Ashram

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“Hits all the buttons to reach difficult groups,” was the
judges’ verdict on Ashram’s work to promote community
cohesion in Birmingham that has seen the association
change from a specialist provider for black and minority
ethnic (BME) communities to a mainstream organisation
working with a diverse cross-section of communities.

This approach is evident through its work in a number of
areas, including sport, community design and advocacy.

• SPORT -- An example is 'Football Futures' which has worked with thousands of
boys from diverse groups since the early 1990s.
With strategic business support from Ashram, it is
expanding as a social enterprise across the region and
diversifying into night football and football for girls.
An increasing number of coaches employed at both projects are former
volunteers who have gained their coaching badges.  

• COMMUNITY DESIGN -- Ashram also uses the less likely vehicle of community
design to bring people from different communities
together. Following a series of successful urban design
workshops attended by more than 100 local residents, it set
up the Centre for Urban Design Outreach and Skills
(CUDOS) in partnership with the Birmingham Institute
for Art and Design.  The centre is sponsored by multi-national engineering
company Atkins and opens career pathways into further
education, training and employment, particularly for
people who are economically deprived or displaced,

• ADVOCACY -- The third main strand of Ashram’s community cohesion
work is a combination of training, awareness raising,
network development, campaigning and research.
The association recently produced a DVD which addresses
mental health issues in forced marriages, and it is undertaking
a study of health inequalities and experiences among
South Asian women in the West Midlands.

The association works with a formidable range of
partners, including the city council, Birmingham Rep,
schools, industry, the police and community groups.
Funders include Comic Relief, Sport England and the
Football Foundation.

“Ashram has carved out a modern approach that
meets the needs of diverse communities and provides
added value locally through excellent and wide-ranging
projects,” said the judges.