Valentine’s Day Birmingham: As One community campaign launches to bring streets together

Birmingham organisations - including faith groups, schools and local businesses - are joining forces to fill city streets with friendliness.

They have launched the As One campaign to help people across Birmingham renew their sense of belonging, featuring tea parties, street associations and memorial events.

The aim of As One is to nurture a sense of connection, kindness, friendliness and belonging between people who live on the same street.

It aims to be a huge boost for elderly people, young families, single people - in short everyone.

Similar campaigns are being launched in Dudley, Walsall, Worcestershire and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

Dozens of churches and faith groups, community centres and other partners across Birmingham are preparing to host As One tea parties.

They will be held in neighbourhoods in the spring as the country prepares to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games this summer.

There, residents from each local street will be introduced to the idea of starting a Street Association for their own street, with the aim of keeping the friendliness going long after the pandemic has lifted.

In many local areas, an As One memorial service will also be held, ahead of the tea party, to remember the anxiety, isolation, loss and bereavement experienced by so many over the past two years and help bring a measure of peace and ‘closure’.

The As One campaign has won backing from Birmingham City Council which has allocated funding to produce banners for organisations, residents and other partners to display in their local areas, to encourage more people to consider setting up their own Street Association and host tea party events.

The 2m-long banners focus on the message of ‘your street’ because over 10 years a Street Association has been shown to be a popular way of getting people together – be it a children’s party, barbecue, quiz night or day trip for neighbours.

With an agenda of friendship, fun, belonging, a helping hand, the prize is that everyone gradually gets to know everyone, friendliness is released, isolation is addressed, fun is had, and practical help flows to residents who may need it.

What have As One campaigners said about the launch in their own words?

Cllr John Cotton, Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities for Birmingham City Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome this campaign, which aims to bring together Birmingham’s community groups, faith groups, schools and other partners to start their own Street Associations.

“During the pandemic we saw true community spirit in action, with people helping each other, volunteering, going above and beyond - it was inspiring: As One aims to further expand this, street by street, across Birmingham, and that would be great to see.”

Bishop Mike Royal, Co-chair, Birmingham 2022 Games Churches Together Group said: I’m thrilled that Birmingham’s churches are able to play a significant role in helping to spread the ‘As One’ message across the city and, crucially, in hosting local ‘As One tea party events’.

“After a difficult two years, the Commonwealth Games can stimulate lasting neighbourly connections and As One gives us the tools to make that actually happen!

Brian Carr, Chief Executive, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), said: “The As One Campaign acknowledges and champions the importance of local community action and connectedness.

“These qualities have been vital in supporting Birmingham’s neighbourhoods through the Covid19 pandemic, but of course, their importance stretches far beyond this moment in time.

“I’m delighted to lend BVSC’s full support to this initiative so we can all continue to work together to boost the community spirit that makes Birmingham the brilliant city it is.”

Michael Butler, Chair, Birmingham Civic Society and Professor, Aston Business School, said: “Before the advent of Covid 19, I saw the effectiveness of Birmingham’s Permission to Smile campaign.  Now that pandemic has shown both the need for community connections and the willingness of people to step in and help, this is the time to urge us all to ‘fill our street with friendliness’, not just in a crisis but long-term.

“The As One campaign has a tried-and-tested methodology to help create community connections and then keep them strong.  Birmingham Civic Society is delighted to partner with this exciting and timely initiative.”

For more information on how to start a Street Association, visit www.as-one.uk/birmingham

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