(Ed’s note – this column was written for the Erdington Local printed edition and first published on 20.12.24)
All over Erdington there are Christmas lights twinkling from windows. For many, this is a season filled with joy. For others, it’s more complicated.
Wherever you stand, Christmas carries a powerful message: light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
At Christmas, we celebrate God stepping into a dark world, arriving as a baby to bring hope that changes everything. In uncertain or heavy moments, the birth of Jesus reminds us that God’s love is present.
In the bible it puts is like this: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:9)
Life’s challenges don’t vanish with the turn of a calendar page, but Christmas reminds us that we don’t have to face them alone. The light of Jesus shines in the darkest places, offering hope to carry us forward.
In Erdington, UDB works to be a light through our support of children and young people. Our drop-ins provide a space to connect, have fun, and discover hope for the future. If you’d like to learn more, scan the QR code.
From all of us at UDB, we wish you a Merry Christmas. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
Words by Simon Wilson, Chief Executive Officer – The Pioneer Group & Compass Support
Simon Wilson, CEO – The Pioneer Group / Pic supplied by The Pioneer Group
(Ed’s note – this column was written for the Erdington Local printed edition and first published on 20.12.24)
As we enter the festive season, we reflect on the strength of our community and the importance of supporting one another. We know that while this time of year can bring festive cheer, it can also present challenges for families in Castle Vale. That’s why we remain committed to easing the burden across the Vale.
Our teams are at the heart of what we do, providing support to residents, including delivering hampers to those in need over this festive period, with the aim of bringing joy to the Vale.
I’d also like to reflect on this year’s Christmas Tree Lights Switch-On, which was a great success, bringing residents together in a moment of celebration, reflecting the spirit of Castle Vale.
It’s a tradition that will continue for years to come, and we’re grateful to everyone involved in making this event happen.
As an anchor within the community, we’re continuing our commitment to make Castle Vale a place where everyone can thrive. We’re thankful to our residents, partners, and staff and together, we can make this festive season brighter for all.
We look forward to continuing our work in the new year.
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The Pioneer Group and Compass Support are key partners in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme – supporting independent local and community journalism.
Ladders of Opportunity second round recipients at BMet Erdington Skills Centre, Edwards Rd / Pic supplied by Witton Lodge Community Association
The Ladders of Opportunity Bursary, established in memory of Erdington MP Jack Dromey and Councillor Penny Holbrook, has achieved remarkable success in its second round of funding.
The initiative, aimed at supporting young residents living in the Erdington Constituency, saw applications triple from the first round, demonstrating its growing impact and importance in the community.
For both rounds, a total of £20,000 was awarded to 23 young individuals across the Erdington Constituency, each receiving up to £1,000 to support their career aspirations. The bursary recipients represent a diverse range of career paths, including aspiring pharmacists, dentists, teachers, nurses, youth workers, solicitors, midwives, and mechanical engineers.
In addition to financial assistance, the bursary programme offers vital mentorship and coaching opportunities. These connections with experienced professionals provide invaluable guidance for the recipients’ personal and professional development and can provide excellent insight into future careers.
The bursary is a collaborative effort, generously funded by dedicated partners including Witton Lodge Community Association, IM Properties, BMet College, The Pioneer Group, and Urban Devotion. This partnership exemplifies commitment to nurturing local talent, working together to create a brighter future for young people across Erdington.
Ladders of Opportunity sign identifying project partners / Pic supplied by Witton Lodge Community Association
A special event, hosted at BMet Erdington Skills Centre brought together the successful applicants and guests, alongside the panel and community leaders, including Perry Common Councillor Jilly Bermingham. The gathering provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these inspiring young individuals and hear about their plans for the future.
Afzal Hussain, Chief Officer of Witton Lodge Community Association, expressed his enthusiasm for the inaugural Ladders of Opportunity bursary programme, which has distributed £20,000 to promising young individuals across the Erdington Constituency.
He told: “Congratulations to all the recipients whose determination to achieving their goals have earned them this well-deserved recognition and support. The standard of applications has been exceptional and it’s an absolute pleasure to see these aspiring young people embrace this opportunity.”
(l-r) Linda Hines MBE from Witton Lodge Community Association and Ladders of Opportunity second round recipient Anisha Begum Mukhta / Pic supplied by Witton Lodge Community Association
Recognising the success of the programme and the pressing needs within the community, Afzal, emphasised the importance of expanding this initiative. He added: “Our aim is to increase the funding for 2025 by bringing on board new partners who share our passion and vision for supporting young people and education.
“We are hopeful this proactive approach will ensure that more young individuals realise their potential and contribute positively to their community, reinforcing the idea that investing in youth is an investment in the future of Erdington, and the city as a whole.”
(l-r) Kerry Amory from IM Properties and Ladders of Opportunity second round recipient Ellie Turner / Pic supplied by Witton Lodge Community Association
By seeking new partnerships, the programme aims to secure additional resources that will enable even more young people in Erdington to benefit from financial support and mentorship opportunities.
Witton Lodge Community Association is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.
Every year in the UK, a staggering 8 million real Christmas trees are tossed aside, contributing approximately 12,000 tonnes of waste to our landfills. This Christmas, we wanted to provide some eco-friendly tips for disposing your Christmas tree which are guaranteed to put you on Santa’s nice list!
Number One – Re-using your Artificial Trees
Artificial trees are made from a combination of materials and therefore cannot be recycled. Re- use your artificial trees as long as you can!
Number Two – Re-planting Trees
Mark out the area where the tree’s roots will spread, adding an extra 1–2 ft. Dig a hole that’s 2–3 times the width of the tree’s root ball and 1–2 in less deep than the height of the root ball. Please be aware that Christmas trees grow to an average 1 foot in height per year but this can vary from with different types.
Number Three – Recycling Trees
Trees can also be disposed of at any of the city’s five Household Recycling Centres:
• Sutton Coldfield, B75 7BB
• Perry Barr, B42 2TU
• Castle Bromwich, B35 7AG
• Tyseley, B11 2BA
• Kings Norton B30 3JT
Number Four – Recycling Real Trees
Birmingham City Council offers a free Christmas tree recycling service from December 26 to January 31, trees can be dropped off at parks across Birmingham from 9AM – 4PM. The nearest drop off point for Erdington residents is: Sutton Park, Visitor Centre, adjacent to Town Gate, B74 2YT.
Volunteers on the Treecycling campaign with Birmingham Hospice
Number Five – Christmas Tree Collection – Birmingham Hospice
The Birmingham Hospice has organised a Christmas tree recycling programme called Tree- cycling. On the 11th and 12th of January, Birmingham Hospice’s volunteers will collect and recycle Christmas trees in return for a donation.
They will be covering the following postcodes: B13, B14, B15, B17, B26, B27, B28, B29, B30, B31, B32, B38, B90, B91, B92.
Witton Lodge Community Association is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.
Centre Park, Tangmere Drive, Castle Vale / Pic supplied by The Pinoeer Group
Castle Vale is kickstarting the festive season by planting a real Christmas Tree in Centre Park, with an official ‘lights switch-on’ event to be held at 4:30pm on Thursday 5 December.
Free to attend, local residents are all invited to see the Castle Vale Christmas Tree illuminations, with stalls serving donuts and hot chocolate throughout the event.
The Castle Vale Christmas Tree, which stands at over 14ft tall, has been permanently rooted in the park off Tangmere Drive and will be a central part of the estate’s Christmas celebrations for years to come.
Organised by The Pioneer Group, the modern-day housing association that evolved from the old Castle Vale Community Housing Association, the tree was donated by Nationwide Windows and Doors – as part of their partnership with The Pioneer Group to help support local residents on the North Birmingham estate.
Nationwide Windows and Doors also donated 60m of special Christmas lights to decorate the tree, which organisers hope will stand as a beacon on community spirit throughout the dark winter nights.
The Pioneer Group manage over 2000 homes on Castle Vale and have previously worked on a widespread windows and doors replacement programme with Nationwide, helping make homes more energy efficient and increasing security.
Simon Wilson, Chief Executive at The Pioneer Group, told Castle Vale Local: “The Christmas tree lights switch-on is a great way to bring our community together during the festive season. My thanks go to everyone involved in making this event happen.”
He added: “Special thanks to Nationwide [Doors and Windows] for donating the tree and to Councillor [Ray[ Goodwin for his support to bring this event to life. This event will kick start our celebrations across Pioneer and Compass Support with a host of festive activities taking place this December.”
Cllr Ray Goodwin (Castle Vale, Labour) standing by the Christams Tree in Centre Park – donatred bvy Natrionwide Doors and Windows / Pic supplied by Cllr Goodwin
Councillor Ray Goodwin (Castle Vale, Labour) also championed the partnerships that made sure some festive fun came to Castle Vale this Christmas.
He told: “My sincere thanks to The Pioneer Group and its partners for embracing the Christmas spirit in such an amazing way. This is a true testament to Castle Vale and the strength of its partnership working that made this possible.”
Kevin Caveney, Director of Commercial Sales at Nationwide Windows and Doors, further stated: “We are deeply committed to creating social value in the communities we serve. We understand the importance of fostering community spirit, especially during the holiday season, and we’re proud to support Castle Vale with the donation of a community Christmas Tree.”
He added: “It’s our privilege to work alongside the Castle Vale community to make this Christmas a little brighter and to demonstrate how businesses can create meaningful impact through small but powerful gestures.”
Christmas Tree in The Sanctuary Community Centre / Pic by Ed King
Throughout December, The Pioneer Group and its charitable subsidiary Compass Support will be helping local residents this Christmas with outreach campaigns to provide food, household goods, and even presents to those who are struggling over the festive period.
Special Christmas Hampers will be made up and distributed to local residents in need, providing groceries and everyday essentials, with people asked to donate an old ‘bag for life’ from their supermarket shopping to hold the goods in.
Anyone who can donate a ‘bag for life’ for the Christmas Hamper campaign is asked to drop them into The Pioneer Group offices on Castle Vale High Street before 16 December.
‘Caring Together at Christmas’ campaign poster on display in The Sanctuary Community Centre / Pic by Ed King
The Sanctuary Community Centre is also organising the ‘Caring Together at Christmas’ campaign, where a special Christmas Tree will stand in the community centre entrance featuring tags hung on its branches with ideas for presents for local children in need.
Charitable members of the public can then choose to purchase a gift for a local young person, akin to the Secret Santa gift giving idea, and help make sure each child on Castle Vale has something to unwrap on Christmas Day.
Anyone wishing to nominate a child to receive a special Christmas gift can visit The Sanctuary and ask to fill out a form with the child’s name, age, and suggested gift ideas.
To contact The Sanctuary and Compass Support directly please call (0121) 748 8111 or email [email protected]
Words by Afzal Hussain – Chief Officer of Witton Lodge Community Association
Witton Lodge Community Association Chief Officer Afsal Hussain on Erdington High Street / Pic by Ed King
(Ed’s note – this column was written for the Erdington Local printed edition and first published on 15.11.24)
Every year, Remembrance Weekend pulls us into a shared pause, as we honour the sacrifice of those who stood in harm’s way for the sake of our tomorrow. It is a time when history reminds us of the profound cost of freedom and the resilience of the human spirit. We remember them. Always.
I had the privilege of attending a remembrance service alongside veterans, communities, and dignitaries, where we gathered to pay our respects. And in remembering them, we renew a promise: to cherish the peace they fought for and to strive for a world where such sacrifices are no longer necessary.
The Autumn 2024 budget gave us a sense of direction and priorities of this new government. Whilst there were some welcome measures, such as investing in our public services, increasing the national living wage, and the earnings threshold for carer’s allowance; the wider economic environment remains challenging.
Locally, the Council’s financial position, unfortunately places further strain on community and youth services, and we will be redoubling our efforts through local and city-wide partnerships, such as B:CAN to work together to minimise the impact of cuts and provide alternative ways of delivering services that are community led.
The Ladders of Opportunity Bursary is just one example how we can invest in future generations. This fantastic initiative, is dedicated to supporting the youth of Erdington with funding and mentorship, helping them achieve their dreams.
I recently had the immense pleasure of meeting the young people who were awarded the bursary. The room was filled with ambition and energy, with aspirations that spanned a wide range of careers and enterprises.
A big thank you to our generous funders: BMet, IM Properties, The Pioneer Group, Urban Devotion and Witton Lodge Community Association. For the year ahead we will be seeking additional partners to expand the fund, levelling the playing field, and supporting more young people who haven’t always had the best start in life.
Witton Lodge Community Association is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.
Words by Simon Wilson, Chief Executive Officer – The Pioneer Group & Compass Support
(Ed’s note – this column was written for the Erdington Local printed edition and first published on 15.11.24)
Towards the end of the summer, we asked our residents, stakeholders and members of the wider community to tell us what the most important services are that we provide and what makes a great landlord.
You responded to that call, and we have received lots of interesting feedback from across the community.
You told us that CCTV and The Sanctuary are the most important services that we provide In Castle Vale, promoting community safety and enabling residents through a range of employment, family, youth and health and wellbeing support services.
Our tenants told us that safe and well-maintained homes were most important to them, followed closely by good communication and customer service.
I’m not sharing this because these themes are new to us, or unexpected. We have made the decision to invest in CCTV and services for residents as well as a range of improvements in the fabric of our homes over the life of our last corporate plan because we knew then that these things are important.
However, all the feedback that we’ve received will be used to shape our next corporate plan that will set the direction for our business until 2030.
We will be renewing our focus on great customer service, improving communication and our digital platforms and continuing to invest in the homes and services that you’ve told us matter most to you.
The Pioneer Group and Compass Support are key partners in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme – supporting independent local and community journalism.
Words by Steph Porter / Pic supplied by Urban Devotion Birmingham (UDB)
Volunteers with Urban Devotion Birmingham
(Ed’s note – this column was written for the Erdington Local printed edition and first published on 15.11.24)
What did you used to want to be when you were older?
As a child, I wanted to be a teacher. Then, I wanted to be a stage manager in a theatre. Next, a social worker. Now, I’m a youth worker.
In 2023, The Prince’s Trust released new research on young people and aspirations, stating that since 2021, 57% of young people have lowered their long-term aspirations. A mind blowing and heart-breaking statistic suggesting another impact of COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis and other experiences on young people today. But why do these correlate?
I wonder if, for young people, the priorities have changed. Their dream jobs become insignificant in light of looking after their family, their mental health, and experiencing life in the present when so many aspects of their worlds have changed so drastically in the last five years.
At UDB, we are all about helping the young people of Erdington to hope and dream again. The first step to envisioning your future is knowing you have a voice in it, believing that you were created for something more than your current context.
Our youth volunteer program seeks to do this by giving opportunities to young people to grow and develop their skills by working with children and helping run events in their local area.
The program also includes leadership development and one-on-one mentoring, enabling the young people to discover more about themselves and in turn, discover more about their future.
If you’re passionate about helping young people to dream again, please get in touch.
Urban Devotion Birmingham youth worker at The Undergroud, St Martain’s Church, Perry Common
Since 2004, The Underground has been a safe, welcoming space for young people in Perry Common to socialise, make friends, and engage with the UDB team.
Located beneath St Martin’s Church on Witton Lodge Road, the space is used by Oscott Academy during school hours, while UDB hosts various youth activities in the evenings. Young people can grab a toastie, play in the sports hall or hang out in our youth space.
We spoke to some regular attendees, asking why they come to The Underground and what they enjoy about it. Their answers varied: “To make new friends,” “It gives me something to do,” and “It makes me feel safe.”
They enjoy the food, toasties, sports, and the chance to “see some friends every week.” One young person shared how the space has “helped with my self-control” and how UDB is always there to support them when they feel sad or angry.
We believe it’s vital to offer young people safe, drop-in activities where they can feel relaxed, heard, and have fun.
We all crave spaces where we feel we can belong, and we feel privileged to be able to provide those spaces to many young people throughout Erdington.
Our sessions at The Underground are open to different age groups:
Mondays from 3:15pm-4:30pm for school years 3-6
Mondays from 5:00pm-6:00pm for school years 7-9
Wednesdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm for school years 9-13
For more details and to see where else we run drop-ins check out our QR code (above).
Simon Wilson – CEO The Pioneer Group / Supplied by The Pioneer Group
This year we’re working to deliver some important projects here on the Vale. They will support us to continue to deliver on our original promise to provide high-quality affordable housing and making lives and communities better.
As many of you will already be aware, we’re in the middle of a programme of work to replace windows and doors in many of our homes. These upgrades will make our homes warmer and more energy efficient for our residents but they’re also part of a much larger project.
Through the UK Clean Growth Strategy, the government has set a target for all social housing providers to get a minimum rating of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C for rented properties by 2035.
An EPC generally measures how energy efficient your home is, and this is an important to step to making all homes ‘net zero carbon’ by 2050.
We have also got funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) to continue this work.
We have now adopted the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing which is a framework to help us measure our success in this area.
To find out more about our work to make our homes more sustainable you can read our first Environmental and Social Governance report on our website.
One final note to say that it’s really important that we have up to date contact details for residents, if yours have changed, please let us know!
The Pioneer Group and Compass Support are key partners in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme – supporting independent local and community journalism.
