Words by Shaun Hand
Most Kingstanding locals will already know of Birmingham Settlement. After all, it’s one the city’s oldest charities, working to build and improve the wellbeing and financial resilience of communities across North Birmingham – with centres in Newtown, Ladywood, and Kingstanding.
But what people might be less aware of is just how many activities and classes for all ages the charity organises at their Sports & Community Centre, located at 600 Kingstanding Road.
Lizzie Forrester, the charity’s Income and Communications Manager, talked through it all. “The centre looks unassuming from outside, but it’s like a rabbit warren inside,” she laughs. “There are a lot of rooms and there’s always a lot going on. We’ve got separate projects for different age groups and different needs.”
The Kingstanding Road building was formerly leased to the Council and known locally as the 610 Community Centre (despite actually being at No 600) but in recent years, it’s ended up back in Birmingham Settlement’s capable hands.
“We’ve redeveloped it and broadened its remit for the wider community,” Lizzie says. “There are over 30 activities for kids, OAPs, families, and disabled people.
“We’ve got two large halls at the centre. One is a community gym, and one’s an activity room, which can also be hired out for children’s birthday parties.” She goes on to list an impressive array of activities on offer, from sports to craft to bowls to dance.
“We’ve also got a new pitch out the back, funded by the Football Foundation’s PlayZone initiative” she adds. “Here, there’s a weekly family sports session as well a walking netball and girls’ football. It’s also used by kids attending the centre’s summer club.”
But it’s not just sports that’s happening in the grounds. A new green space is also being developed at the centre. The ‘Garden & Grow’ group, made up of local residents, meets weekly to help grow veg.
Lizzie continues, “They’ve just had their first harvest, with potatoes, tomatoes and beans.” Handily, then, the centre also offers cooking classes. Lizzie tells there are also plans to put a pond on the site: “We want to put more wildlife in, to help people enjoy nature.”
Incredibly, despite Birmingham Settlement receiving no statutory funding, all of the activities on offer at the Kingstanding centre are free to participate in — although a fully voluntary £2 donation from those who feel they can afford it is always welcome.
The charity’s money principally comes from other funding initiatives and the money raised by their charity shops, sponsored walks and runs, and other events.
This means very little of what Birmingham Settlement does in Kingstanding could happen without volunteers. “They form a big part of what we do,” Lizzie explains. “Thanks to Lottery funding, we’ve recently appointed a Volunteer Coordinator.
“At Kingstanding, we’re keen to help support people into volunteering. Three or four of our local volunteers have ended up becoming employed by us.”
For more on Birmingham Settlement Sports and Community Centre call (0121) 250 0770 or visit www.birminghamsettlement.org.uk/kingstanding
If you are from a community group or an active volunteer anywhere in the Erdington constituency then we want to hear for you. Please email: community@erdingtonlocal.com
