We held our first steering group meeting on 17 May 1995, chaired by the Reverend Guy Wilkinson. Our aim was to offer a community resource to the people of Small Heath. We wanted our organisation to be inclusive to all local people, to discuss the future of the area and its residents.
On 18 September 1995, John Bleazard was elected as the first chairperson of the group. We officially named our organisation Small Heath Community Forum (SHCF).
SHCF held its first annual general meeting on 8th November 1995, chaired by Dr S.A.Khan.
In March 1996, SHCF was registered as a company limited by guaranty. We also appointed a development worker, funded by SRB1 (Single Regeneration Board 1).
In 1997, Zualfqar Hussain was elected as chairperson.
In 1998, Kabir Ahmed was appointed as a development worker.
The main office of our organisation was moved to Chapman Road Health Centre in 1998.
In March 1999, SHCF Ltd was officially registered as a charity.
In 2001, Choudhury Lateef was elected as chairperson. During that period, we leased 392a Coventry Road, to deliver SHCF activities and projects.
In March 2002, Zualfqar Hussain was appointed as chief executive.
We purchased a Christadelphian Church building in Heather Road, Small Heath, which was refurbished in 2007. This came with the help of grants from the European Regional Development Fund and the National Research Foundation fund.
The refurbished church building was renamed as ‘Khidmat Centre’. Khidmat is an Urdu word meaning ‘service’. Khidmat Centre became the registered office of SHCF Ltd in 2010.
SHCF Ltd engages in several causes, including:
- The advancement of health and the saving of lives
- Training and education
- The problems of unemployment
- Economic and community development.
We work to support other voluntary organisations and charities, and people of a particular ethnicity or racial origin.
We provide help to these recipients by:
- Acting as an umbrella or resource body
- Offering counselling support
- Advocating for their needs
- Providing buildings, open spaces and facilities to meet.
