Friends of Friends at Narthex

12/06/2026

Join us on Saturday 20th June, from 11am to 1pm, for a community litter-picking session at Spark Green Park.

Even an hour can make a meaningful difference. We would love to welcome more volunteers to our friendly group. Whether you can join us for the full session or just spare 30 minutes, your time truly matters.

Next session: Saturday 20th June 2026, 11am to 1pm
Meeting point: Playground swings.
Details in the poster. Please share it with people who want to make a difference to this gratifying cause! We look forward to seeing new faces.

05/06/2026

Friends of Friends held another meeting last week, bringing together local park and community groups. Our long-term associate, Annabelle Wrangles from The Springfield Project presented her findings from the "Thriving in Sparkhill" research project. A valuable addition to the group was made by Human Appeal - UK. Ahmed and Aamilah introduced Human Appeal's newly opened Third Space community hub on Stratford Road and invited local organisations to make use of the facility. And as always, upcoming Litter Picks were discussed and agreed upon.

This was indeed a wholesome evening attended by some of our regular members and led by our community and campaign director, Amer Khan

For more information or to join the group, please send us a DM or write to us at [email protected] 🌻

18/03/2026

🌳 Thank You for Helping Us Grow Greener! 🌳

A big thank you to everyone who joined our Tree Planting Event on 12th February 2026 your energy and enthusiasm even in the pouring rain made it a wonderful success!

We’re excited to announce our next tree planting day in partnership with Nut and Fruit Village on Tuesday, 31st March another chance to come together, dig in, and make a positive difference for our local environment.

Before that, we’ll be holding our Friends of Shakespeare Street Park meeting on Monday, 30th March at 10am at St John’s Church. This is a great opportunity to share ideas, get involved, and help shape the future of our community spaces.

Please help us spread the word: tell your friends, family, and neighbours. Let’s keep building a greener, friendlier community together!

26/02/2026

This could be such a lovely idea for our local parks. Amplifying the appeal and requesting our local businesses to come forward and sponsor a few of these Bonding Benches!!

There are also NCT Walks and Talks together with playgroups, chatty cafés and children's crafting at sites around the Midlands

24/02/2026

We are getting ready with our next Litter picking drive:
At Saturday 28th February 11:00 Formans Road / Percy Road..
Hope to see all our friends, volunteers and park groups joining in as we continue to keep our neighbourhood clean and our roads litter-free!

Please share the poster to amplify our voice.

06/02/2026

Celebration Post!!

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time, after a busy day, to come together and celebrate this milestone with us. What a journey it’s been one year of Friends of Friends at Narthex! In that time, we’ve held six successful litter-picking drives, three (sort of) workshops and talks with external partners, and built meaningful connections, including our partnership with CleanupUK.

Along the way, we’ve learnt so much, laughed plenty, and strengthened our community spirit. None of this would have been possible without our wonderful community champions. Your commitment and camaraderie keep this journey going strong, so please take a moment to give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back. Thank you, each and every one of you from all of us Narthex Sparkhill

15/12/2025

Another successful Community Clean Up day.
SATURDAY 13.12.25 we had the last collaborative litter picking drive of the year and what a great impact!
A huge thank you to everyone supporting the group Narthex Sparkhill for being a part of this community and today's fantastic litter pick across Ladypool Road and Spark Green Park!
Approximately 25 volunteers from across Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Kings Heath, Hall Green and Balsall Heath came together, collecting 50+ bags of litter and 47 nitrous oxide canisters from:
🍃 Leamington Road
🍃 Ladypool Road
🍃 Brunswick Road
🍃 Spark Green Park
We're incredibly grateful to all volunteers, including Sparkhill Litter Busters, Friends of Sparkhill Park, local friends groups, councillors and community residents who rallied together to make this collaboration such a success!

Big thank you to Friends of Spark Green Park who provided refreshments, including piping hot chai and samosas delivered by Naveed - courtesy of ATM Foods Catering (Runcorn Road).

Coming together to make a POSITIVE DIFFERENCE to where we ALL live! 💚

21/11/2025

What a joy to see community spirit in bloom- quite literally! Voluntary park groups, local councillor, and friends coming together with shared purpose - to care for our green spaces and make our neighbourhood cleaner, healthier, and more welcoming for all.

As a facilitator from Narthex Sparkhill, it is inspiring to witness how these simple acts become a symbol of friendship, hope, and collaboration. Every meeting is rooted in a shared love for our environment and collective wellbeing and we are grateful for this ongoing support! Together, we are not just cleaning neighbourhood or planting trees; we are nurturing bonds, building a stronger community, and leaving a greener legacy for generations to come.

Thank you Cllr Rashad Mahmood, Toby Crowe, Ted Ryan Abdul Khan Amer Khan Friends of Spark Green Park Friends of Reddings Lane Park The Springfield Project Mosley in Bloom, for joining in with your warmth and wisdom on a cold dark evening!