COMMUNITY FUN DAY IN BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE ON SATURDAY 24 AUGUST
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) is to host a Community Fun Day at Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row, B3 2QB
This will be the first time that the Trust has held one of its popular community events in the city centre. Helping to raise mental health awareness, these community fun days have been a fixture in the Trust’s calendar since 2012, with events having been held annually at its sites across Birmingham and Solihull.
This year, BSMHFT has joined forces with Birmingham Cathedral and youth homelessness charity, St Basils, to deliver one large event on the grounds of the cathedral. This free event will be held on Saturday 24 August 2019 from 12pm to 5pm.
There will be a host of exciting activities available including fun and games for all the family, arts and crafts stalls, creative workshops and information stalls. Live performances will include the Wellbeing Community Choir, the Fire Service Brass Band and the artists of music label, GTs Records.
This event will provide a great opportunity to not only find out about the work of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and their partners, but also help to challenge the stigma still experienced by many people who live with mental ill health and/or who are homeless.
Beresford Dawkins, Community Development Manager, said “Over the past seven years the community fun days have attracted hundreds of people across Birmingham and Solihull, showcasing the support services that are available in these communities and promoting positive mental health. This year we have partnered with Birmingham Cathedral and St Basils to host this event on a bigger scale. We look forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be a special event.”
Barrie Hodge, Head of Fundraising and Communications at St Basils, said, “We are absolutely delighted to partner with the mental health trust on this event. Unfortunately there is still such a stigma associated with mental health and homelessness. This event has been set up to challenge that and we hope that the public will embrace the positive work our organisations do.”
Anna Pitt, Chief Executive at Birmingham Cathedral said: “We are delighted to be able to host this event in Cathedral Square. The Cathedral is committed to working with excellent partners such as BSMHFT and St Basils to serve the community. The Fun Day will be a great opportunity to offer support and information and to demonstrate a shared commitment to community wellbeing.”
For more information please contact Selina Harrison, Communications Assistant on 0121 301 1238 or email selinaharrison@nhs.net
Notes for editors:
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provides a comprehensive mental healthcare service for residents of Birmingham and Solihull, and to communities in the West Midlands and beyond. The Trust operates out of more than 40 sites, serves a culturally and socially diverse population of 1.3 million spread over 172 square miles, has an income of more than £240million and a dedicated workforce of around 4,000 staff. A wide range of local and regional services and partnerships covering inpatient, community and specialist mental healthcare make it one of the most complex mental health foundation trusts in the country.
More information can be found at www.bsmhft.nhs.uk
St Basils
St Basils works with young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, helping over 5,000 young people per year across the West Midlands region with specific services in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, the Wyre Forest and Coventry. Every year over 1500 young people are housed in our 34 supported accommodation schemes, which for some young people, includes their young children as well.
More information can be found at www.stbasils.org.uk
Birmingham Cathedral
Built in 1715 as the new parish church ‘on the hill’, Birmingham Cathedral is a rare and fine example of elegant English Baroque architecture. It is Grade 1 listed and one of the oldest buildings in the city still used for its original purpose. Fascinating both inside and out, the and amazing stories, all set amongst the daily rhythm of people criss-crossing a unique part of Birmingham.
More information can be found at www.birminghamcathedral.com/