News
News from Balsall Heath and Balsall Heathans.
-
FREE screenings, checks and vaccinations saves lives
Health officials are urging us to take up Free Health MOTs and protect ourselves and our families this winter. Free healthcare services including vital flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, are on our doorsteps. With seasonal respiratory illnesses rising as cold weather approaches, local health providers emphasize that taking action early pays. Balsall Heathans recently gathered at…
-
BEDLAM Festival is back at the MAC
BEDLAM Festival is back on Fri 6- Sat 7 Nov 2026. Join a free Symposium, exploring the relationship between arts, creativity, mental health and wellbeing. On the theme of Artist Wellbeing, BEDLAM 2026 brings together artists, practitioners, communities and mental health professionals. Explore the programme of talks, workshops, discussions, performances & artist training. A week to go!…
-
Warm Homes Plan: what you can check before winter
This is a guest blog by Free Boiler Upgrade – local organisations like MECC Trust and Retrofit Balsall Heath also offer free advice on keeping your homes warm. As the nights draw in, many of us start worrying about cold rooms, damp corners and the next energy bill. Some help is available to make homes…
-
Celebrating our Black History: Desmond Tutu & Nelson Mandela in Balsall Heath
On Friday, April 22, 1988, the community of Balsall Heath welcomed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He came to officially open the newly built Nelson Mandela School, which had first opened its doors to pupils a few months earlier on September 7, 1987. During his visit, Archbishop Tutu left an unforgettable impression on…
-
Celebrating Our Local Heroes, in Balsall Heath and Nationally
So many incredible people contribute so much to life in Balsall Heath. At Balsallheathan.org, we want to celebrate those who make a daily difference, and help our local voluntary groups get the national recognition they deserve. Send us your stories, your local heroes, and we’ll put our community heroes in the Heathan and on the…
-
Threads of Resistance: Sustainable Fashion Hits Balsall Heath
Local activists, designers and makers across the West Midlands are taking matters into their own hands for Sustainable Fashion Week 2026, 26 September through 4 October, uniting communities across the UK under this year’s theme, Threads of Resistance. The Old Print Works in Balsall Heath, Bham’s Hub, is hosting a vibrant lineup of skillshares, panel…
-
Our Green Champion, Toqueer
Our very own Toqueer Quyyam, prominent local climate and social justice campaigner was recognised at the Benjamin Zephaniah Localism Awards. He is carrying on with his activism and we’re thinking to start our own ‘Heathan’ Awards in 2027 celebrating 50th year since our first Carnival, recognising outstanding people of Balsall Heath. Let us know what…
-
Balsall Heath Local History Gazette September 2026
Balsall Heath Local History Society Gazette is out with news of upcoming events and feature stories: The monthly newsletter published by the Balsall Heath Local History Society (BHLHS) in Birmingham, UK. It serves as both a community bulletin and a historical record for the area. What’s Inside the Gazette? The publication typically includes a mix…
-
Goodbye Joe, and thank you
We have to announce with love and respect, the sudden death of Joe Holyoak; architect, urban designer, campaigner, and good friend to Balsall Heath. Joe was coordinator of the first Neighbourhood Plan, with the Balsall Heath Forum in 2015; it was the first in Birmingham, and he was working on the revision in 2026. He…
-
Old Stamping Ground in Changing Times
As the Changing Times touring exhibition draws to a close, local voices and artists come together to capture a unique picture of the area, inspired by the photography of Mick Turner. Acclaimed poet Liz Berry is set to bring her local verse to our touring exhibition on Sunday, but she isn’t the only one finding…
-
Flag injunction: What It Means for Birmingham Residents
Tomorrow Birmingham City Council is seeking an injunction action to prevent ‘Raise the Colours’ and any ‘Person’s unknown’ from coming into Birmingham and putting up flags. It isn’t hard to understand why many residents are upset. There has been a lot of ‘fake news’ and conflicting opinions, not least from our own Councillors. We at…
-
Liz Berry returns to Balsall Heath in Changing Times
We’re thrilled to welcome Liz Berry for an intimate event of poetry, informal chat, interviews, film and exhibition dedicated to the living history, stories and memories of Balsall Heath at St.Paul’s Venture. Check out Frank Skinner’s praise for Liz Berry, who brought him to tears with her reading of ‘Birmingham Rollers’: Award-winning West Midlands poet Liz Berry…
-
Moseley Road Baths Joe’s Update #3
Joe Holyoak has written an update for us from the Baths and also will be leading tours of the Baths as part of Birmingham Heritage Week starting 11th September. Also look out for Balsall Heath in Changing Times exhibition and tours coinciding so you can view the baths and tour Moseley Road with local historian…
-
Bringing Balsall Heath’s History to Life in Changing Times
This September, experience Balsall Heath in Birmingham Heritage Week through a multi-venue touring FREE exhibition, ‘In Changing Times‘ by Balsall Heath Local History Society. Featuring the photographic archive of Mick Turner, community oral histories, poetry, art, and history trails exploring Balsall Heath through the eyes of those who live it. Balsall Heath’s story is one…
-
Changing Times in Balsall Heath: A Conversation with Zhor Malik
From the streets of 1960s Balsall Heath to decades of dedicated community service, Zhor Malik’s story is woven into the history of Calthorpe Park and Balsall Heath. A former Royal Mail union representative, long-time community advocate, and former local councillor, Zhor sat down with Marcus and Val for Changing Times to look back at Balsall…