We’re thrilled to invite you to an upcoming ‘The Big Plastic Count’ event in Birmingham! Our local Birmingham Advisory Group are hosting a free drop-in event sharing the results and what they mean for the local area.
Saturday 9 May 12-4pm Art meets action at this Birmingham drop-in. A community event sharing the results, discover local waste insights, take part in creative activities, and share your thoughts in an open discussion spaces and workplaces across the UK counted their waste for one week as part of the UK’s biggest people-powered investigation into plastic waste.
Now, we’ve crunched the numbers and processed the data, and our results reveal the shocking scale of the UK’s big plastic problem…
Over 68,000 people across the UK took part – The results reveal that households in the UK throw away an estimated 82 billion pieces of plastic packaging every year! Over half (59%) of our household plastic waste is being burnt here in the UK. Only 16% actually ends up being recycled. Another 16% is exported and 9% is buried in landfill.
Help put pressure on the Government to support our policy recommendations as a first step to doing more to tackle the UK’s big plastic problem. Click the button below to send a pre-written email to the ministers responsible for plastic waste in the UK.
Anawim is celebrating forty years – check out their 40th Anniversary Day – Joy Doal MBE, CEO, tell us their story:
Anawim was founded by two pioneering nuns, Sister Magdalene Matthews and Sister Maisie Nevin, who belonged to the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity. Sister Magdelene had been working with alcoholics in Balsall Heath and Maisie with young people, but both were searching for something more.
They met women doing street ministry, joined them and immediately felt a calling to work with the women they saw on the streets nearby. The pair opened their home on Mary Street as a drop-in centre to women in Balsall Heath who were involved in sex work and vulnerable to exploitation.
Anawim 40th Celebration Save the Date 3rd July!
The Sisters’ Safe Space
Mary Street was then part of the traditional “red light” area of the city with sex workers on the streets and in around 25 houses used as brothels. The Sisters were struck by the difference it made for women to have a safe space, a warm drink and a listening ear. A place they could go without fear of judgement, to meet other women who cared deeply about their wellbeing. In a matter of two years their contact with women had increased so much – through hospitality at their house in Mary Street and outreach – they decided the time had come to devote all of their time to this Mission.
Looking for Life Transformation
During the day, the Sisters would attend court with the women or accompany them to Social Services conferences, visit them in their homes, hostels or prison. Health and Probation soon became aware of the Sisters, and the local churches were very supportive. The first two women to regularly come to the Mary Street house had stopped sex work and were soon followed by others. Their children were cared for in the front room and in the back room the women were offered literacy training, budgeting, crafts and parenting skills. This was the beginning of the ‘Women’s Development Centre’.
Around this time the Balsall Heath Forum started Streetwatch, the campaign to discourage both those working on the streets, and the kerb crawlers. Women were harassed and sometimes hit with sticks – this had a dramatic effect – it drove them out of sight and made them more vulnerable to attacks. The Sisters, together with volunteers, had to search them out in surrounding areas – where vigilante groups also sprang up.
Maisie, Balsall Heath 1989
Sister Maisie, 1986, 166 Mary Street – a safe space for all women
‘Safe House’ to ‘Development Centre’
In 1994 a Safe House was opened after requests from the women who had left, and lay staff were employed with the help of a lottery grant and funding from the Anglican Church Urban Fund. When the need for larger premises to house the ‘Women’s Development Centre’, became apparent this was closed.
To provide the space required, the present centre in Mary Street was rented from St John and St Martin church and opened in January 1999. By 2002 it was under threat of closure. This was due to lack of funds, the ‘client group’ of sex workers being moved on, the project struggling to meet new women, changes in the political climate and legislation such as ASBOs.
At this time Sister Lizanne was visiting Brockhill Prison and meeting lots of women there, but they were very different to the ones back in Balsall Heath. An integration came when they employed Joy Doal as manager in 2003. Through fundraising to employ staff, co-ordinating volunteers, entering into partnership with the SAFE project to co-locate their methadone programme and development of alternatives to custody with Probation, ANAWIM began to grow.
One-stop centre for all
Anawim became a pioneering one-stop centre for women who were either in the sex industry, at risk of being there, or were involved in offending. Outreach workers went out at night to reach the sex workers who had been dispersed across the city and in-reach took place at HMP Eastwood Park and HMP Brockhill, where Birmingham women were often sent, offering support while there and a place to come on release.
Many women have banded together, over 40 years, to grow Anawim into the charity it is today – an organisation that remains true to our founding ethos and now works with thousands of women every year. Anawim has an open access drop-in and specialist services to meet the needs of women from all parts of the city.
At the charity we believe anyone can find themselves in difficulty or experience trauma – whether that’s living in an abusive relationship, battling addiction, involved in crime or sex work – or simply struggling with life. Our staff can make a huge difference in helping women to try to change their lives – step by step.
Working with Women whatever their situation
We work with women at every stage of the criminal justice system, from first offence to prison. Our open access drop-in is available for any woman who needs it for any reason, and our main room remains a space where people can come for a cup of tea and a chat.
While funding will always be an ongoing challenge, we’ll do everything we can to keep Anawim’s doors open for women and be part of the fabric of Balsall Heath. For support, for friendship, for a safe space.
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.
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.
One of the first neighbourhood plans drawn up by local people. Many good ideas were put forward and achieved popular support – now being supported by the Balsall Heath Alliance. One idea that has been put forward is to achieve the first zero carbon neighbourhood. The new housing development Belgrave Village was an idea from the plan – we think these are superb ideas. The neighbourhood plan recommends one train station for Balsall Heath we are strongly in favour of opening a station in Balsall Heath and will do all we can to achieve that aim.
How will you support our Library, opening soon, to provide the best services?
Ensure that it is well stocked with excellent books especially for young readers, also have daily newspapers available – community language texts available – include IT and computers available for public use, hold monthly surgeries in the library to discuss residents concerns, – Secure funding to enable the library to remain open as much as possible – aiming for 7 days a week.
Fly tipping and bin collection are a big problem. How are you going to address this locally?
Zero tolerance of fly tipping – where addresses are found insist that there is follow up. Install cameras in grotspots, teach residents to use fix my street – bin workers strike to be ended by agreement with UNITE
How are you going to address traffic and transport problems locally? Will you campaign for a Balsall Heath Train Station?
Free bus travel for under 16 – £1 day saver Traffic lights on Edward Rd at junction with Lincoln St. possible one way – Willows Rd and Cannon hill Rd . Fix potholes! Big YES to a station.
How will you support the Friends’ Institute to reopen?
Explore change of use eg. supported accommodation, SEND school provision and/or youth club combined with Cafe – expansion of local restaurants – effective recycling/second hand shop.
We want to use it to bring people from the community together. It’s been held in trust as a gift and allowed to rot. Community use or Co-housing possibilities eg Stirchley
There are a whole range of housing concerns locally. Which of these will you prioritise and what will you do?
Retrofit to make existing homes warm and save money. HMO’s need models of good practice, Max of one HMO per street. Establish a working group including representatives from local religious houses, builders and tradespeople, along side homeless people to renovate derelict properties then the homeless will live there.
Duncan Ali is the Green Party candidate. Find out more about their policies in the Green Party manifesto.
Much of the plan chimes with priorities the Local Conservatives have set out, improving the street scene, protecting historic assets and seeking to invest in the Balti Triangle to secure its future viability. Clearly as the plan nears the end of its 15 year life it is important that working with residents it is refreshed to ensure it remains fit for purpose for the next decade.
How will you support our Library, opening soon, to provide the best services?
Local Conservatives are committed to all the cities libraries. In Birmingham we face a huge literacy challenge. 50% of the wards in Birmingham are in the top 10% nationally for literacy need. Nearly 40% of pupils in deprived neighbourhoods fail to reach their expected standards. 1 in 10 children aged 5 – 18 lack their own book at home. While 22% of people in the West Midlands are classified as ‘non users’ with no home internet access.
Therefore Local Conservatives will invest in the library service to ensure that additional services such as job clubs and homework clubs are rolled out as well as seeking to increase the opening hours of libraries across the city.
Fly tipping and bin collection are a big problem. How are you going to address this locally
Only Local Conservatives have a plan to clean up the city. Our plans include we would save weekly bin collections, which the Labour Council are scrapping later this year, introduce dedicated clean up crews for each neighbourhood to get the streets clean and use cctv/anpr cameras to increase enforcement and catch people throwing rubbish out of cars. We would also install 3000 new and replacement bins across the city in the next 4 years.
How are you going to address traffic and transport problems locally? Will you campaign for a Balsall Heath Train Station?
Local Conservatives support the opening of a train line at Balsall Heath Station and I believe are the only party to have put that support in their manifesto. We would also provide each ward with a £150,000 highways budget to deliver road safety schemes that are the priority of the local area. City wide we are pushing for an expansion of the rail and metro networks in the city.
How will you support the Friends’ Institute to reopen?
The Local Conservatives are committed to protecting our heritage and culture. This includes buildings like the Friends Institute. If elected I would of course be happy to meet with local interested parties and the senior officers and Councillors to discuss what can be done to help.
I support the 2015 Development plan, and any plan or people who take action for services and people living here. I’m not attached to any parties, organisations or alliances so I will act in the interests of Balsall Heath. Please see my leaflets.
How will you support our Library, opening soon, to provide the best services?
I will support the Library in any help that is required, I have already stated in one of my leaflets the need to Protecting Local services, Library, Swimming Baths and Schools are included in that. I will send you a copy of the leaflets to you, please read them.
Fly tipping and bin collection are a big problem. How are you going to address this locally?
Fly tipping is an issue that needs to be resolved by having cameras installed and reported to the Police. Also educating individuals of proper disposal methods. Fly tipping is not always a problem caused by the local community. People outside of the area fly tip.
Regarding the bin collections, the first and most important thing to do is to get the strike issue resolved as I believe once that is done the majority of the problems will be easier to resolve.
How are you going to address traffic and transport problems locally? Will you campaign for a Balsall Heath Train Station?
I have already made my feelings clear on the issue of having a train station for Balsall Heath, please see my leaflet. I believe that the residents of Balsall Heath have been let down badly by being excluded from the original plan which included the train station for Balsall Heath. I will be pushing for a Balsall Heath Station. On the traffic issues I have mentioned in my leaflet the need to put in traffic calming measures. I will fully campaign for this.
How will you support the Friends’ Institute to reopen?
I was shocked to learn the closure of the Friends Institute, in my view (wrongly) I assumed that the matter had been resolved. As someone who was an employee of Birmingham City Council I visited the Friends Institute back in 2010 and 2 issues were raised, one was the roof and the other one was the heating system. I then changed to a different area and assumed everything had been resolved. I will help in any way possible, meeting potential interested parties, even though the Institute is not in my Ward but is used by residents of my ward.
There are a whole range of housing concerns locally. Which of these will you prioritise and what will you do?
One of the biggest concerns is HMOs, which I will address at the planning stages and be supportive to the residents effected. As a candidate councillor for Balsall Heath West, I understand that housing is the foundation of our community’s wellbeing. If elected, my top priority will be tackling the over-concentration and mismanagement of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and Exempt Accommodation, as these have the most direct impact on our residents’ safety and quality of life.
My Priorities and Action Plan
To address these critical housing concerns, will focus on the following key areas:
* Tackling HMO and Exempt Accommodation Over-concentration
* Strict Planning Enforcement: I will push for more robust use of planning powers to prevent further conversions of family homes into HMOs where the concentration is already too high.
* Mandatory Licensing & Inspections: I will advocate for regular, proactive inspections of all HMOs to ensure they meet strict safety criteria, including room measurements, fire doors, and smoke alarms.
* Increased Enforcement Officers: I will demand more funding for council enforcement officers to carry out these essential checks and hold rogue landlords accountable.
* Cleaning Up Our Streets and Reducing Anti-Social Behaviour
* Targeting Fly-Tipping: I will prioritise the removal of dumped rubbish and used syringes, which are often concentrated around poorly managed HMOs, by demanding more frequent street cleaning and security gating in affected alleys.
* Reducing ASB: I will work closely with the police and local residents’ groups to tackle drug-related activity and anti-social behaviour linked to specific properties, ensuring these issues are not ignored.
* Protecting Family Housing and Increasing Affordability
* Preserving Family Homes: Balsall Heath has a high demand for larger, 3+ bedroom houses. I will work to protect our existing Victorian housing stock from being fragmented into small units.
* Improving Living Standards through Retrofitting
* Cutting Energy Bills: I will champion passive housing retrofitting programs to improve insulation in our older properties, helping residents lower their heating costs and live in healthier, warmer homes.
I believe Balsall Heath is very lucky to have such a comprehensive Development Plan. I attended some of the meetings when it was being put together by a broad and inclusive representation of local residents. It is both practical and visionary
How will you support our Library, opening soon, to provide the best services?
I am delighted work on the Library is now underway. It is sorely missed and can’t reopen soon enough. The main thing when it reopens is that it stays open, that it is well staffed and has generous opening times. As well as books and digital resources I support it being a local information hub, hosting a toy library and perhaps a new home for the ‘library of things’.
Fly tipping and bin collection are a big problem. How are you going to address this locally?
Obviously I will work with other councillors to resolve the bin strike and reinstate our recycling collection. In addition I intend to launch a “Keep Balsall Heath Clean & Tidy” campaign linked with rebuilding pride and belief in our community. Part of this will be supporting people to reduce their rubbish, separate their rubbish and support our local composting schemes. We can work together to identify and prevent the flytippers and coordinate regular bulky waste collection. Balsall Heathans have a proud history of doing things for ourselves. We can do this.
How are you going to address traffic and transport problems locally? Will you campaign for a Balsall Heath Train Station?
I think it is scandalous that Balsall Heath has missed out on having a local rail station and will campaign strongly for this to be amended. Alongside protection for Blue Badge disabled drivers and passengers a parking levy needs to be introduced to penalise households with more than 2 vehicles and we need to reclaim pavements for pedestrians by enforcing penalties on pavement parking.
How will you support the Friends’ Institute to reopen?
I am already actively involved in supporting an emergent group to help save the Friends Institute building from further neglect which could lead to demolition! Richard Cadbury gave it as a gift to the Community. As such the community should be fully involved with the process of its restoration and deciding on its future use.
There are a whole range of housing concerns locally. Which of these will you prioritise and what will you do?
I support local housing organisations such as Birmingham Fair Housing Campaign and Retrofit Balsall Heath working to address Birmingham’s housing crisis. I will prioritise support for local people suffering from damp, cold and mould as a result of poor housing and people at risk of being made homeless through eviction. A one-stop-shop housing crisis action line is needed to stop people falling through the net.
Jo Hindley is a Green Party candidate. Find out more about their policies in the Green Party manifesto.
Believe in Balsall Heath is a community arts and heritage initiative brought to you by local organisations to celebrate the people, culture, and history of Balsall Heath. As we mark the area’s 750th anniversary, the project invites everyone – residents, visitors, and communities – to come together in honouring its rich heritage and vibrant diversity.
Who is involved? Funded by Birmingham City Council, this collaborative project brings together: ● The Old Print Works ● The MIAH Foundation ● The GAP Arts Project ● Fruit & Nut Village ● Balsall Heath Local History Society
Together, these organisations are working to bring renewed pride to the streets of Balsall Heath through community events, workshops, and street planting initiatives.
What to expect One of the project’s most visible and exciting outcomes will be a series of commissioned street banners, installed across Balsall Heath’s high streets. These artworks will celebrate and commemorate the area’s history, identity, and community pride – making heritage something you can see and experience in public space.
Our commissioned artist: Faisal Hussain Last month we were excited to announce Faisal Hussain as the commissioned artist for the Believe in Balsall Heath project and we received a wonderful response from the community:
“I’m an artist based in Birmingham. My work spans public art, film, archive, sculpture, audio, and text. I create work that questions perceptions, challenges lazy stereotypes, and highlights missing histories and overlooked stories.”
Faisal brings not only a multidisciplinary artistic practice, but also a deep personal connection to Balsall Heath:
“I’m particularly excited to be working in Balsall Heath as I have generational roots there – from my grandfather sharing a house with workers in the 60s, to my mother’s shop on Stratford Road in the 90s, to working in my family business in the 00s. I have memories of music, food, Qur’an classes, functions and raves here. It’s a special place – often overlooked – and I’m looking forward to creating something that reflects its people, past, and future.”
Looking ahead Over the coming months, Faisal will develop a series of street-based artworks to be exhibited across Balsall Heath. Drawing on the area’s rich history, culture, and lived experiences, these works will form a bold and public celebration of the neighbourhood.
To stay updated with the project, follow us on Instagram (@believeinbalsallheath) and sign up to our Newsletter and contact us on be*******************@***il.com
Heba Y Project Coordinator – Believe in Balsall Heath
Tenants Advice is a free and independent service advocating for residents with housing issues such as outstanding repairs, reporting unresolved repairs to housing providers, and tenancy-related problems. They support private tenants, social housing tenants, and leaseholders. To find out more organisations and services locally find it.
How they help tenants:
A free helpline to help you understand your rights
A housing inspection with one of our expert housing surveyors
Legal assistance & access to specialist housing solicitors
Assistance for residents in reporting unresolved repairs
Guide you on your next steps in dealing with the outstanding repairs
Promoting healthy homes
They work with the local community to help residents better understand their housing rights and access support when they experience problems. This could include referrals, joint advice sessions, or sharing information with your community.
7th May is local election day, you live in Balsal Heath it’ll either be Balsall Heath West (One Councillor from seven candidates) or Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East (Two Councillors from fourteen candidates). Unless you happen to meet one of them or get a flyer through your door it can be hard to know what they look like or what they stand for, so we’ve done our best to find out what we can.
We want your questions
We’re putting together questions and will publish responses in your Heathan, so please forward by 23rd April for inclusion – we will publish all the responses from candidates we recieve by 28th April. We’ll summarise questions for candidates – if you want to ask a direct question of candidates, you’ll find links below each candidate to contact them and ask your question directly.
How will you support our Library, opening soon, to provide the best services?
Fly tipping and bin collection are a big problem. How are you going to address this locally?
How are you going to address traffic and transport problems locally? Will you campaign for a Balsall Heath Train Station?
How will you support the Friends’ Institute to reopen?
There are a whole range of housing concerns locally. Which of these will you prioritise and what will you do?
Our Candidates
We’d like to thank and congratulate all of the candidates for stepping forward to represent us in Balsall Heath. I’ve listed alphabetically by surname. If there are candidates out there with better photos or links to info, please send them to me and I’ll update – Who can I vote for is a great site to check details out too.
Brummie Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and people other faith and none joined together at Balsall Heath Church Centre to celebrate eco-action projects that promote care of creation, focusing on people’s quality of life, wellness, household finances and the local environment in the city.
Funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation,GrassRoutes – an initiative of the Birmingham Faith Climate Action Partnership between interfaith and climate group Footsteps, Muslim educational organisation the Hazrat Sultan Bahu Trust, and national sustainability charity Ashden – has supported eco-projects aimed at empowering communities to make change, and shifting power to the community level.
Footsteps iftar with John Nightingale seated centre talking to Toqueer Quyyam and Peter Rookes standing behind
Faith Action on Climate
To date, 11 projects have been funded, building on the key role Birmingham faith organisations played in the pandemic as vaccination and food distribution centres, and the way care for the environment is central to many faiths’ core teachings.
Fanniza Begum of Birmingham Community Support CIC diversified sessions she runs helping women with English language confidence and employability skills, into workshops on food waste and sustainable fashion, and wildlife-themed outdoor crafting and learning for children. She advised participants on how to store food properly and what to do with left-over rice or chapatis; and helped a woman with cancer with altering a dress and a woman with ADHD to use a sewing machine.
‘I don’t want to be one of those organisations where I’m handing something out but not creating the platform’ Fanniza Begum
Fanniza (Fizz) Begum
Women Driving Change
“In many Asian communities, women’s identities and talents are often undervalued. My mission is to change this narrative by helping women recognise their worth, embrace self-care, and unlock their potential to thrive”.
Amandip Sandhu at Guru Nanak Gurdwara (Stratford Road) said: “Politicians talk about Net Zero, but we’ve been talking about sustainability and nature for hundreds of years as part of our faith. Our ten gurus always said look after Mother Nature”. At the Gurdwara, ecology activities and an energy audit were delivered, and environmental charity ecobirmingham held an energy advice drop-in attended by more than 100 people.
At Hodge Hill Church, the eco-project is around enriching use of the church garden, as a place for growing, learning, inter-community connection and spirituality.
Energy Champions Powering Communities
Jason Horner of ecobirmingham, who led on the work at the Gurdwara and held sessions at Adam Mosque in Balsall Heath to train up 25 local ‘energy champions’, said the objective was “empowering the community where they’re at. The whole point was to help them to make the decisions themselves because they now have the knowledge, and it snowballs from there”.
‘So many aspects of energy and climate crisis are interconnected with faith – how we try to be efficient with what we’ve been given, how we try to support those around us’
The eco-projects were presented in a short film screening at Balsall Heath Church Centre during Ramadan, with attendees sharing an iftar meal together afterwards.
Curator and storyteller Zoya Khadija Ahmed offered a reflection on faith and climate: “Most prophets were shepherds, and every spiritual guide has had a relationship with nature and earth. We’re surrounded by concrete and cars, but we still look at the sky”.
Among other GrassRoutes projects were the two day Khalifa’tul Ard: Stewards of the Earth Festival in the Lickey Hills, on the theme ‘Care for the Earth, for others, and for ourselves’; a community day based around learning about worms’ role in composting, at Hope Garden behind Christ Church, Sparkbrook; and DIY, cooking and gardening workshops for Aston University students, led by University chaplain Sam Ewell.
Amandip Sandhu
Khalifatul Ard festival
Recognising Ruth’s contribution
Kamran Shezad, Sustainability Lead at the Bahu Trust said: ‘Faith communities are at the heart of communities – we have the networks, we have an organisation, we have a very social expertise, and the funding from Esmée Fairbairn was a way for us to prove it.’ He commended the autonomy and flexibility the Trust granted, allowing groups that aren’t formally constituted to take part.
The celebration event at Balsall Heath Church Centre included a tribute to Footsteps co-founder and first chair of the organisation Ruth Tetlow, who died earlier this year. ‘Ruth was tough and determined, unafraid to be critical but also imaginative, kind and encouraging,’ said Footsteps’ Canon John Nightingale. ‘She knew her theology but was suspicious of great principles laid down from on high. She was much happier with lived experience, bringing people together, particularly women, whose potential had often been unrecognised’.
The writer, Toqueer is an award winning Eco activist and blog writer in Birmingham, a volunteer with Retrofit and new writer for the Balsall Heathan:
I first met John Christopher, Zero Carbon House in Balsall Heath at a talk a few years ago, speaking about climate change and the need for real urgency. I got to connect with him and as a volunteer with Birmingham Friends of the Earth and Footsteps at the time. I came across Retrofit Balsall Heath. I love culture and community and a desire to make a difference. I have really enjoyed visiting Balsall Heath Old Print Works and I am a regular visitor at the Balsall Heath Second Saturday, where I enjoy creative stalls and activities. Did you know there is a library too? I love the diversity, there is a large Yemini community, Kashmiri and English people all living together, great food too, something for everyone.
There is a real passion for looking after each other and it was amazing to see all the community and faith communities coming together to help 700 homes in Balsall Heath and Accocks Green to retrofit their homes, its much more than just homes, its about hearts and minds too, supporting families with energy advice, the MECC trust also do a great job and having activities like monthly cycling.
The campaign ‘Raising the slabs‘ was a great success, supporting Melrose avenue to plant fruit trees in their front garden. I recommend local people to consider volunteering and getting involved in your local area, even if you have only a few hours spare a month, Retrofit Balsall Heath is a family, we look after each other and hope to have regular socials.
The relaunch event, held during Second Saturday, was a perfect place to bridge between our past and our future. We gathered at the Mix Café inside The Old Print Works, surrounded by archive editions of The Heathan with fab food and refreshments from Change Kitchen.
For those used to modern layout software, the exhibition was a revelation – We showcased how the original zine was painstakingly assembled using typewriters, ‘cow gum’ and a massive amount of patience. While the technology has changed, the mission remains the same: for Balsall Heath and Balsall Heathans.
Catching up at Second Saturday as the Heathan relaunches
Second Saturday sees our return
We spent the day sharing memories, and chatting about what the future of Balsall Heath looks like. We will be at every Second Saturday to meet up, chat and keep grounded in Balsall Heath.
Take a look at our gallery below to see some of the faces we met on the day! Thanks Photographer Richard Albutt
Fixing the dynamo connectorToqueer, green championFinal adjustments to the bike dynamoFlicking through past editions of the Balsall Heathan on displayDuncan Ali, looking for a fairer, greener world at Second SaturdayMarcus with Fahima, artist, sculptor, does henna sometimesRachel Gillies, editor of ‘NeighbourhoodNewsOnline.com’ on hand to see the Heathan relaunchFrancesco, co-founder of PRISM, exhibiting at Second SaturdayIan & Susie on the Mix Room Cafe CouchStep back in time, remembering days playing in the concrete drainage pipesA family of cyclists at Second SaturdayDan checks the wheel pulley thing to convert bike power to electricity
What’s next?
Whether you want to share a story, promote a local project, or just stay updated on what’s happening, we want to hear from you. If you’re interested in journalism, editing or helping in any way please get in contact with us.
Painted by local artist Muhmood Tahir, gifted to Balsall heath, displayed for the first time at our relaunch!
Judith explains ‘Well, I was living in Moseley, you know, rented Housing Association Flat. At the time I couldn’t consider buying a property. I couldn’t afford to anywhere in Moseley, but what was available in those days in the newsagents, was the Heathan, which for 20p I could afford, and I’ve just found the article, [Issue 103 Dec 1987]…Seven Streets Success, which…that was what made me consider Balsall Heath.’
The Moseley Road Friends Institute has stood for 125 years now that legacy is under immediate threat – petition.. Commissioned by Richard Cadbury 1897, built to serve as a hub for education, recreation, and the improvement of life for all Birmingham residents.
Exciting news for Birmingham Commuters as the Kings Norton to New Street lines reopens. This investment in our local infrastructure has been much anticipated but for those of us in Balsall Heath, the news comes with disappointment. Despite being a key feature of the 2015 Neighbourhood Plan – it is a policy in the statutory plan – Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road open without Balsall Heath Station.
Souvenir Postcard celebrating the re-opening of Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple stations
Shock move as Jess Carter returns to Birmingham City assisting Moseley Commuters
A Tale of Two Stations
Camp Hill Station stood at the junction of Moseley Road and Highgate Road. Both Camp Hill station opened in 1840 when the railway was first laid through Balsall Heath. The Camp Hill site is now occupied by Logmoor, and the original stationmaster’s house can still be seen just by the bridge over the road in the picture below.
Camp Hill Station and crossing
View of the station in 1905
Brighton Road station was the second station on the line to Gloucester from Birmingham and was opened in 1875 by the Midland Railway. Its close proximity to the city centre meant it was always vulnerable to competition first from the trams which had a terminus nearby and later the No. 50 bus.
John Bagwell was appointed station master in 1876 and he held this position until the station was placed under the supervision of the Camp Hill station master on 15 July 1907. The station was hit by bombs in 1941, closed and never reopened.
The bridge across Brighton Road was enlarged in 1923 under a scheme to support unemployed workers.Brighton Road station was smashed to pieces by bombing in 1941 and never re-opened.View from the train of what remains of Brighton Road Station on the re-opening of Camp Hill Line 2026
A Bad Joke
We’ve been digging in the archives and have some nineteenth century train humour for you, as well as a 2026 shaggy dog story:
From ‘The Dart’satirical magAug 1891 Shaggy dog story A friend who lived at Mosely owned a highly educated retriever dog. He exercised the dog in this way. It would see its master off by the early morning Moseley train then trot off down the road to Mr Higgins newspaper shop, purchase a Post and deliver it to his master at Camp Hill Station. The dog did this for a month and then died. It caught a severe cold through having to frequently wait for the arrival of his master’s train at Camp Hill.
June 1884 Why is Camp Hilll Station like a good pork pie? Because it never lack for pepper. (The stationmaster who lived on site was called Mr Pepper.)
April 1882 Travelling to Moseley the other evening , the train due in town at 10.18 rushed by. It is called by locals “Adam” because it is the first mail. The second one is called “Cain”
April 2026 A group of drinkers recently left New Street Station after waiting eighty years for the train home. They are now in the Shakespeare Pub, but expect to be back in Balsall Heath soon.
Balsall Heath has always been a neighbourhood with a story to tell, or rather, thousands of them. Balsall Heath is a place of creativity, character and community pride.
That’s why Balsall Heath residents and organisations are teaming up with the Balsall Heath Local History Society and the Museum of Islamic Arts and Heritage (MIAH) to relaunch the iconic community newspaper: The Balsall Heathan online!
Why Now?
For years, The Balsall Heathan served as the heartbeat of the ward, documenting everything from local activism to neighborhood celebrations. We believe there is something powerful about a publication that belongs to the people who live and work here.
A Dream Partnership
At a crucial time when so much is changing in Balsall Heath we need to share what’s happening and hear the voices of residents. Balsall Heath Local History Society and the Museum of Islamic Arts and Heritage are both members of Believe in Balsall Heath – a community arts and heritage initiative created by local organisations to celebrate the people, culture, and history of Balsall Heath. We’re also part of wider networks for wellbeing, health and planning locally – Balsall Heath Alliance is looking to update a deelopment plan which might literally change the map of Balsall Heath.
What to Expect
The revived Balsall Heathan will be a space for:
Local Legends: Spotlighting the shopkeepers, teachers, and neighbours from our past and present making a difference.
Our History: features that explore how our landmarks have changed.
Culture & Arts: Showcasing the incredible talent brewing locally
We’re picking up from ‘Neighbourhood News Online’ left off and bringing back the Heathan.
We’re looking for local stories, features and anyone interested in how you can get involved!
