This June, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire presents the Birmingham International Piano Festival – five days of collaboration, competition, and top-tier artistry. The jam-packed schedule includes concert performances by world-class pianists, celebrity masterclasses, and 20 young musicians competing for the top spot. There is something for everyone, from free shows to one-on-one expert-led tutorials. Head down to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire from 14 to 18 June to join in the fun. Tickets are going fast, so secure yours now.
Invisible Homelessness in Birmingham
You cannot see the fire from the pavement – just wisps of smoke rising through a grate between two buildings. When firefighters arrive, they descend below street level to the canal, navigating a maze of graffiti-covered walls and locks until they finally reach the fire. The question of how it started seems answered by what they find: a hoodie, newspapers, a tent, and shoes lined up outside. To the right, neon-green chalk reads: 'I just want to belong. Somewhere. Anywhere. I’m not leaving.'
In Birmingham, this is easier said than done. The West Midlands has the highest rate of homelessness in the country after London, and Birmingham has the highest homeless population in the region. Rough sleeping in buildings is often invisible from the street, making disused buildings appear empty.
Alex Vasudevan, a professor of Urban Geography at Oxford University, explains that homelessness has become less visible since 2012, when squatting in residential properties was criminalised. 'People are exercising caution,' he says. 'They don't want to be moved on easily, so shifting to less visible spaces is a coping mechanism.' He notes that criminalisation has pushed people toward precarious abandoned spaces on the edges of urban centres.
Joe Poynton, a firefighter from Walsall covering south Birmingham, documents such scenes on his Substack. With over two decades of experience, he began writing after working lots of overtime. 'Putting it somewhere public is like a guide rail to not get lazy,' he says. Joe's writing reveals an invisible population of unhoused people in empty buildings.
Joe often sees parts of Birmingham most people never will. He returns to the same buildings because people sheltering there light bonfires to stay warm, which sometimes get out of control. 'It’s sad to know these people are existing rather than living and thriving,' he says. 'They’re just surviving harsh, cold winters.' Such fires occur more frequently in winter, sometimes a couple of times a month.
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