BARTLEY GREEN WARD DEVELOPMENT

PLAN 2008 – 2011

CONTENTS

1. Introduction Page 2

2. Bartley Green Ward Profile Page 4

3. Succeed Economically Page 8

4. Stay Safe Page 15

5. Be Healthy Page 16

6. Enjoy a Higher Quality of Life Page 20

7. Make a Contribution Page 22

8. Key Ward Action Points Page 23

ELECTED MEMBERS

Councillor John LinesEmail john.lines@birmingham .gov.uk

Telephone 0121 422 6321 Councillor Bruce Lines

Email bruce.lines@birmingham.gov.uk Telephone 0121 475 3789Councillor Vivienne Barton

Email Vivienne.Barton @birmingham.gov.ukTelephone 0121 675 3067

CONSTITUENCY CONTACTS

Jagwant JohalJagwant.johal@birmingham.gov.uk

Telephone 0121 4303 3703Constituency Director

Steve BentSteve.jarviis@birmingham.gov.uk

Telephone 0121 303 6049Senior Constituency

ManagerTina Willetts

Tina_willetts@birmingham.gov.ukTelephone 0121 303 5393

Ward Support Officer

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Bartley Green Ward Development Plan.

The vision at the heart of this Plan is to make Bartley Green Ward a greener, cleaner and vibrant place to live work and study. This vision will also help and support the local economy and encourage local engagement and consultation its citizens. Focused work will be applied to developing partnership working between Birmingham City Council, other public sector agencies such as the Police and the Fire Service, voluntary sector and faith organisations, as well as local community groups and associations.

This plan will have some correlation towards the strategic outcomes to Birmingham Council Plan 2007-10, In addition, this local Ward plan will have links to the Edgbaston Constituency Community Plan, focusing on Government requirements and the Constituency priorities.

Succeed Economically Stay Safe Be Healthy Enjoy A High Quality Of Life Make A Contribution

The plan provides very detailed information about Bartley Green Ward with regard to specific areas of work. These areas of work are extensive and have previously been determined by the Neighbourhood Renewal Agenda, which was the vehicle used to address inequality and disadvantage. More recently, the Government has released a single set of national indicators as a framework for Local Authorities and Local Authority partnerships, and any future resources must be focused on outcomes against these indicators. By using specific reference points, we can see where improvements are required thus targeting our resources effectively and improving our services to the point where they become comparable to or greater than, the best.

The One Edgbaston Partnership (OEP) is a non statutory body which brings together key stakeholders in the Edgbaston Constituency. The OEP oversees the development of plans for improving local services and facilities, with the remit of the national indicators being paramount and indeed, the City Council Plan of 2007-2010. In the interests of efficiency, the OEP has specified four areas of partnership working, each of which will dovetail with the requirements of both the indicators and the Council Plan.

Children and Young People Economic Development and Enterprise Healthier Communities and Older People Safer and Stronger Communities

The data in the plan has been arranged bearing in mind the current framework of the OEP but primarily with the priorities of the City Council Plan. It is hoped that you find the information to be useful, informative and interesting, and are readily able to establish both an overview of how well Bartley Green is performing comparatively, and indeed, how priorities for action have been identified.

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Bartley Green Ward Governance arrangements:

The Councillors who represent the Ward are the Members of the Ward Committee (for details see page 24). The Ward Committee is a public meeting where decisions on local issues are made and residents can attend to raise items of local concern. Bartley Green Ward Committee meets regularly throughout the year and you can find out the dates of meetings by contacting by contacting your Ward Support Officer, Tina Willetts Tel 0121 303 5393, e-mail Tina_willetts@birmingham.gov.uk or Bartley Green Library Tel: 0121 464 4473.

In addition to the Ward Committee there is a Ward Advisory Board (WAB) and is made up of local residents representing all parts of Bartley Green Ward and included members from local businesses, the Health Service, Police and Fire Service, local Churches, schools and local community groups. The WAB meets regularly throughout the year and acts in an advisory capacity to discuss relevant issues in the ward and comment on Working Neighbourhood Fund Community Chest Applications under consideration by the Ward Committee. If you wish to know more about the Working Neighbourhood Fund Community Chest then please contact Tina Willetts, Ward Support Officer (see above).

The information used to compile this plan has been drawn from a number of sources;

Birmingham Strategic Partnership Local Performance Database The Mori Poll of 2006 National Census of 2001 Anecdotal evidence obtained at Ward Advisory Board, Neighbourhood Forums,

Ward Committees and the One Edgbaston Partnership.

If you have any comments or queries regarding this plan or wish to receive in an alternative format, please do not hesitate to contact Tina Willetts, Ward Support Officer.

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BARTLEY GREEN WARD PROFILE

Bartley Green is one of four Wards that make up the parliamentary constituency of Edgbaston.

Bartley Green Ward is situated on the western edge of the City. The Woodgate Valley Country Park lies to the north and to the south is Frankley. Weoley Ward lies to the east and open countryside within the County of Worcester is to the west.

Woodgate Valley Country Park is an area of countryside in the heart of Bartley Green and Quinton. It is an ideal place to go for a leisurely walk, observe wildlife, walk the dog or even ride a horse. Or it can simply be a great place to get away from the noise, traffic and buildings of the city. The park comprises 450 acres of meadows, hedgerows and woodland with the Bourn Brook running through its centre. Originally a mosaic of farms and smallholdings the park has retained much of its rural character. It is also the home of the Hole Farm Trekking Centre and the Urban Farm so horses and various farm animals can still be seen in the park today. It became a country park in 1984.

Bartley Green is predominantly residential with an extensive network of open space, recreation and leisure amenities.The Reservoir at Frankley, Birmingham was built around 1900. The water in Frankley runs entirely by gravity from the Elan Valley in Wales 36 million gallons per day are supplied to the City of Birmingham. Water is carried to Birmingham via an aqueduct to Frankley Reservoir. The total length of this aqueduct is 73 miles. An additional reservoir, Bartley Green, was built in 1930’s to hold additional water. Housing within Bartley Green Ward is mixed with a large percentage of owner occupiers and Local Authority Housing. There is a mix of secondary and primary education and a public waste disposal site.

Bartley Green Ward has 8 Primary schools, 4 Secondary schools and Newman University College:Primary Schools:Nonsuch Primary, St Michael’s C.E. J.I school, St Peter’s Catholic Primary school, Woodgate Primary, Woodcock Hill Primary, Ley Hill J.I. school, Paganel Primary and Kitwell Primary.Secondary Schools:Bartley Green Technology College, Shenley Court Specialist Arts College & Sixth Form Centre, Hillcrest School & Sixth Form and King Edward VI Five Ways.

There are numerous community facilities in Bartley Green:The main library is based on Adams Hill Lane and is one of the main focal points for the community not just as a lending library but as an access point for information. Bartley Green Leisure Centre and Shenley Court Leisure Centres both have a range of activities for all ages. There are 3 City owned Tenants halls namely Long Nuke Hall, Bangham Pit estate, Kitwell Hall, Kitwell Estate and Holloway Hall Community Hall, Ley Hill Estate. In addition there is dedicated City owned Youth Centre at Milebrook Hall. Other facilities include a vibrant Church and Community Centre at Illeybrook Square and the South West Children’s Centre, Doddington Green situated in Doddington Grove.According to the electoral register of May 2008, there were 17,737 people resident in

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Bartley Green.The census of 2001 identified the % of those people as falling within the following age ranges:

It further identified the % of people in Bartley Green as being of the following ethnicity:

Bartley Green Land Tenure

5

Taken from the 2001 Census.

Indices of Deprivation

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has produced an Index of Multiple Depri-

vation (IMD) for every Local Authority in England. The Index of Multiple Deprivation

combines a number of indicators, chosen to cover a range of economic, social and

housing issues, into a single deprivation score for each small area in England.

The Indices are used widely to analyse patterns of deprivation, identify areas that would

benefit from special initiatives or programmes and as a tool to determine eligibility for

specific funding streams

Overall Index of Multiple Deprivation score as a percentage of national rank. An overall

IMD score is made up of seven domains, each domain contributing as a portion of the

overall IMD score. The domains are as follows: Barriers to Housing and Services, Crime,

Education, Employment, Health, Income and Living Environment.

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Bartley Green Ward map indicating IMD performance bands:

This map gives an indication of where the significant areas of deprivation are in the Ward in order that resources can be concentrated there. Following consultation with local residents and councillors natural neighbourhood mapping was carried out and a number of natural neighbourhoods were drawn up based on where local residents considered their natural neighbourhoods lay.

The IMD suggested Priority Action Neighbourhoods are as follows:

Natural Neighbourhoods in the most deprived 10% households in England and also Birmingham Community Safety Partnership Priority Areas:

1. Cluster 1 - Natural Neighbourhoods of Bartley Brook/ Bartley Green/Athol*

*Also in Most Deprived 5% in England

2. Cluster 2 - Natural Neighbourhoods of Shenley Fields and Bangham Pit

3. Natural Neighbourhood of Stonebrook Way

Neighbourhood Working involves many of the local community who feel they can influence decisions about their community and thereby play an active part in what is happening in their area. It is hoped that in time Neighbourhood Working will move into other areas in the Ward.

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This local Ward plan will have links to the Edgbaston Constituency Community Plan, focusing on Government requirements and the Constituency priorities.

Succeed Economically Stay Safe Be Healthy Enjoy A High Quality Of Life Make A Contribution

These priorities are addressed individually as follows:

SUCCEED ECONOMICALLY

Bartley Green displays considerable levels of localised need and deprivation, being ranked in the top 7% of most deprived areas in the 2004 Index of multiple deprivation (IMD). The ward is thus amongst the most deprived in the City. It is identified as one of the 16 priority wards in Birmingham Deprived Area funding initiative and in the 55 City Strategy top priority wards. In Bartley Green Ward there are a number of small ‘pockets of deprivation’/neighbourhoods where worklessness remains particularly high.

Bartley Green Ward - Economic Activity

71.9

28.1

62.6

42.1

8.10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Active Inactive Employed NoQualifications

Unemp. Rate

8

Bartley Green Ward - Inactive

11.6 11.1 10.9 10

25.4 24.6

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1

Income Support May2005 - Baseline

Income Support May2007

Incapacity Benefit & SDAMay 2005 - Baseline

Incapacity Benefit & SDAMay 2007

Worklessness WorkingAge Client May 2005 -Baseline

Worklessness WorkingAge Client May 2007

The Employment and Training Plan for the Constituency aims to: Provide increases in jobs and training opportunities in the ward (for Black, Minority

and Ethnic (BME) groups, 50+ and those with lower qualifications) Promote Woodgate Valley Business Park, improve shopping areas building on the

regeneration work at Curdale Road shops Improve opportunities for basic skills training for young people – together with

improved information for young people.

The Plan’s regeneration and skills focus for minority groups and those lacking skills reflects national profiles. It can be more fully achieved in cooperation with other wards to fully exploit existing skills provision and to ensure that the promotion of Woodgate Valley as a centre of entrepreneurial activity results in sustained opportunities for local residents. This will build on and extend the employment opportunities in the ward which are currently focused on small and medium-sized enterprises in the construction and manufacturing sectors as evidenced below:

Organisation Name Number of Employees (rounded to nearest 10)

Nature of Business

1. Birmingham Accord Ltd 600 Construction

2. Lander Automotive Ltd 310 Seating & tubular components

3. Lovell Partnerships 250Construction of civil engineering constructions

4. Shenley Court School & Sixth Form Centre 250 Secondary school

5. Ishida Europe Ltd 200Manufacturer or Multihead Weighers to food industry

6. AAT Midlands 200Manufacturers of Plastic injection mouldings

7.Newman College of Higher Education 198 Higher Education & Training

8. Hillcrest Secondary School 100 Secondary school

9. Aisin Europe Manufacturing (UK) Ltd 100 Manufacture of auto parts

10. Bartley Green Technology College 98 Secondary school

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11. Iscar Tools Ltd 78Marketing and distribution of carbide cutting tools.

12. Midland Decorators Ltd 75 Painting & decorating contractors

13. King Edward VI Fiveways School 70 Secondary school

14. Woodgate Primary School 60 Primary School (Junior & Infant)

15. Forward Glass Ltd 60 glass salesSource: Birmingham Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Research findings highlight multiple solutions to the worklessness issues facing Bartley Green and Edgbaston Constituency as a whole. These solutions are based on feedback from local stakeholders and can be combined to provide a development model that will ensure that all local people benefit from the full potential on offer within the ward and secure sustained employment and community regeneration. The Constituency has a relatively low proportion of the working age population with no qualifications i.e. 29% compared to Birmingham’s 37%. However, Bartley Green Ward’s rate is 41% and in Bartley Green Ward only 10% of residents are qualified to NVQ level 4/5. This issue relating to skill levels echoes the experience of practitioners working with the NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) client group

The research concludes that a strategic approach on 5 fronts would represent a coherent ‘challenging worklessness’ plan. This has been arrived at cognisant of the Constituency’s Enterprise and Economic Development (EED) priorities and with the engagement of EED representatives.

For each of these 5 fronts or ‘pillars’ the following possible actions have been identified:

Employment brokerage – promoting work and enterprise and strengthening the economic base of an area thereby connecting the supply and demand for labour.

Capacity building – routeways to employment and training can be developed by exploiting and coordinating the range of voluntary sector opportunities.

Enterprise – Building up an Edgbaston Investment Strategy with Constituency stakeholders to build economic capacity within the wards and lay the foundations for economic growth drawing new business and employment opportunities for the future.

Education – A coordinated approach to equitable resource allocation amongst all key stakeholders across the Constituency is needed to ensure that residents from all four wards are able to access the inherent resources of the Constituency, participate in and benefit from development and regeneration programmes and add to the social capital of the Constituency.

Environment – The physical representation of an area can give off immediate impressions to residents and business alike. The regeneration and upkeep of an area’s buildings and land underpin the very essence of sustainable employment and removing communities from deprivation.

Source: Edgbaston Employment Offer – Challenging Worklessness Research Report – Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG)

Edgbaston Constituency Employment and Skills Plan (August 2008) has been drawn up on behalf of Birmingham & Solihull Employment Strategy Group, a sub-group of Be Birmingham (the Birmingham Strategic Partnership). The leading members are Birmingham City Council, Birmingham & Solihull Learning & Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus

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and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. The plan sets out key actions and targets for activities that will support residents in the Edgbaston Constituency (particularly those residents in neighbourhoods where worklessness is extremely high – i.e. Bartley Green Ward) in accessing sustainable employment opportunities.

The Action Plan will include the following interventions: Initial contact and client engagement Skills assessment to training and employment Customised training and job matching – employee and employer elements Into Work and post employment support Holistic/personal client support/measures to address other barriers Area investment, job creation and capture Any other locally determines projects/initiatives

The plan also seeks to identify service gaps and recommend commissioning of additional local activities. Part of the intention is to directly influence the allocation and commissioning process of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (and where appropriate other funding sources). It will also investigate the business case for an Employment and Skills One Shop within the Constituency reviewing existing provision.

The Plan Outcomes will principally be achieved through the following provision:Mandatory Programmes and established mainstream provision:

Employment Zone Jobcentre Plus Core services Pathways Programme (Newly established) New Deal for Lone Parents LSC core skills & training provision

New Initiatives: Deprived Area Fund Prime Contractors ESF Co-financing (both LSC and JCP commissioned programmes) Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Children & Young People

As our Children and Young are the Future it is imperative that we consider what is being done to help them succeed economically in the years to come. Connexions NEET

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analysis (May 2007) identified the needs and issues for young people in the South West of Birmingham and where there are significant high numbers of NEETs; this included Bartley Green Ward. Some of the employment issues for these young people relate to learning difficulties and disabilities, few or no academic or vocational qualifications and a reluctance or inability to travel.The Bartley Green Ward has recently benefited from the partnership working of 2 extended provision clusters:

– Shenley Cluster which incorporates Woodcock Hill Primary, Ley Hill J/I, Paganel Primary, Shenley Fields Nursery and Shenley Court Secondary School

– Bartley Green Cluster which incorporates King Edwards Five Ways School, Bartley Green School, Hillcrest Girls School, Nonsuch Primary, Kitwell Primary, St Michaels, St Peters, Woodgate and Doddington Green Children’s Centre.

These extended clusters offer extended family support, working in partnership with Edgbaston Constituency, innumerable agencies and third sector groups and the Cluster Action Plans have identified the following:

SHENLEY CLUSTER:

Continuation of the development of the NEETS programme through the Sub-group which will become a constituency-wide group with all clusters involved.

1. Media Project – with Bournville College and The Shenley Centre2. The Radio Project working with RCAT3. The martial arts project working with Midlands Martial Arts Centre4. The car mechanics project in partnership with Bournville College, RCAT, MG

Services and The Shenley Green Centre.5. Parent Learning weeks – building on first rung learning opportunities in the

primary school through Parent Support Project, provide a range of tasters over a week period during school holidays to coincide with the holiday camps for childcare, one per term. Progression onto 6 week short courses offered around the cluster leading to full courses provided locally.

6. Working with Pertemps, Working Links, Working4Jobs and Job Centre Plus to provide support and opportunities for lone parents to return to work.

7. Work with Job Centre Plus and RCAT to remove the postcode eligibility.

BARTLEY GREEN CLUSTER:

1. Switched on for school Project

Develop a summer programme to support the transition into schools from early years – good practice model already at WoodgateExplore developing a common pack of information that accompanies all children – common arrangementsSeek to co-ordinate home visits to children starting school.Children's Centre and at least 4 cluster primary schools to form a transition

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group2. Develop programme of reading support across the cluster and with other

partners.Build links between the library and all schools and promote take up of library membership.Signposting to further support for parents and children Work with Children’s Centre, Health Visitors and partners to encourage take up of Book start and develop sessions to encourage families to make use of the books.Develop Intergenerational activities on reading challenges. Explore developing a programme to bring together older people in the community with primary pupils to develop reading together Link with Library to develop Book Start Pack Day in October into a cluster event to promote books, literacy and reading

3. Develop a programme of Play work training for lunch time supervisors and provide each school with a range of lunch play toolsBursary for childcare for families studying who may not be able to access hardship fundsInvestigate Care to Learn LSC programme for relevance to local parentsProvide basic training in play work and youth work skills to local people.Training parents will be given access to use “Play Pod”Consider need for CRB checksLiaise with LSC local group to identify what training is needed and where best it can be situatedLink in with NEET young people:

Agreed plan for Connexions work with schools through Partnership Agreement

Preventative NEET work with all young people in target group in secondary schools Bartley Green/Hillcrest through provision of Information Advice and Guidance

Target those young people most at risk of not moving into EET including Learning Difficulties and Disabilities, Looked After Children etc.

Education Business Link Advisers agree and deliver school activities that raise aspirations, improve motivation and develop employability skills. ( primary and secondary)

Personal Advisors work with all NEET young people to support them to move into EET.

Work with partners to develop opportunities which are accessible and appropriate to NEET Young People (One Edgbaston Partnership, Quinzone, Newman University College, Birmingham University, Faith, Voluntary/Community groups, employers etc).

For further information on facilities available at the Children’s Centre please contact Tina Willetts.

The following table illustrates Bartley Green Ward’s Schools’ performance against City wide performance:

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KS

2

En

gli

sh

KS

2

Mat

hs

KS

3

En

gli

sh

KS

3

Mat

hs

KS

3

Sci

en

ce

GC

SE

s (5

A*

- C

)

City Performance 76.0 73.0 69.5 70.1 65.6 61.8

Bartley Green Ward 69.5 66.3 61.5 69.3 60.8 61.6

% Difference between Ward and City

8.5 9.1 11.5 1.1 7.3 0.8

The performance of schools within the Ward compares fairly well against the City performance, however there is clearly still some work to be done to ensure that Bartley Green Ward equals or surpasses the City performance comparison and it is hoped that all the work being done through interagency partnership working will addresses outstanding issues.

The priorities for the provision of services for Children and Young People within Bartley Green Ward are;

Improve the performance level at KS2 in English and Maths Improve the performance level at KS3 in English and Science The introduction of detached/outreach youth work in conjunction with the Youth

Service thereby reducing anti social behaviour. Improved methods of obtaining details about available facilities, e.g. website,

directory. Development of youth provision and facilities. Safer Routes to Schools Development of play facilities/play schemes. Initiatives which establish innovative ways of contacting hard to reach young people.

STAY SAFE

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Thriving neighbourhoods are characterised by clean, well maintained, safe streets and public open spaces. Strong partnership working and Neighbourhood Working allows for the review of any concerns and assists in providing a cohesive and focused response.

The table below illustrates the worst performance indicators of Bartley Green Ward against the City performance. However, it is important to appreciate that this is only indicative of 6 indicators out of 24 that are recorded – for all of the other indicators Bartley Green Ward’s performance is significantly better than the City.

Indicator Baseline 2005/06

Latest Bartley Green figures

2007/08

City Performance

Criminal Damage 22.7 22.9 18.3

Vehicle Crime – other 0.7 1.4 1.1

Theft from a motor vehicle 4.9 5.1 4.9

Vehicle Arson 337.1 129.4 82.2

Arson Dwelling Fires 129.4 27.4 25.7

Arson Outdoor Fires 1869.8 1030.9 419.9

Source: BE Birmingham Local Performance Information

Edgbaston Constituency has it’s own ‘Hit Squad’ to deal with fly-tipping, litter picking, graffiti removal and low level pruning of trees and shrubs. The ‘Hit Squad’ work in Bartley Green Ward on Tuesdays and this is to continue for the foreseeable future. In addition to this resource there is an environmental crew who work in Edgbaston Constituency every 5 weeks for a whole week. They will clear whole sites of fly-tipping, litter and graffiti. There are also Edgbaston Constituency Environmental wardens who work through out the wards to identify environmental issues that need tackling and they have powers to prosecute, The local Housing Team have an additional resource of the Estate assistants who work with their local Estate cleaning crew. All the resources work together and work closely with local councillors, Police, Housing Liaison Board, and local community groups to tackle all aspects of anti-social behaviour in Bartley Green Ward.

Priorities include:

Continued close liaison and partnership working with West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Police

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Increased education in schools re dangers of fire and vehicle crime Continued partnership working with the Neighbourhood Tasking Groups. Encouragement of active public involvement, e.g. parks groups, preservation

societies, litter picks. Initiatives to encourage responsible licensees regarding the effects of

alcohol and drugs..

Children and Young People

Through the extended Provision Clusters the following Actions have been highlighted:

Shenley Cluster:

First Aid – deliver 2hr taster courses through the Parent Learning Weeks. Seek to provide progression onto 12hr Certificated First Aid Courses, run one per term around the Cluster

Home Safety – Bring in the Fire Service for parent coffee mornings in all schools focusing on home safety.

Road Safety – Work with ‘Roadwise;’ in the development of a Road Safety Inspire-type Family Learning workshop to be delivered in all Primary schools.

Cycle Safety – Work with City Officers to provide ‘Cycle Safety’ as part of the Holiday provision for children and Young People, staffed in part by community volunteers.

Internet Safety – Work with Bournville College and Adult Education to provide short sessions during the school day for parents and carers about Internet Safety. Develop a directory of websites to help and support parents with a range of topics but to include Internet Safety.

BE HEALTHY

The following table illustrates that in comparison with the City’s average people living in Bartley Green Ward are fairly healthy. The table below illustrates Bartley Green Ward has only 4 performance indicators of 12 where Bartley Green Ward is below the City performance:

Indicator

Ba

selin

e/P

erio

d

Lat

est

Re

sult

Cit

y

Per

form

an

ce

Male Life Expectancy (3 year average) 74.8 75.0 75.2

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2002/2004

2004/2006

Deaths (Circulatory Disease)141.9

2003/2005

141.92003/2005

119.3

Deaths (Cancer)124.1

2001/2003

136.02003/2005

129.6

Over 65 Hospital Admission (Falls)167.0

2003/2004

167.12005/06

149.3

Source: Be Birmingham Local Performance Data

However, in addition Bartley Green has historically had a high rate of teenage conceptions in comparison to City performance. However, over the last 5 years this has steadily decreased as they have been a number of different interventions. These interventions need to continue in order to ensure that Bartley Green statistics continue to decrease. This will need continued partnership working between the Constituency, City Youth Service, Primary Care Trust (PCT), Social Care & Health, Children’s Centre, local schools and local Faith, Voluntary and Community groups. There will also be concentration on childhood obesity as Bartley Green Ward has been highlighted as a ward where there are high levels of obesity in children.

Two of the priorities of the ‘Be Healthy’ City Council strategic theme is that more people will be able to live independently, people will be encouraged to choose and lead healthier lifestyles and quality, choice and participation in leisure sports will be increased.

Over the last 6 years Bartley Green Ward has funded a whole range of projects, such as children and young people’s play facilities, water sports, judo, fishing and karate projects and Bartley Green Ward is continuing to tackle these issues by the following measures:

Continued support for the Age Concern ‘Well Plus’ Project Continued support for the Handy Person Scheme Continued support for Senior Citizens community groups to assist with outings and

transport to the clubs to give older people a better quality of life by taking part in social activities

Continued support for Special Needs Awareness Group (SNAG) the support group for families of children with autism

Continued support for the Fishing, Judo projects

Priorities include:

Increased access to pre-natal care. Increased access to post natal care. Drug and alcohol awareness campaigns and drug enforcement operations,

particularly with regard to young people. Educative programmes relating to teenage health and well being. Addressing childhood obesity Increased support to projects that deal specifically with young parents. Increasing access to sporting facilities. Continued measures to address Teenage Pregnancy rates.

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The introduction of detached/outreach youth work in conjunction with the Youth Service thereby reducing anti social behaviour.

Improved methods of obtaining details about available facilities, e.g. website, directory.

Development of youth provision and facilities. Initiatives which establish innovative ways of contacting hard to reach young

people.

Presently, there is a whole range of youth and children’s provision and activities offered from Milebrook Hall, St Francis Church & Community Centre, Holloway Hall, Kitwell Hall, Long Nuke Hall. There is also a thriving Youth Parliament in the Constituency, ‘Youth Real Eyes’. All of these resources assist in tackling the above priorities but this they need to continue to develop and thrive in order to deal with these issues.

Actions from Extended Clusters:

Shenley Cluster:

Support Work - Work with agencies, Youth Service and voluntary and community groups to identify young people and to work with them in school and with their parents. Provide a series of parent workshops with Drugs Concern about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Provide funding for a diversionary activity week during Summer 08 for those identified target young people. This would involve producing their own DVD about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse suitable for use in primary school and with parents.

Continue and extend the Health Mornings provided by all schools in the partnership with a refresher on the use of the equipment to school staff.

Bartley Green Cluster: Set up clear plans for the roll out of Common Assessment Framework (CAF)

across the cluster. Identify membership of a task group to oversee the implementation and development of a future CAF panel and how it might be carried out. Identify the role and size of the Panel and future frequency of meetings .Look at Children's Centre information sharing model for collaborative working within CAF and consider adoption as a cluster protocol

Increased awareness of Safeguarding. Seek to ensure that across the cluster that there is greater understanding of the role of “Safeguarding” and its wider re-mit beyond Child Protection. Forge links with the local Safeguarding Board to develop representation and training and raise local awareness of CAF. Look to audit current levels of safeguarding concern issues e.g. bully, race hate. Ar-range a multi agency local Safeguarding event

Work with Children Centre and schools across the cluster to develop a programme of events to link in with Safety Week across the cluster to involve all partners to provide a programme of activities related to personal safety on the roads and in water (swimming, Bartley Reservoir) as well as hazards such as electricity sub stations and railway embankments

Link in with Woodgate Valley Fire Station and open day. Family Support - Purchase of Targeted Family Support service for the cluster.

Discuss current role with Middlemore and the possibility of expanding capacity to meet waiting list in cluster. Identify with Head Teachers the most relevant agencies to work with in different cases. Devise a Cluster protocol for identifica-tion of families in need of targeted support.

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Develop a programme of Cycling Proficiency courses across the cluster. Train staff and Yr 10+ pupils as Cycling Proficiency tutors in return for free courses in cluster. Specially targeting NEET young people. Ensure all schools have travel plans including cycling, walking, walking buses where appropriate

Work in cluster to raise awareness of Domestic Violence. Custer to work with partners and identify ways of raising awareness and developing a response to supporting families. Link with Barnardos to form links and obtain representation in the Edgbaston Domestic Violence Forum.

Healthy schools - Schools in cluster work together to develop common standards. All schools have standard or are working towards. Joint workshops planned and collaboration on common policies and procedures.

Sexual Health work - Youth Service to continue to hold Sexual Health and relationships workshops at venues across cluster. WASPS to use Youth Service resources to raise juvenile pregnancy as an issue with older children attending clubs. Milebrook Hall – “C Card “centre work.

Drug and alcohol Misuse - Ensure training for ancillary staff e.g. lunchtime supervisors, out of school club staff. Run sessions led by ex-users for pupils and parents in primary schools and just pupils in secondary schools to ensure commonality across cluster. Run evening parenting briefing sessions and drop in daytime sessions in school and in the playground, both workshops and activities. Provide information sessions using the after After-school club for another 30 minutes which will be for parents (cluster subsidises extra staffing). Provide opportunities for group and 1:1 confidential sessions. Expand the current anti-smoking work with the Children's Centre and School Nurses.

Mental Health - Promotion of Post natal and reactive depression sessions. Develop drop in support work with CAMHS. Consider running emotional health days. Further links with Edgbaston Domestic Abuse Forum. Develop a cluster Well Being strategy.

Healthy Eating - Provide parent and child cookery sessions during school day. Cook and taste sessions (Health & Hygiene) Develop sessions in all schools for children and parents to learn together about healthy eating/make up of healthy lunch boxes. Include visits/talks from a nutritionist and a nurse to encourage healthy eating and routines e.g. family meals together, eating at the table etc

Bartley Green has 4 medical centres: Stevens Avenue, Woodgate Valley, Bartley Green Medical Centre, Romsley Road, Jiggins Lane Medical Centre and Ley Hill Medical Centre, Holloway (to be rebuilt and re-located on the estate in the foreseeable future).

ENJOY A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE

Enjoying a high quality of life will mean that Bartley Green Ward residents will benefit from good housing and cultural and leisure opportunities. This has been tackled and will continue to be tackled by partnership working with the following measures:

In recent years there has been major regeneration work carried out in Bartley Green Ward through major investment from the Ward’s NRF funding, Housing Department investment and extensive partnership working with Registered Social Landlords and Private Housing development investors. This is illustrated by the

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major regeneration of Ley Hill Estate which is in it’s final phases, demolition of tower blocks on the Athol Estate and maisonettes in nearby Cromwell Lane and Moors Lane and major regeneration of the residential properties and shops in the Curdale Road/Caynham Road area. This will mean that Local Centres will thrive, be clean and attractive and will be well-used by the community.

All of the Local Authority housing stock in Bartley Green is on target will to receive major improvements under the Decent Homes Programme by 2010.

Local park and public open space amenities have been enhanced by a number play facilities for children and young people. These will continue to be well-maintained and it is hoped that there will be some enhanced play provision on and around these facilities by using the resources of the Constituency Community development staff and the new play resources that have been secured through Big Lottery Funding. It is hoped that this will enhance the play provision for young people and thereby enhancing their quality of life and will also serve to engage with the wider community.

There are a number of leisure facilities for the young and old in the Bartley Green Ward with the facilities that are available in the Ward’s 2 Leisure Centres.

There will be a Summer Activities brochure issued to every young person in the Ward through schools and Children’s Centres so young people will be fully aware of what activities are available during the coming months.

There will be an ‘Activities and Events Calendar’ at each Ward Committee so the local community will be aware of what is ‘coming up’ between committee meetings

The Ward will be fully involved with Newman University College Community Fun Day by part funding the organisation of the fun day through community chest and by taking part on the day.

Bartley Green Ward will continue to be involved in the Voluntary, Community and Faith Network to ensure that there is full involvement of local groups in the issues within the Ward.

Shenley Cluster Identified Actions:

Shenley Cluster to employ a dedicated Attendance Support Worker. This would be a full-time post that would support individual parents and children to improve their attendance by working to remove the barriers preventing them from attending school.

Shenley Cluster to work with the Children’s Centre, Bournville College and Adult Education to develop a family training course for parents about how to play with their children.

Shenley Cluster to work with Shenley Fields Children’s Centre and the Rover Community Action Trust to set up a Father’s Group with the aim of supporting fathers and male family members in the development of positive relationships with their child and the education of their child.

The provision of holiday camps for all children and young people from 3 -14 years in partnership with Shenley Community Leisure Centre – June 08, Summer o8, October 08, February 09. This will include a series of activities for those youngsters who do not wish to enrol for sports activities and will include arts activity, drama, dance and music workshops.

Bartley Green Cluster Identified Actions:

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Switched on for school - Develop a summer programme to support the transition into schools from early years – good practice model already at Woodgate. Seek to co-ordinate home visits to children starting school.

Purchase of an activity “Play pod” – storage facility for a local park. Pod is furnished with a range of activities and equipment for children and young people to use in free play. Art competition between schools in cluster to decorate pod. Keys to be made available to range of stake holders in the cluster (both professional and volunteers) Develop a summer play project using 3 Sessional play worker over the summer.

Develop programme of reading support across the cluster and with other partners. Build links between the library and all schools and promote take up of library membership. Work with Children’s Centre, Health Visitors and partners to encourage take up of Book start and develop sessions to encourage families to make use of the books. Develop Intergenerational activities on reading challenges. Explore developing a programme to bring together older people in the community with primary pupils to develop reading together. Link with Library to develop Book Start Pack Day in October into a cluster event to promote books, literacy and reading.

Develop a programme of Playwork training for lunch time supervisors and provide each school with a range of lunch play tools.

Increased joint truancy patrols with Police and Schools. Look at the impact of teacher training days in the cluster and issue of some secondary pupils taking days of to provide support for younger siblings with school training days. Continue Wise Up and Cool Kids use across the cluster. Make sure school attendance positive messages are a feature of publicity. Link in attendance as a criteria for Family Support referrals

Primary schools and Children's Centre to develop non childcare after school provision further and to identify activities for after school clubs. Woodgate primary to run gardening club – Develop use of Children's Centre allotment.

Secondary school revision - Support planned activities. Action for Inclusion Project (to be developed) Funding from Action for

Inclusion to be used to enhance provision and ensure increased participation.

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

This City Council’s strategic theme translates in Bartley Green as where all residents and workers in the Ward value one another and play an active part in the community. Specifically this will mean the addressing the following priorities:

More people, including the hard to reach groups, will feel that they can influence local decisions and have a say in their services. We will look to achieve this by

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working in partnership through the Voluntary, Faith and Community network to reach more people so they can be aware of the governance arrangements in the Constituency and Ward i.e. Constituency and Ward committee meeting dates and how they can contribute.

Neighbourhood Working meetings are being held in identified priority areas. Look at different, innovative ways to engage with a wider range of residents

through different target groups i.e. those groups that specifically engage with BME, children and young people, the elderly and those with disabilities and those who are not working including those on incapacity benefit.

Local people can become involved and make their opinions known through the ‘Be Heard’ consultation database (to be developed in the near future).

Shenley Cluster Identified Cluster:

Through the Extended Provision Cluster groups support the development of school councils and organise a termly event where representatives are brought together.

Shenley Cluster - develop an extended school Hear By Rights action plan in conjunction with other local Clusters.

Shenley Cluster to work with the Shenley Court School Head of sixth form to continue to develop the Community Volunteer Programme by developing a peer mentoring programme with Connexions and the Youth Shop.

Bartley Green Cluster Identified Cluster:

Develop cluster council (with focus on primary school). Set up cluster Council using Secondary school pupils as mentors. Use the group to help develop links between year 6 and secondary schools and help develop plans for transition to secondary education. Link to Youth Real Eyes and Constituency panels.

Youth service summer activities - Contribute towards the provision of summer youth activities across the cluster to support young people.

Develop links between Secondary and Primary - Consider how links between the primary and secondary schools can be strengthened and opportunities for secondary school pupils to help as volunteers with primary school sports, after school club. Look to develop this into a programme to address all transition points (into and from Children's Centre/Childminder, nursery and primary and into secondary).

KEY WARD ACTION POINTS

THEME PRIORITY TARGET DATESucceed Economically

Administer, take forward and monitor Working Neighbourhoods Fund Community Chest proposals

March 2008/09

Assist and support groups to seek/obtain alternative forms of funding if they do not fit criteria to WNF

March 2008/09

Support local and multi-ward initiatives that would lead to economic success through partnership working

March 2008/09

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Stay Safe Support Neighbourhood Working initiatives throughout the WardDevelop a Neighbourhood Charter for identified Neighbourhood working priority area.

Ongoing

Support Safer Estates Group, Housing Liaison Board, Police Tasking meetings and local resident’s groups

Ongoing

Liaise with Community safety officer and local community to feed into Hit Squad, 1in 5 initiative

Ongoing

Input into PLIP and Special street collections programmes

Ongoing

Be Healthy Support the Edgbaston Domestic Violence Forum

Ongoing

Support the Handyperson Scheme, Age Concern, Special Needs Awareness Group, Voluntary Community & Faith network through partnership working

Ongoing

Support the Homestart organisation as members of the steering group

Ongoing

Support Extended schools cluster OngoingEnjoy a Higher Quality of Life

Support community groups through funding opportunities

Ongoing

Support Neighbourhood Working initiatives throughout the WardDevelop a Neighbourhood Charter for identified Neighbourhood working priority area.

Ongoing

Make A Contribution

Continue to develop Ward Development Plans and annual Action Plan updates to inform and consult with local communities

Ongoing

Continued involvement in local community activities i.e. Newman University community Fun Day, Woodgate Valley Fire Station community event

Ongoing

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