Paul Kenna, Development Worker for The MEB, an urban green space in Bordesley Green, tells Claire and Tippa from Resident University about how he and other local residents made the space usable again.
RU Listen In: Timebanking
A new timebank was set up in the Birmingham area of Ward End and Pelham in 2010, with the aim of getting more local people into long-term employment. Resident University wanted to find out more about the nuts and bolts of setting up a timebank in the current climate, so paid a visit to their offices in Ward End to find out more.
Time-banking in Ward EndCo-producing the Big Society – March 18th & 19th at The Bordesley Centre
Following on from the Be Birmingham Big Society Summit on Friday 18th March, Resident University will be continuing the discussion about how residents, community groups and public services co-produce the Big Society together.
Join Resident University on Friday Afternoon, 1.30 – 5.00pm for:
- Lord Nat Wei, government advisor for the Big Society, speaking about the part community groups play in making the Big Society, and how government can support them
- Sessions highlighting what residents are already doing in relations to community organising, Timebanking, Developing Community Hubs and Social Innovation
- Discussion of the future of N’hood Management in Birmingham
And join Resident University on Saturday 9.30 – 5.00pm for:
- Ed Mayo, sec-general of Co-operatives UK, and Cllr Rachel Hayward of Lambeth Council looking at the ‘Co-operative Council’ idea developed in Lambeth
- Sessions looking at the Localism Bill, N’hood Websites, Commissioning Community groups to deliver public services and a study visit to Balsall Heath
- A discussion on the role of faith communities in neighbourhood renewal and management
Further details about speakers and workshop leaders will be available soon. You can book and reserve a place by filling in the form below, or by emailing us on info@residentuniversity.net. Or, calling on 07795 448 462
You can also let us know if you would be interested in attending the Be Birmingham Big Society Summit, and we will ask them to contact you.
Conference: ‘Discovering eco neighbourhoods’ – February 26th
With fuel, energy and food prices rising, people, organisations and businesses up and down the country are facing the twin threats of climate change and diminishing resources. It’s a challenge, but community organisations hold a powerful card in the sustainability agenda. Resident University (working with eco entrepreneur Phil Beardmore), would like to enable more community groups to play that card.
The ’Discovering eco-neighbourhoods half-day conference will use a combination of practical examples and discussions to help existing community groups unleash their potential.
This will be an opportunity to meet other interested groups, and to tap into a support network that will help your group develop.
Confirmed speakers include Esther Boyd (Sustainable Moseley); Phil Beardmore; Margaret Healey-Pollett (Transition Kings Heath); Chris Vaughan (Summerfield Eco Village); and representatives from Northfield Eco Centre and Balsall Heath is our Planet (BHIOP).
The half-day conference is being held at Moseley Exchange (149-153 Alcester Road, Moseley, B13 8JP), and the programme will include lunch.
Places are free, but limited, so if you would like to book a place, please contact claire@chamberlainforum.org, call on 07795 448462, or fill in the form below:
Young people find their voice at VIP launch
Voice is Power is Birmingham’s youth Parliament, and the launch of their new website during Local Democracy Week was an excellent opportunity to find out more about what politically-engaged young people in the city want to achieve, and how they are achieving it.
Some of the launch was a showcase of the group’s creative talents – with singing, dancing, and even a special guest performance from Birmingham’s former Young Poet Laureate, Matt Windle. But these performances were assembled around the five ‘issues’ that Voice is Power work on in Birmingham, as Awo explains here:
As she explained, the five issues were:
Following the launch, I spoke to a few more of the Voice is Power members, to find out how they work, and how effective they have been as advocates for solutions to the above. Firstly, Manraj told me a bit about the website, and his group’s work on resolving issues around educational pressure:
Ayan went on to explain why Voice is Power was such a good vehicle for young voices and insights, and what she and the rest of the group working on the issue of racism had been able to achieve:
Finally, I spoke to a couple of Youth Inspectors, whose role it is to test the quality and efficacy of services targeted at young people:
Young action at the heart of Castle Vale
Prior to the Local Hearts Awards, I went to see Luke and Reiss, two of the nominees for the Active Citizen (Young Person) category. Both volunteer for the same organisation, the Astral Centre in Castle Vale, and in the interview, they explain how they have been reaching out to their community, and what it means to them and the Astral Centre to be nominated.
Good Practice & Quality Standards – 10th Nov (POSTPONED)
Wednesday 10th November
6.00-8.30pm at St Martins Church Centre, Bullring
This session will look at the importance of demonstrating good quality services through the adoption of recognised systems of monitoring and evaluation.
It will examine a variety of different systems which hopefully will help you see the importance of adopting one, and finding the package suitable for your organisation.
We hope that by the end of the session participants will have:
- An understanding of various quality assurance systems available
- The basic tools to introduce a system within an organisation
- An understanding of how these systems can improve performance and confidence
To book a place, please use the booking form below, email info@residentuniversity.net, or call 07795 448 462
Chamberlain Forum
- Forum – University Partnership:Chamberlain Forum’s Regeneration Research Initiative brings together the Chamberlain Forum, the University of Birmingham and regeneration agencies in Birmingham and the Black Country to: Unlock research resources that the regeneration sector would not otherwise be able to afford. Raise awareness amongst talented students of regeneration as a topic and p […]
- Localism Session in West Bromwich 15 FebruaryChamberlain Forum is working with Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) to organise an information session on the Localism Act and what it means for the voluntary sector in Sandwell. The session will be on Wednesday 15 February 2012 at SCVO offices in West Bromwich from 11am – 1pm. It ... […]
- Community First Neighbourhood Matched FundThe Community First Neighbourhood Matched fund launched by Community Development Foundation (on behalf of government) in October (see background story) will be opening for business in eligible areas across England over the next few weeks. In Birmingham, panels of local community, business and public sector reps have already been set ... […]
- Are We Being Heard?Millions are wasted each year by local authorities and other public bodies on unimginative consultations that yield little in terms of organisational intelligence or improved public services. Are We Being Heard is the report on Chamberlain Forum's collaborative enquiry into the practice and future of consultation. Five key insights from ... […]
- Communities Managing ChangeCommunities Managing Change is an 18 month programme of action research and collaborative enquiry based in neighbourhoods in Birmingham. The programme will be delivered by Chamberlain Forum working with a number of neighbourhood and community groups in Birmingham. It is supported by Barrow Cadbury Trust which has agreed to fund ... […]