Services for residents over the Christmas holidays
As many families take a break over the holidays many council staff and partners will be working over the holidays to support residents.
Cllr Sharon Thompson, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We know the holiday period can be a difficult time for many people, and this year in particular people will be concerned given the significant financial challenge the council faces.
“While there is no getting away from the fact there are difficult decisions to come, it is important to say that services continue to be delivered to support our communities.
“I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas, reassure people that there is help for people who need it, and to say thank you to all our staff and partners who continue to support people over the holidays and throughout the year.”
Our hard-working care staff in both children’s and adults’ care will be helping families when needed and care workers will be staffing care homes and supporting citizens with home care.
Careline, our 24-hour emergency contact service for older people and anyone who feels vulnerable, has a disability or a medical need, will also be available. There are also children’s holiday activities now open for booking at Bring It On Brum.
With temperatures dropping our gritting crews will be out at all hours when needed, including on Christmas Day if required.
All libraries will be closed on all bank holidays. However, other days during the Christmas period will vary according to each library. Please check out our dedicated web page.
There will be no waste or recycling collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. Other days will also be affected and some residents will have to wait longer for collections as, due to spending controls, we are not able to offer crews overtime. Please check out the dedicated web page for information on collections.
The city’s network of Household Recycling Centres are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but open at all other times. Residents need to book and details can be found here.
Just like many people across the city and wider world, the animals at Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park will be taking a rest of their own during the Christmas season. The park will be closed from Saturday 23 December and will open again on Thursday 28 December. It will be open on New Year’s Day.
Visitor Centres at our other parks will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only – they are open and working on all other days.
We recognise that too many families will be struggling this Christmas, worrying about how to pay the bills and put food on the table. You are not alone; the cost-of-living crisis is affecting many people. Read more information on help to access grants and debt advice and support getting all the money to which you are entitled.
Our walk-in Neighbourhood Advice and Information Centres at Erdington and Northfield will be open as usual over Christmas and New Year only closing on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Staffing levels will be reduced over this period and so urgent matters will need to be prioritised and if your enquiry is not considered urgent on the day you visit us then a suitable future appointment may be offered.
The location details are:
• Erdington Advice Centre, 67 Sutton New Road, Erdington, B23 6QT
• Northfield Customer Service Centre, 1a Vineyard Road, Northfield, B31 1PG
There is now a network of warm spaces across the city, with around a hundred places people can keep warm, get a hot drink for meal and meet other people. Check out individual spaces for what is on offer and opening times.
For anyone who sleeping rough on the streets, help and support is available 24/7 throughout the holiday. There is an accommodation offer for all requiring it, so please if you see someone sleeping rough report it to Streetlink.
As the largest social landlord in the country, our tenants can call on our repair services and emergency call out at any time during the holiday on 0121 216 3330.
For anyone in housing need our Housing Solutions & Support service will be open every weekday as normal over the next two weeks apart from the bank holidays on 25th, 26th December and 1st January. Our out of hours service can be contacted on 0121 303 2296. Birmingham Advice Aid, our digital service providing advice on all aspects of housing, will be available 24/7 Birmingham Advice Aid | Birmingham City Council
Birmingham’s cemeteries and crematoria will remain open to visitors as usual over the Christmas and New Year holidays, with sites open between Christmas Eve and 2 January between 8.30am and 4pm.
There will be no burial services on Christmas Day. On bank holiday dates only Sutton New Hall Cemetery will have burial services.
The register office will be open as normal until Saturday 23 December 2023 and then closed until Wednesday 27 December 2023. The Out of Hours Bereavement Service will be available on Tuesday 26 December 2023 from 9:00am until 2:00pm and Monday 1 January 2024 from 10:00 am until 12:30pm.
Please note important changes to our certificates services during this time by visiting their page: Certificates | Birmingham City Council All services will operate as normal from Tuesday 2 January 2024.
For anyone who prefers to get in touch with the council by phone, the contact centre will be open every day except the bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day).
For the full range of ways to get in touch with the council, please visit our “contact us” webpage.
