The Lozells Community meeting held on 26 November was well attended, in particular a number of young people came along to hear about what’s going on in the neighbourhood.
Sgt Ahmed, from the Neighbourhood Police team, provided an update on the work of his team and the continuing progress which is being made in tackling crime in the area. A copy of his presentation is available below.
Kate Foley from the Neighbourhood Management team was able to report on some recent successes which Environmental Wardens had achieved in serving enforcement notices. A number of areas of privately owned derelict land have been cleaned up as a result. The Lozells and East Handsworth Ward Committee has also agreed to fund a programme of education on environment matters in schools and this will be taking place in the early part of 2009.
The meeting was pleased to hear that Urban Living and Aston Villa Football Club are together funding a new initiative for young people to take place in George’s Park. Kikz is a successful football programme which already runs in Aston and which will now be extended to the Lozells area.
Urban Living are also funding a new Community Arts programme which is commencing this autumn and will continue into the middle of next year. A number of the artists were present at the meeting - and they commented very favourably on how friendly and positive they had found the neighbourhood to be!
Finally, the meeting heard a presentation from the Bangladeshi Youth Forum about their work with young people in the area. There was general consensus about the importance of listening to the voices of young people in the area, working with them, and together making the area a better place to live.
