Druids Heath awarded £20m from new government fund - with residents to shape spending

Druids Heath is set to receive £20 million over the next decade as part of a new government initiative, with local people given the power to decide how the money is spent.

Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, Al Carns, has secured £2 million a year for 10 years through the Pride in Place programme. Druids Heath is among 146 areas chosen to pioneer this new approach to community investment.

The funding can support a wide range of projects, from revitalising parks and high streets to bringing empty buildings back into use. Crucially, it will be up to residents themselves to put forward ideas and make decisions.

A local board will be set up to coordinate the programme, and volunteers are being sought to take part. The aim is to back initiatives that boost local jobs, strengthen community facilities, improve green spaces, and make Druids Heath a safer, more vibrant place to live.

Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak Al Carns, who campaigned for the project, said: “Since being elected, I’ve worked hard in Parliament to stand up for Birmingham Selly Oak — and now that work is delivering real results. We’ve secured £20 million of long-term investment for Druids Heath through Labour’s Pride in Place programme: £2 million every year for the next decade.

“This funding will create new opportunities for young people, support initiatives that keep our streets safe, and strengthen pride in our community. Over the next ten years, this £20 million will change lives — and I’ll make sure it’s directed to where local people need it most.

“No one understands a community better than the people who live there. That’s why the government has chosen a new approach—giving us the power to shape the future of our own area. This is our opportunity to decide what really matters, instead of having others make those choices on our behalf.

“Druids Heath will receive an extra £2 million every year for the next ten years—a huge investment in our community.

This funding can be spent on a wide range of projects, and every idea is welcome.

“For example, during a recent visit, a resident suggested a community wind turbine—a project that could benefit everyone. Ideas like this can now be taken seriously, but ultimately, it will be up to the people of Druids Heath to decide how the money is used. Not politicians in London—local residents right here.

“I fought hard to secure this funding, but the choices must come from you. My commitment is to keep standing up for Druids Heath and to make sure every penny delivers real value for our community.”

The funding will be allocated to the local authority, with an independent board—comprising the MP, local councillors, and community leaders—responsible for deciding how it is spent.

Pictured: Al Carns at the Outpost Arts Centre in Druids Heath