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 disadvantaged primary school children.
BCCV is currently working with up to 18 schools (15 primary schools, two secondary schools and a special school for the hearing impaired) from some of Birmingham’s and the West Midlands most socially and economically deprived communities. There is a strong demand for this programme, which has served the young people of Birmingham and the West Midlands so well for the last five decades. The BCCV was successful in a securing funding to re-build its hostel at Merevale, following very serious damage caused by an arson attack in December 2005. The new building was completed in November 2016. Ten years of fund raising by the BCCV trustees raised £250,000 and donations of £100,000 from member schools helped to achieve the building of a new outdoor education / residential centre (renamed The BrigHouse) which was handed over to trustees by the builders at the end of November 2015. The BCCV now has a building fit for purpose, modern and robust with suitable basic equipment. As of January, 2016 our membership was full and we currently (September 2025) continue to have a full membership with other schools expressing an interest to join the BCCV when the opportunity arises. The BrigHouse opened its doors to children, young people and staff on the 12 th of 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 2025-26.
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 play equipment. The most recent significant developments at the BrigHouse have been the replacement of the bunk beds with “fit for purpose” bunk beds at a cost of £17,000 and the installation of solar panels (which took place in May 2025) at a cost of £30,000 to ensure that The BrigHouse’s energy sources are the most cost efficient and environmentally friendly.
