These updates are collated and shared with you our partners within the community to hopefully keep you all updated with different opportunities/ funding/ activities that are happening.
If you have any opportunities/ funding/ activities that you would like to promote please send to the Community Development Inbox at cdt@solihull.gov.uk. If you would prefer NOT to receive this update please could you let us know so your name can be removed from the distribution list.
Please see items in this week’s newsletter for your information, and to share with those you feel could be interested:
1. Solihull Jab Cab
2. Change into Action Solihull – Winter Campaign Materials
3. Solihull Digital Skills Sessions
4. Solihull Parenting Team Tweet: new ‘Being a Parent’ group
5. Barnardo’s 2nd Chance Study Programme
6. Kooth January Update and New Podcast Alert
7. Embedding the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector into Birmingham and Solihull’s Integrated Care System Zoom Session
8. Patchwork and Quilting Course in Fordbridge
Funding Opportunities:
1. Arts Council England Let’s Create Jubilee Fund
2. Severn Trent Community Fund
3. West Midlands Combined Authority Community Green Grants Webinar
1. Solihull Jab Cab
Solihull Council are offering Solihull residents a taxi service to and from local NHS walk-in COVID-19 vaccination centres. The NHS-funded taxi service is for people who can’t easily get to a vaccination centre by walking, driving; or using public transport for their first, second or booster jab.
Residents simply need to call 0121 704 8058, leave their name and number, and a customer services advisor will call them back. The advisors can help anyone who is struggling to book their vaccination appointment online. Once an appointment is booked at a vaccination centre in Birmingham or Solihull, the Jab Cab will be arranged to pick up, wait for, and then drop residents back home.
The service is being funded by the NHS to ensure all eligible residents can access a vaccination site and have the level of protection needed against COVID-19. For more information please visit: https://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/solihull-jab-cab-taxi-service-help-residents-get-their-covid-19-vaccinations
2. Change into Action Solihull – Winter Campaign Materials
The attached leaflet ‘CIA Nov21 A5 leaflet’ and poster ‘CIA Nov A4 poster’ are part of a regional Change into Action campaign – ‘There’s a Better Way’ – which asks residents to look out for people in their local areas who might be sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness so that they can be connected to local support services. Rather than directly giving money to those begging on the street or at the roadside, the campaign highlights alternative ways of helping so that people can get off the streets for good.
Winter is a very challenging time for people who sleep rough and over the festive period people can become homeless through no fault of their own and for a variety of reasons. The attached campaign materials may be useful for community organisations, companies and members of the public who want to find out how they can support rough sleepers and homeless people at risk in Solihull. Printed copies of the poster and leaflet are also available on request. The posters are designed to be displayed in shops, offices and community venues and the flyers can be given out to the general public.
The campaign materials are supported by some local communications about rough sleeping and Change into Action Solihull. See www.solihull.gov.uk/news/public-offered-better-way-help-rough-sleepers-winter for more information.
For more information about Change into Action Solihull visit: https://changeintoaction.org.uk/solihull/ Please contact David White david.white@solihull.gov.uk for general enquiries.
If you see anyone sleeping rough please contact StreetLink via www.streetlink.org.uk/ or phone 0300 500 0914. The notification will go directly to a street outreach team who will follow up with an offer of help. If you think someone is in immediate danger always call 999.
3. Solihull Digital Skills Sessions
Does your Charity, Voluntary Organisation, Non-Profit Social Enterprise, CIC or Community Group need help being more digital? Would it benefit from understanding how to generate electronic newsletters, improve its proficiency using CANVA, Facebook, Twitter? Learn how to schedule posts across social media platforms? Does your organisation operate in Solihull, or are you a volunteer for a Solihull VCSE? Then these 90 min digital skills sessions are just the ticket for you! Attendance is free if you work or volunteer for a Charity, Voluntary Organisation, Non-Profit Social Enterprise, Community Group or CIC based/working in Solihull. Places are limited to 10 people per session with waiting list available if needed.
These sessions will take place on Zoom and connection details will be shared with you in your confirmation email. These sessions will not be recorded.
To find and book onto the upcoming digital skills sessions, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/online/digitalskillscavasolihull/ . Please also see the attachment ‘Digital Skills Sessions Open to Solihull VCSE’ for a list of upcoming sessions.
If you have any questions, contact the CAVA team in Solihull solihullinfo@wcava.org.uk
4. Solihull Parenting Team Tweet: new ‘Being a Parent’ group
Please see the attachment ‘Tweet 53 – Spring Term BAP groups’ for information provided by the Solihull Parenting Team about new ‘Being a Parent’ groups starting soon.
The ‘Being a Parent’ groups are led by trained parent volunteers, and aim to help you to manage challenging behaviour, improve communication, build and understand your relationship with your child. A supportive group where parents & carers of children aged 0- 18 years can meet in a relaxed & friendly environment without their children, the sessions will run for 90 minutes via Microsoft Teams. The weekly sessions give parents the opportunity to support one another, as well as share knowledge & experiences with the help of tried and tested resources from the ‘Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities’ programme.
Book your place now, or find out more by contacting the Solihull Parenting Team at: bsmhft.parenting@nhs.net or by finding them on Facebook – Solihull Parenting Team
5. Barnardo’s 2nd Chance Study Programme
Barnardo’s will be running their 2nd Chance Study programme again in January 2022. Please find the poster, leaflet, and referral form (attachment ‘expression of interest 2021-22 2nd Chance’) attached. PLEASE NOTE: the starting dates stated on the flyer have been postponed with the induction period taking place from the 31st January 2022 and the 12-week programme starting on the 14th February 2022.
Their intensive employability programme includes:
ü Maths and English Functional Skills
ü Level 1 Award in Employability
ü Training and skills development
ü Support and guidance to finding work or progression into further education.
ü Enrichment to support day to day life.
Due to start again in January 2022. Induction period will take place on from the 31st January 2022 for 2 weeks, prior to the full 12 week programme starting on 14th February 2022.
Course Location: Barnardo’s Enterprise Centre, 1 Hedingham Grove, Chelmsley Wood, B37 7TP
The course will run 4 days a week for 12 weeks on a Monday – Thursday, once the induction period has been completed. Their age criteria has been reduced down to 17 (providing the young person turns 18 before 31.08.22) during Covid-19.
Should you have any queries or would like to join the programme, please contact:-
Evlynn Bakewell – 2nd Chance Employability and Work Placements Tutor at evlynn.bakewell@barnardos.org.uk or 07526187168
6. Kooth January Update and New Podcast Alert
Please see the attachments ‘Digital Campaign what’s on January’ and ‘Kooth Poster Week 3’ for Kooth’s latest resources and Live Discussions. Kooth also announced that they have a new podcast out on 14th January – What To Do When Things Feel A Little Unsafe. You can Click Here to access all of their free podcasts on Spotify.
Finally, Kooth would like to remind you of the on-going offers of support available to book:
Kooth Presentations – 15 minute information session providing a short presentation with an overview of Kooth for young people.
Kooth Workshops: Stress & Anxiety Session, Male Mental Health Focused Session – Both are tailored workshops to support young people with their emotional health and wellbeing.
The above sessions can be delivered virtually or face to face as required. Please email: Wynnie Alexander walexander@kooth.com asap to book the support required for your organisations or complete the Booking/ Order Form as availability gets booked up quickly.
Following the rebranding of Kooth, please remember you can visit their Brandmaster portal at Promote Kooth Central where you can find all their latest digital assets and promotional resources. If you require hard copies of Kooth cards or posters, please let Wynnie know and she can arrange this for you.
7. Embedding the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) into Birmingham and Solihull’s Integrated Care System (ICS) Zoom Session
Birmingham and Solihull are one of 42 ICSs across England. In Birmingham, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning group (BSoL CCG) and other partners in the ICS, will be working collaboratively with the VCSE sector to develop the networks in Birmingham’s five places.
In Solihull, Warwickshire and Solihull Community and Voluntary Action (CAVA), BSoL CCG and other partners in the ICS will be working collaboratively with the VCSE to develop a network for Solihull as one place. CAVA will be facilitating the first kick off session to start the conversation considering the ways in which the VCSE can be embedded at a place-based level, be part of wider decision-making processes and be members of a joint Birmingham and Solihull leadership group.
This initial session on Thursday 20th January 14:00-16:00 via Zoom will have the following aims and purpose: What are Integrated Care Systems (ICSs); Birmingham and Solihull’s Integrated Care System; Embedding the VCSE into the ICS; Breakout sessions with feedback; and Next steps.
Please come and find out more. To book a place at the initial session, please use the Eventbrite link: https://ics-event-2022.eventbrite.co.uk
For further information please contact Jane Holdsworth on jholdsworth@wcava.org.uk or phone 07966380290.
8. Patchwork and Quilting Course in Fordbridge
Places are available on a Patchwork and Quilting course suitable for all abilities. Sessions take place 9.30 -11.30 on Mondays in the community room at Fordbridge Primary School, Crabtree Drive, Fordbridge, Birmingham B37 5BU. The cost is £55 per term (10 weeks).
If you are interested in finding out more or would like to book a place please contact Sheila on 07817 382890 or email shepaultan@hotmail.com
Funding Opportunities:
1. Arts Council England Let’s Create Jubilee Fund
The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will support voluntary and community groups to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The fund has been created by Arts Council England (ACE) with funds from the National Lottery. Applicants can apply for grants from £750 – £10,000.
For more information on the fund, including the Fund Factsheet and Essential Information, please visit: Arts Council England Lets Create Jubilee Fund – Heart of England Community Foundation (heartofenglandcf.co.uk).
The application deadline is Monday 28th February 2022.
2. Severn Trent Community Fund
As official Nature and Carbon Neutral Supporter of 2022 Commonwealth Games, Severn Trent is making millions available to new projects in the region. To maximise the legacy of the Games and their environmental partnership, Severn Trent Community Fund is looking for new projects that reduce carbon and help communities care for nature. Customers will then get the chance to vote for their favourite projects in spring 2022.
For more information on the fund, including information about fund eligibility, please visit: https://www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/severn-trent-community-fund/community-fund-care-for-nature-application-guidance/
The application deadline is Sunday 20th February 2022.
3. West Midlands Combined Authority Community Green Grants Webinar
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has funding available to help redress the regional inequalities in access to green space. The funding is open to any eligible group or organisation based in the West Midlands but priority will be given to areas with green deprivation.
Examples of potential projects include:
• Nature playgroups that give children and families with no regular access to green space an opportunity to experience hands-on activities
• Activities run at community gardens/open spaces/parks, e.g. tree planting, gardening, urban greening, growing fruit and vegetables
This webinar will detail how you can apply for funding; the process; and the different levels of funding available. The webinar will be taking place on Thursday 27th January 2022 at 1.30pm to 2.30pm
Booking is through Eventbrite and the link to sign up is below. A Microsoft Teams invite will then be sent nearer to the event.
Community Green Grants (West Midlands) Tickets, Thu 27 Jan 2022 at 13:30 | Eventbrite
If you have any questions you’d like answered in the webinar please email questions@wmca.org.uk by 4pm on 25 January.