How do communities move from being consulted to being genuinely heard? What does it take to turn knowledge into influence, and influence into action? And what happens when universities, civil society and local leaders commit to working together over the long term rather than through short-term projects?
In this episode of Placecast, we explore these questions through a rich conversation grounded in Birmingham and shaped by decades of lived experience. Bringing together Angela Jeffery, Saidul Haque Saeed and Professor Sara Jones, the discussion focuses on community organising, civic leadership and the often-unseen relational work that makes meaningful change possible. Rather than abstract theory, the podcast draws on concrete examples from neighbourhoods, institutions and campaigns that have reshaped how power operates at a local level.
Guest speakers
Angela Jeffery
Angela Jeffery has been working at the interface between communities, universities, business and the public sector for the last 25 years.
She is the Co-Chair of Birmingham Citizens UK, (an alliance of Faith, Education, Community and Union partners), Director at the Blesst Centre (a social enterprise focussed on supporting young people’s mental and physical health), Executive Director at Saathi House (a women’s charity in Aston focussed on empowering local women and young people to achieve their full potential and contribute positively to society) and Programme Lead with Community Connexions at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
Visit Angela’s LinkedIn profile
Saidul Haque Saeed
Saidul Haque Saeed is the Lead Organiser for Citizens UK, supervising its work in the West Midlands and supporting the development of professional organisers and civil society leaders. As a local resident, he co-led his community’s response to the Lozells riots of 2005, resulting in no incidents in the area during further riots in the city in 2011.
He consequently co-founded an award-winning social enterprise still winning change for residents in the area today. Since 2012, he has built Birmingham Citizens, a powerful independent community organising alliance of city civil society institutions. He has trained hundreds of local leaders to win notable social justice campaigns on youth mental health, community safety, the real living wage, refugee resettlement and housing. In recognition of this, he has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by two Universities in the city. Between January 2023 and October 2025, he oversaw the strengthening of Greater Manchester Citizens and is currently developing a new civil society alliance in the Black Country with local leaders.
Visit Saidul’s LinkedIn profile
Professor Sara Jones
Sara Jones is Professor of Languages, Cultures and Societies at the University of Birmingham. Her current research focuses on the intersection of memory studies and migration studies with a focus on Europe’s East. Sara is the academic lead for major cultural and community partnership initiatives.
Host
Dr Nicola Headlam has over 20 years of experience working across all aspects of the multi-helix innovation system, including central and local government, civil society and campaigning, academic research and knowledge mobilisation, and industry. Along the way, she has honed her expertise in urban and regional subnational economic development, the roles of government in shaping place, and in utilising data and evidence for transformation.
In 2024, she became a freelance economic advisor on the role of leadership and partnerships, urban and living lab forms for research, future of cities and foresighting methods, urban transformations, place-branding and urban regeneration and the spatial consequences of public policy.
View Nicola’s LinkedIn Profile
Transcript
Find out more about the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this analysis post are those of the author and not necessarily those of City-REDI or the University of Birmingham.
Generative AI was used to generate parts of the blog using the transcript from the podcast.