Balsall Heathan # 268 Sep 2007 - St. Paul's Community Trust

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Saheli Women’s Group Make a Difference by Selina Brown We live in a society that is sometimes criticised for being male dominated, where change can only take place if women become liberated and that is exactly what a small local female group accomplished, with great rewards. In 1998 a collection of women from Balsall Heath formed the Saheli Women’s Group. Their aim was to engage and empower women within the community, by getting involved in the local decision making process from which they felt excluded. Together they became aware of the lack of fitness facilities for women within the local community, so collectively they set about making a change. The Saheli Women’s Group’s biggest achievement is the Saheli Adventure Hub that opened on 24th June 2007. The half a million pound gym includes state of the art fitness e q u i p m e n t , a wooden sprung floor used for dance and aerobics and a virtual trainer. To date they have 893 active members, amongst them is Rosalie Dickson one of the eldest members of the Hub. Rosalie has been a local Balsall Heath Resident for 42 years, she is delighted with the service the Hub provides and has been a committed member since the Hub opened. “The Saheli Adventure Hub is the healthy heart of the body of Balsall Heath. I enjoy coming here as I meet new people but more importantly I keep fit” said Rosalie. Being a registered charity makes the group more determined to support other fundraising events for charitable causes. The Saheli Women have taken part in Cycle Relief where they have been able to raise £100 for distressed people that have been affected by climate change. They have also been active in raising money for Red Nose Day, the Pink Aerobics Breast Cancer Campaign and Kidney Research plus much more. Recently the group have had several funding successes. Unltd recently gave the funding to purchase 20 new mountain bikes, to assist in providing outdoor activities for young women aged 13-18. In addition Saheli have been able to buy a Mini Bus from funding they received from Reaching Communities Big Lottery, which enables them to create opportunities for women to be empowered through sport and cut their transport costs dramatically. On Saturday 8th September the Hub held a fundraising sale raising £241 from unwanted items donated to the centre from the members, the funds raised were then ploughed back into the Hub to assist with its service delivery. The Saheli women are currently working with Barrow Cadbury Trust to provide a 2 year Empowerment Programme for local young women which aims to boost their confidence and get them actively engaged in local decision making. The Saheli Adventure Hub recently formed a partnership with the Heart of Birmingham NHS Primary Care Trust and Health Exchange, to deliver information and support on health to the local community. Since its establishment the Saheli Women’s Group have been going from strength to strength. They are all certain that the Saheli Adventure Hub is just the foundation of greater things to come. The groups Project Manager Naseem Akhtar said “The Saheli Women’s Group is an initiative that has been set up by local women for local women and that’s why it works, and makes a difference to local women’s lives. “In the future we want to see a large health and fitness facility for the greater Sparkbrook so we can provide fitness opportunities for everyone” added Nassem. If you would like more information on the Saheli Adventure Hub please call 0121 446 6137.
Balsall Heath Forum Focus Can this really be happening? This is the story of a Council property and its elderly tenant, Mr Brown (his name has been changed to give him privacy). He has been known to the Forum’s office staff, Rosie and Carrie for some time. They help him most weeks with forms, bills and other little things which matter. When they called at his house one day, they were appalled. His little back garden shared with other tenants was such a jungle that he couldn’t open his back door. So, his dogs fouled the inside of the house. It was not just an incredible mess and very, very, dirty. It smelt so bad that Rosie made an excuse and left. But, she said to herself, in this day and age nobody should be left to live – and probably die – in such conditions. Rosie contacted the Housing Department and Social Services. The Housing Department eventually promised to get Environmental Services to clear and clean the place to a good standard. Social Services would then visit regularly and help Mr Brown to keep his house (and garden) up to standard. Rosie and her office manager, Carrie were dismayed when, on the day, Environmental Services merely took Mr Brown’s bed and chairs and left. He was worse off than before – a foul, unhygienic mess and no furniture. After their anger and tears had subsided what did Rosie and Carrie do? They put on some old clothes, got face masks and, armed with mop, buckets, soap and disinfectant, they went to work. It took them both two whole days. But, at the end of it, the place was spotless, the cooker usable. Oh, and of course, they dipped into their own pockets and brought him a bed and furniture. More, Carrie asked the Forum’s Green Team to clear the garden. They did a grand job. Mr Brown can now open his back door, sit outside and let his dogs use the end of it as a toilet. Rosie and Carrie now hope to persuade Social Services to fulfil their part of the bargain. They say they’ll keep an eye on Mr Brown each week and help him to keep on top of things. However, they did not make their first appointment. So, Rosie is persisting. She says: “I’ll get them there if it’s the last thing I do”. But, three questions have to be asked: (1) What fate would have befallen Mr Brown if Rosie and Carrie hadn’t existed or hadn’t cared? (2) Are there any more Mr Brown’s out there who we don’t yet know about? All readers are urged to let the Balsall Heath Forum know if a neighbour of theirs may need special care and affection? (3) What are we to think of the Council? Rosie and Carrie have sent a copy of their letter to the 3 local Councillors. In response to this heart felt story Councillor Salma Yaquoob has expressed her distress and has stated that she will do everything in her power to make sure there will be no repetition of this story. In addition she has offered her support to the Heathan, the Balsall Heath Forum and others in setting up a voluntary network of carers. Rosie is a star Rosie saw that Mr Brown needed help. He’s a Council tenant. So, at first she tried to get the Council to help. When it failed to do so, Rosie simply rolled up her sleeves, did the job herself and got her colleagues and friends to help. It wasn’t pleasant. Mr Brown’s dogs had been using his house as a toilet for a long time and things had gotten badly out of hand. Rosie spent three long days scrubbing and toiling until she had solved the problem. When asked why she had done it she replied: “You can’t let an old man live like that. It’s not right. Anyone would do what I did”. If only they would. Reclaiming ‘Confused’ spaces When the Council’s Urban Renewal Department tried to physically improve Balsall Heath 30 years ago it created lots of little patches of land and planters. It thought they would make the neighbourhood look better. But it also forgot to maintain them. The grass and weeds grew and they became full of dumped rubbish. Presently, the Council even forgot that they owned them. This is why they are called ‘confused’ spaces. Nobody owns and tends them. They look confused and ugly. For some time now in close cooperation with the Housing Department, the Balsall Heath Forum’s Green Team have been slowly reclaiming them and providing them with new ‘owners’ who will look after them. There are over 60 of them scattered around the neighbourhood. The Forum has now reclaimed 20 of them and persuaded good neighbours to help to maintain them. The photographs illustrate the difference that good neighbours can make to ‘confused’ spaces. If there is one near you and you would be happy to look after it, please contact the Green Team by phoning Rosie on 0121-446-6183 or just call in the Tree Nursery on St Pauls Road. Residents from the Sparkbrook Forum area have also noticed the effect which caring for ‘confused’ spaces can have. They are so impressed that they have asked the Green Team to cross into their neighbourhood and reclaim some. This led to an interesting conversation. The Sparkbrook residents wanted to hire the Green Team to work for them. But, the Green Team said: “No, won’t do it for you. But, we will do it with you. Indeed we’ll even show you how you to can have and manage your own Green Team”. The Green Team is often referred to as ‘Two men and a van’. So, the Balsall Heath Forum is now working closely with the Sparkbrook Forum to help them acquire this priceless asset. This outbreak of cooperation and mutual trust between two Forums is a constructive development and a great advance on suspicion and mistrust. Members of both Forums are delighted. They aim to build on and extend the cooperation and help it to spread to other Forums. Forum AGM The Forum’s AGM attracted over 200 people who were entertained by Chris, Abdullah, Jahan and his football team. Guest speaker, Chris Wadhams said: “I’m always astonished at the numbers who attend these meetings and your positive spirit”. In all 1,081 votes were cast during the day. Those elected were Makhdoom Chisti, Steve James, Taresh Jabber, Ishtiaq Chaudri, Dr Saleem, Mark Cobden, Noreen Akhtar, Raja Amin and Shokat Ali.
Page 1 and 2: The No. 268 2007 BalsallSeptember F
Page 3 and 4: The Balsall Care Heathan Your Commu
Page 5: From Me to Mother By Alison Stunt H
Page 9 and 10: Open Day Fun By Selina Brown Police
Page 11: Dazzling Environment Design An envi

Balsall Heathan # 268 Sep 2007 - St. Paul's Community Trust

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