To mark the end of our year-long programme of Beaming Brandwood-themed activities, we programmed two days of fun activities over 7-8 October for the community to enjoy together in our wonderful Brandwood places and green spaces.

The Dawberry Dhol Drumming and Dance Procession

Autumn Community Day
Dawberry Fields Park

We welcomed around 500 people to this community event with delivery partners, the Friends of Dawberry Fields Park, The Active Wellbeing Society (outdoor games and a free lunch) and Parks for Play (messy play). Thank you to Eternal Taal for providing the bhangra beats.

Images by Picture This Media CIC and Charlotte Stokes.

Beaming Brandwood Treasure Hunt

It was great to see families taking part in the 5k challenge by bike and on foot. 

Congratulations to Treasure Hunt makers Trove (Jenny and Ben). Have a go at the Treasure Hunts HERE.

Thank you to our wonderful team of staff and volunteers across the weekend.

Thank you also to our stall holders for coming to the event on Saturday: The Active Wellbeing Society, Parks for Play, Kinmos, University of Birmingham, Birmingham Meditation Centre, The Brandwood Centre, Moseley & Kings Heath Lions, Bee Friendly Brum and Kings Heath Food Bank.

World Smile Day Card Competition

Beaming Brandwood was inspired by the concept of World Smile Day and this year’s challenge to people across the world was to “Do an act of kindness. Help one person SMILE!” World Smile Day was on Friday 6 October and we ran a World Smile Day project with three Colmore Junior School, Woodthorpe Junior and Infant School and Allens Croft Primary School and 960 cards were made by the children.

32 winning cards were chosen as Best In Class winners; not because they were necessarily the best artwork or had the neatest handwriting, but because they showed an understanding of what World Smile Day 2023 was all about and added extra ‘world smile day-inspired’ touches to the suggested basic card format they had been given.

The cards were distributed at events over the Beaming Brandwood Weekender and to residents in local care homes, through local mental health charities, a day centre, projects to reduce loneliness, and through Kings Heath foodbank.

Jessica Yr3

Jessica wrote one of the things what made her smile is “when someone says something kind to me”. Being kind is so important and great for making people smile.

Ted Yr6

Ted wrote that one of the things that made HIM smile was “everyone else around me being happy.”

Lecheng Yr4

A beautifully designed card that asked questions, and left lines for the recipient to respond.

Nellie Yr3

Nellie wrote “you’re beautiful inside and out”.

Aila Yr6

Aila wrote “I hope this card made you happy”.

Arlo Yr5

Arlo’s smile-o-meter was so positive, encouraging and well thought out and finished off at the top with “The best – that’s YOU!”

Rose Yr3

Rose said that one of the things that made her smile was to “give a smile”. Smiling is free and contagious!

Milo Yr5

Inside Milo’s card it said “Keep your smile up and spread it to someone else. Have a good day. Never give your dreams up!”

Ryan Yr5

Inside  Ryan’s card he writes “I hope you are having amazing days. If you’re not remember this card is special and you have it, so you’re special. Remember that.”

Bertie Yr4

We really liked the smiling emoji being turned into the planet for World Smile Day.

Aaron Yr3

Aarah writes on the card “I hope you’re enjoying life”.

Penny Yr6

Penny writes “I hope your day is going great. Remember to smile every day”.

Ida Yr4

Ida’s list of things that make her smile include her “imagination”. It reminds us how important it is to enjoy and find happiness being ourselves!

Kiran Yr4

Kiran lists amongst things that make her smile “making friends, being kind and making people smile”. 

Khairah Yr6

Khairah wrote “I like making people happy, so I hope that you are happy and I hope you make others happy.”

Aran Yr5

Aran (who is definitely not an alien!) made a card that made us laugh out loud! It is very funny. Being silly is a great way to make other people smile.

Habib Yr4

This lovely card by Habib also includes the words “Hope you had a good day”.

Zubair Yr3

We really like Zubair’s “this is you” star and the massive hug he is offering.

Halima Yr2

We really like the way that Halima asks “what is your name?” and says ‘hello’. 

When you say hello to someone it can really brighten their day!

Amelia-Jayne Yr4

We liked Amelia-Jayne’s words on the front of her card; “You are lovely. You are kind and beautiful”.

Daiyaan Yr5

 

Daiyaan offers some great advice in his card. “Emotions are meaningful but it is always best to be joyful and happy because you only have one life which is best to enjoy!”

Hajra Yr5

“Everyone is special” according to Hajra, and we agree. We love how this card shows the love between friends with physical differences.

Josie Yr3

A lovely touch can be found inside Josie’s cheerful card. She says “Nice to meet you.” 

Kaeden Yr4

We really like Kaeden’s message to the person who gets his card: “Whoever you are, have a great day. Have a brilliant time and enjoy the rest of your day”.

Paula Yr6

Paula says she hopes the person who gets her card smiles when they are reading it, and that they are having a good day.

Elias Yr6

 

As well as a funny joke, Elias writes in his card “you’re the best!” and says the things that make him smile are hugs and kindness. Us too.

Emmie (Rec)

You can’t beat watching a bee on a flower. This is such a bee-autiful card Emmie.

Ernest Yr 3

 

Ernest says in his card “I hope you’re happy.” a lovely thing to wish for someone else.

Harry Yr 4

Super

Magical

Incredible

Luxurious

IS

Everyone

Marvellous mnemonic Harry!

Kayden Yr 2

These two smiley people on Kayden’s card looks like they are offering a big hug of friendship. That made us smile.

Molly Yr 5/6

SMILE!

Maximum smiles makes people feel good

Inside you, you should feel happy when you smile

Let’s get everyone smiling, not just yourself

Everyone should be happy.

Magical mnemonic Molly!

Ajuni Yr 1

Such a colourful card! We agree with Ajuni, going to the park and spending time in nature can really make you smile.

Some of the recipients wrote back to the children!

During the weekender all the events were free and we encouraged everyone to ‘pay it forward’ and do an act of kindness by either donating an item(s) or money if they were in a position to. These donations were distributed to Kings Heath Food Bank and Baby Aid Birmingham. 

The Beaming Brandwood Big Give Weekender was funded by a grant from Birmingham City Council.