Birmingham Mind
What motivated you to join the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce?
As a charitable organisation, building relationships with businesses across the region is incredibly important to us. Chamber membership provides opportunities to connect with organisations that share our values, raise awareness of the work Birmingham Mind does and identify new ways businesses can support mental health in their communities.
The Chamber also offers access to a strong network of professionals and organisations, helping us engage with businesses that may be looking to support a local charity through fundraising, sponsorship or employee wellbeing initiatives.
How has the Chamber helped you connect with other businesses, clients or other professionals?
The Chamber's networking opportunities have been particularly valuable. I've attended a variety of events, including speed networking sessions, business lunches, the Chamber Expo and other in-person networking activities.
The speed networking events were especially effective because they allowed me to meet a large number of businesses in a short space of time and make connections that could be developed further afterwards.
One of the most significant introductions came through our Chamber Relationship Manager, who connected us with fellow member Access Skills. That introduction developed into a strong partnership, with Access Skills supporting Birmingham Mind through fundraising activities, workshops and sponsorship opportunities.
What have you achieved as a result of becoming a member?
Chamber membership has helped us significantly increase awareness of Birmingham Mind and the support we provide across Birmingham and Solihull.
Through opportunities such as networking events, Chamber communications and press releases, we've been able to promote our fundraising campaigns to fellow members and connect with businesses interested in supporting local mental health services.
The relationship we developed with Access Skills is a great example. We worked with their team to deliver anti-stigma workshops and share information about our Mental Health Helpline and Talking Space services. In return, they organised fundraising activities and became a headline sponsor of our flagship fundraising event, the Mental Elf Festive Fun Run
These partnerships have helped generate vital funding while enabling businesses to make a meaningful impact within their local communities.
Why would you recommend the Chamber to other businesses or contacts?
I would recommend the Chamber because it provides an excellent platform for building connections, generating awareness and creating opportunities.
Whether you're looking to raise your profile, develop new business relationships or connect with organisations that share your values, the Chamber offers a wide range of opportunities to engage with the wider business community.
The more involved you become, the more value you'll gain. For Birmingham Mind, Chamber membership has helped us build lasting partnerships, increase awareness of our services and connect with organisations that are committed to supporting mental health across the region.