Community Development Practice Hub

Community Development Practice Hub

The Community Development Practice Hub is a resource for people and organisations who ‘work with’ people in Birmingham, supporting them to take collective action to make changes to things that are important to them and their communities. It aims to connect, inspire and upskill community development practitioners across Birmingham.

The hub is funded by Birmingham City Council, led by BVSC and supported by Thrive Together Birmingham.

Come join us on this exciting journey, as we collaborate with the sector to offer a tailored approach with a focus on Birmingham-specific learning, challenges, and achievements. 

Stories

Inspiring stories from community development practitioners in Birmingham

  • From Northfield to Nature: finding connection at Birmingham Botanical Gardens

    The Your Space Friendship Group in Northfield brings people together each week for company and conversation. A £500 microgrant funded their first-ever day trip to Birmingham Botanical Gardens, giving members a rare chance to enjoy a day out together. The experience lifted spirits, strengthened friendships and inspired plans for more shared adventures. Read more

  • Building Belonging: Liz Fossey Leads the Way for Over 50s in Northfield

    After moving from a close-knit community in Devon to Northfield in 2010, Liz struggled to find the same sense of belonging, especially after the loss of her husband. Lockdown unexpectedly reconnected her with people through online groups, and later volunteering at the Northfield Arts Forum Café helped her build new friendships and rediscover a vibrant sense of community. In turn, this led Liz to a new role within the Northfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme, as volunteer Over 50s champion. Read more

  • Exploring space and place: new arts project connecting people in Northfield

    In Northfield, the Redeemer Church’s arts and wellbeing programme sparked the Space and Place Project, blending creativity with geography to explore how places shape identity and memory. Over six weeks, participants of all ages shared food, stories, and artistic expression, creating personal artworks inspired by locations ranging from Barcelona to Oddingley Hall. The project fostered confidence, connection, and new friendships, showing the power of creativity to bring people together. Read more

Find out more about the Hub

  • Our mission is to 'advocate for a practice of community development in Birmingham that focuses on 'doing with', not 'doing to'.

    We provide opportunities for professional development, peer support, networking, and more support to enable strengths-based approaches to community development to take place in the city. We work with practitioners, whether in paid or volunteering roles, who are often called     Community Enablers; Connectors; Helpers; Builders; Guides; Networkers; Liaisons or Development Workers.

    More

Resources

Tools and resources for community development practitioners

  • About Asset Based Community Development

    Asset Based Community Development or ABCD aims to strengthen communities by recognising, identifying, and activating the skills, resources, experience, knowledge, connections, and passions within them. Read more

  • Values of Community Development Practice

    The community development process is underpinned by five fundamental values on which all practice are based. Community development practitioners should be able to relate these values to their roles and actions. Read more

  • Core Skills for Agents of Change

    The principles and values of community development are shared across the United Kingdom and around the world. With community development undertaken by a wide range of people in different roles. Read more