What is the Community Development Practice Hub

The Community Development Practice Hub aims to connect, inspire, and upskill community development practitioners in Birmingham. Its mission is to 'advocate for a practice of community development in the city 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 in paid or volunteering roles, which might be called e.g. Community Enabler, Connector, Helper, Builder, Guide, Networker, Liaison or Development Worker.

Why has it been developed?

Community development happens in communities across Birmingham, with practitioners predominantly located within third-sector organisations. There is little specialist support or training to articulate or define what intentional community development practice looks like and few opportunities to develop practitioner skills and networks.

Who developed it?

The Community Development Practice Hub has been developed by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) and an advisory board of community development practitioners. We'd like to thank them for giving their time and experience to support the development of the hub; Paul Wright, Open Door Community Foundation; Jo Bagby, Thrive Together; Rashta Butt, St Margaret’s Community Trust; Maria Hughes, Birmingham LGBT; Carol Hebden; The Outcomes Unit; Conrad Parkes; CLES; and Miriam Aslam.

Browse the Community Development Practice Hub