‘Seedbeds’ is an organisation, set up in Winson Green in 2015. It enables people to become new ‘Urban Leaders’ within their own local community. It’s designed to deliver the tools, social skills and links to resources, that help people go back into their own community, releasing their own unique potential.
They then effectively implement their own ideas, schemes and community-based enterprises, to positively improve their urban community. ‘Seedbeds’ has grown community leaders within England, Scotland, and even internationally, in Ukraine and Myanmar.
One of ‘Seedbeds UK’ Community Leadership programmes is ‘Change Makers’. Set up by Rev Dr Ash Barker and Tim Evans, it’s been running for 8 years now, (with many cohorts). People with potential (or raw talent), are nominated for the programme by other people or organisations within their local communities, who view the applicant as a potential urban leader or champion, so becoming a ‘Change Maker’.
The scheme grows each emerging leader’s capacity in the critical qualities of compassion, innovation and resilience, as well as building life-long connections, self-awareness and skills for change. Participants come in pods together from their community and focus their idea for change within their community. This means that their community benefits from their growth (and not just the emerging leaders themselves).
Change Makers especially seeks applicants from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds, and is accessible, (even if they work or study full time). There are course costs, but ‘Seedbeds’ don’t want cost to be a barrier, so these tend to be paid by access to grants, donations or sponsorships.
The course runs over 4 months (Sept-Dec), the participant then pitching their own idea for change to a resource panel at the end of the programme and graduation. Each successful nominee will be granted a part paid scholarship. (For course details and costs please visit ‘Seedbed.org/change-makers’).
This year’s ‘Change Makers’ (Cohort 8) presented their ‘Pitches’ to seven members of the ‘Recourse Panel’ on Saturday 26th November 2022 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green. The event ran from 10:30am – 3:00pm. The event was wrapped up with a graduation ceremony, and awarding certificates and a photo session. (There was very much a warm supportive feeling to the whole event).
One standout example was Claire (from Rubery) who gave a very confident pitch. Starting with her own tragic story, about being married young (only 20 years old), only to find herself trapped in an abusive relationship. Not only violence, but psychological abuse too. Finding herself isolated from her family, reduced in self-confidence and controlled (even financially), by a partner that told her she was worthless and crazy.
But Claire found the courage to leave the abusive relationship with her six-month old daughter. She now wants to create a safe space for women (in Rubery), who are in abusive relationships. She states that “Many women are scared to ask for help, scared to involve social services, for fear of their children being taken away”.
She wants to hire a venue that can also serve as a playgroup for children, explaining, “I have NVQ’s for childcare. Messy play, with paint on their hands, (is brilliant). Getting the trust of the children, will lead to trust of the parents”.
Claire was praised by the panel for being so confident and clear. She’d sought funding to pay for the hire of a council hall in Rubery (Hall hire £12/hour for 4 hourly sessions across 4 weeks, plus £10 per week for snacks/drinks).
Claire’s story resonated with one panel member (who’d experienced domestic abuse growing up), to the extent, that they pledged to pay the first month (£48) of hall hire. The panel advised that Birmingham Council may be of help, (getting ‘Women’s Aid’ charity on board). The panel wanted to facilitate sponsorship support through church leaders, and that of the police (having resources relating to domestic violence and funding from proceeds of crime money). Claire was advised to Keep it free, at point of use, (as women under financial control) may not have any money. Linking to local food bank would also be a good idea.
Most ‘pitchers’, (like Claire’s), received pledges of support from panel members. If the participant’s thought they’d just be asking for funds (enabling their plans and dreams to be realized) – Then no! (What they actually got was much greater). As a ‘Resource Panel’, they were willing to lend their time and effort, skills, expertise and valuable links to people and resources. Putting them in place, so as to develop, shape and direct (grow) their ideas further.
By Barry Hartley
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