Hands on Handsworth – Page 2 – Hands on Handsworth is a community blog, have your say, share your views and get involved

INFAMOUS COMMUNITY ARTS EVENT

InFamous Community Arts are a Midlands based collective. Infamous work with individuals and groups of all ages, using art and encouraging creativity to enhance both individual and collective experiences.

Oaklands Young Peoples Centre in Handsworth is pleased to announce the unveiling of their new mural on Friday 31st January, from 6.00pm. The unveiling of the mural marks the end of a 14 week project in partnership with Infamous Community Arts, with funding provided by West Midlands Police Building Blocks Fund and from the Handsworth Community Chest. A group of young people have been spending their Friday evenings designing and producing a 12m x 2.5m mural under the guidance of professional artists from Infamous Community Arts.

Oaklands would like to invite members of the community to attend the unveiling event.

For information please contact Desta Hall – 0121 523 7702

FREE FUNDING AND TRAINING FOR VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY GROUPS

With 2014 well on it’s way there are funding opportunities for voluntary and community groups in Handsworth or in the Perry Barr District. Does your organisation have big plans and no cash? Would you like to run new activities or develop your services?Is your group running on empty, with support needed to continue your good works? Would you like to attend a free training event?

Come along and find out how your group could access cash of £300 to £10k from Awards for All. BVSC will be hosting the training delivered by Matthew Poole, with additional support available to answer your funding related questions, provide advice and signposting.

At: Wednesday 26^th February 2014, 1pm – 4pm, Simpson Building, 79 Trinity Road, Aston, B6 6LS

Book a place at: http://www.bvsc.org/webform/awards-all-workshop-perry-barr-district

See you there x

BREAKTHROUGH – Awaken your leadership potential.

The Birmingham Leadership Foundation has a new BREAKTHROUGH programme set for 2014 for passionate, motivated and business minded young people aged 18+. So if you:

Are passionate about helping and empowering others
Are eager to meet and learn from the city’s leading industry insiders
Have opinions on the future of Birmingham and are not afraid to share them

BREAKTHROUGH IS FOR YOU!

Breakthrough is about empowering young people who are yet to realise their leadership potential. We know you can be brilliant, so BLF is helping you to breakthrough and ultimately make Birmingham a better place.

The programme focuses on:

• Building confidence, insights and understanding of the world around you

• Leading change and barriers/opportunities to making change happen

• Influencing, communication and leadership skills

• Problem-solving and team-working.

By going behind-the-scenes of Birmingham – one of the UK’s most diverse cities – participants will get the chance to visit a wide range of organisations and quiz leaders about the real-life challenges they face. Not only will you learn about what it takes to run the city, but you will also begin to understand how these skills can make a positive difference in your community and plan your future as a leader in society.

What can I expect?

The programme is made up of 4 core elements:

Leadership & Me – A short 3 day intense course to awaken, broaden and develop crucial leadership skills.

Power & Influence – Getting outside of the classroom and into the real world. A series of visits organisations and meetings with senior leaders from the public, private and third sectors.

Giving it a Go – Armed with new skills and understanding, nothing really quite beats action! Over 2 days, participants will be given a Birmingham based challenge to work on in teams and create change in a local community.

Realising My Potential – Personal Development Plan – from the very beginning throughout the course, participants will be encouraged to understand where they are at, plan how to develop skills and map out a future leadership vision, with the support of BLF and our mentor network.

How do I apply?

Fill in our online application form here.

Applications will close on Friday 31st January 2014.

For more information contact the BLF Team on 0121 233 3187 or email breakthrough@bleaf.co.uk and we’ll be in touch to tell you more.

2014 IS HERE

Welcome back wonderful residents of Handsworth. I hope you had a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year with your friends and families. I don’t know about you, but I think for both Handsworth and the Birmingham City, 2013 was a great year. Who can forget the new opening of the Birmingham Library- the largest regional library in Europe, or the exciting festivals and events that we as a city and community we hosted. Whether you are going to University, quitting smoking, getting in shape or if you are doing something different this year – just make 2014 count! Live life, prosper and make the most of the opportunities that will arise.

What things are you looking forward to the most in 2014? Write and send them to me, the best I will post up throughout the year 😀

I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING

As a African Black female, I always look forward to Black History Month because across the city there are always events hosted to help educate us all on our roots, where we come from and to really appreciate the many great men and women who in History have fought for us. One of the very last events of this month that I am looking forward to attend in Handsworth, is the “Now I know where I am coming from, I know where I am going” the fee is only £1. I hope to see you wonderful people there, the details are below:

Black History Month

BLF Indian Enterprise Adventure 2014

In early 2014 BLF will be launching an Indian Enterprise Adventure, for young people, aged 18 to 26, with a passion for enterprise.

If you, or someone you know, are interested, please read on and spread the word!

This is an opportunity to visit, with all expenses paid, one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and participate in a unique learning experience.

If you’re business minded and eager to make a positive difference, then this is for you.

January 2014 –BLF Bootcamps facilitated by leading enterprise specialists

February 2014 – The Indian adventure begins! Up to 10 days on location, visiting local organisations & applying UK learning.

March 2014 – Debrief and personal support plan.

To register your interest, simply complete our online registration form by Friday 25^th October.

Trick or Treat – no thanks

HALLOWEEN is nearly here and West Midlands Police is asking the region’s youngsters to think about their actions and show consideration for the vulnerable and elderly.

Police are providing elderly and vulnerable residents with ‘no trick or treat cards’ which respectfully request that trick or treaters do not knock at your door during Halloween.

The luminous cards can be displayed on front windows and doors, to advise trick or treaters that they are not welcome to knock the door.

Officers are also speaking with young people at schools across the region to remind them that while Halloween is a time to have fun with their friends, there is also a more serious message.

Some residents, particularly the elderly, may feel intimidated by young people knocking on their door at night or playing tricks when it is dark and they are home alone.
http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/np/birminghamwestandcentral/news/newsitem.asp?id=15116

Handsworth Community Choir

The CBSO has launched a new community choir in Handsworth.

As well as encouraging residents to enjoy singing, a choir can bring members of the local community together and provides a chance to get to know each other in a relaxed environment.

Would you like to join the CBSO Handsworth Community Choir?

For more infomation or if you’re interested in joining CBSO Handsworth Community Choir please fill out the form or contact handsworthcommunitychoir@gmail.com or 07967 558 701.

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 to be willing to give it a go.

The choir is open all residents of the Handsworth area aged 18 or over.

Rehearsals
Weekly rehearsals are from 5.30pm – 7pm in the Red Hall at Rookery School.

View the current schedule

Calling Women in Handsworth – You are Invited to Join “The IN Thing”

Women in the Handsworth area are being urged to put a new slant on the saying ‘charity begins at home’ by joining “The IN Thing” this autumn.

Cancer Research UK is launching an exciting fundraising campaign, known as The IN Thing, and is urging women in the area to sign up for their free pary pack as soon as possible. The IN Thing asks women to rally their girlfriends together for a fun night in and to donate the money they would have spent on a night out to life-saving research.

Think about the different things that you could do like spending a night in watching your favourite movie, having a clothes swap, singing karaoke, dancing the night away or just having a catch up with the girls!

The In Thing is launching now to give hosts time to register for their free party packs, invite friends and get ready to host your get together to host the gathering in November.

To join in The IN thing and sign up for a party pack visit www.theinthing.org.uk

Future Leaders Invited to Get on Board

Get on Board, an accredited programme, which prepares Birmingham’s promising young leaders for the responsibilities of the boardroom, is currently seeking applicants for its 2013 / 14 programme.

Run in partnership between Birmingham Leadership Foundation (BLF) the Governance Forum, Get on Board specifically targets young undiscovered talent that is currently under represented in boardrooms and leadership positions. Participants are taught the essentials of corporate governance through mentoring, board observations and visits to high profile city events.

Former course graduates include, Justice Williams MBE, Cosmopolitan magazine’s 2009 Woman of the Year; Anthony McCourt Birmingham Leadership Foundation Chair and former Director of The Cube; and ex Handsworth gang member turned author, Errol Lawson. Since 2011, over 60 successful graduates have been awarded with membership of the Association of Corporate Governance Practioners (ACGP) and are now sitting in the boardrooms of local organisations such as The Drum, Nehemiah Housing and national environmental charity Groundwork.

Karl George, Programme Tutor and Founder of the Governance Forum says:

“It is recognised that too few people who are from inner city communities or work in grass routes organisations could benefit from the undiscovered talent which exists within the city’s young population. Get on Board, along with the support of BLF, aims to address this gap by supporting young adults who may be lacking in governance expertise but have the passion and potential to succeed in the boardroom.”

Mashkura Begum, Executive Director of Birmingham Leadership Foundation says:

“As a charity Birmingham Leadership Foundation is passionate in ensuring that opportunities, such as Get on Board, are made available to under the radar talent which often goes unnoticed by the City’s mainstream leadership. Get on Board is free of cost to participants and plays a vital role in addressing a lack of diversity commonly found in the boardroom.”

Get on Board begins on 8th October. To find out more simply email info@bleaf.co.uk or visit www.on-board.co.uk Applications must be completed and returned by Monday 30th September.