Social Media Connecting Communities: From Livingston to Birmingham
Social media can do remarkable things for small communities today.
Our connection with Diver’s Community CIC began on TikTok, where they share much of their work. Someone simply tagged The Ootsider in a comment under one of their posts.
And that was the beginning.
Supporting the Birmingham Homeless Community
Justin is the founder of Diver’s Community CIC, a Birmingham-based community interest company supporting people experiencing homelessness. Alongside a dedicated group of volunteers, Justin and his team provide vital outreach support across the city. All items distributed during outreach are donated by members of their local community.
Their survival kits include everyday essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, bottles of water and sanitary products. When available, they also distribute Greggs vouchers. What they are able to offer depends entirely on what the community has donated between outreach sessions, which take place every second Saturday.
Justin works full-time and has a young family, yet remains deeply committed to this work. He often highlights that many organisations operate Monday to Friday, which can leave a gap in support at weekends. Diver’s Community aims to help address this gap by providing outreach when it is most needed.
After connecting via social media and supporting one another’s work online, we began donating sleeping coats to Diver’s Community so they could be distributed to people sleeping rough in Birmingham. Justin and the team were incredibly grateful for the support shown to their community.
Some of the coats were given out straight away during their very next outreach. That immediacy reminded us why this work matters so much. These coats are not stored away or saved for later. They are placed directly into the hands of those facing cold nights on the streets, offering warmth, protection and a small reminder that someone cares.
From Birmingham to Edinburgh: Taking the Connection Offline
Shortly after connecting online, Justin travelled to Edinburgh to visit The Ootsider office. While he was here, he sat down with John, founder of The Ootsider, for an open and heartfelt conversation. Together, they shared their experiences, values and motivations behind their work. We also filmed content to help tell the story of both organisations and the communities they support. It was a meaningful moment that strengthened the connection and set the tone for future collaboration.
During that conversation, we discovered something striking. Neither Justin nor John has experienced homelessness themselves. In both cases, it was a single encounter with a rough sleeper on a rainy day that sparked something within them. That moment was enough to shift perspective, to move from sympathy to action, and to begin building organisations rooted in community support.
Watch John and Justin Share Their Stories
To truly understand what drives this work, we invite you to hear directly from both founders.
During Justin’s visit to Edinburgh, John shared the story behind The Ootsider and the moment that inspired him to take action in support of rough sleepers. In his own words, he reflects on how a single encounter shifted his perspective and shaped the mission we continue today.
You can also watch Justin share how Diver’s Community CIC was created, and why he remains committed to supporting the Birmingham homeless community through regular outreach.
Watch John’s story on Facebook: John’s Story
Watch Justin’s story on Facebook: Justin’s Story
It is important to remember that behind every organisation are people. People who often share similar values, a common vision and a desire to make a positive difference. Our shared aim is to support people experiencing homelessness. At The Ootsider, our focus is specifically on supporting rough sleepers, which made this connection feel especially aligned.
We agreed to continue working collaboratively, with plans for Justin to return to Edinburgh as the relationship develops.
Help Us Support the Homeless Community in Birmingham
If you would like to support the work of Diver’s Community CIC, you can visit their website at https://diverscommunitycic.com/ or find them on social media:
TikTok: @divers.community
Instagram: @diverscommunity.cic
Facebook: Diver’s Community CIC
If you would like to purchase one of our coats and support Diver’s Community, please leave “Diver’s Community CIC” in the notes section at checkout. This helps us track and allocate sleeping coats donated to support the Birmingham homeless community.
This collaboration shows what can happen when connection turns into action. From Livingston to Birmingham, communities are choosing to stand alongside one another and support people facing some of the hardest circumstances. And this is only the beginning.
