About Us
Our vision is that ‘Bromford, Firs and Hodge Hill are communities of creativity and compassion, where all feel welcome, all feel connected, all feed they belong, and all feel that they can flourish’.
To achieve this we have developed a pioneering community-building approach that is built upon the principles and practices of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). This means we approach challenges and opportunities thinking what skills and gifts (assets) do we have in our community before thinking what others can do for us (deficits).
Our activities include Street Connecting (streetconnector.com), Places of Welcome (placesofwelcome.org.uk), Livelihood Support Work, Mental Health & Wellbeing Champions, Green Connecting, and a local Pantry (yourlocalpantry.co.uk), which come together in our flagship project: ‘Together We Can’ (TWC). This is a unique collaboration between 3 grassroots organisations who have been committed to a long-term, neighbourhood-wide journey of intergenerational community-building, seeking to root connectedness and leadership among local residents to grow a stronger sense of community and supporting people to feel empowered to make things happen.
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Meet the Team
Paul Wright
Director of Strategy and Engagement
Paul has over 15 years experience of community animation, development work, leadership, management and neighbour-led change. Paul was instrumental in developing a new branch of the charity Worth Unlimited, one of our key partners, developing a new community hub, a range of youth work and neighbour-led community building activity, and developing the partnerships that created TWC. Paul has subsequently worked for Open Door for 7 years. He has overseen the development of our street connecting project, the Pantry, and TWC. He is also actively involved in street connecting, events, and is generally involved supporting the community.
Flo Berrow
Livelihoods Support worker
Flo has been embedded in Firs and Bromford for a number of years, as both a youth worker and a support worker. Since 2022 she has been our Livlihood Support Worker. She is passionate about people, seeing them flourish, and breaking down barriers that get in the way. You will see her regularly at the Hub, at Open Door Tuesday Place of Welcome and at the Pantry.
Clare Maclean
Street Connector
Clare is a resident in the Bromford, and has been for most of her life. She has been actively involved with the Hub, Worth Unlimited and Open Door for over 10 years. She is passionate about where she lives and her neighbours. Particularly young people, families and ways to bring the generations together. Since 2022 she has been a street connector. She facilitates the Open Door Tuesday Place of Welcome, co-leads street connecting, co-leads events, and supports a whole range of community groups including the Writing Group and Theatre Group.
Jo Green
Green Connector
Jo is a resident in the Bromford, and has been for over 15 years. She has been actively involved in the community for a number of years, both at the Hub, in green spaces, at other local community centres and her church. She is passionate about neuro-diversity, people, and the outdoors. She is an active green connector, and since 2024 she has worked in collaboration with our partners the Community Environmental Trust https://environmentaltrust.org.uk/ to deliver this project. You will regularly see her in the pocket park, along the Bromford path or the Bluebell Woods.
Tiffany Nicholson
Street Nicholson
Tiffany is a resident in the Firs neighbourhood, and has been actively involved in community building as a volunteer and worker for a number of years, and since 2023 she has been a street connector. She is a passionate advocate for the Firs, as well as local people, in particular women. She facilitates our women’s group and activities at Firs Primary School, co-leads street connecting, co-leads events, and is regularly connecting people into and at the Pantry.
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Matt Perry
Finance/ HR Officer
Financial management, HR and organisational support is provided by Matt Perry, Giraffe HR who also acts as our Company Secretary.
Volunteers
We have a wonderful team of volunteers who contribute their time, their skills, their passion and their gifts to a whole range of projects. This includes the Pantry Team, Places of Welcome, Street Connectors, Green Connectors, Street events and parties, Community Events and more. If you would love to get involved please click on the ‘Get Involved’ link.
Trustees
Our trustees have a good range of skills and experience including senior leadership in education, community development, faith-based mission and regeneration. This involves working at local, regional and national levels to develop new initiatives, turning vision and innovation into effective and robust projects.
They are:
- Penny Hall (co-chair)
- Gloria Smith (co-chair)
- Revd Dr Al Barrett
- Jon Miles
