In 1970, Mohammed Ayub (‘Mr Ayub’) founded Oriental Star Agencies (OSA) in Balsall Heath. OSA went onto become a leading influence on the Asian music scene, importing, promoting and producing music from the Indian subcontinent as well as nurturing talent among the young Asian diaspora. It remained at its Balsall Heath site until 2017.

Join East in West Vinyl Archive and Bearwood Community Hub at Thimblemill Library for an interactive listening session and collage workshop.

Share stories and histories over tea & samosas, and connect through music from the archive.

Are your shelves overflowing with toys that your children have outgrown? Time to clear some space and find new treasures!

Date: Thursday 29th May (during half term)

Time: Drop off your toys from 1pm in exchange for tokens to spend at the Swap which starts from 2pm-3.30pm

Location: Thimblemill Library

Bring your gently-used toys, games, and books to swap with others in the community! It’s a fun and eco-friendly way to refresh playtime without breaking the bank.

How it works:

Bring toys in good condition - no more than 3 per child.

Receive tokens to spend at the swap, then come along from 2pm and find something new-to-you!

Share the joy of giving and receiving. All left over toys will be donated to the Bearwood Community Hub free shop.

Spread the word and tag your friends!

#ToySwap #CommunityEvent #EcoFriendlyFun #FamilyFun #smethickurbanroom #childfriendlysmethwick

Booking is required through eventbrite

Join us for a multi-sensory music & movement session with Fantastic Journeys this Half Term as part of the Urban Room’s tour around Smethwick!

The Peacocks Feather

Exploring the wonder of the most beautiful bird in the world,  join Peter and Raghad from Fantastic Journeys on a feather-based adventure.  During this multi-sensory music and movement session participants will explore different textures and use a range of props.  There will also be opportunities to take part through singing, vocalising and instrument playing. These sessions are designed to deliver a life affirming, empowering and creative experience. 

Families will be invited to share their thoughts on their local environment at the end of the session:

• What do you love about where you live?

• What could be better?

• What challenges do you face?

• What does your dream town look like?

Funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority as part of the Urban Room Smethwick, run by Bearwood Community Hub

Booking is required through eventbrite

Join us for a multi-sensory music & movement session with Fantastic Journeys this Half Term as part of the Urban Room’s tour around Smethwick!

The Peacocks Feather

Exploring the wonder of the most beautiful bird in the world,  join Peter and Raghad from Fantastic Journeys on a feather-based adventure.  During this multi-sensory music and movement session participants will explore different textures and use a range of props.  There will also be opportunities to take part through singing, vocalising and instrument playing. These sessions are designed to deliver a life affirming, empowering and creative experience. 

Families will be invited to share their thoughts on their local environment at the end of the session:

• What do you love about where you live?

• What could be better?

• What challenges do you face?

• What does your dream town look like?

Funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority as part of the Urban Room Smethwick, run by Bearwood Community Hub

What’s it like being a young person in Bearwood & Smethwick?

Drop in anytime between 12pm-4pm on Wednesday 28th May and get creative with us, as we build a photo gallery of the local neighbourhood.

Come and explore your local high street using polaroid cameras, or contribute your own

pictures using your phone. Whether you want to spend the day making art with us, contribute a photo or a quote, or just share a thought about living in Smethwick, this workshop is all about capturing young people’s daily life on the high street and beyond. Join us either outside on the high street, or inside Bear Bookshop to piece together the experiences of young people in the area through photography.

(Ages 13 and over)

Bring along your: seeds, gardening tips, plant pots, cuttings & swap them with your neighbours!

Have you ever wondered:

“When should I plant those seeds?”

“How do I grow my own tomatoes?”

“How can I encourage more bees in my front garden?”

“Where/how do I get started?”

Then join Bearwood Gardener’s Group for a fun evening of beginner friendly advice & garden sprucing crafts!

Suitable for all ages and abilities - Novices encouraged!

Come and help us imagine a new child friendly neighbourhood—built from cardboard, tubes, tape, and big ideas! This playful, hands-on family session invites children and their grown-ups to explore themes of place, home, and community through junk modelling.

Join us at Smethwick Urban Room (at Smethwick Library) for FREE crafting and creativity!

FREE refreshments and children’s goodie bag!

Admission fee: Pay What You Can
Age rating: 5+

Join us for a drop-in workshop to create a cardboard toy theatre!

Inspired by the popular Victorian home entertainment, we'll choose a story to adapt to our small stage. We'll use collage, drawing and painting to design and decorate a proscenium, backdrops, props and characters and conclude with an opportunity for a 'show & tell'!