For many, Christmas is a joyous occasion. A time of parties, presents, delicious food and ugly Christmas jumpers. It’s also a pretty good time to start giving back. Here are some businesses in Kings Heath that are going above and beyond to help us do just that.
AL’S DINER – 2 Heathfield Road, Kings Heath, B14 7DB
Christmas is a wonderful time of year for many, but for those less fortunate it can be a really difficult, lonely and isolating time. The good folk at Al’s Diner are opening their doors on Christmas Day (25th December) to welcome anyone and everyone in for a free homecooked Christmas meal! Everybody is welcome. The Diner will be open between 1 PM and 5 PM. If anybody is available to volunteer and contribute their time on the day, please get in contact with Al’s Diner via their website here. Any help, big or small, will be greatly appreciated.
KINGS HEATH HELPING THE HOMELESS
Earlier on in the year, we launched the charitable arm of the Kings Heath BID called ‘Kings Heath Helping the Homeless’. The Charity has applied for charity status and is currently awaiting status approval, however, this doesn’t prevent the charity from raising money to support upcoming projects.
Set up alongside local Birmingham businesses within the Kings Heath Business Improvement District (Kings Heath BID), the charity aims to help rough sleepers or those at risk of homelessness, by providing vital information and support with finding accommodation, long-term employment, claiming benefits, access to computers and navigating online processes.
Since launching in September, we have had an outstanding response and with your help we’ve managed to help lots of those in need around Kings Heath. For example, we’ve managed to provide cheap mobile phones that allow those sleeping rough to stay in contact with housing organisations and food vouchers to receive hot drinks and meals at our local food bank.
If you would like to donate to this cause, then you can do so through one of our donation boxes at the following businesses:
The Station Pub (7 High Street)
Loco Lounge (32 High Street)
Hare and Hounds front bar (106 High Street)
Kitchen Garden Cafe (17 York Road)
Fletchers (7 York Road)
Style-Os Hairdressers (4 Heathfield Road)
OR by bank transfer to
Account No: 91824112
Sort Code: 401115
*Kings Heath Helping the Homeless has applied for charitable status and we are awaiting a decision by the Charity Commission. While we are awaiting this decision, we are legally allowed to collect monies for the charity.*
I HAD ONE OF THOSE – 31 York Rd, Kings Heath, B14 7SA
The lovely people at I Had One Of Those are a drop-off point for Free Radio Cash for Kids Mission Christmas this year. Any gift big or small that you can donate will make a huge difference. You need to drop off your donations before the 16th of December. Opening times for the shop are Monday – Saturday 9am – 5.30pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm.
THE STATION – 7 High St, Birmingham B14 7BB
Love dogs and want to help out all our friendly four-legged friends at Birmingham Dogs Home? Then head down to The Station and get donating all your old or new toys/treats and food to make sure all the pups have a very merry Christmas.
Alongside being a drop-off point for all your donations, there will also be an official Birmingham Dogs Home charity stand at the pub on the 15th December as part of their Christmas Market. Here they will be holding a raffle with a HUGE amount of prizes for you all to win! 50p per ticket or £2 for 5. These can be purchased on the day.
KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE – 17 York Rd, Birmingham B14 7SA
Have you visited Santa’s Grotto in Kings Heath yet? If you’re looking for a festive activity to do with the little ones, then head down to Kitchen Garden Cafe’s very VERY special grotto (17 York Road) before Santa has to scoot off back to the North Pole for his Christmas Eve rounds! The busy elves at Kitchen Garden have created an immersive wonderful wildlife Christmas grotto for the whole family to enjoy.
Tickets for the grotto are only £6, and this includes a donation to a wildlife charity of your choice. The experience includes exploring the beautifully decorated grotto, inspired by nature, sitting down with the singing Santa and having a chat with him about which animal you love and would like to help to protect and save. After learning about nature from Santa, your little one will also walk away with a goodie bag that includes a nature-inspired present made by a local artist and lots of fun fact sheets and information about how you can help your local wildlife.
Not only will you be able to meet Santa in his special wildlife grotto, but you’ll also be contributing to saving the local wildlife and raising awareness of how to look after our lovely planet. A percentage of each ticket will be donated to The Hedgehog Preservation Society, Amphibian or the Reptile Conservation Trust & The Wildlife Trust.
If you would like to attend, tickets must be bought in advance from the Kitchen Garden Shop.
Opening times are
Tuesday @ 11am – 1pm
Wed/Thurs/Fri @ 2pm – 5pm
Sat @ 3pm – 5pm
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What are you doing to give back this Christmas? Let us know on social media, we’d love to share!