Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme

24/09/2026

📣 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆!

We’re excited to launch the 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 – 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 with our first event at Holloway Hall in 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 this October.

📅 Thursday 22 October 2026
⏰ 10:30am – 1:30pm
📍 Holloway Hall, Bartley Green
🍽️ Free event with lunch provided

Our first spotlight theme is 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 – exploring the things that can help us find purpose, build connections, learn new skills and get involved in community life.

The event will be a chance to:

🟢 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 – meet local organisations and other men from across the community.

🟣 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗘 – be inspired by local organisations and men who have found purpose, connection and opportunity by getting involved.

🟠 𝗔𝗖𝗧 – have a go at a fun, non-contact boxing fitness session with Birmingham Community Boxing Project.

🔵 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 – find out about local groups, support, health and wellbeing services, activities and opportunities.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆? Come along, meet people and discover what’s happening across the constituency.

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

If you’re an organisation, group or community project working with men in 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻, we'd love to hear from you.

There are opportunities to have a stall, share what you're doing, contribute to the conversation or lead an activity at this or one of our other Community Showcase events.👇

📩 Interested in getting involved?
Email: 𝗻𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻@𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘂𝗸𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺.𝗼𝗿𝗴.𝘂𝗸

All men welcome.

𝗡𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 – 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗶𝗻!

If you’re able to let us know you’re planning to come along, it would be helpful to have a rough idea of numbers – but 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

Birmingham City Council Prevention Brum

20/09/2026

We are really pleased to announce our new project, Perrott's Past, Present and Future launching on 7th October.

Are you 50yrs+ living in the Edgbaston Constituency? Join us for immersive arts-heritage sessions inspired by Perrott’s Folly.

Across the project we will dive into local archives, try arts and heritage crafts from the 18th century to the 1970’s and go on trips to heritage properties in the region with shared histories.

Sessions will be run from Perrott’s Folly and culminate in an exhibition celebrating our adventures.

It's a great opportunity to connect, explore local heritage and get creative in a relaxed and friendly environment.

You can drop us an email on [email protected] or telephone 07724304059 to find out more!

Wednesdays Fortnightly from 7th Oct
1-3:30pm
Perrott’s Folly, Waterworks Road, B16 9AL

Free Entry

This project is kindly funded by Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme

19/09/2026

Was lovely to pop into Martineau Gardens to benefit from a Community Connecting Autumn Lunch, cheerfully served by Jacky and Jenni.

The sweet potato chilli and apple cake hit the spot and, as always, it was great to while away an hour or two in this tranquil community garden in Edgbaston.

Birmingham City Council Prevention Brum

17/09/2026

A full house at St Germain's Church, Edgbaston today for our Inclusive Environments for People Living with Dementia workshop!

It was great to bring together community groups, volunteers and others supporting people in our communities to explore how thoughtful environmental design can help create spaces that are more welcoming, accessible and supportive for people living with dementia.

From signage and colour contrast to lighting, layout and sensory considerations, we explored practical ways that our community spaces can better support independence, confidence and wellbeing.

A big thank you to St Germain’s Church for welcoming us and helping us to make today’s workshop happen. It was fantastic to see the hall full and so many people giving their time to learn and share ideas.

Thank you too to everyone who came along and contributed to the session.

Darren Kench Maryam Umar

Birmingham City Council Prevention Brum

16/09/2026

We have a place available on tomorrow's Dementia Friendly Spaces event. Sign up using the Eventbrite link!

🧠𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮🧠

Join Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme (ENNS) at St Germain's Church, Edgbaston to find out how you can make spaces friendlier for those living with dementia.

📅 Thursday 17 September
⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 St Germain's Church, City Road, Edgbaston B17 8LE

This practical, engaging workshop is designed for community groups, volunteers, and anyone supporting people living with dementia in community settings.

Together, we’ll explore how thoughtful environmental design can support independence, confidence, and wellbeing for people living with dementia.

Drawing on research and dementia design principles from the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre, this session provides practical ideas you can apply immediately in your own community spaces.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻

During this session, you will gain:

✅A simple introduction to dementia and how the brain processes information

✅Insight into how sensory changes affect the 5 senses and the experience of environments

✅Understanding of how small environmental changes can make spaces more accessible, calming, and supportive

✅Practical tips for signage, colour contrast, lighting, décor, and layout

✅Guidance on creating welcoming community spaces that reduce confusion and anxiety

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱

Community group members
Volunteers
Support workers
Anyone interested in creating dementia-friendly environments

Our events and training are primarily for citizens, community groups and organisations based in, or working with citizens in, the Edgbaston constituency - including 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲, and 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.

Funded by:
Birmingham City Council Prevention Brum.
Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme (ENNS).

Delivered by:
MindfulCare Training and Consultancy.

📧 To ask a question or find out more:
[email protected]

Please share this post with colleagues, friends, community groups and anyone who may benefit from attending.

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inclusive-environments-for-people-living-with-dementia-tickets-1997842393379

12/09/2026

Hello dear community and charity fam! 👋

We are delighted to bring an amazing workshop in partnership with Smartlyte Limited. If you’ve heard people talk so much about AI - AI this - AI that - ChatGPT this - Claude that - this workshop is for you. We’re running AI Made Simple, a relaxed, beginner-friendly session designed to take some of the mystery out of AI. No technical background - no complicated jargon - just bring your curiosity.💡

During the session, we’ll explore how AI tools actually work, look at practical ways AI can help with everyday and community work, and give you the chance to try things for yourself in a welcoming environment. Spaces are limited, so if this sounds useful for you, your team, or someone in your network, please book early. If you know a community organisation that could benefit from this session, tag them or share this post with them.🙌

Book your slot here 👉 (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-training-workshop-beginner-friendly-tickets-2000189595925?aff=oddtdtcreator)

Birmingham City Council Age UK Birmingham Gateway Family Services Edgbaston Golf Club

11/09/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟰 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿

Unfortunately, the Su***de Awareness workshop scheduled for Monday 14 September has had to be cancelled.

The workshop was due to be delivered by Papyrus, and following recent developments affecting the charity, it is no longer able to go ahead.

We’re very sorry for the short notice and any inconvenience this may cause. Everyone who had booked a place has been notified by email.

We hope to be able to offer further Su***de Awareness training through the ENNS soon.

Thank you for your understanding.

10/09/2026

A really enjoyable and thought-provoking morning at 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 – 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 at x+why in Foundry, Brindleyplace, with Birmingham City Council Prevention Brum.

It was also a real pleasure to catch up with colleagues from the Neighbourhood Network Schemes across the city, sharing learning, ideas and experiences from our work in communities.

One quote from the event, from 𝗞𝗮𝗹 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 & 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹, really stayed with me:

“𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.”

I’ve never been particularly comfortable with the phrase 'hard to reach' when talking about communities.

Not because there aren’t people who are less likely to engage with services, but because the phrase can sometimes put the responsibility on the community rather than on us.

If we describe people as hard to reach, it can subtly suggest that the problem is their lack of engagement.

But what if we asked a different question?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺?

I think this is something Neighbourhood Network Schemes do particularly well. By working locally, building relationships and understanding the people, groups and organisations already rooted in our communities, we have opportunities to connect with people who might not engage through more traditional routes.

That feels much closer to the strengths-based, asset-based approach I’ve experienced through my work in community development, and particularly through my role as a Community Development Worker with Age UK Birmingham, supporting the Edgbaston Neighbourhood Network Scheme (ENNS) across Bartley Green, Edgbaston, North Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton.

It starts with recognising that communities already have assets, strengths, relationships, knowledge and solutions. Our role isn’t simply to identify a group of people who aren’t engaging and then try to 'get them in'.

It’s to understand what matters to them, listen to what they already have, work alongside existing community assets and find meaningful ways to connect.

Sometimes the community isn’t hard to reach.

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝘁.

That change in language might seem small, but I think it represents quite a big shift in how we think about our role in communities.

And Kal’s quote is one I’ll definitely be taking away from today.

Darren Kench

09/09/2026

Wow! What a week – and it’s only Wednesday!

I ended my whirlwind trip around the constituency in Harborne yesterday, where I had the pleasure of meeting the inspirational Richard Loftus, founder of 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗺, to talk all things men’s health and engagement as I make plans for a series of 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 – 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 events across four locations.

Richard launched Well Run Brum in March 2024, building a community movement to get men’s mental wellness on track through social running. The group offers free, fortnightly 5K runs in and around Birmingham, bringing men together to run, connect and talk. Each run starts with a guest speaker – a “conversational pacemaker” – providing inspiration and motivation before everyone heads out together.

What really struck me about Well Run Brum is that it comes from Richard’s own experience. After his mental health gradually declined and eventually reached crisis point, Richard discovered that running gave him a sense of freedom and helped quieten his mind. Running alongside others then gave him the space to talk openly about what he was going through. As he puts it, running has been transformative for his mental health.

I met Richard just as he was heading into Birmingham city centre to lead his 𝟲𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝘂𝗻. He’s had some amazing speakers join him along the way, including Paralympic double gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE, former Minister for the Armed Forces Alistair Carns DSO OBE MC MP and TV personality Dr Ranj Singh.

It’s a brilliant example of how 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵. Sometimes, they engage through something they enjoy, alongside other people, and the conversations follow naturally.

That’s exactly the kind of community asset and lived experience I’m keen to learn from as we develop the 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 – finding out what is already working, what brings men through the door, and what keeps them coming back.

Thanks, Richard for taking the time to chat – and for the work you’re doing to get men moving, talking and connecting. 👏

Find out more here: https://wellrunbrum.co.uk/

Darren Kench Age UK Birmingham

Birmingham City Council Heart of England Community Foundation
Prevention Brum