Introduction

Message from Bordesley Village Community Association

Senior Citizens Work

Youth Work

Events & Activities

Additional Activities

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Thank You’s 25

Acknowledgements 26

Phoenix Hall was opened on June 21st, 1996 as part of a significant inner-city regeneration project overseen by the now defunct Heartlands Development Corporation in conjunction with Birmingham City Council, Bournville Village Trust built 80 homes in the area and manages Phoenix Hall on behalf of the City Council. The hall provides acommunity facility for local residents from which a wide and developing range of activities are held and provided.

The hall is run by a small, committed and very enthusi-astic staff team comprising: Shabnam Mughal (Community Development Officer), Richard Marston and Neil Stevens(Caretakers) and Sandra Brown (Administrator).

This Annual Report highlights the work that the Phoenix Hall team have undertaken during 2012 and the extent and diversity of that work. The year had a difficult start with a number of the team suffering illnesses and bereavements which really did have an impact on the work and income that could be generated. However despite this, everyone pulled together and a number of great projects and activities were delivered during the year which built on previous activities and aimed to foster community engagement and cohesion.

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Our vision ties in with BVT’s Journey to Excellence, taking strands from several directions to make a cohesive and socially inclusive hall with activities for everyone. To be able to listen to the community’s needs and respond as best we can and also to be able to give local people opportunities to help mould our work from a grass roots level. Opening the hall to volunteers, who bring a wide array of skills, knowledge, experience and most of all time for the betterment of the people in and around the area.

The level of local authority cuts in Birmingham is significant and makes our service ever more important with alot of community centres and services closing around us.

We are at the heart of one of England’s most deprived communities and to affect peoples lives on any level really does make a difference.

We aim to have an impact locally and here is a brief summary of key work during 2012:

- £26,160 brought in, in hall hire and additional service charges in 2012despite a difficult start to the year. - Ongoing development of events and activities including a project with a local historian and the seniors club looking at local history; beavers; keep fit; kick boxing and homework clubs. - Senior’s lunch club became weekly thanks to successful external funding grant. The group have also undertaken trips to The Malvern Flower Show, Moreton on the Marsh and had a Jubilee party. The year was rounded off with a very successful Christmas Lunch with live music. - Community Fun Day in June attended by over 200 people.- Canalside Art Project with The Canals and Rivers Trust in July- Residents Seasonal get together in December- Community trip to Weston Super Mare in October. - Acquisition of the Phoenix Learning Centre and planned development and marketing of this as a community learning hub in 2013.

Our Vision

An Overview of 2012

On behalf of Bordesley Village Community Association, we would like to say that it has been a pleasure and an honour to work alongside the phoenix hall team to make a difference in our local community.

In 2012 there were some amazing projects such as the Excellence in the Community Awards; the annual Funday, considerable and significant youth work including a canalside artwork project. Despite all the challenges going on at the moment this hall has flourished over the past four years and BVCA would like to recognise and endorse the work that the Phoenix Hall team has put into delivering this.

With a strong manager at the helm (Shabnam Mughal) and a devoted team, the hall will continue to provide a vital service for the people of Bordesley and the surrounding area. We would like to thank Bourn-ville Village Trust for all their support and we look forward to working closely with them in 2013.

From

Fozia Ayub ( Chair)Deborah Bates ( Vice Chair & Volunteer)Gwendoline Hayes ( Secretary & Volunteer)

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Christmas MealOn the 18th of December Phoenix Hall hosted its first Christmas Meal for the seniors. In past years we have had our meals out at different locations, but this year we kept it in house. A lot more work, but Richard our head chef and Neil our assistance chef pulled off a great meal for the whole group. We had the pleasure of Tessa coming to see us and help out at the event too.

With music, dance, and a hamper for each per-son to take away, a great day for all, another event which displays how the Phoenix staff dynamics work so well together.

Our senior’s activities have expanded again during 2012 not least as we secured funding to enable the lunch club to meet weekly instead of fortnightly. This has filled a big void locally and numbers attending have significantly increased. For some of those attending this is the only outing and opportunity to mix with others that they have during the week. We also used some of the grant funding to develop new menus giving more choice and healthier options.

Throughout the year we have also done several projects including a history day when a local historian attended the club to show pictures and give a talk about the area in years past. This was greatly enjoyed by members and we will be utilising this service again.

The group have also undertaken a number of trips this year including a visit to the Malvern Flower Show in May and to Morton on the Marsh in October. Two of our staff members who have recently passed their MIDAS license drove them for the second trip using minibuses from Community transport. The club also held a very successful Jubilee party in June.

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The girls only youth club is run by Shabnam Mughal and Sham-sa Mahmood. Through the year we have had other volunteers dip in and out of the club, but we have managed to maintain a highly valued and appreciated service. The girls get to experience dif-ferent arts and crafts like making piñatas and cooking virtually every week together with sport activities. Alongside this they work on worthwhile projects which you can read about further on. We were pleased to receive funding from ‘Awards for All’ which helped make things more achievable.

We also revised the rules and procedures, developed a new programme of structured activities and attracted an increasing number of members.

On the 4th of March, 3 of the girls took part in a 4 mile walk around Edgbaston reservoir, raising money for the Smiles Charity.

Girls Youth Club

Youth work at Phoenix Hall has continued to develop considerably in 2012. Hard to believe in 2009 we had no youth work at Phoenix Hall!

Chocolate “chick” made by one of the youth club girls.

Here is a picture of Maymuna (youth club attendee) and Faiza (right – youth club newly recruited volunteer)

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On the 22nd of October, the girls were allocated a budget of £30 to spend on their partners. They had to think about what their partner may like and the cost of the items. They were then accompanied on a shopping trip with centre staff / volunteers and on their return to the hall they made up individual gift packs to take back to Hawthorne Court with them.

On the 28th of October they presented their residents with their gifts. The residents were totally surprised and loved each and every thoughtful gift given. This gave the elderly residents an opportunity to spend time with a diverse group of young people and to dispel many of the negative myths perpetuated by the media. It also gave the young people the chance to spend time with older people and learn about their lives and experiences. All feedback from both parties has been very positive and we hope to do a similar project again in 2013.

Intergenerational Activity 8th, 22nd and 28th OctoberIn July the girls decided that they would like to get involved in a project to give something back to their local community and learn more about the area in which they live. After much discussion they decided to get involved in a local sheltered housing project, Hawthorn Court, run by Mercian Housing.

On the 8th October the girls visited the scheme, were paired with a resident and started the process of getting to know them. This also enabled them to learn about their partner’s life stories and experiences of living in the local area and how it has changed over the years.

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Junior Boys Club This group has continued to thrive during 2012 and benefitted from having a qualified youth worker appointed for much of the year following a successful grant application. Nabeel Tariq was recruited to assist local parents develop the club and introduced monthly swimming classes and role playing activities relating to current affairs and issues within the community. Regular cookery and sports activities also took place.

Nabeel left for a full time job at the end of 2012 and we are now actively seeking more volunteers to continue the club into 2013. There is a huge demand locally and we are asking parents to help us by giving us a little of their time to keep this club going with support from Phoenix Hall staff.

Nabeel doing a drugs workshop with the attendees in line with the ECM framework

Visit to local police station 12th November

The girls group also went for an enlightening visit to Digbeth Police station in November. From taking fingerprints to trying on the police regalia, the girls were very inquisitive, asking if the movies or TV shows were anything like reality. A great evening which had to be extended in order for them to get the most out of the visit! Sergeant Bates and our local PCSO Sharon Onens were available to assist with any questions and the tour. This visit also helped some of the girls think about a different option of working in law enforcement in the future. Something which none of them had ever considered before the visit.

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Drayton Manor trip3rd NovemberOn the 3rd of November we took a mixed group of the junior boys and the girls club on a trip to Drayton Manors Fireworks Extravaganza! This was quite a nice as it helped one of the parents let one of their daughter go, without her sister which was a big step for them, especially being so late and her being the youngest of the siblings at 8 years old.

Senior Mixed Youth ClubThe senior’s youth club run by BVT youth workers Philip Long and Steven Wood went through a lot of ups and downs throughout the year. The group remained small and following a review of Youth Services with the Director of Housing and Community Services in September the difficult decision was taken to close this group, at least temporarily, to free up the youth workers time to develop a youth work qualification for our many volunteers.

This decision will be reviewed at a future date but as part of the Trust’s commitment to tackling worklessness and providing opportunities to help people into work it was decided that, at least at the moment, the development and delivery of this training programme to our volunteers is one of our priorities.

Youth ForumThe Youth Forum, brain child of volunteer, Shamsa Mahmood came together in August with BVT’s support and input from Ashram Housing. The Forum has secured an initial grant and is looking at structure and roles and how it can fit into other structures such as Youth Parliaments and City Challenge and give a voice to young people in the local area. This is an area we hope to develop together in 2013.

On 15th June the Junior Boys youth club members went to see a local match between Warwickshire Bears V Worcester Royals. Even though it was a short day due to the weather the boys enjoyed their time together.

On the 17th of March the juniors and the girls club attended The Big Bang at the NEC. This Science and Engineering Fair was aimed at engaging children in creative ways to understand how things taught at school including trigonometry and static electricity, are applied outside in businesses and organisations.

On April the 12th Phoenix Hall had a half term activity day open to both youth clubs. Local fire fighters came out to talk about and demonstrate the work they do and to answer questions in regards to careers advice. The children explored the fire engine and took turns working the hoses! This was followed by a trip to star city for a meal and bowling!

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Canalside Art ProjectIn July we teamed up with the Canals and Rivers Trust to develop a mural outside the hall. 10 local youngsters, selected from their submitted drawings and inspiring ideas, won the opportunity to work on the new canalside mural. The project was one of many being undertaken across Birminham aimed at promoting our canal network as a place to be enjoyed and appreciated by everyone in the city. BVT’s Phoenix Hall is lucky enough to be situated on the Heartlands Canal Ring and benefits from beautiful views and wildlife.

Summer Play Scheme30th July – 10th August This is year’s play scheme took place at the beginning of the school holidays and we had 32 children. A range of activities took place including a trip to Drayton Manor and budgeting and shopping skills. This is one of the main services we are always asked for by parents, wanting it to be run for more weeks. This year’s scheme ran without any funding from the City Council and we will be seeking additional avenues to ensure that we can continue to provide this service in 2013.

Phoenix Hall 4th Annual Fun Day23rd June The senior’s youth club run by BVT youth workers Philip Long and Steven Wood went through a lot of ups and downs throughout the year. The group remained small and following a review of Youth Services with the Director of Housing and Community Services in September the difficult decision was taken to close this group, at least temporarily, to free up the youth workers time to develop a youth work qualification for our many volunteers.

Gwen running our snack shop. Our famous spin the wheel game! Manned by our one and only Shamsa.

Our raffle prize winner!

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Phoenix Hall could not work as well as it does without the hard work, time and effort put in by its committed volunteers and we were delighted that one of our volunteers, Shamsa Mahmood, was a winner at the 2012 Wolverhampton University Employment and Volunteering Awards. These included the “Employability Award“, “Volunteering England Gold Award” and the “University Of Wolverhampton Certificate of Excellence“.

Speaking about her experiences, Shamsa said, “All of these achievements celebrated today would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of the staff team at Phoenix Hall. My placement at the hall acted as a sprinboard and catalyst to the successes that followed. Everybody here has really helped, and supported me to deliver excellent results and achieve positive outcome in my volunteering. It truly has been a memorable and positive journey one that I will cherish and hope to continue.”

Volunteering is important. Not only does it bring hope and happiness to people, but it also leads to personal growth. It is an experience that cannot be bought with any amount of money. Volunteering is a key part of our work with local people to help build confidence and tackle worklessness. In return for the time and commitment given we try and upskill our volunteers, providing training opportunities and events to recognise their contributions. The development of our Level 2 Youth Work qualification in 2013 will be one way of doing this for those who give their time to support our youth projects.

On Thursday the 5th April we held a surprise birthday double lunch for our long standing volunteers Gwen and Debbie who have given countless hours to supporting our events and activities over many years.

Community Trip to Weston Super Mare15th September 2012 This Autumns community trip was fully subscribed with 50 local people of all ages enjoying a full day out in Weston, ably assisted by our longstanding volunteers, Gwen Hayes and Debbie Bates

Resident Involvement Seasonal Get Together 17th December Phoenix Hall hosted a seasonal get together with mince pies and samosas in keeping with the diversity in the area and with Diwali not long being celebrated. We had 14 people turn up with local residents, workers from the doctor and dentist surgery. We plan to build on this and celebrate more cultural festive events throughout 2013.

VolunteeringPhoenix Hall continued to provide a wide range of voluteering opportunities during 2012 with over 4267 hours of voluntary work being undertaken during the year. Volunteers undertake a wide range of work including helping with our youth and seniors activities, with our Fun Days and with our office work. We are members of BVSC’s Bravo Network and adhere to their recognised best practice in recruiting and managing volunteers through BVTs Volunteer Bureau

There are countless reasons as to why people choose to volunteer. For many it is a chance to do something positive and to help others. For others they simply have time to spare that they wish to give to something that matters to them. Volunteering helps others, can be highly rewarding and can develop new skills and confidence. It can be a stepping stone into employment or training, creates opportunities to meet new people and make new friends and can improve health and well being. When someone donates a handful of time, the difference made can be tremendous and it shapes a community for the better. Volunteering also helps shape communities: . community life is improved by aiding others and lending a helping hand to get a job done more effectively.

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Woodlands & Shenley Youth Volunteers - Best Youth Group. In recognition of the many hours of voluntary time these young people give each week to help with out junior youth clubs and with a range of other events and activities.

- Community Transport - who provide a range of transport services, a furniture warehouse providing good quality used furniture and training opportunities.

Bournville Village Council. The Council, originally set up by George Cadbury in 1903 to run the Bournville Festival, now runs a number of events throughout the year including the Annual Christmas Lights Switch on, Carol Concert on Bournville Green and the summer Jazz on the Green event which is now a regular part of Birmingham’s Annual Jazz Festival.

Excellence in the Community Awards13th October In recognition of the huge amount of work our volunteers do the Phoenix Hall team organised BVTs first ‘Excellence in the Community Awards’ at Birmingham City Football Club in October.

Barrie Hoverd - The Best Resident Award which sought to recognise those who have contributed significantly within their local area. Barrie was instrumental in helping set up Shenley Community Council in 2010, which brought together the disparate resident and tenant associations in the area. He also initiated the Bournville Estates Charity Walk in 2011 and established Bournville Model Railway Club.

Emmanuel Williams - The Best Carer Award, aimed at recognising the often hidden contribution carers make to peoples lives.

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Best Youth Award

Best Carer Award

Bournville

Best Youth Award for under 25 who have made an impact on others lives. Alan presented a Highly Commended Best Youth Award to 17 year old Lewis Gallagher, a volunteer at Phoenix Hall with the Winners Award going to Tiffany James. Tiffanny is 16 years old and has won seven British Roller Skating titles. She volunteers at her club, helping younger skaters, helping to maintain the facilities and fundraising.

Best Group Award

BordesleyBest Group Award

YouthBest Group Award

Best Resident

Local MP Shabana Mahmood presented some of the Awards and said : ‘‘A truly inspiring and fantastic awards ceremony tonight. All the volunteers embody the best of Brum and it was wonderful to be able to be part of the celebration of their efforts tonight. Keep up the excellent work.’’

The team worked extremely hard in putting this event together and achieved sponsorship from Boots and Latiffs to cover some of the costs. Shabnam also appeared on the Radio WM Breakfast show the following morning with some of the winners.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Gwen Hayes. Gwen has been a volunteer at Phoenix Hall for many years helping to run lunch clubs, youth clubs, Fun Days and a whole host of other activities. She is always the first to arrive and the last to leave and is a real life-force within the local community.

Shamsa Mahmood – Best Volunteer. Shamsa has been a volunteer at Phoenix Hall for 18 months, during which time she has helped set up the Girls Youth Club, brought inconsiderable grant funding and helped plan and run first Youth Residential last Autumn. She is also now setting up Phoenix Halls first Youth Forum.

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Lifetime AchievementAward

Best Volunteer

Regular Activities As well as our events and activities we also hold a range of regular groups and classes at Phoenix Hall and over the past year these have been :

Mondays: Private Tuition Group 5pm – 7pm (Weekly) Girls Youth Club 5pm - 7pm

Tuesdays: Senior Citz Lunch Club (Weekly) Private Tuition Group 5pm – 7pm Zumba Classes 7-8pm. Badminton 8pm - 10pm

Wednesdays: Seniors Youth Club 7pm - 9pm Private Tuition Group 5pm – 7pm Beavers 5.45 - 6.45pm.

Thursdays: Junior Youth Club 5:30 - 7:30pm Keep fit with Crèche Facilities 9am - 11.30am

Fridays: Private Tuition Group 6pm – 8pm Kick boxing 7.30-9.30pm: Various classes from beginners onwards

Saturdays and Sundays: Private tuition for Maths both days 10am – 1pm

The hall also holds various conferences and seminars and is available to hire for events and parties at the weekend.

Phoenix Learning CentreWork has continued to take place over the past year on developing the Learning Centre, across the road from Phoenix Hall into a Learning Hub. IT equipment was loaned to the centre from Birmingham City Council during the year but has subsequently been recalled and work is ongoing now on funding bids to replace this. We hope very much to expand the centres use in 2013.

NechellsWork has continued to take place over the past year on developing the Learning Centre, across the road from Phoenix Hall into a Learning Hub. IT equipment was loaned to the centre from Birmingham City Council during the year but has subsequently been recalled and work is ongoing now on funding bids to replace this. We hope very much to expand the centres use in 2013.

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Thank You and onwards into 2013...2012 has been another very busy year for the Phoenix Team. Through the work undertaken, in conjunction with local residents, we aim to make real differences to our service users, helping them to transform their lives and empowering them to make long lasting and sustainable changes. The passion and enthusiasm from the team has helped us help others and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, from the staff, volunteers, and everyone involved who made these things possible. A special thank you to Richard for literally running the hall in January whilst all three of us were not here due to being off sick or family bereavements and to our volunteers, Gwen, Debbie, Shamsa, Lewis, Faiza, Jawaid, Sumra to name but a few.

I would also like to thank Tessa Mitchell for her support and assistance throughout 2012. In addition to this, without the involvement of our local residents none of the above would have been possible so I would also like to thank you all for your continued involvement and support and we look forward to working with you all in 2013 to make it an even bigger and better year.

Thank you for your participation at Phoenix Hall and we look forward to welcoming you again in 2013.

Shabnam MughalCommunity Development Officer / Phoenix Hall Manager

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements of companies worked with.

Thank you to our funders in 2012:

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Working together with:

Working in our locality with:

Birmingham City Football ClubBordesley Village Primary SchoolBordesley Village Dental PracticeCommunity Transport