 | | Groundwork activities |
Groundwork youth programme is designed to build young peoples confidence and social skills with a range of activities that link to the wider community. A group of young people from the Handsworth programme explored the issues and challenges that they face in their own communities. Here are some of the things the young people have to say... What is community cohesion? | | Sheraz and Bilal talk communities |
Sheraz: "To me community cohesion means to break down differences between people. We all have similarities but we should find out what barriers are stopping us mixing with each other and eliminate them." Postcodes and areasReisz & Antoine: "The area that you live in is how you’re known. That’s the way people see you in the inner city areas of Birmingham at the moment. If you’re not from a recognised area or postcode you’re not liked." Sports and activities | | Reisz and Antoine talk about area codes |
Phil (Groundwork youth worker): "Young people have now got the confidence to go across borders to take part in different activities and projects. They are showing that difference is not a bad thing but to celebrate those differences as well as being able to understand and accept them." Reisz:"Football is one thing that has no race, creed or colour. If there’s a fight in a football game it’s because they’ve been fowled not because of their colour. Sport is a definite bridge builder." Misunderstandings | | Poonam has her say |
Poonam: "Everyone should have the chance to get to know different people. If you’re stopped from being around certain people that could cause racism and riots between racial groups." We’re all the same – watch the videoWatch highlights from the short film that was made by the young people with the help of Groundwork Birmingham, Solihull’s Youth and Community team and produced by Birmingham film maker Marshall Mahindru and RKD films. Watch the video below Enter the One Birmingham Competition | | Changing lives with Groundwork |
By 2020 predictions show Birmingham will be the first city in the UK where people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds make-up over 50% of the population. But what do think this will mean? How will these changes impact our future? Birmingham Race Action Partnership (b:RAP) want young people across the city between 14-17-years-old to explore their own ideas on how to encourage positive relationships between people from different backgrounds in a competition called One Birmingham. Find out how to enter the One Birmingham competition. More about Groundwork - changing places, changing livesGroundwork aim to improve the quality of the local environment and the lives of local people across the England by building stronger neighbourhoods, reconnecting people with their surroundings and much more… Visit the Groundwork website to find out more. | 
