One of the questions people ask us is whether you can evidence the impact that intentional asset-based community building is having. It is a very interesting and often loaded question. When asked it is usually from someone funded in a role who is feeling the pressure of their funder or commissioner to show and prove … More Evidencing Impact – Together We Can!
Our friends at Nurture Development asked us to write a blog about our ABCD journey in Firs & Bromford, and the emerging vision of where this journey is possibly taking us to. Hopefully the blog gives an essence of our community building in action. Grab a cuppa and have a read: Mountaintop and Valley Blog
“When you start with what people can give, and we start with what people are passionate about, what their skills are, and what they wish to share with each other, actually you unlock a treasure trove of riches” Rev Dr Al Barrett This is a short film produced by the Church of England in Birmingham. … More Neighbourhood Heroes in Hodge Hill
I am beginning to believe this is one of the most important and valued things we have created in our neighbourhood. Before you start thinking is there something in this photo cleverly hidden or something you are not seeing. No, it is just a bench! And it’s not even a flashy fancy bench. I’ve sat … More The story of our bench
Recently I was asked to share my thoughts on what it means to have a sense of common / shared identity in our place i.e. our streets, neighbourhoods, cities? And with that how can we be more imaginative and creative in drawing this out of ourselves and others? This inspired me to write a blog … More Having a common shared identity in a place
This week Jo, Al and I went on a road trip to Glasgow. We had been invited to share some of our stories of connecting with the The Church of Scotland Priority Areas Big Conversation. Their theme was seeking ‘The gifts of our communities’. We want to say a massive thank you to everyone from … More Engagement comes naturally: Jo’s story of being a leader and a connector
Cormac Russell, our good friend who has been journeying alongside us in our quest to unearth the gifts, skills and talents of our community, has recently co-written this comprehensive paper outlining the four essential elements of an Asset-Based Community Development process, and most crucially what makes it distinctive. It has been written through many years … More The four essential elements of an Asset-Based Community Development process
Bringing community to your doorstep’ begins to tell the story of our street events, and the role they play in community building here in Firs and Bromford. This summer we have done 5 more street events, and they have all been wonderful. Activities and conversations have given neighbours the opportunity to show up, feel part … More What ‘hosts’ can teach us about how to be a community
It takes a village to raise a child is a well known proverb, attributed to African culture, which is commonly used to describe a belief that it takes an entire community of different people interacting with children in order for every child to fully flourish, and grow in a safe environment. This proverb has started … More #VillageVision: It takes a village to raise a child
In the early hours of Saturday I sent a tweet as my ‘end’ to what had been an epic 8 days in our community. I did feel broken (well very emotionally and physically tired) but also fully alive and full of hope. In that moment I wasn’t ready to ‘download’ the events of the past … More 8 days in the life of a street connector
Welcome to our street connecting story 