Sandwell MBC is pleased to announce that Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust have been awarded the contract to deliver the Sandwell School Nursing Service from 1st April 2019.
Please find attached official communication letter on the conclusion of the Sandwell School Nursing procurement.
A not-for-profit online safety organisation is warning that vulnerable children are becoming ‘lost in digital space’ where they face risks such as cyberbullying, cyber fraud and sexting.
A study by Internet Matters found that around two million vulnerable children, including those with disabilities and mental health issues, are at particular risk online.
Other online safety risks they face include seeing harmful content, such as those that promote self-harm and suicide.
The study, based on the experiences of around 3,000 young people aged between 10 and 16, found that children in care and young carers are almost twice as likely to be cyberbullied than their peers.
One in four (27%) of children with special educational needs view sites that promoting self-harm and 25% view sites that encourage anorexia, compared to 17% of their peers in both cases.
Young people with hearing difficulties are also more likely to be involved in sexting and are five times more likely than their peers to say that the internet upsets them.
Those with learning difficulties are a third more likely to spend more than five hours a day online compared to their peers and also a third more likely to have their social media account hacked.
To read the full Charity Digital News article click here.
Sadly for many children across the West Midlands life is really tough.
They could be living in poverty, with a serious illness or disability or be subject to neglect or abuse. Free Radio Cash for Kids is here to make a positive impact on the lives of these children.
Free Radio helps by awarding grants to families, community projects and small local charities who support these children.
Right now they are looking for applications for grant funding that we hope to be able to fulfill from funds raised during their forthcoming Superhero Day campaign.
Consideration for grants will only be given to those who help children up to the age of 18, who match our eligibility criteria and live within the Free Radio broadcast area (see the map located on their website).
They are looking for applications with a maximum value of £2,000 and in keeping with a timeline whereby funding will be made available in June/July 2019.
They will be looking to showcase some of the applications we’ve received during the Superhero Day campaign, to inspire Free Radio listeners and businesses across the area to donate & fundraise. Please indicate within your application (in Section 5. Other Information) how you would support this.
Finally, if you have a bigger project that you are currently fundraising for (or have ambitions to fundraise for in the near future) please include a 2/3 sentence summary of this also within Section 5. Other Information.
Click here to access our online application form (please note we only accept applications via this online form).
Applications close at 11:59pm on Friday 15th March 2019 to get your copy click here.
Source: Free Radio Website
Safeguarding is a key governance priority for all trustees, not just those working with groups traditionally considered at risk.
You should read the guidance about safeguarding duties for charity trustees.
We advise you to carry out a thorough review of your charity’s safeguarding governance and management arrangements and performance, if you haven’t done in the last 12 months.
It is also important that you contact us about any safeguarding issues, or serious safeguarding incidents, complaints or allegations which have not previously been reported to us.
Find more about what and how to report to the Charity Commission.
Source: Charity Commission Newsletter
Join Dorothy Parkes for a post Christmas ‘pick me up’ as they work in partnership with Black Country Touring.
Multi Story Theatre Company presents Beauty and the Beast – A pre-Disney version of a well-loved tale.
An old woman who claims to be a princess and a reluctant security guard use music, song, puppetry, and projection to play out the traditional tale of Beauty and the Beast. Nothing is quite as it seems in this lively and inventive version of the hugely popular story presented by on one the UK’s most respected children’s theatre companies.
Children and adults alike enjoy both the bravura fun of the storytelling and the genuine drama and pathos of the tale as it unfolds. The production, for children aged 5 – 11 and their families,on Saturday, 19 January 2019 at 2.30 pm and 4.00 pm.
Tickets are £3.00 adults and £2.00 children and can be purchased online https://www.dorothyparkes.org/Event/beauty-and-the-beast or at the Centre, Church Road, Smethwick B67 6EH.
There will be light refreshments and the chance to enter a raffle.
Connexions Sandwell, in partnership with The Apprenticeship Works, is hosting the largest Jobs Fair event in the Black Country on Saturday,19 January 2019, 10 am to 2 pm.
There will be advice on careers, apprenticeships, and education and training for 14 – 19 year olds.
Tell your friends and bring the family to this free event.
The Jobs Fair will be at The Town Hall, West Bromwich, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8DY.
Hateley Cross Big Local Partnership group are supporting the 3 primary schools Hall Green, Hateley Heath and St John Bosco Catholic in our areas of Hateley Heath and Stone Cross, West Bromwich.
Hateley Cross Big Local Partnership group wanted to ensure that young people aspirations raised, involved with their communities, feel valued and there are reasons [and places] for people to come together. A three year funding application was created for local primary schools to apply for.
We are one of 150 Big Local areas across the country that are quietly bringing about a revolution in how neighbourhoods and communities are supported to change.
Everything we are planning over the next 3 years is in order to achieve the following national Big Local outcomes:
1. Communities will be better able to identify local needs and take action in
response to them.
2. People will have increased skills and confidence so that they can continue to
identify and respond to local needs in the future.
3. The community will make a difference to the needs it prioritises.
4. People will feel that their area is an even better place to live.
We have processed all schools allocation for Year One to deliver their proposed projects for the two strands of the Hateley Cross Big Local 2018-2021 plan which are:
Inspired People:
We will create opportunities for people to get involved with our neighbourhood, get to know each other, develop as individuals and help create a community where people belong – especially for those who feel excluded.
Great Places:
We will work with SMBC and others to support the provision of good quality, clean and safe spaces for our community to use. We will encourage and support people to become involved in the design, development and management of active community spaces.
The examples of projects that the schools will be producing over the next three years will include:
Environmental: To develop an awareness and respect for the environment – developing new outdoor area and garden to develop a forest area space, growing fruit and vegetables
Inspirational:
To expand pupils vision and raise their aspirations – Promote the process of applying for jobs & running workshops e.g. learning to cook, caring for animals, etc. STEM projects – Science, technology, engineering and maths
To raise aspirations through reading, bringing local authors into the school
We have presented St John Bosco school in Hateley Heath and Hateley Heath Primary School with their cheques to facilitate the projects. We look forward to coming back in 2019 to see the new projects take fruition.
For more information about the Hateley Cross Big Local Partnership please contact Marc Pearson:
Office: 0121 544 1230
Mobile: 07701355520
Email: marc@scips.org.uk
Outcomes Star Training is available through Sandwell Children’ Trust. It is a tried and test tool for supporting and measuring change.
Further dates for the training have been announced and are taking place on:-
24th January 2019
13th February 2019
12th March 2019
The training time 9.30am – 4.30pm and takes place at Regional Business Centre, 1 Provident Place, West Bromwich, B70 8ZX
If you would like to book a place, please e-mail Training_SCT@sandwellchildrenstrust.org
For further information please contact louise_harris@sandwellchildrenstrust.org
A new fund has been announced by the government to support VCSE organisations that help children and young people with their mental health.
Applications are invited from existing schemes to trial a new approach to helping children and young people. The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 15 February 2019.
Projects should:
• adopt community and person-centred approaches to improving the mental health of children and young people aged 0 to 25 years
• particularly support children and young people through life-changing events
• have strong local connections already in place
• be delivered by the VCSE sector
• be co-produced with service users and stakeholders.
Through this programme, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and Public Health England are working with VCSE organisations to promote equality, address health inequalities and support the wellbeing of people, families and communities. You can find out more about this fund, including dates for a series of ‘meet the funder’ webinars here.
Kickz Flyer A5 OctoberKicks is a Premier league community funded programme which engages and provides free football across Sandwell for young people aged 8-18. Kicks sessions are aimed to provide and fun and safe environment for both boys and girls to participate in free football sessions.
Please see Kickz Flyer A5 October (Please note Portway on Monday has been cancelled until further notice)
Please contact paul.blagrove@albionfoundation.co.uk for any further information.