Our interviewees commonly convey that Digbeth is a place in which they feel comfortable and welcomed. Throughout its long history Digbeth has been a place where a diverse array of people have come together. Many project participants reference the area’s rich cultural diversity, describing it with phrases such as “melting-pot”. Digbeth is home to permanent residents, cultural establishments, community associations, churches and businesses, through which people come together in different ways, be it for eating, socialising, attending events and exhibitions or shopping.

The South and City College Birmingham has brought a new generation of people to Digbeth. Jim Ranahan mentions the way in which Digbeth now has a demonstrable student focus. Many businesses offer work experience or opportunities to students from the surrounding area to help advance their careers. For example, The Sara Preisler Gallery offers student work placements and works particularly closely with the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University.

St Anne’s Church on Alcester Road has parishioners from across Birmingham. Father Patrick Browne explains that St Anne’s brings together a community of people with Catholic and Irish heritage in Digbeth. Meanwhile, SIFA Fireside, situated in an old printing factory on Allcock Street, is a charity that tackles homelessness, alcohol misuse and social exclusion in Birmingham. Development Manager Simon Hackett invited us to their weekly forum where we heard from some of the service users about the positive impact that the centre has had on their lives. For those who visit SIFA fireside, Digbeth offers a community of support; for parishioners at St. Anne’s it provides a spiritual home; for students it is a place to learn. While Digbeth might not have a traditional, fixed community, it welcomes a range of smaller communities and individuals as a modern, multi-cultural hub.

Historically, Digbeth has been a home to the Irish community, and in more recent years there has been a growing presence from other communities, including Chinese and Polish groups. Jim Ranahan believes that this coming together has led to a “cross-fertilisation of communities”.

Local community organisations to whom we spoke, including the Irish Heritage Group, Polish Expats Association and the Chinese Community Centre Birmingham, work to encourage a feeling of belonging in Digbeth. Jim Ranahan discusses how The Irish Centre offers language, dancing and music lessons to serve the local community and to contribute to understanding about Irish culture. John Mostyn draws attention to the ‘Digbeth O’lympics’ and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, both of which take place annually and point to the strong Irish community.

Founder of the Polish Expats Association, Alicja Kaczmarek, explains how she plans and delivers projects to raise awareness of, and to celebrate, Polish art and culture. She also refers to workshops which were established to teach Polish immigrants English and to advise on adapting to life in Birmingham. Similarly, the Chinese Community Centre, Birmingham offers services which contribute to the welfare of the Chinese residents such as Ms Tang and Ms Fung, who we spoke to and who have benefited from a wide range of activities on offer.