Catch up with Tread Lightly 2022

On Sunday 27 November Footsteps joined with Al-Hijrah Masjid in Small Heath, to hold our annual Tread Lightly conference.

Energy and keeping warm was the focus of this year’s well-attended event.  Councillor Majid Mahmood, Cabinet member for the Environment opened the conference following a welcome from imam and Masjid Chairman Nassar Mahmood.  Speakers then included Kamram Shezad (environment lead from the BAHU Trust) Shaheen Ahmed (artist and craftivist) and Al-Hijra’s local scout leader.

Speakers focused on the energy crisis, how it is affecting local communities and how to access the support available.  Examples included obtaining the £400 Government support, which is available until March; and the importance of the Priority Services Register to protect vulnerable customers with medical and other needs. Table groups evaluated a set of flash cards to identify the advice and support that would be most helpful in Small Heath.

Footsteps’ new Energy Champion project was also launched – this will to enable volunteers to provide energy-price and keeping-warm support in their local communities.  For more details visit the Footsteps Energy Champion website.

Photo: Cllr Majid Mahmoud, with Footsteps’ Chris Martin.