Learning about child refugees and government

Last week Woodcraft Folk Elfins discussed the Dubs amendment, uncovering the shocking truth about the way our government treats child refugees, and what we can do.

Playwell, play for all

Playing in York Road, summer 2014

When 'playing out' was first talked about in Birmingham it was no surprise pioneers in inclusive play 'Parks for play' supported the initiative.  They sent teams of playworkers to streets to ensure inclusive play for all.

Through groups like Playwell, they continue their commitment to inclusive play, offering summer holiday play sessions running from 1st to 12th August at Uffculme school. These play sessions prioritize access for new children with any additional needs/ disabilities that live locally ( kings Heath/ Moseley) to ensure that ALL children can enjoy play opportunities on the doorstep in their community.

20mph at Queensbridge School

Enjoying the 20mph sign quiz -
Where's that sign?

With the advent of our new 20 mph limits, what has changed in terms of road safety in Kings Heath and Moseley?  Coming back to the wonderful Queensbridge Summer Fete, I had the opportunity to ask people about 20s plenty for us and whether or not they've noticed any difference to road safety.

Play out in Kings Heath

Swan Corner Community Group and Woodcraft Folk South Birmingham want children to be able to play freely outside their own front door.  That's why we're really excited about Playing out, and why we're playing out Wheelers Lane for a third year running, on 7th July 5:30 to 9pm.

Active Parks have helped organising with Birmingham City Council and will bring archery, tennis, badminton, basketball, skittles, giant snakes and ladders, skipping ropes and more.

My school, parking, myths & excuses

We're always told change takes time, but when road safety outside Kings Heath Primary school continues to deteriorate over a matter of years, it's hard to believe it'll ever happen.  Here's some of the feeble myths and excuses I've been given:

Follow the signs

Alright, so it's not the most exciting photo opportunity, so well done Cllr James McKay for smiling for the launch of Birmingham Road Safety Strategy consultation document, 'setting out Birmingham Council’s approach to making our roads safer for all'.  As photo opps go, I guess it beats scowling at grafitti, and there's no doubt speed kills.

20s plenty have over 250 campaigns running across the UK, and the list of towns and cities adopting a 20 mph limit for most of their streets is ever growing.  Merton Council have recently produced a comprehensive report documenting the impact 20mph has had in Camden, Islington, Kingston, Bristol, and more widely.  The evidence is pretty clear:

Play on our mean streets

Escalator to the gym

Great to see so many enthusiastic cyclists as you enter Kings Heath.  Sadly they are lined up on bike machines looking out of a shop window in a gym, and not so many on the street - lots of people want to ride bikes, walk and run, but apparently would rather do it indoors.  The car park behind the gym is full.   Why aren't they on our streets, biking, running, walking?  Is it because people don't feel safe on our streets, or that it's just not as warm & friendly as in a gym?

Travel to Swanshurst School

Swanshurst school enrichment day is about 'equipping our girls with the skills they need to be happy, successful, confident young women who have the desire and resilience to go to University or pursue a career or vocation and be the best they can be'.

I was happy to volunteer, working alongside others from Swan Corner Community Group, Commando Joe, Riverside Performing Arts and others.

The problem with cycling to school

Linda from Sustrans, and the sweet jars

I don't find it easy to come up with fun activities to discuss safety on roads at a school fete.  Queensbridge, the school my eldest son goes to, had launched 'Family Safety week, Safer cycling' earlier this year, and I wanted to keep a high profile on issues raised, and test a bit, to see what people really thought; afterall, it's not that often parents and children are together in the school - parents evenings and school concerts are probably a worse time to find people to discuss road safety.

So I shared a table with Linda from Sustrans, had a pile of goodies and information from RoSPA, started a small survey (only three questions) and 'guess the sweets in the jar linked to road use statistics' fun activity.  Unfortunately Sustrans juicer bike was out of action, so had to rely on jars of sweets to draw people to the table - I got 54 people responding, and given the size of the school and event, and the attraction of bangra dancing and other things going on, I was pretty pleased.  So here's the results:

It wasn't surprising to find that most people either walked or drove to school.  What was perhaps more interesting was that nearly half the drivers would have prefered not to, and that nearly three times as many people who did actually bike to school would have liked to.
 

The results of the last question (and the quick voxpop interviews following the survey), explain this.  It was great to see that the majority of people (57%) felt very safe travelling to school. Most of these were the people who drove to school.  Of the others, all four people who felt they were 'not safe' were cyclists (most of all the cyclists).

A small sample, I know, but everyone in this survey who felt they were 'not safe' were cyclists, and most cyclists to Queensbridge felt unsafe - it seems pretty clear why there are so few cyclists, and that Birmingham City Council has a long way to change both the perception and reality of safety on the roads.

In the interviews cars and drivers were unsurprisingly seen as part of the problem.  However cyclists themselves were also seen as part of the problem by a significant number of people.  The Headteacher also identified 'the dilema' of cycling on pavements as a problem.  It's important to remember that over 50 people a year are killed just on pavements in the UK by motor vehicles. Collision with a bicycle accounts for less than 2% of injuries caused by vehicles on pavements - Cyclists and pedestirians are the victims - including the tragic death of Hope Fennell 200 metres from the Queensbridge school.  Cycling on pavements, while far from ideal, could be saving children from death and injury on our roads.

The problem to address local to Queensbridge, as it has been for many decades now, is to make our roads and pavements safer for our vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists.

Useful links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/438040/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-main-results-2014-release.pdf

Don't miss the hustings

There are going to be some important elections coming up soon. For the local slant, join a local 'Question Time' style event, giving you the chance to ask some of the MP candidates up for election (from both the Hall Green and Selly Oak constituencies) about what really matters to you. Whether you're a first-time voter, feeling disillusioned with politics or just curious to hear what your local MPs have to offer Kings Heath, you're welcome to join in for the afternoon. We'll post updates on facebook about the panel members and welcome messages with proposed questions you might like to ask.

When: Saturday 18th April 2.00-4.00pm
What: Public meeting for voters from the Hall
Green and Selly Oak constituencies
Where: Bishop Challoner Catholic College 6th Form Centre, B14 7EG
Full details, speakers and programme available on Facebook 

How to get there:

• Car parks either side of Institute Road and on school playground
  (enter via Institute Road car park) 
• Pedestrians can also enter via Kingsfield Road (opposite Village Square)
  off High Street, coming round left side of St Dunstan’s Church

Further information: Miriam Wilcher (miriamwilcher@btinternet.com)
or John Hull (j.hull@queens.ac.uk)

Research your Street

crashmap.co.uk documenting Jago's accident

In 2012 my six year old son was seriously injured in a road accident outside my house - he fell into the road from the narrow pavement.  He's fine now, but following that accident I became more interested in road accidents locally, and then more interested in how communities can pull together to support each other and address local issues.

Swan Corner Community group was formed and 'road safety' has always been a major concern for the group,  We are campaigning at the moment to include the road in the new BCC 20mph initiative.

 

Length of Brook Lane where Jago fell into the road 

The road has a narrow pavement and is the main route for walking to Swanshurst School, apparently the largest girls school in Europe, at the end of our road.

We have been documenting probems ourself (see our journeys to school, 1 (Arthur's), 2 (Me, Jago and Freya), & 3(from 2013)) but data freely available online has really made the difference to prove the need for change.  Thanks to Podnosh and their Kings Heath and Moseley social media surgery, we've been able to access all the information we need for this, and pretty much anything else.

For more info on road accidents, and for a range of crimes, well documented, and some useful analysis see the following sites:

• Crashmap.co.uk
• Doorda.com
• Police.uk

Police.uk has a particularly useful feature - you can draw around the area you are interested in and it will give you a breakdown of useful stats for any time period, so for my small stretch of Brook Lane:

Timebanks - people matter

At the end of 2014 we saw the launch of Kings Heath Timebank

'Kings Heath Timebank is a skills and time-sharing co-operative set up and run by people who live and work in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham, England. We use time as a currency – so that people can get things done without money.'

A fabulous alternative means of sharing your skills and expertise locally, which could really benefit indiviuals, smaller businesses, everyone, and it doesn't have to cost a penny.

There are, of course, financial reasons to be involved, but there are also social ones, opportunites for 'co-production', and a wonderful means of building a real, co-dependant local community, with all the rather harder to measure, but easy to see, benefits.

It is one of a number of measures recommended by NEF - The New Economic Foundation  :

'The UK's leading think tank promoting social, economic and environmental justice. Our purpose is to bring about a Great Transition – to transform the economy so that it works for people and the planet.'

NEF are politically independent, and have conducted long term and sustained research, making both accurate economic predictions and suggesting measures we can take (both as individuals and collectively) to really transform our economy.

The Time bank is just one of them, and well worth investigating!

Here's my local:

https://www.facebook.com/KingsHeathTimebank

Woodcraft folk taming dragons

There's nothing more satisfying than watching dragons dance - particularly if you've helped make the dragons, and got a whole team of your mates to operate it.  That was the Elfin challenge tonight, and with ten minutes to go, it looked like we weren't going to do it, but with one last negotiation between head and bottom, drummer and dragon trainer, suddenly it all happened:

Woodcraft folk believe passionately in equality and co-operation - a great ethos, but in terms of what we do, it might be hard sometimes to see a difference between our activities and activities at Scout troops and other youth movements.  Perhaps not surprising if you start to delve a little into it's history, that Scouting and Woodcraft paths have crossed.  I might be as happy making dragons with Scouts or Cubs, but there is something about being part of the cooperative movement, strongly pacifist, non-nationalist, non-religious, not a woggle in sight, that warms the cockles.

Here's the song we sing at the end of every session.  I learnt the words, but still not clear on the tune:

Link your hands together
A circle we make;
This bond of our friendship
No power can break.
Let's all sing together
In one merry throng;
Should any be weary
We'll help them along;
Should any be weary
We'll help them along.

And here's some folders of activities Elfins from Moseley & Kings Heath have been doing over the last couple of months:

Elfins Dancing Dragon

Elfin plastic flowers

Efins Christmas tree

Elfins Circus skills

DIY Sustrans on our High Street

An impressive turnout for this event, forming part of the consultation process Sustrans preparing and now presenting their designs for Kings Heath High Street to Birmingham City Council.

A longer clip below, discussion in full.  I felt discussion moved at times from issues of safety for the most vulnerable High Street users (old and young) to graffiti, parking and seating - important issues, yes, but whatever the design has to deliver, it has to make things safer, and I think that has to be a priority.  To make things safer the design is only a small part - There's still loads to do to make sure improvements proposed happen, and more action to make all our roads safer.

Some of the many links, related things:

• Kings Heath High Street design proposals public meeting
• Kings Heath Community Street Design
• Kings Heath Kids turn back the clock to play in streets
• Pedal Parity FOI request
• What is DIY streets?

Generations meet in Kings Heath

Messy fun in Kings Heath

Saturday will be a special day (again) in Kings Heath, with the focus very much on play and sharing. The Residents Forum will be running an event called ‘Your generation My generation’ – at All Saints Centre (Main Hall) on Saturday 20 September 2014, 11am-1:30pm, follow by the AGM. Meanwhile in Kings Heath Park  Parks4Play host yet another wonderful Carnival of Play event.

Parks4Play on York Road couple of weeks ago

If you time it right, you could meet up for a chat with AGE UK, Hall Green Arts Forum, KH & M Playing Out Group, CircusMASH our own Councillor Lisa Trickett, Neighbourhood Watch, representatives from Sainsburys, Kings Heath Explorer Scouts and many others.

Then if you're feeling like you need a quick stretch in the park, pop down for a bungee run, assault course,  wrecking ball, spray painting,  low ropes,  musical mobiles, stocks and water slide, all courtesy of Parks4Play (1 to 4pm) and their funders, who have been working tirelessly to bring fun to Kings Heath all Summer.

See you there!

Looking after your own

Scootering on Valentine Road

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Playing out 7th August 2014 - six streets closed, a series of events about 100 people on each street - over 1000 people taking part including more activities on the High street, all coordinated by a few volunteers who wanted to do something for their kids, their local community.

'Playing out' started in Bristol 2009, where one street was closed down and around 50 people came to play.  By the next year it was six streets.  The year after Bristol Council developed a 'Temporary Street Play Order', and now deals with over 300 requests a year for street closures for a range of residents events.

In Birmingham 'Playing out' started in 2013 with 3 streets.  This year was six, and with support from Birmingham City Council street closure fees are waived, and we are well on the way to having our own temporary street closure order for future events.

Laying the turf on Kings Heath High Street

Kings Heath has been undergoing a revolution in 'people power' over the last few years.  Kings Heath Square only opened in 2011, and is always not just packed and active, but hosts a range of activities for young and old - music, markets, dance, drama...  More recently that interest in community has spread to re-assessing and 'reclaiming' the streets.

Two weeks after 'Playing out' on 7th August,  'DIY Streets Kings Heath' closed parking lots down the High Street, and on the last sunny weekend of the summer holiday York Road, Kings Heath closed to traffic for a festival billed as 'the first festival for families'

Party Time at Kings Heath Festival

It's exciting to see the changes happening, in peoples attitudes, in planning and physically to the spaces around us.  Never before have I felt how much we can make a difference for the better to the people and places immediately around us.


Useful links:

• http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/kings-heath-national-play-day-7573778
• http://www.sustrans.org.uk/news/less-parking-means-smoother-traffic-kings-heath-birmingham
• http://instagram.com/p/rVH0A7Dn_v/
• http://greentechteam.org/site/playing-out-on-national-playday
• http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/kings-heath-national-play-day-7564619
• http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2013/08/streets-to-become-playful-places-on-national-play-day/
• http://www.khcse.org/playing-out-on-national-playday/
• https://www.facebook.com/KHMPlayingOut
• http://enjoykingsheath.com/event/kings-heath-street-festival/
• http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/kings-heath-street-festival-brings-7732479

Kings Heath to stage F1 racing following Govt announcement

Kings Heath to host Formula one following a Government change to law, giving local authorities the power to stage motor races.

Officials welcome the move:

"It'd be a proud moment for Kings Heath to join a growing network of small towns that will take advantage of David Cameron's initiative. We reckon this'll make loads of money.  And the locals might benefit too, in some ways."

Pavements and grass verges to be converted from their existing off-road parking purpose to accommodate wider roads

Valuable pavement and other land near roads are at present inadequate for off-road parking. Money generated from the motor racing will pay for much needed improvements, widening roads, removing unsightly trees and grass, and making parking of newer, bigger cars easier, as part of the F1 initiative.

Children's safety a top priority

"Children are at danger playing independently, and we believe their awareness of cars is woeful.  The sooner we can get them in safe cars or even behind the wheel in cars, the better.  Child safety is a top priority for us, and that's why we're planning to legalise under age motor racing in Kings Heath to run concurrently with the F1 racing.  If the kids are learning to drive really fast better, then that's got to be good for all of us."

The spokesman for KHF1 continued:

"About 60 people a year are killed on our [UK] pavements by motor vehicles.  Why can't we make pavements safer by removing pedestrians?"

Pedestrian menace to be dealt with once and for all

Highways officials confirmed David Cameron's law could see improvements to B and C class roads too:

"We'll do whatever we can to make all roads safer. Children and adults who choose to walk or play, can do so safely, well away from roads and streets."

A person we met in the pub was heard to say:

"Some greenies might point to fewer green spaces in our cities, children spending more time indoors, less time playing together, or moan about what people without cars would do, but the economic benefits far outweigh any of that community mumbo jumbo.  I just want to get on with my business without neighbours, children or anyone else getting in my way.  And watch a good motor race on the telly"


If you don't agree with any of the views expressed, you could support Playing Out, National Playday 6th August.


Useful links:

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28261960
• https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324580/rrcgb-main-results-2013.pdf
• https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/uk_accident_statistics_for_pedes
• http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/node/205
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28261960

Election fervor

Two weeks ago (last blog) I wasn't so sure who my MEPs were, so I found them and wrote to all 7 of them.  Well here are the responses I got, all 2 of them (also copy of the letter I wrote):

Dear [name],

As elections approach I have become aware how little I know about my MEPs.

I recently noticed you've represented me in Europe for [however many] years.  I know you have been working hard on my behalf.  I am interested to know what you think your biggest achievements have been in your time as an MEP, and any personal thoughts on your priorities during this time and the future.  I would like to share your response to other West Midland citizens via a blog.

Thanks, and looking forward to your response.

Yours Faithfully,

Marcus Belben

Dear mr. Belsen,
Thank you for your email. Rather than write a lengthy email can I refer you to our local website which gives details of West Midlands conservative MEPs activities  over recent times. The address is www.torymeps.com and gives details of our work both in the region and in Parliament.
Your sincerely,
Philip bradbourn MEP

Dear Marcus.Happy Easter.My proudest moment as an MEP so far would be bringing the Prime Minister to the dispatch box by a public petition, the first time ever in history. If you would be so kind to forward me your address I would like to forward you some info in the post?Best WishesNikki

--
Office of Nikki Sinclaire MEP
WE DEMAND A REFERENDUM MEP
Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands
www.yourmep.org
nikkimep@googlemail (Press)
Nikki Sinclaire 0121 359 5933Twitter: @NSinclaireMEP

Mail:
1st Floor, 123 New John Street, Birmingham, B6 4LD

No other responses, sadly, and I can't help understanding why people might agree with (of all people) Boris Johnson when he says MEPs are on a gigantic boondoggle .

The truth is, though that these elected representatives will face some very big decisions which will effect all of us, both in terms of the grander Eurozone and currency plans, to issues of particular local concern, like the safety of trucks on our roads - and, mostly bizarrely, the latest polls put UKIP with a huge 9% lead over other parties (with 36%!)

UKIP is the largest party of the EFD (European of Freedom and Democracy) grouping of parties in Europe (who incidently are the only MEP group voting against improvements to truck safety).  The grouping includes Lega Nord and other colourful right wing factions who do not want to be a part of Europe, although most of which (particularly UKIP) take an active role in the various committees and other decision-making bodies.

Please come to hustings (10th May, 11:00 to 2:00 at All Saints, High Street Kings Heath) for your European representatives, and don't forget local hustings.  Ours is: 

Local election hustings event 13 May 2014

The 2014 local elections will be held on Thursday 22 May. The hustings event, where you can meet the candidates, will take place at 7:30pm on Tuesday 13 May at the All Services Club, Church Road, Moseley.

Useful links

http://www.thechamberlainfiles.com/election-2014-who-will-we-send-to-the-european-parliament/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10791873/Theres-a-simple-solution-to-this-Euro-elections-sham.html

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/euroelections2014

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/8768

Swan Corner Community Group

BCC Location of road injuries, 2010-2012.
Jago, my son, is the purple blob in the
middle of Brook Lane 

On Tuesday 28th Jan 2014, 7:30 to 9:30 Swan Corner Community Group will meet/ drop-in for the first time.  It feels like a significant step for me - being more involved in caring for my immediate local area, and taking more responsibility with our neighbours.

As with all groups, it was a particular issue which brought it about - planned road improvements.  But as we began talking to each other more issues were raised, and the more the need for a community group grew:

• Planned road improvements and immediate effect on roads leading to the roundabout
• Waste ground around the pub, anti-social behaviour and community planting plans
• Parking for parents of Swanshurst causes problems at pick up and drop down
• Increase in burglaries locally
• Road accidents along our roads and the citywide 20mph plans
• Larger 'Long Park Corridor' project 
• Sustrans project improving access for cyclists and pedestrians
• More street play for our children

Locally I've helped set up community groups before - Kings Heath Community Centre Garden Club, KHCC Stay & Play, and Hall Green Arts Forum, all of which were exciting and challenging.  With all those groups it was primarily about having some fun, either with kids and/or creative stuff, with people who wanted similar things.  Is Swan Corner different?  Is there enough shared to bring us together, or will our different interests and huge agenda be too much?

Looking forward to Tuesday 28th!

Where's Howie gone?

Howie is a jolly round gnome, 25cm tall, dressed in green and yellow and big black boots, last seen in a tree near New Billesley Pub.  He's been moving around for a little while, ready for people to find, have a chat with, take a photo.  At the end of last week he went missing, location unknown, and we want to make contact with him again.

Do you know anything that could lead to finding him?  Maybe you saw a little person somewhere in the area.  Keep your eyes peeled - I've added photos and video clip below.

And while you're at it take a look at this space, or a space near you from a different perspective - a gnome's eye view might not be one you've considered before.  But how's about a cyclist's, a pedestrian, or a small child.  What do you do in spaces near you?  What do you think you could do?  Space Explorers are interested in your ideas.