The West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust (WMHBT), working in close collaboration with WBPT* in Worcestershire and CoWRBPT** in Wolverhampton are proud to launch our Buildings at Risk (BaR) Project. We will be hosting a launch event on the 4th of August at 7pm at The Old Library, Zellig, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA. Entry is free and nibbles will be provided, please RSVP to: BaR@wmhbt.org.uk
There are approximately 13,000 Grade II buildings across our region, and it is our goal to complete a condition survey on every one of them.
This project is flagship in its nature. All listed buildings are mapped within in an app called Mergin Maps. This allows for real time data input and will show all assessed buildings as colour coded by their condition. Working with our GIS specialist, we have created an innovative system which allows our project to independently alert us to buildings that need reassessment after defined periods. This creates a perpetual recording system which prioritises buildings at risk, and will inform the decision making to protect these valuable buildings. The project is the first of its kind and we hope it will change the way historic buildings are assessed and managed to better protect their futures.
We are excited to announce that this project comes with a unique opportunity to volunteer with the Trusts and help us monitor and protect vulnerable historic buildings. Volunteering can be done entirely on your own terms; whenever and wherever you want. All you have to do to sign up is complete our online training module (c.30 minutes), set up a free account on Mergin, and send us an email to enrol you – it really is that simple.
Volunteering with us is completely flexible. You can dip-in independently, but it also works very well as a focus for a social walk. We hope that new friendships will spring from the volunteering network as people connect with the built heritage in the area. You don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the heritage sector, just an inquisitive nature and enthusiasm to explore. Whether you survey 1 or 100 buildings, your contribution will be helping us to understand the historic landscape of the West Midlands.
It is with thanks to Historic England and the Department for Work and Pensions Kickstart scheme that this project has been made possible.
The Trusts extend their thanks to Historic England who have supported this project through a Regional Capacity Building Grant and their Enriching the List project.
We also thank the Kickstart team which allowed us to take on a BaR Assistant who has worked tirelessly on bringing this project to fruition.
*The Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust
**The City of Wolverhampton Regenerating Buildings Preservation Trust