Birmingham’s Children: A Tale of Two Cities

Eddie O’Hara

Apr 2022 · Troubador Publishing Ltd

About this ebook

This book reflects the positive work of a small local campaigning charity set up in 2018 called All Birmingham’s Children (ABC) which seeks to address the appalling level of inequality and poverty which blights 32-54% of children living in Birmingham. ABC proposes a range of mostly cost-free recommendations, which if acted upon would fundamentally change the way children are seen, valued and catered for in the second biggest city in the UK. A city which has more children and young people than any other UK city. The trustees comprise of local parents and childcare, educational, law enforcement and health professionals who have lived and worked in the city for years.

This year the founder of ABC was recognised in the Queens New Year’s Honours List (British Empire Medal) for setting up ABC and his long services to children and families. ABC’s work has the support of the British Association of Social Workers, The Social Work Union, Unison and the local branch of National Education Union. ABC was welcomed by the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, various national retailers and has received positive press coverage from as far afield as Japan and Sweden.

Yet despite all of the above, positive recognition, support and willingness to work in partnership with our city leaders, ABC has been consistently shunned and ignored by 99% of Birmingham’s 111 locally elected leaders (10 members of parliament, 100 city councillors and its regional mayor) and most of the local mainstream media. Why?

This book exposes those uncomfortable truths and seeks to explain what can and needs to be done to address the appalling levels of civic apathy which help sustain a situation where for some children living in Birmingham it is the best of times and yet for others who go to bed hungry each night it is the worst of times.

About the author

Eddie O’Hara is a registered social work consultant and qualified teacher with nearly 40 years’ experience of supporting and protecting children and families across the UK (including working in Ireland, California, Turkey and Russia). He currently manages a family support service and provides specialist safeguarding training to the police, National Crime Agency, regional addictions agencies and his local women’s centre.