Words by Ed King
Erdington Local June/July newspaper will be making its way across Erdington this weekend, being delivered to selected homes, schools, and businesses.
But if you want to be one of the first people to get your hands on a copy, free of charge, you can grab an advance coy direct from the newsroom on Saturday 18 June.
You can also help our distribution team get some copies out on and around Erdington High Street, or take some home for your friends and neighbours – with tea, coffee, soft drinks, and snacks for anyone who can help with deliveries.
Just head to the Central Square Shopping Centre on Erdington High Street and look for the Active Arts Secret Studio Space, downstairs opposite MS Fruits and St Vincent charity shop.
Our distribution team will be busy getting the papers ready to go our across Erdington, but you can drop in and get a copy before anyone else in the constituency – just pop in and ask for Claire.
This month, Erdington Local is taking a look at crime across the constituency – with a special feature on the trends and patterns of criminality in Erdington, alongside some exclusive news stories about local initiatives and projects in Stockland Green trying to make our streets safer.
There is also a direct message from Erdington’s top cop, Inspector Rachel Darby, talking about the work our Neighbourhood Teams are doing to challenge crime and bring criminals to justice.
Our cover story is a first hand account of the Platinum Jubilee event on Erdington High Street organised by Pastor Rasaq, a fantastic occasion that celebrated both Queen and community during a very special afternoon. But be warned, not everybody there was waving a flag in honour of Her Majesty.
In the news pages we have some Hot of the press coverage about the amazing work being done by Pride House Birmingham, welcoming LGBTIAQ+ to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games – alongside the successful campaign by Erdington Councillor Gareth Moore to give Birmingham Pride Festival a permanent home in the city.
Be the first to learn about the proposed renovation to the St Barnabas churchyard, the new proposed traffic safety measures in Castle Vale, a special Fun Day in Sorrel Park, the next Evening of Creativity at Oikos Café, and how a worrying application for HMOs next to several schools and nurseries on Sutton New Road was finally thwarted by local.
Also, read how Birmingham City Council have finally admitted to charging residents of Standleys Tower on the Lyndhurst Estate for a sheltered housing scheme that has not existed for over a decade – costing them thousands of pounds.
Ignored by the rest of Birmingham’s media, this story was an Erdington Local exclusive after we learnt about the desperate plight of the Lyndhurst residents from Erdington Ward Councillor Robert Alden. You shout, we listen. We shout with you, and the Council are forced to hear us.
Also on our pages this month are a LOCAL PROFILE on an amazing Erdington artist, Jess Brown – next to an inspiring OPINION article from local campaigner and Green Party candidate, Siobhan Harper-Nunes which has been a privilege to publish.
There is also a full page feature on the unique and ambitious Festival of Flying coming to Castle Vale, inspiring the local community to literally reach for the skies – with many exciting opportunities for people to get involved ahead of the festival finale in September.
Catch up on school life from local educators in out BACK TO SCHOOL section – with news this month from Abbey Primary, Kings Rise Academy, Queesbury School, Riverside Education, and Wilson Stuart School.
Find out about a variety of volunteer opportunities from Compass Support, on our BACK TO WORK page.
And get involved in the LOCAL AMBASSADORS sponsored Sleep Out to help support local foodbank, being held on Saturday 16 July – we sincerely hope you can join us and GIVE UP YOUR BED – HELP KEEP PEOLE FED in this incredible and worthwhile charity event.
So come by the Erdington Local newsroom on Saturday 18 June and get yourself one of the first copies of our next monthly newspaper – packed with news, features, and opinions that directly affect Erdington.
Erdington Local is the only newspaper in the city that fully represents our community.
And if you’re feeling like heling out a little more, ask Claire about how you can help distribute copies of the Erdington Local newspaper – either by joining our delivery teams on and around Erdington High Street on Saturday 18 June, or taking some for your friends and neighbours. All help is extremely appreciated.
And remember, if there is anything you want to tell us about – or you want us to tell everyone else about – then we want to hear from you.
For a direct line to our editorial team, email: [email protected]