Robert Harvey House steps back to 1946 to celebrate BCOP’s 80th anniversary
Residents, families, staff and friends stepped back in time as Robert Harvey House in Handsworth Wood hosted a nostalgic 1946 Street Party to celebrate BCOP’s 80th anniversary.
The event transformed the home’s award-winning Sensory Street into a vibrant post-war community, complete with vintage decorations, live music, traditional refreshments, and guests dressed in authentic 1940s clothing. Residents were joined by relatives, friends and neighbours from Whitley Court sheltered housing, creating a wonderful community celebration marking 80 years since BCOP was founded in Birmingham in 1946.
Popular entertainer Ian Casey provided live music throughout the afternoon, encouraging residents and visitors to sing, dance and reminisce together. Guests enjoyed a buffet and jerk chicken barbecue before tucking into cakes, jelly and ice cream. Nostalgic refreshments including Dandelion and Burdock, cloudy lemonade and shandy helped recreate the flavours of childhood for many of those attending.
The event formed part of BCOP’s year-long programme celebrating its 80th anniversary under the theme “80 years of care. Building memories for the future.”
To commemorate the milestone, BCOP staff have also created a special time capsule capturing life at the charity during 2026. Containing photographs, memories, and mementoes from the anniversary year, it will be safely stored before being opened during BCOP’s centenary celebrations in 2046.
“Our 1946 Street Party perfectly captured what BCOP has always been about – bringing people together and creating opportunities for older people to enjoy life, make memories and feel part of their community.
“As we celebrate 80 years of supporting older people across Birmingham, it was wonderful to see residents, families, staff, neighbours from Whitley Court and friends all enjoying the afternoon together. The fantastic atmosphere, the music, the vintage costumes and the conversations shared on Sensory Street made it a fitting celebration of everything BCOP has achieved over the past eight decades.
“Our anniversary year is also about leaving something for the future. Alongside events like this, we have created a time capsule that will be opened during BCOP’s centenary celebrations in 2046, giving future generations a glimpse into life at the charity during our 80th anniversary year.”
Robert Harvey House’s Sensory Street, which recreates familiar high street scenes to stimulate memories for people living with dementia, provided the perfect setting for the celebration, allowing residents to revisit the sights and sounds of their younger years while creating new memories with family and friends.
The event also highlighted BCOP’s ongoing 80th Anniversary Appeal, which aims to raise funds to create new dementia-friendly sensory streets at Anita Stone Court in Moseley and Neville Williams House in Selly Park, building on the success of the pioneering Sensory Street at Robert Harvey House.