What’s In The Case?

August 4, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, VCS Feature tagged , ,

“What’s In The Case?” is a project that has been awarded funding by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Windrush Scheme. Sandwell Museum and Art’s Service are looking for members of the Windrush Generation, or their descendants, to take part in a number of interviews (over the phone, skype or Zoom) in order to develop an exciting exhibition in October.

The service is looking for community groups, project leaders and organisations that might be interested in supporting the project.

If you would like to know more about the project, please contact Alex Howell, Arts and Project Officer on 07827305784.

Further information

A Partnership approach to Settling Well in Sandwell

August 4, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, Safer, Stronger Communities tagged , ,

Do you know of any Sandwell residents who have arrived in the UK in the last two years, who are in need of practical help and support to enable them to adjust to life in Sandwell and access the services that they need?

Citizens Advice Sandwell have a team of skilled Community Navigators who are able to:

• Accompany clients to appointments at job centres, GPs
• Help clients to register with GPs, dentists
• Obtain a NI number
• Access other services such as English classes
• Access advice on benefits, housing, immigration
• Give information on healthcare including covid-19 public health guidance.

The support is delivered in partnership with Brushstrokes who are able to provide specialist advice.

Although funding conditions mean that Settling Well is unable to support asylum seekers or people with no recourse to public funds, Navigators are able to refer them to other services funded to provide that help.

Navigators have a range of community languages including Bangladeshi, Polish, Italian, French, Arabic, Farsi, Spanish, Dutch and Dari. They can provide longer term support than most services. Even if a resident has been helped with an immediate issue, Settling Well can assist them to put down roots and make a positive contribution to Sandwell.

The team of Navigators are returning from furlough in and have lots of capacity to support newcomers. They will be able to provide face to face support in a neutral community venue, such as a community centre, place of worship or coffee shop.

To make a referral Telephone: 0121 553 6431 (Option 5) or email settlingwell@citizensadvicesandwell.org.uk.

Further information

Black Country Click Start – Referral Information

August 4, 2020by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, Training Support and Resources tagged , ,

Black Country Click Start, run by Citizen Advice Sandwell, helps people who are out of work to develop their digital skills and improve financial inclusion.  The project tailors its delivery to the needs of the client and provides support for a variety of tasks, including:

Setting up, accessing, and sending emails.
Increasing skills and confidence when using the internet, including how to stay safe online.
Managing their Universal Credit account.
Searching for jobs and volunteer opportunities online.
Using price comparison sites to save money on goods and services.
Online shopping.
Online banking.
Keeping in touch with friends and family through use of social media, video chat, and voice calls.

Digital Money Coaches work throughout the Black Country to provide both group and one to one support.

The project is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. In order to participate clients must be out of work, have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide evidence of this.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, a letter from an organisation confirming the right to work status and unemployment status, may also be accepted. If eligibility conditions are met but evidence cannot be provided, support may still be available.

For further information, or the possibility of referring clients for digital support please contact Josh Shingleton, the Project Manager for the Citizens Advice Sandwell Click Start team. Contact: mobile 07494 157 550 or
email josh.shingleton@citizensadvicesandwell.org.uk.

Sandwell Public Health Resource Centre is Now Up and Running

August 3, 2020by Leona in Blog, Training Support and Resources tagged

This is the go-to place for any COVID-19 posters/leaflets in various languages and for download. We will be regularly updating this with more languages. Please contact DL-PublicHealthTeam@sandwell.gov.uk if there are any other languages/ resources which you’d like to see https://www.healthysandwell.co.uk/covid-19/resources/

Funding to Improve the Quality of Life of Forcibly Displaced People

August 3, 2020by Leona in Blog, Funding tagged

Grants of up to £25,000 are available for projects which help forcibly displaced people and their host communities, as well as people at acute risk of displacement. Climate change is a key reason for the increase in displacement and is putting many millions more at risk of displacement in the future.

Eligible organisations that can apply include:

• Charities and other non-profit organisations that have a strong link to the communities they serve.
• Small organisations with an annual turnover of less than £10 million pounds.

The JAC Trust’s Climate Change and Displaced People Grant Programme funds projects which:

• lead to tangible improvements in the quality of life of the target group.
• have a positive measurable impact on the local natural environment.
• Involve the target group in project design and delivery.

The Trust funds work on the ground as well as advocacy and campaigning work.
Projects should focus on one of three target groups:
• forcibly displaced people & their host communities
• returnees and the communities they return to
• people at acute risk of displacement.

The application deadline is 11pm on the 18th August 2020.

For further information please view – https://jaclarktrust.org/how-to-apply/

Funding to Enhance the Quality of Life for People in Need

August 3, 2020by Leona in Blog, Funding tagged

Registered charities, Hospices and state schools catering wholly for students with additional needs, can apply for grants to support their work that enhances the quality of life for people in need, specifically the mentally and physically disabled.

Priority is given to small and medium size charities making a significant impact in their community and who may lack the time and resources to be able to focus on their fundraising.

The Edward Gostling Foundation’s grants are awarded to projects that have a significant impact across one or more of four life “themes” and priority is given to organisations that clearly demonstrate this within their application for grant funding.
These are:
• Health and Wellbeing
• Independent Living at Home
• Respite
• Transition.

Grants can support:
• Modifications to homes, state schools (wholly for students with additional needs), hospices etc
• The provision of specialist equipment such as the provision of specialised wheelchairs, other mobility aids and equipment including medical equipment to assist independent living
• Financial assistance towards the cost of short-term respite breaks at a registered respite centre.
Grants are awarded through two programmes:
• A fast-track Small Grants Programme for applications up to £5,000 to small and medium-sized charities with a gross annual income of £3 million or less.
• A Large Grants (Capital) Programme for applications of £5,000 or over; open to all charities with a gross annual income of £5 million or less.

There are no application deadlines; applications can be submitted at any time

For further information please view – https://www.edwardgostlingfoundation.org.uk/

Big Conversation about Autism Services Across the Black Country

August 3, 2020by Leona in Blog, News and Events

As a newly merged organisation we have an ambition to support the people of the Black Country to lead healthier and happier lives. We cannot do this alone, and we want to work with you in genuine partnership to develop our clinical strategy, to listen and learn, in order to achieve meaningful change.

As the system starts to prepare for future demand for services, we are holding a series of ‘big conversations’ about the services we deliver. So far, we have held one focusing on each of the localities (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton) and have a Black Country-Wide session planned on 11 August as well.

A strong theme throughout each of the sessions and from discussions with partners is the need to strengthen support for people with autism. We felt it was really important that we have an opportunity to have a dedicated conversation around this so we are holding an autism specific workshop on:

Friday 28 August, 3 – 4pm and this will take place virtually via MS Teams.

We hope you can join us. Let us know you’re attending by emailing bchft.communications@nhs.net and we will send you the link to the session. If you can’t make this date but would like to share your feedback please contact us on the above e-mail.

The Best Digital Tools for Managing Stress and Mental Health

August 3, 2020by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Health & Wellbeing, VCS Feature tagged ,

As we face tough challenges taking a toll on our wellbeing at work, here are the best digital tools for managing stress and mental health.Working in the charity sector can be greatly rewarding and unites people with a passion for progress. We love our jobs because we care deeply about what we do. However, we can face challenges at work that affect our wellbeing. We review the best digital tools for managing stress and mental health.

Our sector faces specific challenges. Charity workers face major deadlines, keen regulation and the need for accountability which can induce stress and impact mental health. A significant source of stress is money as charities are largely dependent on donations and raising their own revenue. The threat of cuts and dwindling funding can add to the problem.

Putting Mental Health First
The significance of good mental health is gaining ground in discussions about the workplace. Charity staff are emotionally invested in their jobs but don’t always have a support network to depend on. Putting self-care first is essential for employees, service users and the organisation itself.

‘Self-care is important’, says Lesley Dixon from social support charity PSS. ‘It’s all well and good just putting your all into it, burning out, and that’s not good for you as an individual, it’s not good for the organisation, it’s not good for people who use the services.’

There are distinct challenges in managing self-care for directors and managers in the charity sector. Whether facing bereavement in cancer charities, supporting vulnerable refugees or helping survivors of sexual violence, charity sector staff face enormously traumatic and distressing situations regularly as part of the daily working day.

“We work with a lot of Syrians who have come over on the government’s resettlement programme”, says Maurice Wren from the Refugee Council, “and their level of traumatisation is higher than we’re used to from other resettled refugees. And that worries me because it means that we’re having to cope with that, we’re having to take that on.”

The tendency of charities to depend on volunteers, part-time staff and teammates working remotely also raises wellbeing issues. Judi Rhys from Arthritis Care refers to ‘that sense of isolation… the sense of not quite being connected with the rest of the workforce’ as one problem. The tendency to dedicate and commit long hours is problematic, too. The pressure can be overwhelming.

Read the full Digital Charity News Article by clicking here.

Source: Charity Digital News

Lloyds Bank Foundation – Recovery Fund

July 31, 2020by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding tagged , ,

Lloyds Bank Foundation has announced a £7.4 million COVID recovery fund for small and medium-sized charities that support people with complex social issues such as mental health, homelessness or domestic abuse.

Around 140 charities will be given a two-year grant of up to £50,000 as well as a development partner. To ensure funding is distributed equally, at least a quarter of the funding will be given to charities that are led by, or that benefit people from BAME communities.

Applications open on 3 August at 10 am and close on 11 September at 5 pm

This fund is open to small and medium sized charities with an income of between £25,000 and £1 million a year that are helping people overcome complex social issues such as dependency, homelessness and domestic abuse.

Find out more by clicking here.

Source: DSC

Arts Council England – Cultural Recovery Fund

July 31, 2020by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding tagged ,

Arts Council England have announced the first round of grants from the £500 million Culture Recovery Fund. This fund offers financial support for cultural organisations that were financially stable before Covid-19, but are now at imminent risk of failure.

Grants will range from £50,000 up to £3 million. Applications for the first round of funding open at 12pm on Monday 10 August and close at 12pm on Friday 21 August 2020.

This funding is available to:

Cultural organisations (both profit and not for profit) based in England that are properly constituted and are registered at Companies House and/or Charity Commission, and are able to produce at least one year’s full independently certified or audited financial statements.

Local Authorities, Universities and other Public Sector bodies who run or maintain cultural services can also apply.

For this programme, we define ‘cultural’ as sitting within the remit of Arts Council England, however Library services are not eligible to apply.

For more information visit their website at www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/CRFgrants?dm_i=6S7,6Z5U2,W725XH,S38ZX,1#section-1

Source: the Arts Council

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