Category Archives: Community Activities

Social Enterprise Meeting

Birchfield Social Enterprise Hub

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Following a very productive workshop in December at Grosvenor Road Studios looking at social enterprise in the area and how we can nurture and support it in the future, we are planning monthly sessions in partnership with UnLtd.

The first session will be 10am – 12.30pm on Thursday 7th February at Grosvenor Road Studios and will look at Marketing your business and branding.

For more details please contact:

Andrew Simons – 07421 994752
Carol Reid (ATHAC) – 07977 880132
Victor Shaw (UnLtd) – 07841 779981

Laptop PC

IT Skills for Beginners + and job search skills sessions

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Birchfield Big Local has teamed up with Birmingham City Council’s Adult Education Service to provide FREE training sessions at Grosvenor Road Studios or their premises in Aston. Why not express an interest!

The course is in two parts (you’ll need to attend both days):

Part One: IT Skills for Beginners …
Participants will learn all the basic skills related to the use of computers including;

  1. Switching on and properly shutting down PC’s

  2. How to use a PC keyboard

  3. Using and producing documents

  4. Using online applications

And more ..

Basic requirements:

  • Participants must be on a job related benefit (e.g. Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit)

  • Participants must have at least a basic knowledge of IT and use of computers

  • Participants must have a basic grasp of English and be able to understand and communicate with the tutors

  • Must be able to commit to the full 2-day schedule (9am to 3pm)

  • Participants can bring along their own laptops if they wish

Part Two: Work Skills Course …
This part of the course will help participants to be more effective in their job search efforts.

These sessions will include:

  1. Job searching skills

  2. Completing application forms

  3. Appropriate behaviour in the workplace

  4. Mock interview sessions

And more ..

Basic requirements:
These are generally the same as the above.

Please contact Tippa Naphtali (Volunteer Co-ordinator) if you are interested in attending.
T: 07421 994753 E: tippa@birchfieldbiglocal.org

Article Image Credit : StartupStockPhotos at www.FreeRangeStock.com

African Art Masks

Celebrate and remember Black History at the International Slavery Museum

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source: The Voice Online
published: October 2018

While the UK celebrates Black History Month in October, the International Slavery Museum (ISM) uses every day to remember and celebrate black history.

The International Slavery Museum is the only national museum in the world to cover the Transatlantic Slave Trade and modern slavery, as well as celebrating black African culture.

A visit to the museum can be a powerful and moving experience, as we remember the past and think about a better future. A visit to the International Slavery Museum is an essential education.

Entry to the museum, and all our events and activities throughout the year, are free.

During Black History Month alone you can take part in African dance, drumming, craft activities, and a special Capoeira youth event.

Join the ISM to celebrate and remember >

Article Image Credit : Lynn Davis at www.FreeRangeStock.com

50 years of Reggae - The BASS2018

50 years of Reggae – The BASS2018 from Punch Records

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Punch Records will be hosting 4 Film nights as a part of their BASS 2018 festival. The theme for this years BASS is celebrating 50 years of the word Reggae. In celebration they will be holding art, film and music events across the whole of period of October.

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of reggae. This year BASS will pay homage to the Music, Arts, Culture and Heritage of a genre that has enriched the cultural fabric of the world over the last five decades.

What Is BASS?
BASS is the UK’s biggest Black arts commissioning festival, having been actively bringing innovative themes, original events and internationally renowned artists from all over the world to the UK for over a decade.

BASS2018 features live music, visual arts, film debate, education and much more.

Reggae 50 film night – The Mockingbird; 7pm-9pm:

  • 4th October- Rocksteady

  • 11th October – The harder they come

  • 18th October – Lovers Story

  • 26th October – Homelands/Brukout

See more details here >

Furnace Community Theatre Project 2018

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Caroline and I were over the moon to be asked by the Birmingham REP Theatre, to be part of their ‘Furnace’ programme. Five theatre makers are working with community groups across Birmingham, to create original pieces of performance, which will be shared in July this year. This exciting project hopes to build long lasting relationships between Birmingham Rep theatre and communities who have previously not had much experience with the theatre.

Our project will be a collaboration with the women of Birchfield Big Local at Grosvenor Road Studios and women at two other hubs in Ward End. We want to create a safe place to come together, with other women to find new ways of sharing our stories. Through spoken word, art, voiceovers and music we will work together over the months to create a ‘sharing performance’. Also, as part of the project the REP will be arranging backstage tours and theatre trips for our participants.

We strongly believe in the importance of storytelling, shared experiences and giving unheard voices a platform. We will meet roughly once every two weeks and very much look forward to meeting you all. This project is accessible to all women regardless of experience.

The next workshops will be 10.30am – 12noon at Grosvenor Road Studios, 16 Grosvenor Road B20 3NP on the following dates:

Thursday 7, 21 and 28 June

Tuesday 3 July (performance day at The Dolphin Centre)

Thursday 5 July (performance at Grosvenor Road Studios)

Rachael Mainwaring, Women in Theatre

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre ‘Furnace’ Project is funded by Arts Council England

Furnace 2018: Creating New Theatre in the Community

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Artist, Rachael Mainwaring, is running a series of workshops at Grosvenor Road Studios starting Thursday 15th March as part of Birmingham REP’s Furnace project. Furnace brings artists and communities together to create theatre, tell new stories and give unheard voices a platform. Through spoken word, art, voice-overs and music we will work together over the months to create a ‘sharing performance’. Also, as part of the project the REP will be arranging backstage tours and theatre trips for our participants.

The Furnace project is open to all women in the local area and will involve a series of workshops with Rachael at Grosvenor Road Studios, 16 Grosvenor Road, Handsworth B20 3NP starting Thursday 15th March: 10.30 – 12 noon.  

Please contact Birchfield Big Local – 0121 448 5594 (Mobile: 07421 994752) for more details.