 | | Diverse Birmingham |
Ongoing tension between the Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities was the media’s explanation for the violent disturbances that took place in Lozells during October 2005, however young people from the area express a very different view. Talking Lives, Talking Communities is an initiative that has been set up by Birmingham Youth Service and SRB6 (Single Regeneration Budget 6) to give young people in the Lozells and Handsworth area a platform to have their say about the community they live in. Setting an example | | Multi-cultural Birmingham |
The aim of the project is to set an example of how a richly diverse city where people from all different backgrounds, faiths and communities can live respectfully together without any no-go areas. As part of Talking Lives, Talking Communities young people are being encouraged to become community champions and to organise their own youth events, activities and forums. Having their say on filmFive youth groups in the Lozells, Handsworth and Soho area are currently taking part in the initiative; they include - Lozells Recreation Group, Scarmans Trust, Groundwork, Soho Youth Project and Birmingham Community Venture.  | | Young person at Scarmans Trust |
The young people who attend the groups helped to produce a short film where they expressed their own personal views about the communities they live in. Here are a few of the comments and issues they brought up in the film. Empowerment“Everyone should be appreciated for who they are and be given the same opportunities. "We need to empower ourselves by merging all the different community groups together. Unity is power.” - Scarmans Trust The media“There’s no racism in Lozells all the communities get on with each other.  | | Lozells Recreation Group - youth leader |
“I walked down Lozells road on one of the days during the heat of the disturbances October last year, it was unusually quiet and the media was all over the place probing and causing the division. “A week after it happened when everything had died down and the media had gone away, I saw a group of Afro-Caribbean and Asian lads sitting and chatting together without any problems. I really believe it was outside influences that caused the problems.” - Lozells Recreation Group Keepin’ it real | | Young people at B'ham Community Venture |
“We need more football pitches and open grass spaces across the city so people can come together and play sports.” - Birmingham Community Venture. Perception“I don’t think we all have the same opportunities at all. "When you see a person’s colour you already make up your mind of what kind of person they are, for example if your perception of a black people is bad then every time you see a black person you’re going to have negative thoughts about them.  | | Young people at Soho Youth Project |
“For community cohesion to work we need to be more open minded.” - Soho youth project. Respect"It’s important for young people from all different backgrounds to come together and create a sense of one. "We shouldn’t judge each other on culture or religion it’s all about respecting each other for what we are and who we are."- Groundwork Use the links on the right to watch what young people from each of the youth groups had to say in their film.>>>About SRB6 | | Young people at Groundwork |
SRB6 operate in the north west corridors of Birmingham and is a partnership, involving local people, community and voluntary organisations, local businesses and statutory organisations including the police and city council. The initiative covers Lozells, Handsworth, Aston, Handsworth Wood, and Ladywood wards. Their priority is to improve local people's quality of life by reducing the gap between deprived and other areas or between different groups. This includes addressing disadvantage experienced by ethnic minority communities. More informationFor more information about the Talking Lives, Talking Communities project contact: Oakland Young People’s Centre
Oakland Road, Handsworth
Birmingham. B21 ONA Tel: 0121 464 1709 | 
