Witton Lodge Community Association was pleased to host two influential stakeholders, each keen to gain deeper insight into the impactful, community-led initiatives taking place across North Birmingham.

We were delighted to welcome Sally Burns, the newly appointed Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council, who visited to learn more about our holistic approach to improving residents’ health and wellbeing.

The visit included an in-depth discussion on our community engagement strategies and the role of the Birmingham Community Action Network (BCAN) — a city-wide platform dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving systemic change across Birmingham.

Conversations explored opportunities for joint working with the Council to address persistent health inequalities and support efforts to tackle deprivation within the city.

In a separate visit, we also welcomed Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, accompanied by Aletha Fuller, Deputy Chief Executive, and Matt Stone, Delivery Manager at the Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP).

The delegation visited both Perry Common Community Hall and the Witton Lakes Eco Hub, where we showcased our pioneering work on the Decent Neighbourhood Standard Framework. The discussion focused on shared ambitions to enhance community safety, reduce violence, and create better opportunities for young people in the area.

Reflecting on both visits, Afzal Hussain, Chief Officer at Witton Lodge Community Association, said:“It’s always a privilege to welcome key partners and stakeholders to Witton Lodge. These visits provide an invaluable platform to demonstrate the breadth of our work and to explore meaningful opportunities for collaboration.

“We are grateful to Sally and Simon for taking the time to engage directly with our team and see, first-hand, the positive impact we’re delivering across local communities.

“We look forward to building on these engagements to strengthen partnerships that drive inclusive growth, health equity, and safer neighbourhoods for all.”