In my last message I talked about priorities. Our number one priority as a Council is still the improvement of our Children’s Services so that those children, young people, and families most in need of support get the right help at the right time, every time.
A key part of our children’s improvement plan is employing and keeping hold of the best staff. We have launched a new website to showcase what it’s like to work in Solihull and the wealth of benefits we can offer. This is being supported by a digital marketing campaign which will target experienced social workers to help us recruit and retain the best people for the job. Please do take a look at the website and share with any friends and family who you think may be interested in working with us. We’ve made progress in the last year on this front already, increasing the proportion of social workers who are employed permanently by the Council as opposed to being employed through an agency.
Please don’t think for a moment that I’m criticising our brilliant agency social workers or the agencies who employ them; they do incredibly valuable work for us and for all other local authorities and I really appreciate their contribution. But, as anyone who has run a business or managed a team will tell you, stability and consistency are key when you’re building top-quality teams. That’s why we’re so keen to recruit permanent staff; we have a solid improvement journey and we are keen for people to help us as we build our service and provide great care for children and families in Solihull.
Staying on the theme of employment, 45,000 additional workers are required every year to meet UK construction demand. If you are interested in the industry, you may want to get some training for a head start.
To help local residents unlock opportunities in construction, free training is on offer from Solihull Council (eligibility criteria apply). Funded by WMCA, the Kingshurst Construction Training Hub combines construction work practice at the Kingshurst Mountfort site and classroom-based learning at the training providers’ premises. Upon completion, learners will obtain a CSCS card and a guaranteed interview. I’ll be visiting the Training Hub personally in the coming weeks, and it’s something I’m really looking forward to. I’ll report back in full once I’ve seen it for myself. For details or to express your interest, follow this link.
With the recent cold weather warning and another cold snap expected next week, I’d like to let you know about the “Warm Welcome Hubs” being run at community centres and places of worship across Solihull. These provide a safe, warm, and friendly environment with refreshments and food, opportunities to socialise and access a range of useful information and advice. They are open to all local residents (with some hubs dedicated specifically to children, young people, and families) and may even be able to provide transport to help you attend. You can see the details of locations and times via our Here2Help pages
One project already under construction is whatever is being built behind the new ‘mystery street’ that has appeared in Touchwood. I wish I could give away the secret of which business or businesses will be occupying the space, but I’m afraid I’m still in the dark on that one. I am very impressed with the innovative display Touchwood have used to hide the work away though. It features notable businesses from film and television shows including Friends and Open All Hours, so it’s well worth popping into the town centre to see and maybe pose for a few photos in front of.
Our HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme ran again this Christmas holiday, providing funded activities and lunches to over 600 children. Activities included the opportunity to attend the Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime at Bromsgrove’s Artrix theatre, a Solihull Moors football match, the excellent Bikeability scheme, dog training and handling, and multi-sports and crafts. Family activities, where parents and carers can attend with their children, proved very popular at both our leisure centres, and more than 100 families enjoyed skating at Planet Ice.
1000 food and activity hampers were also provided to families in Solihull, packed by 100 volunteers from the Council, along with nine charity and partner organisations across Solihull. I’m extremely proud of the teamwork across activity providers, council colleagues and voluntary community organisations, resulting in the HAF programme continuing to support so many families across our borough.
If you’re looking for something to do now Christmas and New Year have passed and we’re in to what can sometimes seem like a quiet part of the year, I suggest you take a look at our What’s On pages on the Visit Solihull Website. We’re fortunate to have cultural, sporting, and natural attractions all year round so do take a look and see what takes your fancy. They’re updated regularly and include many family friendly and free events, so they are an excellent resource. There may be something happening right on your doorstep that you didn’t know about.
One of our key sites for events is of course The Core Theatre, still sadly out of action following the discovery of RAAC in the auditorium roof. The rest of The Core building, including the library and café remain open. I thought I would just mention this, as I recently had a lovely little lunch there myself, and there are also many other attractions in the multiple exhibition spaces still open within the building.
Many of the performances that were scheduled to take place in our theatre have been moved to Artrix, on the outskirts of Bromsgrove. Over the holidays I went along to see the wonderful production of Jack and the Beanstalk, and I cannot recommend a trip highly enough. Sadly the run of the popular pantomime has now finished, but there’s a wide range of shows coming up. Artrix is easy to get to, has ample on-site parking and lovely facilities, it’s comfortable, convenient, and a very impressive space. It’s definitely worth taking a look and seeing what shows you and your family might enjoy.
Finally, the West Midlands Lieutenancy (who represent the King in our region) is looking for nominations for their Young Active Citizen Awards this year. Closing on Friday 9 February, they want to hear about exceptional young people in the West Midlands who have gone the extra mile to help others so they can be properly recognised for their achievements. All the information is available here.
Thanks, and stay warm this week,
Councillor Ian Courts