Haz’s story

Hazim, father of six, introduces himself with the entreaty to “Call me Haz, like hazardous.” At 54 years old, Haz’s struggle with heart disease had kept him from being active, until a text invite to a cycling confidence session, kickstarted his journey back to cycling after a 32-year hiatus.  This session

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The Active Wellbeing Society has rebranded!

We are pleased to announce The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) has rebranded, marking a significant milestone in our journey to date.   Established in 2017 as an initiative developed out of Birmingham City Council’s Wellbeing Service, The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) has continued to grow and change over the past seven

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Anisha’s Story

I’ve had a long illness – I’ve been struggling to lose the weight I put on. I’d stopped exercising and I wasn’t recording my food either. I don’t know whether it’s menopause, mental health or my illness, but when I lose weight, I put it back on again. Relatives have

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Steve’s story

How an engineering mindset and a passion for equality led Steve to focus on small but mighty actions in temporary accommodation I’m Steve, I’m a retired engineer and I’ve been volunteering with Cranstoun over the last year or so. Once you retire, it’s nice to step off the treadmill and look

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Stories from the Food Justice Network

The Food Justice Network was set up during the pandemic to coordinate the city’s emergency food response. Today the network brings more than 280 independent member organisations together.  As ensuring food security becomes increasingly difficult and demand soars, this alliance has never been more important. Click through the slides, to

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Community cafes: The third spaces we love and need  

Community cafes: The third spaces we love and need Do you have a friend who Grew up speaking a different language?  Celebrates different religious holidays?  Grew up with less money than you?  Was born in a different decade to you?  Whose skin is a different colour?  If you answered yes

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Tracy’s story

My name is Tracey, I’m 44 years old. I come regularly to Hay Hall Building in Tyseley to the lunch club group where I meet up with a wide range of people and backgrounds. We all sit around have some food and drink together, a chat, and a walk afterwards

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Community Meals Partnership

The Food Justice Network (FJN) is launching a new Community Meals Partnership. We want to use food to build networks and strengthen communities. Great things can happen when people sit down to eat together. Sharing meals can break down barriers, introduce people to new experiences, overcome loneliness and even support

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The Active Wellbeing Society Update March 2024

From the 1st of April 2024, the operating model of the Active Wellbeing Society will be different, in a move designed to allow us some lead in time to mitigate some of the potential reductions that we expect to see in 2025/26 in light of the recent Birmingham City Council

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Shaana’s Story

Shaana Derry was introduced to the Share Shack by a friend, she says before that she didn’t know it was there. After going in she began doing the Memory Art class with Joe, which runs every week on a Wednesday from 11-4. There Shaana started to make things, a large

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A group of women taking part in the 2023 flash mob in Birmingham City Centre.

One Billion Rising Flash Mob

The Active Wellbeing Society and women’s charity WE:ARE will be joining the One Billion Rising Movement once again, with a flash mob in Birmingham City Centre. This year’s event is at 1pm on the 14th of February on the section of the High Street between Union Street and New Street.

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Can Birmingham Businesses Help Brum Bite Back?

Brum Bites Back! is the new campaign from the Food Justice Network (FJN). We want everyone in Birmingham to have access to food, and we’re asking citizens and businesses to help us in that aim, and bite back at food insecurity. We know Birmingham is home to hundreds of successful

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Join the Virtual Community!

We know this time of the year many people will start a new exercise kick, determined to get in the gym and shed those extra lbs. But we also know that for a sizeable proportion that resolution doesn’t stick. It’s too hard, or cold, or inconvenient, or it simply doesn’t

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Pull up a chair

Pull up a seat Every Monday at the Meridian Centre you’ll find people doing chair-based exercise to 80s and 90s music. Open to all patients within the Primary Care Network, this session is there for people with long-term health conditions. After the session, the group who set out on their

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