Already winners of a Big Society Award, New Heights Community Project in the Erdington District of Birmingham has just won the ‘Standing up for Birmingham’ category at this year’s Chamberlain Awards.  The award was introduced for the first time this year to recognise teams or individuals who are working with Birmingham citizens to build a positive future for the City.

New Heights started life in 2003 as a small volunteer group responding to anti-social behaviour in the Kingstanding area of Birmingham, with a remit to carry out work which improves the lives of people in the area.  The Community Project provides youth clubs, training and employment help, health and wellbeing services, domestic abuse counselling, bereavement support free legal advice, lunch clubs for older people, as well as support for parents, and playgroups.  Over the years the local church has been transformed into a community centre and now has more than 500 people a week coming through its doors.