Stuart Ashmore

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Sandwell Council Tenant Engagement – Tenant & Leaseholder Scrutiny Group

September 24, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in News and Events tagged

Through partnership with its Voluntary and Community sector partners, Sandwell Council wants to encourage people to get involved in a genuine long-term Tenant Involvement programme of positive change. They are establishing a Tenant & Leaseholders Scrutiny Group, which provides the opportunity for a group consisting of Council tenants and Council leaseholders to scrutinise, shape and make recommendations to improve housing services.

Sandwell Council is delivering a series of drop in sessions across the borough, in community venues, to promote and engage with local council tenants and council leaseholders about the opportunity to get involved and have a positive impact on the quality and delivery of housing services.

These sessions will commence early October and further information will follow. In addition, there will be a range of different opportunities in which people can get involved.

As part of this endeavour Sandwell Council wants to work with its Voluntary and Community sector partners and would like support in encouraging as many council tenants and council leaseholders as possible to attend so that there is a good diverse group reflective of Sandwell’s’ communities.

The sessions will be informal and an opportunity for those interested in being involved to find out more and meet the community partnerships team and have a chat. Alternatively, those interested can call the team on 0121 569-2537 or email at: comm_partnership@sandwell.gov.uk

For further information please visit our website: Sandwell Tenants and Leaseholders Scrutiny Group – www.sandwell.gov.uk/tenantsandleaseholdergroup

Sandwell council is committed to championing the voice of tenants and the opportunities for transformational change outlined in the housing white paper.  In addition, there are also further opportunities for everyone who resides in Sandwell to engage with Sandwell Council via the Residents Panel.

The Faith New Deal Pilot Fund – now open

September 24, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in Funding tagged

The Faith New Deal Pilot Fund is a new, competitive grant programme to help support faith-based organisations to use their resources effectively within their community and to build trust between national government, local government and faith groups.

Government wants to recognise the role faith-based organisations play in the resilience of our communities and the importance of local faith groups working collaboratively to respond to societal issues.

The core aim of the Faith New Deal Pilot Fund is to test and strengthen the nature of engagement between national government, local government and faith groups – providing proof of concept of the role faith groups play in supporting communities to solve local problems.

Through effective partnership working with public service providers, such as local authorities or public health bodies, faith groups can use their skills to deliver solutions to local problems that offer communities coherent and sustainable change.

The Faith New Deal Pilot fund will provide up to £975,000 for faith groups to apply for to work in partnership with local public services and philanthropists.

Funded pilots will be innovative projects to strengthen engagement between local and national government and faith groups – testing what can be achieved when they work together. The programme will fund projects to tackle social issues, including those arising from the impact of COVID-19, to support the recovery efforts of communities.

The deadline for bids is at 11:59pm on Thursday 7 October 2021

For more information, including how to apply, visit: Faith New Deal Pilot Fund prospectus – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Prevention and Promotion Fund for Better Mental Health 2021-22 – further funding launched

September 24, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in Funding tagged

This opportunity seeks to invest in prevention and promotion interventions for better mental health, specifically to mitigate mental health impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce widening mental health inequalities by targeting at risk and vulnerable groups.

Sandwell MBC Public Health are inviting Voluntary and Community Sector organisations to submit an Expression of Interest against three allocated strands, to receive funding which will be distributed in the form of a grant.

There is one strand; Strand D, which has a total value of £14,350

D. Mental Health literacy – direct delivery of a variety of mental health training courses based on need and demand, for example (but not limited to); mental health awareness, mental health first aid, suicide prevention.

You can download the Expression of Interest Form HERE – and please refer to the appendix for further information, including expected outputs and outcomes.

The Expression of Interest window is open from 28/09/2021 until 12pm on 19/10/2021. Successful EOI notifications are expected by 22/10/2021.

Projects will be expected to have the ability to start delivery quickly, with the mobilisation and promotion period being November to December 2021, and the delivery period starting mid January 2022 at the latest. The provisional delivery period is until May 2022.

For information and advice on how to complete this form please contact Eilish_james@sandwell.gov.uk

Children Living With Autism – fundraiser

September 17, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in News and Events tagged

Change and disruption has been a huge part of everyone’s lives over the past 18 months. One way the Norvic GP Surgery is tackling this is by holding events to raise awareness and supporting local charities.

Their next event is on Friday 24th September at The Lyng when they will be raising awareness for Children Living With Autism and are supporting the charity Autism West Midlands. Staff will be wearing a purple item of clothing and donating money, and there will be a cake sale as well as colouring activities for children, and leaflets and information on how to get support should you have a family member who may need support with autism. The aim is to not only raise money for this wonderful charity, but to inform people that support is available, and that they are not alone. Many people do not understand autism and it is important to use local resources of support as well as educating yourself and others.

All proceeds raised on the day will go to Autism West Midlands, and if you would like to be a part of it or donate, please come at 10.00am to The Lyng, Frank Fisher Way, West Bromwich, B70 7AW on Friday 24th September

Dr Arora and the team would like to say a massive thank you in advance for supporting Autism West Midlands

* * * * * * * * * * 

Some info about Autism-

  • Autism is a spectrum condition and affects people in different ways. Like all people, autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses.
  • Autistic people have difficulties with interpreting both verbal and non-verbal language like gestures or tone of voice.
  • Autistic people may want to travel the same way to and from school or work, wear the same clothes or eat exactly the same food for breakfast.
  • Autistic people may experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light, colours, temperatures or pain
  • Many autistic people have intense and highly focused interests, often from a fairly young age
  • Anxiety is a real difficulty for many autistic adults, particularly in social situations or when facing change. It can affect a person psychologically and physically and impact quality of life for autistic people and their families.

(The info was taken from autism.org.uk)

CG2022 – “All Roads Lead To Alexander” project

September 16, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in News and Events, VCS Feature tagged

Caudwell Children transforms the lives of disabled children across the UK, acting as a safety net for families who are unable to gain the help they need. Since it was founded in March 2000, Caudwell children has helped more than 58,000 children and families, supporting children with more than 650 different medical conditions and providing more than £45m of services.

‘All Roads Lead To Alexander’ is a new and exciting project that will feature a unique series of music and arts workshops, for disabled and non-disabled children and young people, that will showcase the talent of West Midlands communities.

Following a grant received from the ‘Spirit of 2012’ funding body, and working in partnership with a number of organisations across the locality (including, in Smethwick, SAFS), Caudwell Children will deliver over 100 creative and cultural workshops, in partnership with the specialist music group K’antu Ensemble. The workshops will lead to the co-creation of a live mass participation performance of all the young people at an iconic Birmingham venue.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be staged at various venues across the West Midlands, including at the flagship Alexander Stadium in the city of Birmingham. Our workshops will run alongside the sporting event, as part of the wider cultural festival.

Want to take part?

If you’re aged 8-25, live in the West Midlands and would like to perform alongside the K’antu Ensemble – we want you to get involved! Place are limited, so please register an interest at: www.caudwellchildren.com/arlta/#arlta-register

Want to volunteer?

If you would like to volunteer to support the programme and work with young people on this project, visit: www.caudwellchildren.com/arlta/#arlta-register

Open Call: India-UK together 2022 (funding available)

September 15, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in Funding tagged

Cultural organisations, arts companies, institutes and festivals from India and the UK are invited to apply for grants for new collaborative arts and culture projects for the India-UK Together 2022 programme to mark India’s 75th anniversary of Independence.

A total of four grants (3 x £50,000 and 1 x £100,000) will be awarded to projects highlighting collaborations between India and the UK that offer positive opportunities to co-develop cross-cultural creative collaborations, skills and knowledge exchange and new artistic work with scope to tour and/or be produced digitally in India in 2022- 2023.

Applicants from theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, film, music, architecture, design, fashion, tech-art, new media art and cross/inter-disciplinary arts are encouraged to apply.

The scheme will enable bilateral partners to co-develop and collaborate on projects that explore the key cross-cutting theme ‘Together’.

Closing date for applications is 31 October 2021

More details here: https://www.britishcouncil.in/programmes/arts/open-call-india-uk-together

Prevention and Promotion Fund for Better Mental Health 2021-22 – funding available

September 13, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in Funding tagged

This opportunity seeks to invest in prevention and promotion interventions for better mental health, specifically to mitigate mental health impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce widening mental health inequalities by targeting at risk and vulnerable groups.

Sandwell MBC Public Health are inviting Voluntary and Community Sector organisations to submit an Expression of Interest against three allocated strands, to receive funding which will be distributed in the form of a grant.

Strand A has a total value of £40,000 and strands B and C have a total value of £20,000 each, the allocated lots are;

A – Engaging men through outreach, peer support, befriending and social activities to increase awareness of good mental health and suicide prevention

B – Delivery of parenting groups offering several activities targeting expectant parents and new parents with children under the age of 12 months to improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation.

C – Delivery of parenting groups offering several activities targeting parents with children aged between 1 – 5 years to improve wellbeing and reduce social isolation.

 

You can download the Expression of Interest Form HERE – and please refer to the appendix for further information, including expected outputs and outcomes.

The Expression of Interest window is open from 14/09/2021 until 12pm on 28/09/2021. Successful EOI notifications are expected by 11/10/2021.

Projects will be expected to have the ability to start delivery quickly, with the mobilisation and promotion period being October to November 2021, and the delivery period starting mid November 2021 at the latest. The provisional delivery period is until July 2022.

For information and advice on how to complete this form please contact Eilish_james@sandwell.gov.uk

Tesco Community Grants is still open for food-related applications

August 25, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in Funding tagged

Food-related applications to the Tesco Community Grants scheme are still being sought across the West Midlands.

Any not-for-profit organisation can apply for a grant of up to £1,500 towards a project that supports children and young people. Groups that are eligible to apply include: schools, Guides/Scouts groups, local authorities, sports clubs, community organisations, voluntary groups, housing associations etc.

Food-related projects are particularly being sought (e.g. schools looking to set up an allotment garden, youth/sports clubs providing health snacks/lunches, voluntary groups running cookery clubs, food banks, breakfast clubs etc.). If you are, or know of, a local group looking for funding please contact craig.smith@groundwork.org.uk He can help with completing the application form and talk through the application process. More information and the online application can also be found here: https://tescocommunitygrants.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/

The funding is a rolling scheme so there is no deadline.

EPIC Funding (Round Five) – Application window open until November.

August 24, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in Funding, SCVO News tagged

SCVO is working in partnership with the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to help build long-term resilience within Sandwell Communities.

The purpose of the EPIC Grant Programme (Empowering People In Communities) is to enable local voluntary and community organisations to access funding that supports the following broad outcomes:

  • Increased resilience within communities
  • Increased self reliance
  • Improved and stronger relationships within the community
  • Residents are involved in the design and delivery of activities that make a positive change in their communities
  • Asset and strengths based – building on what already exists in communities – starting from the perspective of “what’s strong” as opposed to “what’s wrong“.

Extensive community conversations have helped to shape the elements of this programme.  EPIC is a three year grant programme aimed at improving the wellbeing of communities, and tackling isolation and loneliness. It does this by developing stronger relationships and building on what exists within communities. This could include making the most of community spaces, improving access to transport and using people’s skills, talents and experience.

Grants up to £40,000 will be available for projects that are aimed at people (of all ages) who feel lonely or isolated, and projects that aim to improve the wellbeing of communities.

There are two tiers of funding available:

  • under £10,000
  • £10,001 to £40,000

Applications for Round 5 are currently being accepted until Monday, 1st November 2021 at 12 noon.

Guidance notes (in pdf format) are available for download as follows, and we strongly urge you to read through the relevant notes in full before speaking to us about your proposal:

For applications under £10,000:

For applications over £10,000:

(Application forms will be made available once initial conversations have taken place).

Please contact us to discuss any proposals before submitting an application, or if you have any general queries –  Liz Webster, Community Partnerships Coach, T: 07923 259821 / E: Liz@scvo.info or Stuart Ashmore, Operations Manager, T: 07703 823226 / E: Stuart@scvo.info

 

ACT Early Partnership with Netmums

August 23, 2021by Stuart Ashmore in Safer, Stronger Communities tagged

August has seen the continuation of the partnership between Counter Terrorism Policing and Netmums to highlight the ACT Early website, which is for parents, friends and families who are concerned about loved ones at risk of radicalisation.

Through the partnership, ACT Early content is being housed and promoted on the Netmums.com site and its social media channels.  The content includes articles, videos and an interactive forum where parents can ask questions of expert practitioners on the risks of radicalisation.

It can all be found at: Netmums.com/act-early.

Thousands have parents have already learned more about the work of Prevent and how to protect their own children from the risks of radicalisation and other forms of online grooming.

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