Spring finally feels like it is here, and I am looking forward to a mini break over Easter. I have also been able to attend more events and get out and about a bit more.
I had a lovely visit to Redmoor Academy in Hinckley to hear about their ‘Mentors in Violence Prevention Program’ (MVP) that they are running with support and funding from the Violence Reduction Network (VRN) (https://www.violencereductionnetwork.co.uk/).
MVP is a peer mentoring programme that gives young people the chance to explore and challenge the attitudes, beliefs and cultural norms that underpin gender-based violence, bullying and other forms of violence.
It helps address a range of behaviours including name-calling, sexting, controlling behaviour and harassment, and uses a 'by-stander' approach where individuals are not looked on as potential victims or perpetrators but as empowered and active bystanders with the ability to support and challenge their peers in a safe way.
I also visited the new location for St Botolph’s Primary School in Shepshed. They have moved into the former high school building on the Iveshead Campus. The school is now able to accommodate up to 620 children and will slowly increase their numbers as housing development continues in the area. I also took part in my first Facebook Live video, which was great fun but a little bit scary.
I managed to attend a two-day course at Warwick University in mid-March, to continue with my councillor training. This was my first face to face training event since the pandemic started and it was great to meet up with councillors from around the country and hear about how their councils were recovering from the global pandemic.
On a lovely sunny afternoon on 1st April, I enjoyed a visit to Mountsorrel Quarry. I heard about their plans for the future and how they manage the quarry. We were then bused down to the quarry, and I was amazed at how deep it was. I certainly learnt a vast amount about quarrying in such a short space of time.
On Saturday 2nd April I was invited to the launch of ‘My Books, My Story’ pop-up gallery in the HighCross Leicester. This exhibition included a vast array of different artwork from our Leicestershire Children in Care. The year long project, led by our Participation team, worked with all the children to inspire them to create a piece of art from their favourite book. I then headed to the Holy Trinity church in Leicester to listen to an afternoon concert by ‘Leicestershire Music Hub’. Leicestershire Music Hub is one of 120 national Music Education Hubs that were set up in 2012 to enable more children to experience a combination of classroom teaching, instrumental and vocal tuition, opportunities to play in ensembles and the chance to learn from professional musicians. Hubs provide opportunities that reach beyond school boundaries and draw-in the expertise of a range of education and arts partners.
Simon Cole
I offer my sincere condolences to the family of the late Simon Cole, retired Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police. Simon was sadly found dead at his home on Wednesday 30th March. We have lost an outstanding public servant whose mission in life was dedicated to making our communities stronger and safer. My thoughts are with Simon’s family, colleagues and the whole community who worked with Simon. I was personally looking forward to continuing working with Simon in another role as I am sure he would have taken up a new role after a period of deserved rest in retirement. There is no information on Simon’s funeral as we go to print but there is an online book of condolence on Leicestershire Police website if anyone would like to send in their memories of Simon or messages of support for the family: https://www.leics.police.uk/
Ukraine
A new team has been set up by Leicestershire County Council to lead the effort to provide vital support for refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The team will work closely with a range of partner agencies helping to make sure refugees have access to vital services and support including accommodation, safeguarding, healthcare, education, translation, and employment.
The council also chairs a Local Resilience Forum (LRF) (https://www.llrprepared.org.uk/) Ukrainian Refugees Group which provides a forum for agencies across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to co-ordinate their work on this critical issue.
Further information about those schemes is available on the county council’s website: https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/support-for-ukraine
The council is also hosting a welcome desk at East Midlands Airport which will provide initial advice, information and humanitarian support to arrivals from Ukraine as soon as they land in the UK. The welcome desk is manned from 8am until 2am by staff from the council. On Tuesday 12th April I visited the airport and spoke to the staff about the support they are providing for arriving refugees. I also recorded a piece to camera for BBC East Midlands TV and a live radio interview with Ben Jackson on Radio Leicester.
The welcome desk is one of 30 set up around the country and is a safe place for Ukrainians arriving here from their war-torn country.
Beacon Hill
Steps taken last year to protect a small section of a Leicestershire beauty spot are starting to produce an ecological boost.
Last year, the county council temporarily closed Jewels’ Hill in Beacon Hill Country Park – a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - to help replenish the heathland and protect wildlife that uses it as a habitat.
Ecologists subsequently found that, when undisturbed, the land – with grass and vegetation of varying heights – was creating small micro-climates which are ideal for insects, birds, lizards and plant growth.
A similar closure is now being put into place this year at the same location, which amounts to 3% of the total area of the country park – with restricted access from 1st April to 1st August 2022.
Beacon Hill, which is run by Leicestershire County Council has hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, and the park’s team wish to conserve the wildness and wildlife that attracts so many throughout the seasons.
Please respect the closure period and follow the signed alternative diversion routes.
