We visited a project in Birmingham’s ‘diverse’ area where locals are proud despite the unwanted headlines

It’s quiet and serene as I make my way to the health and community center in the heart of Ladywood – but inside the building, there’s a small team of volunteers hard at work preparing boxes and food donations.

They are the hard-working individuals who make up the innovative project known as Incredible Surplus, which intercepts food and other usable materials that would otherwise be thrown away from places like supermarkets and restaurants.

It then delivers them to the people and community organizations of Birmingham on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis, covering areas such as Kings Heath, Winson Green and Solihull.

READ MORE: Birmingham activists are making an urgent plea to the council about the ‘lifeline’ service.

Margaret Murray, Ladywood director at Incredible Surplus, tells me the project was set up to help those in need and now supports a range of people, adding that anyone can use a little help.

The boxes are filled to the brim with a wide range of different food and drink products during my visit, while perhaps more unexpected items such as a pram have been donated.

The initiative also helps people obtain food hygiene certificates; grow fresh fruits and vegetables; and provides a sense of community for many Ladywood residents, who Margaret says are treated with kindness.

“People get a friendly welcome,” she said. “We know a lot of people’s names now – there are always new people, but most people we know by name.

“We’re all in over our heads sometimes, but just saying ‘good morning’ or ‘how are you’ – that can be quite important as well as showing a level of respect for people.”

As is bleakly seen in other areas of Birmingham and across the country, the tragic fact remains that there are residents in Ladywood who have found themselves dragged into poverty.

However, Margaret says the positive aspects of being part of the “diverse and rich community” shouldn’t be overlooked either.

“People are proud to be from Ladywood,” she said. “The cost of living, rising fuel prices – that puts a strain on people, but it affects all communities.”

Incredible Surplus explains to those participating in the food drives that they are not a food bank and that they are expected to contribute in any way they can to the success of the project, whether it is donating money, time or skills.

“The food and items we save have value and cost us to collect,” says the initiative’s website. “We have vehicles, a warehouse, utilities, insurance, training costs… we can only give things to those who can’t afford to give us much, if those who can, recognize the value of what we do and give us what they can afford.”

With the general election just around the corner, candidates running in the Ladywood constituency have been busy talking to residents about the changes they would bring to the area.

“I think government, local authority and the NHS need to be based in the community,” Margaret tells me.

“People need to feel heard.”

She added that she felt it was important for Incredible Surplus to maintain a visible presence in the community going forward.

The general election candidates who are in Ladywood can be found below. Details of their commitments can be found on party manifestos/websites.

• Zoe Challenor – Green Party
• Lee Dargue – Liberal Democrat
• Shabana Mahmood – Work
• Shazna Muzammil – conservative
• Akhmed Yakoob – Independent
• Irene Yoong-Henery – Reform Britain

Earlier this year, Councilor John Cotton, leader of Birmingham City Council, claimed the level of poverty in Birmingham showed the “shocking reality of 14 years of Tory government”.

The government said around the same time in January that it was committed to leveling “every corner of the UK”

A spokesman continued that it had invested billions to support community regeneration projects, connected 25.7 million premises with gigabit broadband and added that more than 50% of England was now covered by a devolution deal.

“We have halved the number of people on low wages with increases to the National Living Wage and, thanks to above-inflation increases in tax allowances, we have also saved average earners over £1,000 a year since 2010,” they continued.

They went on to say that the country had suffered “two massive global shocks” – the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both of which sent economic shockwaves around the world.

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