The Balsall Heathan - St. Paul's Community Trust

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Balsall Heath Forum Focus A Cleanascene for Balsall Heath Despite all the good news, there is still far to much litter and rubbish in public places in Balsall Heath. Cristina, a resident of Homer Street is leading a magnificent 3 pronged litter pick on Sunday 7th July. It will end with a major celebration in Mandela Park. Cristina says: “I’m challenging every resident and every street to play their part.” Going for Gold This year’s Carnival is special. It’s theme is ‘butterflies, bees, bugs and blooms’. Youngsters (and adults) are invited to dress up as one or the other. But, also, for the first time, the Britain in Bloom judges will attend and judge Balsall Heath’s entry in the middle of the carnival and be surrounded by all those bees and butterflies. Plus, the very next day is Cristina’s Cleanascene. Starting by Calthorpe, Cannon Hill and Balsall Heath Road parks, 3 columns of litter pickers will wend their way to Mandela Park by Nelson Mandela School. There they will hold a celebration of the Cleanscene and challenge every resident and every road in the area to care for their appearance and qualify for a ‘Clean Street’ badge. Will this tip the balance, not just in the cleaning and greening of Balsall Heath, but in the judges minds? Is this the year when Balsall Heath will ‘Go for and get Gold’? Watch this space. Let’s all get behind Cristina and create a Cleanscene in every street in Balsall Heath. 2 The Green Team costs £60k a year. Just £25k of this cost is spent on creating and sustaining what these photographs depict and other greening work. That’s the equivalent of the costs of preventing just 3 burglaries. It’s ¼ of the value of the rise in the value of just one house in the last 10 years. q We know that the Bleak to Beautiful The photographs shown were taken in April of this year. They are of public places which were once untidy, uncared for and bleak. The Forum’s elected executive asked their Green Team to transform them, make them look owned, cared-for and welcoming. Individually they are good. Collectively they make a big impact. Three key questions 1 Before the daffodils were planted and the wooden planters placed on street corners, only 7 people entered the annual garden competition. Now 90 do so. In part, this is due to the example set and the creation of the feeling that: “If others will bother, so should I.” Please also note that a few of the flowers and trees were damaged in the first 2 years of the project. Now, none are. They are universally respected and enjoyed. This gives rise to the second question. neighbourhood now looks and feels better. So, what money does this ‘caring look’ both save and raise. We must calculate: • The number of crimes prevented and the cost of them which is saved. • The effect on improving health and well-being and the costs saved by the NHS. • The rise in house prices and, thus, the value to Registered Social Landlord’s, the Council and Private individuals. q Then, we must ask: Isn’t it worth the while of the police, justice system, RSL’s etc, etc to invest in the Forum’s cleaning and greening work? For it both saves them money and makes their work and lives much easier. Not only is greening fun and attractive, it’s also very cost effective. A Cost Benefit Analysis showed that for every £1k spent on the Forum, at least £7 were saved. That is, for every £25k invested, £175k plus is saved. 3 Finally, if beautifying the area is both good and cost effective for Balsall Heath, can it be replicated in other neighbourhoods? A lot of other neighbourhoods and Central Government are very keen to know the answer. The Forum is particularly keen to help partners to replicate its success and to put them and it at the head of a cleaning, greening, beautification programme. So, can RON (Respect our Neighbourhood) show others how to make that respect work in their neighbourhood? Let’s put Balsall Heath at the head of the national map and spread the sectors of successful renewal in many areas.
If you want to build your confidence, meet new people and have fun, then Positive Moves is for you! A confidence building project for women over 19yrs “Positive Moves For You”. A Big Lottery Funded, Balsall Heath community project for women over 19yrs, at Anderton Park Children’s Centre. The programme looks at confidence building using: - drama and creative arts techniques - body language - setting and achieving realistic goals and targets - developing employability skills - interactive and social skills If you would be interested in joining in or finding out more about Positive Moves For You then there is a taster session on Tuesday 4th June, 1pm-3pm. Anderton Park Children’s Centre, Dennis Road, Sparkhill, B12 8BL At the Taster, meet us, have a cup of tea and some nibbles and explore the ways in which we will be running this program in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere! Children welcome! Dates & Times Course 1: Tuesdays 1pm – 3pm June: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th, July: 2nd, 9th, 16th. - 6 week break for summer - September: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, Oct 1st TEXT: Josie 07871 071 330 or email josie@roundmidnight.org. uk or call Round Midnight on 0121 440 8188 for more information From Balsall Heath Local History Society The last 60 years of Life inspired by objects “Even to this day my mum will not change a lightbulb because of the electricity. She won’t even plug a new appliance in… When I was at home it would be, “The lightbulb’s gone!” One time we got back and she was sat in the dark” because she wouldn’t change it.” What’s YOUR story on this and other objects? FREE EXHIBITION WEEKEND 22nd/ 23rd JUNE 11 — 4 BOTH DAYS AT ST. PAUL’S, HERTFORD STREET, BALSALL HEATH - Balsall Heath history in displays, photographs & objects - Including an opportunity to visit the Victorian/ World War 2 Classroom FREE MUSICAL EVENTS Tel: 0121 464 1890 Email: chris.sutton@stpaulstrust org.uk Balsall Heath Church Centre has secured funding for free musical events throughout the year. There will be opportunities to participate or if you prefer you can simply watch: 28th 18th 30th 17th 29th 3rd May Gabriela, the Ukulele Lady June Bhangra July Gabriela, the Ukulele Lady Sept Bhangra Oct Gabriela, the Ukulele Lady Dec Bhangra Balsall Heath Church Centre 100 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 9JU Tel: 0121 440 1138 Please send your letters to: The Editor, The Balsall Heathan, c/o St. Paul’s Community Development Trust, Hertford Street, Balsall Heath, B12 8NJ Dear Editor, Can we trust Warwickshire County Cricket Club and, more especially, can we trust Birmingham City Council to protect the interests of residents who live within the proximity of the club? Many residents will have received in early January, a communication from Birmingham City Council’s Planning and Regeneration Department, relating to an application by Warwickshire County Cricket Club for a variation in the planning consent which in summary was ‘…to allow daytime use of the floodlights on more than 15 occasions per year, with evening floodlights restricted to no more than the existing 15 occasions per year’. continued on page10... However what most residents will not be aware of is that an agreement has been reached between WCCC and BCC that daytime is defined as ending at sunset according to MET office timings. The consequence of this is that WCCC are now at
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