Hands on Handsworth

Handsworth Heritage Priorities

Posted by Nick Booth on 24th May 2013

There’s an interesting piece on the Handsworth Wood blog about a discussion on priorities for heritage in Handsworth. They are summarised as:

Heritage register – undertake a ward wide audit to identify and record the arts, cultural and heritage assets of West Handsworth and the Handsworth Wood Ward overall.

Arts & culture – CDT to work with existing arts & cultural producers in the Ward in order to showcase their work, and build the Ward’s profile as a major centre for creative industries in Birmingham (using a variety of community, on-line, discursive and inter-generational learning methods).

Heritage – CDT to bring together relevant partners to make the most of the Ward’s heritage (e.g. the history of Camp Lane and the gun emplacements on Manwood Hill, the old Council House on Slack Lane, the Sandwell Valley Country Park)

More here.

CDT is the Lozells, Birchfield and Handsworth Community Trust Ltd – we mention the launch of this earlier this year.

Posted on 24th May 2013 by Nick Booth
Tags: Birchfield, Handsworth History, Lozells, Lozells Birchfield and Handsworth Community Trust Ltd
Posted in Handsworth History | No Comments »

Launch of Lozells and Handsworth Heritage Trail

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 20th May 2013

Legacy West Midlands received Heritage Lottery Funding to develop a Heritage Trail in Lozells and East Handsworth ward. On Saturday 25th May this all comes to fruition with the launch of Lozells and East Handsworth Heritage Trail . Registration will start at 9.30 a.m. at Soho House, Soho Avenue, off Soho Road, B18 5LB. The tour will take up to two hours and will include historical landmarks like St Mary’s Convent and St Mary’s Church where Matthew Boulton, Jomes Watt and William Murdoch are buried.

At 1.00 p.m. after the walk there will be a reception at . at South and City College, Soho Campus, Soho Road. Working with South and City College 20 passionate people have been trained to become ‘tour guides’. They will be the tour guides and will share their knowledge of the area on the walk.

If you would like to attend the launch please email Raihan Hussain - r.hussain92@live.co.uk

Posted on 20th May 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: heritage, Soho House, South and City College, St Mary's Church, St Mary's Convent
Posted in Handsworth History | No Comments »

Lozells, Birchfield and Handsworth Community Fund

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 13th May 2013

The Lozells, Birchfield and Handsworth Community First Matched Fund has been allocated £67,820 to award in small grants between 2011 and 2015. Community First introduces a new approach to funding projects – leveraging time, money and other resources – helping neighbourhoods play a leading role in regenerating their area.

The outcomes that Community First will acieve are:-

Communities being able to help themselves and others.
Neighbourhood groups that are better able to express their needs and influence decisions made about that community.
Neighbourhood groups that are better able to take control of resources needed to make a difference – enhancing confidence, capability and partnership.

Grants of up to £1,500 are available for activities and projects in three priority areas:-

Advice Services
Young People / NEET
Health and well – being

Key dates:-

Round 3 Launch 13th May 2013
Deadline for submission 7th June 2013
Contingency Panel meeting 17th June 2013
Announcements 20th June 2013

For further details email leh.birmingham@nwbda.org.uk or telephone 0844 8707982

Posted on 13th May 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: Birchfield, Community First, Handsworth, Lozells
Posted in Be Healthy, High Quality of life, Make a contribution, Suceed Economically | No Comments »

Vaisakhi Mela 2013 in Handsworth Park

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 2nd May 2013

Once again a wonderful time was had by all those who attended the Vaisakhi Mela celebrations in Handsworth Park on Sunday 28th April. To view the event visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25904993@N07/sets/72157633357181831/show/

Posted on 2nd May 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: Handsworth park, Vaisakhi
Posted in Events, High Quality of life | No Comments »

A new Community Choir for Handsworth

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 22nd April 2013

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is launching a new community choir in Handsworth. You don’t need any prior singing experience, you don’t need to be able to read music, and you certainly don’t need to have the world’s greatest voice. There are no auditions. Everyone can sing: you just need enthusiasm – and be willing to give it a go.

The Choir is open to all residents of the Handsworth area aged 18 or over. Weekly rehearsals are due to start on Wednesday 24th April from 5.30 p.m. – 7.00 p.m. in the Red Hall at Rookery School.

The choir’s first performance will be on Friday 12th July, in a pre-concert performance before the CBSO John Williams Blockbusters concert at Symphony Hall, one of the world’s greatest concert halls.

For more information or if you’re interested in joining the new community choir please contact Katie Gardner, Assistant Manager, Chorus and L&P Community Engagement at email kgardner@cbso.co.uk

Posted on 22nd April 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: CBSO, Community Choir
Posted in Make a contribution | No Comments »

We Need You!

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 15th April 2013

Are you interested in getting involved in your local neighbourhood? Then come along to the Hands on Handsworth resident network, our goal is to make Handsworth cleaner and greener. The meetings provide a good way to find out what is happening in the neighbourhood and meet other active citizens.

Meetings are held monthly (except August) at Handsworth Community Fire Station, Rookery Road and start at 7.00 p.m. The remaining dates for 2013 are:

Wednesday 8th May 2013
Wednesday 12th June 2013
Wednesday 10th July 2013 (AGM) 2013
Wednesday 11th September 2013
Wednesday 9th October 2013
Wednesday 13th Movember 2013
Wednesday 11th December 2013

All residents are welcome. Come along and have your say!

For more information contact Hands on Handsworth Residents Network on:

Selwyn Clarke, Chair 07860546170

Posted on 15th April 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: Cleaner, Hands on Handsworth Resident Network, Handsworth Community Fire Station, Rookery Rd
Posted in Make a contribution, Safe, clean & green | No Comments »

Mobile Business School Drives in to Visit Budding Entrepreneurs

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 12th April 2013

A business school, in the form of a distinctive double decker bus will be encouraging students to climb aboard, on Monday 15th April, in a bid to inspire budding entrepreneurs.

The NatWest Mobile Business School will be paying a visit to both Holte School in Lozells and South and City College in Handsworth, as part of a project that is being delivered in partnership with local youth organisation, Birmingham Leadership Founadtion (BLF).

A team of NatWest business advisors will be on board to provide consultations, answer queries, discuss career plans and offer advice on business start up ideas. The top deck of the bus will be the hub for a series of interactive business workshops and a range of useful literature will be on hand for visitors to take away.

Mashkura Begum, Executive Director for Birmingham Leadership Foundation, says:

“BLF is delighted to be working alongside NatWest in delivering this important event. Within Birmingham’s inner city communities there is a vast amount of untapped potential and business talent. The intention of this event is to provide important opportunities and crucial support in areas where such expert advice would usually be unavailable. It’s also important to highlight that the mobile business school is not just open to students but also to any local residents who would like to drop by and speak to NatWest’s team of business experts.”

Andrew Harrison Managing Director for Royal Bank of Scotland Group in Midlands and East of England said,

“We are delighted to be able to bring the Mobile Business School to Birmingham’s inner city communities and to work alongside Birmingham Leadership Foundation. The bus provides a unique way of taking the support, advice and expertise that we can provide out to future entrepreneurs. We are committed to delivering a first class level of enterprise education locally and will continue to work with the Birmingham Leadership Foundation and other key strategic partners.”

The NatWest Mobile Business School will be at Holte School on Monday 15th April between 10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. followed by South and City Birmingham College, Handsworth Campus on Soho Road from 1.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. For further information contact the BLF Team on tel: (0121) 554 0472 or email: info@bleaf.co.uk

Story by Keira Huber

Posted on 12th April 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: Birmingham city council, Birmingham Leadership Foundation, Holte School, NatWest, Sankofa, South & City College
Posted in Suceed Economically | No Comments »

Handsworth School Girl Nominated for Top City Business Award

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 10th April 2013

A 16 year old school girl from Handsworth has been announced as a top contender for one of Birmingham’s most prestigious business awards.

Catherine Munyarari, a student from Handsworth Grammar School, and member of local youth organisation, Birmingham Leadership Foundation (BLF), has been announced as just one of three finalists for the Aspiring Talent category of the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) awards. Hosted by professional network Birmingham Future, the awards, now in their 13th year, recognise the rising stars of the city’s business community, and include a special category for 16 to 23 year olds. Previous winners include Anthony McCourt, former director of The Cube and Aktar Islam, Director of Lasan restaurant and eatery. Catherine, who is currently studying for her A Levels, is one of BYPY’s youngest ever nominees, and was informed moments before setting off on a Geography field trip.

Catherine says,

“I’m ecstatic to have been nominated for a BYPY Award and can not wait for the ceremony in May. I’m really proud of where I come from and want to use this as an opportunity to champion all the talent that exists in my community and put Handsworth on the map. This is one of the most exciting things ever to happen to me.”

Catherine’s recognition arrives on the back of an eventful year for the ambitious teenager. In November she was elected as UK Youth Parliament representative for Ladywood and Perry Barr Constituencies, a role she juggles with her duties as youth representative for the East Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum. She also managed to make her mark on the public speaking circuit with a presenting role at the BLF Charity Gala in October, in front of an audience of 200 business and political leaders including Sir Albert Bore.

Posted on 10th April 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: Birmingham Future, Birmingham Leadership Foundation, Handsworth Grammar School, Youth Parliament
Posted in East Handsworth Neighbourhood Forum, Make a contribution, Suceed Economically, Uncategorized | No Comments »

New Heritage Trail in Lozells and East Handsworth Ward

Posted by Yvonne Wager on 13th February 2013

Did you know that there is a new Heritage Trail being developed in Lozells and East Handsworth Ward? If you have a keen interest in local history then why not consider signing up to become a tour guide? There is an eight week course starting on the 25th February in partnership with South & City College Birmingham and will be delivered at St Mary’s Convent on Hunters Road in Lozells. For further information contact:

Aftab Rahman on 0121 523 0580 or Mari Micallef on 0121 694 6311

Posted on 13th February 2013 by Yvonne Wager
Tags: Heritage Trail, St Mary's Convent, Tour Guide
Posted in Handsworth History, Make a contribution | No Comments »