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Memories of Balsall Heath with Liz Berry

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.

A live performance by Liz Berry, award winning poet, of her new poem
An interveiw with Liz Berry
A showing of film clips of Balsall heath from the 1960s to 1980s assembled by The Media Archive of Central England
Display of Balsall Heath Carnival from 1977 onwards

A Live Reading & Interview with Poet Liz Berry

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.

Film Clips & Archives: An Earlier Balsall Heath

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.

Balsall Heath Carnival

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.

Event Details:

What: Memories of Balsall Heath (A Balsall Heath Community Festival Special Event)
When: POSTPONED to be announced soon
Where: St. Paul’s Venture Hall, Balsall Heath
Featuring: A live reading and interview with Liz Berry, local heritage film screenings, and historical Carnival displays.

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.

Anawim Turns 40 as the Balsall Heath Community Festival Begins!

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.

From “Britain’s Busiest Cul-de-Sac” to a Sanctuary for Women

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

Come Take a Look!

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!

Goodbye to Trams, Hello Festival!

Reclaiming Urban Spaces in Calthorpe Park

Judging Day at Clifton Primary in lead up to #BHCFest

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!

Relive the Carnival in Balsall Heath

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.

A Symbol of Hope

‘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.

Balsall Heath for Balsall Heathans

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.

Get involved

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.

Exhibition details

Balsall Heath Local History Gazette June Copy

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-Gazette

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 of current news and historical research:

Historical Articles: Local stories and accounts of local landmarks – the social history of the Balsall Heath and Highgate areas.
Photographic Archives: Rare images of the neighbourhood from various eras.
Society Updates: Information on upcoming monthly meetings, guest speakers, and local heritage events.
Project Reports: Updates on specific historical initiatives, like Balsall Heath in Changing Times and The Lost Children projects.

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.

Farewell to Roy Hattersley, a friend to Balsall Heath

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.

Roshven-Gardens-opening — Roy Hattersley opening Roshven Gardens August 1982

Roy Hattersley reading the Heathan — Roy Hattersley opening Roshven Gardens August 1982

Little Sprouts arrive for Balsall Heath Summer

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.

What are little Sprouts

Their ‘Little Sprouts’ outdoor activity workshops are FREE nature activity sessions for children under 5yrs and their adult!

Activities may include:

Finding out what willdlife lives there
Learning about nature
Nature crafts
Planting/making bug homes etc
Stories
‘Forest School’ activities

…. just generally enjoying being outside!! Places are limited and booking is essential.

Book NOW!

Contact Abi for more information: ab*@******rg.uk, 07985627426

Free ‘Little Sprouts’ Nature Sessions Wednesday

Free ‘Little Sprouts’ Nature Sessions Friday

Helping Little Sprouts Grow

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:

Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026 3rd to 13th July

Where did it come from?

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.

Extra information:

Recommended for children between 18 months and school age.
Children must remain accompanied & supervised by their adult.
Open to everyone
Sorry, no dogs

What to wear/bring:

Adults & children should be prepared for being outdoors and the weather!

Comfortable clothing
Warm layers if it’s cold
Waterproof coat with a hood
Sun protection (e.g. hat & sun cream)
Closed-toe footwear (e.g. old trainers or wellies)

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

Retrofit Balsall Heath Summer Events

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.

Workshops leading up to Festival #BHCFest26!

Home Retrofit Pop-Ups

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

‍East/ West Retrofit Walking Procession

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

Find out more

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.

Join us!

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.

‍‍Sign up to receive our regular newsletters, and / connect with us on social media:

• Instagram: @RetrofitBalsallHeath‍• Facebook: @RetrofitBalsallHeath‍• WhatsApp: Retrofit Balsall Heath group chat

Retrofit Balsall Heath, Retrofit our festival!

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!

A Collaborative story

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.

Ready for Retrofit completion - Billboard hitting the streets any day now! — Ready for Retrofit completion – Billboard hitting the streets any day now!

Love Seven Streets Park

Balsall Heath Carnival in Changing Times Seven Streets

Ten Days of Celebration

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

Draw yourself in

Before the fun even begins, we’re running the legendary colouring competition across Balsall Heath! Anyone is welcome to join – see here for instructions:

Colouring Competition!

Billboard painting — Hard at work painting

Banners out for the Festival #BHCFest26!

Balsall Heath Community Festival starts in just 23 Days! We’ve been finalising events, preparing banners, and will have all out at next Second Saturday, 13th June 2026, The Old Print Works, to put the finishing touches together with everyone.

To reflect the old Carnival preparations, we’ll be painting a giant bill board this Saturday, listing all the fabulous activities, all FREE over the ten days of the festival.

Balsall Heath Community Festival 3rd – 13th July 2026 #BHCFest26

New Banners for our Festival

Faisal Hussain has been working to make banners for Believe in Balsall Heath, and Retrofit Balsall Heath are starting the Festival with workshops making banners for an East West Procession across Balsall Heath, connecting it’s Parks on 5th July. Banners also feature in a touring Carnival Exhibition, linking many of the events across Balsall Heath over ten days.

Balsall Heath Community Festival 3rd – 13th July 2026 #BHCFest26

Packed programme of activities over ten days

Balsall Heath Community Festival 2026 Schedule

Banners Showing Strength in our Community

Jayne Thakoordin's Banner for Balsall Heath — Jayne Thakoordin’s Banner for Balsall Heath

Jane Thakoordin worked with Sewing Solidarity, a collaborative project with GAP Arts a young people focused creative project in Balsall Heath, 2025. Working over several sessions, a diverse group of young people engaged in discussions about their relationship to local community. Drawing on the traditions of union banner making, they co-designed a series of small hangings and a larger banner.

The banners are exhibited permanently at GAP Arts and the larger banner is available for local organisations and groups to borrow for community events, as it will be for #BHCFest26 The phrase “Strength in our Community” was written by a young participant of the Sewing Solidarity project.

Goodbye to Trams, Hello Festival!

Third history panel opened on Moseley Road ahead of Balsall Heath Community Festival outside Creation Climbing Centre, where once you’d see trams!

Balsall Heath Community Festival 3rd to 13th July 2026 #BHCFest26

Balsall Heath has seen many changes over the decades, reflecting it’s rich and every changing culture. Ten interpretation panels will be installed ready for Balsall Heath Community Festival, linked to the fabulous images of Mick Turner as well as archive images and present day photography. The Tramworks is a Listed building of historical significance. A truly grand tramwork purpose built and specially designed to be in keeping with the ‘select residential area’ around it.

Climber and Manager Joe outside Creation Climbing Centre, next to the history panel.

Jago, a regular climber finds out about the Tramworks for the first time 2026 — Jago, a regular climber finds out about Trams in Brum

Jago, a regular climber at Creation Climbing Centre said:

‘It’s really cool that these buildings aren’t demolished or lost.’

Reflections of the Carnival

The history panels will be ready for Balsall Heath Community Festival, 3rd to 13th July #BHCFest26. Balsall Heath Local History Society (BHLHS) have been selecting Archive images, talking to residents, businesses and local organisations to reflect our history in the panels. For more of the images and stories we are linking via QR code on our panels to ‘In Changing Times‘ resources. We will be building on these to keep our history alive and updated as Balsall Heath changes.

BHLHS are also preparing a touring ‘Balsall Heath Carnival Exhibition’ to run alongside many of the events happening as part of the Festival. The Carnival used to be on the first weekend of July, and while nothing can replace it, the Festival is one way we are hoping to continue celebrating our community and building pride in it.

Panels one and two:

First Historical Trail Panel Unveiled at Seven Streets Pocket Park

Reclaiming Urban Spaces in Calthorpe Park

Keep updated with the Heathan for more info on our Festival, or get in contact with your ideas, enthusiasm and commitment to celebrate Balsall Heath!

Balsall Heath Community Festival 3rd to 13th July 2026 #BHCFest26

Ward Meeting Magic in Balsall Heath

If you’ve ever been to a local ward meeting (and let’s face it, not many people have) you probably won’t be counting the days to the next one. Not so in Balsall Heath West as newly elected Councillor Duncan Ali injected some hope, enthusiasm, discussion and plans for action.

I was expecting a drafty community hall, broken plastic chairs, and hours watching a couple of dull, old men dominate the microphone, designed to exhaust and depress. I didn’t expect a packed room, fabulous food, chat with old friends and meeting people I had seen before, and now I can say hello to on Moseley Road.

Why Ward Meetings Matter

Birmingham City Council state ward meetings are a local gathering focused entirely on topics important to the people in a specific area. It’s designed to give residents a direct way to help shape their immediate community through Ward Action Plans. Our last Action Plan (Be Bold, Be Balsall Heath West) breaks down ‘Priorities’ into ‘Actions’ using a spreadsheet matrix (not completely unreadable).

It’s a semi-formal chat which should in theory give residents a say in the budgets, policies, and changes impacting our daily lives. The problem has always been how it happens.

Warm, Welcoming, Well fed

Early on there was a promise of food – a waft of curry from the next room, while a series of local organisations were given three minute slots to introduce themselves. Then it was time for food and informal chat. Tables were set out with QR codes and ‘Priority Areas’ like Youth, Housing, Bins… You were encouraged to chat with each other and to continue the chat later on the WhatsApp groups linked on the tables. For those from an ‘education’ background from 1990s, you might recognise ‘Unconference’, ‘Teachmeet’ or ‘Open space’ type structure. There were no long, agonizing slideshows or exclusive podiums. Instead, the room was broken down into smaller, breakout groups.

Everyone was made welcome, and free delicious food on offer helped a relaxed atmosphere where we could discuss important issues, not least the Balsall Heathan and Balsall Heath Community Festival.

Voices from the Floor

First of all, Duncan gave quick quote from an American President about ‘Asking what you can do for Balsall Heath’, and explained the delay in forming a BCC Administration (announcement soon!), then there were some quick intros – here’s some of them:

‘We’ve got a team of people, volunteers, passionate about what we do…any parents want to get involved, you’re more than welcome, we’re just down the road, based in Clifton…’

Nasim, Founder of Bright Future Football Association

‘We’ve got twenty odd sites across Balsall Heath East and West…We run regular volunteer sessions, three or four a week…Growing plants that provide food for nature, and for us, for you guys.’

Dan, Fruit and Nut Village

‘By creating a planting, my plan is to convince people of the value to raise money and organisation…for planting’

Sabrina, Moseley in Bloom

‘My first hat is basically I am a human being. We all share this. We are human beings that…he [Duncan] has the moral compass, wiht others of course, supporting the innocent people in Gaza.’

Dr. Ahmed Helmy, West Midlands Palestinian Solidarity

‘I’d like to quote another great American President, President Roosevelt in the Great Depression in America in the 1930s…’What on earth can we do?’ and Roosevelt would say to them, ‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.’

John, Zero Carbon House

‘I want to say thank you, normally when someone gets elected we cdon’t see them again until they’re knocking on our doors four years later…we need to work together to close the gap of inequality.’

Naseem Saheli Hub

For more details about what was discussed, have your say and how you can join in, contact Councillor Duncan Ali:

Contact details

Council House
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B1 1BB
Email: du********@************ov.uk

Seeing Rhonda: Exhibition and Archives of a Birmingham Photography Pioneer

The work, activism, and lasting influence of photographer Rhonda Wilson are being brought back into the light in a brand-new exhibition, Seeing Rhonda, making its debut alongside the official launch of the Rhonda Wilson Community Archive at The Old Print Works.

Spanning more than three decades of work from the 1980s to the 2010s, this project is a tribute to a woman who changed the cultural landscape of our city.

Photographer and Activist

She was a photographer, journalist, educator, cultural entrepreneur and activist, championing Birmingham women and social change through her photography, tackling issues like low pay, homelessness, and women’s representation.

Photographs, letters, posters and publications sit alongside personal notes, sketches and overlooked ephemera, revealing how she worked, collaborated and built opportunities for others.

Archives return to Balsall Heath

Initiated by Dr. Annette Naudin (Associate Professor at Birmingham City University) in partnership with The Old Print Works and PRISM Photography Network, the project brings Rhonda’s legacy back to where she lived and worked.

“It is very fitting to have Rhonda’s archive in Balsall Heath where, in 1989, she set up the Poseurs Studio and Gallery with fellow photographer Ming de Nasty. The process of uncovering letters of thanks, rolls of her photographs and her personal notes is both exciting and profoundly moving.”
Dr Annette Naudin

From co-founding Poseurs Studio and Gallery in the late 1980s to developing influential initiatives such as Seeing the Light (founded 1995) and Rhubarb-Rhubarb (founded 1999). Personal letters included in the archive offer a powerful insight into Wilson’s impact, documenting how her support shaped careers and opened doors for emerging photographers. The archive and exhibition bring into focus the contributions of women too often absent from formal collections, and reframing Birmingham’s cultural history through their work.

“We are delighted to host the Rhonda Wilson Community Archive here at The Old Print Works and to have the opportunity to shine a light on this important part of the city’s cultural history. Rhonda’s influence and impact on photographers and creatives is evident and we look forward to developing the archive further.”
Hannah Greenwood & Rebecca Tura, Interim Co-CEOs, The Old Print Works

Archive material, Rhonda Wilson community archive. Image courtesy The Old Print Works.

Hand coloured manual photomontage portrait of Rhonda Wilson by Ming De Nasty 1995 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence

“She thrived on creativity, she based her world upon it…One of the last things she said to me recently was ‘If an image can hold you for a second, then take you on a journey somewhere secret, peaceful or magical or tell a story to the viewer, it’s a true reflection of the person that made it’. To the very end she talked about light.”
John McQueen

Plan Your Visit

The exhibition is free (though donations to support the archive are very welcome!).

Event	Dates & Times	Location
Main Exhibition Run	Tuesday 23 June – Saturday 27 June 11am-5pm	The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath
The Official Launch Event	Thursday 25 June 6pm-8pm	The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath
Special July Opening	Saturday 11 July (As part of Balsall Heath Second Saturday and Balsall Heath Community Festival) 11am-4pm	The Old Print Works, Balsall Heath

Where to find it:

The Old Print Works, 498-506 Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 9AH.

For more information about the ongoing archive project, you can reach out to research lead Dr. Annette Naudin at an************@****ac.uk.

Seeing Rhonda

Balsall Heath Local History Gazette May

Balsall Heath Local History Society Gazette is out with news of upcoming events and feature stories:

2026-05-BHLHS-Gazette-2

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 of current news and historical research:

Historical Articles: Local stories and accounts of local landmarks – the social history of the Balsall Heath and Highgate areas.
Photographic Archives: Rare images of the neighbourhood from various eras.
Society Updates: Information on upcoming monthly meetings, guest speakers, and local heritage events.
Project Reports: Updates on specific historical initiatives, like Balsall Heath in Changing Times and The Lost Children projects.

Moseley Road Baths and Library Update

This is the first of what are going to be regular updates on the progress being made with the transformation of the baths and the library (MRB and BHL for short) by Joe Holyoak. Thanks Joe!

What is happening?

An enormous investment is being put into these two landmark buildings on Moseley Road in Balsall Heath. Although the two buildings will remain in the ownership of the City Council, the transformation is the work of what we call the Coalition. This consists of six bodies: the City Council, the MRB Charitable Incorporated Organisation (MRBCIO), the National Trust, Historic England, World Monuments
Fund, and the Friends of MRB.

Design drawing showing the mezzanine floor in Balsall Heath Library

Phase 1 ongoing

Together they have raised £36.5 million. This will be spent on two phases of work: we are currently in Phase 1, with the contractors Galliford Try. For the first time, the two buildings have been connected. At the end of Phase 1 work on the library will be completed, and it will reopen in 2027, enlarged with the addition of a new mezzanine floor. The majority of the funding for Phase 1 came from the government’s Levelling-Up Fund, now called the Local Regeneration Fund.

Work is also proceeding in Phase 1 on parts of the baths, particularly the conversion of the washing baths at the front of the building. The major work will be in Phase 2, with the reopening of the Gala Pool for swimming. Pool 2, previously used for swimming, will be boarded over and become a venue for music, film, weddings, and so on. Announced in May was a £9.2 million grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, which completes the funding for Phase 2.

Astonishing achievement from brink of closure

Only ten years ago, Moseley Road Baths was threatened with closure. To be now proceeding towards completion of a £36.5 million transformation, including Balsall Heath Library, is an astonishing achievement. It is going to offer everyone in Balsall Heath a great range of facilities to enjoy. More information can be found on the website moseleyroadbaths.org.uk.

Future updates in The Heathan Will give more detailed news on the progress of the building contract, thanks Joe!

Visit the Baths at Balsall Heath Community Festival

To be confirmed dates and times, Moseley Road Baths and Library are offering a tour (Joe is one of the volunteer guides) as part of our Community Festival 3rd-13th July #BHCFest26.

#BHCFest26

Balsall Heath Community Festival Logo

A Live Reading & Interview with Poet Liz Berry

Film Clips & Archives: An Earlier Balsall Heath

Balsall Heath Carnival

Event Details:

From “Britain’s Busiest Cul-de-Sac” to a Sanctuary for Women

Come Take a Look!

A Symbol of Hope

Balsall Heath for Balsall Heathans

Get involved

Exhibition details

What’s Inside the Gazette?

What are little Sprouts

Contact Abi for more information: ab*@******rg.uk, 07985627426

Helping Little Sprouts Grow

Where did it come from?

Extra information:

What to wear/bring:

Home Retrofit Pop-Ups

‍East/ West Retrofit Walking Procession

Find out more

Join us!

A Collaborative story

Ten Days of Celebration

Draw yourself in

New Banners for our Festival

Packed programme of activities over ten days

Banners Showing Strength in our Community

Reflections of the Carnival

Panels one and two:

Why Ward Meetings Matter

Warm, Welcoming, Well fed

Voices from the Floor

Contact details

Photographer and Activist

Archives return to Balsall Heath

Plan Your Visit

What’s Inside the Gazette?

What is happening?

Phase 1 ongoing

Astonishing achievement from brink of closure

Visit the Baths at Balsall Heath Community Festival

#BHCFest26

Event Calendar