Category: Stirchley community

Stirchley Time Capsule Revisited

Sue Ford looking in the Time Capsule for the first time since it was buried in 1989.
Sue Ford looking in the Time Capsule for the first time since it was buried in 1989.

On Thursday 2nd July I met with Sue Ford from St Andrews. St Andrew’s is a Methodist Church on the corner of Pershore Road & Cartland Road. The present building is early 1980s, but there has been a Methodist Church on this site for much longer, which locals affectionately called the old ‘tin taberbacle’.

Methodism has a history of taking action for social justice, advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable in society. The people of St Andrew’s are very actively involved in this, with many working in caring professions – including nursing, teaching, children’s services, environmental and community-focused work.  The church also supports organisations like Citizens UK Birmingham, B30 Foodbank and charities such as Action for Children.

Running for almost twenty years, St Andrew’s Community Project worked with Stirchley residents to set up amongst others: a community newspaper called Snooze, developed Stirchley Carnival, campaigned for the building of the old community centre, ran toddlers group and summer holiday playschemes. In 1989 in recognition of the opening of the Community Centre St Andrews created the Time Capsule!

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Sue Ford was instrumental in those early years of Stirchley Community Centre. Sue has lived in Stirchley for most of her life. Her parents married during the Second World War and she and her siblings grew up at 1227 Pershore Road; above what was then her uncle’s tailor shop. She remembers the Co-op Christmas grotto as the best in Birmingham. For our meeting Sue brought along the newspaper cutting of when the 1989 time capsule was created.

Sue ran the first play group at what was then the new Community Centre. She also ran Stirchley Opportunity Group, which was made up of at least 50% of children who had a disability- the first of its kind in the city. The Stay and Play toddler group is currently back at St Andrews, awaiting the opening of Stirchley Baths community centre.

Do you recognise anyone?
Do you recognise anyone?
The back of the Playscheme photograph.
The back of the Playscheme photograph.

Sue was delighted to revisit all the objects St Andrews gathered for the 1989 time capsule, including newspapers commemorating Birmingham’s centenary, a red nose from only the second ever Comic Relief and photos of St Andrews members. One such photograph shows children from St Andrews Playscheme. We would like to recreate this photograph for the new time capsule for Stirchley Baths. If you are in the photo or know those who are please get in touch.

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Another Sue who is also a member of St Andrews is Sue Ball. She was the first ever Community Worker and editor of ‘Snooze’. There is a copy of ‘Snooze’ in the 1989 time capsule and you can view the digital archive here.

St Andrews have recently joined twitter and look forward to connecting with local people on-line @standrewsb30

Both the 1989 and 2015 time capsule will be placed under the pool and will be visible through a Perspex window.

If you would like to suggest an item to go into the new 2015 time capsule pop into Stirchley Library between 10am & 1pm on Saturday 11th July. Alternatively email louisedeakin.communityheritage@gmail.com

Volunteer Meet & Greet

Community Tour of Stirchley Baths
Community Tour of Stirchley Baths

Volunteer Meet & Greet
PCafe, Stirchley
Tues 23 June 5.30 – 7pm

Are you interested in getting involved in heritage activity for the Stirchley Baths project?Come along to this informal drop-in meeting where you can find out more information about the rewarding volunteer opportunities available, the skills building programme and social events that will be on offer. There are numerous ways to get involved regardless of experience and you will pay an important role in the long term success of the baths.

The evening will also be an informal opportunity to learn more about how you can use social media to support your own community or voluntary activity. Digital experts will be on hand to answer any questions you might have.

For more information please contact Kate Andrews kate@kateandrews.me

Stirchley Community Centre photography project – get involved

Many of the groups which will use the baths when the work is done have been using the nearby community centre for a many years.  Stirchley Happenings want to record the groups of Stirchley community centre in photography...  they tell us

In something of a mad dash before the centre is lost to the developers, the idea of a photography project has come to our minds. We’d like to open the opportunity up to photographers of all abilities to come and take photos of the centre and the groups that use it. There’s huge potential here for photographers to hone their skills documenting the activities of a really diverse range of groups, and to give those groups a reminder of the time they spent using the centre.

If you would like to get involved, but don’t have the equipment, the new Baths project has a load of kit that is available for documenting the redevelopment of the community centre. They’re running a Social Media Surgery on Tuesday 4th February where you can come and talk to them about the varied ways of getting involved in the Baths project, but also how to become more involved, digitally, in the community as a whole. Places must be booked in advance though.

Wonderful idea Stirchley.  Get stuck in!

 

It has to be a yes – Peter Walker from Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum

Peter Walker is the chairman of Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum, a community group run by and for local people. Membership is open to anyone who lives or runs a business in Stirchley. The Forum provides an opportunity for local people to discuss and influence the issues that affect the village.

Here, Peter explains why the Heritage Lottery decision on transforming Stirchley Baths into a community centre just has to be a yes…

Peter Walker

I can’t wait for the result of our funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. It has to happen, doesn’t it?

Stirchley Baths has been closed for over 22 years now and I fear that it will be lost forever should this project not go ahead.

There are so many community groups in Stirchley, all waiting to move into the community centre that Stirchley residents deserve for all that they do for the village.

Somewhere modern, clean and safe where young mums and dads can take their children and meet others, where teenagers can meet their friends and pursue their needs in a safe environment and where the older residents can meet with their friends.

Stirchley is a strong community – let’s keep it that way.

There’s lots more information on Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum HERE.

The decision from HLF is expected very soon. Please tell us why it *has* to be a ‘yes’ by: