This week (1-7 June 2026) we are joining thousands of charities and voluntary organisations across the UK to mark National Volunteers Week and say a huge thank you to our Birmingham Settlement Superstars!

We have over one hundred volunteers across our sites that support us with their time, expertise and kindness. Whether through conversation, admin, serving customers, developing our green spaces, or running a group, our volunteers commit on average 1,500 hours per month helping Birmingham Settlement and enriching the lives of others.

Over the last year we have recruited volunteers to support some of our newer projects including Share My Language classes teaching English, Cyber Savvy to support people with IT basics and a Garden and Grow group to develop the green space at the Sports and Community Centre.

Momina joined us at the start of 2026 to run ‘Share My Language’ as a volunteer lead group, her expertise and tailored classes are supporting people to improve their language skills and is also supporting Momina to develop her teaching skills.

“Through this experience, I have learned so much and become more involved with the local community. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching these classes, getting to know the pupils and supporting them in achieving their language learning goals. Birmingham Settlement has provided the opportunity for me to pursue my vocation enabling me to grow both personally and professionally, all the while contributing to supporting our local community.”

Looking after the environment and connecting people with nature is a big part of our work. Our Friends of the Field support the development of the Nature and Wellbeing Centre with gardening and site maintenance. John has been a friend for the past two years after attending the centre for a session and being invited to volunteer. When asked what motivates him to volunteer with us, he told us:

“Volunteering is of benefit to me, I need to keep fit and active, I like meeting different people and intelligent conversation! It’s a bit of everything here.”

During Volunteers Week, we will be recognising our volunteers’ contribution with a celebration picnic in the grounds of our Nature and Wellbeing Centre. Volunteer Coordinator Maria Chapman said:

“We are very grateful to our volunteers and the ways in which they go above and beyond and enhance what we can provide to our communities. The picnic is just one small way to come together in celebration. We are proud to have a wide range of volunteers, reflective of Birmingham’s diverse communities with varied skills and life experience. We simply couldn’t do all the things we do to support people without them. THANK YOU!”

Interested in volunteering? Contact volunteer@bsettlement.org.uk to find out more!

We like to collect regular feedback from our communities to find out what they have been enjoying, and what they would like to see in future. Here is how we have acted on feedback from our last Ageing Well forum!

As we prepare for our next Ageing Well forum, let us reflect on the feedback gathered from our previous forum held in November. Service user feedback is incredibly important to us as it allows us to find out what is working well and how we can better support our communities by meeting their wants and needs. Our Ageing Well service caters to adults aged 50+ across our sites in Kingstanding and Ladywood, and we work hard to sustain this service – ensuring it remains enjoyable, accessible, and inclusive.

Ageing Well Feedback

INFORMATIVE

CARING

Ageing Well Suggestions

CHESS CLUB

COOKERY DEMONSTRATIONS

You Said, We Did!

Acting on this insightful feedback, take a look at what we have added to our community offer across our centres!

Woodwork

At the Nature & Wellbeing Centre, we launched Creative Shed – a session every Friday to teach those aged 50+ valuable skills in woodwork, crafting, and the safe use of tools. Attendees have enjoyed making Swift bird boxes, Christmas wreaths, and wooden signs.

Cookery Demonstrations

We hosted Chef Justina of Vegetarian for Life, providing a 3-course vegan cookery demonstration at the Sports & Community Centre. With an amazing turnout, attendees learnt how to make Coronation ‘Chicken’, Root Vegetable Tagine, Cous Cous Salad, and Banana and Peanut Butter Milkshake. As well as getting to taste-test the food, participants learnt useful cooking skills such as how to chop vegetables safely and how to reduce food waste.

Allotments

At the Sports & Community Centre, we recently set up our new Garden & Grow volunteer group. This team of experienced and newbie gardeners have been working together to transform our outdoor space, planting fruits and vegetables in the polytunnel and grow beds and partaking in general site maintenance. We look forward to updating on their progress!

Our next Ageing Well forum is set to take place on Wednesday 10th August, 1pm-3pm.

It is great to reflect on feedback from our amazing attendees who help shape our services and give such great ideas to improve and develop our weekly offer.

We caught up with Kathy, an all-rounder Birmingham Settlement volunteer and regular attendee of our Sports & Community Centre sessions – see what she had to say about volunteering with us below!

Kathy (right) volunteering at our Sewing Group.

Kathy joined our volunteering team after attending some of our activities at the Sports & Community Centre, and now has two roles with us. Kathy’s experience is a great example of volunteering benefitting our work at Birmingham Settlement, but also having a positive impact on a person’s own wellbeing.

Research shows that volunteering is good for you, it can provide a sense of purpose, community connection, it can develop your skills, improve mental health and could enhance career development. At Birmingham Settlement, people join us for all sorts of reasons and whatever your reason for volunteering might be, it’s time well spent.

Find your role with us and help our communities to live happier, healthier lives. Whether you’re an excellent listener, enjoy getting crafty, are an expert at admin or love being connected to nature, we’ve got the role for you. We have recently set up our new Garden and Grow group at the Sports & Community Centre, Kingstanding and we are looking for volunteers to support Saturdays at the Nature & Wellbeing Centre, so do get in touch if you would like to join us.

Not able to commit to regular volunteering? Not a problem! We can also offer opportunities to support and be part of our events throughout the year. As an event ambassador volunteer, you can choose to support our Neighbourhood Futures Festival, fun days, seasonal events and open days, you can commit as little or as many days throughout the year as you would like.

Or contact Maria on volunteer@bsettlement.org.uk to find out more or apply.

On Sunday 3rd May, a team of Birmingham Settlement staff, volunteers, and supporters took on the challenge of the Great Birmingham Run.

A team comprised of 12 Birmingham Settlement staff, volunteers, and supporters came together on Sunday to take part in the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run – a 10k or half marathon route through Birmingham City Centre. Team members ran, jogged, or walked, starting through the Jewellery Quarter and finishing near Aston University.

Our team raised almost £3,500 towards Birmingham Settlements’ work, which will be used to continue delivering and developing our important activities and services in our Birmingham communities. Thank you to everyone who donated to our runners or to the Birmingham Settlement team! Everyone had a great time and it was nice to see staff, volunteers, and supporters coming together to fundraise towards our work.

Fundraising is essential to sustaining our work in the community. If your organisation is interested in making a meaningful impact through corporate partnerships or fundraising, we’d love to hear from you.

It’s not too late if you would like to make a donation to our team! Donations are gratefully received and all proceeds will go towards sustaining our community work. Find the link to our JustGiving page here.

Following receiving a grant from King Charles III Charitable Fund, we will continue delivering and developing our composting and planting work!

We are extremely pleased to have been successful in receiving a grant from the King Charles III Charitable Fund (KCCF) as part of the Coronation Food Project. This funding will be used to further our composting, planting, and food production work across our sites of the Sports & Community Centre, Kingstanding, and the Nature & Wellbeing Centre, Ladywood.

Founded in 1979 by King Charles III and inspired by His Majesty’s values of harmony and sustainability, King Charles III Charitable Fund is committed to helping people and communities to change the world around them, creating lasting improvements to people’s lives and a sustainable future for all.

The Coronation Food Project, established in 2023, works to tackle food waste and reduce hunger, working with organisations across the country to combat these growing issues.

Vegetables grown onsite.

At the Sports & Community Centre, Kingstanding, we will be making use of our new Polytunnel, installed last year, and our Grow Beds, where we will be beginning food growing and planting a variety of fruits and vegetables. Produce grown onsite will be used to create community meals, and attendees will also be able to take home some of what they have grown.

Our newly established Garden & Grow group of volunteers are eager to get started on transforming our outdoor space. This team of seasoned gardeners and newcomers who want to develop their knowledge will work together to create new Grow Beds, plant various crops, and take up general outdoors maintenance.

Interested in joining Garden & Grow? Contact volunteer@bsettlement.org.uk to find out more. No experience is required, just the willingness to get stuck in!

Our first tomato plants!

Composting, planting, and growing are all important activities we strive to sustain and provide as part of our regular community offer – not only are they a positive for the environment and the local areas, these activities are inclusive and welcoming to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress and providing updates on this work.

To follow along, make sure to follow our social pages:

Main Instagram: @Birminghamsettlement1899

Main Facebook: Birmingham Settlement

Sports & Community Centre:

Birmingham Settlement Sports & Community Centre, 600 Kingstanding Road, B44 9SH

Instagram: @Sportsandcommunitycentre

Facebook: Birmingham Settlement Sports & Community Centre

Nature & Wellbeing Centre:

Birmingham Settlement Nature & Wellbeing Centre, Edgbaston Reservoir, 79 Selwyn Road, B16 0SL

Instagram: @Natureandwellbeingcentre

Facebook: Birmingham Settlement Nature & Wellbeing Centre

I also have an interest in the environment; I’ve been a volunteer campaigner with Birmingham Friends of the Earth and I have my own blog and website where I enjoy writing about environmental issues and my adventures in green action. I want to be an ambassador – to spread the message that nature is for everyone –whether that’s volunteering, or just spending time outdoors.”

Can you tell us more about your relationship with green spaces?

“I always enjoyed visiting parks as a child and playing football with my friends, but there was never the opportunity for much else. Then in 2019 I went on a coach trip to the Peak District – it was my first ever time visiting the countryside and it was a lifechanging experience. It led me to write my first article – Kinder in Colour.

Many people take it for granted that they can access the countryside, but as a British Asian living in inner-city Birmingham, I didn’t feel like it was a space for me. Being part of a group, I felt a new confidence. It also made me realise that sometimes, barriers can be in our mind. Before, I’d always felt a fear – will I be welcome? Most people I know live in towns and cities and feel very disconnected from the great outdoors. It felt like I was stepping into the unknown.

That trip gave me the confidence to actively seek out nature on my doorstep. Lots of people might walk by spaces like the Nature & Wellbeing Centre and think it’s not for them, but I say come in and find out more – just like I did! I now feel so more confident, I’ve met new people and made new friends.

I have plans to go further afield to the Clent Hills, and I hope to join the Birmingham Ramblers. I was also truly humbled to be given the Benjamin Zephaniah Localism Award in 2025 at the Aston Villa Foundation for my role in championing diverse communities to access the countryside and green spaces, and I’m an active member of Footsteps.”

How does nature help you?

“It brings me great joy, a sense of peace and tranquillity. Walking around the Reservoir listening to the sounds of the geese and ducks, it’s like a sensory experience for your mind. It’s also sparked a newfound interest in photography, leading me to find a nature photography group.

We’re so lucky in Birmingham to have the Reservoir so close to the city centre – it encourages everyone to take a walk around. It’s a safe place, there are always people nearby, whether they’re running, walking, or taking their dog for a walk, you’re never alone.”

What would you say to others wanting to spend more time in green spaces?

“At first sight, coming to places like the Nature & Wellbeing Centre might feel intimidating but there are so many friendly people out there – coming to Birmingham Settlement helps you do things you wouldn’t usually consider – and it’s great for health! You can try so many different activities outdoors – I love the amphitheatre space, and opportunities to get involved with organisations like the RSPB.

I look forward to coming knowing I will always be welcome, there’s a cup of tea and a friendly face. I feel connected to everyone – there’s no better place than the Red Shed! Thank you to all the staff and volunteers!”

Toqueer’s top tips for getting out and about in the city

1. Libraries are a fantastic resource – visit your local library to research what’s around you, use the internet and ask questions – don’t be shy about what you want to ask, there will definitely be someone to help you. There are lots of other likeminded people are out there – you are not alone.

2. Why not volunteer? – I’ve discovered that there are so many volunteer opportunities in nature for charities – whether it’s a couple of hours a month, it can be flexible to your own time and needs. It’s a great way to meet likeminded people, gain new skills and confidence – volunteering also opens up other opportunities and interests.

3. Be adventurous! Just that really! Get out and do it! Give it a go – whether it’s a new year’s resolution or a special birthday or simply an ordinary day, why not get out!

If you have been inspired by Toqueer – let us know! Pop into the Red Shed and say hello to our friendly team, or email natureandwellbeing@bsettlement.org.uk to find out how you can get involved. We’d love to welcome you too.

Meet Luke, our new Senior Community Action Worker! We sat down and asked him a few questions about his role.

Luke has joined us recently at the Kingstanding Sports & Community Centre and brings a wealth of experience in community-based activities and services and plenty of new ideas for our centre. Look out for him leading one of our varied activity sessions!

What does your role as Senior Community Action Worker look like on a day-to-day basis?

“My role on a day to day basis is to be that friendly face around the [Sports & Community] Centre, whether it’s towards my co-workers or the general public who use our centre. I also have the role of creating new links or strengthening current links with the public and outside organisations so we can deliver the best to the local community, helping support everyone through development and sustainable change.”

What are you most excited about in this role?

“I’m most excited about the potential the centre has to grow even more. Coming into this role i have been welcomed not just by staff but the local users of the centre already, which makes me even more excited to contribute further to this growing charity.”

What made you want to work here at Birmingham Settlement?

“I have previously worked alongside Birmingham Settlement through another organisation, and even then i saw the potential and the level of engagement with the local community was far greater than that I’ve seen elsewhere and it’s something i had to be a part of.”

What do you enjoy outside of work? 

“I enjoy spending time with my son either going on walks or on adventures, I am also a big football player (although I’m past my prime now). Staying fit and healthy is something I really enjoy. One other thing I’m passionate about is my PC, which i built from scratch and use apps such as premier pro or photoshop to edit pictures and videos others have sent me.”

Is there anything you would like to share with our community?

“A message I would like to share with the community is that the Birmingham Settlement Sports & Community Centre is one of the most friendly and welcoming places, so please don’t be shy to pop in to see us – even if it’s for a cup of tea and a biscuit! You never know, we might be able to introduce you to something you never thought you’d ever do, whether it’s tai-chi, arts and crafts or improving your fitness.”

Be sure to say hello to Luke if you see him around the Sports & Community Centre! To see our full activity timetable, visit the ‘What’s On?’ page by clicking here.