Andrew Mitchell MP has visited the new Hope Food project at Ark Community Church ahead of its official launch.
Andrew met Debbie Middleton the Lead at Hope Food (Formally Hope for Sutton) to discuss the project ahead of their official launch on Thursday.
Hope Foods will continue the work that Hope for Sutton undertook in the community during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. As the lockdown restrictions ease the new scheme will operate instead as two pop up food banks with one based at Ark Community Church and one in Erdington. In the future the team hope to expand to offer coffee mornings and ‘cook alongs’ for those that have used their services.
The dedicated team of volunteers are working with local charities such as Our Place to provide additional assistance, mentoring and mental health guidance to those that have fallen on hard times or are in need of extra support.
Volunteers have secured food and donations from local supermarkets in Mere Green and the new ‘Cook’ store. Debbie is also looking for donations from the public and is asking local people to drop off any donations or extra supplies that have a long shelf life.
Commenting Andrew Mitchell MP said:
“I would like to thank Debbie and her team of volunteers for all their hard work setting up the new Hope Food initiative. The Hope for Sutton project provided important support for many local people during the pandemic and it is wonderful to see our community come together to keep the project going to help those facing hard times in the Royal Town.”
Commenting Debbie Middleton said:
“It was great that Andrew could and visit us ahead of our launch on Thursday the 22nd of July in Mere Green. We hope and aim to continue the good work that Hope for Sutton did so well during the Covid Crisis, focusing and ensuring that residents in Erdington and Sutton Coldfield were supported through a difficult time. That is why we are not just proving food to families but working with Our Place to ensure that families and residents are offered a deeper and wide ranging amount of support. We are a voluntary organisation so any support from residents with ambient food donations would be greatly supported – you can donate food at Hope Food Base, Upper Room, Wilmcote Drive, Royal Sutton Coldfield, B75 5ED”.
Photo: Andrew with Hope Food volunteers. Debbie is fourth from the left.
Hill West Primary School pupils are set to benefit from Government funds for their school refurbishment programme. Hill West is as one of fifty schools that have been awarded funding from the Government’s ten-year school rebuilding programme.
Transforming education for thousands of pupils, the 50 projects announced on Monday build on the existing programme bringing the total number of schools receiving upgrade funding to 100. The School Rebuilding Programme is due to deliver 500 rebuilding projects over the next decade, which will benefit tens of thousands of pupils.
The schools included in this round include primary, secondary and special and alternative provision schools, with more than 60 per cent of the schools in the North and Midlands.
The rebuilds and refurbishments will create modern education environments, providing new facilities from classrooms and science labs, to sports halls and dining rooms. The new school buildings will also be net-zero carbon in operation, helping meet the Government’s net zero target.
The programme will help to create jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities across England, with suppliers offering training and apprenticeships as part of their work on the projects. Most of the confirmed projects are expected to complete within three to five years.
Andrew visited Hill West Primary School last week and met Dr Beth Clarke (Head) and Dr Rhian Warrack (Deputy Head), Myra Clinton (Office Manager) and Year 5 pupils.
Andrew congratulated Dr Beth Clarke and Dr Rhian Warrack on the funding for their refurbishment work.
During his visit, Andrew spoke to Year Five about being an MP, his work in international development and he thanked them for the for the letters that he has received from the class about children’s rights, which they have been studying recently. He also answered a range of questions from pupils.
Commenting Andrew Mitchell MP said:
“I was delighted to visit Hill West Primary School last week, it was fortuitous timing as I had just received an update from the Department of Education several hours before my visit that the school would be awarded funding for their refurbishment work. It is excellent news that the school will be able to undertake extensive work to improve their facilities and allow the school to continue to grow from strength to strength. I would also like to thank year 5 for their excellent questions, I really enjoyed my visit and to have the opportunity to speak to some of my younger constituents.”
Photo: Dr Beth Clarke (Head) and Dr Rhian Warrack (Deputy Head), Myra Clinton (Office Manager) and Year 5 pupils (Katie, Florence, Ethan and Theo) with Andrew
Andrew Mitchell MP visits Boldmere, a thriving shopping centre, to support the national campaign to shop local in the Royal Town's brilliant independent and family owned shops.
He talks to Martin of Edge Menswear and Pippa of The Deli Social.
Andrew Mitchell visits Arthur Terry to support "Thank a Teacher Day" and met with students and teachers to discuss local and national issues of mutual interest.
Andrew Mitchell joins Leader of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, Simon Ward to meet Joshua Walsh and Nigel Smith from the Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets to discuss their ongoing plans for their Headquarters.
Andrew said:
“As their President I am very proud of the Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets and their plans will advantage not only the brilliant young people who are directly involved with this great organisation but also the wider community with what will be extraordinary and excellent facilities.”
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Andrew Mitchell secured an emergency debate to call on the Government to restore the 0.7% of gross national income spending target for overseas development assistance.
Andrew Mitchell visited John Willmott school and met a group of year eights who have been litter picking as part of their enrichment projects. He was quizzed by the students on a number of issues including the Clean Air Zone and the importance of litter picking.
Andrew then met the Head Tracey Peters, to have a catch up about how the school has dealt with Covid.
The school has created a YouTube Channel and they been able to showcase their students’ musical talents and create Q&As for incoming year 6 students.
Andrew Mitchell visits Moor Hall Hotel and Spa to discuss the ongoing challenges facing hotels and the hospitality sector in Sutton Coldfield. Moor Hall was buzzing with activity and has put a significant amount of effort and resources into ensuring that their venue is Covid secure and thank goodness life is returning towards normal there. Alongside Covid safety measures the hotel has also undergone a significant refurbishment of their rooms and they have more weddings taking place over the next 6 months than ever before.
Andrew joined recently retired Mayor Cllr Jane Mosson and Cllr Ewan Mackey for a local Great British Spring Clean event, tackling some of the litter and rubbish around the Duttons Lane and Weeford Road area. This year's campaign is aiming to clear a million miles of litter from streets, parks and outdoor areas around the UK. https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean
Andrew Mitchell meets local entrepreneur, scientist Rick Thomas to discuss his new business Survey AR which aims to utilise Unmanned Aerial Systems, remote sensing, monitoring and sampling technologies so that professionals can make more informed decisions in optimising use and management of the built and rural environment. He hopes that his work will help detect urban pollution and that the technology can be used in forests and green spaces to see how much carbon is being stored in these areas.
