The SAHGB is thrilled to announce Dawn Carr as the inaugural recipient of the Society’s Masters’ Bursary scheme. Dawn will use the £20,000 bursary to attend the Masters in Conservation of the Historic Environment course at Birmingham City University.

A recent Guardian article about COVID-19’s effect on the Bangladeshi community [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/19/preparing-for-death-coronavirus-england-bangladeshi-community] made me reflect on Legacy WM’s work.  To set this in context, 2020 marks ten years since I first set up Legacy WM, with a view to collecting stories of Bangladeshi people in Birmingham.  I did a project called ‘Bangla Food Journey’ (www.legacy-wm.org/bangla-food-journeys/) whilst undertaking research for the project I discovered that

The onset of the pandemic has had devastating impact on society in general and Lozells in particular.  The Birmingham Mail wrote an article entitled ‘Lozells at the epicenter of coronavirus deaths in City warns councillor’, and our experiences within the community have sadly bourne this out.  I spoke to Cllr Waseem Zaffar at the start of the lockdown several weeks’ ago. He shared with me that in just one household an elderly man had died, and his wife had passed away the next day.

Legacy Annual Reports 19-20. Please feel free to download the report from the links below.

Today saw the first meeting of our new Steering Group, who will give us guidance and support as we develop the four new trails from the existing Legacy Heritage Trail, which was originally launched in 2013. Although the weather looked menacing when we woke up, as the morning progressed, the sun shone and cleared away the worst of the snow. Thanks to those who braved the remaining snow and made their way to Soho to discuss the project.

2018 marks the centenary of a landmark date in women’s struggle for emancipation. In February 1918, the Representation of the People Act was passed, which allowed some women over the age of 30 a vote for the first time. Although this was a great leap forward, it by no means enfranchised all women, and around 60% of women in the United Kingdom were still not allowed to vote after the Act was passed, either because they were under 30, or because they did not meet the property qualifications.

Ten years on….

What started with a desire to collect stories of Bangladeshi heritage to shape our own narrative; has grown into a reputable organisation in Birmingham and beyond.

Legacy Annual Reports 18-19. Please feel free to download the report from the links below.

Many people within the Handsworth community will be relaxing at the weekend with their family or friends in one the new shisha lounges – the unofficial ‘halal’ nightclubs.

Shisha smoking – also called hookah, narghile, waterpipe, or hubble bubble smoking – is a way of smoking tobacco mixed with fruit or molasses, through a glass-bottomed water pipe.

A pumpkin is not just for Halloween, it’s for long term health! Don’t be fooled by its spooky reputation – it’s actually one of the most nutritious fruits available.

The pumpkin is a large orange fruit harvested in October. Traditionally it is used to make soup, pie and breads, however it is being increasingly used as a holiday decoration for Halloween. The tradition of a carving pumpkin and adding a candle to make a ‘jack-o’-lantern’ originated hundreds of years ago in Ireland and has been popularised by American culture.