Husband and wife, Raza and Rashida, took Raza’s and their daughters’ bikes to the Cycle Fix-It Café to have them checked and repaired. The Cycle Fix-It Cafés are a free, pop-up, bike repair service where our bike mechanic can carry out a cycle ‘M’ check and any basic repairs. An ‘M’ check is a simple, 11-step method for checking
As part of Co-op Fortnight, we’re reflecting back on the last year and how, as a co-operative working with communities, we pulled together in collaboration to support each other. The Covid-19 pandemic has had an extraordinary, far-reaching effect across the globe. It was something we could never have prepared for
Many of us have felt lonely and socially isolated this year. Almost half of the UK population said that they experience feelings of loneliness at times. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it much harder for us to maintain important social connections, with some people losing all forms of physical contact with others. Even with
Halema was a very active person, but after developing drug resistant tuberculosis and having two children she became sedentary. She explained, ‘my body had a really, really bad impact from it. It affected my lungs.’ Being fit and healthy has always been important to Halema. She explained that ‘as the years have gone on, I kept kind of
Volunteers’ Week is an opportunity for us to say thank you to volunteers and celebrate their invaluable contribution. Over the course of the pandemic, we have seen an incredible response as Birmingham volunteers stepped forward to support their local communities. Since April 2020, over 1,300 volunteers have given their time to support projects from food distribution to befriending calls, amounting
During Mental Health Awareness Week this year, the theme is ‘nature’. The Mental Health Foundation has found that our relationship with nature – the ways we notice, think about, and appreciate our natural surroundings – is a critical factor in supporting good mental health. After a year in which most of us
The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) are working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and other local organisations as part of a government funded E-Cargo bike pilot in the city. The Birmingham pilot has been awarded funding for 13 E-Cargo bikes and 7 E-Cargo trikes, which will be used to encourage sustainable travel. The bikes and trikes have a large storage container on the front, which
Each year, SMK celebrates the best campaigns and campaigners. SMK’s interest is in finding those who have made change happen – most effectively, creatively and courageously. That change might be in law or policy; it might be in attitudes, social norms or behaviour; it could be in how services are
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Angela Rayner visited Balsall Heath City Farm on 7th April to see how #BrumTogether has been working with our communities through the Covid-19 pandemic. Inequalities in Birmingham were pervasive even before the pandemic, and we have seen these inequalities deepen over the last 12
Adam has been volunteering with The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) since November 2020 in a variety of cycling related activities. He has been involved in lots of projects, such as assisting the bike mechanic at the Cycle Fix it Café, building bikes, delivering food and clothing using our E-cargo bikes,
We’re super proud of Couch to 5k graduate Nina Lugor, who took up running during lockdown. Nina followed the Couch to 5k app to build up her stamina and confidence over 9 weeks and was supported by Tahir from The Big Run Project, and groups on social media when it
We’re pleased to offer new and exciting opportunities under the Kickstart Scheme via DWP. All roles are for a period of six months, based in Birmingham, and covering 25 hours per week at a rate of £9.30PH (Real Living Wage). They are a great way to gain experience, skills and training to
On 18th March 2021 The Social Prescribing Network are celebrating #SocialPrescribingDay. The event aims to foster a change and demonstrate the shift in power to people and local communities. It promotes co-design and co-creation, and ensures social prescribing continues to grow as a movement. The Active Wellbeing Society provides a
It’s Food Waste Action Week – a week dedicated to raising awareness of the environmental consequences of wasting food. Did you know around 1/3 of the food we produce worldwide is either lost or wasted, and 45% of domestic waste across Birmingham is food. We’ve seen a lot of food go to waste over the last year, with fresh produce being left
The Co-operative Party – ‘the party of the co-operative movement, committed to building a society in where power and wealth are shared’ is holding a series of virtual regional Conferences across the UK, held on Zoom in 2021. The Active Wellbeing Society Chief Executive Karen Creavin presented the learnings from
Social Prescribers at The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) have been supporting the Covid-19 vaccine rollout at GP surgeries across the city. The team are supporting in a number of ways, such as welcoming patients as they arrive at practices, carrying out temperature checks, and helping people to navigate their way
Rookery Runners and Walkers Group was set up at Rookery Park, Erdington, in April 2019. It aimed to provide a supportive environment in which people could be guided through the ‘Couch to 5K’ programme, and give local people the opportunity to connect with each other. Sally, one of our Run/Walk
The last year has been incredibly difficult for so many people. Every day as the news streams in about the mounting number of deaths, cases, and the R rate it takes a toll on our resilience, our ability to the weather the storm. We’ve spent the last year working closely
Manor House, Hay Hall Business Park, Redfern Road, Tyseley, Birmingham,
West Midlands, B11 2BE.
The Active Wellbeing Society Limited (registered no.7595) is a charitable community benefit society