Old Farts, Smoke and Bicycles David Cameron’s “Big Society” policy failed to capture the imagination of the British population. Its prominence in the 2010 election manifesto was not borne out by the subsequent legislation, nor did it show impact in the projects sponsored on the ground. Did this foreshadow government’s diminishing ability to cross the …
Rising Tides Recent social trends such as an ageing population and the democratisation of information, through the internet, ought to be good news stories. So why are they creating new pressures on public service systems? Especially when, lifestyle medicine with its focus on nutrition, sleep and exercise over medication, is gaining traction. We’re living in …
Read All About It On the 23rd June 2016, the “B” word became the defining socio-political issue of our time. It was like flipping a coin that landed on its edge then watching in slow motion as it teetered, knowing whichever way it eventually lands it will delight some and isolate others. Those others being …
Facing Up to Isolation The small conversations at Charisse Kenion’s event last week were thought-provoking, to say the least. On a dreary, rain-drenched morning, people turned out to enjoy a coffee and a casual chat, before sitting for a portrait. One sitter talked about “how it was back then” when she and her husband of …
Food Glorious Food Sylvia has a passion for growing food and, as it turns out, a desire to share it. We first met her in April 2018 when she came along to a community event in Kings Heath and took a keen interest in the nutrition conversations. She grew up in the Carribean where she …
Green with hints of blue and gold There are good reasons why Birmingham and the wider West Midland ecosystem is the perfect environment for an emerging wellbeing phenomenon. As Joseph Chamberlain said, “In great fields, something stays ..” Birmingham is currently the only UK city that is part of the global “Biophilic Cities” network along …
Previously, we talked about how this wellbeing service brings together members on the one hand (they’re neither patients nor clients whilst they’re in the Hub) and makers on the other. We went so far as to suggest there appears to be a new breed of makers who have a very particular focus and dedication to …
New Outcomes Call for New Spaces When we first started to work with the SmartCare organisation and talked through the design principles of their wellbeing service, it quickly became clear they had a serious intent to do something innovative. Their Social Prescribing Lead, Dr Aftab, wanted to mesh two sets of data. Firstly, she was meticulous about what …
Are You a Neomaker? We had a great event on the 25th April at the Hazelwell Hub in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Don’t take our word for it. We’ve been talking to the attendees and reviewing the feedback. We can tell you, some very interesting themes are emerging from those conversations. Everyone who came along wants to do …
