A group of community-based organisations have been awarded funding to invest in Bournville’s culture and help boost the local economy.

The Hub on the Green, St Francis Church and Bournville Village Trust have secured £63,000 from the Enterprise Zone fund administered by Birmingham City Council to create a Cultural Action Area in the village.

Birmingham City Council want Cultural Action Areas to play a major role in revitalising high streets and local centres, with the aim of improving community cohesion, business resilience and more.

John Dolan, Chair of Trustees at The Hub on the Green, said: “Bournville Green has hosted some fantastic cultural events this year including a celebration of Chinese New Year and the Pride Picnic on the Green. We have also welcomed a new Bournville Artisan Market which has been very successful.

“Not only do all these events bring the community together but they also bring trade to the shops on the Green, helping to boost the local independent economy.

“This new funding will give us the opportunity to build on the work we’ve been doing and to make Bournville Green a thriving community space for the benefit of everyone who uses and enjoys it.”

Elaine Li, Community Development and Involvement Manager at Bournville Village Trust, said: “We are really pleased to be one of the partners to have secured this funding. We look forward to working with The Hub on the Green, St Francis Church and other local stakeholders to shape how the funding is used to invest in Bournville’s culture and local economy.”

Councillor Suleman, Birmingham City Council member for Digital, Culture, Heritage & Tourism, said: “Cultural Action Areas (CAAs) are proving effective in bringing local cultural, community and business organisations together around a shared vision.

“They provide seed money to bring practical change, such as new facilities, and enable local groups to pool their expertise and resources around the unique opportunities of their locality.

“I am pleased to see that Bournville’s CAA will be focusing on bringing a wider and more diversified range of events to strengthen Bournville still further as a visitor destination and vibrant local centre.”

Key stakeholders in the area including shopkeepers on Sycamore Rd, the Rest House, Bournville Primary School, Maple House School, Selly Manor Museum, Friends of the Meeting House and Ruskin Hall have all been invited to join a group to influence plans.

Plans include using some of the funds to create an accessible area on Bournville Village Green that will allow cultural performances to be held on the Green.

Bournville Village Trust was founded by George Cadbury in 1900 and is one of the Midlands longest-serving independent charitable trusts. It manages estates (including the Bournville Estate), provides homes, delivers community-support services and commercial activities.