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.
Clover HR are genuinely pleased to be able to support the work done by Legacy WM. We have been involved with Aftab and his Team for several years and know their tireless efforts directly and positively affect peoples lives everyday.
I've been volunteering at Legacy WM and just wanted to say a huge thank you to the team here. They've all been amazing and supported my journey throughout. I've really learned a lot and there's a lot I will take with me in terms of for my future and my personal development.
My experience volunteering has been nothing short of inspiring - local artists, and community leaders, has encouraged me to dig deeper into the socio-political histories of Birmingham. Working alongside staff has been a grounding experience for me. I feel more capable to engage with the world critically, consciously, and optimistically.
Volunteering for Legacy WM has been an incredible experience. The respectful and friendly environment of Legacy WM allows you to flourish in what you do best. Working in marketing has not only made me more confident in my skills but awakened a new passion for it as I can use it to help people and even give back to my community. Legacy WM ensures that I and everyone else like me, are proud of our cultures and continue to be.
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.
