 | | Lozells Road |
When residents in the Lozells and Handsworth area are approached by the media, chances are they will look at them with suspicion. Too often the media focus their reports on gang cultures, friction between communities and how gun crime is on the rise. BBC WM and CSV will be working together over a three week period between 9th – 28th October, on a Make a Difference Day campaign based in Handsworth and Lozells, highlighting the positive work that's going on in the area. Residents have their sayThe project also coincides with the arrival of BBC WM’s new breakfast show presenter Phil Upton. Phil says: "I have only been at BBC WM for a week and I am still very much the new kid on the block, but I am relishing the chance to get involved so early on in my BBC career with the Make a Difference Project.  | | Phil Upton |
"Last year the national media put Handsworth and Lozells in the media spot light highlighting the divisions between the African Caribbean and Asian communities that were the catalyst for last years’ events. "I can’t wait to discover some of the positive work that is going on in the area and to work with different communities, and in doing so create some good news for the media to report on." Listen to residents talk about the daily issues they face living in the Lozells and Handsworth area. About CSV Make A Difference Day | | CSV Make a Difference Day |
CSV Make a Difference Day is the largest day of volunteering. This year thousands of people all over the UK will be doing something on Saturday 28th October to make a big difference to a school, community group, charity, places of worship and much more in their local area. BBC WM and CSV will be completing three projects over a three week period with volunteer support and funding from Barclay's Bank who support Make a Difference Day - also with the help of local community organisations, local businesses and places of worship. Decision makers are called to accountDuring the three week campaign BBC WM will be helping to put together a number of “Call to Account” meetings. These meetings will provide the opportunity for the residents and communities of Lozells and Handsworth to put their questions directly to the decision makers, including the local council, police and community leaders, asking why promises of regeneration in the area have not been met. Stay tuned to BBC WM on 95.6FM to follow the progress of the projects over the next three weeks across all programming. Features will also appear here on the BBC Birmingham website which will include video, audio and pictures. Make a Difference Day campaign - Project 1The Handsworth Day Centre, St. Peter's Road | | Playtime at Handsworth Day Care Centre |
The Handsworth Day Care Centre is a charity organisation. The centre is used as a crèche and an after school facility for children in the local area. There are two long back yards behind the day centre that have fallen into disrepair and parts cannot be used by the children. On Wednesday 11th October, CSV and an army of Barclay’s volunteers from the Soho Road, Handsworth branch, will be spending the day digging a sandpit area and painting and decorating a newly installed craft shed. The make over will give the children greater access to play outdoors in safety. Listen to the day care centre manager Millie talk to Phil Upton about activities at the centre. Listen to the interview Make a Difference Day campaign - Project 2Shades of Black project - Uplands allotment, HandsworthThe Shades of Black project enables young people in the Handsworth area to learn basic gardening skills.  | | On the allotments with Shades of Black |
On the Uplands allotment in Handsworth, children from local schools are taught about the soil, seed germination, digging, planting, watering, weeding. It’s now the end of the harvest and the schools will pick the vegetables and give them out to the elderly in the area as part of a harvest festival assembly. On Tuesday 17th October volunteers from the BBC WM CSV Action Desk will help to wash and box the vegetables for the Harvest Festival assembly which will take place on Wednesday 18th October at Rockery school. See the highlightsTake a look at a picture gallery and see video highlights of all the hard work done by the school children, Shades of Black volunteers and the CSV Make a Difference Day team over the three day harvest with Shades of Black. See the highlights below Make a Difference Day campaign - Project 3Changing Rooms in Lozells – with Young Disciples and Lozells Recreation Group.It's one year on since the Lozells disturbances in October 2005. Instead of the usual media focus on being whether there is still tension between the Black and Asian communities in the area, we're doing Make a Difference Day - Changing Rooms in Lozells. This will show the real unity in the area between African Caribbean and Asian young people.  | | Young people at Young Disciples |
Young people from Young Disciples and the Lozells Recreation group will swap properties and decorate each others centre just like the BBC Changing Rooms TV programme. The make over day will take place on Wednesday 25th October, with the help of an army of 50 Barclays Bank volunteers from across Birmingham and the West Midlands, made up of managers and departmental staff. Also volunteering on the day will be a UCE interior design student and local painters and decorators.  | | Lozells Recreation Group |
The event aims to be a fun packed day of activities that will help make a huge difference to the young people who attend both centres. Tune into BBC WM throughout the day for a live progress report on how it’s all going and see loads of pictures and video footage from the day on the BBC Birmingham website. For more information about CSV Make a Difference day visit the website. http://www.csv.org.uk/campaigns | 
