On Saturday the 8th of June I participated in an event with Central Co-op and Better Streets for Birmingham. The event took place on Northbrook Street. The end of Northbrook
The sporting summer is with us. We have Euro 2024 at the moment with plenty more sport on the way, including Wimbledon, and the Olympics. For the creative round this
On Saturday May the 25th I had the joy of supporting Birmingham Pride with Central Co-0p. Central Co-op has supported Birmingham Pride for a number of years, and I’ve attended
Create your own election manifesto Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised everybody, including his own party, by calling a General Election for Thursday the 4th of July. He stood
Green Home Makeovers with Birmingham Green Doors Birmingham Green Doors are holding open days at properties in the able to pay market that are going through or have gone through
Design your own home! You’ve been given a big field to build your dream home on. You can build whatever you like with an unlimited budget. Draw what you
The home of the British co-operative movement As part of a Central Co-op learning event, I got the chance to visit the Rochdale Pioneers Museum. The museum is in 31
Tom has seen a lot of adverts for holidays, especially those to Disneyland. If you were given a lot of money to design your own theme park people could go
An Artefact introduction I am a member of Artefact, a workers Co-op based in Stirchley. Until recently Artefact had an art gallery/ performance space on Stirchley High Street. This closed
My Background I am a resident of Northfield Constituency in South West Birmingham. I have been working in the energy efficiency sector for the past 12 years first as a
On November the 14th 2023, I participated in Central Co-op’s Men’s Voices Event. This event was about giving men an opportunity to talk and take part in activities that affect
Design Your Own Video Game The trailer of much-anticipated GTA 6 was finally officially released after it was leaked. If you enjoy video games, it hopefully stirred your imagination…
An introduction to the Woodland Games September the 9th 2023 saw the second iteration of the Woodland Games; a nature based, family sports day at the Hazelwell Park in Stirchley
As we all know, the German Christmas Market is back… but if you were given the chance to design your own market or fair, what would your theme be? What
For this weeks creative round please explain the meaning of life. This could be in word form, picture form, or interpretive dance. What is the meaning of life? Why do
The task for the opening round of the quiz this week is to write a poem. It could be a Sonnet, a Haiku or follow a newly invented poetic structure
The Edinburgh Fringe festival is about to end. The aim of this round is to write something funny. It could be a knock knock joke, your favourite joke as a
With it being Jubilee weekend for this performance round you have to design your own country. Your country needs a name, a flag and three laws. Will your country
Inspired by me joining the Art Co-op Artefact in Stirchley this edition of the creative round is about creating a piece of art. The art can be in whatever form
Digging Holes Yesterday I cycled to Digbeth Community Garden to help out. Stalwart Adam was joined by Fabio and me. We dug holes. As we dug these holes, I listened
Opening round Rather than a picture round. The opening round is a creative round. You have to design a political party. A name for the party. A logo, A
A new Destination in Longbridge Town Centre Herbert’s Yard is the new permanent installation for a food and drinks court in Longbridge Town Centre. Previously it was a pop up
Thousands of people march through Birmingham City Centre demanding Climate Justice
Instead of a picture round, the first round is a song /poetry writing round. The song/ poem must be a protest song/ poem. You can protest against anything you want
Shaz discovers a bike that is approximately 100 years old
Shaz visits the Co-op Principles Art Exhibition at Artefact that he helped organise
Shaz survives the rain and has a good time exploring Cotteridge Park with the help of Geocachers.
The Second Kings Heath Critical Mass was enjoyed by everybody who took part.
Birmingham Film Co-op held an online film festival with an in person awards ceremony at the Warehouse Cafe
Elaine Dean who is the current Vice President of Central England Co-op (amongst many other Co-op leadership roles) was interviewed by Rebecca Harvey from Co-op Press and Sarah Alldred from
Shaz has been elected to the Co-op Group’s National Member’s Council
Shaz enjoys riding a new hire bike in Birmingham City Centre
Community Energy Birmingham have developed a new strategy for the post Feed In Tariff world.
Shaz writes about the decision to scrap the A38 Bus Lane between Selly Oak and Northfield.
Shaz cycles through a new Underpass in Longbridge Town Centre
Shaz attended the #KillTheBill Protest in Birmingham City Centre on March 20th 2021
Shaz writes about why he is opposing a government bill that would limit our freedom to protest.
Shaz writes about his history with Fair Trade and why it matters to him.
Shaz attempts to grow an apple tree in his garden once more.
Shaz writes about how his choice of bike afects his cycling experience.
Shaz evaluates how well the first year of Shaziety.com has gone.
A brief look back from our Treasurer as to the impact that CEB has had.
Shaz writes about how his housing estate is a Low Traffic Neighbourhood
Shaz visits York Road to see how a few bollards, planters and seating have turned a road from a car park to a public space that lots of people can
Birmingham and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have become a controversial topic in Birmingham over the past six months. There were LTN’s in Birmingham already. like this one
I’ve written before about the A38 Bus lane between Selly Oak and Northfield. I performed a dramatic U turn in my thoughts about it. I went from being anti the
A brief history It is a not well known fact that Birmingham has an incinerator located in Tyseley. What an incinerator does is take waste and burn it to produce
More Consultation Fun! There is currently a live government consultation about changes to the Highway Code. These changes are designed to help those deemed to be more vulnerable road users.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are now being implemented all across the country. They have existed for decades in various forms, but have found themselves in the spotlight
Shaz visits Romulus FC to watch non league football and to see CEB’s solar array
Shaz writes about some of the spectacular vegetarian/vegan food that he has eaten recently
Shaz writes about why we need to support the new Bus Lane on the A38 between Selly Oak and Northfield
What is an EPC? In my day job I complete Energy Performance Certificates. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) measures the energy efficiency of a property. If you buy, sell a
Shaz picks his favourite set of trees for Birmingham Friend’s of the Earth’s “More Trees please!” Campaign
Shaz responds to a consultation on pavement parking.
Shaz reflects on visiting Hiroshima the site of a nuclear bomb attack in 1945
Shaz writes about a Birmingham Friends of Earth Campaigns Meeting
Shaz is elected as Chair of Community Energy Birmingham
Shaz responds to a consultation about cycling infrastructure but is actually about a bus lane.
Shaz is interviewed for the August 2020 edition of Coop News
Shaz tests rides an E bike to see if they can be a realistic alternative to a car in the city
Shaz writes about how Greta Thunberg is an inspiration to Climate Activists
Shaz argues that free parking has a high societal cost using the NHS as a case study
Shaz cycles to Moseley Village to eat Avocado on Toast
Shaz Chairs Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s virtual Members Meeting.
Shaz evaluates how Co-ops have adapted by holding their AGMs online
Shaz writes about his near ten years of experience in the Co-op movement
Shaz holds a virtual tour of his Garden for the Central England Co-op Gardening Club
Tom Pratt and Shaz Rahman explore the #SpeakingOut scandal that has rocked professional wrestling
In a new experience for him, Shaz wins a contested election.
The Second Black Lives Matter Protest On the 19th of June the second Black Lives Matter protest took place in Birmingham City Centre. Unlike the first protest, which took place
On the year anniversary of it opening Shaz finally gets round to cycling on the A34 Cycle Path
Shaz stands for election in the world of Co-op Press
Shaz writes about how campaigning for him has changed under Lockdown
Shaz attends the Black Lives Matter protest in Birmingham.
Shaz visits The Real Junk Food Project Birmingham’s new allotment plot.
Shaz offers guidance to those buying their own bike for the first time.
Shaz offers advice for adults thinking about learning to ride a bike.
Shaz visits Kings Heath to see the updated active transport infrastructure
Shaz provides an update about what is happening with active transport infrastructure across the Country.
Shaz explores the effect that learning to ride a bicycle has had on his life
Shaz tracks the fast moving world of cycle campaigning and what has changed in the past week.
Shaz writes about his experiences of volunteer campaigning with BFOE
Shaz asks about what is happening with cycling currently and what may happen post Covid 19
Shaz appears on the podcast again to discuss how we can grow the Co-op sector
Shaz talks about turning his garden into a nature friendly ecosystem.
Shaz discusses his changing relationship with food.
Community Energy Birmingham Successfully install Solar Panels at Vale Stadium
The Not Enough Champagne podcast were kind enough to invite me on again to talk about the energy market.
Shaz discusses his experiences of organisational change in an unexpected crisis.
Co-operators get together to attempt to make loud noises in unison
Team, “No Sweat, No Google” lose in an honourable manner, whilst supporting Fair Trade Fortnight
Shaz has a fantastic time cycling on the A38 Cycle Path
Shaz embarks on a beer drinking, cultural expedition of Cotteridge and Stirchley
CEB seek to raise £26,700 in return for a 4 per cent rate of return
Co-op futures looks forward to see how the Co-op movement should move forward over the next 20 years
The South Birmingham Co-op group meet up to discuss exciting new ideas