On Monday 27th February 2017 Birmingham Settlement’s Community Hub on Kitts Green Road is set for its grand re-opening.
Since early 2016 Birmingham Settlement has had a small community hub on Kitts Green Road, based above our charity shop on the high street. Four year’s funding from the Big Lottery Fund has enabled us to set up this hub and launch our Champions 4 Skills project with the support of our 3 Community Action Workers. Our project focuses on up-skilling and empowering local people to become a part of their local community, working together to solve problems that matter to their community and also helping the local community have a voice so that they can influence what happens in their area.
Our hope is to develop a skilled and committed volunteer network which can work together to bring about positive change in the local community. We will also support local people into employment, targeting young people aged between 18 and 29 not in employment, education or training and those who have been out of work longer than 12 months, by offering an array of person centred advice and support services, supported volunteering opportunities here at the hub and signposting to other local support agencies. Alongside these activities, we are also looking to develop a number of new services for the local community.
Previously this project ran out of the small space above our charity shop, but with growing public demand and the number of activities we, and the community, wanted to run from the hub, we soon realised we needed a bigger space. So we have reviewed the layout and created a much bigger space for community activity which will allow us to focus far more on building engagement and supporting people to take more control. Having revamped the space to create a bigger and better hub, on 27th February we are delighted to announce the grand re-opening of our East Birmingham Community Hub on Kitts Green Road.
Our Community Hub will provide a focal point, facilities and resources to foster greater local community activity and bring residents together. The Hub will continue to house our Lottery funded Champions 4 Skills team alongside providing free computer use and internet access, job club, coffee mornings, youth workshops, craft clubs and other community groups as well as training, workshops and access to information, advice and guidance.
Dominic Taylor, Senior Community Action Worker, said: “We aim to create a vibrant, friendly and welcoming hub for our local community here in Kitts Green and the surrounding areas. We will engage informally to build relationships with our clients from the bottom up that will help us to develop trust and respect with each individual we work with. We will facilitate dialogue that is non-judgemental and offers a level of empathy and understanding based on people’s individual needs. We are here to support local people to give them a voice on issues that matter to them whilst also developing their skills to improve their lives and wellbeing into the future.”
To find out more about the services on offer at our East Birmingham Hub, check out the East Birmingham section of our website at bit.ly/BSEBHP, or contact the team on 0121 603 8943.
Contact details:
Address: 316 Kitts Green Road, Birmingham, B33 9SB
Telephone: 0121 603 8943
Email: dominic.taylor@bsettlement.org.uk / lisa.storey@bsettlement.org.uk / nathaniel.james@bsettlement.org.uk
Lead Contact: Dominic Taylor – Senior Community Action Worker, 07535 668 238, dominic.taylor@bsettlement.org.uk
