When people think of Winson Green – two things will likely pop into their head. Firstly, of course, it’s the home of HMP Birmingham – the imposing men’s prison with a capacity of over 1,000 prisoners.
Secondly, Winson Green is the setting of the controversial documentary series Benefits Street, following the lives of residents of James Turner Street – watched by millions when it first aired in 2014. There is, of course, much more to Winson Green than prisons and benefits – but the area’s reputation is not helped by the brutal reviews left on satirical websites like ILiveHere.
One reviewer, who claims to be a resident in the area, took to the website to say his neighbourhood was blighted by drug dealing, crime and warned everyone to ‘steer well clear’. We disagree. There’s a lot to love about Winson Green – here are just four examples.
READ MORE: Drugs, violence and trouble – Birmingham’s anti-social behaviour hotspots revealed
Great schools where children ‘welcomed with open arms’
In 2014, the areas of Winson Green was a national laughing stock thanks to Benefits Street. But fast-forward to 2024, Winson Green now boasts one of the best schools in the UK. Oasis Academy Foundry sits on the corner of James Turner Street which, in 2014, made UK headlines for all of the wrong reasons.
Oasis Academy Foundry in Winson Green is now one of the best schools in the UK.
In 2023, Ofsted inspectors described the school as ‘wonderful’. It has gone from an ‘inadequate’ to ‘outstanding’ rating within the last 10 years. Just down the road sits Orion School, an independent school for young people who have been unable to engage at mainstream schools.
Many struggle with trust when they first arrive, and it’s then the job of determined staff here to forge relationships, reignite their hopes for the future and guide them towards careers. A key difference to mainstream schooling is the size of the classes, along with the “one-to-one support” staff offer students.
Great parks and beautiful ‘hidden’ garden oasis
Winson Green might not be the first place you think of when you picture Birmingham’s best green spaces, but the area is home to arguably Birmingham’s most underated ‘urban oasis.’ Nestled behind HMP Birmingham lies All Saints Park an open-plan park mostly known to locals and those using the waterways.
All Saints House in All Saints Park, Lodge Road, Winson Green.
(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
Standing at the foot of the park is the former All Saints Hospital. The imposing structure was founded in 1847 and was a mental health facility for decades. Today the building is used as prison offices but also provides a grand backdrop to those using the park.
On a recent visit to the park, Sana Salim – who lives within view of the park – said: “It’s beautiful, especially in the summer and you have the canal next door. We walk all the way to Brindleyplace, it takes about 30 to 40 minutes depending on the pace. You get the nature and canal boats.”
If that wasn’t good enough, Winson Green is also home to Summerfield Park which residents say people mistake for a much leafier area. During the day, the park is used for sports by many people who take advantage of the marked paths, tennis courts and football pitches. The park also links on to the Harborne Walkway, one of the most sceneic walks in the city.
Exciting developments to ‘breathe new life’ into area
The development could ‘breathe new life’ into the area.
Winson Green is an area on the brink of transformation. The area could soon undergo a significant change, with plans for developments that include affordable housing and public green spaces – which will ‘breathe new life’ into the area. Earlier this year, approval was granted for the construction of 451 homes spread across seven residential buildings in Winson Green.
According to a planning application, the buildings in the Great Western Close development will range from five to nine storeys in height.
Children who care about their community
Schoolchildren with the finished artwork outside HMP Birmingham.
The future is bright in Winson Green. In July, a group of caring school children scribbled positive and up-lifting messages to prisoners outside HMP Birmingham. The messages – such as ‘never give up’ and ‘help one another’ – offer hope to those going through difficulties in their lives.
The upbeat words of wisdom were penned by Year 5 pupils from Oasis Academy Foundry and Oasis Academy Boulton. They spent hours in workshop classes deciding on the hopeful messages which they wanted to ‘share with the world’.