2. Stirchley Baths Community ‘Hub’
Activity Plan
Prepared for
Birmingham City Council
by
Dr Suzanne Carter and Simon Buteux
Birmingham Conservation Trust
P O Box 28
Birmingham
B1 1TU
www.birminghamconservationtrust.org Tel: 0121 303 2664
Email: suzannecarterBCT@gmail.com
simon.a.buteux@birmingham.gov.uk
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3. “The baths, they may have come and gone, but memories live on and
on”.
“Stirchley Baths the building site in the middle of Stirchley – it will be
great to have it open as a community space at the heart of the area”.
“At last light at the end of the tunnel”.
“Stirchley needs to find its heart again. A hub for everyone is what is
needed; children, teenagers, families, older people, you and me!”
“Used to go swimming here every week with my best friend Sarah, we
used to take our sandwiches for lunch and spend all day there… I walk
past it every day and it always makes me smile thinking about the good
times all them years ago”.
“With the right care and attention a once iconic building could be
restored to its former glory and provide that link with history that
Birmingham so often ignores, and we can’t let it happen again!”
Comments by local residents
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5. 1.
INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
The Significance of Stirchley Baths
Ownership and Management of the Site
Heritage Lottery Fund Aims
Aims and Objectives of the Activity Plan
Preparing the Activity Plan
Structure of the Report
Abbreviations Used in the Report
2.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
Current Condition of the Baths and Current Community Facilities
Current Users
Current Activities and Volunteering
Current Commitment to Involving People
Community Consultation
Competitor Analysis and Potential Partners
Non-user/Potential-user Research and Opportunities
Barriers to Involvement
3
WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE?
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
Our Aspirations
Our Target Audiences
Marketing: Reaching New Audiences
Actions to Remove Barriers for Target Audiences
Aims for Activities
Recommendations (targets) for Participation and Learning
Potential Partners and Collaborations
4
HOW DO WE INTEND TO GET THERE?
4.1
4.2
Action Plan
Key Recommendations
5
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
5.1
Evaluation
78
6.
CONCLUSION
78
7.
RESEARCH SOURCES
79
8.
APPENDICES
A: List of Consultees
B: Timetable for Stirchley Community Centre (June 2013)
C: Heritage Development Officer Commission Job Description
D: Community Consultation Notes
E: Sample Volunteer Role Descriptions
F: History Group Workshop Notes
G: Key History Dates
H: English Heritage Listing Description
81
84
85
90
101
104
107
108
7
9
9
10
11
11
12
15
15
18
19
20
21
23
24
27
27
30
31
36
37
49
52
77
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6. Location of Stirchley Baths
Current Stirchley Community Centre
Stirchley Baths
British Oak Public House
Stirchley Library
Indoor Bowls Centre
Copyright Bluesky
Co-operative Superstore
Farmfoods
Stirchley Park
Stirchley is about four miles south of Birmingham City Centre. Stirchley Baths are located on
the historic gyratory, on the corner of Bounville Lane and Hazelwell Street, heading towards
the city centre. The Pershore Road runs through Stirchley, as does the railway line, River
Rea and canal.
“Everything flows through Stirchley. Stirchley Baths can be place
where you can rest, contemplate what community is – a reason to
stop”.
(Local resident)
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7. The Significance of Stirchley Baths
Images bottom right Jane Baker
B/W images courtesy of Stirchley Community Group
Centre image taken from Stirchley Baths Conservation Management Plan
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8. 1.1
Significance of Stirchley Baths
The Foundation Stone on this building was laid by William Adlington
Cadbury 19th July 1910 on a Site Given by Cadbury Brothers: A.W.
Cross, Surveyor. J.B. Osborne, Architect. W. Bishop, Builder”.
(Inscription on bronze plaque, formally on Stirchley Baths (dating
from c1959)
Stirchley Baths is arguably one of Stirchley’s most iconic building. For local people
alive today, the Baths have always been there, and many over the age of about thirty
remember when the Baths were still functioning; the building evokes a rich variety of
memories. The building is loved too for the richness and quality of its architecture,
the craftsmanship and attention to detail. Derelict, the building stands as a symbol of
decline, a sad reminder of past glories. Restored back to its former glory (and from
the outside this will be very apparent) the building will be a symbol of a proud and
vibrant community. People appreciate this; indeed, as community consultation has
shown, they are passionate about it. Because of its heritage, Stirchley Baths offers
qualities as a community centre that no new purpose-built community centre could
hope to match.
The historical significance of Stirchley Baths is presented in the Conservation
Management Plan1; extracts of which are below.
Stirchley Baths as it was originally known, was designed by architect John Osborne
and built in 1910 by a local builder Mr E Crowder for the total sum of £10,000.
The land was made available by Cadbury’s to the King Norton and Northfield Urban
District Council and the building was financed by the Local Government Board.
The original intention was to provide a bath house as a community facility for an
increasing local population many of whom were working for Cadbury who were
experiencing a rapid expansion of their factory. The land was offered to build a
‘public swimming baths, slipper or spray baths and washhouse’.
At 4pm on July 19th 19102 William Adlington Cadbury laid the Foundation Stone and
the following July (1911) George Cadbury Junior formally opened the building.
On November 9th 1911 Kings Norton was annexed as part of the Birmingham
Extension Order (along with Aston and Handsworth). From this date the facility was
known as Bournville Lane Baths. There was a single swimming pool (75ft x 30ft) with
spectator gallery, 46 demountable dressing cubicles at the rear of the gallery, 37 on
the promenade, 20 private washing (or ‘slipper’) baths for men and women and a
small steam (Russian or Vapour) bath, capable of holding six people. There was also
a small laundry. In 1958, 52 metal dressing cubicles were erected around the
promenade3.
Separate changing areas were located adjacent to the pool along with suites of
private baths for men and women.
1
Text referenced to Stirchley Baths Community Hub Conservation Management Plan, BDP where
otherwise stated.
2
Key dates are listed in Appendix G
3
Steve Beauchampé’s notes supplied on Bournville Lane Baths.
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9. The main entrance was located in grand style on the corner of the road junction
between Bournville Lane and Hazelwood Street and maximum use was made of the
available land as the curving façade followed the line of the pavement.
The initial idea was to utilise water by boring for a well, but after considerable
attempts and costs the plan was abandoned and the decision was taken to connect
to the mains water supply; a first for Baths constructed in Birmingham at that time.
The success of the use of mains water also included a new system of aeration and
filtration for the Baths’ water.
The design of the new Baths also allowed for a flexibility in use as the Baths were not
to be used in the winter months. Instead they were to be used as a dance floor with
the flooring being stored in an external shed.
The small changing closets situated alongside the pool were to include an ingenious
hinged operation back to the wall to allow greater room on the dance floor when the
pool was not being used.
The structure and finishes to the Baths was kept simple with predominantly white
ceramic tiles although other colours were used on the walls and ceramic tiles on the
floor.
The choice of wood in part of the structure and linings was carefully researched with
treatment applied to withstand the moisture and humidity levels, and despite the
ingress of water over the years has withstood the test of time remarkably well.
No changes took place to the building until after the Second World War when two hot
shower baths were installed. Improvements were made to improve the welfare of the
bathers with the introduction of chlorine in 1955 while the Clean Air Act of 1956
resulted in a change to oil fired burning appliances.
In 1964, the Finnish Government provided a new Sauna Suite as a gift to
Birmingham to promote that European Country and in 1977 these facilities were
expanded to provide a further suite when the washing baths were closed.
This new facility also included a television lounge and 6 beds.
A multi-gym was installed in place of the original Finnish Sauna and in 1978 the two
solariums were removed to be replaced by two sunbeds.
The only other alteration to the Baths was the inclusion in 1973 of a ‘Mikvah’, an
immersion bath used by the local Jewish community which involved the use of
collected and heated rainwater. The presence of this bath can still be seen today.
Stirchley Baths has been unused since 1988, slowly ravaged by the weather and
wildlife since its closure.
The Bournville Lane Baths were first listed by English Heritage on November 20th
1998 under the title of Stirchley Public Baths and arose out of a concern for the
building which had lain empty for 12 years. The listing acknowledged then the
importance of the building.4
4
Listing description can be found in Appendix H.
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10. 1.2
Ownership and Management of the Site
1.2.1
The Baths are owned by Birmingham City Council (BCC). They have been unused
since they closed in 1988. The responsibility for the condition of the building lies with
Birmingham Property Services and it is this team that is working with architects
Acivico to undertake the repairs to the building. Birmingham City Council has a
devolution and localism agenda and is divided into ten districts. The Baths are
located in Selly Oak District who is the client for the project. Any management of the
building in the last 25 years has been limited to keeping the envelope of the building
as sound as possible to prevent water ingress and vandalism.
1.2.2
BCC are in the process of replacing the planning guidance for Stirchley, called The
Stirchley Framework 1994 (Amended 2002), with a new non-statutory document
which will outline the Council’s aspirations for the area. This new framework will be
released for public consultation later in 2013. This will include the wider regeneration
plans for Stirchley; the most immediate is the building of a Tesco superstore on the
Hazelwell Lane Development site. The sale of the land on which the current
Community Centre and Indoor Bowls Centre stand gives rise to a capital receipt
which secures the council’s capital investment in the redevelopment of the Baths.
The long-delays in approving the plans for the Hazelwell Lane Development site has
had a major negative impact on the restoration of SB, for which local councillors and
residents have been campaigning for over a decade.
1.2.3
In terms of political support within the Council, the District Chair Cllr Karen McCarthy
and current Bournville Ward Councillors Tim Huxtable, Rob Sealy and Phillip Walking
all attend the Community Stakeholders Group meetings and support the regeneration
plans. Former local councillor Nigel Dawkins (2000-2012) championed the rescue of
the Baths for 12 years whilst the previous political regime was in power. He arranged
the well-attended open days in 2008 and 2011 for local people and heritage
enthusiasts. Over 600 people queued around the Baths to have their chance to
glimpse the pool area in 2011 during a two hour period; testament to the interest and
city-wide importance of this historic building.
1.3
The Heritage Lottery Fund’s Strategic Aims are to:
Conserve the UK’s diverse heritage for present and future generations to
experience and enjoy
Help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in, and
make decisions about, their heritage
Help people to learn about their own and other people’s heritage.
HLF describe helping people to take an active part as Participation and suggest
three ways in which this can be achieved:
Creating opportunities for people to volunteer
Helping the community to take an active role in the project, including helping
people to make decisions about the heritage
Developing new and/or wider audiences for our heritage.
In the context of ‘helping people to learn about the heritage’, which HLF describe as
Learning, they consider this to involve offering everyone opportunities to develop
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11. their understanding of heritage, in an active way, appropriate to their needs, interests
and background. They suggest this may be achieved through:
Interpreting the heritage
Creating opportunities for people to gain new, or increased, skills
Holding events and activities to help the general public, or particular groups of
people, to learn about the heritage.
This outline Activity Plan sets out what we would like to achieve, which is not capital
works or physical works to the heritage.
1.4
Aims and Objectives of the Activity Plan
1.4.1
There are many ways in which people can become involved with heritage sites like
Stirchley Baths, as visitors, volunteers and in their management and governance.
Research carried out for the Heritage Lottery Fund found that the following sectors
are under-represented and excluded from visiting and involvement as volunteers in
the heritage sector:
1.4.2
This Activity Plan will begin to identify barriers to participation at Stirchley Baths and
suggest ways in which those barriers can be removed. Research shows that
common barriers to visiting heritage sites can include:
1.4.3
Those below the age of 30
Ethnic minority groups
Those on low incomes
Those without access to transport facilities
Those in lower socio-economic groups.
User perceptions, particularly regarding relevance
Lack of specific facilities
Lack of information and awareness
Poor physical access to the resource
Poor physical access at the resource
Limited intellectual access
Management ethos.
The main aims of this outline Activity Plan for Stirchley Baths are to:
Identify existing audiences (Community Centre)
Identify the needs and expectations of users
Identify the needs and expectations of non-users
Identify target audiences
Identify barriers to use
Suggest ways those barriers can be removed
Suggest ways to increase the number of visitors without damaging the
significance of the site
Suggest ways to improve the quality of the experience for visitors.
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12. 1.4.4
Key objectives of the outline Activity Plan:
To encourage local residents to feel ownership of and pride in the Stirchley Baths
Project
To ensure the history and heritage of SB informs and plays a pivotal role in repurposing the building as a community facility
To build strong local partnerships with existing community groups to support
delivery of a programme of history and heritage-related activity
To use heritage as a resource to develop new audiences to SB; to encourage
wider local community use (beyond attending existing community centre classes
or activities) and audiences from further afield
Develop opportunities for local people to become actively engaged as volunteers
and to learn new skills
To highlight the significance of the Baths as a symbol of Stirchley’s Co-operative
history and the relationship with industry and the community
To create a valuable resource for education and life-long learning.
1.5
Preparing the Activity Plan
1.5.1
We have produced this Activity Plan by:
1.5.2
Regular meetings with the Stirchley Baths Community Stakeholders Group and
Programming sub group
Desk-based research
Social media campaign
Market research through focus group discussions with community groups in the
local area
Extensive public consultation with local residents through events
Looking at existing best practice to formulate the actions.
The research has sought to obtain an understanding of the following:
The site and its historical and cultural significance, especially for local people
Who are the existing users of Stirchley Community Centre and what are their
views and opinions about the Baths
What are the views of local people (non-community centre users) about the
Stirchley Baths and what would make them want to visit to find out about the
heritage of the building
What can we do to break down the perceived (or real) barriers for people to
engage with heritage learning
Which groups should we be targeting and why
What activities or proposals should we be introducing to engage with these
groups in order to break down barriers and encourage them to take part in a
‘heritage experience’ at Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’.
1.6
Structure of the Report
1.6.1
The report structure is based on the HLF guidance note Planning Activities in
Heritage Projects (2008):
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13. In Section 1 Introduction and Context we looked at the significance of Stirchley
Baths, aims of the HLF and of this Activity Plan. In Section 2 Where we are now?
our focus is on our organisation, our audiences, activities and our current
commitment to involving people. Section 3 Where do we want to be? looks at how
we will involve people in the project, and the difference the project will make, and in
Section 4 How do we intend to get there? we offer an Action Plan of work covering
interpretation, volunteering, community engagement and Audience Development,
learning, training and marketing. This will have a plan of deliverable goals over a
three year period, year one beginning when the works do. Finally, in Section 5
Measures of success we outline ways in which we will evaluate our project.
The purpose of this Activity Plan is to accompany Birmingham City Council’s round 2
application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
1.7
Abbreviations Used in the Report
BCC
BCT
BAME
SBCSG
HDO
HLF
SB
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham Conservation Trust
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic
Stirchley Baths Community Stakeholder Group
Heritage Development Officer
Heritage Lottery Fund
Stirchley Baths
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15. “Stirchley needs a heart and foundation stone to anchor itself around in
order to thrive. The Baths can become an enabler and a reason for
people to stop”.
“When I was fifteen I used to go with a friend and we loved to dance, the
boys were quite plentiful and we used to love it when you would get
tagged. We liked the waltzes and quick steps. You can’t believe that you
were dancing on top of what used to be the swimming pool […] The
atmosphere was lovely, really lively, you’d have a good laugh. It was
really great fun”.
“I used to come there with my school and in holiday times and spend
quite a lot of time there. (The scheme) looks promising for my children
and myself. We can enjoy it as a family.”
“You’ve got a bath, a wooden thing you came out the baths on to, a chair
to put your clothes on, that was it. No frills. You sat in a wooden chair
waiting for your turn”.
“I think (moving Karate class to Stirchley Baths) may encourage more
people to join us from the local community” […] I think moving to a
building of that sort will generate interest, generate questions [..] I think
there will be a nice ambience, and bring a bit of personality to the area
that we’re training in”.
“When the Baths became disused, we were concerned about the
building and so I decided to get involved with it, because I am a resident.
We want the best that it can be alternatively. In one sense, we are going
to get rid of an eyesore, but also we are keeping a building which is
listed. It’s going to be better than just a community centre.”
Comments by local residents and stakeholders
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16. 2.
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
2.1
Condition of the Baths and Current Facilities
2.1.1
Stirchley Baths closed in 1988 and has since been stood empty, deteriorating rapidly
in recent years. Much of the site has been open to the elements. Surprisingly many
of the original features do remain and as part of the scheme can be salvaged and reused. Public access is no longer possible. The last open day, which had restricted
access, was in 2011.
2.2
Current Users
There are no current users of Stirchley Baths. Figures below show current users of
Stirchley Community Centre and Stirchley Library to provide a realistic projection of
visits. It is hoped that the current community user groups in the centre will transfer to
Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ when it is opened. This will depend greatly on
whether alternative accommodation can be found during the three-month period
between the Community Centre closing and Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’
opening. During our engagement with some of these user groups we learnt that
although there is obvious concern and uncertainty about displacement during this
period, the groups are all excited to be moving into a re-purposed historic building
and the improved facilities this will bring.
“It’s been looking a big eyesore for years now. Let’s hope it is a
success because we’re looking forward to moving into there for our
dances […] we are here most Tuesdays and we’ve been dancing
here now for 22 years”.
Ken Seeney, member of Stirchley Tea Dance at Stirchley Community
Centre) (audio transcription, www.stirchleybaths.org).
2.2.2
Stirchley Community Centre and Library Visits
Stirchley Community Centre
Stirchley Library (for comparison)
2010-2011
15,108
2011-2012
18,316
37,400
(3166 active
borrowers)
2012-2013
19,503
For the past three years there has been an annual increase in visits to the
Community Centre, with an average of around 1,600 visits per month in the last 12
months.
There will be a natural increase in visitors at SB due to the increased capacity for
room hire, opportunities to host larger-scale events and a café which will be open
during community centre opening times. The programme of heritage-related activity
will also bring in additional numbers of people to the building through events, school
visits, and ‘other reasons’ to visit the building due to the ‘heritage experience’ it has
to offer.
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17. 2.2.3
Profile of local residents
Stirchley (B30 postcode) has a very mixed community in terms of income, tenure and
age group. The MOSAIC Experian system of categorisation defines the majority of
residents with a B30 postcode from the following groups:
Foot on the Ladder Type H36 Young single couples who have recently
bought their first small house which consumes a large proportion of their
income
Global Fusion Type N60 Young working people living in metropolitan terraces
from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds
Production Manager Type F25 Middle income married couples owning
unpretentious semi-detached housing
Small Wage Owners Type M56 Owners living in inexpensive private terraces
in a range of relatively low paid occupations
Stressed Borrowers Type I41 Middle aged people renting or owning in council
areas, many of whom are over stretched with debt
Back to Back Basics Type N57 Young sharers and couples with young
children starting out in low price, older terraces
Meals on Wheels Type L52 Some of the oldest people in society who have
reasonable pensions, living in accommodation where they receive appropriate
care
Settled Ex-Tenants Type I38 Older couples whose children have flown the
nest in low skilled occupations living in ex-council housing.
While MOSAIC classifies people using general categories rather than offers a
bespoke population study, it does suggest that there will be a range of potential
audiences to the SB community ‘hub’. A shared characteristic of all the ‘types’
identified above is low income. This should be reflected in any pricing strategies,
especially for public third party events or performances.
2.2.4
Area and Neighbourhood Statistics
Stirchley Baths is marked with a red dot (arrow) on the map below. The yellow
shading highlights the defined Neighbourhood Area Birmingham 112b, the orange
and yellow combined is the Super Output Area Middle Layer Birmingham 112.
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18. Population:
According to the 2011 Census data there are 1,595 people living in the
Stirchley Neighbourhood and 7,726 people living in the Area. Because the
Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ will serve a wider community rather than a
neighbourhood, the profile of potential users is based on the Super Output
Area Middle Layer boundary.
Age:
In 2011,
The largest age group living in the Area is 30-44 (25.5%). This is higher than
average compared to Birmingham (20.8%).
The second largest age group is 45-59 (19%). Again this is higher than
average compared to Birmingham as a whole (16.4%).
5.9% of residents are aged 15-19 which is lower than average compared to
Birmingham (7.5%).
Ethnicity:
In 2011,
85.7% of residents define themselves as white British, Irish or Other White.
4.1% of residents define themselves of mixed heritage.
6.1% of residents define themselves as Asian/Asian British, including
Chinese.
3.6% of residents define themselves as Black/African/Caribbean/Black British.
0.6% of residents define themselves as Arab or from other ethnic groups.
Stirchley and surrounding area has a predominantly white population. Around
1,600 individuals living in this Area define themselves as non-white British, and
therefore BAME.
Deprivation Indicators within the Area and Neighbourhood:
50% of the 3286 households in the Area are not deprived in any dimension5.
44% of households are deprived in 1 or 2 dimensions.
6% of households are deprived in 2 or 3 dimensions.
Within the Neighbourhood in which SB is located the Living Environment Deprivation
Indicator data from 2010 suggests that the area is amongst the most deprived in the
country in this respect.
5
All households in the area at the time of the 2011 Census with one of the selected deprivation
dimensions. The dimensions of deprivation are indicators based on the four selected household
characteristics - Employment (any member of a household not a full-time student is either
unemployed or long-term sick); Education (no person in the household has at least level 2 education,
and no person aged 16-18 is a full-time student); Health and disability (any person in the household
has general health 'bad or very bad' or has a long term health problem.); and Housing (Household's
accommodation is either overcrowded, with an occupancy rating -1 or less, or is in a shared dwelling,
or has no central heating).
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19. Disability and long-term health problems:6
84% of residents in the Area do not have a long-term health problem or disability
8% of residents define their day-to-day activities limited a lot and 8% define their
day-to-day activities as limited a little.
Economic Activity:
3.9% of residents (aged 16-74) are Long-term Sick or Disabled
Youth unemployment is below average for both Birmingham and the West
Midlands
The number of residents who are long-term unemployed is also below the
average for the city and region at 1.6%.
2.2.5
What we can surmise from the community profiling above is that the largest potential
audience group for the ‘heritage offer’ of Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ (based
on statistics and MOSAIC Classification) is White, aged 30-59, employed but on a
relatively low income, with or without children. They live in older terraced property
which is characteristic of dwellings in the Stirchley area. However, the Stirchley Baths
community ‘hub’ will serve a wide variety of local residents from across the age
spectrum; from cradle to the grave.
2.3
Current Activities and Volunteering
2.3.1
Local residents who sit on the Stirchley Baths Community Stakeholders Group
(SBCSG) have been meeting quarterly since 2012. A sub-group of local people
interested in the future programming activities for Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’
are meeting monthly during this development phase in a voluntary capacity. The
motivation to be involved for some of the group has been captured through audio on
www.stirchleybaths.org. Future opportunities for further volunteering are outlined
later in this document.
2.3.2
A ‘Friends of Stirchley Baths’ group was set up in 2011 by former councillor Nigel
Dawkins. Ownership of the group has been retained and not shared. The Stirchley
Baths Community Stakeholders Group has succeeded this group as a supporters
group for the SB project.
2.3.3
During this development phase volunteers from Birmingham Conservation Trust, the
SBCSG and a local student writing her dissertation on Stirchley Baths, have
supported a series of community events. These have included two ‘Splash Back in
Time’ events and ‘Put Your Hand Up Community Art Challenge’ event. A passing
local resident also offered his help on an event day and has since expressed an
interest in further local volunteering opportunities. Alongside event support, a small
group of volunteers have interviewed residents and taken photographs to be used on
www.stirchleybaths.org and related social media sites.
2.3.4
Social media company Podnosh was commissioned during this development phase
to set up a dedicated Stirchley Baths website/blog along with related social media;
6
All people usually resident in the area at the time of the 2011 Census with a health problem or
disability that had lasted, or was expected to last, at least 12 months, and limited daily activities a lot.
This includes problems related to old age.
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20. twitter and facebook. Podnosh have provided the staff resource to create a highly
relevant and interesting social commentary through interviews and reminiscence
sessions with stakeholders and local residents. We have also reported on community
engagement activity in the preparation of this Activity Plan.
This social media campaign has really generated interest in a short space of time for
the project and provided an effective vehicle to engage people in the development
process. At the time of writing this document www.stirchleybaths.org has been live
for 10 weeks and had 1023 different people visiting the website. They visited 1844
times and looked at 4437 pages. Statistics show that 52% of visits were from the UK,
and of those visits 58% were from Birmingham. This equates to 556 visits from
people in the Birmingham area. At the time of writing @StirchleyBaths had 245
followers on Twitter and 69 people who ‘Like’ the facebook page. The average reach
is around 200 people, although some weeks have seen 640, 609, 488 and 433
people updated and informed about the SB project.
Conscious of the fact that not everyone has access to a computer, we have placed
hard copy printouts of the blog posts in both Stirchley Library and Stirchley
Community Centre for people to read.
2.3.5
Place Prospectors were commissioned to create a temporary, participatory artwork
linked to the development of the project. They ran an event called Sink or Swim on 8
June which involved over 200 local residents who came to pledge their support to the
community ‘hub’ once it is restored.
2.4
Current Commitment to Involving People
Birmingham City Council has a robust Equal Opportunities Policy and staff are
committed to providing a welcome for all members of the local communities as well
as visitors. Indeed the sign at the entrance to the current Community Centre and
Indoor Bowls Centre says: “This centre welcomes people from all sections of the
community”.
“I would say (The Community Centre) it’s at the heart of it, it’s
extending from the heart, it’s over flowing the heart. There are so
many different sections of the community within Stirchley area and I
think we represent almost everyone one”.
(Sue Jackson, Community Development and Initiatives Worker,
Stirchley Community Centre. Audio transcription,
www.stirchleybaths.org).
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21. 2.5
Community Consultation
2.5.1
There has already been significant community consultation and ongoing engagement
in the Selly Oak District in the development of the SB proposals, in particular around
the design of the scheme. Architect Mark Sloane from Acivico said:
“The interesting thing about this project is the community
engagement. We’ve been to so many public meetings and I don’t
think we have ever had a scheme which has had so much, and so
many people wanting to know what is going on. The amount of
people who have turned up at the forums and public meetings we’ve
had has been incredible really”.
(Audio transcription, www.stirchleybaths.org).
The focus of our consultation work for this report is on heritage-related activity,
learning and participation.
2.5.2
We have engaged over 870 people of all ages and backgrounds in the consultation
process to help us develop this Activity Plan. See Appendix A for a list of consultees
and participation events and numbers. Community engagement with the project is
on-going. This also included the Sink or Swim event which was delivered by Place
Prospectors as part of this development phase.
2.5.3
We have employed a variety of methodologies to engage with people and develop
this work.
These have included:
A stall at Stirchley Community Market
Public ‘Community Art Challenge’ event at Stirchley Library and outside SB
2 reminiscence ‘Splash Back in Time’ events
Face to face interviews
Displays at Stirchley Library, Stirchley Community Centre, District Office (with
opportunity for public comment), St Andrews Healthcare (for Adult Learners
Week)
Presentations and focus group work with:
o Stirchley Baths Community Stakeholders Group
o Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum
o Stirchley ‘Detached’ Youth project
o Parents and Toddler Groups (including Community Centre user group and
‘Story Tots’ at Stirchley Library)
o Parents of children who attend Arabic lessons (Community Centre user
group)
o Members of Stirchley Stitchers (Community Centre user group)
o Patients in the mental health recovery forum at St Andrews Healthcare,
Stirchley
o School Council representatives at Stirchley Community School
o Junior Assembly at St Edwards Catholic Primary School
o DeafPLUS
o Friends of Stirchley Park
Consultation exercise with heritage enthusiasts at Coffin Works tours run by
Birmingham Conservation Trust
Social media campaign
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22. We have also been raising awareness through promotional material including flyers
at the Love Stirchley More Festival in February, a poster campaign in shops along
Pershore Road and letters were sent home with 600 pupils from the two closest
primary schools.
During this engagement process, people were asked to contribute an idea on a
history and heritage-related activity they would be interested in, a memory, a
comment or a statement of support for the project. The majority of these were written
on people’s own (decorated) handprints. These were gathered during some focus
groups, at presentations, at Stirchley Community Market and at a public event on 6
April at which a total of 282 hands were pegged around the outside of SB in a visual
display – a show of hands – to support the Stirchley Baths Project.
2.6
Competitor Analysis and Potential Partners
2.6.1
There are a few other publically accessible listed heritage buildings in the immediate
local area: They are:
Stirchley Library (Grade II)
The British Oak Public House (Grade II)
Men’s Pavilion (Bournville Club) (Grade II).
2.6.2
None of these building interpret their heritage or run heritage-focussed activities. As
such, there is little competition to the ‘heritage experience’ that SB proposes. Indeed,
the activity programme at SB may be a catalyst for owners of other locally historic
buildings to interpret their properties.
2.6.3
Stirchley Library is a neighbouring building also managed by Selly Oak District. There
are opportunities to work in partnership with Stirchley Library on heritage events and
initiatives as well as on a practical level. For example, installing a book returns box
when they are closed and running library events within SB.
2.6.4
Behind the library is Stirchley Park which is often referred to as ‘Stirchley’s best kept
secret’ and the ‘hidden park’, something the Friends of Stirchley Park are working
hard to change. The Friends was set up about 12 months ago and runs small family
and environmental events and well as making improvements to the park. They are
keen to work with SB on collaborative events and activities in the future.
2.6.5
The Co-operative owns the locally listed Friends Meeting House which neighbours
SB to the right. This semi-derelict building has stood empty for a number of years
and is boarded up. There are no plans currently to redevelop the site or bring it back
into use.
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23. 2.6.6
In terms of local partnerships there is already a growing cultural offer within the area
and SB would seek to develop collaborations in order to develop its three year (and
beyond) programme of heritage-related activity. Please see section 3.8 for further
details on partnerships and collaborations.
Local groups include:
Stirchley Happenings, a local resident-led arts group who run the popular ‘Travelling
Bug House’ pop-up film nights in unusual buildings around the area. The group also
includes a founding member of Stirchley Community Market.
http://stirchleyhappenings.wordpress.com/
Place Prospectors, a CIC, have been involved in a number of community initiatives
over the last few years and are currently working alongside BCC to develop ideas for
legacies for the Stirchley Baths Project. Previously they have worked with local
residents and businesses to deliver a series of arts and heritage projects which have
looked to Stirchley’s past as a way to focus on and address issues within future
regeneration. These include Stirchley Prospects, Love Stirchley and Love Stirchley
More. They also delivered a short term project called Sink or Swim to support the
development of the Baths Project. http://www.prospectors.org.uk/
Artsoak is an annual arts event run by the Selly Oak District Arts Forum across the
Selly Oak District. In 2012 and 2013 this has involved collaborations with Stirchley
Happenings and St Andrew’s Healthcare. The SB project can contribute to this
annual event through participatory arts activities to interpret aspects of the history of
the building. http://artsforumsellyoak.wordpress.com/ Currently the arts champion for
the area is City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and Stirchley Baths
Community ‘hub’ could be potentially their new home.
Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum, which has been acknowledged within the District for
their good work, has a membership of residents with a keen interest in local history.
They have expressed an interest in working with the SB Project to set up a local
history group and create a publically accessible resource of local history, including
community history and an oral history archive. http://www.stirchley.co.uk/forum.html
Currently information about the history of the area is provided on 6 historical
information panels located within walking distance of each other, and in a handful of
pamphlets in Stirchley Library. Images of Stirchley are found in an old publication by
Linda Chew and a few historic images are found on www.stirchleyonline.co.uk.
The Stirchley Urban Resource Network was set up in 2012 and is designed as a
virtual space to support Stirchley’s businesses and residents. The network is made
up of people and organisations, and exists to empower people to take part in
Stirchley’s future; to promote Stirchley’s unique identity and generate opportunities
for the area. This network could become an important mechanism to promote
volunteering opportunities at Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ and share resources
for the benefit of the community. http://stirchleyurban.wordpress.com/about/.
2.6.7
The SB project also has the opportunity, especially during the first year of
construction work, to support the neighbouring community buildings through room
hire and collaborative activities. This includes the TASCOs (social club) building on
the edge of the new Tesco development. Although recently closed at the time of
writing, a group of local residents are looking at ways to bring the building back into
use. Opposite SB is the former Hazelwell Street institute which is now home to
Stirchley Community Church who have large rooms and performance space for hire.
22 | P a g e
24. 2.6.8
Birmingham Adult Education Service also complements the cultural offer locally,
running a wide range of arts & crafts courses within the Selly Oak District. They have
expressed an interest in running an adult education programme at the Stirchley
Baths community ‘hub’ in the future.
2.6.9
We have learnt, through the engagement process for the SB project, that during the
last few years Stirchley has begun to develop its own community strategies towards
change, programmes of engagement activities around the Arts and a sense of
cooperation; the Stirchley Community Market and Stirchley Stores cooperative,
alongside the increased presence of grassroots organisations and networks (outlined
above) are evidence of this. The learning and participation aims of the SB Project will
provide further opportunities for local people to get involved in cherishing and
championing its heritage buildings and creating resources so people can learn about
the past, including Stirchley Baths. There is already a strong local network of groups
and people who can support delivery of these learning and participation objectives, in
particular through creativity and the Arts, which can also enhance their own
programmes. Selly Oak District is currently piloting for the city the notion of being a
‘cooperative district’ which promotes cooperative working and collaboration.
2.7
Non-user/Potential-user Research and Opportunities
2.7.1
Stirchley Community Centre already serves a diverse community with a wide range
of regular weekly activities including daily Arabic lessons, a weekly Tea dance and
Pentecostal church service, sewing groups and parent and toddler groups which
meet three times a week, and a range of sports groups. The full activity programme
is in Appendix B. An estimated 19,503 visits to Stirchley Community Centre were
recorded in 2012/13. This is an increase on previous years.
2.7.2
The primary motivation to visit the Community Centre is for classes, organised group
activity and room hire for parties and events. There is no ‘heritage offer’ or public
café facilities to attract other users into the building. There is the potential to reach
new non-community centre users at SB with an interesting programme of events,
some of which will have an historical focus, and a nice café. The improved facilities
will provide spaces for local people to meet each other, socialise and bring their
family and friends to.
2.7.3
Consultation on the SB Project during the Coffin Works public tours, organised by
Birmingham Conservation Trust, highlighted the attraction of heritage enthusiasts to
this type of heritage building; especially the conservation story. It is interesting that a
high number of visits to www.stirchleybaths.org were from outside the UK, which
again suggests that interest in this building extends to a much wider community of
people interested in the history of the site. With the programming of special events, a
continued online presence and a much developed historical resource, the ‘heritage
experience’ provided by SB far extends the local area physical boundaries.
2.7.4
The missing user groups identified by Community Workers at the Community Centre
are young people aged 11-14 and 15-19. Activity for young people, or lack of, is
something that has been highlighted on a number of occasions during the
preparation for this report. According to the 2011 Census there were 878 young
people aged between 10 and 19 living in the Area (see 2.2.5).
The structure of statutory youth provision within Birmingham is undergoing a period
of change. The new ‘youth hubs’ based at Maypole and Longbridge are a bus and
train ride away for young people in Stirchley and the local well-used youth house
(The Den) is being closed down as part of this new structure. There are other youth
23 | P a g e
25. clubs run locally by the Scouts and Community Church. BCC youth workers, who
support young people, mainly from around the Pineapple Estate in Stirchley, are
concerned that the changes, including in staffing, means the creation of a huge void.
We involved eighteen of these young people in our consultation and together worked
on some intergenerational project ideas to provide focussed sessions for young
people at Stirchley Baths Community ‘hub’ during a three-year programme of activity.
2.8
Barriers to Involvement
2.8.1
Discussions with stakeholders and community members on physical barriers to
access concentrated on the redevelopment plans for the site, rather than the current
condition of the building. The plans were approved by BCC Planning Committee on
21st March 2013. Recommendations for access into the building have been
considered previously in the development of the scheme and reflect community
consultation. As a result only a few physical barriers were identified within the
consultation for this piece of work.
The approved scheme will provide ramped access into the building which will operate
on a single ground floor level. Physical access via the car park remains a contentious
issue for some people as both pedestrians and vehicles will use the same access
routes. However, this is the only viable option available.
2.8.2
Individuals found it challenging to imagine or perceive any future barriers from a 2D
architect’s drawings rather than a personal experience of the building. Many older
Community Centre users said all they wanted was nice toilets and daylight. Young
people were concerned about cost and if they would know anyone; they wouldn’t go
into the building if they were not with their friends.
2.8.3
Current Community Centre users understandably feel anxious about what will
happen to their group for the interim period between the Community Centre closing
on 31st March 2014 and completion of building works at Stirchley Baths which are
expected to be around October 2014 if funding is successful. Selly Oak District are
aware of this and working hard to find a solution (as they had done previously before
delays in the Tesco development), but the displacement of groups may mean that
groups will not relocate and this may present a barrier to the future involvement of
some communities.
2.8.4
Other barriers to involvement and recommendations to overcome barriers in relation
to target audiences will be identified in section 3.4.
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27. “Fond memories of taking my toddler swimming at Stirchley Baths 28
years ago. So pleased it will have a new lease of life in the near future”.
“Save Stirchley Baths 4 me”.
“Keeping the community at heart! Long live the spirit of Stirchley Baths”.
“A centre for Stirchley Community! Bringing people together and
improving the area!
“Stirchley Baths. The 1st step in regenerating Stirchley”.
“It is such a beautiful building and will make such a difference to the
community once restored!”
“Let’s not let another piece for our heritage go to waste!!
“Let’s preserve this piece of heritage. We do not want to lose lovely
buildings like this”.
“Been living in Stirchley for 13 years and this beautiful building has been
unused for so long. I’d love for it to be a place for the community, used
and loved again”.
Comments by local residents
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28. 3
WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE?
3.1
Our Aspirations
The aspiration for both Selly Oak District and end users is to ensure the survival of
the Grade II listed former Stirchley Baths building by restoring and refurbishing the
historic fabric and repurposing the building as a multi-purpose community facility. As
an 'urban village hall’ at the heart of the community it will act as a catalyst for the
regeneration of the local area.
3.2
Our Target Audiences
3.2.1
In our consultations almost all the people we spoke to knew of the building and had
passed by on many occasions. They often commented on the current condition of the
building, expressed sadness and a sense of loss; and if they were old enough,
shared a memory or two about using Stirchley Baths in the past. First and foremost
the Baths will serve the local Stirchley community as well as people from Selly Park,
Cotteridge and Bournville. It is hoped that groups who currently use the Community
Centre will relocate on completion of building works. SB also has the potential to
reach a wider audience; local residents who are non-community centre users may be
attracted by a programme of ‘heritage related’ events. The new café facility, with the
potential for temporary exhibition space, the increased physical space and brand new
‘interior conservatory’ area with roof lanterns will also draw in new audiences. The
building’s heritage offer will also create reasons for heritage enthusiasts from across
the city to visit, as well as school groups who want to study a local resource.
3.2.2
We have identified out target audiences as:
a) Current Stirchley Community Centre Users
The current users of Stirchley Community Centre are diverse in ethnicity and age; the
centre serves children and their parents through play schemes and parent and
toddler groups; older residents through sewing clubs and dances; faith groups
through church services or Arabic lessons; individuals through sporting activity. On
relocation to SB, their purpose for visiting will be the same as before, but these
current user groups also become a target audience for history and heritage-related
activity. There were an estimated 19,503 recorded visits to Stirchley Community
Centre in 2012/13 and an estimated 37,400 visits in 11/12 to Stirchley Library next
door. This tells us that there will be a large audience indirectly experiencing the
heritage of the Baths, even though the primary motivation to visit might be something
entirely different.
b) Local residents (non-community centre users)
Local residents from Stirchley, Bournville, Selly Park, Cotteridge and surrounding
communities (including ‘harder to reach’ groups) who do not currently attend the
Community Centre for classes or activities may be attracted to the new facility; for its
improved room hire and its café. A changing events programme outside its regular
user groups and mixed-use spaces will encourage repeat visits from local people.
c) School children
Local schools within walking distance will be particularly interested in taking year
groups to Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ if facilitated sessions by an ‘expert’ are
27 | P a g e
29. offered. Realistically, as a busy centre with income generation targets, the school
programme will be small, but provide a vital resource for teaching on local studies,
history, geography and citizenship for primary school children within a 0-2 mile
radius. A WWII package will attract both primary and secondary schools from further
afield.
d) Young people
We identified earlier the projected lack of statutory youth provision in the area over
the next few years. SB provides the opportunity for young people from Stirchley,
Selly Park, Bournville and Cotteridge to get involved, learn new skills and volunteer
during the three-year funded programme of activity, and after. Heritage may be a
secondary driver for young people to participate, but heritage can also be a strong
enabler. This group are a ‘missing’ audience for many heritage buildings. Making SB
relevant to this age group is vital for engagement.
e) Informal learning and heritage enthusiasts
Within this group there will be:
day visitors from families looking for ‘hands on’ activities and visitor facilities
during weekend and school holidays. These may hail from across the city
empty nesters, over 65, interest and affinity groups such as the WI, U3A and
curious minds (older couples). ‘Behind the Scenes’ and ‘hard hat’ tours during the
restoration are expected to be popular with this audience group.
BCC’s Adult Education Service is proposing to run courses from SB, to hire rooms
and extend its service into Stirchley. This will bring a new audience to SB, including
those on ESOL courses. It is hoped that a bespoke local history course could be
developed within the three-year funded programme of activity and delivered by
PETAL (Preparation for Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector) trained volunteers.
f) Volunteers
BCC staff carried out a Survey of Leisure and Use of Stirchley Community Centre at
the Cotteridge Park Play Day 6th August 2009. Although a small sample, 7 out of 31
respondents indicated they would be interested in volunteering at the community
centre; in the roles of fundraisers, play scheme workers and as advisors. BCC
currently works directly with some volunteers through play schemes and other
activities at the centre. Many of the community group activities and clubs hosted
there are run by volunteers.
The SB Project will present many opportunities to engage with volunteers from
different age groups and ethnicities, mainly sourced from the local community. After
the three-year programme of HLF-funded activity there will be a culture of
volunteering at SB which can developed further by BCC or whomever takes on the
long-term management of the building.
The SB project is particularly interested in targeting people with skills to run events,
document the restoration, extend a friendly welcome and share historical knowledge
of the building with visitors. Volunteers could support the running of education,
events and outreach programmes, tour guiding, community ambassador
programmes and heritage interpretation. See V:1 (Action Plan).
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30. Within each of these target audiences above there will be:
first time visitors
repeat visitors
people with a range of access needs.
3.2.3
The successful delivery of BCC’s learning and participation objectives for the HLF
funded Stirchley Baths Project are dependent on additional staff resource being
made available. The commission of a part-time Heritage Development Officer (HDO)
was identified in BCC’s Round 1 Application to the HLF. This continues to be a
recommendation. However, the job description has been revised to reflect the skills
and experience required to manage delivery of the action plan outlined in this
document. The revised job description is in Appendix C.
3.2.4
Visitor Projections
Visitor numbers at Stirchley Baths Community ‘hub’ will reflect:
The usual uptake of ‘Community Centre’ activities and room bookings
The curiosity of local residents (non-community centre users) who want to look
inside their local iconic building after restoration
The quality of the ‘heritage offer’ or heritage-related events programme to
attract visitors from outside the area
The increased booking of the rooms for private events and functions
The popularity of a new café and family-friendly facilities.
It would not be unreasonable to predict the following number of visits starting from
Year 2 (late 2014). These have been broken down into regular community centre
users (‘experiencing’ the heritage) and visits generated during the three-years of HLF
funding by specific heritage-related activity and events:
*
Y1 n/a (3,800 – specific heritage-related activity and events)
*
Y2 19,000 (plus 3,465 – specific heritage-related activity and events)
*
Y3 20,000 (plus 3,900 – specific heritage-related activity and events)
*
Y4 21,000
*
Y5 22,000
The figures above are based on visits. See 3.2.5 for breakdown. Many people will be
repeat visitors.
3.2.5
Engagement Targets of the Activity Plan
Taking into account that the primary function of the Stirchley Baths Community ‘Hub’
will be a community centre with a full programme of community activity, the targets
we have set ourselves for engaging people with the heritage of the building and the
project are realistic.
While recognising that all visitors to the building will have an ‘experience’ of the
Bath’s heritage of some kind, the support to start a programme of heritage-related
events and activity will offer both community centre users and target audiences the
29 | P a g e
31. opportunity to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Bath’s history
and to get involved in a range of participatory activities where they can have
engaging and interactive experiences, learn new skills, and for some people give
something back to their community.
The following table outlines our projected numeric engagement targets over the
three-year period based on successful project delivery. Details of this activity and
associated visitor or audience numbers are found in the Action Plan per activity.
Yr1
Yr2
Yr3
Total
To engage 39,000 community ‘hub’ visitors in
‘heritage experiences’ at the Baths through on-site
interpretation. Many will be repeat visits
To engage 55 people through volunteering
n/a
19,000
20,000
39,000
20
25
10
55
To engage 65 young people and students through
project work and work placements
To engage 5380 people through events, exhibitions,
open days and tours
To engage 4,500 unique visitors who access the
project via the website
To engage 1015 school children through on-site
visits, loans boxes and resources
To engage 150 local BAME individuals through
events, open days and tours
25
20
20
65
2550
1520
1310
5380
1000
1500
2000
4500
165
350
500
1015
30
50
60
140
50,155
You will note that visit numbers to events, exhibitions, open days and tours do not
show incremental growth from years 1-3 in the table above. This is due to activity
programming. The number of new volunteers reflects the opportunities associated
with larger events and their programming within the three-year period. The delivery of
these targets is dependent on the type and number of people who come forward to
participate. As such, delivery will need to be flexible and innovative to adapt to this
and achieve the targets set out above.
A key issue is how do we count visitors? Visitors to the café or who are wandering
around the building to have a look at the history need to be captured as well as those
enrolled on regular classes or group activity and at special heritage related events.
Asking non-regular visitors to sign in on entry is one option being considered.
Visitors reached through social media should also be counted and appropriate
mechanisms to count history-related pages should be built into the website design.
3.3
Marketing: Reaching New Audiences
We would suggest that a strategy for building audiences to the ‘heritage offer’ of
Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ is targeted at users and non-community centre users,
local residents and city-wide heritage enthusiasts. It should use the following media:
Existing social media www.stirchleybaths.org, Facebook, Twitter: @stirchleybaths
and @sellyoakdistrict
Existing on-line networks and related social media including:
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32. o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
www.stirchley.co.uk
http://stirchleyurban.wordpress.com
http://stirchley.co.uk/onlineforum/index.php
http://stirchleyhappenings.wordpress.com/
www.birmingham.gov.uk/sellyoak
www.lovesellyoak.com
http://www.prospectors.org.uk/
http://stirchleythoughtexchange.blogspot.co.uk/
www.birminghamconservationtrust.org
Visit Birmingham website
Lifford Lane Business Association
Local press coverage (editorial) including radio and television throughout stages of
restoration
Posters distributed around local community venues in Stirchley, Selly Park, Kings
Norton, Cotteridge, Selly Oak and Kings Heath (including libraries, faith buildings,
coffee shops etc) and Stirchley Baths Community ‘hub’
Posters and emails to named contact at St Andrews Healthcare
Birmingham City Council Tourism promotional literature (for special heritage
events)
School newsletters. Attending school fetes and events to raise awareness
Stalls and displays at community events and festivals; Hazelwell Park Fun Day,
Cocomad, Love Stirchley, ArtsOak are some examples.
3.4
Actions to Remove Barriers for Target Audiences
3.4.1
Community consultations in relation to the development of this Activity Plan took
place between 12 February and 21 May 2013. This was part of the on-going
engagement around the SB Project. As part of this research local residents and
people from ‘harder to reach’ groups were asked to identify the challenges and
concerns they had or perceived in relation to visiting Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’,
both as a building and as a place to experience its heritage.
3.4.2
Recommendations on how to overcome barriers are also included in the table below.
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33. Barrier identified
Access routes in and out of
the car park will be used by
both cars and pedestrians
which might cause anxiety
Type of Barrier
Physical
Barrier for
Wheelchair users
Families, lone
parents with
pushchairs
Recommendation to overcome barrier
Guidance on parking on website, including current options to park on the
road in front of the library. Monitoring system to be put in place and BCC to
seek visitor feedback
Application to create Blue Badge parking on Bournville Lane
Due to the state of the
building any ‘hard hat’ tours
will not be physically
accessible for some people
before building
improvements have been
made
Difficulty crossing over
Hazelwell Street to Baths;
busy traffic, no traffic lights or
crossing. “local area is
important if you are
physically disabled.” Being
able to get to publically
accessible spaces is as
important as getting into
them.
Visitors not feeling welcome
or poor customer service
Physical
Wheelchair users,
people with
limited mobility,
hearing and sight
impairments
Capture the conservation work during 12 month build through films, photo
shoots and interviews with contractors in a range of formats (audio,
written, film with text). Organise a BSL interpreted talk for BSL users near
the end of the build
Physical
Wheelchair users,
people with
limited mobility,
and sight
impairments
Traffic lights on Hazelwell Street to enable people time to get across the
road to the Baths
Social
Disabled people
Patients at St
Andrews
Healthcare
Disability Awareness training for all volunteers (and staff if not available
through the city council)
BCC has a policy and duty towards equality and BCC community centre
staff will be fully trained
Partnership working on arts projects and display at Stirchley Baths
community ‘hub’, volunteering opportunities, breaking down the stigma of
mental health
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34. Barrier identified
Not knowing what to expect
– what is access really like?
Type of Barrier
Physical
Barrier for
Disabled people
Recommendation to overcome barrier
Good web information available. Leaflet to pick up to include access
information. E.g. what is the width of the disabled toilets, what happens if I
were to pull the pull cord? Who will come? Are staff trained? Where can I
park?
Capacity building through colleges and youth clubs. Activities aimed at
younger people and organised by them
Interpret cultural links (segregation in swimming etc) that are relevant
today for young people (for Muslim girls in particular)
Feeling accepted and
welcome “I wouldn’t come
without my friends or peers”
“Would want to know who
goes and who runs it”
“It’s not relevant or
interesting. Don’t like history”
Perception that they won’t
enjoy it
Mixed attendance at events
Social/Cultural
Young people
BME groups –
cultural
differences
Cultural
Young people
Competitions and quizzes
Partnership with local college and youth clubs
Plenty of activity to participate in
Cultural
Promote ladies only talks and activities and women only ‘social’ sessions
based on heritage
Older Muslim women are not
café users, internet users.
They would drop kids off and
go home, wouldn’t
necessarily come to events
about history, but would look
at pictures on the walls in
foyer
Social
Women,
especially Muslim
women
Older Muslim
women
Less able to access the
available interpretation
Intellectual
Deaf people and
people who are
‘hard of hearing’
Work with Deaf organisations to organise and promote bespoke BSL
interpreted group tour on special heritage event days.
Use BSL interpretation on web films, accessible also from computers at
the centre. Subtitles on film, and clear, accessible text to be used in
interpretation
Hearing loop fitted
Have display or historical information in the foyer area to engage with
people as they come to the door
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35. Barrier identified
Less able to understand the
available interpretation
Type of Barrier
Intellectual
Barrier for
People with
learning
disabilities
Not able to access written
interpretation
Physical
People with visual
impairments
Less able to understand the
available interpretation
Intellectual/
cultural
People who do
not speak English
Limited public access to the
history (because of
community centre use of
rooms). Not enough staff to
show public round the Baths
on a regular basis
School visits and education
activities disrupting regular
user activities
Organisational
Public
Organisational
Schools
Cost of school visit
Financial
Schools and
parents
Cost of heritage related
activity
Financial
Public
Young people
Recommendation to overcome barrier
Make heritage experience at Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ special
through practical activity (looking for clues around the building), hands on
experience, role play including dressing up and experienced tour guide
volunteers on heritage event days
Trained front of house staff and volunteers to offer assistance to guide a
VIP. Tour guides trained to give good audio description as they conduct
tours around the building on special heritage event days
Provide translations of important information / headlines and key
messages in Bengali, Urdu and Arabic for non-English speaking visitors
(many of whom will be from the local community). Recruit volunteers with
community language skills to deliver pre-arranged community language
interpreted tours and talks
Schedule and promote twilight or weekend tours once a month to avoid
clash with programming of regular user groups. A dedicated heritage slot
will ensure the programme is manageable and deliverable
Lots of school visits are not going to be possible due to the programming
of the community centre. Suggest four dedicated slots a month / once a
week (initially) as provision for school visits where they have access to the
main hall to take part in an interactive and facilitated activity led by the
HDO and team of education volunteers
Keep costs low (£2 per head for facilitated session on site) Create a
workshop/loans box that can also be used in the classroom and with
multiple groups
Much of the heritage interpretation can be made available to visitors and
those entering the building free of charge
Any pricing strategy for events or additional activities should be reasonable
to ensure local communities are not excluded
Annual participation in Heritage Open Days and other free community
open days
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36. Barrier identified
Not enough staff or
volunteers to run facilitated
school sessions or public
tours programme
Motivation of teachers and
the impact on teacher
workload
Type of Barrier
Organisational
Barrier for
Schools
Public
Recommendation to overcome barrier
Recruit, train and retain pool of volunteers who can make this activity
happen
Organisational
Teachers
Provide familiarisation visits, high quality learning resources supporting
school based curriculum
The fear of accidents and the
possibility of litigation
Organisational
Teachers
No capacity in volunteer
programme to support
volunteers and the delivery
of public access programmes
Organisational/
Social
Volunteers
Local community
Make learning at SB special through practical activity, hands on
experience, role play including dressing up and experienced education
facilitators
Provide risk assessment template to help with their planning, pre-visit
advice and familiarisation visits. BCC has public liability insurance and
building risk assessments will be in place prior to opening
Provide volunteer training budget. Recruit a HDO with experience in all
areas of delivery, including volunteer management
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37. 3.4.3
Recommendations for breaking down barriers:
Provide detailed access information on the web and in a leaflet so visitors, especially
Disabled visitors, can plan their visit.
Asian people are regular visitors to Stirchley Community Centre, especially from the
Bengali community. There is a Muslim women’s group who meet for Arabic lessons
every Tuesday. English is not the first language of some of the older ladies, but they
expressed interest in interpreted talks and activity. We would suggest working with
members of the local Asian community to provide translations of important
information / headlines and key messages in Bengali, Urdu and Arabic when
interpreting the site. Recruit volunteers with community language skills to deliver prearranged community language interpreted tours and work as ambassadors within
their communities.
The marketing strategy for SB’s heritage events and activities should include
promotion to community organisations, local cafés, faith groups, youth groups,
libraries and other grassroots venues. Marketing to a Deaf audience can be done
through the city’s Deaf support groups such as DeafPLUS and BID Cultural Deaf
Centre.
Creating curriculum-based resources and loans boxes may help overcome the
financial barriers associated with learning outside the classroom.
Project-based work with young people from Stirchley and surrounding areas will give
SB the opportunity to explore ways to encourage visits from this audience group and
review and enhance the activities and events on offer. This might involve some pilot
work; working with a group of young volunteers to create a quiz or competition
suitable for and aimed at other young people. This will lead on to other projects such
as working on an intergenerational project inspired by the Stirchley Baths Ballroom or
painting a mural depicting the history of Stirchley and the Baths in the neighbouring
park.
3.5
A varied programme of history and heritage-related events will attract local residents
and visitors to SB from across Birmingham. Working with other local cultural
organisations such as Stirchley Happenings, Selly Oak District Arts Forum, Place
Prospectors and Friends groups (parks) to ensure cross promotion and avoiding
event clashes. This will help SB integrate into the local cultural and leisure offer of
the area, as well as help build, rather than divide, local audiences.
A named contact for all heritage-related event activity (preferably the Heritage
Development Officer), with an office base at Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’. This
will enable the Officer to have a greater visible presence within the community, than
they would if based at the council offices.
Aims for Activities
During consultation and engagement events, local people made suggestions on
activities and uses for the building which were not related to heritage. These
included; music concerts, local food markets, sports, film night, arts and crafts
workshops, old style music hall, holiday scheme, and a ‘hot desk’ for independent
local businesses to use.
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38. These ideas and suggestions have been passed on to BCC and the programming
sub group of the SBCSG. All written responses which have been collected, the
majority written on ‘hands’ are included in Appendix D.
The activities outlined below and in the Action Plan are sub-divided to cover the
following areas:
Interpretation
Volunteering
Community Engagement and Audience Development
Learning – school groups and families
Training
3.6
Recommendations (targets) for Participation and Learning
3.6.1
In recommending activities to meet BCC’s learning and participation objectives for
the Stirchley Baths project, timescale, available space and regular ‘user group’
programming need to be taken into consideration to ensure that heritage activity
enhances the programme offered by the community centre, rather than clashes with
it and vice versa. It is important that the project provides opportunities to build new
audiences to the new community facility through its heritage ‘offer’ but also increases
the enjoyment and understanding of visitors to the building who come to partake in a
non-heritage organised group activity, class or function.
3.6.2
Recommendations; Capital works on-site Interpretation
We have produced an Interpretative Proposal alongside this Activity Plan which
recommends physical interpretation at the building (See Stirchley Baths
Interpretation Proposal, written by Birmingham Conservation Trust). The two main
principles which have guided the plan are:
1. To take a ‘light touch’ approach to in situ interpretation materials.
Stirchley Baths has many stories to tell and to a considerable extent the
building will speak for itself. Our aim is to provide interpretation materials that
will enhance or further illustrate these stories, or will lead users of the building
to stories that they may not have been aware of. We will aim to provoke
interest and enquiry, and also point the way to where the curious may
discover more. We will do this mainly through the use of photographs and
enlarged facsimiles of original documents, with little or no explanatory text.
2. To use, wherever possible, the words of members of the community to
provide interpretation. The interviews conducted as part of the extensive
community engagement exercise provide a rich source of quotations and
memories. We intend that short extracts from these are dotted about in
unusual places on the walls (not where it has been possible to retain the
original tiles). Example: “There was no hot water in our house and it was a lot
easier using the baths at Stirchley than getting the tin one out at home.”
Again, the amount of information contained in this short quotation is huge. It is
much more engaging and thought provoking than a piece of descriptive text
on an information panel describing why ‘slipper baths’ were provided and
popular.
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39. 3.6.3
Recommendations; Interpretation through participation
To enhance the physical interpretation provided through the capital works budget, the
recommendation is to involve and engage local people as participants in project
work, through tours and talks, and interactive activities to create their own
interpretations of the Baths’ heritage and wider Stirchley history and share this with a
wider audience through a range of different media, including a digital output. During
year one recommended activity has already been discussed with the appointed
building contractor Mansells.
The following recommendations for Interpretation (I) also meet BCC’s learning and
participation aims for the HLF-funded project:
I:1
The after-school Film Production Club at Stirchley Community School have
expressed an interest in making regular monthly updates on the restoration
project to post on www.stirchleybaths.org as well as on their own school
website. Stirchley Happenings will show their film night audiences the films.
This will reach a wide audience. (Digital Output).
I:2
Work with a new Stirchley Local History Group (set up for the benefit, and
lasting legacy, of the project) to produce an illustrated glossy leaflet about the
historic importance of the Baths. This content can be also used on
www.stirchleybaths.org (Digital Output). For example, the research and
leaflet could follow four themes: The Public Baths, The World Wars, Leisure,
Health and Fitness, and Closure, Campaign and Community. This would be
part information/part promotion for community centre room hire, and available
in the café as well as community venues.
I:3
Year one. Special by invitation 'hard hat’ tours for current community centre
users and other local groups to help them feel part of the project/process
(programme for March, April, May, July, August, October when there are no
public tours. These tours could be monthly depending on the stage of the
build and will be delivered by the contractor Mansells.
I:4
Year one. Special heritage event days: public ‘hard hat’ tours during
Architecture Week (June) and the annual Heritage Open Days event
(September). Participation will depend on how accessible the building is
during conservation works.
Years two-three. Programme monthly pre-bookable public tour around the
Baths (15 max group size) to be led by volunteer guides. This would fit in the
dedicated monthly provision.
I:5
I:6
Work in partnership with new Stirchley Local History Group to design a local
history 'living' display for exhibit within the Baths building which changes
regularly as research progresses and new images are located.
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40. I:7
Two public talks by Steve Beauchampé, local expert on the history of
Edwardian Baths in Birmingham. One talk could be aimed at local people
whose first language is not English (with Bengali and Urdu interpreters. This
may be a women's only session to maximise numbers), the other talk for
general audiences; both local and from further afield. This may tie in with a
special event day.
I:8
Work with a professional film maker and local residents (all ages and
backgrounds) to produce a film about Stirchley; past, present and future
(featuring the Baths at various stages in its life), but also narrating the
changes in landscape and history of the community over time. Volunteers can
learn film-making and interviewing techniques as well as appear on camera.
This could be timed to capture the demolition of buildings on the new
development site and building of the new Tesco store, as well as the
restoration of the Baths. The historic landscape of the area will never look the
same again! Also see V:5 (Digital Output).
I:9
Develop an interactive, immersive story-telling session for children aged 2-5
and their parents on the history of the building and its uses through
characters, soundscape (period music, traffic and factory sounds and voice
recordings), costumes (flat caps) and other props. This will also include a
craft session which children will use to deliver a story. For delivery on-site as
part of Parent and Toddler Group activity at SB, at Stirchley Library, and on
heritage event days. To deliver 11 hour sessions over 3 years. The box of
props developed can also be used on site during facilitated school visits. Also
See L:1 (KS 1 pupils)
I:10 Development and writing of a 'Big Book' on the history of the Baths to be
available in SB café, at the library and in parent and toddler groups. This
could be based on characters developed as part of the story-telling resource
above.
I:11 SB internet café homepage link to digital history resources on the history of
the Baths; screen saver uses historical images. (Digital Output).
I:12 Development of short film (using green screen technology) to include BSL
interpretation and subtitles. The scripted narrative could include the
information available to the public at the Baths (i.e. leaflet, graphics). This can
be available on www.stirchleybaths.org and on desktop of computers in the
internet café. (Digital Output).
I:13 British Sign Language Interpreted tour on arrangement during monthly
special heritage day slot. To be promoted through DeafPlus and Deaf
Cultural Centre, Ladywood.
I:14 Time-lapse photography film to be produced by a volunteer to show the
before, during and completion of the SB restoration project. See Volunteering
V:1. (Digital Output).
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41. I:15 Two events where the public can ‘meet the expert’; talks by craftsmen and
manager of the building site. This forms part of the programme of activities
led by the appointed contractors Mansells in year one.
I:16 Subject to funding. Critically acclaimed composer and vocalist Andy
Garbi makes acoustic templates that capture the sonic characteristics of an
enclosed space to preserve what a building "sounds like" at the precise time
and date when they were made. He wishes to use this technique to record
spaces in derelict buildings before restoration/conservation or redevelopment
work begins. He would like to include Stirchley Baths, alongside other
heritage buildings in Birmingham and across the UK. His compositions will
provide another way to interpret the building and may lead to a public event
to share this with a wider audience.
I:17 Partnership project with the Drama Department at the University of
Birmingham to create site-specific performances which interpret an aspect of
the Baths history during their spring module in 2016.
I:18 Run a design competition for students from the Birmingham School of
Jewellery to make a 2014 Ceremonial Key for the reopening of the Baths.
The winner would win the commission to make a new key which would be
displayed along with the original key dated 1911 (if a permanent loan can be
arranged with Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery).
It is recommended that the delivery and coordination of the above is managed
by the HDO.
3.6.4
Recommendations: Volunteering.
In a building where the primary function is to serve the community there will naturally
be a lot of voluntary activity happening. The District is already making a concerted
effort to work with a lot of volunteer-led community groups within the area. As part of
the HLF-funded activity programme, volunteers will support specific areas of work to
increase access to the heritage of the Baths and wider Stirchley history. In fact,
volunteers are vital to the delivery of the programme outlined in Section 3.
It is important to invest in volunteers, especially when drawn from the immediate local
communities as this in turn increases the capacity and skills within the area. The
recommendations below outline a programme for volunteers where they have access
to skills-based training, and a range of diverse volunteer roles. These will attract a
diverse range of volunteers. Sample volunteer role descriptions are provided in
Appendix E. BCC is currently working on a corporate volunteering strategy, including
its own role descriptions.
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42. V:1
Heritage Development Officer (HDO) to set up a volunteering programme;
actively recruit, train and manage volunteers in a variety of roles to increase
access to heritage:
Building history tour guides for special event days and monthly
tour
Oral historians
Community language interpreters and ambassadors (to engage
with local BAME audiences and translate interpretative and
promotional material as appropriate)
Events assistants
Bloggers
Documentary photographer (to create time-lapse of restoration
project and write blogs on building works. See I:14)
Schools education volunteers
Friendly meet & greet volunteers at new centre with knowledge of
the history of building.
Local history walk leaders to run bi-monthly history walks of the
area
Marketing support
Event organisers (project aimed at young volunteers. See C:8)
V:2
Continuation of the voluntary Stirchley Baths Community Stakeholders
Programming sub group. This group which will become the advisory
committee for the ‘Community hub’ within year one of the project. They will
advise on all aspects of community programming, including heritage-related
activity.
V:3
HDO to facilitate the setting up of a Stirchley Local History Group (currently
no group exists), working with local historian Wendy Pearson and the
Neighbourhood Forum. The first task would be to research and write an
interpretative leaflet on the history of the Baths in year one, and research and
create wider Stirchley history resources after. The group will be involved with
collecting memories for an oral history archive, some of which can be used in
the Bath’s interpretation scheme. At a workshop session at the Stirchley
Neighbourhood Forum in March 2013, local residents worked in groups to
discuss the key research themes they were interested in. See notes from this
workshop in Appendix F.
V:4
Work with freelance workers and young volunteers from Stirchley and
surrounding areas on the planning of a community VE Day 2015 event. This
will involve learning skills to research Stirchley in wartime, programming and
marketing the event to other young people and wider audiences, ambassador
work, social media, and being involved in a steering committee for the overall
event.
V:5
Volunteers to work with film maker to produce film about Stirchley, past,
present and future. To learn new skills in film making techniques.
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43. It is recommended that the delivery and coordination of the above is managed
by the HDO.
3.6.5
Recommendations: Community Engagement & Audience Development
There will be regular visitors to the building who attend community groups, meetings
and organised classes. Some visitors will only come once for the ‘heritage offer’.
Each visitor will have an ‘experience’ of the building’s history through physically being
in the building; many of the original historic features will be refurbished and the onsite interpretation will encourage people to consider the buildings’ former uses.
Indeed, publicity for the community ‘hub’ developed by the District will also feature
the Baths’ history which is seen as a selling point and asset to bring in new centre
users. A programme of heritage-related events and activities will raise awareness
about architectural and social history of the Baths, and offer an enhanced learning
experience.
C:1
Build new local and city-wide audiences (heritage enthusiasts) to SB through
participation in events such as Architecture Week (June) and the annual
Heritage Open Days event (September). These national events provide free
access, breaking down financial barriers which might prevent some people
from visiting. They also raise awareness on a local, regional and national
level through dedicated publicity campaigns. Special event days could
include a volunteer-led history tour of the building, interactive story telling for
families, a rare opportunity to see under the areas of floor board into the
empty pool, a chance to go up on the balcony (controlled) to look down on to
the pool area, talks on the history of the Baths etc.
C:2
Launch event/opening of Stirchley Baths (community ‘hub’) for both VIPs
and local residents (at the same event). Launch of Baths history leaflet
produced by Stirchley Local History Group (see L:2).
C:3
Run an art competition with local schools, colleges and community groups to
produce artwork and written text based on Stirchley Baths to go on
community display case on the site hoardings for the duration of the build
(changing display, which visitors on hard hat tours will also be encouraged
to contribute to). This competition would be accompanied by a school
assembly if appropriate or an image resource, and social media campaign.
C:4
Develop a volunteer-led history walk in Stirchley, to start and finish at
Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’. Work with community language volunteers
to deliver additional interpretation for non-English speakers where needed.
C:5
Work with local young people to design and test a quiz around the inside
and outside of the building suitable and engaging for other young people.
This can be used on special heritage event days.
C:6
Work with local families with children aged under 5 to create a family-friendly
activity/trail inside and outside the building which can be used on special
heritage event days.
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44. C:7
Host a community event in partnership with The Friends of Stirchley Park
and other local organisations and collaborations on Sat 9 May 2015 to
celebrate Victory in Europe; 70 year anniversary (Fri 8 May). This might
involve a 1940s themed event which recreates Stirchley in wartime. This
would be a community-led event which is inspired by the war years at
Stirchley Baths, but also showcases the building as a facility/venue to bring
communities together within the first 8-9 months of opening.
Initial ideas include:
1940s dances over the pool at the Baths and big band music
Drama piece on the Baths being used as a first aid post during the
war
Traditional games in the park
St Edwards Primary school orchestra playing music of the era
Street performers
Bunting and union jacks
Recreation of a street party (Regent Street, 1945)
A range of performances by local school children and members of
the Stirchley Community Centre weekly Tea dance
Vera Lynn impersonator to lead the sing-a-long and Winston
Churchill with his famous Battle of Britain Speech
Character actors in military costume etc (which can be provided by
South & City College)
Local bomb site history walks etc…
10 minute site-specific drama performance by University of
Birmingham Drama Students
Themed market stalls – link in with Stirchley Community Market
The event would be a culmination of community-led activity. For example:
C:8
Research by the history group
Intergenerational learning in schools
1940s themed design and invitations/posters/ration cards by South &
City College design students
Planning and event management to involve local volunteers and
young people
Children's holiday and weekend craft activities to make bunting and
paint union jacks
South & City College drama students to script and create costumed
characters to mingle with the audience.
Work with freelance workers and young people from Stirchley on an
intergenerational project with members of the Stirchley Community Centre
Tea dance to learn dances from the 1940s. This will form part of the wider
VE Day 2015 community celebration event. Young people have expressed
an interest in teaching the 1940s dances they learn to school children.
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45. C:9
Working with Stirchley Stitchers (Community Centre user group) in the
development stages and the wider public in a participatory textile/felt arts
project, recreate the mural painted on the tiles at the end of the swimming
pool which appears in photos of the Baths in the 1980s. A piece for display
within the temporary gallery space in the café. This can tie in with The Big
Draw national event in October 2016, or another local community event.
C:10 Work in partnership with a local graffiti artist and Friends of Stirchley Park (at
the back of SB) on further wall murals themed on Stirchley past, present and
future. (The Baths can be represented in both past and future). Stirchley
Present is represented already by the Sleeping Child; a symbol of the
reawakening of the area. These murals will be outlined by ‘Title’ and painted
by Stirchley young people in a series of workshops. This will require further
permission from The Co-operative who own the wall.
The Sleeping Child, Graffiti by Title
C:11 Contributing to the annual local Artsoak Festival and other festivals (2014),
deliver two participatory half day workshops (venue tbc) with local
communities using the old unusable tiles which were removed from the
Baths during its restoration. Working with a ceramic/mosaic artist, individuals
could create decorative mosaic pictures with the old tiles and other materials
to take home which are inspired by and include images of the Bath's history
under glass as part of their personalised design. After grouting work (off-site)
is completed participants are invited back for a display event (and they can
take their piece - and a little bit of Stirchley Baths - home with them)!
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46. C:12 Remount of an installation created by Tom Cahill-Jones of local arts group
Stirchley Happenings. Constructed from scrap materials reclaimed from
local streets over a two year period, this hide will provide a vantage point
from which local people can consider the changes to the Baths (including
bowling green) that are about to commence, after many years of talking and
stalled development. It can be positioned in Stirchley Park, overlooking the
SB compound. Inside the structure there will be audio presentation - of
memories collected during the development phase of this plan - as well as a
reminder of the plans. There will be an opportunity for people to add further
memories and join in the excitement of the start of the restoration project.
Hinterland by
Tom Cahill-Jones. Image by Phil Banting
C:13 Develop the Black Horse Stables and Beer House Pub Quiz. The quiz takes
its name from the Beerhouse that was sited on the Baths site from circa
1830.The quiz would take place at the Three Horseshoes, British Oak, and
other local pubs – the Highbury, Grant Arms, Selly Park Tavern, Dog Pool
Tavern if reopened, The Country Girl.
C:14 Contribute to the Love Stirchley More Festival if there is a successful funding
application - looking at memories of local people meeting, flirting, courting
and falling in love at Stirchley Baths. This can be an output of the oral history
project.
C:15 Work in partnership with the new Stirchley Local History Group and
Birmingham Heritage and Archives Service to create an archive both
physical and digital of material (photos, oral history, memorabilia) on
Stirchley Baths and other local history to deposit in Birmingham Archives. A
history loans box to be produced for local storage at the Baths, for
community use and as a schools resource. See V:3.
C:16 A participatory arts project with St Andrews’s Healthcare, a mental health
charity located in Stirchley, which draws a parallel between Stirchley Baths
and recovery from mental health. The idea that the recovery of the building
from something lost and damaged into something that is going to be useful
again is like the mental health recovery journey. Working with a professional
artist over four sessions, the patients will create artwork for temporary
display at the community ‘hub’ (perhaps in the café).
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47. C:17 Partnership projects with Joseph Chamberlain 'Film Production Club' and
other local students to make short film documentaries to feature the SB
project; to support evaluation and create content for the website.
C:18 Two special 'historic' film nights relevant to the Baths including films about
historic lidos, swimming pools etc… organised by Stirchley Happenings.
C:19 Retrieve the community time capsule buried at the former Community
Centre (from the 1960s) and invite local residents to an event to contribute
to a new 2014 time capsule. Both will be buried under the pool, and visible
under the Perspex flooring for visitors on heritage tours and event days.
C:20 Working with representatives from 5-6 established Community Centre user
groups and Stirchley Community School, create a series of panels using
glass tiles and mosaic techniques to depict the history and heritage of
Stirchley, including the Baths (tile work inspired by the tiling and glazed
brickwork throughout the building). The individual panels can be mounted
together to form a collective piece of community artwork which can be
installed inside the building or at another location in Stirchley. See Boreham
example below.
It is recommended that the delivery and coordination of the above is managed
by the HDO.
3.6.6
Recommendations: Learning.
Heritage is important for the future success of the building. However, the primary
function of Stirchley Baths community ‘hub’ will not be a museum, nor a heritage
‘attraction’. It will be a living, vibrant community space which draws upon its rich
heritage. It is envisaged that special event days and a monthly ‘heritage tour’ will be
offered in yrs 2-3 to provide opportunities for access to the heritage and develop the
target audiences identified in this study. If successful, these may continue as a
permanent part of the Community ‘hub’s programme. The building provides a
wonderful resource for learning; informally through events and family activities
designed with learning outcomes; and formally for schools to deliver areas of the
National Curriculum.
Juggling demand from schools and regular bookings may become problematic. The
recommendation would be to programme two hours a week as provision for school
activity in the large hall. This will enable a group of 30 children at a time to visit the
site for a facilitated session. The two themed learning packages which have been
identified as useful resources by two different primary schools are: Local Studies
(history, geography, citizenship, industry, maps) and World War II. Local Studies will
have a limited uptake from schools outside the area, but WWII themed resources and
facilitated sessions are expected to be popular across the city, despite recent
changes in the history curriculum.
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