The Birmingham Association of Neighbourhood Forums (BANF) is a city-wide umbrella organisation. It aims to provide neighbourhood forums with the necessary support to ensure that they are as effective as possible in involving and representing local people.
Association meetings are held eight times per annum to which each neighbourhood forum is entitled to send two representatives.
BANF is a company limited by guarantee and is run by a management committee elected on an annual basis by representatives of the individual neighbourhood forums.
The BANF office at 36 Revesby Walk, Nechells, Birmingham. B7 4LG, provides a wide range of services, including:
- design and printing
- training
- technical advice
- advice on claiming grants
What Is A Neighbourhood Forum
Neighbourhood forums are community groups run by and for local people.
They provide an opportunity to discuss and influence the issues that affect local communities, such as:
- community safety and crime education
- environmental issues
- health and social issues housing
- local economy
- transport
Neighbourhood forums can campaign on these issues and make representations to ward advisory boards and district partnerships, etc. Membership is free, and open to all people aged 16 and over.
Neighbourhood forums themselves decide the area they will cover. Usually this is an area that forms a 'natural' neighbourhood, which can be as few as 500 or up to as many as 5,000 households. The area can cross ward boundaries if necessary.
With more than 70 neighbourhood forums based throughout the city, they are ideally placed to offer unrivalled local knowledge and understanding as Birmingham 'goes local'. Why not make a difference to your community and join your local neighbourhood forum?
Birmingham City Council is moving to devolve decision-making, budgets and some services to eleven 'districts'. Neighbourhood forums and the local knowledge they represent can make a big difference by ensuring that the districts' spending and priorities reflect the needs of local people.
For more information please contact us by phone on 0121 359 4224 or email: info@banf.org.uk
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