Birmingham's child emigrants revisited

Annual Report Middlemore Homes
 showing ‘before and after’ photos

The Balsall Heath Local History Society has received £32,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project concerning the Children’s Emigration Homes. These were founded by John Middlemore in Highgate in 1873 and are an important aspect of Birmingham’s heritage.

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project aims to make contact with living relatives of people who were in the Homes and to raise awareness through displays, talks, work with schools and an exhibition. The local History Society will be looking for volunteers to help us in a variety of roles which will offer an opportunity to enhance skills.

Literally thousands of destitute children spent up to a year at these homes before being sent off to be settled with farmers in the backwoods of Canada. They were part of a much larger picture of child emigration, but this project is to concentrate just on the Middlemore Homes.

There is huge interest in Canada, where it is estimated that over 10% of the current population are descendants of Home Children. However, there is relatively little awareness in Birmingham of the work of the Children's Emigration Homes and the impact they have had on the lives of people today.

Val Hart from the Local History Society said: 

“We are delighted to have received support, thanks to National Lottery players, and are looking forward to Interpreting the work of the Homes to the people of Birmingham.”

Vanessa Harbar, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands said: 

"We are delighted to support this project, which, thanks to money raised by National
Lottery players, will mean that more people will be able to get involved with, protect, and learn about the exciting heritage right on their doorstep.”

Please contact Val to find out more:

valhart1@googlemail.com
0121 689 2584

Also they're looking for a project manager:

http://www.balsallheathhistory.co.uk/project-officer.html

My time with PHC

Since September, I’ve been working with People’s Heritage Co-op for my placement on the Professional Skills module on my history course at the University of Birmingham. Now that my placement is over, it has made me reflect on everything I have done over the past seven months, and the progress that I’ve made in that time. When I chose this placement, I did so as it seemed like an opportunity to do something unlike any previous work experience I had taken, but I did not realise just how varied my work would be or how rewarding I would find it.

Making Birmingham Votes Count

Debating Representation in Council Chambers
6th February 2018

Following our Rally celebrating 100 years since the signing of 'The Representation of the People Act', People's Heritage Co-operative are working with Birmingham City Council Wellbeing Service seeking funding for a range of activities throughout 2018 and into 2019.

Celebrating Suffrage

200,000 demonstrate their support for suffrage in Birmingham
in 1832, leading to further campaigning for Universal Suffrage 

The Representation of the People Act was signed on 6th February 1918, giving the right to vote to most men and, for the first time, some women. Birmingham played a key role in the UK history of suffrage and we'll be celebrating on 6th February 2018 between 11 and 2pm outside Birmingham Council House.

If you can't join us please take part in our quick survey.

Past, Present, Future: Women Shaping History

Dominant perception: Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst
arrested for militancy

On 13^th January I was fortunate enough to attend the Fabian Society New Year conference in London. In light of the recent prominence of campaigns such as Me Too and Time’s Up, as well as the Westminster sexual harassment scandal, gender inequality was a major theme throughout the conference, beginning with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s inspiring keynote speech on female empowerment and the discrimination and adversity which women continue to face.