So if you’ve been reading my previous posts, you will know that Community Business Weekend is from 16th – 19th May. That means that it is now here! All across the country there are so many events going on celebrating Community Businesses and what they do for the local community.

Community Business Weekend

As I explained in my first post, Community Business Weekend is a chance for people across the UK to find out more about the community businesses near them. This is a chance for you to get involved and see how you can benefit from and also help community businesses. As I am the Community Business Weekend ambassador for Birmingham, I’m going to share with you what is going on in the second city this weekend. There are six different community businesses taking part.

Brasshouse Community Centre

The Brasshouse Community Centre is a community business in Smethwick ran by the North Smethwick Voluntary Trust. The venue is available to hire for events and they have a cafe and catering facilities onsite. On Saturday 18th May, they have an open day at the centre from 10am until 2pm. If you are looking for somewhere to have a party, then you should go along and check out this community centre.

Change Kitchen CIC

Change Kitchen which were the focus of my last post have exciting things happening this weekend. They will be at The Attic Brew Co. Taproom in Stirchley on Friday 17th from 4pm – 10pm and on Saturday 18th from 1pm – 10pm. They will be serving up a selection of their most loved foods including pulled jackfruit burgers and Caribbean curry.

Chelmund’s Fish and Chips

Chelmund’s Fish and Chips are proud to be the only community owned fish and chip shop in England. They employ local people and reinvest their profit into the local community. Based in Chelmunds Cross, Chelmsley Wood, they are open six days a week. During Community Business Weekend, they have a pop-up in Solihull.
The opening times are:

• Thursday 16th – 3pm – 10pm
• Friday 17th – 12 noon – 10pm
• Saturday 18th – 12 noon – 10pm

If you love fish and chips, it is definitely worth a visit!

Dorothy Parkes Centre

The Dorothy Parkes centre is a community centre in Smethwick. Over Community Business weekend they have a jumble sale planned for May 18th. This jumble sale will be on from 2pm until 4pm and all of the proceeds will be going towards the running of the centre. If you are after a bargain or just want to go and meet people in your local area, definitely go along. They will have everything from clothes to bric-a-brac.

Ideal For All

When I was looking into the community businesses in my area, this was one that really stood out to me. Ideal For All is ran for and by disabled people. They provide therapeutic gardening, food growing, healthy cookery programmes and creative workshops for the local community. They also offer a great variety of opportunities to support people’s journey into work through vocational training and volunteering opportunities. Their aim is to empower and enable individuals and local communities regardless of age, ability or background to participate in society and the neighbourhoods in which they live.

On Friday May 17th between 2pm and 4:30pm they have an event on called ‘Bag Your Share’. You can go along and learn more about their community garden and the local food scheme that they operate.

Three Trees Community Centre

Three Trees Community centre is based in Chelmsley Wood and was once a Baptist church.On Thursday 16th, they have a guitar club on from 7pm until 8:30pm. Anyone of any ability can bring along their guitar and have a practise. On Friday 17th, they have got Olive Branch Kitchen in from 8:30am until 3pm.

As you can see, there is plenty going on in Birmingham this weekend for Community Business Weekend. If you can get along to any of the events, then I definitely recommend that you do. You can find out more about your local community businesses and see how you can join in and get involved. Before I was asked to be an ambassador for Community Business Weekend, I didn’t know much about community businesses. This weekend has really taught me a lot about what is going on in the local area and how I can give back.