Our Journey

The journey from Smethwick Bangladeshi Youth Forum (SBYF) to Community Connect Foundation (CCF)

Since 1996, the Community Connect Foundation (CCF), formerly known as Smethwick Bangladeshi Youth Forum (SBYF), has been working in partnership with many private and public sector organisations to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the disadvantaged communities in the North Smethwick area.

The charity has developed innovative and culturally sensitive service provisions for diverse communities and, with the help and support of managed funding from a variety of sources, it has been able to support more than 5,000 people. A substantial number of these people have gained qualifications and moved on to find employment in the UK.

As well as training opportunities, the charity also provides health education, promotes women's development and supports youth development.

CCF's continued success is thanks to its years of experience in forming partnerships with wider networks and obtaining quality assurance accreditations from initiatives such as Investors in People, Matrix and Young People's Charter, to name just a few.

Forward thinking

In recent years we have built up a client group comprising more than 50% of people who don't live in the Smethwick area, are not young and are not Bangladeshi

Therefore, we felt that the SBYF name no longer accurately reflected our client base and may even be preventing us from reaching out to more communities

In October 2011, we changed the organisation's name to Community Connect Foundation (CCF) to allow us to operate across the West Midlands – not just the Sandwell area – and even further afield as our services develop.

1996:

  •  A group of young people come together to address issues affecting the community

1997:

  •  Youth clubs are set up at Edith Sands Nursery and Brasshouse Lane Community Centre, staffed by volunteers
  • Capacity building programme starts with young people

1998:

  • Smethwick Bangladeshi Youth Forum (SBYF) is established
  • Funding from Arts Council is secured to produce a video on issues affecting young people in North Smethwick, which was launched at an event attended by Regional Director of Government office, Chief Executive at SMBC and other high profile officials

1999:

  • Harborne Parish Lands Charity provides grant for £50,000 and kick-starts the purchase of St Stephens & St Michael's Church on Cambridge Road. Funding is also secured from Advantage West Midlands, SRB 3, SRB 4 and ERDF
  • Purchase of building is completed and work commences on refurbishment and extension of building

2000:

  •  North Smethwick Resource Centre (NSRC) is officially opened by Hilary Armstrong MP, Minister for Communities
  •  Service delivery starts from NSRC, including skills development programmes, youth clubs and ICT access facilities
  • Partnership is formed with Sandwell College to deliver community education programmes

2001:

  • Learndirect Centre is established
  • ESF and ERDF funding is secured to implement the Upskilling Communities programme

2002:

  • UK Online Centre is established
  • Bangladeshi Health Improvement Group is formed and funding from PCT secured to address health inequalities experienced by the Bangladeshi community in Sandwell
  •  Funding is secured from SRB 6 to deliver ICT programmes including the Microsoft Certified Professionals course

2003: 

  • SBYF receives Matrix Quality Standard Award
  • E-Learning Centre is established on Rolfe Street, Smethwick

2004:

  • Funding is secured to build and extend the IT room at NSRC
  • Accredited by OCR to deliver literacy and numeracy qualifications
  •  SBYF receives Investors in People award

2005:

  • Funding is secured from the Big Lottery Fund to work with Bangladeshi and Asian women
  •  A research project into drug misuse within the Bangladeshi community in Sandwell is undertaken in partnership with University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
  • Community advice service is established
  •  Accredited by City & Guilds to deliver a full range of ESOL qualifications
  • SBYF is awarded Young People's Gold Charter Award

2006:

  • Work on direct delivery of literacy, numeracy and ESOL commences
  • Young People's Information Point is established

2007:

  • The Employment Pathways project, Ethnic Minority Employment project and delivery of NVQs commences
  • Funding is secured from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop a project on the migration, settlement and experiences of the Bangladeshi community in Sandwell

2008:

  • A research project into mental health issues within the Bangladeshi community in Sandwell is undertaken in partnership with UCLan
  •  Book entitled “From Bangladesh to Smethwick” is th launched and the charity's 10 anniversary is celebrated

2009:

  • Funding is secured from Reaching Community to continue work with Asian women, set up provision for Asian men and delivery of a community advice service
  • Service delivery expands to other areas of Sandwell and Birmingham

2010:

  • Funding for a feasibility study to redevelop NSRC and establish strategic partnerships is secured
  • Accredited by British Accreditation Council (BAC) as a recognised academic institution in delivering ESOL qualifications
  • Accredited by Education Development Institute (EDI) to deliver English qualifications
  •  Planning permission to rebuild NSRC is obtained

2011:

  • SBYF renamed as Community Connect Foundation (CCF)
  • CCF launched its community newsletter called – “Community Connect” with the aim of keeping the local community informed.

2012:

  • CCF developed and led on a new partnership initiative called “Smethwick Succeeds” in collaboration with other organisations in the area in order to address unemployment and skills issues. This initiative was funded by Working Neighbourhoods Funds programme through Sandwell Council.
  • CCF in association with other voluntary organisations in Sandwell set up “Sandwell Consortium”, a third-sector led partnership arrangement for the third sectors.

2013:

  • CCF was involved as a delivery partner for the Sandwell Employment Network (SEN) managed by the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.
  • Accredited by Ascentis to deliver a wide range of qualifications.
  • Partnership arrangement established with Bournville College to deliver employability and NVQ training.

2014:

  • Achieved accreditation from Pearson Education (previously known as Edexcel) to deliver a wide range of employability, functional skills and apprenticeships qualification.
  • Received funding from public health to deliver a wide range of health and wellbeing activities

2015:

  • Successfully secured consecutive funding from the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities Program for “Achieving Together” project to deliver a wide range of skills, employability and capacity building activities.
  • Organised a national event called Nowka Bais (Bangladeshi style boat race) in Birmingham for the first time.

2016:

  • Achieved IIP and Matrix re-accreditation
  • 5 young people received Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award at St James’s Palace
  • Organised 8th National Nowka Bais in Birmingham
  • Building Better Opportunities Project commenced

2017:

  • Building Better Opportunities (BBO) programme commenced
  • Awarded Advice service continuation grant from Sandwell Consortium
  • Continued successful delivery of employability and skills programme in partnership with Bournville College

2018:

  • Better Health Programme commenced
  • Achieved Matrix quality standards re-accreditation
  • 5 young people received Duke of Edinburgh gold awards
  • Achieved BBC Children in Needs grant to continue young people’s development work and home work support classes