Business group welcomes Cotton appointment

The appointment of a new leader for Birmingham City Council has been welcomed by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

The new leader is set to take the reins of Birmingham City Council after the Labour Party selected Councillor John Cotton to replace the outgoing Councillor Ian Ward.

Cllr Cotton, who was previously Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, has been recommended following an interview process with Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).

The NEC has also recommended Councillor Sharon Thompson as the new deputy leader, succeeding Councillor Brigid Jones.

The changes came following the release of a report last week which was highly critical of the city council.

In a tweet on Sunday, the Birmingham Labour Group said: “At today’s meeting of the Labour Group we confirmed our brilliant new leadership team that will be taking the city forward as we seek to build a cleaner, safer and better Birmingham for everyone.”

Cllr Cotton said: “This is a huge honour, leading the city that has always been home.

“These are not the circumstances I would have wanted to take over in, but I feel I have a duty to serve. I will do all I can to unite the Birmingham Labour Party and deliver for our citizens.

“I want to pay tribute to Ian Ward who has not only led Birmingham City Council through a cost of living crisis, pandemic and delivered the greatest ever Commonwealth Games, but has given a lifetime of service to our movement.

“There is a huge amount of work to do over the coming months. We need to deliver the service improvements our communities deserve and tackle the significant financial and structural issues that threaten to impede our progress.”

Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “We congratulate Cllr John Cotton and Cllr Sharon Thompson on their appointment as leader and deputy leader of Birmingham City Council.

“Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has a long track record of working with the leadership of Birmingham City Council to bring the local business voice into the critical discussions of the day.

“We look forward to continuing that relationship as Birmingham’s businesses navigate the challenges of the current environment, while capitalising on the opportunities ahead for the city.

“Our best wishes for the future to the outgoing leader and deputy leader. In particular, I’d like to offer my thanks Cllr Brigid Jones who worked proactively with the Chamber to support and champion the needs of local businesses throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and has been committed advocate to engaging employers in tackling youth unemployment.”

A Sutton Coldfield family man has been elected as the town’s new mayor. Councillor Tony Briggs, who represents the Reddicap ward, has lived in the Royal Town with his wife Pamela for 25 years. Together they have two sons, Jonathan and David, who both studied in Sutton Coldfield.  

The new mayor, a Tory councillor, was first elected to the council in 2019 and has served on the planning and highways committee, allotment sub-committee as well as the council’s Active Travel working group.  

While the role is non-political, the Mayor presides over meetings of the council and attends events across the town . He also represents Sutton Coldfield at functions outside of the town involving local residents and organisations.  

Councillor Briggs said “I am delighted and honoured to serve as mayor for our wonderful community in Sutton Coldfield. As mayor, I plan to celebrate everything that is great about this town and look forward to working with as many different groups as possible to do this.” 

Tony serves as a school governor for Four Oaks Primary school and in his spare time he enjoys a wide range of sport, in particular local and national rugby.

To invite the mayor to an upcoming event email: enquiries@suttoncoldfieldtowncouncil.gov.uk  

Sutton Coldfield’s iconic fun run has received a further boost from the boss of the local McDonald’s franchise. Doug Wright is the latest local business to become a commercial partner of the Royal Sutton Fun Run.

Doug, who began his working life at McDonald’s as a cleaner in Bedford aged 16, became the youngest UK restaurant manager at the aged just 20.

He took on his first McDonald’s franchise in Lichfield, October 2002 and now operates 21 McDonald’s Restaurants across the West Midlands including Sutton Coldfield, Bassetts Pole and Burntwood.

Doug said: “Over the last 40 years, the Fun Run has been an ‘annual pilgrimage’ for so many local people. Not only does it provide the best ‘atmospheric day’ in the royal town but has generated nearly five million pounds for charities, voluntary groups and community interest organisations since 1982.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to support the Fun Run and look forward to a special day celebrating the 40^th event at the start of June.”

James Pike, Fun Run director said: “After the turbulent years of Covid restrictions, it was fabulous to see so many people gathering together in Sutton town centre and enjoying the Fun Run last year.

“We’re still very much recovering from the effects of having to cancel three times in two years and having to reschedule last year’s event to avoid a clash with the late Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebrations.

“We very much welcome the franchise supported community initiative from Doug and his McDonald’s logo will feature on each official run number worn by all entrants.

“We hope this is the start of a long-term partnership helping us drive the event forward and generating more money for charities, voluntary groups and community interest organisations who provide such critical support to people across our town.”

Pub open again after £120k revamp

The Farmer John’s pub in Streetly has reopened with a new look following a £120,000 investment. The pub’s revamp has seen the introduction of new wallpaper, stylish lighting, updated seating, and uplifting colour palettes. With an updated bar area and investment in team training, the pub has now officially reopened with a fresh new look. 

Don Welch, Sutton Coldfield’s 31st West Scout Group leader, was chosen as the pub’s community hero to pour the first pint in celebration of the pub’s reopening. He was also joined by the flag bearers from all age ranges of the Scout movement. 

Situated on the edge of Streetly, Farmer John’s has a family-friendly feel, an extensive grassed beer garden and large outdoor playing area. The pub is ideally situated for a drink or meal before or after a walk in the nearby Sutton Park and Barr Beacon Local Nature Reserve.

The Farmer John’s offers a varied menu of pub favourites such as Steak and Ale Pie served with chips, garden peas and gravy and new additions such as Loaded Fries with spicy pulled pork, nacho cheese sauce, BBQ sauce, crispy onions and chopped chives and classic lagers on draught, cask ales and a variety of cocktails and G&Ts. The pub also offers a traditional Sunday Roast each week, all served with fluffy mashed potato, roast potatoes, seasonal veggies, home-made Yorkshire pudding, stuffing and gravy.

Guests can also enjoy a new mid-week offer of a main meal and a drink from £10.75. The dishes vary daily with a burger and a drink available on a Tuesday, curry and a drink on a Wednesday and steak and a drink for £11.95 on a Thursday. 

With over 1,600 pubs and bars across England, Scotland and Wales, Marston’s sites range from their traditional local pubs and family-friendly pubs to sites with a focus on a ‘warm, timeless country pub atmosphere’.

Iain Kaye General Manager of Farmer John’s said, “We are so excited to open the doors of the Otter and to show our guests the final results of our refresh. We have invested over £115k into breathing new life into venue. The pub is much-loved by its regulars and we can’t wait to welcome everybody back.”

Farmer John’s reopened on Sunday 30th April. 

More information on Farmer John’s can be found via their Facebook and Instagram.

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A second phase of work has been completed on Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust’s Almshouses, which have undergone an £870,000 refurbishment to upgrade the residents’ facilities, the guestroom and the wardens’ accommodation. 

The Almshouses are a combination of bungalows and maisonettes located at Lingard House in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield and are typically designed for individuals over 60 years old. Currently, the properties house a total of 52 residents and create a safe and welcoming environment for both single and married couples.

The project has been fully funded by the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust and has provided the refurbishment of 46 homes in total.

During the refurbishments, the current Almshouse residents were moved into the vacant estate properties whilst Logmoor, the contractor, undertook work on the kitchens and bathrooms.

The Trust provided the opportunity for the residents to choose from a range of colour schemes allowing them to personalise the space to their taste and make their houses feel like a home.

The Almshouses each feature a double bedroom, a living room and now a brand-new kitchen and bathroom at the Lingard House estate. The properties are complemented by well-maintained gardens, a communal lounge space, a laundry room, a computer suite, a games room and a craft room, allowing residents to fully immerse themselves in the Almshouse community. 

Residents are also provided with additional benefits from two on-site wardens during the day, a monitoring centre overnight and an out-of-hours emergency call service.

Pam Johnston MBE JP, Almshouse Manager at Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, said: “We are delighted to announce the completion of the second phase of the Almshouse refurbishments and for the residents to be able to settle back into their properties.

“The Trustees are consistently looking to maintain the Estate to the highest quality and the provision of upgraded kitchens and bathrooms will allow our residents to have a functioning, yet welcoming space to call home.”

A very happy resident at one of the Almshouses, said: “I have recently had my kitchen and bathroom refurbished to a very high standard.  I was involved in the choice of colours for the tiles, worktops and cupboards.  The final result exceeded my expectations.”

To find out more information about Almshouses or Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, please visit: www.suttoncoldfieldcharitabletrust.com/alms-houses.htm  

Runners urged to step out and raise funds

St Giles Hospice is encouraging local people to put on their running shoes and take to the pavements to help fund care for local people, and their loved ones, living with a terminal illness.

If you’ve been inspired by watching the energy, passion and determination of runners taking part in the London Marathon, perhaps you might like to consider taking part in a running event of your own and fundraise to support St Giles Hospice, which has a centre and a number of charity shops in Sutton Coldfield.

One runner who’s enjoying a well-earned rest after her success at the London Marathon is Ashleigh Mills, Senior Corporate Fundraiser at St Giles.

Ashleigh raised funds for three different charities to celebrate her 30 th birthday year, raising an incredible £1,602 for St Giles as one of her chosen charities.

Ashleigh’s mum, Sue, received care and support from St Giles, following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2016, as well as receiving end of life care from the hospice in 2018.

Ashleigh said: “Choosing to run the London Marathon was always more than just a physical challenge. It was for Mom, and in her memory.

I wanted to raise funds to say thank you to the wonderful staff and volunteers at St Giles Hospice. They did so much for Mom, and for the rest of my family, during her final few days. It really was exceptional care.” Ashleigh had never run before, prior to entering the ballot for the London Marathon.

Although she had to delay her marathon date by a year due to an injury, she triumphantly sailed across the finish line this year and completed the marathon in just 5 hours and 35 minutes.

Ashleigh said: “I’m not a natural born runner by any stretch, and it took 12 months of training to get myself ready. I started by running for one mile, and built myself up from there, a mile at a time.

“To anyone who may be thinking of participating in a running event, whether its 5k, 10k or a marathon; running is free, anyone can do it and it has so many health benefits. Once you’ve completed a run, you feel fantastic, and walking, jogging or running are actually a really great natural therapy for people who are living with bereavement themselves.

“To me, St Giles represents hope and comfort. St Giles brought my family hope during the most stressful time in our lives, and gave my mom comfort throughout her illness and in her final few days – they were just fantastic.

“Our patients here at St Giles need continued specialist care and support, and that’s where local people can make a huge difference, by taking part in an event and raising those crucial funds for the hospice.

Those looking for a running event for the whole family this summer can look no further than the Tamworth Gate Gallop, held on Sunday 25 th June at the Anker Valley Sports Complex in Tamworth.

Organised in aid of St Giles Hospice by the Peel Road Runners, this event has been running for over 25 years, raising over £115,000 to date. Choose from a 10k run (£16), a 4.4k fun run (£9), or a 600m children’s run (£3).

Those looking for a more intense physical challenge, or a next step in their training journey, might like to try one of two half marathons in support of St Giles; The Great Birmingham Run or The Great North Run, both hosted by AJ Bell. The Great Birmingham Run is held in Birmingham on Sunday 7 th May, and St Giles are offering free entry to ten lucky runners, with a minimum sponsorship target of £350.

All you have to do is sign up for the run, and the free places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

You can also run in support of St Giles by securing your own place for either the half marathon or 10k Great Birmingham routes. The Great North Run is held in Newcastle on Sunday 10th September, and is the world’s biggest half marathon.

Although ballot places have now sold out for this event, St Giles are currently offering 8 lucky runners the chance to gain entry for £40, with a minimum sponsorship target of £350.

What’s more, those entering the Great North Run will be in excellent company, as Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah has just announced that the run will be the final professional race of his career before his retirement.

For more information or to sign up to any of our running or walking events, visit https://www.stgileshospice.com/our-events.

Peter Rabbit comes to town centre

A much-loved character is coming to Sutton Coldfield town centre as part of an Easter egg-travaganza this weekend, with fun activities.

Much-loved character Peter Rabbit™ is coming to the Royal Town for a two-day ‘meet and greet’, organised by Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID and hosted by Gracechurch Shopping Centre.

Peter Rabbit will be in Bishop’s Court (outside WH Smith) on Good Friday 7 April and Saturday 8 April, appearing at regular intervals between 11am – 3pm.

Michelle Baker, Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID manager, said: “We are delighted that the most famous rabbit of them all is coming to Sutton Coldfield this Easter and we hope that the local children enjoy meeting him.

“We are introducing regular character meet and greets for our younger visitors to ensure that Sutton Coldfield becomes a family destination and a fantastic free day out.”

The Gracechurch Shopping Centre will also be hosting a two-day ‘Eco Easter’ event between 11am and 3pm on the same days.

The event will see fun workshops, where young eco-warriors can create artwork from household waste, turning unloved plastic bottles and egg cartons and more into spring masterpieces.

Supported by local charities such as the Severn Trent Trust and the Community Environmental Trust, crafting tables will be set up in the centre with each stall hosting a different eco-easter craft.

There will also be a digital competition, where parents and children are encouraged to make their very own #EcoEaster creation at home and share an image online to win a Gracechurch gift card.

Centre Manager of the scheme Angela Henderson added: “Easter is a time for fun and joy but it can be surrounded by a lot of waste boxes and plastic.

“This year, we want to provide our community with a sustainable and exciting way of creating fun seasonal things from objects that otherwise would have gone to waste.

“We are very excited to welcome out local community to enjoy this free event with us and can’t wait to see all the creations from everyone.”

The Easter events are just one of the BID’s ideas to raise the profile of the town ­– following the launch last year of a vibrant new ‘Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield’ brand – with special events, competitions and improvements designed to make it a destination to spend time, eat, drink, shop and relax.

Previous star appearances, by much-loved characters including Bluey, the Transformers and the Grinch, have brought thousands of visitors to the town centre, and many more events are being lined up for 2023, including festivities to mark the coronation of King Charles III.

Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust supports access to specialist services

A Sutton Coldfield grief charity has received vital funding to allow more people to access essential services 

Love Life Again, a private clinic that has developed coaching programmes targeted towards helping adults and children overcome grief and trauma, has given over 30 individuals free access to the private services thanks to a £26,000 grant from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust.  

Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust (SCCT) exists to enhance the quality of life for individuals in Sutton Coldfield, but the trauma attached to grief is something that is felt globally.  

The Trust’s grant went towards funding for individuals receiving benefits or low-income households that would benefit from the 7-15 grief recovery group programmes but didn’t have access to the funds to afford them. 

According to the UK Commission on Bereavement, millions of people across the UK faced bereavement in 2020, with hundreds of thousands more bereaved than in previous years because of Covid-19, making access to grief clinics such as Love Life Again more vital than ever. 

Lucy Cole, fully qualified Grief Recovery Specialist, Trainer in & Master Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) & Trainer & Hypnosis Practitioner, Timeline Therapist, Personal Evolutionary, Health & Emotional Coach who solely runs Love Life Again, said:   “The grant from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust came at a perfect time for the service users at my clinic. I had a huge waiting list as well as people who wouldn’t have been able to afford the private clinic without funding.  

“I want to say thank you to the Trust for having such a significant impact on the community and giving people a place to come and talk about their feelings and emotions surrounding grief. They’ve given those individuals a lifeline and changed their lives for the better. 

“There’s not many people in the local area doing what I’m doing, so there’s a really high demand – I’m looking to take on two new employees after Easter to help me keep up.” 

Lucy opened the clinic after experiencing first hand her and her family’s battle with grief, after having to pull herself and her daughter out of some dark places, which is what encouraged her to start up the clinic.  

She is doing lots of work with local schools in the area, where she delivers workshops that students can also get referred to her.  

For further information about Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust and how to apply for grants, please visit: www.suttoncoldfieldcharitabletrust.com/alms-houses.htm

To find out more information on the services that Love Life Again provides, please visit: https://www.lovelifecoaching-events.co.uk/events/ or to read Lucy’s book about building confidence in children 7-11 years old, visit: https://www.faytheandthefearstone.com/