| about the acmc |
Afro Caribbean Millennium Centre (ACMC)
In the beginning
ACMC was started by a group of about a dozen community activists in 1980. Our first base was a ‘beer cupboard’ at the Wood View Community Centre. The Centre lies about ½ a mile south of Birmingham City Centre.
In 1981 we identified a group of 4 derelict terraced Victorian shops on the Dudley Road in Winson Green – about 2 miles North West of the City Centre. One of the buildings was refurbished by the County Council and offered to the organisation on a pepper-corn rent. About 3 years later one of the adjacent buildings was also refurbished for the organisation’s use.
The Afro Caribbean Resource Centre (later to become ACMC) was established to support principally Caribbean people in areas like employment, housing, education, immigration, and cultural issues.
From 1980 to 1990 the organisation focused principally on social welfare issues. One might describe us then as a black citizens’ advice and support bureau.
Statistics on Winson Green In 2000 Winson Green, in the Soho Ward of Birmingham, was cited as the 23rd most socially deprived areas in England.
Some key statistics for the Ward from the 2001 census:
• Area of 4.8 square km with a population density of 5,369 people per sq km, compared with 3,649 per sq km for Birmingham
• population – 25,634
• 27.9% under 16; 59% between 16 and 59; 13.1% over 60; average age 31.2, compared with 36 for Birmingham
• Minority ethnic population 19,522 or 76.2%, compared with 29.6% for Birmingham
• 53.3% of the population aged 16 – 74 were working or seeking work, compared with 60.4% for Birmingham.
Community Radio
In 1987 the organisation became involved in community radio training and today is one of the premiere community radio training and broadcasting organisations in the UK. From 1989 to present several hundred people have received training in radio broadcasting, with many following main stream careers.
In 2002 New Style Radio 98.7 fm became the only black community radio service in the UK, under a DCMS/Radio Authority pilot project involving 14 other organisations. In January 2006 after over three years of pilot broadcasting, ACMC was awarded a five years community radio licence.
A vision of the future
In 1996 the organisation started to look at ways to further develop and diversify its services using digital technology. The idea was to take over the two adjoining buildings and create a one stop centre with a combination of social welfare, employment, business support, radio training and multimedia facilities. Due to Arts Council funding, in 1998, for feasibility studies and digital equipment we were able to upgrade our radio training equipment and undertake studies into the need for and development of the complex.
From vision to reality
The Arts Council funded feasibility study enabled us the make a successful application to the Millennium Commission in 1999/2000. This fund was matched by Birmingham City Council, ERDF, SRB4, SRB6 and Arts Council England, with a small amount coming from Barrow Cadbury Trust. Birmingham City Council did not just donate the four buildings, but gave the whole site including some garage premises to the rear, on a 125 years peppercorn lease.
So after 8 years of planning and development, the Afro Caribbean Millennium Centre was finally launched on 26th June 2004. The project was developed from a strong vision and set of organisational goals to tackle social exclusion through the creation of a gateway building that would enable the whole community to benefit from technology, and give the Caribbean and African people of Birmingham a foothold in broadcasting.
The ACMC building is a very unique mix of multimedia training, social welfare, business incubation space, research unit (Frantz Fanon Research Unit) and a graphic design section. It also houses a range of community facilities, incorporating New Style Radio 98.7fm, multimedia suites, café and internet café and meeting space for various community initiatives.
ACMC was a winner of Birmingham City Council’s “Built in Quality Award” (Commercial category) 2004
So what has ACMC achieved?
1. Establishment of the only black action research unit in the UK
2. New Style Radio 98.7 fm – a 24/7 community radio station manned by over 100 volunteers
3. Support of a number of creative business initiatives
4. Piloted, in association with UCE Birmingham, the first community radio journalism course
5. Use of radio to promote culture and the arts in Birmingham
6. Media partners of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for promotion of their Black Victorian exhibition
7. Oral history radio research project that charts the oral history of Caribbean people in Birmingham from the fifties – Heritage Lottery Fund
8. Radio and multimedia training programmes for young people and others
9. Help to make Black History Month in Birmingham a success
10. Support of a diverse range of community groups, including African & Caribbean Teachers,
complementary education classes, Caribbean High Commissions, senior citizens and young people
11. Establishment of one of the first pilot community health advice and support centres in the City, in association with Heart of Birmingham Health Authority
12. One of the most effective, innovative, cost effective and successful regeneration project in the region – very clear evidence of its catalytic regenerative effect on the area and the project that has really given the black community, particularly Caribbeans a voice.
13. Dramatically changed the radio landscape of the city
14. Due to complete an additional building phase in May 06. this phase to include a 20ft granite sculptured piece and landscaped grounds – courtesy Arts Council England
15. Linking Birmingham to the Caribbean through simulcasts
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