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The Grassroots Channel is here to provoke and inspire anyone who thinks they just might want to change the world around them. Brought to you by Podnosh and the Birmingham Community Empowerment Network, we share with you audio stories and ideas from people who’ve taken practical steps to build stronger neighbourhoods and happier communities.

If you want to comment on anything in the grassroots channel please email us at grassroots@podnosh.com. New. You can now add the Grassroots Channel and its dozens of programmes to your own website or blog. Please go here to find out more.



The simplest way to subscribe free to the Grassroots Channel is with a piece of software called iTunes. You can download it here.

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Grassroots Channel RSS feed.
Solving a stinking mess Thu Mar 13 2008
If you have a stinking brook in your front yard what do you do. Margaret Bannon of the Bordesley Green North Neighbourhood Forum took advantage of the Neighbourhood Programme Reward Grant (NPRG), a 10,000 pound pilot programme in Birmingham, to allow residents groups more control over money.
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Cracking crime one fridge at a time. Sat Feb 2 2008
There is an established link between grime and crime, which is why Kingstanding Neighbourhood Forum is using public money to crack crime one fridge at a time. This podcast, and the youtube video you can, see explain how the forum has been using 10,000 pounds from an experiment called the Neighbourhood Performance Reward Grant.
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The Saint of Street Racing Sat Feb 2 2008
Is there a solution to street racing in Birmingham? Masood Ajaib of the Washwood Heath based community enterprise Commpact thinks there is. He has signed up for an experiment to find a communal way of turning a dangerous Saturday night on Landor Street into a peaceful pastime somewhere safe.
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Birmingham Sparkbrook the experiment Tue Jan 29 2008
Neville Davis of the Sparkbrook Neighbourhood Forum in Birmingham talks about the pro and cons of a huge effort they made to clean up rancid sites in their neighbourhood, all with a 10,000 pound grant from the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership in the form of the Neighbourhood Performance Reward Grant. This experiment plans to give residents control of public money and reward them with more money if they hit targets.
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Neighbourhood Police - beyond the clip round the earhole. Tue Nov 20 2007
PC Bernie Flynn has been working with young people in Quinton in Birmingham consistently and for years. For him finding the right people and giving them time to show respect and earn respect is at the heart of community policing.
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Does Birmingham have the million pound eco innovator Mon Nov 5 2007
The Big Green Challenge is a two year climate change project with a 1 million pound prize at the end. Any community group (or similar) can win if they find a communal and repeatable way to cut CO2 emissions by 60 per cent.
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The smell of trouble - Neighbourhood Policing in Birmingham Tue Oct 30 2007
We must aim higher is what the Chief Constable of the West Midlands tells the Grassroots Channel this time. We hear from Sir Paul Scott Lee as we return to the theme of communities and policing and look in detail at the community watch programme in Perry Common in Birmingham where Sue Beardsmore talks to Mary Harvey and Sheila Barker of the Witton Lodge Community Association.
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Neighbourhood Policing briefing Mon Oct 29 2007
This pdf written briefing sets out where the ideas behind Neighbourhood policing have come from and what they might mean, including examples from the West Midlands largest city Birmingham. It relates to our earlier programmes I am the grass now and the smell of trouble.
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The Jihad on Litter Tue Sep 18 2007
Does it seem extreme to declare a Jihad on litter? Not to a group in Small Heath in Birmingham. Clean Medina says that Muslim neighbourhoods in the city are far to messy and they want to change that.
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The Pimp, the Prostitute and Grandad's army (yes it is clean) Tue Sep 11 2007
The story of Chris Hoare, a grandfather who's worked for years to clear prostitution from the Waterworks Estate on the borders of Edgbaston and Ladywood in inner-city Birmingham. His neighbours were so fearful of the pimps that they asked Chris to step up and take action.
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Better Birmingham Schools Wed Aug 29 2007
Naseem Akhtar is a serial activist. Now she is turning her attention to schools in Birmingham.
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Refugee Podcast from Birmingham Fri Jun 22 2007
Shauna Magunda and Mikko Kappinen are two Birmingham based students experimenting with podcasting to tell the stories of people who arrived in the city as refugees. Refucast was their final degree at the University of Central England.
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Tips on public speaking Wed May 30 2007
It terrifies most of us so that's why this short podcast talks to Adam Askew of Oxfam on his steps to making public speaking work for you and your campaign. You can find the tips listed on our blog at www.
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Lobbying - the dark art demystified Thu May 24 2007
Active citizens do it all the time, but what does it take to lobby effectively. This programme hears from two people about their experience of lobbying politicians and councillors as part campaigns for Friends of the Earth and with the CPRE to resist the expansion of Bristol Airport.
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Black Patch Park Tue May 15 2007
For four years Councillor Bob badham has been the villain thwarting the friends of Black Patch park in their campaign to protect this green space in Sandwell from industrial development. Now the council has changed it's plans and Simon Baddeley of the Friends comes face to face with Councillor Badham for their first real chance to discuss where they've come from and how they can work together in the future.
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Lisa Tarbuck, networks and community safety. Thu May 10 2007
More on the future of community networks in Birmingham, including thoughts from the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, plus Lisa Tarbuck in Brierley Hill on hoodies, adolescence the National Youth Theatre and stronger communities. .
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Community Networks - The Future Tue May 1 2007
In this programme the Bishop of Birmingham steps up to make the case for community networks in Birmingham. The Rt Reverend David Urquhart tells the channel that those in power need to find the money to allow networks to continue to benefit the city.
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The Highgate apprentices challenge the government Wed Mar 7 2007
In this programme two teenagers from Highgate in Birmingham challenge the government to help them find new ways to support young people. Gareth Deeming and Stephen Hughes have recently returned from spending a day with ministers and civil servants in London.
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Shantytown Shuffle Thu Feb 22 2007
How one community organised and campaigned its way from living in wooden shacks in Barcelona to their own newly built apartment blocks. Chris Bongard tells the story of fledgling street level democracy emerging in Spain at a time when the country was just leaving the shadow of a Franco, the fascist dictator.
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Made in Birmingham by Digital Citizens Wed Feb 14 2007
This programme has been mostly made by the people of Birmingham. On February 14th 2007 we had a very fine day in Victoria square at the first birthday bash of Digital Birmingham.
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Money Talks at the Northfield Young People's Forum Wed Jan 31 2007
Jenni Rowley and Selina Okunnu of the Northfield Young People's Forum talk to us about how power is shifting towards the young people of Birmingham. From April 2007 the forum, run by 11 to 19 year olds, will have up to 80,000 pounds to offer as grants to the young people of this south Birmingham constituency.
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Beth Kanter on Online Fundraising Sat Jan 27 2007
Beth Kanter of the Sharing Foundation explains how they used the internet to raise 100,000 dollars for children in Cambodia. Beth is an expert on the internet and non-profit organisations and in this podcast she talks about how you can combine tools such as widgets with the power of your networks, whether real or virtual, to encourage people to give money to support to your cause.
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Simple Online Fundraising PDF Wed Jan 24 2007
This is not an audio file but a written document which guides you through some simple things you can do to raise funds online. It is aimed at community groups who are not registered as charities.
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Birmingham Passions 6 Sun Jan 7 2007
Our sixth and final feast of passion, finding out the many motivators for the people from the Bimringham Community Empowerment Network. Story telling resumes with the next programme from the Grassroots Channel.
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Birmingham Passions 5 Fri Jan 5 2007
More short and simple explanations of what motivates the passionate people of Birmingham. .
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Birmingham Passions 4 Wed Jan 3 2007
In the fourth of the Grassroots Channel's New Year quickies, three more people involved with the Birmingham Community Empowerment Network answer the question: what is you passion? . .
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Birmingham Passions 3 Mon Jan 1 2007
Part 3 of our New Year 2007 exploration of the personal passions of the people from the Birmingham Community Empowerment Network. .
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Birmingham Passions 2 Sat Dec 30 2006
The second of six short programmes on the passions which drive b:cen members. Normal story telling will resume in the New Year.
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Birmingham Passions 1 Thu Dec 28 2006
The first of six pithy programmes to get us into a new year. Normally we would tell you full blown stories of active citizens in Birmingham and if you check our archive you'll find some crackers.
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Perfect Play in Birmingham Thu Dec 14 2006
Dens of Equality is built on a simple idea - that for children play is a human right. Its mission is to make play totally inclusive and accessible - regardless of the needs or a individual child.
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Masood heads for The Hague Thu Nov 30 2006
Masood Yasin travels from Washwood Heath in Birmingham to The Hague ( Den Haag ) in the Netherlands to meet active citizens in Holland. Find out what his thoughts were on new approaches to young people, their jobs and education plus why he wants to bring a Dutch idea to Birmingham.
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Heritage and Community - Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery Sun Nov 12 2006
On Remembrance Sunday we meet two people who've put 18 months of effort into building a community group around and a new charity to support their local cemetery in Birmingham. The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery have found an unlikely way to strengthen the community in their neighbourhood and they tell us about the link between history, heritage and our sense of togetherness.
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From Paintballing to Leadership Tue Oct 31 2006
TYGA is a youth group in Balsall Heath in Birmingham which began with fun and conversation and yet in just over a year has raised thousands for charity through a 500 mile bike ride, travelled to Pakistan to help with earthquake relief and started a regular street clean-up in their own neighbourhood. Sue Beardsmore talks to Kamran Fazil about the next steps for TYGA - a structured leadership programme for young people.
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Until My Dying Day - Nock's Brickworks Birmingham Sun Oct 22 2006
Mike Overton has fought for years to prevent developers building homes on an old waste tip and clap pit in Erdington in Birmingham, UK. He talks to Emma Lewis of b:cen about the site and why protecting it matters so much to him.
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Soweto Kinch on living in Birmingham 19 Tue Oct 3 2006
Soweto Kinch is an international jazz and hip hop musician living in a tower block overlooking the Hockley Fly over in Birmingham. Oddly enough he's just finished working with the newsreader Moira Stuart to release the first of two albums which tell the story of living in his neighbourhood.
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Junior Street Champions Wed Sep 20 2006
Programme 23 meets Sherez Sarwar, an 18 year old who's working to improve his neighbourhood in Lozells in Birmingham. We also learn about Street Champions and flag up an opportunity to win a national award from BURA.
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Birmingham's own residents regeneration university Fri Aug 11 2006
Programme 22 with the details of a 4 day university for residents involved in regenerating their neighbourhoods. This programme hears from Resident 4 Regeneration - Europe - on their plans for a four day event in Birmingham next month which will bring together hundreds of inspiring people from different European cities.
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No pay makes you powerful Thu Jul 27 2006
Programme 21 is a fascinating, and sometimes emotional, conversation between two directors of the Witton Lodge Community Association in north Birmingham. The Association has been central to the physical and communal regeneration of Perry Common in the years after the council dropped the bombshell that hundreds of homes would have to be knocked down before they fell down.
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Time to teach the pros Sat Jul 8 2006
Programme 20 hears from Gill Taylor, who runs the government's new Academy for Sustainable Communities. She tells us why she wants residents to unleash their expertise on re-educating professionals.
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100 Million Pound Future Thu Jun 22 2006
Programme 19 on The Grassroots Channel meets another of Birmingham's social entrepreneurs. Roger Telphia is Chief Executive of Future Health and Social Care.
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Generating Market Forces Thu Jun 15 2006
Programme 18 talks to Duncan Ross and John Bodycote from Kings Norton Farmers Market about why they chose to become a community interest company, the value of the farmers market, local politics and the fine art of keeping a generator going. .
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Birmingham the Curio City Fri Jun 2 2006
Programme 17 from the Grassroots Channel and the story of the people striving to reunite a community divided by powerful economic forces. Community artist Sanj Cavanagh and volunteers Julia Downer and Cherie Moore are working with children to create new music and theatre at the Curio City shop in Five Ways in Birmingham.
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It Shouldn't Be So Common Wed May 17 2006
Programme 16 of the Grassroots Channel hears about the link between gun crime in Birmingham UK and gun crime in Boston, Mass. Simon Walker, of the community arts project Curio City, tells us about Alex and Isaura Mendez, two visitors to Birmingham who have left a lasting impression on the city.
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Blair, Blears and Bollards Mon May 8 2006
Programme 15 turns out to be a curious mixture of Blair, Blears and Bollards. This time we handed over the microphone to a school and a youth group.
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"Once They Are Hooked" Fri Apr 21 2006
Programme 14. Angling is just about catching fish - isn't it? Apparently not.
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"We don't like to go in the parks" Sun Mar 26 2006
Programme 13 from the Grassroots Channel comes not from Birmingham but from Dortmund in Germany. We've been demonstrating podcasting to a group of young people from cities across Europe.
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"The Worst Slum in Europe" Thu Mar 9 2006
Programme 12 eavesdrops on a conversation between two people whose relationship began with intense frustration and conflict. This time the Grassroots Channel meets Natalie Brade and Councillor Sir Albert Bore.
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"Light the blue touch paper" Thu Mar 2 2006
Programme 11. Our listeners talk back and in this programme we hear from one living in Birmingham and another in the Philippines.
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"Generosity is a key ingredient" Fri Feb 24 2006
Programme 10. Generosity - how can that revive a neighbourhood? The Church of England in Birmingham thinks it may make a huge difference.
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"Pavement to Parliament" Thu Feb 16 2006
Programme 9 on the Grassroots Channel tells the story of the Birmingham based group who use techniques developed in 1930's Chicago to revitalise individuals, families and communities. Waits then take what they have learnt directly to the law makers.
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"I am the grass now" Fri Feb 3 2006
We talk to a group of neighbours who work unpaid to keep their local police station open on Edward Road in Balsall Heath in South Birmingham. We also hear from listeners to the Grassroots Channel and get a tiny taste of Little Britain.
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"A law of nature is that we fight things to get things" Thu Jan 19 2006
The Grassroots Channel exposes Birmingham to the scrutiny of outsiders. We talk to residents from two Dutch cities about what they make of our strengths and weaknesses.
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"You can not do it alone" Thu Jan 5 2006
The remarkable story of a woman who changed her life after a short spell in prison. Justice Williams took that experience and turned it into Venta Millones, a social enterprise which strives to give young people an alternative to a future embroiled in the gun culture.
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XMAS cutting from Naseem Akhtar Mon Jan 2 2006
In our final festive extra, Naseem Akhtar of Birmingham's Residents 4 Regeneration, offers a few holiday thoughts. By the way, our next programme is back to our normal format.
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XMAS cuttings from Gurdev Kaur Sat Dec 31 2005
Another seasonal extra on Birmingham's Grassroots Channel. This time a few short thoughts from Gurdev Kaur of the women's empowerment group, Sikh Nari Manch.
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XMAS Cuttings Val Douglas Thu Dec 29 2005
Relax - nothing stodgy here. The Grassroots Channel continues your high fibre, low cholesterol podcast diet for the Christmas Season, this time with a few thoughts from a fab Brummie, Val Douglas.
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XMAS cuttings Paul Slatter Mon Dec 26 2005
The Grassroots Channel brings you some extra cuttings for the Christmas Season. We promise no indigestion.
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"Just a mum who cares" Thu Dec 22 2005
Meet a formidable member of the Birmingham Community Empowerment network. This time on the Grassroots Channel we tell the story of Maureen Murphy and her decades of campaigning to protect and improve her neighbourhood in Sutton Coldfield.
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"The garden fence to natter over" Thu Dec 8 2005
Programme 4 from the Grassroots Channel tells the story of Neville Lilly and how he turned his childhood passion for gardening into a project which has already helped more than a thousand Birmingham children. Not content with that, he has now built a social enterprise selling recycled timber and a huge range of new products.
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"Become a Decision Maker" Thu Nov 24 2005
More stories for people who care about where they live. The third programme from the Grassroots Channel tells the story of Masood Yasin - a young man in Birmingham who decided he had a choice to make: should he leave his own neighbourhood for somewhere 'better' or step up and take action.
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"Fun is the most important thing." Thu Nov 10 2005
This time the Grassroots Channel brings you the story of how a threat was used to transform a neighbourhood. Emma Woolf talks about the campaign to protect Cotteridge Park in Bimringham, how school children got involved and how it blossomed into so much more than a three week spat with local politicians.
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"Cuckoos in a white middle class nest" Fri Oct 14 2005
This is the first podcast for the Grassroots Channel - a series of programmes sponsored by the Birmingham Community Empowerment Network. We're starting with stories of active citizens in Britain's second largest city: Birmingham.
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