2nd May 2021     Easter 5 Community News  The Community Hotline continues via Northfield Community Partnership … 0121 411 2157 (10am – 3pm Monday – Friday) for help including shopping and picking up medication as well as advice or if you’d just like a friendly phone-call.   Don’t forget Birmingham Anglican Climate Action’s Climate Challenge = Church Challenge series of free Zoom events continues for a couple more weeks: Wednesday 5th May 7.30pm - Inspiring Ideas for Parishes. Sheena Heaton and John Heywood Wednesday 12th May 7.30pm - Eco Church and beyond. Featuring St Laurence Northfield! Why not come along to show your support? Book through beryl.moppett@gmail.com Raise donations for St Laurence every time you shop online! Just click on the link below and follow the instructions to sign up, so that when you shop online with over 4,700 retailers you raise a donation for our church – and it doesn’t cost you a penny! Retailers include Sainsbury’s, Argos, M&S, Booking.com, Amazon, eBay, Uber Eats, Debenhams, Confused.com, Waitrose, RAC, Expedia… and thousands more! There’s also a handy donation reminder that alerts you whenever a donation opportunity is available. www.easyfundraising.org.uk Simon Griffiths, PCSO, says “This week Northfield Neighbourhood Team are taking part in Operation Sceptre, this is focusing on knife crime. You may see our officers searching areas of woodland, parkland, and around schools. A lot of this work is focused on safeguarding and prevention rather than enforcement. If you see any weapons dumped locally or have any concerns, please contact us on 101 or in an emergency 999.” Opportunities for the police to go into schools and youth groups to talk about knife crime are currently very limited, so do have a look at the information available and discuss with the young people in your family: https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/campaigns/life-or-knife Local drugs raids have also been successfully carried out over the past week: please stay vigilant and report anything of concern. E-scooters may be a great gift idea now the weather’s getting nicer, but do make sure you know the law first! Due to a number of issues locally, West Midlands Police is reminding all owners that e-scooters are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs). It is therefore against the law to ride a privately owned e-scooter in any public place in the UK, including roads, pavements, parks, town centres and canal towpaths. Any ridden in a public place will be seized, and penalties for using without an appropriate licence and insurance include penalty points and fines, as is the case with other motor vehicles. They can be used on private land, but please remember helmets and knee and elbow pads. May is Living Streets' National Walking Month. We are all invited to step up for our bodies, minds and air quality. Just visit the website, say how many local trips you plan to walk each week, and they will calculate how much carbon you will save. The pledge calculator will also work out the miles walked and calories burned – and you could win a prize! See https://www.livingstreets.org.uk This week’s Eco Tip: Tempted to update your wardrobe now you’re thinking of getting out more? Opting for natural fibres (cotton, wool, bamboo) is kinder to the environment than synthetics (such as nylon, polyester, acrylic). Although we might not realise it, synthetics are plastics! They release microfibres when washed, which get through water treatment plants and harm rivers, lakes and oceans. Covid “Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air” As more shops and venues open, please do remember social distancing (2 metres) and mask-wearing are still necessary, even if you’ve had the vaccine. Meeting up with friends/family should still be outside only and in groups of six, or two households, with 2 metre social distancing. Regular lateral flow tests are recommended for all adults and young people. Cases have risen across Birmingham, and are currently highest in secondary school age pupils, so do encourage family members of that age to test twice-weekly in line with guidance given by their schools. It’s also a great idea to test before meeting up with others (including before coming to church!), keeping everyone as safe as possible. The result is available in just 30 minutes. For information on how to access lateral flow tests locally, or to have test kits posted to your home, see Birmingham City Council’s website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/coronavirus_advice Lateral flow tests are not suitable if you do have Covid symptoms. If you have symptoms book a test by ringing 119 or online at https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test Adults aged 42 and over are now included in the groups being offered a vaccine. Book here: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination If you previously turned down the offer of a vaccine but have changed your mind, just contact your GP, ring 119 (7am-11pm), or book online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination