Birmingham: Villa Park in Birmingham became the stage for a powerful gathering of senior leaders from across businesses, charities, academia, and the public sector, united to take the Pledge for Birmingham! This transformative event aimed to break down barriers to skills and employment while exploring innovative opportunities for a brighter future.
Dynamic discussions focused on critical topics such as mental health, learning difficulties, digital inclusion, forward-thinking business models, procurement, and grants. Insights flowed from inspiring speakers, including Deputy Mayor Sharon Thompson, alongside the wisdom of lived experiences shared by special guests Darren Harris, former captain of the Blind England Football team, and Hussain Manawer, Sunday Times best-selling poet and mental health advocate.
With more than 70 organisations showcasing their resources and expertise, the event offered a hub of information, empowerment, and collaboration. Attendees celebrated this golden opportunity and voiced a united demand: to ensure the continuation of such impactful programs in the future. Together, they lit the spark for a stronger, more inclusive Birmingham.
Report by S M Irfan Tahir Photojournalist / Member National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Great Britain.
