Theories of Community Strength »

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 »

‘Faith and Hope Works’ in Balsall Heath »

‘Faith and Hope Works’ in Balsall Heath

Theories of influence and empowerment, derived from the structured dialogue story circle about influence. Part of the Be Birmingham funded research project into what works in priority neighbourhoods

August 18, 2010 | Posted in News | Read More »

Your Neighbourhood: ‘Thriving’, ‘Striving’, ‘Dependent’ or ‘Failing’? »

Your Neighbourhood: ‘Thriving’, ‘Striving’, ‘Dependent’ or ‘Failing’?

Is your neighbourhood the sort of place residents love?  Do local people think they can influence decisions affecting it?  The answers to those questions – asked as part of the Places Survey – give an insight into whether neighbourhoods are thriving or failing; improving or in decline. Chamberlain Forum has looked at responses to the [...]

November 20, 2009 | Posted in Featured,News | Read More »

Resident University: Influence Local Decisions »

Resident University: Influence Local Decisions

Do you know the difference between an MP and a Councillor? What about a PCT and a Foundation Hospital; or an OCU and a ACC?  And how are they all accountable to you?  How does your local influencing know-how measure up?  And what about your skills and your tactics for influencing?  Birmingham’s Resident University moves on [...]

November 19, 2009 | Posted in Events,Featured,Resident University | 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.

Big Ideas

3rd Sector Asset Transfer Big Society Birmingham Citizenship Citizenship Model Disability civil society co-production Cohesion Community Community Anchor Community Assets Community Dialogue Community Empowerment community first community networks Connecting Communities Culture Democracy faith future cities Health Local Government Localism Neighbourhood Forums neighbourhood management ni4 Participatory Budgeting Regeneration research Resident University riots Sandwell Self-help Social Enterprise Social Media Story Telling Sustainable Communities Timebanking Transforming Local Infrastructure unemployment Volunteering welfare West Bromwich Youth Empowerment

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