Heritage Lottery Fund – Stirchley Baths

It’s a big yes for Stirchley Baths!

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 11:03:36 +0000

Fantastic news – the HLF have given the thumbs up to the transformation of Stirchley Baths into a community hub.

Work on bringing the Grade II listed building back into use for the community can now get under way. You can have a look at the plans by clicking HERE.

Birmingham City Council issued this press release this morning:

A grant to refurbish a historic building which will rejuvenate the area creating cultural, sporting and recreational opportunities for local people has been received by Birmingham City Council.

The grant of almost £1.2m has been given by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to transform the Grade II listed former Stirchley Baths building into a new Urban Village Hall.

The Urban Village Hall will include activities and community functions. The new-look building will also incorporate a gallery area, meeting rooms, a cafe and classrooms.

Selly Oak District Chair, Cllr Karen McCarthy, said: “I know that Stirchley’s community organisations will be delighted with this news The bid had strong support from local people and groups, who will be celebrating now that we are one step closer to a multi-purpose venue suitable for all people of all generations.”

The transformed building will become a popular community hub. From a derelict building comes a visual highlight and a great space which will make a huge contribution to the regeneration of the area and to local people. ”

The project will preserve key historic features, including the original kiosk within the entrance area, the iconic chimney flue, balconies and tiling. There are also plans to reinstate some key lost features, for example the distinctive cupola and clock that faced onto Hazelwell Street.

Reyahn King, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the West Midlands, said: “A prominent local landmark that has fallen into disrepair will be transformed by this project creating a multipurpose centre to serve the local community’s present and future needs while preserving original features of the historic baths.”

Peter Walker, Chair of Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum, said: “It now seems very real that the idea of a building in the heart of Stirchley that will promote community spirit and support cultural and creative activities is becoming a possibility.

“This project has always been a collaborative affair where local people have always had a voice and have always been listened to. I’m pleased to be part of something that will benefit local people and keeps a beautiful local building in use.”

The news has already been reported by the excellent Bournville Village website.

Let us know what the ‘yes’ from HLF – and the building being brought back into use for the community – means to you by:

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page

It has to be a yes – Shona McQuillan

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:17:04 +0000

Stirchley resident Shona McQuillan on why the HLF decision for Stirchley Baths – due very soon – just has to be a yes…

“I love the regeneration idea for Stirchley Baths. Making use of a beautiful, richly historic existing building rather than plundering cash into carbon-copy new-build is vital – and is something that should be happening more and more.

The plans won’t wipe out what’s there already, rather they will make the most of Stirchley’s unique traits and personality.

The community hub can factor in the whole spectrum of potential trade and cultural activity. Its community spaces will bring members of the community together when they might not normally be encouraged to do so.

The regeneration of Stirchley Baths could have a pivotal role in the rebirth of the area and support of such diverse activity. The time to sow the seeds of the renaissance is now.”

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

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page

It has to be a yes – social media comments

Fri, 20 Sep 2013 10:22:20 +0000

There have been lots of messages online from local people ahead of the HLF’s decision on the bid to transform Stirchley Baths into a thriving community hub at the very heart of the village. Here are some from Twitter…

http://storify.com/stirchleybaths/it-has-to-be-a-yes-from-the-heritage-lottery-fund

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

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/StirchleyBaths

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

Fri, 20 Sep 2013 09:29:03 +0000

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…

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:

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/StirchleyBaths

It has to be a yes – Rob Gilbert from Stirchley Stores

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:25:49 +0000

Rob Gilbert is the committee chair of Stirchley Stores, the co-operative on Pershore Road that supplies ethical, affordable and local food. Stirchley Stores wants to move into the Stirchley Baths community hub. Here, Rob explains why the Heritage Lottery decision due very soon has to be a ‘yes’ for Stirchley…

“The Stirchley Baths community hub is the ideal place for Stirchley Stores. Sustainability and community are at the heart of Stirchley Stores, helping people contribute to the rejuvenation of their High Street. These values are what the community hub project is all about too.

We need a new premises because Loaf – our neighbour in Pershore Road – is looking to expand. We currently use the premises rent-free in exchange for selling their bread and the consensus among our members is that Stirchley Baths is the ideal location for us. It’s a good-value plan and will help us to be even more connected to the local community.

We’re growing too. We’re mostly run by volunteers, although we pay a volunteer co-ordinator and we’re about to take on our first paid worker in the shop too. Moving into the community hub will help us to take Stirchley Stores to the next stage.

The Stirchley Baths community hub will be a real focal point for the whole Stirchley community, enabling more people to connect and get things done for the good of the village. There will be a cafe in there, a cinema, meeting rooms, events – it will be a huge boost for the whole village and we’re really keen to be a part of it.”

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

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/StirchleyBaths

It has to be a yes – Mick Jones from stirchley.co.uk

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:36:41 +0000

Mick Jones runs the excellent stirchley.co.uk website for the village. Here’s why Mick thinks the Heritage Lottery Fund decision for Stirchley Baths – due imminently – has to be a yes…

“Stirchley Baths is a beautiful building which has shamed Stirchley for over 20 years through neglect. Regeneration, however, means a focal point so necessary for the wellbeing of a village, somewhere to go with children, adults and the vulnerable.

I hope there will be dances, not necessarily discos but the sort of dances that families can attend, barn dancing where one can go without a partner. There will be rooms for discussion groups, clubs and meetings.

Throughout the country there are beautiful village halls that are economical to hire, meaning the community can put on a play, a dance or a party, for the community.

We in Stirchley need this facility in what is, after all, a heritage building, married to the library and next to a small park. Could anyone ask for a better location?”

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

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/StirchleyBaths

It has to be a yes – Emma Larkinson from Place Prospectors

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 12:38:19 +0000

Emma Larkinson from Place Prospectors explains why she thinks the Heritage Lottery Fund decision on Stirchley Baths – due very soon – has to be a ‘yes’…

“Stirchley Baths was once at the hub of a vibrant junction at Bournville Lane bringing together learning, leisure and commerce. Over the years Stirchley has lost many of its local resources – the post office, co-operative education centre, the Friends Meeting House, the great mixed use road that was Hazelwell Lane – and it lost its name from the station ocean named Stirchley Street.

At a time of such financial pressures on public and private investment this is a huge opportunity for the community to bring back into use this beautiful building. Stirchley’s active networks of creative minds, committed community leaders and traders could make this building into a social focus once again. But we need a yes to start the ball rolling!”

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

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/StirchleyBaths

Decision due on Stirchley Baths. Tell us why it has to be ‘yes’!

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 11:59:27 +0000

People were in no doubt that the Stirchley Baths HLF bid should swim, not sink, at a wonderful summer event

A decision on the Stirchley Baths Heritage Lottery fund bid is expected very soon. The West Midlands committee of the HLF met earlier this week to consider the bid to transform Stirchley Baths into a thriving community hub for local people and their decision is imminent.

Thanks to everyone who has been involved in the project and supported the HLF bid in whatever way. Now it’s crunch time – and the Stirchley Baths project has to swim!

Please tell us why the HLF decision *has* to be a ‘yes’ by:

Leaving a comment here on the website
Sending an email to stirchleybaths@gmail.com
Tweeting us a message @stirchleybaths
Leaving a comment on our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/StirchleyBaths

The whole Stirchley community got behind the bid, creating a show of hands around the baths in April and culminating in a fantastic ‘Sink or Swim’ event in June where local people weighed in their support for a ‘yes’.

‘Sink Or Swim’ at Stirchley Baths

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 11:17:43 +0000

Stirchley Baths’ final-stage bid for Lottery funding will be submitted on 17th June 2013. It’s a pivotal moment in the history of the project and of the building itself.

This moment was marked with a fantastic participatory arts event at the Baths on Saturday called ‘Sink Or Swim’, organised by Place Prospectors.

Local people came along to weigh in their support for the project (literally!) and transformed the word ‘Sink’ in balloons into ‘Swim’. Dozens and dozens of balloons were weighed down with a ‘thumbs up’ ceramic weight. Visitors to the event chose a balloon…

and had their ceramic hand weighed in.

A record of the weight was made in a special ledger, which they signed, and their balloon was added to the ‘Swim’ board.

Slowly, over the event, the word ‘Sink’ became ‘Swim’ – genius! – before all of the balloons were popped at the end!

The wonderful Stirchley Shakers cheerleaders added a celebratory feeling to the day…

and well over 200 people visited the event, many sitting on the old bowling green behind Stirchley Baths to have some food.

At the end of the event, the water area even became an impromptu paddling pool!

It was a really wonderful day! Huge thanks to Place Prospectors for creating such a fantastic way for local people to show their support for the Heritage Lottery Fund bid, and especially to everyone who came along on the day.

The HLF bid will be submitted on 17th June, with a decision expected in September…

To see lots more photos from the day click below

Peter Morgan of the Heritage Lottery Fund explains the process for getting the bid in.

Nick Booth — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:23:39 +0000

Half the meeting

Yesterday there was a “stage” meeting about the final and full bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (to be submitted in June 2013). A good few people there who’ve been involved in some area of work creating or supporting the bid. As much as anything it was a chance for the Heritage Lottery Team and the bid team to catch up on progress. The picture is of one half of the meeting.

Afterwards I spent a few minutes with Peter Morgan from the West Midlands team of the Heritage Lottery Fund. He explained how these meetings help – what will happen next and what happens to the bid after the June deadline for submitting.

listen to ‘Peter Morgan from the heritage lottery fund on the process for bidding ’ on Audioboo

The “stage” meeting help clarify that the bid writing and community engagement process is on track. It helps everyone focus on creating the best quality bid.

Once submitted in June the bid will be assigned an officer who will read is and write a report

The report will be checked for quality within the system then submitted to the ctte for decision

The ctte read the report and are given a presentation by the officer. They then decide based on this information and other bids in that month. Ctte members are volunteers.