Summer in Tipton

Tipton Carnival was brilliant (again) and we were very fortunate with the weather – beautiful sunny days in an otherwise cloudy summer.

Tipton Canal & Community Festival flew round in no time. Someone I know counts the weeks and days down to it, and at any point in the year they can tell you the exact days and weeks to the next festival. Everyone in Tipton looks forward to seeing the boats, bands and beer (at the Tipton Slasher's very own Fountain Inn)!

My fellow Trusted Voices blogger, Mike Maynard, has recently posted up a blog on the brilliant photographs he took at the Festival, and it's well worth a look.

The atmosphere of the Canal & Community Festival is lovely; there is a genuinely warm buzz on the canalside as people make their way slowly along the stalls, stop to chat to neighbours and friends, and pick up a bargain or two at the craft fair. Small groups gather to watch singers and performers and there is laughter and giggling from the children coming down the ENORMOUS bouncy slide! I have to say that my favourite thing there was Dudley Canal Trust's Human Fruit Machine – what a good idea! Well done to everyone involved in organising the weekend – you did Tipton proud.

As summer turned into autumn there was still plenty of things going on. Tipton Library held its annual Local History Day on September 26, and like all events at the Library, it was really well attended. There were displays on Palethorpe's, Tipton Inner Wheel Club, Tipton Town FC and the chance to see copies of Tipton's now defunct newspaper, the Tipton Herald. We were lucky enough to have musicians play and it added to the lively atmosphere.

I was also lucky enough to pop in and have a chat to the lovely people at Brook Street Community Centre. To my shame, I'd never been in there before and was bowled over by their licensed bar and function room. There's so much going on there, there really is something for everyone! I had a chat with Lisa and Steve who look after things there, and they talked about some of the stuff that goes on at Centre. Lisa told me at the their new Sherpa Room and Sherpa initiative.

She explained that this is a new initiative from Tipton Community Association. It a support and advocacy service, providing help and advice in areas such as housing assistance and homeless intervention, mental health awareness, personal budget and finance management. The 'Sherpas' use their knowledge and experience to help and guide people around the systems and processes in place in the area mentioned. There's also a Job Shop and a comprehensive volunteer programme. For more information you can give them a call on 0121 557 0371. Thanks to Lisa and Steve for their time in meeting me!