Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together
In March 2024, the Leader of Birmingham City Council launched Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together (SBFT), a project to bring together various groups to shape the city's future.
This project brought together partners from the public, private, education, and voluntary sectors, as well as faith and community groups, to create a comprehensive city vision.
Summer of engagement
Throughout the summer of 2024, SBFT facilitated over 30 face-to-face consultations across Birmingham, complemented by eight online sessions.
These sessions were hosted by community organisations in areas such as Erdington, Bartley Green, and Handsworth, and included ward forums in Stirchley, Small Heath, and Sparkbrook. Additionally, six of the city's nearly 300 Warm Welcome spaces, including those in Nechells and Sutton Coldfield, played host to these vital discussions. An online survey held over the summer received over 1,500 responses, reflecting a variety of views from local residents.
Key policy areas
The process identified key policies to improve life in Birmingham, including:
- housing: making safe and affordable homes available
- skills: helping people gain job-ready skills
- transport: providing clean, safe, and reliable public transport
- inclusive economy: ensuring everyone benefits from the economy
- environment: keeping the city clean and healthy
- health and wellbeing: giving access to good health services
The consultations highlighted the importance of addressing inequalities and supporting young people.
Marketplace event success
On July 24, 2024, the SBFT partnership hosted a marketplace event at Holloway Hall, Bartley Green. It showcased council services and allowed officers and partners to connect, showing a strong commitment to working together and sharing resources.
Marketplace roadshow 2025
Building on this success, the SBFT partnership is organising a Marketplace Roadshow in 2025, with 10 marketplaces planned across Birmingham's constituencies, starting in January. These marketplaces aim to provide residents with valuable information about local and city-wide support services and ongoing activities that benefit the community.
Objectives of the marketplaces
The marketplaces aim to create an inclusive space for Birmingham residents to:
- inform: provide citizens with information about available services and support from Birmingham City Council and its partners
- engage: connect with officers, partnership members, and local citizens, fostering connections as part of the SBFT partnership approach
- collaborate: explore opportunities for joint efforts to improve community outcomes and learn from local groups
Calendar
New Year to summer 2025
| Costituency | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hall Green | 29 January 2025 | 10:30am to 12:30pm | Highfield Hall, 127-129 Highfield Road, Hall Green, B28 0HS |
| Erdington | 26 February 2025 | 10:30am to 12:30pm | Witton Lodge, 87 Witton Lodge Road, Erdington, B23 5JD |
| Edgbaston | 25 March 2025 | 10:30am to 12:30pm | Holloway Hall, Ley Hill Park, Birmingham B31 1TT |
| Hodge Hill | 30 April 2025 | 10:30am to 12:30pm | Saltley Wellbeing Centre, 120 Broadway Ave, Birmingham B9 5YD |
| Selly Oak | 21 May 2025 | 1:00pm to 3:00pm | Stirchley Baths, Bournville Ln, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2JT |
| Sutton Coldfield | 26 June 2025 | 10:30am to 1:00pm | United Reform Church, 1 Brassington Avenue, Sutton Coldfield, B73 6AA |
Summer to winter 2025
| Costituency | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladywood | July | Morning | To be confirmed |
| Northfield | Sept | Morning | To be confirmed |
| Yardley | October | Morning | To be confirmed |
| Perry Barr | November | Morning | To be confirmed |
Venue details, times, and dates for the summer to winter markets 2025 will be published on this page as soon as they are confirmed.
Join us
Join us in shaping Birmingham’s future together, ensuring a brighter, more inclusive, and prosperous city for all.
To attend a SBFT Marketplace event
Once you have registered your interest, a team member will contact you with the latest information about the marketplace you selected, details on how to complete your registration, and to discuss any accessibility support you may need on the day.
