Birmingham Settlement Neighbourhood Futures Festival: Thursday 26 June – Sunday 29 June 2025
A four-day festival embracing nature, right in the heart of Birmingham! Thought-provoking activity, conversation, action, art and performance focused on community wellbeing and climate change, exploring how we can combat global issues within our own neighbourhoods.
What to Expect at the Neighbourhood Futures Festival
Thursday 26 June – Exploring Neighbourhood Climates
The 2025 Neighbourhood Futures Festival opens with a lively day of conversation, ideas, and action. Co-hosted with the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Urban Wellbeing, this year we ask how we can talk about climate in the context of inequality, division, and everyday pressures around food, energy, housing, and transport.
Start the day with our opening panel on climate justice; explore what or who we most need to protect in our local environments.
Then, dive into our Neighbourhood FutureLabs – bold outdoor sessions that tackle systemic change. Explore just cities, challenge broken systems and reimagine our relationship with nature, housing, food, land – and each other. Everyone welcome.
Friday 27th June – Youth Day: Our Realities & Futures
Co-created with young climate activists, students & youth groups, explore how young people connect with the city, its spaces and its futures. Hear from our youth panel, join our relaxed community picnic (grab a sandwich from the Red Shed café or BYO), take part in nature crafts, wellbeing sessions, and an after-school neighbourhood litter pick.
Discover opportunities for activism and environmental leadership in the city. For younger children and families, get involved with crafts and Forest School activities all day. And if you’re young at heart, you’re warmly invited to listen, share your experiences, and learn alongside the next generation.
Suitable for schools and young people’s groups – contact us for more information.
Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June – Community Play & Discovery Days
Celebrate nature and community with two joyful, family-friendly days full of creativity, play & connection!
Enjoy outdoor theatre, live music, insightful workshops and wellbeing sessions, take part in hands-on climate action and get involved with Forest School, nature crafts and creative sessions for all ages.
Soak up the festival vibes, browse the community stalls, learn a new skill, get tips on saving money through energy efficiency and sustainable living, plus games and sports on the festival field all day long!
Want to Volunteer?
Take action on climate change, help the environment, and support community wellbeing. Volunteering is a great opportunity to build confidence, learn or apply skills, make new friends and create positive impact. Opportunities range from hands-on help with set up, to supporting activities, stewarding, serving in the Café, supporting social media and marketing, and research and evaluation. To register your interest in volunteering email bethan.sykes@bsettlement.org.uk or click here.
Our Festival Partners
It takes a village! The Neighbourhood Futures Festival is delivered in partnership with University of Birmingham Centre for Urban Wellbeing and many other passionate, environmentally-conscious organisations, artists, educators, wellbeing providers and more.
We are seeking community partners for 2025 – if you are a local group, activist, artist or performer, we would love to hear from you! lizzie.forrester@bsettlement.org.uk
WHAT TO EXPECT AT NEIGHBOURHOOD FUTURES
Arts & Performances
Live music and participatory theatre, immersive site walkabouts, storytelling & creative workshops for all.
Workshops & Talks
Four-days of insight on every day climate action, re-imagining urban spaces, mental health & nature, climate justice.
Activities
Hands-on learning, practical action & workshops, wellbeing sessions, crafts, play, family fun & much more!
Birmingham Settlement Nature & Wellbeing Centre, Edgbaston Reservoir, 79 Selwyn Road, Ladywood, Birmingham, B16 0SL
Save the date! Thursday 26th June – Sunday 29th June 2025
Can you Sponsor Neighbourhood Futures Festival 2025?
