Who Are We?
The Birmingham Children’s Community Venture (BCCV) was established in 1969 to provide cost effective high quality outdoor and residential education for non-privileged primary school children.
BCCV is currently working with up to 20 schools and approximately 12,000 children in some of Birmingham’s most socially and economically deprived communities. There is strong demand for this programme, which has served the young people of Birmingham so well for the last five decades. The BCCV was successful in securing funding to re-build its hostel at Merevale, following serious damage caused by an arson attack in 2005. The building was completed in November 2015. Ten years of fund raising by the BCCV trustees raised £250,000 and the donations of £100,000 from member schools helped to achieve the building of new outdoor education / residential centre (The BrigHouse) which was handed over to the trustees by the builders at the end of November 2015. The BCCV now have a building fit for purpose, modern and robust with suitable basic equipment. As of January 2016 our membership was full and we now (September 2022) have a waiting list of schools wishing to join. The BrigHouse opened its doors to staff and pupils on 12th September 2016 and trustees were pleased to record approximately 2,000 pupils visiting in the first term of opening. The BrigHouse is fully booked for the autumn, spring and summer terms of the academic year 2022-23.
The BCCV trustees produce an annual building improvement / development plan for the ongoing development of the BrigHouse building and site. This includes minor developments which include replacing / replenishing catering and cleaning equipment plus replacing / replenishing learning resources and indoor / outdoor play equipment. The most recent major development was the replacement of the bunk beds with “fit for purpose bunk beds and investment of £17,000. The key development project for 2022-23 is installing either solar panels / ground source heating to ensure that the building’s energy sources are the most cost efficient and environmentally friendly. The BCCV trustees are seeking to raise £20,000 to enable this development to take place.
