HDY appointed to help crown Birmingham as UK’s first Compassionate City

On March 14th, Birmingham officially became the UK’s first accredited Compassionate City. This title was a result of the compassion and commitment that the people of Birmingham showed when supporting each other during difficult times. 

The title of ‘Compassionate City’ is part of an international movement with major cities participating all over the globe. The purpose behind the movement is to build compassion as a major value of life across all sectors of civic society. This includes schools, workplaces, places of worship, neighbourhoods and all other civic parts of life. 

But, to truly be a Compassionate City is more than to hold a title.

It’s putting kindness at the heart of health and care strategies in all parts of society. It’s supporting caregivers, people who are grieving, those living with a serious illness and those coming to terms with the reality of death/dying.

Dr Julian Abel, Director of Compassionate Communities UK, said: “Death, dying, loss and caregiving affect us all. We care for people close to us many times in our lives and we also face our own death. How we die, how we grieve, is affected deeply by the people around us. 

“This accreditation is more important now than ever before as people are still recovering from a global pandemic. Nothing shows more support than the community coming together to combat loneliness and ensuring that people know they are not isolated, especially during the difficult moments of death, dying, loss and caregiving.”

HDY Agency supported Birmingham City Council achieve the title by spreading awareness of the campaign, and showcasing case studies to display real stories of residents around Birmingham.

Angel Gaskell, co-founder of HDY Agency, said: “As an agency, we always ensure any collaboration with brands and movements align with our morals and values. Becoming a Compassionate City is a big achievement for Birmingham, and HDY Agency is proud to have played a part in something so inspirational.

“Hopefully this accreditation will inspire people in Birmingham as well as other cities to be more compassionate, supportive and caring of one another, especially after the difficulty we have faced over these past couple of years.”

We are delighted to have been able to help Birmingham amplify the significance of this amazing accreditation. We strongly believe that being based in a vibrant, creative city that holds care and compassion central to its morals, aligns with our values and only makes us more proud to call Birmingham our home.

HDY is always growing our portfolio with work from a multitude of industries. You can check out some of our incredible partnerships and results we have achieved in our case studies.