There's waterside fun in Leicester this weekend as the city hosts a programme of activities on and off the river that people of all ages will enjoy. Splash on the Soar will bring live music and street performance to the city’s Castle Gardens on Saturday and Sunday (11-12 September), with the city council’s Kingfisher boat offering views of Leicester from the water. On both days, local bands playing acoustic sets will draw visitors to the stage near the maypole in Castle Gardens, with talented youngsters from Stars Performing Arts School opening the programme at 12 noon on Sunday and The King Brasstards bringing the festival to a close with their New Orleans sound at 4pm on Sunday. Strolling street artists, including a pair of cheeky Girl Guides and some balloon-modelling clowns, will bring pockets of fun to the festival, while a Bubble Fairy will use her magic wand to capture passers-by inside a giant bubble. Youngsters will also be able to slide down an inflatable helter-skelter and check out their muscles on an inflatable ‘test your strength’ game. There’ll also be the chance to watch archive footage of Britain’s waterways in a pop-up cinema, while a petting zoo will let children get close to rabbits, guinea pigs and meerkats, as well as to snakes, cockroaches and other creepy-crawlies. Food and a bar will be available in the area in front of the castle, while local artists will display their works on the railings in Castle Gardens. Deputy city mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “Splash on the Soar will be a family-friendly waterside festival that we hope local people will enjoy. “With Covid infection rates still high, all our events this year have been of a much smaller-scale to ensure they can be run safely, but I hope that this festival will encourage people who live in the area to get out and about and explore Leicester’s waterside.” Admission to Splash on the Soar is free of charge. Splash on the Soar runs from 12 noon until 6pm on Saturday, and from 12 noon until 5pm on Sunday. For more information, go to visitleicester.info Leicester City Council News Published on Monday, September 6, 2021

Plans for a major revamp of Leicester’s Abbey Park Road – including a new bike-friendly footbridge across the River Soar and major junction improvements – have been announced by the city council. The £7.5million scheme – which will also see new bus lanes introduced and footpaths improved to create a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists – is supported by the Transforming Cities Fund as part of an ambitious programme of investment in sustainable transport across the city. The striking centrepiece of the scheme will be a new 3.5metre wide footbridge which will run parallel to the existing road bridge across the River Soar, helping to ensure that there is enough space for all road users to use the busy route safely and efficiently. Extensive maintenance work will also be carried out to the two existing road bridges which cross the river and canal. New camera-enforced bus lanes running in both directions along the road will give more priority to public transport in a bid to improve journey times and encourage more people to use the bus. Although general traffic will be reduced to one lane in either direction, the scheme has been carefully modelled and designed to ensure that traffic capacity will be maintained, avoiding delays and congestion. Footpaths will be widened to provide safe space for pedestrians and cyclists and two new road crossings will be created. A small area of car parking immediately in front of the main gates into Abbey Park will be removed, and the area revamped to create a more welcoming approach into the award-winning, historic park. A new e-bike docking station will also be installed to the west of the River Soar as part of electric bike hire scheme launched earlier this year by the city council in partnership with Santander. The council also intends to carry out road resurfacing as part of the planned scheme. Alongside this, the city council is planning extensive improvements to Abbey Park Road’s busy junction with the A6 Abbey Lane and Blackbird Road, and also at the nearby junction with Exploration Drive. Work will be carried out to remodel both junctions to give greater priority to buses and encourage more people to use public transport. Currently, the single lane right turn from Abbey Park Road onto Abbey Lane is a pinch point for buses and gets congested at peak times causing delays for all traffic. The city council is proposing to reconfigure the junction to allow traffic to turn right onto Abbey Lane from two of the three lanes at the junction of Abbey Park Road. This will involve remodelling the existing splitter islands and major realigning of the junction. At the same time the existing traffic signals upgraded and pedestrian crossings improved. Works will also be carried out to address delays at the junction of Abbey Lane and Exploration Drive and to improve access to Pioneer Park. A longer right turn lane will be created for outbound traffic turning right into Exploration Drive from Abbey Lane. This will run from the junction of Byford Way to Exploration Drive. Existing pedestrian crossings in the immediate area will also be upgraded. Initial works on Abbey Park Road are due to begin in September 2021 and the scheme is expected to take up to 18 months to complete. Works on the junction are due to begin in October and will take around six months. Extensive maintenance work on the existing road bridge is scheduled to start from spring 2022 and will require an extended road closure. More details will be publicised nearer the time. Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “[DRAFT] It is vital that we continue to invest in encouraging more people to make the shift to cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable transport, not least because traffic is responsible for a quarter of our city’s carbon emissions. “This ambitious proposal to revamp Abbey Park Road will help radically change the way that people think about travelling on this busy route. As it stands, the existing road bridge can be a daunting prospect for cyclists, and the introduction of a new footbridge will make this a much more appealing and safer route for all road users. “Ensuring our bus services are reliable and have priority over general traffic on important routes is really important in encouraging more people onto buses. We know the introduction of new bus lanes on busy routes can have a major impact on bus patronage, with increases of up to 13 per cent. “Along with the expansion of the citywide network of safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists, investment in public transport will be vital to meeting our commitment to help further improving the city’s air quality and helping Leicester in its response to the climate emergency.” Leicester City Council is carrying out an ambitious £80million citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport, backed by £40million from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). The package of work will focus on major sustainable transport improvements to provide attractive choices for people to get to work, education, local and other facilities supporting the city’s growth and deliver on the council’s climate emergency, air quality and healthy living commitments. Match funding for the programme is being provided through the city council, Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and other partners. Schemes include the development of new bus priority corridors linking the city centre to city neighbourhoods and suburbs, and the continued development of a network of high-quality cycling and walking routes throughout the city building on the success of Connecting Leicester. It has recently seen the introduction of electric buses onto the Park and Ride Services and the launch of a new electric bike hire scheme in partnership with Santander. To view the plans for Abbey Park Road and junction improvements in more detail, visit www.leicester.gov.uk/transformingcitiesfund Over 1,000 letters have been delivered to residents and businesses in the area to inform them of the proposals. People will have until Friday 24 September to comment on the schemes. Leicester City Council News release

Parents and carers need to apply for their preferred schools by Sunday, 31 October 2021. Parents and carers with children due to start secondary school in Leicestershire in September 2022 can now apply for school places. The application process is now open, and parents need to apply for their preferred schools by Sunday, 31 October 2021. More information about schools in Leicestershire and the application process can be found at here. "We know this is a really important decision for families across the county, and we will work with parents and carers to support them during the application process. We’re proud that last year over 95 per cent of children received a place at their preferred school but would like to remind parents and carers that to help increase their chances of securing a place they need to apply for three schools, including their catchment school. No school will automatically allow your children admission so it’s crucial that applications are submitted before the 31 October deadline." Councillor Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for Children and Families Parents can find out more information about schools and admissions in the council’s ‘Your Guide to Education’ which is available here. For further advice on your preferred schools and information around virtual open days, please contact individual schools directly. Parents unable to apply online can call the Customer Service Centre on 0116 305 6684 and request a form to be sent out. 7,400 on time applications were received for autumn 2021 start, of which: • 88.9 per cent secured their first choice (89.2 per cent in 2020) • 95.4 per cent secured one of their top three choices (95.6 per cent in 2020) Leicestershire County Council News Release

Leicester's City Mayor has set out his commitment to support Afghan refugees in response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Sir Peter Soulsby says the city council’s housing, education, social care and public health teams are already beginning to help families who have arrived in Leicester fleeing the Taliban, and he expects the full support of Government to provide the resources needed. “Leicester has a long and proud history of welcoming people to our city,” he said. “We will provide refuge for those who are fleeing conflict and oppression, and we pledge to provide support for Afghan refugees in light of the desperate circumstances in their own country. “As well as helping to process the applications of Afghans who will settle in other parts of the UK, we will be providing permanent homes in Leicester for a smaller number of Afghan refugees as the resettlement scheme establishes itself. Initially, we have pledged to take in 10 families or up to 60 people in total. We will work closely with the local Afghan community and charities to extend a welcome to these refugees who want to make Leicester their home. “The process and scheme will be supported by Government funding to local authorities and charities, and it is vital that the Government provides the full resources we will need to fulfil these responsibilities effectively.” The city council says the numbers of those arriving are still to be established, but the council is in close contact with the Home Office and awaiting further information. In the meantime, the city council is supporting the families which have already been offered resettlement in Leicester by meeting with housing providers to organise more long-term accommodation for them. The council’s school admissions team has also been in contact with these families to arrange for school places, and it has worked with the local NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCG) to arrange health registration. The city council’s specialist STAR Amal team will also go in to provide support to Afghan refugees. STAR stands for Supporting Tenants and Residents, while Amal is a word which has its origins in Hebrew, Germanic and Arabic. In Arabic, this name means to have hope. STAR Amal’s specialist workers – who have experience of helping Syrian refugees to resettle in Leicester – have multiple languages and full experience of providing new arrivals with reassurance and orientation as well as practical support with housing, healthcare and education. A hotel in Leicester is being used as a base for Afghan arrivals after they have completed coronavirus quarantine at hotels in other parts of the country. However, not all of those in the Leicester hotel will necessarily stay in Leicester permanently – the Home Office is managing the distribution of refugees. The Home Office is also responsible for their care while in the hotels, with the city council working with the Home Office to offer support. Peter Soulsby added: “At the moment, it is not clear how many Afghan refugees may settle in Leicester beyond the 10 families we have made an initial offer to - as it is still a moving picture. It is vital that we receive proper Government funding to help us provide the support needed.” Leicester City Council News

Find out more about the help and support available to victims of crime and why, in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, victims and witnesses receive an award winning service. From starting in an administrative role at the age of 23 to becoming its Head of Service just three years later – Manjeeta Sunnar-Atwal is passionate about Victim First – the service that offers emotional and practical support for victims of crime in Leicestershire. In fact in Leicestershire, Victim First has won a Catch22 Service of the Year Award three times in six years and is one of only three victim support services in the country to be awarded a Victims Choice Quality Mark in 2020. If that wasn’t enough the service has also been awarded a DeMontfort University LGBT+ Inclusion Award in recognition of the accessibility and support the service offers to diverse communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Manjeeta is rightly proud of those achievements which she puts down to an excellent but small team of just 16 people who support on average 15,000 victims of crime every year. They are referred to Victim First by police officers, other organisations or by self-referral. Manjeeta Sunnar-Atwal holding the DeMontfort University LGBT+ Inclusion Award Born and bred in Leicester, Manjeeta is from a Sikh family. At the heart of the Sikh faith is a strong belief in helping others and being part of the community and that shaped Manjeeta’s thinking about where her future might lie. After considering becoming a police officer, and following work experience in a solicitor’s office and at the Harborough Mail, Manjeeta knew neither of those career options were for her. What she really enjoyed was volunteering for victim services which she had done throughout her degree in Criminology at Loughborough University and her Master’s at the University of Leicester. She said: “When I started volunteering my intention was to get a bit of experience to put on my UCAS form to get into university but I really did enjoy it. I enjoyed talking to people about what they had been through and seeing the difference I was able to make by talking to them and showing them where they were and how far they had come. I believed in the whole ethos of victim support so decided that’s where I wanted to develop my career.” Victim First is a service that is commissioned through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Following a competitive tendering process in July 2015, an organisation called Catch22 successfully secured the contract to run the service across the force area calling it Victim First. Manjeeta joined Victim First in a full-time position doing admin support and data analysis. Manjeeta said; “I was excited to be involved at the beginning of something new and see where it took me and how it could develop. When I started in 2015 no one had been in that role before so I was able to develop it and our Head of Service at the time was great and if I came up with ideas he’d say ‘yup let’s give it a go.’ I started to mentor some of the volunteers because I wanted to develop that leadership skill and I wanted to give back as I had so much experience of supporting victims myself from my volunteering days. “I created a case management system by looking up ‘how to code a document’ on Youtube and although it isn’t perfect it is a system we still use. This job has given me so much creativity and I’ve been able to develop in areas I didn’t even think I could do. I am not much of an IT savvy person but if you do concentrate on things, and you’ve got that passion to learn something, you can do anything.” In January 2017, just two years after joining Victim First, Manjeeta successfully interviewed for a Senior Caseworker role and then just a year after that the Head of Service position became available. “I applied for the role to get more interview experience and I did not think in a million years I would get it but I did and I’ve been doing it for four years now!” But if anyone needed proof about the impact this award wining service can have on people then the feed back from this victim says it all; “I would like to give my feedback regarding the service from Lauren [a caseworker]. She has provided the BEST service I have ever had supporting my mental health. Lauren has arguably saved my life no words can express how amazing she is at her job! Before speaking to Lauren I was in a dark place but Lauren has empowered me to gain control of my life and chase my dreams. Thank you, Lauren, and Victim First for your amazing service.” And another; “They were very helpful, she called me and she listened to me for 30 minutes and she was so supportive. She was trying to put herself in my shoes, she calmed me down and she was very nice to talk to. I felt listened to and reassured. She posted me an alarm too, so I can use it when I feel unsafe.” What service does Victim Support offer? Victim First offers a free, independent and confidential service for victims and witnesses of crime across the force area. Initially, a caseworker will assess how each person is mentally and physically and whether they have support networks around them or not. The caseworker will listen to the victim and work with them to establish what support they feel they need. Everyone is offered bespoke support from a team of experienced and professional case workers to help them cope and recover. They offer a service tailored to adults as well as young people over the age of 13. The case workers work very closely with a wide range of counselling and support services such as UAVA which supports victims of domestic abuse; Juniper Lodge which supports rape victims; Witness Care; Citizens Advice; Crimestoppers the Crown Prosecution Service and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and many others. The service is not just for victims of crime either, it also supports the family and friends of victims and witnesses who can also find themselves struggling with the aftermath of a crime. Restorative Justice Another service Victim First offers is Restorative Justice (RJ). A Specialist Caseworker facilitates RJ which offers the victim the chance to safely communicate with the offender. RJ enables victims to talk about the incident and the harm it caused them and the impact the actions of the offender has had on them. For many it is an opportunity to ask questions and can provide a means of closure and the chance to move forward. This has proved increasingly popular which maybe because of the pandemic because it offers the victim a voice in a controlled and safe environment to make sense of what happened and why. Manjeeta adds; “Quite often with victims of domestic burglary, for example, people can feel very violated and vulnerable and ask ‘why me?’ When they get the chance to talk to the person who burgled their home to ask them those questions the offender often says they ‘just saw it as an opportunity’ this can go along way to reassuring the victim that they weren’t deliberately singled out or targeted.” Practical help Victim First can offer very practical help as well an emotional support. They work closely with an organisation called ‘24/7 Locks’ who will visit people at home to review their security and offer new locks if necessary or provide personal alarms to make them feel safer. Manjeeta concludes by saying; “Every victim of crime has 12 rights which list the statutory level of service they are entitled to receive from the police and criminal justice system after they have fallen victim to crime. “One of those rights is to be referred to services like Victim First. Not everyone takes up that offer but here in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland we have an award-winning service which is staffed by dedicated and trained professional. “We work closely with Leicestershire Police to promote our service and ensure every police officer refers every victim to us. We can do so much to help officers and take a considerable work load off their shoulders but victims can also refer themselves, just by picking up the phone, so please don’t struggle on your own we’re here to help.” How to contact Victim First You can call Victim First whether the crime is recent or not. They will support you even if you choose not the report the incident to the police. You can call the helpline on 0800 953 9595 or email support@victimfirst.pnn.gov.uk or go the website at www.victimfirst.org they are open from 9am to 8pm.

Schools across Leicester will be joining a nationwide call for action on climate change next month when the first ever Great Big Green Week gets underway. Organised by the Climate Coalition, the Great Big Green Week will run from 18th to 26th September and aims to biggest event for climate and nature ever in the UK. Thousands of events are due to take place across the UK to celebrate how people are taking action to tackle climate change and protect green spaces. In Leicester, the city council has successfully bid for funding to host a week of activities aimed at children and young people and offer grants for local schools and groups to hold their own events. The week's activities launch in Leicester on Monday 20th September with a four-day green-themed film festival at Phoenix cinema. All screening will be free of charge for schoolchildren and their families and friends, but tickets must be booked in advance. Then, on Tuesday 21st September, schools will take part in a UN-style climate conference hosted by the city council. The young delegates will be invited to represent a range of countries present their nation’s pledges on climate action in the morning, before taking part in activities based on Leicester’s Climate Emergency Action Plan in the afternoon. Leicester’s week of activities will culminate in a schools’ climate action march to a celebratory plastic-free picnic in Abbey Park on Friday 24th September, where they will be making their own climate action pledges to share with the major UN climate summit, COP26, due to hosted by the UK in Glasgow this November. The week will also feature awards and celebration events for the Jane Goodall Roots and Shots program ‘Letter to the Future’ competition and the city council’s Eco-Schools and Food for Life schemes. Great Big Green Week in Leicester has been organised by city council’s environmental education team, which is also helping local schools lead the way in the national Eco-Schools Green flag scheme. In total, 52 schools in the city – including primary, secondary and special schools - now have an Eco-Schools Green Flag – the highest number in any local authority area in England. The Eco-Schools Green Flag – handed out by Keep Britain Tidy – recognises excellence in schools across a wide range of environmental activity. For example, projects which reduce waste or energy in schools, help pupils learn more about living sustainably, or examine environmentally-friendly ways of travelling to school could all contribute towards a Green Flag. Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transport, said: “The forthcoming COP26 summit in Glasgow this year means the UK has a real opportunity to raise its ambitions in terms of the action it is taking on climate change. “I know personally that our schoolchildren want to hold decision-makers to account. Hosting the city’s first ever young people’s climate assembly played an important part in the development of our local response to the climate emergency. “In Leicester, we so proud that our schools and children engage so meaningfully with issues around the climate emergency and nature conservation. We wanted to celebrate this during the Great Big Green Week, and make sure that our young people’s voices are heard as part of this national call for action on climate change." Schools can still apply for mini-grants of £100 to host their own events and activities within their school or local community. More information is available at https://schools.leicester.gov.uk/GBGW For more information on how your school or group can get involved email eco-schools@leicester.gov.uk Leicester City Council News 31/08/2021

A 41-year-old man who indecently assaulted a young girl in Leicestershire and also downloaded indecent images of children has today (Tuesday 31 August) been jailed. Graham Moulds was sentenced to a total of five years and three months when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court. Moulds, of no fixed address, sexually abused his young victim in 2017 – when she was just eight years old. In October 2018 – at Leicester Crown Court – he pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching. He then stood trial at the same court in July this year, where he was found guilty of two counts of attempting to arrange to meet a girl under 16 following grooming and one count of making indecent images of children. He is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. He was subject to an investigation by two force departments – the Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) and the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT). Detective Constable Emma Burrows, from the CAIU, said: “I’ve little doubt that Moulds will have thought his victim wouldn’t tell someone about what he’d done. She’s shown great courage in coming forward and speaking to us about the abuse she was subjected to.” “Offences of this nature are always taken extremely seriously and are subject to a full and proper investigation by specialist officers. “The sentence handed to Moulds today will give time for him to reflect on his actions and the impact this has had on his victim.” Detective Constable Tom Cane, from the POLIT, added: “It is clear from his offending that Moulds has a sexual interest in young girls. I hope the fact he is now serving a prison sentence will provide reassurance to the public that the force will always endeavour to bring those committing such horrific crimes involving children to justice.” There are a number of different agencies who are able to offer independent help and support to victims of sexual offences in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Further information on these services and details on who to contact if you have been a victim of a sexual offence can be found by visiting http://leics.police.uk Leicestershire Police News 31/08/2021

The series is made with Wood Green, The Animals Charity in Cambridgeshire who specialise in matching their rescue dogs with would-be owners. The Dog House follows this process, getting to know the characters and histories of the rescue dogs, an array of people from different walks of life and watching the beginnings of brand-new relationships between them. In previous series, we found that there were many reasons people might be considering bringing a dog into their life – companionship, loneliness, extra company for a child, to encourage exercise, to live in the moment more, and following a bereavement. It’s a very heart warming and fun show, if you haven’t seen it I’d recommended it a rainy day! Click here to find out more https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-dog-house REGISTER TO APPLY FOR THE DOG HOUSE https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/takepart/the-dog-house

A 49-year-old man has sustained serious injuries after he was assaulted in Braunstone Gate, Leicester, yesterday evening (Friday 27 August). Officers were called to the area, just outside Natterjacks, around 10.30pm after the victim was found unconscious in the street. He was taken to hospital with serious head injuries and his condition has been described as life threatening. A 27-year-old Leicester man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and remains in police custody. The scene has been cordoned off to allow officers to carry out a thorough examination. Detective Sergeant Jenny Tattersall, said: “It was a busy evening and we know there were a number of people in the area at the time. We urge anyone who hasn’t yet spoken to officers to get in touch if they witnessed the incident or know anything about the circumstances leading up to it. “Also if you recorded any footage of the incident we need to speak to you.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101, quoting crime number 21*499653.

Hello everybody and welcome to Leicester Pride 2021! Never in our wildest imaginations could we have predicted what would have been awaiting us in the new year as we were packing up Victoria Park in September 2019 after a wonderful and fun-filled day together, and yet here we are. We are delighted to be welcoming you back to one of the biggest free events in the Pride calendar across the UK. Those behind the scenes have been squirreling away making sure that our return this year would not only keep you safe and Covid free but also allow you to celebrate your individuality and inclusivity in the most open and empowering environment, retaining our signature spirit and message of love that Leicester Pride is famed for. With the unwaivering support we receive from not only our local scene venues (James Cockerill and team), Leicester City Council, De Montfort University, Curve Theatre, Sytner Group and Wayfair; we know that we can pick up where we left off. With our wonderful TRADE team on hand in the park to help you with any sexual health questions you may have, we can once again spread our identity, positivity, validity, and freedom, and nothing else! With an electrifying cast of entertainers, staging team, and an eager & dedicated band of volunteers we know that Leicester Pride 2021 is going to be one to remember! Please, also remember to maintain a level of safety for each other, whether it be with space, respect, or responsibility and together we can rock Victoria Park once again! Stay safe and have a happy Pride. A Look back at Leicester Pride 2019 (Video by Leicester Media Online) To download the Leicester Pride Guide click here Why not join the Leicester pride facebook page click here Look out for the official video and pictures from Leicester Media who is the proud Media partner for Leicester Pride.

Adults who are considering a career change following the pandemic are being invited to consider a college course to help them gain the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in high-demand job roles. North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) is preparing for the start of thenew academic year by launching its latest range of part-time courses based at its Wigston Campus and in local workplaces. Research indicates that three out of five adults are considering a career change after the Covid challenges they faced caused them to re-evaluate their lives. This may have been prompted by health concerns, the impact of lone working, or the desire to relocate or move house to be closer to open spaces or familymembers. Others have re-evaluated their career prospects based on trends for future demand with careers in logistics, the digital and healthcare sectors reporting skills gaps and vacancies. From September 2021, students will be able to start training in a range of disciplines and put themselves in the best position to snap up job roles across several sectors including: • Accounting • Counselling • Teaching and education • Marketing • Healthcare • Human resources. In addition, the college is providing access to essential general skills including maths and English, the building blocks for many subject-specific qualifications that enable students to progress on to further and higher education. It is expected that all tuition will take place on campus in classrooms and workshops which have been re-organised to maintain Covid safety standards. Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive ofNWSLC said, “With the employment rate rising to 75 per centand gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels, the job market is beginning to look more buoyant. There are encouraging signs of economic recovery within the regional markets we support. Forecasts suggest that the UK economy will grow by more than eight per cent this year, before returning to pre-pandemic levels of around six per cent in 2022. Colleges are leading the way to help reenergise the UK economy and it is our mission to introduce skilled and work-ready individuals to employers across the region.” As part of its role as the college at the centre of the community, NWSLC responded to the Government’s ‘Plan for Jobs’ by launching its Community Skills Hub last year. This resourceprovides access to all the information, advice and guidance that is available to support adults that want to upskill to progress their careers or retrain in areas reporting skills gaps.

Leicestershire Police is launching a new pilot initiative that will see members of the community partnering with neighbourhood officers to walk the beat. The project, called Neighbourhood Active, will initially be trialled the St Matthews and St Peters area of the city, and Lutterworth, and it’s hoped it will create community cohesion and empowerment amongst local residents. Working with the police, Neighbourhood Active members will take part in engagement walks, providing visible reassurance amongst their communities. Patrolling in pairs, they will be equipped with a ‘Neighbourhood Active’ high visibility jacket and through their phones they will be able to stay in contact with their local beat team, log and map any issues or areas of concern and, utilising the community apps like ‘Fix My Street’ and ‘Love Leicester’, be able to report a wide range of issues. Inspector Yakub Ismail, Commander for East Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) said: “We’re looking forward to bringing our community members on board – they’ve received some comprehensive training covering a whole host of things they may encounter while on patrol and I know they’re excited to get out there serving their community. “As they are residents in their area they’ll be patrolling, they’re alive to the issues and know what areas need special attention. “And as the Inspector I’m looking forward to building a relationship and problem solving with them.” While the initiatives in East Leicester and Lutterworth both aim to tackle anti-social behaviour in their communities, the pilot in St Matthews and St Peters is reaching out to local mums for their help in speaking to children in the areas where anti-social behaviour is being committed. The group of around 22 mums will join officers on patrol to speak with children in the area about suitable places they can go to socialise as well as telling them about local activities they can participate in. One of the community volunteers taking part is Rukhsana Hussain, she said: “As a coordinator for Neighbourhood Active in East Leicester I’m really excited to start the journey and to be a part of one of the communities actively coming together and forming an alliance with Leicestershire Police. “We have created a structure that focuses on engagement, building a safer community that can grow stronger through positive change. Every individual has a right to live in their community as a contributor to goodness.” All the community participants have taken part in different workshops to assist them in their roles. The sessions, run by Chief Inspector Kam Mistry, who is overseeing the whole project, included discussions around stop and search procedures, a visit to a custody suite, lessons on cyber security, an overview of knife crime and making sure everyone is first aid trained. This is aimed to help when everyone is out on patrol and speaking with the community about their concerns. Chief Inspector Mistry said: “The training was carried out to give everyone an idea of the vastly different things they may be asked about while out on patrol in their areas. “Now the training’s done and their vetting is complete, I’m excited for them to get out in the communities with the officers and making a difference where it matters to them. Their dedication is inspiring, and I want to thank all the volunteers across both East Leicester and Lutterworth; they all have my full support.” Inspector Jim Purdie, Commander for Harborough & Wigston Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) is overseeing the Lutterworth strand of Neighbourhood Active. He said: “There is a real sense of community in Lutterworth so I’m hopeful this new initiative will only strengthen those community ties and also provide an opportunity to build on the relationship between the local police and residents. “Our team of Neighbourhood Active members are all Lutterworth residents; people from various backgrounds and of different ages to enable us to engage with all residents across the community.” Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews is supportive of the project, and said: “This is exactly the kind of scheme needed to bring communities together and empower local people to work in collaboration for change. “I have promised to deliver every possible policing resource to make our streets safer but I also believe there are many benefits to encouraging residents to work hand-in-hand with the police to restore peace and pride among our communities and proactively solve problems. “The Government has set out ambitious plans to reengage police with their local communities and reduce fear of crime and this is a fine example of that approach. I wish the trailblazers of this initiative. who have offered their eyes and ears for the good of their neighbourhoods and Leicestershire Police every success in this exciting venture.” Neighbourhood Active had to delay its start due to Covid-19 Health Protection Regulations in place. As restrictions have eased over the past few months, the initiative is now set to launch this week (on Friday 20 August) so residents of Lutterworth, St Matthews and St Peters will no doubt see Neighbourhood Active members taking part in engagement walks in the community. Chief Inspector Mistry added: “If you see our Neighbourhood Active members out in your local area, please stop and speak with them about any local concerns you may have. “By working together as a community, we can tackle local issues and strengthen communities. “In time, we hope that this community led initiative can be rolled out to other areas across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.” All Neighbourhood Active members will go through a vetting process to become community volunteers. Find out more https://www.leics.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wsi/watch-schemes-initiatives/as/leics/neighbourhood-link-community-messaging-service/