STRONGER TOGETHER’ – CELEBRATING A NEW ERA OF COMMUNITY-LED ACTION FOR BIRMINGHAM
An exciting new era of engagement and collaboration has officially launched when 21 of Birmingham’s most respected organisations joined forces to drive positive and impactful change across the city.
The Birmingham Community Action Network (B:CAN) has been established to address longstanding challenges faced by residents throughout the city, with the goal of transforming lives and revitalizing neighbourhoods.
United by a shared mission, we strive to ensure residents can access the services and resources they need to live well in their neighbourhoods. In challenging times, B:CAN brings together local expertise to co-ordinate support at a neighbourhood level and influence funding decisions so resources land where they matter most. Together, we’re building stronger, more connected communities.
The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE, City Council leader, Councillor John Cotton and Suzanne Cleary, Deputy CEO at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust were among those presenting at Alexander Stadium, to more than 140 passionate and expectant stakeholders who have connected through the new partnership.
B:CAN has already implemented several initiatives across Birmingham; helping residents to navigate the cost-of-living crisis and reduce fuel poverty. With deep roots in local communities and a proven track record of amplifying resident voices, member organisations have now committed to pooling their resources and expertise to proactively tackle issues through community-led action.
Afzal Hussain, Chief Officer at Witton Lodge Community Association, is Chair of B:CAN. He opened proceedings.
“While we are here to celebrate all that is great in our city, there are still many challenges to face,” he said.
“For many years, the levels of inequality and deprivation in Birmingham have been hard to shift. We believe, one main reason for this is that the local community has been absent from the decision-making process. We need to change the narrative from doing TO the communities to doing WITH the communities.
“An asset-based approach which focusses on delivering effective change where it is needed and matters most, can help vulnerable residents in our city’s most deprived areas.
“The idea of B:CAN is simple, anchor organisations coming together, to work better and maximise impact. Innovation thrives in collaboration, and we need to be thoughtful and believe in relationships that are built on trust and which foster trust.”
The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Derrick Anderson CBE, also addressed the audience.
“Birmingham has such a colourful history, with its culture, it’s resilience and the ways it encourages working together,” he said.
“For B:CAN it’s not about the talking, it’s about the doing, and members asking each other, what can we do together? As Lord Lieutenant, my role is to ensure Birmingham as a vibrant and coherent city, in collaboration, communities need to be working together to sustain wellbeing and the soul of the region.”
Meanwhile, Suzanne Cleary, Deputy CEO at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said Birmingham residents will ultimately drive the transformative change in communities that B:CAN is working towards.
“There’s no denying that serious health inequalities still exist across the city which is why it is very important to speak to local people to address and understand the underlying issues,” she said. “It is fantastic to see what B:CAN is building. Only by getting those people with lived experiences around the decision-making table can the solutions we all want to see, become reality.”
Other guest speakers at the launch event included Zain Khan, Youth Mentor at Our Community Foundation who spoke about his journey and International award-winning performance poet and writer, Ayan Aden, who is Birmingham’s Poet Laureate for 2024–2026.
In closing proceedings, leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr John Cotton, said: “I really welcome the B:CAN initiative and am truly inspired by the amazing work being done across the city.
“We need a strong collaborative partnership approach to address the challenges we are facing as a city. We are considerably stronger when we work together to support our communities
“Community anchor organisations are critical; collectively tackling inequalities, designing missions together and delivering them together.
“For too long Birmingham has been a tale of two cities; lots of investment and a booming centre but with high levels of poverty and inequality in other parts. The city council is committed to the B:CAN vision and will use it to shape our own future plans and strategies. Together, we absolutely can and will be better.”
For more details about B:CAN and to access its support services please visit www.bcan.co.uk
About B:CAN
B:CAN is a collective of 21 established and respected community anchor organisations working across Birmingham. United by a shared mission, we strive to ensure residents can access the services and resources they need to live well in their neighbourhoods. In challenging times, B:CAN brings together local expertise to coordinate support at a neighbourhood level and influence funding decisions so resources land where they matter most. Together, we’re building stronger, more connected communities.
For more information on B:CAN including the community anchor organisations that form the network, visit https://bcan.co.uk/bcan-prospectus/
PRESS ENQUIRIES:
Jo Townsend
Communications & Community Engagement Manager
Witton Lodge Community Association
07912 418971