Blog


Hello Digital Dinner 2010 at Birmingham Town Hall

Posted on 4th October 2010 by

The main conference dinner for Beyond 2010 and a centrepiece of Birmingham’s Hello Digital Week, this is an ideal opportunity to celebrate the region’s digital journey. The evening is hosted by Science & Technology expert Maggie Philbin with guest speaker Tony Robinson

For more information visit: http://www.beyond-2010.com

  • Constituency: Ladywood, City wide
  • When: October 20th 2010, 1830 – 2300
  • Where: Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square, B3 3DQ
  • Open to the general public: Yes – Tickets £95
  • Contact: Annette King, 0121 675 1170 or annette.c.king@birmingham.gov.uk 

Karen Caine on City Centre Neighbourhood Forum

Posted on 2nd October 2010 by

Having your say on neighbourhood issues is vital – following on from the short video interview with Claire Spencer about Moseley Forum, here is a clip with Karen Caine from the City Centre Neighbourhood Forum who gives her take on the importance of giving people a voice in their local area.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JxlJHnecfc[/youtube]

Let us know what community issues you want to talk about in your neighbourhood. You can also find out more informstion about City Centre Neighbourhood Forum via their website.

Flip training with local citizens – community empowerment through social media

Posted on 1st October 2010 by

Over the past couple of weeks Podnosh have been working with individuals from community-focused organisations throughout the city, training them in using video and social media to put a spotlight on some of those extraordinary stories in their communities.

In just a few hours each citizen was trained in using a Flip camera - a handheld device not much bigger than a mobile phone – to be able to capture video which can then be published online, at YouTube or a blog.

We know that there some fascinating stories out there which need hearing, and having access to this technology will help community groups to draw attention to the issues and causes they believe in, as well as telling the stories which will make people really sit up and take notice.

It also means that they’ll be able to cover events during Local Democracy Week, so you’ll be able to find out what’s being discussed at meetings across the city.

The people who attended the training have their own interesting stories to tell, and they interviewed each other during the course of the evening – we’ll be posting some of those videos over the coming days, and some photos too.

If you’d like to find out how you can help to cover Local Democracy Week 2010, let us know by leaving a comment.

Elsie Gayle talks about Link and their work in women's health and maternity

Posted on 30th September 2010 by

Continuing our series of stories from people working at community organisations throughout the city, this short video shows Elsie Gayle - Chair of the Women’s Health and Maternity Action Group – talking about the work of Link in this area.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25jxxpvaNyk[/youtube] (more…)

Claire Spencer on how Moseley Forum enhances democracy

Posted on 30th September 2010 by

Across the city there are individuals looking to spread the word about how organisations based in Birmingham are reinforcing and enhancing democracy.

In this short video clip Claire Spencer, a Secretary of Moseley Forum, talks about how neighbourhood forums work as gateways between citizens and local government structures.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJilla3ePow[/youtube] (more…)

Nominate active citizens for the 2010 Local Hearts Award

Posted on 31st August 2010 by

Last year we have a fantastic time celebrating active citizens in Birmingham with the Local Hearts Awards.  You can listen to all of those shortlisted talk about their work on our People’s Stories category.

Now it is time to nominate again.

Who do you know who deserves recognition for the part they play in their community?

It might be a member of your family, a friend, someone you work with or a neighbour. (It might even be you – in which case ask a mate to send in the nomination).

Download this form as a pdf  fill it in and send it on to us. Click here for the same form as a word document, which you can fill in and then e-mail to Karen_Cheney@birmingham.gov.uk .

Good luck to whoever you nominate.

Local Hearts Awards 2009 – the results.

Posted on 27th October 2009 by

Above are all the winners and highly commended for the 2009 Birmingham Local Hearts Awards receiving their trophys from the Lord Mayor, Councillor Michael Wilkes. The photos were taken by
Jane Willetts.   In no particular order we have:

Active Citizen, Male:  Mathew Ebo
Active Citizen, Female Suzanne Coward
Young Person, Jenni Rowley
Lifetime Achievement: Barry Toon
Group: BETI
Young Persons Group:  Hawksley Young Volunteers

The Highly Commended in each category are:

Active Citizen -Male
Highly commended

Active Citizen – Female
Highly commended

Active Citizen – Young Person
Highly commended

Lifetime Achievement
Highly commended

Community Group
Highly commended

Young People’s Group
Highly Commended

Consultations database launched for Birmingham

Posted on 27th October 2009 by

Knowing what other people think is a critical part of democracy.  Knowing about a wide range of consultations can help local groups make the case for what they want.

Today sees the launch of www.birminghambeheard.org.uk. It’s a website which allows you to explore the various public consultations that have taken place or are happening in the city.

For the first time, information about what consultations are being planned and have been undertaken, what people have said and what impact their views have had on decision-making in the city will be easily accessible by the public all in one place, with the launch of the Birmingham Be Heard consultation database, www.birminghambeheard.org.uk on Tuesday 27th October. <
Be Heard is a web-based database developed for
Be Birmingham, the city’s local strategic partnership, by Birmingham City Council’s corporate policy and performance team. It currently contains over 170 consultations undertaken by Birmingham City Council and other partner organisations and this number is growing all the time.

Here’s a short video which explains the basics of how to use it (oh and here’s the rss feed for those who want to use rss to keep up to date with new consultations as they happen):

Friends of Jasmin Fields podcast

Posted on 20th October 2009 by
Friends of Jasmine Fields

Ray Brookes, John McGill, Adam Noon and Sonya Williams

Friends of Jasmin Fields campaigned for a piece of land in their neighbourhood which had been left to rot and attracted fly-tipping. It was full of rubbish, but a group of local people organised a clearing up day, and then gained funding to fence off the area and renovate it and start looking after this small piece of parkland in Brandwood End – now the Jasmin Fields Nature Reserve.

The group have engaged the local school, have had young people volunteering to be a park ranger, and now the area is full of wildlife and is a place for families come to play, walk their dogs and enjoy the area they live in. The group hope they have empowered the local community. For their work, they have now been nominated for the Community Group category of Birmingham’s Local Hearts Award.

[podcast]http://podnosh.com/files/2009/10/Grassroots-Friends-of-Jasmin-Fields1.mp3[/podcast]

BETI podcast

Posted on 20th October 2009 by
Indu Daji and Electra Soady of BETI

Indu Daji and Electra Soudy

Electra Soudy and Indu Daji have been nominated for the Community Group Local Hearts Award for the work they have done with BETI, which they set up 10 years ago to empower women and give them training and support.

Indu focuses on muslim and hindu women and Electra with single women and voluntary groups – helping those coming to Britain who may be abused by their relatives and in-laws, assisting their learning of English and giving them the advice and guidance they need to get on the job ladder.

The group aim to liberate women in Birmingham who suffer under their families, feel estranged, or are being forced into arranged marriages. Both women have a background which has led them to this work – Electra ran away from her Greek home because her father was setting up an arranged marriage, and Indu also suffered when she moved to the city, but was given confidence by Electra.

The two women also inspire and motivate each other, and are well-known in the community as people other women can come to for help, shelter and advice. Here’s their story.

[podcast]http://podnosh.com/files/2009/10/Grassroots-BETI-group.mp3[/podcast]