Tag: Kings Heath

Grants available for local groups

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Sergeant O’Keeffe of the Moseley and Kings Heath neighbourhood Police team has provided an invaluable list of grants that may be of help to local organisations and groups.

Support for Schools to Set Up Breakfast Clubs

Magic breakfast is a registered charity (number: 1102510) that aims to ensure that no child is too hungry to learn by providing healthy breakfast food and expert support to qualifying schools. The charity supports schools with 35% or more pupils eligible for free school meals, or with 50% of pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as Ever 6 FSM).

More  information here.

Grants to Support the Development of a Just Society (UK)

The Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation provides grants to registered charities and other groups in the UK for projects that contribute to the development of a just society based on a commitment to nonviolence and environmental sustainability.

More information here.

Charities Leadership Programme (UK)

The Cascading Leadership programme is designed to give support to two groups of people leading voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations focussed on health and wellbeing. The first group is made up of experienced leaders who want to develop their skills by supporting another organisation. The second is people who would benefit from the experience of others who can help them to reflect and learn and to develop their organisation.

More information here.

British Ecological Society Outreach Grants (UK)

The British Ecological Society offers grants to individuals and organisations such as schools, museums, libraries and community groups that are promoting ecological science to a wide audience.

More information here.

Co-op Local Community Fund (UK)

The Co-op Local Community Fund distributes money raised from own brand products and carrier bag sales to local good causes chosen by its members. To apply to be a Co-op cause you must have a project or event in mind that takes place in the UK or Isle of Man, doesn’t have religious or political aims (although you can still apply if you’re a religious organisation), meets the Co-op’s values, takes place or will still be running after October 2018 and benefits your local community

More information here.

Local School Nature Grants Scheme (England, Scotland and Wales)

The scheme offers schools the opportunity to apply for up to £500 worth of equipment to help them to undertake environmental improvements. The scheme is open to schools with pupils aged 5 and upwards.

The deadline for the next round of funding is 15 September 2017.

More information here.

Greggs Foundation – Local Communities Projects Fund (England, Scotland & Wales)

The Greggs Local Community Projects Fund makes grants to organisations supporting people in need. Any not for profit organisation can apply. However, larger organisations with a turnover in excess of £300,000 are unlikely to be successful.

The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is 18 August 2017.

More information here.

Greggs Environmental Grant (England, Scotland & Wales)

The grants are intended to support projects that improve the physical environment in a way that will improve people’s lives. This can include purchase of equipment, sessional salary costs, purchase of trees/plants, small capital projects and learning activities. The grants are also given for new approaches and innovative ideas as well as sustainable approaches to supporting your local environment.

The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is 29 September 2017.

More information here.

Veolia Environmental Trust Grants (UK)

Not-for-profit groups close to a qualifying Veolia site (Kings Heath appears to meet the criteria) can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 towards community buildings, parks and paths, play and recreational facilities, nature reserves and biodiversity projects. To qualify for funding, projects must have a total cost of under £250,000 (including VAT and professional costs).

The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is 31 August 2017.

More information here.

BBC Children in Need – Small Grants Programme (UK)

Not for profit organisations such as schools, registered charities, voluntary organisations, churches, and community interest groups can apply for grants of up to £10,000 for projects that help children and young people experiencing illness, distress, abuse or neglect, disability, behavioural or psychological difficulties or deprivation.

The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is 1 September 2017.

More information here.

School Grants to Promote Physics (UK)

The Institute of Physics (IOP) provides grants of up to £600 for projects or events linked to the teaching or promotion of physics and engineering in schools and colleges based in the UK, catering for students in the age range five to 19.

The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is 1 November 2017.

More information here.

Spaghetti Junction – summer closures

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Residents heading for the M6, Erdington or Castle Bromwich along the A38(M) Aston Expressway are likely to hit trouble after 7 July 2017.

The biggest problem is likely to be caused by the closure at weekends of the A38(M) Aston Expressway.

The road will be COMPLETELY CLOSED from 8pm on Fridays to 6 am on Mondays for 7 consecutive weekends.

This means that it won’t be possible to use the A38(M) Aston Expressway to get to the M6 on Friday evenings, Saturdays or Sundays. The weekend closures will start on Friday 14 July and apply on every weekend until Monday 28 August. During those weekends, drivers won’t be able to leave the M6 at Junction 6.

In addition, major roadworks on the A38(M) Aston Expressway will cause restrictions and road closures for several weeks. The closures will start on 7 July and will include:

  • Closure of the tidal-flow lane on the A38(M) Aston Expressway.
  • 30mph speed limit on the A38(M) Aston Expressway.
  • Complete CLOSURE of the approaches from Gravelly Hill and the Tyburn Road to the A38(M) Aston Expressway.

Full details can be found here

New transport proposals

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A new Draft 2026 Delivery Plan for Transport across the west midlands has been put out for consultation. The plan has been prepared by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and is described as setting out ‘the schemes which will deliver a large amount of the Combined Authority’s long term transport strategy Movement for Growth’.

From Kings Heath residents’ point of view, one of the surprising aspects of the report is that Kings Heath is mentioned very few times. The proposed new railway station at Kings Heath is included (page 6) while the number 50 bus route is identified as a corridor which should be studied to ‘identify potential improvements’ (page 13).

However, the fact that Kings Heath is rarely mentioned in the document offers a possible benefit. One of the key factors appears to be that a number of transport ‘corridors’ are being proposed, none of which include the A435 (Alcester Road South and High Street, Kings Heath).

The Kings Heath Residents’ Forum (KHRF) has seized on this as evidence that the A435 should be downgraded and categorised as unsuitable for heavy through traffic. This would provide an opportunity to ban HGVs from Kings Heath unless they are making deliveries. Among the benefits of such a policy would be an improvement in traffic safety and a reduction in air pollution.

The KHRF will monitor the response of TfWM to submissions and, if necessary, make further representations.

For more information:

Main Transport for West Midlands website

Consultation draft document

Proposed transport corridors

Additional information

Proposed new Police powers to combat nuisance in Kings Heath

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There are various nuisance behaviours which have been giving concern on Kings Heath High Street and in Moseley Village. Currently these areas are part of an Alcohol Restriction Area. The City Council and Police are proposing to replace this with a new Order under recent laws to pick up a wider number of problem behaviours. This Public Space Protection Order would give the Police additional powers to stop harassment, verbal abuse, threats of violence, carrying open bottles or cans of alcohol, possessing or using “intoxicating substances” (mainly drugs) and making graffiti. Views from the public are being sought  by Friday 11 March 2016.

The widening of Police powers to intervene under this Order is likely to be warmly welcomed by the Forum. However, there is concern at the drafting of certain sections. We are likely to suggest some changes to make it clear that it does not prohibit peaceful gatherings and peaceful protest, that “verbal abuse” is defined, that it does not prohibit the collection of empty cans, that it does not prohibit “authorised” graffiti and that reasonable cafe style outdoor drinking on privately owned spaces or organised events (e.g. the Hare and Hounds, the Village Square, Street Fair, etc.) is not prohibited.

The public have to be consulted before this Order can be made so your views are important.

To have your say in support or against this Order by Friday 11 March 2016, go to the Birmingham Be Heard website.

Also see more information about the consultation and the full details of the Order (pdf).

Please feel free to let us know your views in comments on this blog, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Ken Clayton and Tom Tierney

Forum response to Boundary Commission’s proposal for a Kings Heath Ward

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We have submitted our response welcoming the draft proposal from the Local Government Boundary Commission to establish a Kings Heath Ward. However, our suggestion is that it should be based on the current area served by the Residents’ Forum rather than the area identified in the Commission’s draft proposal as we had consulted widely about that in 2011. The Commission’s final recommendations are due to be published in May and new electoral wards should be in place throughout Birmingham in May 2018.

Read the Forum’s response:

Kings Heath High Street design proposals public meeting

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DIY Streets Kings Heath and Kings Heath Residents’ Forum are co-hosting an open presentation and feedback evening on the proposals to make the High Street safer and more attractive for everyone who uses it.

The meeting takes place on Tuesday, 10 February 2015 from 6:30pm–8:00pm at:

Kings Heath Community Centre
8 Heathfield Road, Kings Heath B14 7DB

This open, public meeting is for anyone who is interested in the High Street design proposals – all are welcome to attend and you don’t need to be a resident in Kings Heath.

Come along to hear about the current plans, meet the project team, ask questions and give your feedback on the designs.

The final design suggestions will be handed over to Birmingham City Council in mid-February, who will look at specifics such as traffic modelling and a safety audit. The designs will then go through the Council’s formal consultation and approval process.

For more information, please contact:

Jenny Barlow
DIY Streets Kings Heath Project Co-ordinator
Email: jenny.barlow@sustrans.org.uk
Tel: 0121 634 1543 / 07887 763470