This May Bank Holiday Weekend is going to be different to any other because of the coronavirus pandemic. We still need to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. Only leave the house for essential trips such as food or medicine, to work or for exercise.

Below is a selection of some activities put together by Birmingham organisations that you or your family could do over the May Bank Holiday.

Usually, May Day would be on a Monday. This year, our Bank Holiday is on a Friday to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Mohammed Azim, Birmingham’s Lord Mayor, has written a blog on how VE Day is being commemorated in Birmingham and across the country. Birmingham’s civic commemoration has been pre-recorded without a congregation at St Martins in the Bullring, and you can watch it at 2.55 on their Youtube Channel.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is offering free virtual tours of the museum here and on their Youtube Channel you can see BMAG members of staff talk about their favourite paintings, for example here.

The Library of Birmingham has put together a huge amount of virtual resources including over 20,000 ebooks here.

Every Wednesday at 1pm, Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park films livestreams of feeding sessions of its animals. You can watch them again on their website.

Birmingham Symphony Hall have got many of their previous performances available on their Facebook page.

The Birmingam-based Flatpack Film Festival has moved online and has a range of films you can watch between now and May 17th. Find more details here

The Birmingham-based Polish Expats Association have organised a concert on Friday May 8th at 6pm featuring an interactive performance from soprano Alexandra Anușcă. Full details here.

Mark Peters usually runs Tai Chi Sessions at Weoley Hill Village Hall and is streaming sessions on his Youtube Channel.

Birmingham-based BE FESTIVAL is an annual European festival of performing visual arts. Sadly this year’s festival has had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, but that means that the festival has moved online and create a digital “stay at home” festival. There are lots of performances and demonstrations until May 17th. Check out their website.

It’s understandable if you’re feeling anxious, isolated or lonely right now. Our Shadow Health Minister Dr Roseena Allin-Khan gives five tips for looking after your mental health here.

Birmingham Centre of Arts Therapies (BCAT) have put together activity packs in association with the NHS and therapy partners with advice on how to achieve positive mental health during this period of isolation. Visit their website for more details. If you require a pack email talktous@bcat.info.

We hope you have a safe and relaxing Bank Holiday Weekend. If you have any other ideas for activities we can do over the weekend, let us know in the comments!