Community groups and stakeholders gathered at the Witton Lakes Eco Hub for a Community of Practice session reflecting on the impact of health initiatives being delivered across the North Locality. 

Witton Lodge Community Association, as the VCFSE (Voluntary Community Faith Social Enterprise)  Lead for the North Locality (covering Erdington and Sutton Coldfield constituency) brought together groups funded through the Fairer Futures Fund. These included Birmingham Mind, Spurgeon’s, Our Place Support, Sutton Coldfield Town Council and the Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC).  

Collaboration 

Discussions focused on identifying the needs not currently being addressed, what assets and strengths can be built upon, where work is being duplicated, opportunities missed, and how to work differently.  

There was also a chance for the groups to highlight the amazing work they are doing in the locality.  

Waheed Saleem, Head of Programmes and Partnerships at Witton Lodge Community Association, said: 

“The event highlighted the great work that community-based organisations are doing to address health inequalities in the locality. It enabled the organisations to connect with each other and create opportunities to work together to maximise the impact they are having.

Focus

“Addressing health inequalities requires a collective effort, and these events provide a platform for groups to come together to develop actions for this to happen.”

The session agreed several practical actions, including addressing health literacy, making more of the health assets, developing opportunities to enhance community voices in health services and showcasing the impact that projects are having.