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Neighbourhood Development and Support

Neighbourhood Development and Support Unit (NDSU) is a place and neighbourhood-focused team working within the Neighbourhoods Division of City Operations. We work with communities and organisations to empower them and help make great places to live and work.

On this page, we outline some of our areas of work.

Supporting local leadership and community governance

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ governance means listening to individuals and communities and allowing them to influence decisions that impact them. We offer ward meeting support for all 69 ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ wards, working with councillors (also referred to as elected members).

We also provide support with ward action plans, which list local priorities and issues determined through co-production, discussions and engagement with the community.

Learn more about ward meetings

Learn more about the ward action plans

Localism, Localisation & Devolution

The Working Together in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s Neighbourhoods policy statement sets out the Council’s commitment to neighbourhoods and the policies taken forward to improve neighbourhood working. We have developed key themes of work in line with the Council’s priority on localism and localisation.

Download the 'Working Together in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s Neighbourhoods' policy statement.

Assets of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Value

Assets of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Value (ACV) are buildings or facilities (cultural, leisure or sporting) that add to the well-being or interests of the local community and are likely to continue to do so in the future. The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Right to Bid scheme allows voluntary groups and community organisations to suggest public or private assets that they feel are valuable to the community.

Learn more about Assets of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Value

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Asset Transfer

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Asset Transfer (CAT) allows community organisations to take on a long lease of a publicly owned building. It is a different process to Assets of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Value (ACV).

Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Planning is a process where communities can come together and prepare plans that will guide the type of development they would like to see in their area. A Neighbourhood Plan gives a community legal powers to influence development and shape the future of where they live and work.

Learn more about Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood and Parish councils

Neighbourhood and Parish councils are the lowest level of local government in England. They have two main roles: community representation and local administration. The transfer of powers through devolution is important as it ensures that decisions are made closer to the communities they affect.

Learn more about Neighbourhood and Parish councils

Investment in neighbourhoods and communities and local action

Voluntary and community sector support

We offer guidance, resources, and assistance to help community groups and organisations in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ access funding and support for their development. We support volunteering and active citizenship across the city – developing community empowerment and partnership working.

NDSU writes a monthly newsletter for residents and key stakeholders interested in the city’s vibrant voluntary sector and social economy. There is also a monthly funding bulletin.

Facilitation of Neighbourhood Network Schemes

Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNS) support local residents over 50, and disabled adults aged 18 to 49, to access community-based ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and activities that promote well-being and a better quality of life. There are ten NNSs across the city funded by Adult Social Care.

NDSU facilitates the schemes in the Perry Barr constituency and Selly Oak constituency. Small grants and capacity building support is available to eligible community organisations operating in these constituencies.

Grant funding

When available, we manage place-based grants and commission capacity building support for anchor organisations, community groups and other non-profit structures. Current funding strands include:

  • UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and Place Pillar (current)
  • Neighbourhood Network Scheme small grants; Perry Barr and Selly Oak (current)
  • Neighbourhood Forum Small Grants (current)

Learn more about available grant fund programmes

Managing UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The UK Government launched the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It replaced EU Structural Funds, which are no longer available since the UK left the European Union. There are three UKSPF strands within ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, and NDSU are the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and Place Pillar lead.

Learn more about the UKSPF programme


Page last update: 9 June 2025