The Youth Board’s work is varied and focuses on enabling members to gain invaluable entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills through experiential learning. Members receive training and guidance from knowledgeable Trustees and Trust partners, but are also given responsibility to collaborate and run their own projects.
Here is are examples of previous projects that the Youth Board has undertaken:
Working with an artist, University of Birmingham students and The Moseley Society – Local History group, Youth Board members have interviewed local residents, supported the design and created content for the new Map finding hidden spaces in Moseley.
Culminating in a beautiful art installation in Highbury’s grounds, our ‘We are all birds of one sky’ project will be an opportunity for everyone to join together to create an exhibition which celebrates our diversity and community.
The Youth Board are working on creating craft packs and distributing these to a range of people through community groups, craft and school fairs, and more. A simple and creative way to contribute to community art-making, these will be displayed at the vibrant KHARnival! in July. They’ll also be an opportunity to craft these at the festival itself.
Youth Board members have been working to facilitate King Heath Action for Refugees’ (KHAR) KHARnival! festival this year. Taking place on 17th July 2022, the festival will have a range of activities, stalls, and more organised by KHAR taking place in the grounds alongside activities and tours taking place inside Highbury. It’ll be a fabulous day full of fun for all ages so come join us.
George Dawson, founder of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Memorial Library, was a persuasive preacher who inspired Joseph Chamberlain ‘s political ideas and renowned skills as an orator. These workshops will be practical and involve performing, drama, text analysis and creating visual arts. Chiefly focusing on speeches made to crowds and that caused a stir! The workshops will lead to a community performance at Highbury on the day that Shakespeare’s First Folio visits us in September 2022. Youth Board members and our Interns are working on promotion and delivery design for this project.
Offering consultation and support to Kings Heath Growing Up Green week will be an extra project in September 2022.
SUSTAINABILITY:
Highbury Sustainability Festival 2021
The Youth Board worked hard to coordinate Highbury’s Sustainability Festival for the summer of 2021. Despite the challenges of working through the ongoing effects of the pandemic, members of the Youth Board created a fun and educational day for the local community.
Joseph Chamberlain and Highbury
We had wonderful face to face and online discussions with people about what makes Birmingham feel like Home. Speaking to international students and non native and adopted Brummies gave a sense of why setting up home in the midlands was a great idea for the Chamberlain Family and for us.
Exploring Chamberlain’s actual words alongside his work really helped understand his popularity and his tenacity.
It was great to think about our portrait poses and offer places for people to explore a sense of self through the way they style themselves and the things they hold close.