes that they are currently operating in Birmingham. St Basils provides a holistic range of accommodation and support services to young people aged 16 -25 who are homeless, […]