Our Place
This morning I spent time at Our Place in the centre of Sutton Coldfield. Our Place is a Community Hub which I first got to know 12 years ago, run by Kelly who is the manager.
5 years ago or so, the hub expanded to deliver advice and support more widely within the local community and has adapted well to changing needs and requirements.
I enjoyed a good chat with Kelly and Peppy about the important work they are doing and looked in on one of Beacon Family Services sessions.
Mercia Residence Garden Party
Last weekend I had a wonderful time at Mercia Grange’s summer festival, and I’d like to thank the team for their invitation.
The home opened in Sutton Coldfield just five years ago, and they’ve truly embedded themselves into the community thanks to events like these. The atmosphere on the day was absolutely fantastic, and I loved meeting residents and team members, whose passion shined through our exchanges.
The team is also well-known for their dementia expertise, and I know many people in the community are currently living with the condition.
To help, the home regularly hosts free advice events too; the next one, ‘Adjusting to a diagnosis of dementia’, will take place on Wednesday 26 July at 2pm, so I’d like to encourage carers and those keen to find out more to reach out to them or book their place for what I’m sure will be a very insightful afternoon.
Community Games
Although it is a shame that the weather got the better of us on the Saturday, I am very pleased to report that the Sunday of the Community Games was a fantastic day with great turnout as ever from the Royal Town.
Annual Lecture at the Royal Town’s Baptist Church
Last Friday evening I had the pleasure of visiting the Sutton Baptist church to be hosted by Donald Campbell and to offer my annual talk to the Sutton Coldfield church community.
This is about the seventh year I have had the pleasure of doing this and the Sutton Baptists are kind hosts and very welcoming to all who come.
This year’s talk was on immigration- its causes and how we deal with what is a significant international problem. It is also a major and divisive issue nationally in the UK and I tried to find some themes and areas of agreement that could achieve a degree of unity and common ground. I also tried to address the issue of what we can and should do to help here in the Royal Town- all followed by questions on national and local issues.
The Gracechurch
A further meeting with the new owners of the Gracechurch centre and also with our brilliant regional mayor Andy Street whose knowledge as a very senior business figure who ran John Lewis is exceptionally helpful.
Together we all talked abut the exciting plans which are being developed along side the Town Centre Master Plan.
I have emphasised the importance of full local consultation: I believe this new ownership is a critical moment in the regeneration of our Town centre- a regeneration that is certainly long overdue but at last progressing.
Donkey sanctuary visit
This afternoon I had the great pleasure of visiting the Donkey Sanctuary in Sutton Park and meeting Sarah, Tracy, Alice, Mike Nick, Jess, Jean, Pam and Georgie who all run the sanctuary.
I also met Cisco, Lucas, Glen and Peter – 4 of the local residents!
The sanctuary first came to Sutton Park in 1994 so is nearly 30 ears old and is part of the Donkey Sanctuary based in Sidmouth.
It is truly one of the Royal Town’s Crown Jewels.
But don’t forget, visits are only by appointment and are bookable online -https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/book?mode=reserve&resource_id=196211
And as it is approaching the holiday season, the Donkey Sanctuary has made me remember one of my favourite poems which I would like to share with you:
The Donkey by G. K Chesterson:
When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.
AI scholarship funding for West Midlands Universities
I was very pleased to receive the news from the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology that our local universities have received funding for scholarships as part of the government’s AI and Data Science Conversion Course programme.
Aston University, Birmingham City University and University of Birmingham have received £90,000, £1,200,000 and £360,000 respectively in government scholarship funding for the 2023-24 academic year.
AI is one of the biggest commercial opportunities in today’s fast changing economy, but the AI skills gap is hampering our ability to realise this opportunity.
This scholarship funding can widen the AI talent pool so that businesses across the UK including the West Midlands are able to access the AI talent they need.
New Group Chief Executive for UHB
I would like to welcome and congratulate Jonathan Brotherton on his appointment as Group Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB).
I am looking forward to meeting him in the very near future and continuing the constructive dialogue with him and the Board at the Trust about ways of improving healthcare for all my constituents in the Royal Town.
Foreign office questions
Tuesday was the last session of Foreign Office questions before Parliament rises for the summer recess.
My ministerial colleagues and I answered questions including on the UK’s international climate finance commitments, food security in developing countries, and rights for women and girls in Afghanistan.
If you would like to, you can watch it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001nyt7/house-of-commons-foreign-commonwealth-and-development-office-questions
Last night’s by-elections
By-elections in mid-term do not tend to be easy for the government of the day and last night’s were no exception.
But I draw two particular lessons amongst others.
First that we need to do everything we can to deliver on the Prime Minister’s 5 key priorities, and second that the result of the next election remains unclear and uncertain!
Sutton Coldfield Fire Station Open Day
Sutton Coldfield’s Fire Station's open day is on the 22nd July 10am - 4pm.
The open day will give the community the opportunity to meet their local firefighters, see demonstrations, receive safety information, there will be face painting, funfair rides, food and more.
This year also sees WMFS consulting on their three yearly Community Risk Management Programme (CRMP). Visitors on the day will be able to be part of this consultation which enables WMFS to set their priorities and come up with a plan to make our communities safer, stronger and healthier.
UK Parliament Week
This year UK Parliament Week (UKPW) is taking place from 6-12 November.
Sign up for your free kit and explore @UKParliament and how to get involved on the issues that matter to you.
UKPW is a great way to find out about UK Parliament and get a better understanding of the crucial work Parliament does.
#UKPW ukparliamentweek.org
Walk for Parkinson’s
Train Strikes
The RMT union has announced strike action at Avanti West Coast and 13 other train companies on 20, 22 and 29 July. As a result, a reduced timetable will be running, and operating hours will also be reduced on these dates. Services that do run are expected to be very busy. In addition, late services the night before strike days and early services the day after will also be affected.
