“I live in one of the poorest suburbs of Birmingham where men die young – but I was saved”

Desperate residents said living in one of Birmingham’s poorest areas was a daily struggle. But one homeless man said a local project saved his life.

Men in inner-city Ladywood are three and a half times more likely to die prematurely, before the age of 75, than those in more affluent areas. That’s according to a new health report from charity Movember, which revealed the stark difference in life expectancy between the area and men living in leafy Beckenham, London.

Ladywood is second only to Hodge Hill for deprivation in Birmingham. The city council said both areas would rank in the top 10% of the most deprived neighborhoods in the country.

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But one man, aged 20, was living on the streets and suffering from anxiety and depression until his life turned around. He got involved in a bike shop project set up by the homeless charity New Roots and supported by Cycling UK. The project offers workshops on how to fix bikes and organizes weekly rides for the community.

He said seeing people happy boosted his confidence and gave him a reason to live. “It’s rewarding, fixing and giving bikes to low-income people,” he said. “It’s great to see the smiles on the children’s faces and to hear them say ‘thank you’ and it’s also good to see that we can help people.” Another young person said the project helped “improve self-esteem and boosted social interactions”.

Project leader Steve Potter, from Ladywood-based The Bike Shop, told BirminhgamLive: “This is an area that is struggling with poverty and homelessness. We want to contribute to change and we believe that being active is so important. Fixing bikes for the community is great and also gives great satisfaction to the mechanics involved.”

Ladywood has a population of over 25,000, making it the third most populous ward in the city. A local man in his 50s, who asked not to be named, told BirminhgamLive: “This area has been impoverished for many years. It’s not easy living here – it’s a daily struggle. See the crimes and drugs that grind the streets. More investment is needed in this area to bring more opportunities for the younger people.”

Dozens of streets were seen covered in fly-tipped debris, including an abandoned caravan full of burnt-out car parts left on double yellow lines for six months. One trader added: “It can be tough. There are good people and those who want to help others”.

The Ladywood Food Bank was established to help those in need. It serves those young or old, single, families and those of all backgrounds, religious beliefs or ethnicities, without prejudice, who cannot afford to buy food due to their circumstances.

One person who was a beneficiary of the food bank said: “It’s a lifeline for so many people in the community. It cannot be underestimated that it has helped save people’s lives. The friendliness of that group is remarkable.”

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