Community members at the Birmingham Settlement

After the riots in northern cities in 2002 and 2003, there was concern that they would spread to cities with similarly diverse communities. The community facilitators project was Birmingham's response.

Tower blocks in Aston, Birmingham

Eight small frontline organisations work in the community and with police operational area commanders, supporting staff (called facilitators) to build up trust with local people.

Community roots

It takes years to gain trust, and the fact that each facilitator is from the community they serve is crucial to the process.

Sweets on a local stall

Facilitators are called to sort out tensions between school children, to mediate in street disputes or be a general point of contact when international issues have a knock-on effect on community harmony.

A local mosque

The conflict in Gaza in late 2008 was reflected in increasing tension in communities, with the potential for trouble to break out on the streets.

Safdar Mir

“Birmingham has a significant Muslim population,” says Safdar Mir, project coordinator. “Some of these people sympathised with the Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. Our facilitators liaised with communities and the police to resolve tensions.

A map of Somalia

The project works closely with the Somali community in Birmingham.

Abdi Osman

One of the added benefits of the community facilitators project is the general advice and support that facilitators can provide to local people. This could be debt advice, help with filling in benefit forms or information about new opportunities.

Birmingham Settlement Building

It has been difficult to get statutory funding for this project. At the beginning of 2009, however, the Barrow Cadbury Trust agreed three-year funding for community facilitators to work specifically in white majority wards in the outer ring of Birmingham.