Our History
The Trust had small beginnings in Balsall Heath in the 1960s. At that time the neighborhood was still suffering from the effects of the heavy bombing during the Second World War. Priority for rebuilding went to the City Centre and the slow process of recovery and regeneration locally did not start until the 1970s.
For many people living here in the 1960s this was a terrible time. Bomb “pecks” (sites) were almost the only playgrounds for children. Many houses were decaying, damaged and overcrowded. Many lacked indoor bathrooms or toilets. As the area declined, it became a magnet for anyone looking for a cheap place to live and newcomers were often not welcomed by the surviving pre-war residents. Added to this was growing street prostitution.
However, there were active and community minded residents. Some local mothers got together with a teacher to set up a playgroup in the old St Paul’s Church Hall at the top of St Paul’s Rd. This became St Paul’s Nursery.
Round the corner in Malvern St, more residents had got together, led by the Balsall Heath Association. They succeeded in getting permission to use the bomb peck there for a children’s playground. It was immediately flooded with children and young people.
And so, the foundations were laid…
St Paul's legacy
St Pauls Hall
Playgroup in St Pauls Hall
Malvern Street Playground
Playground in Malvern St
Nursery & Play Hut
1970 St Paul’s Nursery started
and Play Hut in Malvern St opened.
School
School started in terrace house in St Paul’s Rd.
Heathan
First Heathan produced
Sports Pitch
Sports pitch set up at Malvern
St.
Formally Constituted
St Pauls Community Project
formally constituted.
Youth Theatre
First Youth Theatre performance
Urban Farm
Urban farm opened
Prince Charles
Prince Charles visited
School Move
School moved to Hertford St, (ex Clifton Infant’s School)
Venture Opened
Venture opened
Community Theatre
St Paul’s Community Theatre
started
Parent & Toddler group
Parent & Toddler group started at the Venture
Playcare Scheme
The Nest Playcare Scheme
started
Partnership with Probation
Partnership with Probation
began
Employment Training Scheme
Balsall Heath Employment
Training Scheme began
Grant Maintained Status
School gained Grant maintained
Status
Junior Drama Group
Junior Drama Group started
Prince Charles
Prince Charles second visit
Sure Start
Sure Start Balsall Heath
Balsall Heath Initiative Centre opened
Balsall Heath Initiative Centre
opened (ex-Clifton Junior School)
Nursery Moved
Nursery moved to Malvern St
& New Children’s Centre building opened
Name Changed
St Paul’s name changed. To
become St Paul’s Trust
Investors in People
Investors in People (IIP)
IIP Bronze
IIP Bronze
Apprenticeship scheme
Start of Apprenticeship scheme
Junior College
Start of Junior College
IIP Silver
IIP Silver
Outstanding
Children’s Centre awarded
Outstanding as a group with the Muath & Anderton Park School satellites.
BHASE opened
BHASE opened (ex St Paul’s
Nursery in St Paul’s Rd.