The Springfield Project, a community organisation in Sparkhill, is running the Child Friendly Neighbourhood initiative to engage children in enriching activities and help make their environment safer and greener. The project encourages young people to become "active citizens" and shape their own community.
Sarah Rollins, chief executive officer at the Springfield Project, told BirminghamLive: "Our approach [with Child Friendly Neighbourhood] is very much about what can we do as a community organisation and what can the community do for themselves, what can young people do for themselves rather than waiting for somebody to fix things. Let's take control of what we can control. I'd like any organisation to think about their neighbourhood through a child friendly lense."
Youth-led activities and community impact
Children involved in the project have recently taken part in CPR training, holiday place schemes, and worked around the neighbourhood to improve the physical environment they live in. These activities are designed to help young people take pride in themselves and their neighbourhood.
The project is part of a wider effort to support Birmingham's children amid a wave of youth centre closures over the last few decades. Currently, there are 13 council-run youth centres in Birmingham, along with numerous privately run organisations like the Springfield Project.
Addressing the gap in youth services
Sarah highlighted the lack of accessible youth services, noting that the nearest council-run youth centre is "a good couple of miles away - too far for any of our children to get to." She added: "They do great stuff, but it's not accessible for everybody. We really need a lot more of this on people's doorsteps, so that young people can get there safely and that parents know that they're safe."
When asked what it would mean if services like hers were unavailable, Sarah said: "They're not available to a lot of young people, that's the reality of what we live in."
Young people's enthusiasm and the way forward
Sarah praised the "brilliance" of the young people who visit the centre, noting their desire to engage with the world around them. "We don't find it hard to get young people to do things," she said. "They just need the opportunities and to feel welcome and to feel safe to engage with things."
The Springfield Project and the Child Friendly Neighbourhood initiative are based at the Springfield Centre in Sparkhill, providing a local resource for young Brummies to develop skills and contribute to their community.
