MORRISONS Tamworth is helping hopeless romantics navigate the year’s most difficult buying decision – what to buy your loved one for Valentine’s Day.
The supermarket has worked with relationship expert Sam Owen to create a ‘Love Calculator’ for its shoppers after more than a third of people (34 per cent) say Valentine’s Day is the most ‘difficult’ buying occasion and 23 per cent said they had bought the ‘wrong’ gift in the past.
The ‘Love Calculator’, which will be offered to Morrisons Tamworth’s shoppers in the run up to Valentine’s Day, has over 40 decision-tree questions covering relationship status, current romance levels and partner personality traits in order to help guide people to the right gift. For example, a first time Valentine who wants to show their funny side is directed to heart-shaped crumpets whilst a married couple who have lived together for a few years are guided towards oysters to get them in the mood for romance.
When it comes to what people actually want, 99 per cent of Valentines say that money can’t buy you love and it’s the thought that counts, as they prefer thoughtful gifts over expensive presents.
Lee Gilks, Store Manager at Morrisons Tamworth, said: “Choosing the right gift for Valentine’s Day can be difficult and we want to take the stress out of the occasion by helping our shoppers find the perfectly-judged gift. The ‘Love Calculator’ aims to make our customers’ lives just that little bit easier.”
Sam Owen, Relationship Expert and creator of the Morrisons Valentine’s Day ‘Love Calculator’, said: “Whatever stage of your relationship, Valentine’s Day is always a tricky buying occasion with people often only a purchase away from romantic perfection or disaster. I hope the calculator can help all the hopeless romantics channel their thoughts and make the right gift decisions, so this Valentine’s Day is a love-ly one for all involved.”
TAMWORTH residents are invited to take part in a large and ambitious community art project to create a huge Mercian mosaic on the lower lawn of Tamworth Castle Grounds.
Mercian Mosaic will see 1,400 individual square yard tiles being decorated by people of all ages and brought together to create a large and striking Saxon-themed image.
Hundreds of tiles have already been completed by hundreds of willing volunteers from across the town, including from schools, church and community groups, sheltered housing schemes and art groups.
The intricate 70-yard by 20-yard mosaic has been designed by Tamworth artist Maggie Carney who has spent the last 12 months living and breathing the project; co-ordinating volunteers and allocating designs.
Maggie has set up a base of operations in Ankerside Shopping Centre in the former Argos unit where many of the completed tiles are on display. Whenever Maggie is in residence, people are invited to pop in, have a look and even get creative if they want to.
A series of open workshops have been organised during the February half term when volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to pop in and help take the project to the final stages.
Sessions take place in the Ankerside Shopping Centre unit on February 21, 22 and 23 from 10am to 12pm and from 1pm to 3pm each day. Anyone who would like to take part is invited to drop in and help decorate tiles.
The striking overall design features key elements of the town’s Anglo Saxon history, incorporating its landmark buildings, rivers and people, as well as details such as Tamworth pigs, dragons, fish, the Staffordshire knot and Mercian flag.
At the centre is Tamworth’s ‘Lady of the Mercians’ Aethelflaed, who played a pivotal role in English history by building a chain of fortifications against Viking invaders throughout the Kingdom of Mercia.
Her fortification of Tamworth in 913 AD became the forerunner to Tamworth Castle. Daughter of Alfred the Great, Aethelflaed’s accession as a female ruler has been described as one of the most unique events in early medieval history.
This year marks the 1100th anniversary of Aethelflaed’s death in Tamworth and the mosaic will be laid out on the lower lawn of the Castle Grounds for one day on Saturday, July 14, as part of a weekend of celebrations to mark the occasion.
Mercian Mosaic is one of several initiatives taking place as part of Arts in Unusual Spaces – a two-year scheme made possible with funding from Arts Council England to bring art to new and interesting spaces across the town.
Maggie, a retired school teacher and freelance artist, has worked with Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts & Events team before and previously created the stained glass window mosaic design that was transferred onto fabric and unfurled from the Castle Grounds Bandstand as part of the dramatic outdoor performance of Tigress in 2015.
And while she has enjoyed a long and successful career, Mercian Mosaic is the biggest project she has taken on to date.
Maggie said: “This is undoubtedly the biggest project I have ever done and I have spent many hours working on it. The work that has been done so far is amazing and people are welcome to pop in to Ankerside and have a look for themselves – although they may well end up being put to work! The project is progressing well and I’m looking for more willing volunteers to help push it towards completion. It really is the chance to be a part of something amazing.”
Cllr Joy Goodall, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Culture, said: “This is a huge project envisioned and developed by the Arts and Events team and brought to life by Maggie and her unrelenting efforts. The project is giving hundreds of people of all ages the chance to come together, get creative and contribute towards something that will be an amazing community effort.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the big reveal on July 14, during a very special weekend of celebrations which will be announced soon.”
Jeff Wigley, Ankerside Shopping Centre manager, said: “It’s been a delight to have Maggie at the centre as part of the Mercian Mosaic project and we’re looking forward to seeing her host the workshops during the half term holidays.
“The unit at Ankerside is looking fantastic, with some of the Anglo-Saxon pieces decorating the windows and walls. I’m sure the workshops will be a huge hit during February and it’s going to be great to see the finished mosaic in the Castle Grounds this summer.”
SPACE 2018 is set to be the biggest and best yet – with Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis continuing to support the summer activities project for young people.
Introduced to Staffordshire in 2015 by Mr Ellis, following a successful scheme in the 1980s, the Space programme brings together police, public, voluntary and private sector organisations to help nurture, support and guide Staffordshire youngsters and discourage the potential for anti-social behaviour (ASB)
The PCC’s commitment and funding of Space will be formally recorded at Monday’s Staffordshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP) meeting at the County Buildings in Stafford.
More than 18,000 attendees in activities across the summer holidays in 2017 – an increase of 5669 from the previous 12 months - with the age range of youngsters eligible due to be extended this year, for 8-17-year-olds (previously 11-17-year-olds).
Furthermore, statistics show a drop in police-related youth-related ASB throughout the Force during the period when Space was in operation, with 1091 recorded cases between mid-July and early-September 2017, compared to 1768 during the same period 12 months earlier. These are influenced by a wide range of factors, including weather, opportunities to engage in activities of interest, operational activity together with changes to Force recording practices.
PCC Matthew Ellis watches on as youngsters enjoy ‘Zorbing’ activity as part of the Space scheme.
The PCC office is also exploring the potential to extend the coverage of Space to other holiday periods.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis said: ‘Space is part of the ongoing promise to do more for young people.
‘We’ve had huge numbers attending and levels of recorded youth-related ASB were significantly reduced compared to the previous year.
‘Staffordshire, like many areas, experiences higher rates of ASB during summer holidays than at other times and I’m keen that efforts are made to tackle the annual spike which happens year after year.
‘I was inspired by memories of the 1980s when officers from Staffordshire Police engaged in sport and other fun activities with local youngsters throughout the summer holidays.
‘For youngsters of today, my approach to Space is very different. I first introduced the Space programme in 2015 by bringing together police, public, voluntary and private sector organisations to help nurture, support and guide local young people and to keep communities even safer.
‘Now, three years on, Space is going from strength to strength and my plan is to grow investment in the programme and widen its approach, while extending it to beyond just the summer holidays.
‘Success for the youngsters is seen by the smiles on their faces, opportunities experienced for the first time and the things they’ve learned.
‘Space 2018 is aimed at increasing skills, improving health and wellbeing, and creating opportunities for young people to take part in positive activities to make communities safer and has previously run during the summer holidays.
‘I believe joint investment in positive engagement will change attitudes and mindset of those participating and ultimately make the communities of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent even safer.’
STAFFORDSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service is changing the way it delivers Safe and Well Visits.
The Service has been visiting residents’ homes throughout the county, fitting smoke alarms, offering fire safety advice and checking the properties for potential hazards. During these visits, they also check the residents’ general wellbeing and ensure they have sufficient heating, benefits, etc. If there are any other concerns they refer the occupiers on to the appropriate agencies
The Service has been running these visits since 2015 when the Community Advice Team (CAT) was first introduced but from February 12 they will be using a new approach to target those most vulnerable in the community.
Although anyone can call CAT for information and safety advice only certain individuals will qualify for a Safe and Well visit, these include:
Those who have had a fire and the surrounding properties
Couples who are 85-years-old or over
Single occupiers ages 65 or over
Single occupiers, aged 50-64, who are smokers or alcohol dependent
Single parents
Couples with young children
Anyone with alcohol dependency
Anyone whose property is at immediate risk of arson
Station Manager Paul Shaw said: “The new targeted approach will ensure those who really need the Safe and Well visits will get them however those that do not qualify for a visit can still request a safety pack to be sent to their homes. This will give them the information they need to stay safe in their homes.
“This really is a tailored approach so that we know the right people are getting information and we are utilising our resources as effectively as possible to keep people safe.”
Call the FREE Community Advice Team on 0800 0241 999 or visit www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/HomeSafety for more information.
A RECORD turnout at Tamworth’s annual Christmas carol and memorial service has given a New Year’s boost to the funds of two organisations at the heart of the local community.
More than £900 was collected at the service which has now been split between St Editha’s Church, which hosted the occasion, and St Giles Hospice.
The donation will assist the church in completing much-needed repairs to the roof and windows of the historic building while helping St Giles to continue its work at the hospice and in the community.
The event, organised by Tamworth Co-op’s funeral division, was attended by more than 600 people who came together to remember their lost loved ones and celebrate the festive season.
St Giles Hospice community engagement manager Ian Leech said the cash would make a real difference in helping it to provide care for people with incurable illnesses and supporting their families.
“It’s a fantastic amount and we’re very grateful for it. It costs around £9m a year to operate St Giles and £6m of that has to be found from within our communities. So we rely on donations like this.
“It will help us to support people in our communities and in our inpatient units. Last year we helped over 7,000 people in our catchment area, which covers Tamworth.”
Glen Speak, deputy manager of Tamworth Co-op’s funeral service, is pictured presenting St Giles Hospice community engagement manager Ian Leech with a cheque for £466.72.
The hospice has forged a successful partnership with Tamworth Co-op’s funeral service. In May, they opened a pop-up shop in the town centre during Dying Matters Awareness Week to encourage people to talk openly about dying and to make plans for the end of life. A similar event is planned this year.
Glen Speak, deputy manager of Tamworth Co-op’s funeral service, said the carol and memorial service has become a Tamworth tradition.
“So many people came along this year we ran out of orders of service and seats. We try not to dwell on it, being a sombre occasion. The focus is on the silent candlelit tribute during the service which illuminates the church and gives everybody a glow in the heart.”
Reverend Alan Gordon, who conducted the service, said: “We’re very thankful to the congregation and Tamworth Co-op. Recently the chancel roof has had to be re-leaded and eight windows repaired at a total cost of £220,000. There are still some masonry repairs to do as well and when we’ve finished that we will need to replace some of the carpet at the altar which is a trip hazard. We also want to put the office and toilets into the church. We do get some grants, but there is a shortfall and we always need donations.”
CONSULTATION meetings over the best way to manage some of Staffordshire’s libraries begin this week.
A drop-in session yesterday (Tues 16th) at Penkridge library is now followed by a host of public events next week and beyond at other libraries and at mobile and travelling library stops.
Discussions will include potentially using technology to maintain and extend opening hours with an automated service, increasing the number of community managed libraries and reviewing how the mobile and travelling service is used.
Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities, said: “We’ve worked very hard in recent years to keep all Staffordshire’s 43 libraries open and this discussion about the next steps is part of that process to keep the service flexible and relevant.
“We want to talk to as many people as possible to explain what the options mean and to hear what they think about them.”
Since 2014 23 of the county’s libraries have been transferred, or are in the process of being transferred, to community groups which take over the management and day-to-day running of the building, while the council remains responsible for agreed utility bills and maintenance costs. These 23 libraries are not being considered in this consultation.
People will be asked to comment on possible options for each of the remaining 20 libraries, specifically:
maintaining and extending existing opening hours by using technology to allow registered users access to the library outside core hours. No library would become completely self-service;
maintaining and extending existing opening hours by using more volunteers;
becoming a community-managed library, where a group takes over the management and day-to-day running, with access to all the council’s library resources, while the authority remains responsible for agreed utility bills and maintenance costs.
All 20 libraries involved in the process will be considered for the options involving maintaining and extending existing opening hours. The four ‘least busy’ libraries of Cheadle, Clayton, Eccleshall and Penkridge will also be considered for suitability to become community-managed libraries.
The consultation lasts until April 1 and information about events can be found at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/connectedlibraries . People can also use the same website to leave their comments, fill in a questionnaire at any library, or email connect[email protected] to have their say.
Events at libraries in forthcoming weeks include:
Penkridge: Jan 16, 3-6pm
Uttoxeter: Jan 22, 3-6pm
Cannock: Jan 23, 7-9pm
Lichfield: Jan 25, 3-6pm
Wombourne: Jan 29, 3-6pm
Stone: Jan 30, 3-6pm
Clayton: Feb 5, 3-6pm
Biddulph: Feb 6, 3-6pm
Stafford: Feb 7, 7-9pm
Rugeley: Feb 8, 3-6pm
Kidsgrove: Feb 13, 3-6pm
Codsall: Feb 15, 3-6pm
Tamworth: Feb 20, 3-6pm
Burton: Feb 22, 7-9pm
Cheadle: Feb 26, 3-6pm
Burntwood: Feb 27, 3-6pm
Leek: Feb 28, 7-9pm
Eccleshall: Mar 6, 3-6pm
Newcastle: Mar 20, 7-9pm
Perton: Mar 22, 7-9pm
Events at mobile & travelling libraries:
Standon – All Saints School, Jan 18, 10.15-11.30am
Cheddleton – Grange Road, Jan 24, 11.15am-1.15pm
Rolleston Club, Feb 1, 10am-noon
Branston – Blacksmith’s Arms, Feb 9, 1.30-3.30pm
Abbots Bromley – Bagot Arms, Feb 14, 3.15-4.45pm
Great Haywood – Clifford Arms, Feb 19, 2.30-4.30pm
Featherstone – Children’s Centre, Feb 27, 10.30-noon
A SMALL business grant scheme which has so far awarded 15 individuals a total of £14,753.68 is now open for a fourth round of applications.
The scheme helps promote new business start-ups, self-employment and entrepreneurship in Tamworth. New businesses in the area are now being encouraged to apply for a fourth round of grants of between £500 and £1500, before the application closing date on Friday, February 23.
Businesses including environmental cleaning; respite services for parents of special needs children; bespoke cakes; foot health practitioner; domestic, national and international relocation and media services have all benefited from the grant scheme since it was launched in April last year.
To receive these small business grants, individuals are required to meet some basic criteria. This includes attending the Enterprise for Success programme, which provides 12 hours of one-to-one advice and support delivered from Tamworth Enterprise Centre at Phillip Dix House in Corporation Street.
The Enterprise for Success programme ensures individuals and businesses have the right skills they need to run their business and results in the creation of a business plan.
Successful applicants include Ruminate Productions Ltd, which was awarded £836 towards the cost of equipment such as microphones, lighting and marketing. Emily Cowlishaw set the business up while studying for a bachelor’s degree in Media Production at the University of Lincoln. The business offers three main types of service – photography; videography and visual radio.
Emily in ‘Action’
Emily said: “I can fully recommend this scheme to any business looking to start up or grow. Not only have I received a grant to help me develop, but the advice and support from the Enterprise for Success programme has been invaluable and I still speak to my mentor now.
“I am forever grateful to the council for allowing me to enrol on the programme and for the funding that has enabled me to invest in new equipment and establish my business further.”
Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet member for Regeneration, said; “This successful scheme continues to support individuals wishing to start up in new businesses or who have been trading for less than three years.
“Small businesses are the foundation of any thriving economy and using the new Tamworth Enterprise Centre as a ‘hub’ of support and advice can only help grow the local economy.”
Grant applications are recommended to the Cabinet Grants Committee on a quarterly basis for approval. An annual budget of £20,000 has been allocated to the scheme, with around £5,000 being distributed per quarter. This is subject to annual budget reviews and agreements up to March 31st 2020.
To submit an application in this round, individuals would need to attend the two day start-up masterclass on Wednesday February 7 and Thursday February 8, at The Tamworth Enterprise Centre. For more information on the masterclass visit: http://www.tlforbusiness.co.uk/start-support
To register your interest and check if you are eligible for a grant please contact: Lorraine Farley (Business Liaison Officer) 01827 709525 or email: [email protected]
LOVE is soon to be in the air at the town’s shopping centre, as Stay & Play returns for its first free session of 2018 next week.
Ankerside Shopping Centre’s monthly Stay & Play morning will return on Thursday, 25 January, where little ones will have the chance to make heart-warming gifts to take home to their loved ones.
Alongside the Valentine’s-themed fun, children along with parents, grandparents and childminders will also be able to enjoy inflatables, a bubble machine and a visit from Ankerside’s colourful Stay & Play monster between 9.30am and 11.30am.
Jeff Wigley, Ankerside Shopping Centre manager, said he is looking forward to seeing Stay & Play return throughout 2018. “The response to the centre’s monthly sessions has been excellent, so we can’t wait to continue its success during this year too.
“Throughout the morning, little ones will be able to decorate their very own chocolate gift and then make a Valentine’s card to take home to their loved ones.
“Thursday is also a chance for children to fill in their learning books that they bring along to each event. Plus, it’s a great little memento for parents and the rest of the family.
“We hope everyone has a lovely time at our Stay & Play morning next week and we can’t wait to see the children’s decorated chocolates and cards.”
The Stay & Play fun takes place from 9.30am to 11.30am in Druckers Café on the last Thursday of each month and is free for anyone wishing to attend with their little ones.
TAMWORTH Informed are very pleased to bring you the first two videos which we have commissioned as part of our ‘Politics and Representatives’ series, to help bring greater understanding of various roles.
We bring you lots of news throughout the year and mention various roles and people that make decisions on our behalf and represent us; but does everyone know what all these people do?
Through this series of videos, we aim to give people a greater understanding of what everyone does and why. In the series, we will bring you information about the role of an MP, Councillors, Leader of the Council and Opposition, Police and Crime Commissioner, Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff.
In this video, we can see Edna talking to Councillor Daniel Cook (Leader of the Council) and Councillor Simon Peaple (Leader of the opposition) about the role of being a Councillor.
This is Edna talking to Christopher Pincher MP, about the role of being a Member of Parliament and also a Party Whip:
We will bring you more videoes from the series over the coming weeks.
CARE companies in Staffordshire are looking to recruit an army of carers to help those eligible for help live independently for as long as possible in their homes.
Staffordshire County Council, in partnership with care companies across the county, launched a recruitment campaign yesterday, (Thursday) to encourage more people to think of a career in caring.
This year Staffordshire County Council will be funding millions of hours of care to support people with day-to-day personal tasks.
The county council has also launched a stand-alone company Nexxus to recruit carers to help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible after a hospital stay.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing Alan White said: “People in Staffordshire are living longer, and with an ageing population comes an increased need for people to care for them. We need more people to choose a career in care, which is why we’re working with some of our biggest providers of care services to encourage people to do just that.
“Carers do a fantastic job – they make people’s lives better and help them live well in the home they love. Working in care is also really flexible, meaning it can fit around other commitments in people’s lives. With the training and development available, care can be more than just a job – it can be a viable career path for all sorts of people.
“By encouraging more people to take up a career in caring, we are not only offering employment opportunities to local people but are also ensuring there are enough carers to cope with the increased demand for care.”
To find out more about the benefits of working in care and the type of care roles available, people can visit www.carecareerstaffordshire.org.
