Balsall Heath Fairy Doors Competition
General Public want to share some of the fantastic entries to the competition for local children to design a ‘Balsall Heath Fairy Door’.
News
Standing Tall – employment for people experiencing homelessness
Standing Tall is a Birmingham based organisation matching individuals experiencing homelessness into stable living wage jobs in local businesses. We also provide a safe home for 6 months for each individual through our ‘Amici’ hosting service before they move on to their own accommodation. If you have empathy and a spare room, we can provide you with the training and income and you provide a safe home for someone changing their situation.
If you’re interested in finding out more, visit: https://www.standingtall.org.uk/
Theatre Mix @ Home: Artist Slots & Open Slots
Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed performance night for West Midlands artists – scripted, devised, music, spoken word, cabaret and more. We’re open minded! We have Artist Slots and Open Slots available.
Learn to code and change your life
If you’re facing barriers to getting a good job in tech,
CodeYourFuture’s free coding and employability
courses were made for you.
Join our free ‘Intro to Coding’ online workshop and find out why our coding courses are right for you.
- Hear from Tech professionals about the opportunities in the local tech industry
- Learn more about our courses and about important employability skills
- Start coding right away and get help from the CodeYourFuture community
- We teach HTML, CSS and JavaScript alongside valuable employability skills
- We can provide laptops and funding towards internet access and childcare– We teach part-time over 9 months so study can fit around work and family life
- No experience necessary – open to complete beginners aged 18+
- Tailored to support disadvantaged groups such as refugees, asylum seekers, ex-offenders, single parents, those living below the poverty line, long term unemployed and others.
We are currently booking 30 minute info sessions for different groups on Zoom, where anybody interested can meet recent graduates, ask questions and find out what coding involves. We are booking these taster sessions through to the end of March.
More information here or you can book your place by contacting Claire at claire@codeyourfuture.io.
Free training for Hall Green community organisations and groups
Hall Green Neighbourhood Network Scheme is running a programme of free training for community organisations, groups and individuals who are providing activities, services and support for older people. The training will cover a range of topics and will help local groups and organisations broaden their skills and enhance their offer, including responding to the challenges of operating during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Balsall Heath Town Square
Birmingham City Council would like to progress detailed design of a proposal to create a new Town Square for Balsall Heath; and also implement some small Phase 1 streetscape improvements in preparation for the main scheme. Read on to learn more and complete the survey.
These plans are the result of consultation with local stakeholder and community groups, and we would now also like your comments on the vision – please see attached plans.
Design and delivery of the Town Square will be informed by this consultation and be dependant on the funding available. This scheme has the potential to form part of the landscape mitigation commitment of the Cross City bus scheme.
KEY PROJECT AIMS FOR NEW TOWN SQUARE
1. Retain and strengthen key elements contributing to the character of Balsall Heath local centre Eg key historic buildings, trees, streets, local shops, cafes and businesses, and uses compatible with a ‘Town Square’
2. Improve physical and visual links for pedestrians between Moseley Baths and Art and cultural venues; and the local shops and restaurants.
3. Define and create a sense of place for local people and visitors through the creation of a new Town Square with focal point. Reduce areas of tarmac highway, and increase size of one central area of safe attractive new public realm space for the community, allowing easier crossing of Hayden Way, and improving the quality of public realm outside Moseley Baths and Art venues, through to the local centre and businesses.
4. Support improved environmental quality in cities through new street trees; improved air quality; more attractive amenity spaces and routes for walking, cycling, and sustainable travel; improved local distinctiveness and artistic input, as well as inclusive growth, and space for social interaction.
Early Phase 1 Works to be delivered Spring Summer 2021
Small streetscape improvements, primarily near Moseley Baths and towards the Town Square. Depending on funding available.
- New low maintenance colourful planting in existing planting beds, and new stainless steel trip rails
- Additional cycle stands near school
- New surfacing to some areas of damaged paving.
- New small upright trees in currently unfilled tree pits in pavement.
Why we are consulting
These plans have been developed with community groups. We would like the views of the wider community and your opinions on the proposed plans and possible future improvements.
Covid-19 updates – 19th February 2021
Dr Justin Varney, Director of Public Health Birmingham, hosted a webinar on 18th February, in which Champions gave their thoughts about testing, describing their experiences and those of their communities.
Our Future City Plan Central Birmingham 2040 ‘Shaping Our City Together’
On Tuesday 26th January 2021 the Council launched the Our Future City Plan (OFCP): Central Birmingham 2040 ‘Shaping Our City Together’ engagement. The launch kick-started a series of events and conversations on the future development of Central Birmingham over the next 20 years.
We are asking for your feedback on the emerging new strategy for Central Birmingham as this will shape future statutory planning policy and guidance. ‘Shaping our City Together,’ is currently subject to public consultation until Friday 26th March 2021. You can access the Vision document by visiting our website on www.birmingham.gov.uk/ourfuturecityplan
Whilst a template for change has been outlined, it is not a final blueprint. The publication of this document is the beginning of a continuous process of engagement to ensure that all communities across Birmingham have an opportunity to shape and deliver our shared future.
You can get involved in the public consultation by:
- Heading to https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/people-1/our-future-city-plan-shaping-our-city-together where you can view the document, and submit your comments via the online survey.
- Discussing the OFCP consultation further with us or if you would like to submit consultation responses by email or letter, please do so to: CityCentreDevelopmentPlanning@birmingham.gov.uk
The feedback received will support the production of the OFCP Draft Central Birmingham Framework to be launched in autumn 2021. Please share this with as many interested parties as possible as we would particularly welcome suggestions and comments from residents and local businesses to help shape change in central Birmingham.
I encourage you to share your views and get involved to shape the future of Central Birmingham. If you would like to discuss further, please get in touch with Andrew Lindop at andrew.lindop@birmingham.gov.uk
Theatre Mix @ Home: Artist Slots & Open Slots
Theatre Mix @ Home is a live-streamed performance night for West Midlands artists – scripted, devised, music, spoken word, cabaret and more. We’re open minded! We have Artist Slots and Open Slots available.
Covid-19 Community Champion update
This is an update through Birmingham City Council’s ‘Covid-19 Community Champion’ scheme, published on 10th February.
Almost 12.3 million people have had their first vaccine dose in the UK. In Birmingham, more than 175,000 have had the vaccine, with over 80 per cent of 80-year-olds-plus, and over 95 per cent of care home residents, having had the first dose.
To view the latest statistics by ward, head to the Council’s Covid dashboard. Both Balsall Heath West and Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East are sitting in the top ten of wards with the highest case rates per 100,000 residents.
To view webinars outlining some of the key issues and answering your questions, head to YouTube to explore videos from Birmingham’s Public Health Team.
There are now 56 pharmacies across Birmingham which offer lateral flow testing to those who do not have symptoms. Click here to find your nearest site and to share the link. (Sites taking appointments are in blue).
If you want to take on the role of sharing accurate and up to date information about Covid-19 and the vaccine roll out in our area, sign up to become a Covid-19 Community Champion.
Supporting your mental health and wellbeing during Covid19
Do you need a bit of extra help with your mental health at the moment? Ashiana Community Project have some tips and links to help.
Craft workshop – inviting women to imagine a cultural event for Moseley Road in 2022
A 1.5 hour stitching/drawing/writing workshop with artist Shaheen Ahmed facilitated by Craftspace on Zoom. Participants will receive a craft pack but must live locally in or around the Moseley Road.
Share Some Valentine’s Love this Lockdown with Change Kitchen
Treat someone you love to a delicious Valentine’s meal and donate a nutritious family meal for 4 to the community.
Moseley Misfits Choir
The Misfits Choir (Birmingham, UK) for adults will meet for fun weekly sessions. You’ll sing the songs you love, connect with others and learn breathing techniques that will help you to feel great.
Free Mental Health Awareness Course- Thursday 11th Feb 2021
Hall Green Neighbourhood Network Scheme would like to invite you to our free Mental Health Awareness training.