Community | - Part 2

Make the Mahatma Happy (on Non-Violence Day) »

How to celebrate UN International Day of Non-Violence? Take a look at the life of Gandhi and what he said about the State and personal responsibility. Don’t look for Government actions – we should take power and responsibility for ourselves writes Chamberlain Forum Director, Paul Slatter.

October 2, 2011 | Posted in Opinion,Paul Slatter | Read More »

Theories of Community Strength »

What’s stopping stronger communities? Places where public services are done with citizens – and not to them? What are the missing rungs on the ladder of local coproduction? Theories of Community Strength is the result of a year long research project into the nuts and bolts of civil society undertaken by Chamberlain Forum and residents [...]

August 16, 2011 | Posted in Featured | Read More »

Who’s to blame for the riots, starting with…. Me? »

Who’s to blame for the riots that’ve swept our towns and cities in recent nights. What about… me? Where do I fit in the picture? Because the truth is I could have done more…

August 11, 2011 | Posted in Opinion,Paul Slatter | Read More »

Common Ground for City Cultures »

Some see it as a classroom or a refuge; to others it’s the gym or a hospital… or their church. People tell Birmingham park-keeper Fred Tematema that their local park serves a multitude of purposes. Their use and role make parks and open spaces places where ‘Big Society’ is put to the test.

June 25, 2010 | Posted in Featured,News | Read More »

Getting Heads Together on Co-Production »

Chamberlain Forum is undertaking a piece of research on co-production commissioned by Birmingham City Council Housing and Constituencies Directorate. One of the outputs of this work is an initial briefing paper. You can download the paper here and either comment online or email paul@chamberlainforum.org

January 20, 2010 | Posted in Featured,Gallery,News,Pictures | Read More »

Community organising: women acting in today’s society »

Anita Guy and members of Birmingham and Black County women’s network Women Acting in Today’s Society (WAITS) talk about Community Organising and the need for networks.

January 11, 2010 | Posted in Videos | Read More »

What We Do

Chamberlain Forum helps civil society and local authorities to coproduce better places to live. We are non-profit, politically independent and proudly based in Birmingham.

We organise Chamberlain Lectures featuring speakers including Prime Minister David Cameron. We also organise Resident University - a peer and shared learning programme for people who live and work in neighbourhoods.

We promote and develop community networks as social capital builders, including by supporting Community Network 4 Birmingham

We support action to strengthen local civil society including through: community asset transfers; neighbourhood websites; mediation and facilitation; training and business planning.

We organise action research into aspects of coproduction and are delivering an 18 month programme, Communities Managing Change, funded by Barrow Cadbury Trust.

Chamberlain Forum Limited acts as a consultancy delivering a wide range of 'thinking and doing' services for clients including local authorities, housing associations, development trusts, health and social care bodies, local strategic partnerships and voluntary and community groups.