Queen Alexandra College (QAC) in Harborne is a vibrant campus featuring apartments, a gym, a sports hall with a climbing wall, a charity shop, a workshop, a coffee shop, a theatre, and a wildlife centre. Despite its small size, it is a bustling hub of activity. However, this is not just any neighbourhood—it is a specialist college for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
History and Growth
Founded in 1847 as the Birmingham Institution for the Blind, QAC moved to its current site in 1903. Today, it supports 468 students, a significant increase from 191 in 2015. The campus includes Independence Street, the smallest road in Birmingham (not on Google Maps), where students learn road safety skills.
Student-Led Facilities
Students run the coffee shop, charity shop, and campus shop. They also care for animals in the wildlife centre, including tarantulas, snakes, birds, and amphibians. These facilities help build independence and confidence.
The Building Brighter Futures Initiative
QAC is raising £2.5 million to build a two-storey health and therapies centre on campus. This centre will provide physiotherapy and healthcare in a less clinical, more comfortable setting, improving access for students and streamlining services for staff. So far, £1 million has been raised, with a deadline of next summer to secure the remaining funds.
Community Support Needed
Without the new centre, QAC may have to turn away students due to lack of facilities. The college is appealing to local businesses, charitable trusts, community groups, and residents to contribute. As a charity that has helped Birmingham since 1847, it now seeks the community's help to continue its mission.
