Words by Ed King
Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) is calling out for volunteers to help with a clean up of the Central Square atrium on Thursday 24 September – starting from 12 noon.
If you have a couple of hours to spare, and would like to help make the High Street a bit brighter anc cleaner, then please head over to Central Square at midday on Thursday – or email Erdington BID at: erdingtonhighstreet@hotmail.co.uk
The Central Square clean up team will be sweeping up rubbish from the concourse, wiping down the pillars, and putting up battery powered fairy and festoon lighting.
Once cleared, the BID and any volunteers will then assist Arts All Over the Place – a local arts and crafts group – to hang handmade decorations they have been producing in weekly workshops at their community space in Central Square and from the High Street Hut outside Wilton Market.
All equipment will be provided, and Erdington BID will arrange for light refreshments for all volunteers from shops and outlets on Erdington High Street – such as House of Chai or the recently opened Love Patties.
A spokesperson for Erdington BID told: “Sometimes a good clean up can make a place that feels forgotten come back to life, and we want to see Central Square become the hive of activity that it once was. So come and join us – great a broom and a bin bag and let’s do something positive.”
They added: “Erdington High Street is facing two possible futures, and we firmly believe there is enough community spirit to make it a bright one. But we need to chip in; we need to see and say the positive more than the negatives. And if we do it together it will transform our Town Centre.”
CELEBRATE ERDINGTON – events and activities across the Town Centre from 27-31 October
The Central Square clean up and hand craft decorations are part in preparation for a weeklong programme of events and activities taking place at Central Square from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October, as part of the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON October programme.
CELEBRATE ERDINGON events will also be taking place at St Barnabas Church, Oikos Café, the High Street Hut, and on the wider pedestrianised area from B&M down to the Village Green.
On Saturday 31 October, there will also be a special Halloween themed High Street Community Market – with a friendly competition for the best dressed ghouls and goblins.
CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is a campaign to encourage positive engagement around Erdington Town Centre – led by Erdington BID and supported by local community groups and partners including Erdington Lunar Society, Erdington Artists Conversations, Erdington Arts Forum, PFG Consultancy, and Arts All Over the Place.
CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is further supported by Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Follow the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON campaign on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CelebrateErdington
