Community Power in Action at Witton Lodge!
Witton Lodge Community Association recently hosted a vibrant Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together (SBFT) Marketplace Roadshow at Perry Common Community Hall, bringing over 100 residents, organisations, and council services together to shape the city’s future. This event was a testament to the power of community-led collaboration, proving that when people come together, great things can happen!
SBFT’s Vision
Launched in March 2024, SBFT focuses on seven priority themes identified through citizen engagement: Economy, Education, Employment, Environment, Health, Housing, and Transport. By involving residents, businesses, and community groups, the initiative ensures Birmingham’s Corporate Plan reflects grassroots needs and strengths.
The SBFT Marketplace Roadshow is part of a city-wide initiative launched in March 2024 by the Leader of Birmingham City Council to unite diverse stakeholders, including public, private, education, voluntary, and faith groups—to co-create a vision for Birmingham.
John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council said about the marketplace roadshows, “The Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together Marketplace Roadshows are a great opportunity for people to learn more about the services and support available from Birmingham City Council and a wide range of partner organisations and community groups. These events showcase our city at its very best.”
At Witton Lodge Community Association, we brought this vision to life by:
- Connecting residents with one-stop access to housing advice, benefits support, energy guidance, and employment opportunities
- Empowering our community through volunteering sign-ups, networking and initiatives
- Stregthening important partnerships between local organisations and Birmingham City Council teams, to match support where needed
Highlights
✅ Community-Led Success: Our Witton Lodge team delivered tailored advice on housing, benefits, and energy, while partners provided employment support and volunteering opportunities.
✅ In-Person Impact: Face-to-face connections fostered trust and collaboration, proving that direct engagement builds stronger communities – a core principle of SBFT.
✅ City-Wide Momentum: This event was one of 10 planned SBFT Marketplace Roadshows across Birmingham’s constituencies in 2025, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusivity.
Next Steps
A huge thank you to everyone who made this day such a great success and helped shine a spotlight on why community-led initiatives are the heart of Birmingham’s future. To find out more about upcoming SBFT Marketplace events and how you can contribute to shaping Birmingham’s future, visit SBFT
Building on this momentum, Witton Lodge is committed to amplifying resident voices and advancing community-led solution. If you’d like to get involved with shaping the future of services in your local area, we invite you to participate in Community Voice, a resident-led initiative designed to amplify local voices in shaping services across North Birmingham. Focused on six key themes—Housing, Employment, Health, Enterprise, Environment, and Volunteering – this forum empowers residents to influence decision-making and drive sustainable solutions. Interested? Contact Steve Sharma on 0121 382 1930 or emailsteve.sharma@wittonlodge.org.uk
