There are 2 Community Table Tennis sessions held in the Main Hall on  Monday 2-3.30pm and Friday afternoons 2-4pm. Just turn up, have fun, get fit – all levels very welcome. Bats and balls provided but recommend you wear trainers. Only £3/session.

There is a also a Coaching session held on a Wednesday evening 7-8.30pm. Cost is £4/adult and £3/child (O12s only)

We also boast a very successful Stirchley Baths Table Tennis Club with 4 teams playing in the local Birmingham and Solihull leagues with a Club night held on a Monday evening.

Follow the club on Facebook @StirchleyBathsTableTennisClub

We’re very keen to hear about the sorts of things you would like to be included in the celebrations . Contact us at stirchleybathsstakeholders@gmail.com  

Opening of Centre in Jan 2016

First Birthday Party!

Ron is our super volunteer at Stirchley Baths – here since the opening in 2016. You may have seen Ron at Reception or doing odd jobs around the centre.

Linda has been the  volunteer leader of  the centre’s successful  Community Table Tennis sessions since they started on Friday afternoons in 2016/17.

We are very grateful for their time, effort and commitment to the centre over the years. If you see them on your visit to the centre say hello and give them a “well done” or a “thank you”

We had a real treat in store for visitors – we were joined by Viking re-enactment group Ardenweard, who set up a living history museum in our Main Hall, featuring a big tent lined with reindeer skins to sleep on, a dining table and authentic vessels and weaponry. Children and adults alike were invited to try on mail and authentic helmets (no horns please!) – and there was also a science display presented by Phil Banting of the Stirchley History Group. and there was also lots of factual information on display. We had the chance to write our names in runes and to learn about the amazing voyages of discovery the Vikings made, including a demonstration of the power of magnetism.

The Friends of Stirchley Library also had an excellent craft, storytelling and making day, and we are very much looking forward to our next event together. It was great to see those who had attended those sessions coming into the Baths, talking proudly about what they had done. The standard of Viking jewellery they had made was particularly impressive!

An impressive Viking longship was placed in the centre of the Main Hall, surrounded by tables where hundreds of children and adults were  taking part in a mammoth craft session making shields to decorate the boat – and the day finished with a big community row led by Ardenweard.

And the action wasn’t just confined to the Main Hall. At 12pm and 2pm we were summoned outside, where the Vikings would take part in battle. Making excellent use of the access ramp leading outside, we could see the warriors clash below us. After losers were vanquished and winners were celebrated, those lucky enough to be under 10 years old could get into the spirit of things with Kiddy Vike, a chance to fight the Vikings for themselves! There were also talks and stories in the Cinema Room, and all this gave the craft-makers in the Main Hall some much needed rest!

The event was undoubtably a success, and Arts Forum Selly Oak and Stirchley Baths would also like to thank Stirchley The Way Forward for their support and Change Kitchen for feeding our many visitors. We are also happy to report that Friends of Stirchley Library also had an excellent craft, storytelling and making day, and we are very much looking forward to our next event. A big thanks to Alex, Emma, Karen, Stu, Charis, Theresa, Jessie, Phil, Andy, Suzanne, Mark, Susan and Danni who supported the event on the day or behind the scenes in its preparation and promotion.

If you would like to get involved in planning next year’s Fun Palace or want to suggest a theme for the event, then please get in touch!

In the meantime we have caught up with our good friends Kopfkino who are returning to Stirchley Baths this Friday 16 March with a new screening of Afshar Films’ ‘The Case Against Assad: Syria’s Disappeared’. The event will be in support of King’s Heath Action for Refugees, and please see below about other ways in which you can help those affected by the Syrian conflict….

 Kopfkino is roughly translated as “Head cinema.” What an excellent name for a night dedicated to film. Could you tell us how this event will live up to its name?

Thank you! As well as a literal translation from German, kopf = head, kino = cinema, Kopfkino is also what happens when you use your imagination – resulting in dreams, day-dreaming or even bad dreams / nightmares.

The main feature is a screening of Afshar Films’ Syria’s Disappeared: The Case Against Assad. This particular event by Kopfkino is focusing on the individuals at the centre of the Syrian humanitarian crisis. Over six million Syrians have been displaced because of the conflict. Through this event, we explore how this affects individuals – both in Syria, those who have fled, those who are currently in transit, and also, those who are settling in South Birmingham.

Prior to the film there will be a talk by local group Kings Heath Action for Refugees and refreshments by Loaf Community Bakery.

Tell us about the film you’ve got lined up for us on Friday. 

This documentary tells the hidden story of tens of thousands of men, women and children disappeared by the regime of President Bashar al Assad into a network of clandestine detention centres. The film weaves together the powerful personal stories of three Syrians with evidence gathered from regime documentation smuggled out of Syria. With unprecedented access, we follow survivors of detention, families of detainees, regime defectors and international war crimes investigators as they fight to bring the perpetrators to justice and desperately campaign for the release of the disappeared.

Who are Kings Heath Action For Refugees?

King Heath Action For Refugees (KHAR) is a local volunteer group who fundraise, raise awareness and lead donation collections for refugees both settling locally in Birmingham, and in transit across Europe. KHAR was set up in 2015.

KHAR has already raised funds for various charities in Europe including Leros Solidarity Network, to enable the group to send two pallets of handmade toiletries bags to Kos Kindness in Greece. The group has also collected donations from the local community which has been donated to containers going to Calais and Syria, as well as donations to local support organisations St Chad’s Sanctuary and Brushstrokes. Many of the group have also taken trips to Calais to volunteer.

Last year Kings Heath Action & their partner group, http://actionforrefugees.bigcartel.com/product/this-cookbook-belongs-to-usBearwood Action for Refugees created a cookbook as a fundraiser, Loaf contributed two recipes to the book. There will be copies for sale on the night (priced £12.50) so remember your cash if you’d like to buy a copy.

Disclaimer, I work at Loaf. I wanted to get Loaf involved in this event not only because of the cookbook connection, but as part of our ongoing fundraising efforts for the Syrian humanitarian crisis. Loaf is a worker co-operative, meaning we are part of a long-standing and international movement committed to the seven co-operative principles. All of them are important but the seventh, concern for the community, is especially pertinent.

Your previous film screening of ‘I, Daniel Blake’ raised proceeds for SIFA Fireside, a Digbeth based charity improving health and inclusion for homeless people. How well was it attended, and how much did you raise?

Our I, Daniel Blake screening in 2017 raised £135 in cash on the night & food donations for the B30 Foodbank and ticket sales raised £257 for SIFA Fireside. Nicola Human, volunteer coordinator at the B30 Foodbank came to speak for 5-10 minutes about the work of the Foodbank and why many locals people are in need of their vital support. Without spoiling the film, Nicola also pointed out just how relevant the story of Daniel Blake is. It was a very popular film at the time, so we did think that it would be a popular event but we were blown away by the generosity of Stirchley cinema-goers and the atmosphere after the film. It was very emotional.

Are there any plans to make this a regular event?

We hope to do an event every 2-4 months. We have a date pencilled in for our next film on Friday 11th May – we’re just waiting on permission from the Director!

We’re hoping to continue to have the event ticketed through eventbrite so that we can gauge numbers. We want our events to be accessible for all who would like to attend, so it’s always going to be a suggested donation for those who can afford to do so.

If people want to help those affected by the Syrian conflict, what should they do?

There are really good resources out there which detail ways in which you can help. You could start by looking at Refugee Action’s website: https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/heres-can-help-refugees/ I’ve listed their 10 bullet points here. But do click on the link to find out more.

1. Campaign for refugees’ rights.
2. Donate or fundraise for refugees
3. Welcome refugees to your community
4. Amplify refugees’ voices
5. Get the facts about refugees
6. Donate clothing or goods
7. Volunteer with refugees
8. Find out about hosting
9. Help resettle refugees
10. Follow & share refugee action groups on social media

Anything else you’d like to mention? 

Yes! Whilst I’m here I’d like to raise awareness for the Meena Centre. Meena is a new community interest company based in Birmingham, set up to continue their work which started in Calais with women and children asylum seekers and refugees. They are opening a new centre supporting women and children (and single male carers), offering a safe space and facilitating access to support and information. They’re fundraising for a mini bus in order to help people access their services:

https://helprefugees.org/uk/meena-centre/

There are a lot of resources and local events listed on the Birmingham City of Sanctuary website, which I’d highly recommend looking at if you’re interested in helping refugees both locally and internationally:

https://birmingham.cityofsanctuary.org/

Kopfkino’s showing of “Syria’s Disappeared: The Case Against Assad” will be showing at the Stirchley Baths Cinema Room on Friday 16th March.

For tickets please go to the Eventbrite page:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/syrias-disappeared-the-case-against-assad-tickets-42400380680

Pay what you can (suggested £3pp) all profits will go directly to Kings Heath Action for Refugees to support their work with refugees settling locally.

And finally don’t forget to keep your eyes open for the Stirchley Community Cinema Project’s first film ventures…coming soon to a Baths near you…

The community heritage aspect of Stirchley Baths  Community Hub is written through the Memory Café like a stick of rock. Past sessions have included using the building and the themes associated with it as conversation starters; such as swimming, dancing, work and industry. This particular session was about memories of the seaside and holidays. A large table was set up in the centre of the room, with artefacts from the seaside bought in by visitors and carers alike, trays full of seashells, picture postcards, and more memories besides. The music of Reginald Dixon, the organist at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom from 1930-1970, played over the speakers in the room, interspersed with sea shanties such as “Sounds of the Sea (Bobbing Up And Down Like This), music hall favourites and 50s and 60s rock and roll numbers putting memories back to dance events on the pier.

Users and staff from both the Andrew Cohen House in Stirchley and the Juniper Centre at Moseley Hall Hospital joined regular families sitting round the table, along with a number of Stirchley Baths volunteers. The organisers of the event, Rachel and Carla, were particularly pleased that it was a very busy morning at the Café, all in all there were approximately 20 people in the Cinema Room.

I got speaking to a gentleman called Martin, who was there with his father Brian. Martin had made excellent use of the Cinema Room’s resources and had made a slideshow consisting of old holiday snaps that his father had taken of them on holiday in Saundersfoot, North Wales in the 50s, and in turn as a grandfather with Martin and his family.

Martin had heard of the Memory Café from an occupational therapist in Moseley, and had accompanied his father to every single session since the Café started. What he particularly liked about the space was that it was more than suitable for both carer and parent, with lots of activities for them both to get stuck into, or just a pleasant place to sit and have a chat.

He explained to me that whilst people with Alzheimer’s have weak new memories, the old memories are stronger, and sessions at the Café strengthen the old memories whilst using art and creativity as therapy.

Whilst speaking to Martin I noticed that the users were getting ready to take part in an activity, where they would mimic the waves of the sea by joining together in a circle and billowing a large blue sheet in the air. There was a lot of laughter and happiness between these friends old and new, and soon after that they were all sitting down again, enjoying a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.

I got speaking to Aileen, one of the NHS staff from the Juniper Centre, who had attended with one of her clients, Margaret. Margaret told me about her memories of camping at Saundersfoot, which had been triggered by the slideshow that Martin had presented earlier. Aileen told me how much Margaret was enjoying the session at the Café, as at the Juniper Centre they also engage the residents with a range of arts including creative writing, pottery, cooking and other activities designed to evoke memories.

Also present were some of the ladies from Creative Reminiscence group, which also meets at Stirchley Baths. Creative Reminiscence is a National Lottery Award For All project that promotes arts for wellbeing and socialisation within the community. I sat with Pat, one of the lead volunteers from the group, who had come in extra early on that day to help set up the wealth of activities.

The visitors had started painting a ‘face-in-hole’ seaside board, taking turns to fill in the polka-dot bathing costumes, the yellow sands and the perfect blue skies. I left the Café that morning mindful of the fact that I hadn’t spoken to everybody that I had wanted to, but there had been so much to do and see, for everyone there, that it didn’t matter.

***

More news to be announced  soon on when the next Memory Café session is taking place.

Over half term we will have another #BigStitchStirchley session and everyone, especially families, are welcome! All free. Materials provided. Do you know we’ve had over 100 stitchers take part so far; aged from 3 to 93! Why not join in and make a piece of history; it’s all in the making!

The next 2 Mondays are #BigStitchStirchley days! Join needlepoint artist Tina Francis (who has an amazing laugh!) for chat & stitching, to help create our new permanent artwork at the Baths (beginners and enthusiasts welcome!) Our monthly stitch club (for adults) is next Monday (16th). Drop in between 11-1 to the Deep End room. Our numbers are growing and we have a lovely, friendly bunch of ladies meeting regularly now (men also welcome!).

Here are a few pics of the challenges!

By the end of the first day of their challenges, these talented young people had scripted the film, created characters and decided on props, locations and costumes.

Day two was all about the production schedule, acting and filming and putting new skills into action.

We’ll let the results speak for themselves.

Stirchley Film School is proud to present…

THE DEEP END (rated PG)

THE TIME CAPSULE (rated PG)

The films premiered on August 13th in a packed ‘Cinema’ room with friends, family and local residents at the Baths.

Thank you Phil for these last photos.

So, what did the film reviews say on the night?

• EPIC! Sequel!
• Amazing! young people, heritage, collaboration, skill-building. Excellent! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.Great films!
• Great show. Thank you!
• Sooooooo fantastic!
• Superb opportunity and extremely impressive outcomes. Well done and thank you.
• Everyone should be very proud! excellent movies. Job well done.
• Well done to you all! 2 fantastic films – we want more!
• Absolutely fab! you should be very proud of your achievements and all that you’ve learnt at SBFS! well done.
• Fabulous film-making! I loved both movies – the cast and crew did magnificent jobs. well done everyone.
• Blockbuster! Epic!
• What talent!
• Excellent spine-tingling film! Can’t wait to see you at the real Oscars.
• Really enjoyed the show and would love to see another instalment
• Excellent, excellent films! I was a bit scared tough. Brilliantly scripted, acted and filmed. well done all.

Tell us what you think!!

Thank you to the Heritage Lottery Fund who funded this through the Baths’ heritage programme.

Who wants to be a Fun Palace Maker?

Stirchley Baths would like to offer itself as a venue to host a Fun Palace event at some point over 1-2 October weekend, but we need community Fun Palace Makers to get involved!

What is a Fun Palace I hear you ask?! “Fun Palaces is an annual, free, nationwide celebration of arts and culture, driven by localism, innovation and engagement, with a core passion to encourage communities to create by and for themselves. Fun Palaces shouts, sings, shimmies, stomps from the rooftops: arts and sciences, all culture, is a crucial part of human life, and they are truly glorious!”

Can you run a science experiment or an art or craft activity? Are you in a band or someone who can get people up dancing? Do you have a PlayStation and could supervise a Minecraft corner? Can you organise a few games, run a jewellery making session, lead a walk or a bike ride, or talk to people about local history? Can you teach people how to garden? What could YOU offer to engage people in YOUR community in FUN stuff?

Visit http://funpalaces.co.uk/

“Fun Palaces is not just about the weekend, it is about coming together to create, celebrating local people, local places and community in the everyday.”

Fun Palaces are RADICAL!! What do the Fun Palaces organisers mean by that? They think…

• Radical Engagement means ANYONE should be able to make a Fun Palace
• Radical Participation means ANYONE can go to a Fun Palace and – hopefully – find something there that they’d like to do. And if they can’t find anything there they’d like to do, that they are allowed to create something they’d like to do while they are there
• Radically Local means that, whatever you want to do in your Fun Palace, there is probably someone in your community, someone locally, who knows how to do it. (Or who knows someone who knows how to do it!)
• Radically Community means that YOU, your own community, are best-placed to be your own leaders, your own Makers. We think that we’ve had enough of flying in experts to tell communities what to do. We think you know.
• It’s radical to say Everyone an Artist, Everyone a Scientist – we believe it too. And we believe that changing the world, from the grassroots up, locally, in and with community, can happen while having radical FUN.

If you have read to the bottom of this, we think you might be someone who can get involved in helping to organise or contribute to a STIRCHLEY Fun Palace event at some point during 1-2 October.

If so, please get in contact with us hello@stirchleybaths.org or pop in and speak to a member of staff or else come along to a Kick Off Meeting on 17/8/16 6.30pm at Stirchley Baths

We are more than happy to take on the initial coordinating role through the Stirchley Baths Heritage Programme (as we have a small pot of funding and some people resource), but as essentially a grass roots movement, Fun Palaces are community-led!

Looking forward to hearing from you if you can spare a few hours to help organise or do an activity on the day – it should be FUN !