Those of you who know me well, will have heard me say, “I’m 45 years old and still in my prime!” Unfortunately it didn’t feel like that towards the end of 2015, when I suffered from the worst attack of flu that I’ve ever had. I was bed ridden for two days straight, and continued to suffer for a further two weeks. I felt old and week. I also lost half stone in weight.
Legacy WM has been working with older Asian women in the Handsworth and Lozells area of Birmingham, to engage them in physical activity and healthy cooking workshops, as a way of preventing social isolation, improving their health and well-being.
The ‘Women Can’, project was developed as a result of research into the health of local people which revealed that life expectancy 8 years is less for women than other parts of the city.
I have had the privilege of volunteering for Legacy WM since January 2016. I came on board to help the charity with their social media, as well as keep their website up-to-date with relevant and new information. I have also spent time training the staff how to use applications and services such as Joomla and Mailchimp to empower them to confidently and independently use these tools. My time here was not all spent on everything digital and web based, I also took part in the charities community events and various projects like ‘Family Fit’.
Legacy WM hosted a phita mela and family fun day with a group of volunteers for the local community. The word ‘phita’ in Bengali means a variety of snacks; these could be sweet or savoury. The idea to host a ‘phita’ mela came about when a group of volunteers approached us and wanted us at Legacy to support them in organising it.
Ramadan or ‘Sawm’ is a special month in the Islamic calendar. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and one of the highest forms of Islamic worship. Muslims around the world join in brotherhood (Ummah) to abstain from food, drink and other physical needs during the daylight hours. The purpose is to purify the soul and practice self sacrifice.
Leaving Soho House’s lovely autumnal garden and setting off down the Soho Road, it’s easy to see why Legacy WM have decided to develop their existing Heritage Trail. The area has a wealth of fascinating architectural gems and stories just waiting to be told. Just a couple of minutes walk away from Soho House is the Supreme Works, which opened for business in 1922.
Continuing to explore hidden Handsworth gems, I have been to visit an extraordinary survivor from the medieval period; Handsworth Old Town Hall. Built circa. 1460, when it would have been one of the few buildings within a picturesque Handsworth rural landscape, it is now encroached upon by buildings on all sides, and sits on the corner of Slack Lane and Oxhill Road. I visited this beautiful cruck-framed building over the weekend as it is the home of the Handsworth Historical Society, and wish I had taken the time to visit before!
On Monday 20th November, Legacy WM hosted its Annual General Meeting at KPMG in the centre of Birmingham. The weather outside may have been on the chilly side, but all attendees were sure of a warm welcome when they came along to review Legacy’s achievements for the last year, and hear about our future plans. There is so much to celebrate, but we’re not resting on our laurels, and we are eager to reach out and engage with more and more people as we continue to focus on our key aims: wellbeing, the arts, heritage and families.
We are very excited that we are about to launch our next heritage volunteer training programme, administered by Legacy West Midlands and supported by other community partners including Recognize Black Heritage, South and City College, St. Mary’s Convent and the Handsworth Association of Schools. This project has been supported by Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the volunteer training will equip you with the skills you need to deliver our amazing heritage tours.
I’m delighted to be joining Legacy WM board of trustees both to support the development of a brilliant grass roots organisation in our city, and to connect The Rep with more local communities and learn how we can better serve them through our work as a major city institution.
During my time as a community champion I have participated in the Mason mile as well as holiday play schemes. I also had the honour of partaking in the Freedom50 exhibition, which opened my eyes to the true beauty of my culture. It has not only boosted my confidence, but it has also allowed me to feel more connected to the community around me.
I had the best time on this trip! I had the amazing opportunity to learn and grow in many different ways, as well as meet some wonderful people along the way for the first time. Thank you.
Riding with the Freedom50 group is amazing, its great company, mostly enjoyable (when it’s not too hilly, but hey, that’s where the best memories are made and where you get the best laughs!). It’s a brilliant way to stay fit, and coupled with charity rides, a great way to raise money for a needy cause.
Walks around the park are relaxing. I like taking in nature and experiencing nature, whilst having great conversations with local residents. These walks have improved my life and have enabled me to continue with my passion for movement. I am now walking most mornings as a result of my role as a walk leader for Legacy WM.
Legacy WM is committed to creating a diverse environment reflecting the communities in which we work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where all job applicants will be considered for employment irrespective of our differences.
The values and beliefs at Legacy WM enable our employees to bring their full self to work, develop their potential and engage in a world full of inclusion.
