Retrofit Archives - Balsall Heathan

Adding colour to our Festival with Retrofit

The energy, (and the heat) was high at The Old Print Works as we officially launched some very special additions to this year’s Balsall Heath Community Festival.

Model practice at Retrofit

Retrofit showcased their fabulous retro model house. The retro team ran interactive activities and chatted with residents about how to insulate Balsall Heath’s beautiful (but sometimes drafty!) older housing stock to help cut down energy bills. The model house itself has travelled a fair bit already to local schools, and will be taking to the pavement again for Balsall Heath Community Festival. You’ll get another chance to see the model house in action, taking pride of place in our “Green Procession” on Sunday, 5th July, the third day of our mammoth ten-day community celebration!

Retrofit Model House in action in The Old Print Works Cafe

Colouring competition returns

Long-time residents will fondly remember the iconic colouring competitions from the old Balsall Heath Carnival days (1977–2016). Back then, local schools and local organisations would distribute posters, and families would proudly display the finished masterpieces in their front windows for the judges to spot while walking the streets, with fabulous prizes up for grabs!

We loved that tradition so much that we are bringing it back for 2026!

Colouring sheet 2026 – contact bh********************@***il.com – Rules for entry

Save the dates

We are building up to an incredible ten days of celebrating our community. Here is what you need to know right now:

Get those colouring posters filled in and displayed in your windows!
Keep an eye on updates in the Heathan, as more dates and activities are announced
Take part in our mammoth 10-day celebration of everything that makes Balsall Heath amazing.

Share your progress, your finished windows, and festival excitement using the hashtag #BHCFest26!

#BHCFest26

What I love about Balsall Heath

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.

Tag: <span>Retrofit</span>