Mums making a difference, from Sutton Park pebbles to a sensory shop

From painted pebbles hidden in Sutton Park to a shop with a free sensory room, mums across Birmingham are being celebrated for the difference they are making to their communities.

The stories have been gathered by Brummie Mummies, the parenting network founded by Birmingham Live's parenting editor, Zoe Chamberlain, in 2015, which shares ideas and support with thousands of families.

Pebbles in the park

The artist Lizzi Chambers heard that families no longer felt safe in Sutton Park, so she set about changing that by painting colourful pebbles and hiding them around the park for people to find.

The idea has encouraged families to return, and having more people out and about in the same space has made the park feel more welcoming. Her designs have included characters from The Lion King, and she has been working on a set of Halloween stones for the half-term holiday.

A shop with a sensory room

Abbie Russell wanted a place where her neurodivergent daughters could relax, try products designed for them and feel welcome. When she could not find one, she opened her own shop, Gracie Rose and Co.

It proved so popular that people queued for two hours on its opening day. The shop also has a free sensory room, a calm space with lighting, textures and equipment designed to help children who can find busy places overwhelming.

Thirty-eight years of saying yes

Liz Light, founder of the Birmingham theatre group Stage 2, has been given a Sky Arts Unsung Hero Award. Her group has not turned a child away in 38 years, offering young people from all backgrounds the chance to perform.

A rave with a difference

The campaigner Lou Featherstone, who describes herself as an "accidental midlife activist" and is known online as Luinluland, is bringing her big pink bus to Digbeth for a clothes swap and rave at Minerva Works. The event is aimed at women who feel "stuck in a rut", and offers a chance to meet like-minded people, swap clothes and dance.

Kitchen table businesses

Many of the women featured have turned an idea that began at home into something that benefits others, and Brummie Mummies features parents like them in its Kitchen Table Business series, named after the place where so many of these ideas begin.

Community projects like these often start with one person noticing a gap, whether that is a park that feels unsafe, a lack of places where neurodivergent children feel welcome, or young people who cannot afford drama classes.

Parents who are making a difference in their community and want to share their story can get in touch with Brummie Mummies through its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Sutton Park, one of the largest urban parks in Europe, covers more than 2,000 acres and is a National Nature Reserve. It has been a popular place for families from across Birmingham for generations.