Stuart Ashmore

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Do you need volunteers to support your COVID-19 response?

March 30, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Blog, Safer, Stronger Communities, Volunteering tagged

We’re here to help.

SCVO’s call-out for volunteers to support their local communities during the COVID-19 crisis has had a wonderful response; we are very proud to say we have a small army of reserves ready to help.

People from all walks of life have offered their services, from drivers to hands-on carers, from telephone befrienders to local shoppers.

So if you’re a voluntary organisation or community group in Sandwell, tell us where you need volunteers to step in.

We will aim to match your organisation’s need with volunteers signed up to our database. We have a note of their particular skills, whether they have their own transport and if they have current DBS clearance (which many do).

If you have identified a need (maybe something new, or a change to what you already do, in response to COVID-19), but maybe it is the first time you have thought about engaging volunteers in your delivery, why not get in contact with us to see how we might be able to support you.

If you would like to discuss opportunities you have, please email liz@scvo.info cc. kim@scvo.info

COVID-19 Financial Support Available to Small Charities

March 20, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Funding tagged

Martin Lewis (of Money Saving Expert fame) has set up a fund where small charities can apply for a grant of between £5-25k to help with specific Corona relief projects; examples could include foodbanks, financial help/advice and community aid projects – see below;

For more information on how to apply, visit:

https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2020/03/i-m-making-p1m-available-to-fund-urgent-small-charity-coronaviru/

URGENT – Deadline is  midnight Wednesday, 25th March 2020 to apply but the application form is a simple google form which gets submitted directly to Martin Lewis’ team

Active Lifestyles Community Connector x2

March 18, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Vacancies tagged

The Black Country has some of the highest levels of physical inactivity nationally with the lives of Black Country residents determined by a unique set of characteristics including high levels of deprivation, low skill levels and high unemployment and health inequalities.

Black Country Together, Active Black Country and Black Country Local Authorities are working together to deliver the ‘Black Country Place Based Pilot’, which seeks to test new approaches to getting people more physically active and contributing to a healthier, more prosperous Black Country.

This exciting programme, funded by Sport England and Black Country Consortium Ltd and will trial new approaches in eight wards across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The funding will be disseminated by West Midlands Combined Authority. The programme seeks to create strong links within and across communities, understand what is needed to remove barriers to physical activity, and make best use of existing assets within communities to encourage more people to be active and identify with, and feel a sense of ‘belonging’ to, their place.

We are recruiting to two posts which will carry out a variety of outreach activities to engage with people living within priority and local stakeholders including voluntary and community organisations and public sector bodies. The role will include working with organisations to improve and develop activities and events that provide people with the opportunity to be physically active and improve their self-esteem, happiness and confidence, and working with local programmes, such as Social Prescribing services, to help make links and improve access and referral routes to active lifestyle services and activities.

The posts will work across the North Black Country (Walsall and Wolverhampton) and South Black Country (Sandwell and Dudley), focused primarily in the eight priority ward areas, but with a requirement to work and travel across the area.

For more information, please contact Alex Boys on 01922 619 840.

Click here to download the application form.

Click here to download the Role Description.

Free Workplace Presentations about Ovarian Cancer

March 11, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Health & Wellbeing tagged ,

Ovacome (the national UK ovarian cancer charity focused on providing support to anyone affected by ovarian cancer, and with a Regional Office based in Dudley) is offering FREE presentations for your staff and volunteers that will give them the information they need to know about ovarian cancer.   

Although cancer affects many people in the workforce either directly as patients or indirectly as carers there is little public understanding of ovarian cancer, what to watch for and how to get help.

Ovarian cancer is uncommon with around 7000 cases each year, but can be devastating because it is usually diagnosed late, when it has spread and when treatment is more difficult.

Ovacome wants to change this and is committed to educating the public about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, which can seem vague and non-specific and are often mistaken for less serious conditions.  This means women delay seeking medical help.

Presentations include an ovarian cancer survivor giving her story and information from Ovacome staff.  The sessions are informal and supportive so people are comfortable to ask questions and chat with us.  Very positive feedback has been received from employers and staff members

Quotes….

‘Thank you for sharing and raising awareness about the symptoms that too often are explained away as ‘oh that is just…’

‘Thanks for sharing this with us all, we often put so many of our aches and pains to old age / menopause etc. without even considering it might be something major serious, really good to have highlighted this.’

 

Ovacome can tailor the sessions to meet your staff’s needs and fit in with your business and are often asked to be part of health and wellbeing events or occupational health initiatives.

For more information and to book a presentation contact: Lee Priestly T: 020 7299 6651 / E: l.priestly@ovacome.org.uk 

 

World Autism Awareness Day – 2nd April 2020

February 17, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in News and Events

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.

There are around 700,000 people on the Autism spectrum also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the UK.

Project Aspie will be hosting a Special Event – Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day at Somerset House between 18.00 pm – 20.00 pm.

This event will be focusing on People’s Stories Celebrating Asperger’s and Autism Awareness and Autism Lived Experience and The Positives of Mental Strength and Neurodiversity and Inclusion in the Work Place.

This event will feature Special Guests and Special Guest Speakers who do amazing work within the community.

Details of Special Guest Speakers for this event will be announced very soon.

Somerset House has a relaxed environment and has easy accessibility for people to attend.

Tickets Required on Entry. Please Register via Eventbrite: https://project-aspie-2-april-2020-celebrating-world-autism-awareness-day-tickets-93568669409

Somerset House is situated 5 minutes from Birmingham New Street Train Station and Grand Central.

Address for Somerset House is 37 Somerset House, Temple Street, Birmingham, B2 5DP.

For more information on this Special Event to Celebrate World Autism Awareness Day please feel free to contact Project Aspie on 0121 312 0587 or 07821548904 or e-mail graeme@projectaspie.org.uk

Project Aspie – Open Space Initiative meetings in March 2020 Copy

February 17, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Blog

Project Aspie is an award winning organisation geared towards raising the profile of people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism within the community.

Project Aspie was created and developed to improve and inspire people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism to live healthy and independent lives within the community.

Project Aspie also delivers Campaign Events and Community Projects including the Community Initiative The Open Space Initiative, which is geared towards offering Confidence, Motivation and Opportunities for people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism.

National Lottery Community Fund kindly funds The Open Space Initiative.

The next TWO Open Space Initiative events are open for bookings:

18th March 2020 – visit – https://projectaspie.org.uk/news/project-aspie-mid-week-open-space-initiative-even-18-march-2020 – for more information.

28th March 2020 – visit – https://projectaspie.org.uk/news/project-aspie-open-space-initiative-event-28-march-2020 – for more information.

GM2LF – Community Party and AGM

February 13, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Blog, VCS Feature tagged , ,

Come and join the fun at the ‘Community Party and AGM’ of the Grace Mary to Lion Farm Big Local Partnership.

Taking place on Wednesday, 18th March from 6pm – 8pm at Oakham Evangelical Church, City Road, Tividale, Oldbury, B69 1QZ there will be:

  • Live entertainment
  • Dance performances
  • An opportunity to find out what’s been happening where you live (across the GM2LF Big Local area)
  • Hear about the NEW Big Local Plan
  • Free buffet and refreshments.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/gm2lf/ for more information about the Big Local Partnership and to drop them a line to let them know you’re planning to attend.

Project Aspie – Open Space Initiative meetings in March 2020

February 13, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Blog

Project Aspie is an award winning organisation geared towards raising the profile of people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism within the community.

Project Aspie was created and developed to improve and inspire people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism to live healthy and independent lives within the community.

Project Aspie also delivers Campaign Events and Community Projects including the Community Initiative The Open Space Initiative, which is geared towards offering Confidence, Motivation and Opportunities for people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism.

National Lottery Community Fund kindly funds The Open Space Initiative.

The next TWO Open Space Initiative events are open for bookings:

18th March 2020 – visit – https://projectaspie.org.uk/news/project-aspie-mid-week-open-space-initiative-even-18-march-2020 – for more information.

28th March 2020 – visit – https://projectaspie.org.uk/news/project-aspie-open-space-initiative-event-28-march-2020 – for more information.

Project Aspie – Open Space Initiative meetings in February 2020

January 29, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Blog

Project Aspie is an award winning organisation geared towards raising the profile of people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism within the community.

Project Aspie was created and developed to improve and inspire people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism to live healthy and independent lives within the community.

Project Aspie also delivers Campaign Events and Community Projects including the Community Initiative The Open Space Initiative, which is geared towards offering Confidence, Motivation and Opportunities for people with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism.

National Lottery Community Fund kindly funds The Open Space Initiative.

The next TWO Open Space Initiative events are open for bookings:

19th February 2020 – visit – https://projectaspie.org.uk/news/project-aspie-mid-week-open-space-initiative-event-19-feb-2020 – for more information.

29th February 2020 – visit – https://projectaspie.org.uk/news/project-aspie-open-space-initiative-event-29-feb-2020 – for more information.

Youth Social Action – Opportunities Required!

January 24, 2020by Stuart Ashmore in Safer, Stronger Communities tagged ,

Young people accessing Nova Training are looking for ways to make a positive impact on Sandwell communities.

As part of the organisation’s Youth Social Action programme, they’re asking for local voluntary organisations to set them tasks that will be of benefit to their community.

In small teams of young people aged between 16 and 24, they’re willing to tackle a variety of challenges such as gardening and clearing, and can offer anything from a day’s work to a six-week programme.

Co-ordinator Kelly James is keen to build up a list of opportunities, particularly in Oldbury and West Bromwich where courses are based, so that young people have a choice of where they go.

“Having that choice means they do something they’re interested in, which in turn means they can be inspired to do more in the future and develop further skills,” she said.

If you have any opportunities please email kellyjames@novatraining.co.uk

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