The POD was a hive of activity this morning, every available space was in use! As well as our usual Friday programme including the IT courses, GCSE English and the Parents Forum Group who were joined by the FiNs for a brilliant advice session on the recent changes to the benefit system presented by Yousef from free@last.
We were honoured to receive a visit from the Bishop of Birmingham – Bishop David Urquart who came to see all the exciting things that go on at the POD and to meet some of our partner organisations, professionals, headteachers and businesses who all work so closely together to support the Nechells Community. Bishop David was very impressed with the POD and even took time out of his busy schedule to enjoy the hopscotch in our play area!
Bishop David said, “the POD is an outstanding combination of education, personal support and inclusion. The meeting and study rooms, children’s play areas, and allotment are a vital base for a wide range of dynamic and life-changing activities. It is essential that the skilled leadership, partnership relationships and the building are resourced in a sustainable and longer-term way so that more people of all ages and cultures in Nechells, can learn to be self-supporting and participate fully in a flourishing city.”
We would like to thank Bishop David for taking time to come and meet everyone at the POD and for his support in our quest to ensure that the POD survives in this difficult economic climate. We are very grateful to Reverend Becky Jones from St Matthew’s Church for organising the visit and for her continued support for the work of the POD.
We would also like to thank Larry from Heartlands Academy for taking the brilliant photos for our gallery. There will be an official press release from the Bishops office shortly and hopefully an article in the Birmingham Mail. so please come back soon to see the updates and what a fabulous morning we had.
