A couple of really important things to lead with this week, followed by a little round up of events you might be interested in.
We are in the middle of the 16 days of action against gender-based violence campaign. In my column last week I talked about our launch event, but that was only the start. I shouldn’t have to say that this is an incredibly important issue, but the statistics suggest it still needs to be reiterated at every opportunity. Across the world, a woman is killed by her partner or a family member every ten minutes. In the UK, one in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. These are appalling statistics, and it is only right that the Council supports this campaign in any way it can.
There are lots of events taking place right across the borough, ranging from “coffee with a copper” drop-in sessions to an art exhibition in Touchwood, with all the artwork created by survivors of abuse. People visiting the shops in Chelmsley Wood or Asda in Shirley can speak to a range of stallholders, including Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, Age UK, West Midlands Police and many more.
The Solihull Soroptimists, who we work closely with, also have six displays at locations across Solihull, including the Civic Suite, John Lewis, and Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre. Keep an eye on our social media accounts over the coming days for more information about the campaign and events. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone involved in the campaign and everyone who has helped organise events, including the Soroptimists and our community safety team. I’d really encourage people to get involved.
This week has seen several frosty mornings, and whilst it’s tempting to leave the car running as it de-ices, that is a prime time for thieves to strike. With that in mind, I want to share these tips from our friends at West Midlands Police to help you keep your vehicle safe.
- Don’t leave anything especially expensive items on show
- Ensure windows/sunroof are closed
- Lock your doors and windows
- Never leave the keys in the ignition
- Store keyless fobs in a signal blocking case or foil lined tin
- Invest in a steering wheel lock
- Park in front of CCTV and in well-lit areas
- Install a car alarm/utilize GPS tracking
- Don’t hide spare keys around your vehicle
- Use lockable license plate screws to prevent thieves removing them easily
And, of course, don’t leave your car unattended with the keys in and the engine running, no matter how chilly it gets.
Moving on to some news and events now.
WMCA are consulting on how best to prioritise nature projects across the region. This is part of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which looks to protect habitats for nature where they exist and support their recovery where they have been destroyed or are under threat. It is of vital importance, we have lost far too much wildlife in this country already, and 15% of species are under threat now. WMCA are running two surveys. One for people with some knowledge of nature issues and benefits, which allows you to map areas of nature conservation value that are important to you, and one more general survey which includes a prize draw of three prizes of £50 vouchers. Please do take the time to fill in the appropriate survey and help ensure that the things you are passionate about in our environment can be protected.
Continuing the theme of environmental protection, a couple of weeks ago I talked extensively about our work in that sphere. One of the key features of which is the Planting Our Future scheme. As this week is National Tree Week I want to give another plug to that excellent project. The team planted some celebration trees in Malvern Park to commemorate the special week and will have planted hedgerows at Solihull Riding Club by the time you come to read this. This is to be celebrated in the context of the habitat loss I mentioned above, hedgerows are home to so many creatures, which in turn support many other species. It is all part of our commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural environment for our own benefit and that of the other animals with whom we share it.
On Saturday, the Solihull & Birmingham Caribbean Family History Group will be hosting an open day at The Core. There will be free workshops at 11:30am and 12:30pm to show the "Five Steps of Genealogy". The exhibition detailing the group's story since its formation in 2008 is available to view during library opening hours until 30 November. For further information see their website.
Next week I’ll be attending the Council’s SEND awards evening, I’m really looking forward to meeting the inspiring children and young people and presenting some of the awards, I’ll talk more about this in my next column.
The Council and Disability Resource Centre are hosting a webinar on Wednesday 4 December at 1pm to talk about workplace inclusion. The webinar will be a great opportunity for employers to find out more about the Disability Confident Scheme. According to the ONS around 28% more disabled people were unemployed than non-disabled people. There is an untapped pool of talent that businesses are missing out on, with a broad range of skills and talents to bring into the workplace. To book your free place, click here. There will also be an in-person event at Blythe Valley Innovation Centre on Thursday 16 January 2025. To register for the event, click here.
This Sunday marks the start of advent, I hope everyone is starting to get into the festive spirit!
Councillor Ian Courts