Free Social Media Support for Stirchley Community Groups and Volunteers in Stirchley.
Do you want to improve your social media skills? Maybe set up a facebook page or group for your committee? Start a blog for your local History Group? Or learn how to find people like you on Twitter?
We can help you do that at the Stirchley Social Media Surgery.
The surgery is a free and informal way of learning the skills you want and we can tailor support to your needs.
These events will be held at the Cafe P, 1464A Pershore Road Stirchley B30 2NT on:
5.30pm – 7pm Tuesday 28th July 5.30pm – 7pm Tuesday 25th August
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!
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?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.
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
I have been volunteering on the Stirchley Baths project for 18 months. My involvement began when I noticed a tweet about a social media surgery happening at Loaf. On a very dark and miserable February evening, Nick from Podnosh tutored myself and Jon from Belfour Beatty in the ways of blogging.
Having not blogged before it took a little bit of time to get to grips with uploading photos and video. And in those early days I would never have guessed by summer 2015 I’d have posted over 20 of the things! I’ve even contributed blogs to Birmingham Conservation Trust and BirminghamMuseums Trust, all off the back of that one session!
TASCOS Bakery Stone.
The subjects of my blogs have felt like a world of discovery. Previous to living in Stirchley I knew very little about the village. I have since discovered the social enterprise that was TASCOS, that there were three mills along the Rea, the original bakery stone from 1891 and ghost signs galore!
Not only that, but I have met some great people. I’ve been fortunate to meet special groups, of which Stirchley is full to bursting! Groups like S.U.R.N, SNF, Stirchley Sessions and Friends of Stirchley Park and their four legged companions. Stirchley is a special place with a strong beating heart. The people who live and work here are always striving to improve its outlook. Where else would you find folk so passionate about planning permission and wheelie bins?
Members of Stirchley Park’s 5 ‘O Clock Club.
And Stirchley is full of characters! Nobody thought anything of me taking a bear on tour during a Baths site visit. And why would they? This village has a 10 – foot gorilla for goodness sake!
I’ve enjoyed putting my heritage cap on and discovering through the 1911 census who was using the Baths and who was driving the trains and who was making the chocolate and who lived in my street!
And it’s felt special sharing people’s memories, such as a local resident who, apart from serving in the Second World War had spent his whole life here. Growing up surrounded by fields, fondly remembering the milk cart and the tram. He grew up in a time when electricity was only just replacing gas lamps, had his wedding reception at the Three Horse Shoes and raised his two daughters here; until his final farewell earlier this year.
I’ve gained so much from being involved in the project and now we are arriving at the most exciting of times- the community centre is almost finished! There’s never been a better time to get involved!
If you’d like to know more about volunteer roles contact the Baths Heritage Officer, Kate Andrews at kate@kateandrews.me
With all the builders coming and going at the Baths we thought it would be nice if you could get a flavour of what they’ve been up to behind the hoardings, so, last week I went on site to meet with Senior Site Manager Tony Fisher.
Tony showed us around and gave us an overview on what it takes to restore a building as old as ours. I think I agree with him when he talks about the renovation of the roof, those lanterns are pretty impressive.
Last Friday we went down to JP Carpentry and Joinery in Cannock to meet the craftsman who is restoring the ticket Kiosk from the entrance to the baths.
John Sherrard has been working on lots of different pieces for the restoration, but here’s a quick look at the kiosk in particular.
