NEWS: Celebrate Erdington with free events and activities across Erdington High Street this half term holiday Erdington High Street will be hosting a series of free events and activities from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October, as part of a weeklong programme to give local families, shoppers, and visitors to the Town Centre something to do across the half term holidays. Arts and crafts sessions, creative writing workshops, poetry workshops, free face painting, free portrait illustrations, a live music jam, a local history slide show, and stalls from local crafters and traders will be just part of what’s happening - with pop up events in Central Square and around the High Street Hut, outside the entrance to Wilton Market. Locals can also contribute to the A to Z of Erdington, which is being compiled by PFG Consultancy and will be released as a coffee table book and online gallery in the New Year, at daily workshops being held by the High Street Hut from 12noon to 4pm. There will also be free teas and coffees at both locations each day, with hot food also being served at Central Square - encouraging Erdington locals to sit and socialise on the High Street, whilst enjoying the free entertainment. The week will culminate in a special Halloween themed High Street Community Market, taking place on the pedestrianised area between B&M and the Village Green - with stalls from local traders and community groups, alongside a range of free children’s activities… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/news-cele… @artsalloverthep @ErdingtonLocal @ErdingtonArts @ErdingtonTories @BhamCityCouncil @WestMids_CA Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected]

FEATURE: Celebrate Erdington - a campaign of events, activities, and a call to arms for more positivity across the Town Centre Celebrate Erdington is a campaign to bring more events and activities to Erdington Town Centre, with a weeklong programme of free family entertainment running across the autumn half term holiday - led by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID), Arts All Over the Place, and partners from the Cultural Action Area. But behind the bunting and banners is a call to arms, a rallying cry for more positivity about Erdington High Street - with everyone asked to help change the negative narrative and become a torch bearer for the heart of B23… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/cover-sto… @BhamCityCouncil @WestMids_CA Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected]

LOCAL PROFILE: “Politics shouldn’t come into it” - Martin Holcombe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Settlement and Chair of Kingstanding’s Pride in Place Board Martin Holcombe is Chief Executive of Birmingham Settlement, leading one of Birmingham oldest charities across the third sector seas for over two decades. And with centres in Kingstanding, Newtown, and Ladywood, the impact it has had both locally and across the city is significant. But now he has another precarious and powerful balancing act, as the recently appointed independent Chair of the Pride in Place Board for Kingstanding - overseeing £20m of investment into the B44 postcode. Erdington/Kingstanding Local caught up with Martin Holcombe to find out more about the past, present, and possible futures that surround him now - and what could be on a bright horizon for the north Birmingham suburb… For the full story read Kingstanding/Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/local-pro… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September. To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: [email protected] @PauletteHamilto @ReformErdington @mhclg @BhamCityCouncil

BACK TO SCHOOL: Slide into learning at Chivenor Primary school's new nursery! From the moment you walk through the doors of the new Chivenor Nursery it is obvious that it has been created with children at the centre of every decision. Before even setting foot in the main rooms, the Mini Griffins and Little learners are given the option to either climb down the stairs, or to take the blue slide down to their learning - The slide generally wins! The nursery rooms have been created to be calm and peaceful, creating an environment where young children can build confidence, make new friends, and develop key early skills through hands on play. Outside there is a courtyard for children to continue their learning under the elements and a newly fenced off area has also been created on the school's grass as an extension to their outdoor space… For the full story read Castle Vale/Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/back-to-s… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September. To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: [email protected] @chivenorp @BhamCityCouncil

LOCAL POLITICS: A message from Paulette Hamilton, MP for Erdington Protecting our high streets and keeping our neighbourhoods safe are among my top priorities. Residents have told me that Erdington High Street, Slade Road and Hawthorn Road deserve thriving local businesses that serve our community, not a concentration of betting shops, vape shops or rogue operators. That is why I welcome the Government's plans to give councils and local people a stronger say over what opens on our high streets, alongside tougher action against criminal businesses. Locally, I met Sergeant Millard to discuss the action needed on Erdington High Street. The recent closure of a shisha shop found to be selling illegal vapes shows what can be achieved when police, Trading Standards and the community work together. But one closure is not the finish line. I will continue pushing for more visible policing and sustained action to make our streets safer… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/local-pol… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September. To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: [email protected] @PauletteHamilto @brumlabour @ErdingtonCLP @BhamCityCouncil

LOCAL POLITICS: Councillor Jex Parkin and Councillor John Lambert - Kingstanding, Reform UK We've been digging into the condition of Kingstanding's roads after regularly hearing from residents about potholes and poor road surfaces. Our Freedom of Information request has revealed which Kingstanding roads generated the greatest number of highways enquiries between 2023 and 2026. These include reports and repair jobs relating to issues such as potholes, damaged carriageways and footways. Hawthorn Road recorded 291 enquiries, followed by Warren Farm Road with 277, Kings Road with 146, Hurlingham Road with 124 and Finchley Road with 114. Residents regularly tell us about potholes and poor road surfaces, so we wanted to establish exactly where the problems are being reported most often. These figures give us a much clearer picture. We will now be taking the worst-affected roads back to the Council, asking what action is planned and pressing for proper repairs where problems are recurring… For the full story read Kingstanding/Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/local-pol… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September. To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: [email protected] @ReformErdington @reformparty_uk @BhamCityCouncil

LOCAL POLITICS: Councillor Ray Goodwin - Castle Vale, Labour As the television show goes, Last of the Summer Wine has finally come to an end — and as we move into autumn, our thoughts are turning towards the winter ahead. For many residents, winter can be difficult. Rising household costs, the pressures of keeping homes warm and the challenges faced by those already struggling mean our focus now has to be on making sure people know where they can turn for help and support. That work will involve not only our fantastic partner organisations, including Spitfire Services, Upcycle Birmingham and Pioneer Housing, but also the community itself. Castle Vale has always been strongest when residents are placed at the heart of what we do. That will be particularly important over the coming months… For the full story read Castle Vale/Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/local-pol… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September. To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: [email protected] @raymondg1969 @brumlabour @ErdingtonCLP @BhamCityCouncil

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON: Help us decorate Erdington - join the free arts and crafts at Central Square today from 12noon to 2pm Come and help us decorate Erdington Town Centre by making your own pieces of street art and crafty decorations - at a free arts and crafts session in Central Square today. Led by local creative group Arts All Over the Place, the fun and family friendly workshop is part of the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON campaign - bringing events and activities to the Town Centre. Led by Erdington Business Improvement District, with support from local community groups and stakeholders, the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON arts and crafts session are using recycled and second-hand materials to bring splashes of colour to the High Street. All materials are provided with Arts All Over the Place giving you hand hint on how to make your decorations - which will go on display around Central Square. CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is also planning a weeklong festival of events for the October half term holiday - with activities held across the High Street from Tuesday 27th to Saturday 31st October. LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY / CELEBRATE ERDINGTON ----- CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is a campaign led by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) and local partners to promote more positive engagement on Erdington High Street and across the town centre. Follow the campaign on Facebook @CelebrateErdington Or email Erdington BID for more information - or to become a CELEBRATE ERDINGTON volunteer: [email protected] ------------ @BhamCityCouncil @WestMids_CA

LOCAL POLITICS: Councillor Robert Alden and Councillor Gareth Moore - Erdington, Local Conservatives Over the summer Cllr Gareth Moore and I have continued our work for more police and investment into Erdington High Street. We have written to senior police officials and held meetings with the local police team and the Council about the need for both more officers on the beat locally on our streets in Erdington, and for the City Council to carry out more enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) on Erdington High Street. It is positive that in the last few weeks our excellent local Police team has been given additional officers, allowing greater patrols locally, and the Council has agreed additional patrols to enforce the High Street PSPO. But we will not be settling for just this and will continue to push for Erdington to have the level of policing we need… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/opinion-c… This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 18 September. To be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and support independent community journalism, SUBSCRIBE LOCAL and email for more information at: [email protected] @bobby_alden @BCCTories @ErdingtonTories @BhamCityCouncil

NEWS: Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team seize drugs and illegal tobacco from raids across the High Street Erdington’s Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) has been cracking down on crime across Erdington High Street, seizing significant amounts of drugs and illegal tobacco products in two raids carried out last week. The first raid saw officers target a known hotspot in between The Swan pub and Borshch Electrical where police believed drug dealing was taking place. During a high impact broad daylight bust, the NPT and supporting officers seized 27 wraps of what are suspected to be cocaine and heroin. A spokesperson for the local force confirmed: “One man was given a community resolution, and an investigation into the drugs is continuing.” Then on Thursday 1 October, in a combined effort with Trading Standards and support from Operation Fearless, the Erdington Neighbourhood Police Team raided on a High Street shop suspected of selling illegal cigarettes. Carrying out the warrant to search the premises and vehicles connected to the retailer, officers discovered more than 50,000 cigarettes and over 2,500 grams of hand rolling tobacco believed to be contraband. Police seized the illegal tobacco products, estimated to be worth more than £40,000, alongside a vehicle they believe was connected to the crime. Working further with Birmingham City Council’s Trading Standards and Operation Fearless, the Erdington NPT are now looking to seek approval from the courts to close the shop… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/news-erdi… Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected] @ErdingtonWMP @BrumPolice @WMPolice @WestMidsPCC @BhamCityCouncil

COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Residents Invited to Work & Wellbeing Fair in Erdington on 16 October Residents are invited to join Witton Lodge Community Association for a friendly and inspiring Work & Wellbeing Fair this October. Taking place on Friday 16 October from 10am to 2pm at Six Ways Baptist Church, 10 Wood End Road, Erdington, B24 8AD - the event will bring together a host of local partners offering advice, information, and practical support. Whether attendees are looking for employment, interested in training, seeking help with their health, or simply keen to connect with people in their local area, there will be plenty to discover… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/community… Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected] @wittonlodge @BhamCityCouncil

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON: Erdington High Street Community Market is back on Saturday 26 September - 10am to 4pm Erdington High Street Community Market is coming back to the Town Centre on Saturday 26 September, held on the pedestrianised area by Wilton Market and B&M Superstore - from 10am to 4pm. Regular and new traders will be selling items from originally designed and handmade jewellery to vibrant clothing lines, crystals and healing goods, original artwork from local artists, colourful and crocheted gifts from local crafters, and homemade treats and sweets from local bakers. There will be lots of free children’s activities at the High Street Market too, with a free bouncy castle, arts and crafts workshops from Arts All over the Place, facepainting and glitter tattoos, henna and mehndi designs, and the return of the popular inflatable football shooting range. Organised by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID), the Erdington High Street Community Markets have been running since February 2026 - held on last Saturday of every month. The events are part of the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON and LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaigns, to encourage positive use of the Town Centre and bring a lively programme and arts and culture to the High Street… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/celebrate… Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected] @BhamCityCouncil @WestMids_CA @EdKing2210 #erdingtonmarkets #loveyourlocalcommunity #LYLC #CelebrateErdington #erdingtonbid

LOCAL AMBASSADORS: Free creative writing and community journalism workshop - Saturday 26 September, from 11am to 1pm Erdington Local is expanding its LOCAL AMBASSAODRS team and will be looking for new members to join their free monthly creative writing and community journalism workshops. Held at Oikos Café on Erdington High Street, on the last Saturday of each month - between 11am and 1pm, the next LOCAL AMBASSADORS workshop will be on Saturday 26 September. The workshops are completely free, and no previous experience is necessary - just a keen interest in creative writing, journalism, and media. All ages are welcome to attend the LOCAL AMBASSADORS workshops, although under 16s will be asked to attend with adult supervision. Places are limited and will be allocated ahead of each workshop, with free refreshments provided. For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/local-amb… Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected] @oikos_church @WestMids_CA @BhamCityCouncil @EdKing2210

COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Going Underground at Urban Devotion Birmingham’s youth centre On the side of St Martin’s Church, you’ll find a small, door-sized metal shutter. It might not look like much, but behind it is something rather special: a youth centre quite literally underground. The Underground has been providing a safe and welcoming space for young people for more than 20 years. During the school day, it is used by Oscott Academy, but in the afternoons and evenings, Urban Devotion Birmingham transforms it into a place for young people to meet, have fun and grow. From open-access drop-ins and development groups to holiday activities, there’s plenty going on. And, perhaps surprisingly, there’s even a sports hall! Shiloh, a secondary school student who recently started attending, said: “It’s been fun and cool because I’ve met new people. The sports hall is fun – I didn’t expect it to be there. The workers are cool and helpful…” For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/community… @urbandevotion @BhamCityCouncil Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected]

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON: PC McDowell joins PC Boyle and Street Pastors on Erdington High Street Out patrolling the High Street today, Erdington’s Designated Neighbourhood Officer PC Doyle (left) is joined by PC McDowell (right) - as they offer support to locals and retailers in the Town Centre. Also on patrol are the hardworking Street Pastors, offering advice, guidance, and a safe space to talk to anyone who needs it - all ages and faiths are welcome to stop and have a chat. Erdington BID wants to thank everyone at the local Neighbourhood Police Team and all other partner organisations for their continued efforts on Erdington High Street. LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY / CELEBRATE ERDINGTON ----- CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is a campaign led by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) and local partners to promote more positive engagement on Erdington High Steet and across the town centre. Follow the campaign on Facebook @CelebrateErdington Or email Erdington BID for more information - or to become a CELEBRATE ERDINGTON volunteer: [email protected] @ErdingtonWMP @BrumPolice @WMPolice @WestMidsPCC @BhamCityCouncil

ERDINGTON POLICE: Keeping Erdington safe – A message from Seargent Claire Millard As the nights (sadly) start to draw in and we say goodbye to the warmer weather and the demands that summer places on us, I wanted to update you on our policing plans for Erdington High Street. Our team works hard across the area to listen to your concerns, respond to your issues, and proactively tackle crime – and we know how important the High Street is to so many residents. With a Dedicated Neighbourhood Officer, PC Boyle, already working specifically on the High Street, and another in PC McDowell having recently joined our team, you can expect to see a high-visibility presence up and down the High Street, with our team ready to act to address crime and anti-social behaviour, while continuing to protect those who are vulnerable… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/erdington… Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected] @ErdingtonWMP @BrumPolice @WMPolice @WestMidsPCC @BhamCityCouncil

LOCAL PROFILE: “Sometimes a dog holds you together” - James and Frankie, how a rescue dog helped a local cancer survivor James Cockerill was 21 when he was diagnosed with cancer. After beating it initially, it came back as stage four just before the start of the first lockdown. James decided to get a dog, Frankie, who was around 16 weeks old. While Frankie was beginning her new life, James was facing his own battle. Eventually, he underwent a stem cell transplant that, thankfully, was successful in getting rid of the cancer. But receiving the all-clear brought on its own unexpected challenges. “It was harder after getting the all-clear because of the constant fear that the cancer would come back,” said James. “I would stand in front of the mirror for hours and hours prodding at my neck for signs that it had come back.” He was struggling, until one night Frankie intervened. “She came up to me and started barking at me,” tells James. “Then every time I touched my neck, she would grab my hand.” For James, Frankie gave him something that cancer had taken away: a sense of purpose. “It wasn’t the drugs that saved my life, it was Frankie,” he adds. “She gave me something to get up for…” For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/local-pro… Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected]

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: St Barnabas Church Community Hub The Community Hub at St Barnabas Church on Erdington High Street is one of the Town Centre’s most prominent local support services. As part of the Local Community Safety Partnership, it plays a vital role in supporting some of Erdington’s most vulnerable residents. In some instances, it can even help change their lives. Community Hub Manager, Natalie, tells about the Hub’s remarkable transformation. “The job advert I responded to was for a Café Manager,” she explains, “And it was a commercial café when I started, but we weren’t meeting the community’s needs that way. So, we decided to close and reopen as a hub [and now] we offer drop-in sessions for everyone of all ages and all support needs.” That was back in June 2023. And today, the Community Hub offers a varied programme of support and engagement - from sessions for babies and pre-schoolers, through to over-50s fitness groups, they’ve got just about everyone covered. Importantly, St Barnabas Community Hub is also there for those in need of more pressing support… For the full story read Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/community… @BhamCityCouncil Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected]

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Castle Pool Community Partnership Back in 2013, when Birmingham City Council announced their plans to close Castle Vale’s swimming pool on Farnborough Road, long-time local resident Amanda Cutler started a petition to save it. She couldn’t have known then that she and her family would end up helping to run it. “An asset transfer [taking over full responsibility for the site] was the only way we could save the pool,” she explains today. “So we went through that and formed the Castle Pool Community Partnership. We carried on running it, unpaid, for three years. We were the only ones in Birmingham doing that at the time.” Local estate stakeholder, Spitfire Services, were on hand to oversee the complicated process and have been supporting subsequent fundraising endeavours. But today the running of Castle Pool remains a family affair, with Amanda, her two sons, her nephew, and two volunteers sharing the lifeguard and teaching duties… For the full story read Castle Vale/Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/community… @castle_pool @SASSbirmingham @BhamCityCouncil Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper, coving stories from across the constituency - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected]

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Birmingham Settlement Sports and Community Centre Most Kingstanding locals will already know of Birmingham Settlement. After all, it’s one the city’s oldest charities, working to build and improve the wellbeing and financial resilience of communities across North Birmingham - with centres in Newtown, Ladywood, and Kingstanding. But what people might be less aware of is just how many activities and classes for all ages the charity organises at their Sports & Community Centre, located at 600 Kingstanding Road. Lizzie Forrester, the charity’s Income and Communications Manager, talked through it all. “The centre looks unassuming from outside, but it’s like a rabbit warren inside,” she laughs. “There are a lot of rooms and there’s always a lot going on. We’ve got separate projects for different age groups and different needs…” For the full story read Kingstanding/Erdington Local: erdingtonlocal.com/community… @BhamCityCouncil Erdington Local also publishes a monthly newspaper covering stories from across the constituency - be the first to get your LOCAL NEWS delivered through your door and SUBSCRIBE LOCAL at: [email protected]