Thank you to everyone who attended Thursday’s Digbeth Summit: Keeping Digbeth Different event. We recorded an attendance of at least 75 people, which is very encouraging for our first event of this kind!

As well as thanking everyone who attended, Digbeth Residents Association would also like to extend thanks to our keynote speakers, Shabana Mahmood MP and Mark Barrow from Birmingham City Council, for supporting the Digbeth Summit. Special thanks also go to our volunteer facilitators for running the group discussions and feeding back to the wider attendance.

As promised at the event, Mark Barrow kindly agreed to share the presentation he gave; please find a copy of the slides below. Videos and a report of the group discussions from the Digbeth Summit will also be made available on mydigbeth.co.uk as soon as possible.

Initial responses to the event have been positive, and we may hold a follow-up in future. As such, DRA is looking for any feedback, be it positive or negative, to help our planning. Comments can be sent by email, Twitter, Facebook or by posting a response in the comments after this article.

Of course, this event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors: the Custard Factory, South Birmingham College, Bay Leaf Restaurant and the Urban Futures Project at the University of Birmingham.

Digbeth Summit M Barrow 16.02.12

Digbeth Residents Association is celebrating after receiving a £700 grant from Birmingham & Black Country Community Foundation on behalf of RD Crusaders Foundation and Express Group. The funding was received from the Reclaim Our Streets fund, one of the many administered by the Foundation.

Pamela Pinski, Secretary for DRA, said: “This grant will allow Digbeth Residents Association to become a more active group in the area, helping to bring about a feeling of community as well as cohesion between the various different and distinct groups who call Digbeth home. Digbeth Residents Association would like to thank the Reclaim Our Streets fund for this donation.”

Yvonne Palmer, Director – Operations & Programmes of Birmingham & Black Country Community Foundation said: “We are delighted to be able to award this grant to Digbeth Residents Association, and to support them in the work they are doing in their community. The Foundation is all about supporting local people to find local solutions to local problems, by distributing money to people who really do and will make a difference for the future.”

To learn about other supporters of DRA, please click here.

After I reported the Birmingham St Patrick’s Parade was in jeopardy, the local media showed interest in the story and DRA’s Chairperson, Val Wooodward, appeared on BBC WM Radio as a result.

Here, John McMahon of Birmingham’s premier Irish magazine, An Craic, has very kindly written an article for us to bring us up to date with what happened at the EGM recently:

Having successfully arranged the previous two Festivals, the St Patrick’s board have now passed on the torch to new directors – synching with the torch bearing tradition of this the Olympic year. Not surprising then that the main focus for the parade on Sunday March 11 is Irish Sport, and it is with great pleasure that the leading lights of Irish sports men and women based in Birmingham have been asked to be this year’s flag bearers. If you’re a sportsperson with Irish connections – get in touch – for yourself, your sport or your team. We’d love your support at this years parade.

Preparations are well underway to continue the great tradition of the Birmingham St Patrick’s Parade and its supporting fringe events. The civic reception and launch this year will be at The Irish Centre on Friday March 9th. Set your clocks though to be bright and early at the main event – The Parade – Sunday March 11 at twelve noon. As ever the principal feature and focus is The Birmingham Irish and its surrounding communities – blending the traditional with the contemporary: floats and walking groups from the counties, traditional marching bands, GAA groups, dancing schools and the general weird and whacky of Parade day. ‘St PatRocks’ will continue the custom started several years ago of showcasing more contemporary local Irish bands whose members have Irish roots – this will be hosted at the HMV institute.

As with previous years anyone heading to Digbeth on parade day will be submersed in a sea of green and overwhelmed by the infectious sense of such a good natured and joyous occasion. Marvel at the parade – and then enjoy the Craic in many of Digbeth’s finest hostelries – many of which remain resolutely Irish in their devotion. Other fringe events leading up to St Patrick’s Day itself include an Irish Film night, Art installation, Race night, Irish Ale night, Irish literary event and Irish music nights.

We need You. As ever being a voluntary organisation we really do count on the support of individuals – so whether you can volunteer as a steward, are keen to enter a float or walk in the parade, are prepared to help raise sponsorship for us – do contact us. And if everyone can remember to throw a pound into the collection boxes – you will be doing your community proud.

St Patrick’s Festival 2012 starts with the civic reception and launch night on Friday 9th March at The Irish Centre. For tickets and details of the launch, parade and all St Patricks’ events – visit the website at stpatricksbirmingham.com.

Thanks John!

Please see a message from Aftab Rahman, Director of Bay Leaf Restaurant in the Custard Factory, and supporter of Digbeth Residents Association:

In my role as the Director of Legacy WM, I have been working on the ‘Bangla food journeys’ over the last year.  I have researched the early arrival of Bangladeshi people into the UK and looked at the food that they ate when they arrived in the 50/60s.  I have interviewed first generation Bangladeshi people and collected their experiences of when they first arrived.  I have also interviewed a few English people on their experiences of when they first met Bangladeshi people.  Finally, I have interviewed younger Bangladeshi people and collected their stories and recipes.  This information has been used to produce a beautiful book.

The book was officially launched on the 15th Jan 2012 at the Drum and it was a great success

I would like invite you to the promotion on the 9th February at 6.30pm at Bay Leaf.  The evening will include light refreshments and a presentation from me.  This will be followed by a discounted two course Bangladeshi meal for only £9.90.  The project has been funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.  You will get a free signed copy of the book.

Place are limited so, please confirm your attendance by e-mailing aftab.rahman1@yahoo.co.uk  to avoid disappointment.

Kind regards

Aftab Rahman
Managing Director

Bay Leaf
Café – Bar – Restaurant
www.bayleaf-restaurant.co.uk
0121 224 7700

As you are no doubt aware, metal theft is an increasing problem which affects many people, businesses and buildings. Theft of cables is a particular problem as well as lead from churches and heritage buildings. We have produced a special edition e-newsletter to highlight this problem and what you can help to do about it.

Download the e-newsletter here.

To join the DRA Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, please visit www.ourwatch.org.uk and click on sign up in the top right corner.