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Have you got a story to tell?

November 8, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Did you know...?, SCVO News tagged ,

Did you know SCVO can help Sandwell organisations promote good news stories or put a call out for goods, via Swap Shop, through our weekly e-bulletin?

Are you aware, we use social media channels and connections to raise awareness of community activities, events and launches for organisations?

Have you seen or used or Events Calendar?

These are some of the ways SCVO can help organisations to get their messages out to new and wider community audiences. Minimum effort for groups, possibly yielding maximum results.

If you would like to take advantage of these free services or would like to find out more about how SCVO can support your organisation, please get contact us on support@scvo.info or call 0121 525 1127.

Suspension files available

August 12, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Swap-shop tagged ,

SCVO have a supply of Foolscap, green suspension files that are surplus to requirements. 

If your group could make use of these files, please contact the office on 0121 525 1127 and ask for Mazeline or Debra.

Route2Wellbeing Reaches New Milestone

August 5, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, SCVO News, VCS Feature tagged , ,

Sandwell’s popular Route2wellbeing website reached a new milestone this week with the listing of its 500th service.

The website, available at www.route2wellbeing.info, provides residents, local agencies, GPs and health professionals with information about a wide range of community-based activities and guidance which support and promote peoples wellbeing.

Since its launch in 2013 the website has become a well-established signposting tool which enables small voluntary and community groups as well as larger charities to advertise their support to the wider community. Over 200 organisations now use the website to promote their offer to Sandwell residents. Use of the website has also increased dramatically over the last couple of years with a 50% rise in visits since 2018.

Groups and organisations wishing to advertise themselves can do so by contacting Mazeline Hemmings at SCVO on 0121 525 1127 or mazeline@scvo.info. Services can be listed free of charge.

Community Organisers Training

December 11, 2018by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Training Support and Resources tagged , ,

SCVO has partnered up with Community Organisers to run a free one day course – Introduction to community organising, on Tuesday 29th January. It is an interactive course that introduces you to Community Organising – the work of bringing people together to take action around their common concerns and overcome social injustice. This one-day course is a starting point to understanding the community organising process and using it to listen to and motivate people to bring change within communities and society.

During this course you will explore:
• what community organising is
• the importance of listening to build relationships and uncover issues
• power in communities and why it matters how to motivate people to take action
• how to take your next steps in community organising and social action.

The course will be held at SCVO offices, First Floor, Lanchard House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8ER.

Places are limited to 11 and will be allocated to those who sign up first until it is full. If there is additional demand for places, we will look at running another session. To sign up for the course please use the link below:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ZCPWYHB

For more information please contact Manisha Patel on 0121 525 1127.

AGM celebrates SCVO’s 20 years supporting Sandwell’s VCS

October 1, 2018by Mark in Blog, SCVO News, VCS Feature tagged , ,

Members of Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector and strategic partners came together at the Brasshouse Centre, Smethwick, last week for SCVO’s AGM 2018 and to celebrate 20 years since SCVO was launched.

Mark Davis, SCVO’s Chief Executive Officer, presented a review of the last years activities and developments for the organisation.  SCVO’s Annual Review 2018 can be viewed here.

Jatinder Singh Basi, President of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick was elected onto the Board of Trustees. A full list of current SCVO Trustees and Staff can be viewed here.

Amongst the invited guests were Sue Brueton from Big Lottery and Ruth Gripper from national charity New Philanthropy Capital who delivered insightful presentations on the theme of ‘People Power and Partnerships’ and provoked some interesting discussion with delegates.

Poppy Dhatt, Chief Executive of SAFS, who is a former SCVO Chair and founding trustee, reflected on SCVO’s roots and her recollection of the work during the 1990s that led up to the formation of SCVO in 1998. Delegates also enjoyed a short video which featured current leaders from Sandwell’s VCS sharing their thoughts on the importance of working together and of working with SCVO, which can be viewed here.

Your Feedback Requested on Wellbeing Website

September 3, 2018by Leona in Blog, SCVO News tagged ,

SCVO’s route2wellbeing website was launched in 2013 as a vital tool to assist GPs and other health professionals to access information for their patients about local community-based services that might support their wellbeing.  In the five years since it launched the website has grown in popularity and is now used not only by healthcare workers but also by many staff and volunteers within Sandwell’s voluntary and community sector.

Use of the website continues to grow steadily, with many frontline workers using it regularly to signpost clients and service users to places where they can get additional help for themselves or their families – covering services such as counselling, befriending, advice, sport and exercise, money management, emergency help and social activities.  Any voluntary and community service provider in Sandwell is eligible to list their support on the site, and the information is administered by the organisation themselves, ensuring it can easily be kept accurate and up-to-date.  Users of the route2wellbeing website can search for support in a range of different ways, including by activity, text search or location search.

Now SCVO are undertaking a review of the site with a view to improving it further, and would value your feedback on the website.  This will help us to know what needs to be improved and to ensure as many people can know about and access this valuable tool.

We would be grateful for your feedback on this site by completing this short survey from this link 

If you would like any further information about the route2wellbeing site, or to find out how to get your services listed, please contact Mazeline Hemmings 0121 525 1127 mazeline@scvo.info.

Promoting Sandwell Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Event

May 20, 2018by Leona in Blog, Children & Young People, Health & Wellbeing tagged ,

Supporting our young people to manage the ups and downs of life and grow into happy, healthy and resilient individuals is important to us all.

At present there are a number of different support services available across the borough helping young people manage their emotional and mental wellbeing through support and advice. Now all those who work with young people are invited to attend an event which will increase understanding of what’s on offer locally.

To make it easier, the event is being run twice on the same day, no charge is made for attending but booking is essential. The content of each session will be the same and therefore you only need to book on one session.

  • The first session – Monday 2nd July 1.00pm – 3.00pm – PLEASE NOTE THIS SESSION IS FULLY BOOKED 
  • Monday 2nd July 5.00pm – 7.00pm – Plenty of places left, please do book onto this informative session.  To book a place please click here

Both sessions are taking place at Hawthorns House, 4th Floor, Halfords Lane, West Bromwich, B66 1BB

The event will focus on how to help young people access support that best fits their needs, and will include information from different service providers including Kaleidoscope Plus Group, Murray Hall Community Trust, Sandwell Beam Project, Kooth, Point of Access and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Presentations will highlight how services are able to connect with each other to make support more effective and there will be opportunities for delegates to ask questions as well as to network informally.

 The event is aimed at anyone working with young people and adults in Sandwell up to the age of 25 including:-

  • Youth, children and family practitioners
  • Voluntary youth clubs
  • Schools
  • GPs and Practice Managers
  • Safeguarding leads
  • Health Visitors
  • Community and Faith leaders
  • Strategic leaders and service managers
  • Social workers