At Together St Paul’s, we believe in people. Whether you’re walking alongside a family through tough times, helping young people find their voice, or keeping things running behind the scenes — your work matters here.
Job Title: Senior Youth Worker
Salary: £31,806pa (pro rata £23,748pa)
Hours of work: 28 per week – flexibility – days/times to be agreed
Closing Date: 24th July 2026 12 noon | Interview date: 5th August 2026
Joe Holyoak has written an update for us from the Baths and also has been leading tours of the Baths as part of Balsall Heath Community Festival #BHCFest – Initially tours were offered to neighbours, stakeholders and local charitable friends. For our our festival we had limited free bookings for members of the public, which were fully booked within 24 hours of us putting out the message.
We are very grateful to Joe, volunteers and staff at the Baths who made this possible – keep an eye on the Heathan for the next opportunity to visit – we’re hoping this will be in Heritage Week in September.
‘We are very keen that those on the doorstep get priority access.’
Simon Piaia, Project Manager
As of 13th July, we are now in Week 46 of the 80 weeks of the Phase 1 contract, and all is going successfully.
You can’t see it from outside in the street, but for the first time ever, the two buildings are now connected. You can walk from one to the other through a new opening. This was one of the first things that the contractor Galliford Try did, in order to enable access to the library internally from the compound at the back. The decision to join the two buildings together was a bit controversial, but it was decided to do it because when the contractor hands over the completed buildings at the end of the contract,
they will constitute a single community resource. The library floor is a bit lower than that of the baths, so a ramp is necessary to connect the two.
Because they are built in a similar style (described as a mixture of Jacobean and Flemish Renaissance), and use the same external materials, red brick and buff terracotta, the two buildings are often mistakenly read as a single building. Historic England, which is responsible for their listing as architecturally significant buildings, contributes to this confusion by listing them together as one building. But they were designed at different times, by different architects. The library, designed by Cossins and Peacock, opened in 1896. It is therefore Victorian. The baths were designed by William Hale and Son. Because of the years spent drilling a well in order to find water, the baths did not open until 1907. They are therefore Edwardian. As I wrote in the first progress update, most of the work in Phase 1 is targeted at the library. That now has a lovely new Westmorland slate roof.
The library will reopen in 2027, with a new mezzanine floor added. This now under construction, with the steel structure in place. The connection to the baths will not then be in public use: that will have to wait until work on the baths is completed in Phase 2.
Joe Holyoak
Keep in Contact with Friends of Moseley Road Baths
A community grows when you give it a little space, some shade, and some love. July 8th, Reaside Forest Garden, one of many Fruit and Nut Villages in Balsall Heath, welcomed visitors to the site. With the summer sun beaming down, we spent a very pleasant morning gathered under the cool, welcoming shade of the big poplar tree right in the middle of the garden. Another beautiful day of growth, connection, and celebration, part of Balsall Heath Community Festival #BHCFest26!
And tonight (Friday 10th July) we’re back to enjoy Forest Sound Garden!
We were joined by Friends of the Earth! They spent the morning filming and interviewing our visitors, volunteers and partners about the Postcode Gardener Project, which they have funded right here in Balsall Heath. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the hard work happening on the ground.
We also gave out a dozen grape vines! Lovingly propagated from the original vine at Apna Ghar.After a productive morning, our friends at Apna Ghar hosted 17 of us for a spectacular, delicious meal. Gathering around the table provided a much-needed moment to rest, catch up, and swap stories with both familiar faces and new friends.
“A community garden is about growing relationships.”
The week isn’t over yet, and we have the perfect way for you to unwind.
After the heat of the day breaks tomorrow evening, why not join us back in the garden? We are hosting a magical evening of live music right among the trees.
Bring a friend, enjoy the cooler evening air, and let the music wash over you in our favorite green space. We can’t wait to see you there!
With over 60 different Faith Centres across Balsall Heath, and many more either demolished or changed purpose, there are lots of places to visit. For Balsall Heath Community Festival Faith Trail, #BHCFest26, we were welcomed into Al Abbas Islamic Centre, Balsall Heath Church Centre, Birmingham Buddhist Centre, Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara Ss John and Martin Catholic Church.
Over three days (6th to 8th July) over 100 visitors have been warmly welcomed into our local Faith Centres. Stepping out of the sun and into new, cool, brilliant spaces on our doorstep – meeting our neighbours – we were embraced by everyone who opened their doors to the heart of their community. There is nothing that can replace spending time, sharing food, meeting face-to-face to ask questions and find common ground.
‘We’re less than ten doors away, and this is the first time we’ve met! We need to be closer and work together for all our sakes.’
At every visit it was clear that we need to keep working together across faiths to meet the challenges of the future. The Faith Trail for many was an introduction, a meeting, breaking bread together. At every visit we came away with plans for the future. We share so much common ground and you couldn’t help be excited to see how quickly first meetings were leading to plans for future sharing and support across Balsall Heath.
After such a fantastic weekend, the next three days promise to be equally wonderful as Balsall Heath Community Festival brings together so many more people to celebrate Balsall Heath! A quick summary, flyers below, offering joy and fun in gardens, exhibitions and in our fabulous Faith Centres across Balsall Heath from 6th to 8th July!
We started our Festival with a party at Anawim, a visit to the Fire Station and drama at Pickwick Park!
We talked to shop owners, passers by and local organisations like Friends of Balsall Heath Park as the next history interpretation panels were installed bu Balsall Heath Local History Society. Find out more on our history trail across Balsall Heath.
‘Our history is important, all of it.’
Celebrate the creativity, diversity and community spirit of Balsall Heath with a joyful walking procession from Balsall Heath Park to Calthorpe Park on Sunday 5 July as part of Balsall Heath Community Festival.
Expect colourful banners, Brumbeats drummers, pop-up street theatre, family activities and plenty of carnival atmosphere as we walk together across the neighbourhood, celebrating local pride, greener homes, vibrant parks and the people who make Balsall Heath such a special place. Walk the whole route or join us wherever you can. Make your own mini banner, enjoy performances, meet neighbours old and new, and help launch Retrofit Balsall Heath’s new community banner.
Everyone is welcome—bring your friends, your family and your carnival spirit!
Event details
Join us for the whole procession or simply drop in along the route—everyone is welcome!
Sorry Hot weather means we’ve had to POSTPONE new date to be announced soon -an intimate event dedicated to the living history, stories and memories of Balsall Heath.
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the award-winning West Midlands poet Liz Berry for a live reading of her stunning new poem, “Psalm”, and interview with Val Hart.
Liz’s work has been described by The Guardian as a “sooty soaring hymn to her native West Midlands.” An award-winning poet and author of the critically acclaimed collections Black Country (Chatto, 2014); The Republic of Motherhood (Chatto, 2018); The Dereliction (Hercules Editions, 2021) a collaboration with artist Tom Hicks; and most recently The Home Child (Chatto, 2023), a novel in verse.
Liz shares a deep, personal connection with Balsall Heath. Published in May 2026 and featured in the Times Literary Supplement, her new poem “Psalm” is a deeply evocative, secular hymn that celebrates community, resilience, and womanhood. True to her remarkable ability to transfigure working-class landscapes into something sacred, “Psalm” anchors itself right here in Balsall Heath.
Following the reading, Liz will join us for a brief interview to discuss the inspiration behind the poem and her lifelong project of mapping the emotional geography of the West Midlands.
Step back in time with us as we screen a selection of rare film clips capturing Balsall Heath from decades past. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see how our streets used to look, spot familiar corners, compare and contract Balsall Heath past and present.
Do you remember the floats, the music, and the crowds of the classic Balsall Heath Carnivals? We will have special archive displays set up around the hall dedicated to the history of the Carnival. Come browse the photographs, share your own memories, and celebrate the enduring joy of our community coming together.
Whether you have lived in Balsall Heath your entire life or are new to the area, this evening is a celebration of your history. Let’s celebrate the extraordinary story of the place we call home.
As we prepare to celebrate Anawim’s 40th anniversary, Believe in Balsall Heath are thrilled to share a dedicated History Panel installed right outside Anawim entrance on Mary Street. Celebrating the rich heritage of Mary Street and George Street, the panel stands as a proud reminder of Balsall Heath’s heritage.
Anawim anniversary celebrations on July 3rd also serves as the official kickoff for the Balsall Heath Community Festival (#BHCFest26)! This fantastic festival will bring ten days of joy, culture, and connection to our neighborhood.
Anawim began with two pioneering nuns, Sister Magdalene Matthews and Sister Maisie Nevin in 1986. Moving into a terraced house on Mary Street, they stepped directly into the heart of what was then a notorious red-light district, at the time described as “Britain’s busiest cul-de-sac.”
The Sisters saw women in need of safety, dignity, and care. Forty years later and that single terraced house has evolved into a lifeline. Today, Anawim sits proudly on the historic site of the former St John’s School, which educated local children from 1911 to 1980. While the buildings have changed, the core mission has never wavered: helping women from all backgrounds and communities in and around Birmingham get the support, respect, and opportunities they truly deserve.
“We are so proud of our history.”
Joy, Anawim CEO
The next time you walk past Anawim’s entrance on Mary Street, please take a moment to stop and explore the new history panel, linked to our ever expanding history trail of Balsall Heath. Trails are at the heart of 2026 celebrations in Balsall Heath and a wonderful way to experience our streets. The Balsall Heath Local History Society has been deep in the archives, uncovering fascinating stories of Balsall Heathans and Balsall Heath. Working with local partners, we have produced a series of historical interpretation panels that have been installed across Balsall Heath in 2026.
Are you celebrating with us at #BHCFest26? Drop a comment below, share your favorite memories of Balsall Heath, or tag us in your festival photos!
It’s officially colouring competition judging time for Balsall Heath Community Festival, ready for festival start on Friday! We’ve been judging entries in windows as well as visiting local schools like Clifton Primary. To help us handle the tough job of picking the winners, we teamed up with Miss Choudhury – who happened to be a legendary two-time past winner of the competition herself.
She met us with Mr Lamprey, who has helped organise many previous Balsall Heath Carnivals, where the Colouring Competition was always a highlight. Narrowing it down was no easy feat as there are hundreds of incredible entries, but after much deliberation, we officially selected a winner, two runners-up, and four “Highly Commended” artists.
‘I won an orange skipping rope!’
Miss Choudhury explains how excited she was in 2005, and how well loved the skipping rope was. The next year judging was done from the street view, and if there were lots of artworks in the window the judges couldn’t tell whose artwork was whose – meaning Miss Choudhury and all of her siblings walked away with chocolate prizes.
We can’t wait to return to Clifton Primary School soon to hand out this year’s prizes. In the meantime, we are encouraging all pupils to proudly display their artwork in School and in their front windows. Let’s get the whole neighborhood colourful and promote our fabulous, upcoming ten-day Balsall Heath Community Festival! #BHCFest26
The first day of the festival is this Friday, and there will be an event at Pickwick Park organised by Retrofit Balsall Heath with Storytelling and Drama. If you see a fire engine on the Park, don’t worry – our friendly Fire Service have offered to support our Community Festival too!
Balsall Heath Local History Society bring the Carnival back to life in a touring exhibition, ready for Balsall Heath Community Festival! #BHCFest26. The Festival runs from 3rd to 13th July and the FREE Touring Carnival Exhibition will be at many of the venues across Balsall Heath.
‘The Carnival was never just a Carnival. It was a symbol of hope, an agent for change and a showcase for our rich cultural diversity. It is part of our heritage and our community identity.’
Val Hart, Balsall Heath Local History Society
When it started in 1977, the procession wound through streets which were still pockmarked with bomb sites and derelict housing. The area was only just beginning to recover from damage inflicted over thirty years previously in the Second World War. The City Council had cleared a huge swathe of older housing but the neighbourhood as a whole was in an appalling condition: poor housing; high unemployment; dreadful health statistics.
However, it was rich with the biggest asset of all – residents who were committed to rebuilding the community. Hundreds of people created the Carnival and thousands of people took part in it. The success for nearly fifty years reflects our achievement in becoming the thriving Balsall Heath of today.
Balsall Heath Community Festival is not the same as the old Carnival but it has risen from its ashes. But the Festival is again a symbol of hope as all parts of the community have come together to celebrate and to reaffirm our identity as diverse, creative and enterprising.
For nearly five decades the Balsall Heath Carnival has been the beating heart of our community – a glorious celebration of diversity, creativity, working together to celebrate our community. Balsall Heath Local History Society volunteers have been looking through the archives – literally thousands of photos and films, artwork and crafty creations, seeing the carnival through the people who have lived it. From the legendary floats of the 1970s and 80s to all the music, dance and glitter of more recent carnivals.
Expect fabulous and fantastic costumes, unusual sporting competitions, artwork extraordinaire and the moving, funny and proud stories of the people who have made it happen year after year.
Whether you’ve marched in the processions, cheered from the pavements or entirely new to the Carnival, this exhibition is a love letter to the resilience, unity and a bit of craziness that is Balsall Heath.
There’ll be activities for young and old, reliving activities from the Carnival and Fair of the past, as well as opportunities to find yourself in the photos and document your own stories of the carnival.
Balsall Heath Local History Society Gazette is out with news of upcoming events – #BHCFest26, Carnival Exhibition, Mary Bodfish presentation and Liz Berry at our special meeting on 9th July for ‘Memories of Balsall Heath’.
2026-06-BHLHS-GazetteThe 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.
The publication typically includes a mix of current news and historical research:
It is published monthly and has been a staple of the society for years with digital archives dating back to at least 2010. Distributed to members, recent and archived editions are also made available as PDF downloads on the official BHLHS website and on the Heathan.
We are sad to hear that Roy Hattersley died on June 13th 2026. He was MP for Sparkbrook from 1954 to 1997 and an active player in the regeneration of the area. The Heathan newspaper is full of details of his involvement locally. He was a guest of honour at many of our significant events: the opening of Clifton Infants School in 1979, and the opening of both the new Mosque in Clifton Road and Roshven Gardens in 1982, for example.
It was not just big events, however. He came to see for himself how the neighbourhood was faring under the Urban Renewal scheme and gave much support to Dick Atkinson’s efforts to build a better Balsall Heath. For some years he captained a cricket team for matches in Pickwick Park park as part of the year’s Carnival events.
So it is a thank you Roy from Balsall Heath. Rest in Peace.
Birmingham Open Space Forum (BOSF) offer new FREE pilot nature sessions with Parents and Toddlers across Balsall Heath. BOSF are already working in partnership with Saheli Hub and Fruit and Nut Village on Calthorpe Park with people of all ages, are now looking to work with more parents and toddlers to start new nature sessions in different locations locally.
Their ‘Little Sprouts’ outdoor activity workshops are FREE nature activity sessions for children under 5yrs and their adult!
Activities may include:
…. just generally enjoying being outside!! Places are limited and booking is essential.
Little Sprouts taster workshops are part of our extensive Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026 #BHCFest26! We’re really excited to be working with BOSF and so many other local partners to celebrate all that is Balsall Heath and Balsall Heathan – find out more here:
BOSF ‘Little Sprouts’ sessions initially started at Omnia green space (behind Omnia Practice & Yardley Green Medical Centre, 73/77 Yardley Green Rd, B9 5PU), but since then Little Sprouts are spreading and Abi from BOSF has been looking for more green spaces and people interested to take part across Balsall Heath.
Although Balsall Heath as a whole has less green spaces than almost any other part of Birmingham, we are blessed with many smaller green spaces and pocket parks ideal for families and everyone to enjoy the outdoors on their doorstep and that’s what BOSF is all about!
Belle Walk Green Space is a small space, easily missed, on the edge of Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook. It is ideal for nature activities with young families, and right next to one of the more densely populated areas of Birmingham. These 2 sessions are standalone pilots, the hope being that they could start weekly after the summer.
Adults & children should be prepared for being outdoors and the weather!
You might want to bring a bottle of water in a small backpack and extra clothing in case you get a bit cold/wet/dirty.
Contact Abi for more information: ab*@******rg.uk, 07985627426
Join us for family-friendly events in June and July, leading up to Balsall Heath Community Festival. Come along to share and learn about retrofit, meet others in the neighbourhood and celebrate Balsall Heath past, present and future! All events are free, and everyone is welcome.
Come and see our model house and take part in the ‘retrofit street drama’, sharing ways to lower our bills and make our homes and neighbourhoods healthier and happier. Free popcorn or ice lollies, depending on the weather!
Tuesday 23rd June, 11.30am – 1.30pm
St Paul’s Venture
Badgemaking and colouring
Wednesday 1st July 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Spark Green Park, Brunswick Rd
with friends of Spark Green Park
Friday 3rd July, 12pm – 2pm
Pickwick Park, St Paul’s Rd
Storytelling and drama
A procession through Balsall Heath with ‘retrofit street drama’ performances, banners, flags, drums and more. Join for as much of the procession as you like, or meet us at one of the happenings along the way! Part of Balsall Heath Community Festival.
Sunday 5th July, 11am – 5pm
11am: Meet at Balsall Heath Park
12pm: Set off
11.30am – 2pm: Seven Streets Park – Activities, refreshments, carnival exhibition. Retrofit-themed mini flag and banner-making workshop
2pm: George St Park – Retrofit model house street drama
3.30pm – 5pm: Calthorpe Park – Drumming workshop and refreshments
Retrofit Balsall Heath is delighted to be taking part in Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026.
We’re inviting local residents to join us in a walking procession from east to west across Balsall Heath linking green spaces; from Balsall Heath Park to Calthorpe Park, on Sunday 5th July.
The procession will be the first outing for our brand new Retrofit Balsall Heath banner, made by local residents with local artist Jane Thakoordin.
We also invite you to join us in carrying five further banners, celebrating the strength and resilience of Balsall Heath’s vibrant community, which were made by young people in workshops by Jane, in association with The GAP Arts project and Culture Collective.
Join us for one of our ‘retrofit street drama’ performances, and / or for all or part of the Retrofit walking procession.
We will be meeting in Balsall Heath Park from 11am with Extinction Rebellion’s Drummers ‘Brumbeats’, before we set off at 12 noon bearing our banners and flags.
Drop in to a workshop at Seven Streets Park 11.30am – 1.30pm to make your own mini banner or flag to carry!
As we walk, we will be able to spot solar panels on homes that have been retrofitted, see fruit and nut trees planted by Fruit and Nut Village and view historical information display boards recently installed by Balsall Heath Local History Society.
Our route will take us via Seven Streets Park near Balsall Heath City Farm where there will be a History Exhibition of Balsall Heath Carnival. We will then carry on to George Street Park for another pop-up performance of our model house ‘retrofit street drama’.
Finally we will walk down Edward Rd to the square on the corner of Edward Rd/Court Rd by the offices of local community organisation, MECC Trust and where cooked food will be available from Change Kitchen and other local cafes.
Further free family friendly Festival activities including a Brumbeats Beginners Drumming Workshop will continue in Calthorpe Park.
In the lead up to the Community Festival and the East/West Retrofit Walking Procession, we are holding pop-up performances of our model house ‘retrofit street drama’ in Spark Green Park and Pickwick Park, in association with local schools and Friends of Spark Green Park, and at St Paul’s Venture, supported by Balsall Heath Family Hub.
These sessions are open to all and will be family friendly, with free activities for children, supervised by their parents or guardians. They are co-hosted by Retrofit Balsall Heath Community Connectors, who speak a range of local languages.
Balsall Heath Community Festival is a week of fun, heritage, and innovation, 3rd – 13th July. For more details about Balsall Heath Community Festival visit the Balsall Heathan website.
Find out more about Retrofit Balsall Heath on our website.
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Retrofit Balsall Heath are once again playing a crucial role in our festivities for Balsall Heath Community Festival. Loaning a giant billboard to Balsall Heath Local History Society, it has been decorated by over 30 people at a local Woodcraft Folk workshop and Second Saturday at The Old Print Works, it is now ready for installation!
The billboard, it’s making and the fabulous smorgesborg of FREE events across Balsall Heath from 3rd to 13th July are very much in place because local organisations are determined to pull together, show the Best of the Heath.
On 5th July Retrofit Balsall Heath are inviting local residents to join in a procession from east to west; from Balsall Heath Park to Calthorpe Park – drumming, dancing and carrying banners made in workshops with local artist Jane Thakoordin celebrating the strength and resilience of Balsall Heath’s vibrant community. Friends of Seven Streets Park are organising one of the stops as are Friends of Balsall Heath Park, George Park and Calthorpe Park with Birmingham Open Space Forum and Balsall Heath Local History Society Carnival Exhibition, entertainment by Fruit and Nut Village, support from Edward Road Baptist Church, and I’m sure I’ve missed a few of our fabulous partner organisations taking part in just one day of our activity.
Our Community festival begins and ends with Balsall Heathans celebrating Balsall Heath! 3rd July is the 40th Anniversary of Anawim, a celebrated locally based charity now active across Birmingham. With over 60 active Faith Centres in Balsall Heath, anawim are starting a ‘Faith Trail’, exploring and linking faiths across Balsall Heath. More than 20 events later we end our festival on 13th July with Saheli in Calthorpe Park
Before the fun even begins, we’re running the legendary colouring competition across Balsall Heath! Anyone is welcome to join – see here for instructions:
