Community Building Working Group Update
Network & Drink
Network & Drink is a monthly social event for the District. Colmore BID have hosted six sessions so far this year with speakers covering the District’s history, HS2, Birmingham Colour Pallet, hospitality following the pandemic and launched our What Next for Birmingham after the Commonwealth Games video. The final Network and Drink event will be in November focusing on Violence against women and children in support of the charity White Ribbon UK.
Charity Project – Ladywood Community Project
Colmore Business District falls into the Ladywood Ward, one of the most deprived wards in the country. We feel we should be doing more to support this community where possible. Earlier this year with the support from people and businesses in the District we helped to fund school uniforms for the families they support.
We are now working on a Christmas project, which will be Breakfast with Santa.
Christmas is approaching and along with this the cost of living crisis is already causing increased pressure for families within this community.
We have teamed up with Dishoom to create a Christmas experience for some of the families to enjoy. This will include a breakfast at Dishoom with a story time from Santa, a visit to Christmas in Cathedral Square and Ice Skate Birmingham. We are after donations to help support the families visiting. Please contact Kelsey Dwyer to make donations.
Wellbeing
We have one more wellbeing session taking place this year which will be alcohol awareness. In the New Year a new Wellbeing schedule will be released.
We also have two Christmas Wreath making sessions on 24 November and 1 December.
Lots of people, especially graduates and young professionals, have joined organisations in Birmingham and the Colmore Business Improvement District over the last two years. Due to the impact of Covid-19, many of these joiners won’t have experienced the traditional onboarding process as part of starting a new job, and as a result, are unlikely to be aware of Colmore BID, the District, the work it does in the area and the events and activities it hosts to support professionals in their careers. This is why we have decided to launch Welcome to Birmingham. The sessions launched on Monday 31 October until Friday 4 November. Activity will continue all year to support new professionals in the city.