Past Mayor's Challenges

Your Mayor

 The Mayor’s Challenge 2020

Councillor Jane Mosson provided funding for Sutton Coldfield primary schools through a Digital Inclusion Project, to enable schools to purchase additional devices and technological equipment for their students who were remote learning due to lockdown.

Shortly after the closure of schools in January 2021, it was brought to the Mayor’s attention that there may be a lack of available technology for children’s remote learning. After liaising with the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust about their Schools Digital Inclusion Project, which provided emergency grant funding to enable the purchase of devices for children who were having to self-isolate, the Town Council recognised that there may still be a shortfall within schools for the provision of devices and equipment.

The Mayor wrote to all primary schools to establish what devices and other IT requirements were still needed to support children in remote education.  From the responses, it was clear that there was still a shortfall in available devices.

 The Mayor’s Challenge 2019

Councillor David Allan introduced a Reading for Pleasure Challenge with an aim to give children an incentive to open a book or for schools to create a relaxed atmosphere and a positive ethos around reading. 

27 schools accepted the challenge with schools purchasing new high quality texts and audio books. Several schools used the funding to create outdoor libraries and reading areas where children could sit and read during lunchtime.

The Mayor’s Challenge 2018

Councillor Derrick Griffin focused on encouraging Sutton Coldfield pupils become more active. .

Grants could be spent on new equipment to introduce a new sport to the school, or play equipment to help children with specific needs to take part in a range of activities. It can also be spent on external coaching, to help pupils learn new skills or try a selection of different sports.

In March 2019, Cllr Griffin awarded  Minworth Junior & Infant School, New Hall Primary School, New Oscott Primary School & Wylde Green Primary School with an additional £500 to continue with their fitness inspired projects.

 

The Mayor’s Challenge 2017

Councillor David Pears wanted to discover the Junior Eco Champions of Sutton Coldfield. He therefore invited local schools to develop a range of environmental projects.  To support their efforts, each school that applied has been provided with funding of £650 specifically for projects that will enable them to become even greener and cleaner whilst also encouraging children to spend more time outside being active.

The final part of the challenge took place in March 2018 where a panel including the Mayor, selected the top four schools who had made the greatest impact using their initial funding.

The winners were Banners Gate Primary, Langley Special School, Mere Green Primary and Moor Hall Primary.  These schools were awarded a further grant of £500 to continue to make enhancements to their project, the environment, sustainability and wildlife in their school.

Congratulations to the 23 schools that applied.

The Mayor’s Challenge 2016

The Mayor’s Challenge in 2016 was called the ‘Pick up and pass it on’ challenge. 30 infant and junior schools in Sutton Coldfield took part and made a difference to their community every day by agreeing to pick up one piece of litter or debris and carrying out one good deed a day to help their teachers, peers or families.

18 primary schools took the challenge even further and participated in the Junior Council Session with the Mayor Charlotte Hodivala and other council members. Between them they agreed on ideas to improve the health and happiness of children and benefit others in the community.

The three final recommendations that the young delegates decided upon were:

  • Trim Trail – a nature and exercise trail that would get the whole family activities be free to use and encourage residents to learn about their wonderful parks and exercises to keep them fit and healthy.
  • Benches, Plants and Living Walls – more benches, plants or living walls throughout parks or shopping centers to brighten up the town.
  • Helping the Homeless – a fact sheet for local organisations and schools containing information about homelessness and how you can help the homeless, for example places to donate old blankets and clothes.

School children that took part received a pin badge from the Mayor.

The trim trail was installed in New Hall Valley Park in early 2018 as a result of the Mayor’s Challenge and the children’s ideas.