Tag: Erdington Enterprise Hub

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COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Celebrating and preserving Erdington’s cultural and community assets

Witton Lodge Community Association Chief Officer Afzal Hussain outside Wellbeing Hub on Erdington High Street / Photograph by Ed King

Words by Afzal Hussain – Chief Officer of Witton Lodge Community Association

Erdington Baths, a cherished community landmark, proudly marks its 100 year anniversary this month. This historic site has been a cornerstone of local sports, recreational, and social life for generations.

Many of you will know about Witton Lodge Community Association’s ambitious plans to refurbish and repurpose the facility as a Community & Enterprise facility, ensuring it remains a vibrant hub for future generations.

Since its closure, the building has deteriorated significantly and the first phase will involve undertaking essential repairs, repairing the roof, and ensuring the building’s structural integrity. This will be followed by transforming the main reception area and pool hall into co-working spaces, studio pods, events, and meeting rooms.

Earlier this month we were able to undertake strip-out works to enable further detailed structural surveys to be undertaken.

This builds on the creation of the pocket park which has improved the external frontage of the building, and we remain hopeful that we will be able to appoint a main contractor later in the year to commence the substantive works.

For those of you that venture to Witton Lakes, you will notice that the Makers Yard in the grounds of the Eco Hub is nearing completion, and residents will shortly be able to participate in range of new activities, including carpentry and horticulture taster courses.

Additionally, we have initiated improvements to the car park at Witton Lakes, to enhance accessibility and the visitor experience.

Against a tough backdrop, we remain committed to investing locally, celebrating all that is great about our area, and demonstrating the #PowerOfCommunity.

For more on Witton Lodge Community Association, visit www.wittonlodge.org.uk

Witton Lodge Community Association is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.

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COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Transforming neighbourhoods with the power of community

Words by Afzal Hussain – Chief Officer of Witton Lodge Community Association

Witton Lodge Community Association Chief Officer Afzal Hussain outside Wellbeing Hub on Erdington High Street / Pic by Ed King

The clearance and strip-out works at the former Erdington Baths on Mason Road mark an important milestone in its transformation into the Enterprise Hub.

This crucial step allows us to conduct in-depth surveys that will support our vision of creating a vibrant space for budding and local entrepreneurs, and the wider community.

The Pocket Park, established through community efforts, has already enhanced the area’s appeal, and we are grateful to Erdington Litter Busters for their continued care of this green space.

At Witton Lodge Community Association, collaboration is at the core of our work. This ethos has driven the creation of the Birmingham Community Action Network (B:CAN), a partnership of 21 trusted community anchor organisations across Birmingham.

B:CAN serves as both a safety net and a springboard for residents, offering support in areas such as welfare, energy efficiency, health, employment, and volunteering.

With an impressive collective reach of over 18,500 residents monthly, B:CAN is dedicated to transforming lives and neighbourhoods to make life better for everyone in Birmingham.

This initiative demonstrates the #PowerofCommunity. It says there is another way, a better way, that works with the grain of community.

For more on Witton Lodge Community Association, visit www.wittonlodge.org.uk

Witton Lodge Community Association is a key partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.

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NEWS: WLCA call out for volunteers to help with ‘pocket park’ and regeneration of Erdington Swimming Baths

Words by Ed King / Pics by Joe Marchant (images under copyright)

Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) are putting the call out for people to help them with the ongoing regeneration of Erdington Swimming Baths, turning the century old pool into a new Erdington Enterprise Hub.

Looking for volunteers to join them at two sessions on Friday 6 September, one held at 10am-12pm and another between 1-3pm, WLCA will be working on renovating the main site entrance on Mason Road.

The jobs at hand include tending to the ‘pocket park’ that now decorates the frontage, a special urban oasis set up to bring the outside of the old Swimming Baths back into community use whilst the Enterprise Hub building work inside continues.

WLCA are looking for help turning the spoil, planting new plants, and painting the wooden planters.

Volunteers will also be asked to help lay ‘eco-rubber’ to the flooring in the morning session and add the finishing touches in the afternoon, depending on the weather conditions.

A full briefing will be given at the start of each session, with all necessary equipment provided. People are asked to bring clothes they can comfortably work in and will be suitable for the day.

WLCA will also provide a special lunch and refreshments for the group of local volunteers.

Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to register their interested with WLCA by emailing their Head of Programmes and Partnership, Waheed Saleem, on [email protected] – or by calling WLCA on (0121) 382 1930.

Witton Lodge Community Association recently secured £4m to start the ambitious Enterprise Hub project from the West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City Council, which has been in planning stages since before the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘Phase One’ of the development, which will futureproof the old Erdington Swimming Baths building by turning it into a creative hub for local businesses and entrepreneurs, was officially launched on Thursday 18 July.

(Click here to read our initial news report and click here to read our follow-on feature.)

Speaking at the ‘Phase One’ launch, WLCA Chief Officer, Afzal Hussain, told: “We’ve got the funds secured; we’ve got the plans in place, we’ve got the teams in place, we’ve got the community on side… it feels great. It feels great that we’re able to take that next step.”

Birmingham City Council Leader John Cotton, who gave a public address to attendees, further told Erdington Local: “It’s so incredibly exciting for Erdington, clearly this is about bringing a heritage asset – something at the heart of the community – back into use.”

He added: “I think this also pays tribute to the tremendous assets that we have out in our community – organisations like Witton Lodge that have been driving this forward and are rooted in the heart of our communities.”

For more on Witton Lodge Community Association, visit www.wittonlodge.org.uk