BLACHIR community engagement partners
One of the seven key areas for action highlighted in the BLACHIR Review, under the theme ‘Healthier Behaviours’ called for Local Authorities and Integrated Care Systems to provide long-term investment for trusted Black African and Black Caribbean grass root organisations to deliver community led interventions.
To begin action under this area, Birmingham City Council commissioned three engagement partners for a period of 22 months, from May 2022 to March 2024, to assist in the first steps of implementing the Review which included disseminating and promoting the findings of the report and supporting the implementation of activities within African and Caribbean populations in Birmingham.
The BLACHIR community engagement partners (CEPs) which were involved within this project and the associated ‘Lot’ relating to their contract can be seen below:
- Lot A: African Community (Allies Network CIC)
- Lot B: Caribbean Community (Black Heritage Support Service)
- Lot C: Young African and Caribbean Males (Mindseye Development CIC)
- Lot D: Young African and Caribbean Females (Mindseye Development CIC)
Allies Network CIC
Allies Network CIC is a social enterprise founded in 2008 and incorporated in 2014. Their mission is to empower communities. They offer a variety of services, including one-to-one advice, guidance and support, advocacy, culturally sensitive counselling and more.
Project spotlight:
Supported content creation of pre-conception brochures to include female genital mutilation (FGM) support services for the first time.
Key project representative: Nura Ali Dhuhul
To contact Allies Network, email alliesnetwork@gmail.com
Black Heritage Support Service
Black Heritage Support Service was founded in 2020. They are an advocacy service which has been established to support the Black community through crisis. Their mission is to stand as a fundamental support mechanism for the Black community.
They offer a range of support and services including advice and advocacy, career development, educational hub, and emergency winter support.
Read more about BHSS' role as a BLACHIR community engagement partner on their website.
Project spotlight:
Key project representative: Anikah Cobblah
To contact Black Heritage Support Service, email admin@bhss.co.uk.
Mindseye Development CIC
Mindseye Development CIC was set up in 2021 with a focus on promoting social mobility for Black African and Black Caribbean young people.
They take a holistic approach to supporting young people through mentoring, personal development and employability while also seeking to address factors that create barriers to social mobility.
Project spotlight:
Key project representative: Michael Brown
To contact Mindseye Development CIC, email info@mindseyedevelopment.co.uk
Learning and next steps
Each of the engagement partners summarised their projects in an end of project report. We have summarised the key project outputs and reflections from each of the reports into a summary report.
The learnings from this report can be used to shape future commissioning for projects focussing on community engagement.
Download the community engagement partner summary report
Information about plans for future community engagement work can be found in the next steps section.
Page last updated: 11 April 2025
