Reflections on the Listen and Connect Service

Our team work extremely hard offering a safe space for people to feel heard and to talk about what is important to them; alongside practical solutions with links to clothing, food support and Share Shacks (borrowing tools and sharing practical skills). Julie is one of our latest team members to join

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Reflecting on #BrumTogether

#BrumTogether is a network of over 80 organisations and countless individuals that have come together in response to Coronavirus and the lockdown. This network of local organisations and mutual aid groups have worked together to provide support for local people including the delivery of food parcels, hygiene products, baby supplies,

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Listen & Connect: A Listening Service With A Difference

In March 2020  we launched a Befriending phone service in response to the COVID 19 lockdown. The aim of the service was to support people who were experiencing loneliness and isolation due to shielding or a loss of social and support networks.  We recognised that not being able to connect

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From Depression to Action -Salma’s Story

Salma talks to us about the benefits of time attending our classes. Talking Art de-stresses me. It’s my time on a Friday. First, I get to do the aerobics class, then afterwards I come to the Talking Art. It’s brilliant. I made new friends. I found out about this center

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Humans on the Heath

It’s the people that make an area – and in Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook there are some wonderful people from all walks of life, who have plenty of stories to share! Inspired by the Social Media phenomenon ‘Humans of New York’, we’ve collated some portraits of people living, loving and

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120 Soldiers: Basic Training

I’ve always enjoyed seeing conductors at work preparing choirs and orchestras for musical performances, but today is I think the first time I’ve seen a choreographer doing their thing and it’s a joy to watch. It’s certainly the first time I’ve been choreographed. Yes, I made it through the rehearsal

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M.E. One Soldier’s Fight Back

They say that when trying to make changes in life, personal goals are a must. Those on a diet have a target weight, runners train for a target distance and I, along with 119 other members of the public, have a dance performance in 36 days time.

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Drawing thoughts at Shard End Library

We were at Shard End Library at half term making willow wands and drawing portraits with Caricaturist Ben Jones while we chatted. It was a great way to get to know people, find out what they thought about their local area and learn how to make willow wands. Here are

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I wish this was…

‘What do you wish this was?’ – A great question to find out more about what people want, and to start a conversation about what can be done to make things better. At St. Paul’s Venture Hope & Change event we asked participants about what they thought and used stickers

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