Community ▿

Our community capacity projects have helped to develop and establish a number of local groups and organisations. Furthermore we have helped to ensure that they have been supported with governance, fundraising and to develop local networks.

Previous projects have been funded by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, West Midlands Police, Big Lottery and support has also been provided on a pro bono basis.

The support of local people, to help provide capacity is key to back-filling gaps in public services, raising awareness of local issues, tackling local problems and providing a representative voice for the community.  Our previously supported groups help to improve community cohesion and create inclusive opportunities.

A more recent examples of our work is the refurbishment of Junction, a local community centre which was destroyed in an act of deliberate vandalism.  Refurbished from our charitable reserves, we are now providing a hall for community hire, employment and skills support, a timetable of healthy activities; and recently started parent and chatty cafe.  Our community garden is in full flow and we have plans to develop a new community centre.

In 2024 we completed delivery of the Active Communities funded project that was aimed to improve health and wellbeing of local people and groups in North Solihull and Shard End.  Upon completion the commissioner  stated “having completed your final review yesterday, I just wanted to send a quick note to say how thoroughly impressed I have been by all of your work the past 18 months. Gemma and the team worked dilligently with enthusiasm and creativity, taking to heart the values of the programme, and clearly creating a significant impact in your communities. You have also taken a very different to approach to some of our other partners, particularly your focus on supporting small grassroots groups to grow with you has clearly been instrumental to building a wider system approach in North Solihull.”