Engage Communities was founded by Yaser Mir in 2010, after communities identified a breakdown in social cohesion and the growing problems of drugs, mental health, gangs and youth violence across the West Midlands area. The founder of the organisation, Yaser Mir’s professional experience of similar work across the country also highlighted the same problems and issues. The solutions identified lay in local communities themselves taking a leading role in addressing these problems with the support of key local partners. Hence the organisation was established based on this evidence base to ensure local seldom heard voices are at the heart of the decision making, development and delivery of all projects and services. The community engagement model developed by our Patron, Lord Patel and used successfully across England and Wales underpins all our work.