With me writing this, just after competing my 3^rd consecutive Molineux Sleepout on a wet night and with many a thought running through the mind, I’d thought I’d write this blog post as a mean of saying to the world I am both busy and that the last few weeks in particular have been excellent.

Firstly, with nearly £32.4k raised as of 6am this morning and over 150 in attendance, this year’s Sleepout has once more shown the truly extraordinary and utterly incredible power of community, of humanity and of a sport like football which ties both those things together.

I’d managed around 3 ½ hours despite the expected constant rain, but these conditions so pointedly show why it’s unforgivable in this, the sixth richest nation on earth: that there are many folks on the breadline or sleeping rough.

In a city with rich diversity, it shames me that we have one of the nation’s highest poverty rates and that’s where events like this and the year around work of the Wolves Foundation and The Good Shepherd come into its own.

To raise another £310 and £1,315 for the last 3 Sleepouts (as of publication) is humbling beyond words and I and no doubt folks at both organisations are extremely grateful. The fundraiser, the link which is here and on the home page is open until December 31^st so if you are able, give what you can.

On the theme of Community and giving opportunity, I am extremely delighted that over 8 months of work at the West Midlands Combined Authority came to partial fruition on November 6^th, with the launch of The Inclusive Communities Fund; a £9 Million pot from the Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund which aims to reach people and places right throughout the region.

The interest is enormous and within 10 days received a mention in DCMS Questions in the Commons on Thursday by Alridge-Brownhills MP Wendy Norton, who by sheer co-incidence also attended the Cllr Awards at The Guildhall on Thursday and thus meant a personal thanks from the team.

Knowing it all started by having to pull together a Programme Business Case within 4 weeks in March, has made me do a few fist pumps in the last fortnight knowing that the biggest element of Legacy Funding is now live and I would of course encourage any organisation who fits the criteria to apply. Please see https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/icfund/ for all the details and I am excited in advance of seeing these projects come to life!

I also must mention how fantastic it was to attend the 10^th Anniversary Celebration of Silverstone’s Race Makers programme at The Wing last Saturday. Over 800 proudly wear the Pink and Blue in giving The Home of Motorsport a hand and that number alone really does illustrate the power of giving back and such recognition is warranted in every sense. Bring on the 2024 season and hopefully at least 3 visits to a place which grows even more into the heart.

Of course too, it would be odd not to mention how determined I am to correct the record of May’s ultimate near political miss, with my campaign in Penn now underway.

A good session was held last Sunday afternoon (despite my slightly weary eyed post being on the Silverstone dance floor till late!) and I can already see that many folks, including those who voted Conservative in May are very much open about the next X in the Ballot Box, at both the Local and General Election; whenever the latter ends up being. Further updates from me about the campaign shall come in due course.

Finally and as earlier mentioned, I had the privilege of being in the Square Mile for the LGIU’s and CLLA’s annual Cllr Awards at the beautiful Guildhall two days ago, celebrating all that is good about Local Government and the people who serve within it.

Even if my good friend and City of Wolverhampton Councillor Chris Burden was again shortlisted for a third year (despite not winning), makes me hugely proud to know such a man and even more determined to join those who make such a stellar difference to there communities and champion residents causes.

Seeing this and the UK Youth Parliament’s thirteenth Annual Sitting in the Commons yesterday, shows that with the right people playing their part in serving others, the future will be far better and see far more achieved than the political posturing and cheap point scoring which dominates our world now.

Everyone should take a second and realise our problems are far too great to faff around and actually get stuck in. That is what participation is about and through a day like today and over the last few weeks, makes me very lucky to be the active citizen I forever intend to be.