Your Borough YOUR HOME News and Information for Dudley Borough Residents
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Autumn 2021 Your borough YOUR HOME News and information for Dudley borough residents Child Friendly Dudley See pages 4 and 5 DUDLEY BOROUGH IN DUDLEY BOROUGH A GREAT PLACE TO CALL HOME www.dudleyboroughvision2030.org.uk Welcome to the £25million funding boost autumn edition of for ‘university park’ Your borough Plans for a ‘university park’ in the heart Let’s keep our homes... energy efficient of Dudley have received a massive YOUR HOME boost after the government approved a £25million funding bid. We’ve all been at home so much more over the past year, to keep everyone safe I hope you have all been enjoying the summer Earlier this year the council had submitted the bid and well. Make sure your home is as energy efficient and cost effective as possible to the Towns Fund to help finance the majority of and have managed to get out and safely the £25million higher education complex at the with expert advice from Dudley Council’s Energy Advice Line. We will save you explore some of the fantastic attractions, foot of Castle Hill. cash by making sure you are with the right supplier and on the right tariff. parks and open spaces on our doorstep. The project is another piece in the £1billion regeneration masterplan, which has continued With the opening up of hospitality, leisure and retail to drive forward at pace, despite the restrictions We will help you: over recent months, there’s been more opportunity to • Find the cheapest energy supplier for your home, getting you switched and sorted shop, visit and explore what our borough has to offer. caused by the pandemic. • Apply for energy discounts and benefits But Covid is still very much with us and will be for the Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said: foreseeable future. So, while we learn to live with it, we “This is fantastic news. This money will help • Give you guidance if you have fuel debt and help arranging repayment plans must all continue to remain cautious to reduce the risk progress this project at pace. We have made our of transmission to ourselves, our loved ones and our intentions clear to lead the way when it comes to communities. education, innovation and employment and this In this edition, we’re asking for your thoughts on how we work does exactly that. can build a new Child Friendly Dudley. It’s about bringing the community together to make a lasting difference to the “We must now seize the momentum and continue energy lives of children and young people in the borough. You can with this already impressive development.” also make your own pledge to support the project when The bid was drawn up by the Towns Fund Board - completing the survey, so please do get involved. a partnership between the council, Dudley College DUDLEY ENERGY ADVICE LINE We’re also launching a Made in Dudley Borough campaign of Technology, University of Worcester, tourist to celebrate and highlight the work of local businesses as we attractions and other key organisations in Dudley. CALL OUR HELPLINE FOR A FREE HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT ON continue to support them to bounce back bigger, better and 01384 817086 bolder from the pandemic. Andrew Lovett, chair of the Towns Fund Board, There’s news on the £25million government boost for our added: ‘university park’ in Dudley as well as our bid for city status as “At a time when so many of Dudley’s projects part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year. have begun to take shape, this funding will help We do hope you’ll get behind us and support our efforts. fulfil the ambitions of everyone in the borough.” As ever, I want to thank you all for your continued efforts Dudley’s scheme includes a ‘university’ style during this pandemic and please, if you’re able to have the campus and will provide higher level skills and vaccine, do get the jab. We’ve come so far, so let’s keep qualifications tailored to the needs of local health working together to keep ourselves and everyone around us and life science employers. It is expected to be up safe. For the latest Covid guidance visit www.dudley.gov.uk and running by autumn 2024. Dudley College of Technology is working Councillor Patrick Harley alongside the council to develop the new facility, Leader of Dudley Council with courses being delivered by University of For many Dudley Borough residents Newman In this issue... Worcester. University is their local campus. Neil Thomas, chief executive and principal of Dudley College of Technology, said: Most people remember Newman as a teacher “By providing training we will be able to lead training college but it is much more than that individuals into employment, in jobs where the demand for skilled workers outstrips the with degrees in: number of people who currently hold the right qualifications for these roles.” Accounting and Finance, Business, For more information visit Computer Science, Counselling, Criminology, Page 8 Page 20 www.regeneratingdudley.org.uk Drama, Early Childhood Education, English, Dudley - A City in the Making Get your flu jab too! Forensic Psychology, Health and Social Care, History, Law, Mathematics, Policing, Your borough YOUR HOME Psychology, Sport, e-bulletin to name just a few. Keep up to date with all of the latest news and information by signing up to our 0121 476 1181 e-bulletin. Just visit www.dudley.gov.uk and Newman.ac.uk/opendays sign up at the bottom of the page. Pages 30 Centre pull-out To advertise in Your borough YOUR HOME please contact Promarco Promotions Ltd - 01384 565646 or [email protected] Musicom - party in the park! Home Affairs Information correct at time of going to print. Your home 2 For all of the latest news visit www.dudley.gov.uk/media-centre For Coronavirus advice and support visit www.dudley.gov.uk 3 Your home Grass roots sport Wild Things Child Friendly Becoming a parent can be one of the most wonderful steps a person takes in Grass roots sports groups rely on their life, but it can also be incredibly hard and, at times, isolating. the dedication and voluntary work Dudley of many people across Dudley Dudley Council has a number of great initiatives to help children in the earliest borough. stages of their lives and projects such as Healthy Start, 1001 Days and Five to Dudley Council is working with partners, The Halas Hawks Junior Football Thrive are helping parents as they navigate through these crucial pre-school years. stakeholders, community groups, schools and Club was established in 1980, when Through Child Friendly Dudley, the council is shining a light on some of the residents to build a new ‘Child Friendly Dudley’. children from various scout groups fantastic volunteer-led groups which offer support and a sense of community to in the Halesowen area formed a new or isolated parents. As the borough emerges from lockdown, we are youth football team. It is now in its setting up the initiative to link people, groups and 41st season and with more than 100 One of these groups is Mom’s Mindful Hubs, which meets at Wild Things Nature School in Jasmine Road Community Gardens, Kate’s Hill. The nature school, which businesses together to create a brighter future volunteers, it is one of the largest youth development clubs in the area. started during lockdown, offers outdoor stay and play sessions and provides for our children and young people. children with nature and forest school activities. We want to put the voices of the next generation at the heart of Bob Hickman, club secretary everything we do and hope to shape the way organisations operate of Halas Hawks, the general Leonie McDonald, group organiser of Mom’s Mindful Hubs, said: in the future. secretary of the Stourbridge “I’m really excited to hear about the Child Friendly movement. We can only make this work by bringing everyone together and so and District Youth Football Dudley Council is reaching out to the community and voluntary are asking for your input. We want to hear from residents, children League, pictured below with sector and we are looking forward to playing our part. and the local community on what a Child Friendly Dudley could members of the Halas Hawkes mean for them by taking part in a short survey at www.dudley.gov. football team, said: “We support local mums and their families, creating welcoming uk/childfriendly spaces where we can have open conversations about mental “We have 55 teams playing health and wellness. Lockdown has left many parents feeling Perhaps it’s greater coordination of sport and recreation activities, at a competitive level in the isolated, but together we have come through it. help for new mums, support for schools in raising children’s borough and we are very aspirations, better and more diverse employment opportunities for proud of the hundreds of “As we are now coming out of lockdown, we are slowly meeting young people who are taking their first steps into work or more safe young people and many up again and we organise a number of outdoor walks and stay and spaces for children to play and be creative and free. volunteers who make our play sessions including activities at Wild Things Nature School.” club a success. People can also make their own pledge to support the project when completing the survey. This could be something simple such as “Sport is a great way to get supporting a parent or child you know, volunteering at your local active and increase fitness Creating good prospects for everyone school or community group for just a few hours each month to but, more importantly, it something bigger such as organising apprenticeships or creating a brings our communities Joshua Marshall-Wood is one of several young people with special educational needs who has been supported into local junior football side.