1. Dave Cusack Chief Executive Moseley & District Housing Association www.birminghamisourhome.org.uk

2. Birmingham – Some Facts England’s second city (Its NOT Manchester!!) Population one million Was the city of a thousand trades – Industrial – We built the Orient Express!! No longer the case – Longbridge…….

3. Birmingham – Some facts The Brummie Accent – Least attractive in UK? Don’t drive in Brum! – Ring roads Major jewellery manufacturing centre Chocolate!!!!!!! More canal mileage than Venice Home of the balti Home of the greatest football team in the world BIRMINGHAM CITY!!!!!!!!!!

4. A Diverse City According to the 2001 Population Census 70% of the City's population indicated that they had a white background, compared with National and Regional averages of about 90%. Almost 20% of the City's population were from one of the Asian groups. Residents from the Black groups made up about 6% of the population. About 3%of the City's population indicated they had a Mixed Background, the majority sharing Black Caribbean and White Backgrounds. Chinese and Other groups accounted for about 1% of the population.

5. A diverse city The next census will paint a very different story ……..

6. A diverse city Birmingham has always welcomed new communities Jewish communities 1930’s Polish communities 1947 Caribbean during Post war period Indian sub continent and Ireland 1950-60’s Africa & Asia 1990’s Today ……..

7. A diverse city Sudan Ethiopia Iraq Afghanistan Somalia Congo China

8. So why did we need a campaign? Negative press stories “Queue jumping” Spongers Stealing jobs And many more

9. So why did we need a campaign? Local tensions Political sound bites Rise of the right wing parties And……….

10. So why did we need a campaign? We believe that migration has a positive effect on the economic and cultural well being of Birmingham

11. Birmingham is our home The Birmingham is our home project aim is to demonstrate the positive contributions which migration can make to our city and our local communities. We asked Housing Associations, their partners, and Birmingham City Council to identify individuals who have come to Birmingham and made it their home. The individuals we have met and interviewed have shared their life stories with us, and their views on making a home here.

12. Birmingham is our home The project was launched on June 18, 2010 during Refugee Week 2010. Their stories will be touring the Birmingham area from June 2010 to February 2011 in a large display presentation, and be featured on the website. Financed and supported by Birmingham Social Housing Partnership, the Big Lottery, and Birmingham City Council.

13. Birmingham is our home Now it’s time for their stories Blondell “To me Birmingham is good. I’m an honorary Brummie. I enjoy living here. Even if I go away I want to come back because to me, after 46 years, this is my home.”

14. Birmingham is our home Mashkura “I have an eight year old son and a four and a half year old daughter. I make it a point to take them around Birmingham and show them the history, so they have the same passion for Birmingham as I have.”