Safer Annual Review 2011 - Community cohesion

Young people

Over 2,200 young people got involved in targeted youth activities in 2010/11, ranging from sports to music activities.

You can also see what young people got up to during Whitsun half term and the Summer 2011 youth activities programme.

Sandwell's Just Youth website is a free interactive online listings guide, giving details of youth activities across the six towns.

You can register to be kept up to date of events and activities in Sandwell.

The Sandwell Youth Bus also tours the borough, providing advice, information and activities for young people.

Voice 21 is Sandwell's premier youth magazine and is produced by young people, supported by staff from the council's young people's services.

Youth Cabinet

Members of Sandwell Shadow Youth Cabinet have produced their 2011-13 manifesto after getting the views of over 3,000 young people during a recent consultation.

Key issues for Sandwell young people are:

• Things for young people to do
• Young people's safety in the community
• Young people's rights
• Transport issues for young people
• Substance misuse

Sandwell's Shadow Youth Cabinet are also now on Facebook and have just won the prestigious Diana Award for young role models.

The Youth Cabinet also held a recent discussion with council and police leaders following the disorder that a small minority of young people were involved in during the Summer. This included some inspirational words from our young people and pledges to unite

Community ambassadors

Sandwell has over 80 'community ambassadors'. They act as a link between local people and crime-fighting organisations.

Read here what the borough's lead community ambassador David Bisseker has to say about his role.

Across the generations

Children from Temple Meadow Primary School, Cradley Heath were enthralled with stories from World Wars One and Two recently, when veteran Arthur Jones and historian Tony Kirk dropped by to see them.

The talk was organised by police community support officer Dan Kirk from the Cradley Heath and Old Hill neighbourhood policing team, who works closely with the school. The children have been studying World War Two as part of their curriculum.

The year five pupils heard how 85-year-old Arthur's tank broke down in a French village during World War Two and a local woman hid him from German soldiers in her home. Arthur lost touch with her after the war, but Central TV filmed a touching reunion 45 years later, which the children watched on dvd.

Food and faith

Pupils from different backgrounds in Tipton took part in a 'food and faith' schools project to learn more about one another.

The project involved a series of workshops preparing and tasting food from all over the world.

And the sessions gave an opportunity for Year 5 pupils - from Sacred Heart Primary and Summerhill Primary - to discuss different cultures and share experiences before moving on to secondary school.

The initiative was led by Sandwell Council's area working and community development team, together with Alexandra High School, Rights & Equality Sandwell, Murray Hall Community Trust and South Tipton Extended Partnership.

Melanie Gee, head teacher at Sacred Heart Primary School , said: "I know the pupils from both schools really enjoyed the project and they were keen to share their experiences with friends and family.

"It was also heartening to hear parents say how good it was to see children from different cultures living together in Tipton coming together and working together."

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