BSS Community Aid - the new name for Brinsworth Senior Support Group

Brinsworth Senior Support Group was set up at the very beginning of lockdown in response to the need to help the vulnerable and elderly members of our community. They asked for volunteers and were overwhelmed with the support received as people turned up to bring donations of food and deliver flyers asking residents to get in touch if they needed support. They managed to provide food parcels and a shopping buddies service to an incredible number of residents in the Catcliffe Brinsworth and Treeton area.

Sarah Burgess, one of the group leaders said: "Now that things are starting to look more normal and people are going back to work or studies, we have had to think about ‘what next’ for this amazing group. We asked our residents to complete a survey and the response was overwhelmingly in favour of needing to keep in touch.

"A few still feel that they need our help and some would like guidance or pointing in the right direction for support. With this in mind, we are hoping to produce an information leaflet with details of local businesses who could help such as gardeners, cleaners, dog, walkers and so on. We also have available a few volunteers who are willing to continue to help with small grocery shops or prescription collections!"

The group held a competition for a new name to reflect their new aims, with the winning entry from Brooke William with ‘BSS Community Aid’ they also have a new contact number  07719531301 and a BSS Community Aid Facebook page. If there are any local businesses or volunteers who would like to be involved, please get in touch!

Read the full story about BSS Community Aid

Brinsworth and Catcliffe Housing Hub

The Council has a new tenant involvement scheme called the Housing Hub in place to work with Council tenants to improve their neighbourhoods and the housing services that the Council provides.

This year Brinsworth and Catcliffe Housing Hub has a budget of £7,624.00. This can fund projects that help to make council estates cleaner, greener and safer. If you have an idea for your area and would like to discuss this, Rotherfed have a dedicated officer, Rob Gooding. Rob is more than happy to discuss your project and how to take the idea forward. Contact him by email on Robert.gooding@rotherfed.org or mobile 07538 625150.

Find out more about your local housing hub 

Be Diabetes Aware in Rotherham

Be Diabetes Aware is part of the Social Movement in Health project, commissioned by Rotherham Clinical Commisioning Group and based at Voluntary Action Rotherham.

The Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ tool supports self-referral. It has been developed in partnership with the NHS England Diabetes Prevention Programme, and allows those who find they are at moderate or high risk of developing Type 2, to self-refer to their local Healthier You Diabetes Prevention Praogramme in England.

Read more about Preventing Type 2 Diabetes and find out your Know Your Risk score.

Godric Green Neighbourhood Centre 

The centre has been successful in securing £3,760 funding from the Housing Hub. This will be used to renew cameras and also provide three additional cameras in the centre at Brinsworth.

Residents have experienced some issues with anti-social behaviour and there have been several incidents within the centre. It is anticipated that the new cameras will help residents feel safer and they will also help staff deal with disputes and incidents. 

Brinsworth and Catcliffe Ward Community Chest 

The Brinsworth and Catcliffe Ward Councillors launched their second Community Chest funding in June this year, several applications have been received so far, however there is still time to submit your bid. The closing date is Friday 16th October 2020.

They would like to invite community groups and organisations within their ward to bid into the Community Chest for capital projects between £500 to £2000. All project must align to one or more of the ward plan priorities and be delivered by March 2021 

Find out more details and how to apply for Community Chest funding  

Listening Ear service

Launched earlier in the year, the Listening Ear South Yorkshire Bereavement Service has been extended until December to help people who have lost loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.

Open to anyone who has lost loved ones during this difficult time, whether from the virus or otherwise, local health and care organisations across South Yorkshire wanted to make sure there were services available to support people whilst they may be physically distant from their families and friends.

People can self-refer or referrals can be made by police, GPs and primary care staff, hospital bereavement services, mortuary staff, funeral directors, coroner’s office, crematorium and bereavement services staff and community and faith organisations.

The service is a free to call on 0800 048 5224, email: helpline@listening-ear.co.uk or via the website: www.listening-ear.co.uk/refer.

Watch the Listening Ear video on YourTube for more information