The 'Beat the Street' Physical Activity Game is Coming to Shrewsbury
A popular interactive game that helps whole communities get active is set to launch in Shrewsbury!
Beat the Street was created by GP Dr William Bird to encourage people to explore their local areas and to walk, cycle and roll in a fun competition.
The game has been played by more than 1.5m people in more than 120 locations in the UK and beyond and is designed to get communities moving by helping people to make small changes, such as walking or cycling to school every day.
Beat the Street not only has a significant impact on increasing low levels of physical activity amongst adults and children, but also helps reduce congestion, improves air quality, and helps families spend time in green spaces together.
The game is open to anyone of any age who would like to take part and takes place in Shrewsbury from Wednesday, 29th June to Wednesday, 10th August. These dates coincide with the Commonwealth Games period, and are part of the celebration of the Games coming to the West Midlands.
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said:
“The lasting positive impact of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will come down to the creation of long-term, accessible and inclusive opportunities for people to connect with their communities, play sport and get active – now and in the future. That’s why programmes like Beat the Street are vital for the legacy of the Games: it’s a chance to engage communities with fun and free physical activity, building healthy habits that can continue - even when the Games have ended.”
To get involved in Beat the Street, primary school children will receive a card via their school adults can pick up a free card from one of the distribution points listed on the Beat the Street Shrewsbury website.
Players then find their nearest “Beat Box” which are special sensors that will record your journeys once the game is underway. Sixty of these will appear on lampposts around the town. These sensors are contactless so that you don’t need to touch them – simply hover your card over the Beat Box and it will beep and flash to record your points.
Your first visit to a Beat Box registers the journey; then walk, cycle or roll to the next Beat Box within an hour to score 10 points.
Beat the Street Shrewsbury has been commissioned by Shropshire Council with support from the National Lottery via Sport England and Shrewsbury Big Town Plan. It is being delivered by Intelligent Health.
Simon Jones, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:
“We are incredibly excited to be bringing Beat the Street to Shrewsbury. It’s free to take part in Beat the Street and it’s open to everyone regardless of age, ability or background. It’s an inclusive and compelling game that encourages you to exercise in a fun way with friends and family, plus it’s a great way of getting to know your local area without bringing more traffic to the town centre.”
Chris Child, Chief Executive of local Active Partnership, Energize, and VCSA Board member, commented:
“the Beat the Street Shrewsbury game has been a great opportunity to bring Sport England’s new Uniting the Movement strategy to life here in Shropshire. We hope it will showcase how physical activity can be a normal part of everyday life for everyone, regardless of who you are. And already in planning for the game to come to Shrewsbury we’ve experienced lots of different Council departments and other community organisations working together and showcasing what is possible if active and healthy lifestyle becomes part of everyone’s business.”
Visit the Beat the Street Shrewsbury website for more information. If your organisation would like printed materials to distribute, please contact Jenny Cottrell.
If your organisation would like to take part in the Shrewsbury Beat the Street steering group, please contact Sarah Hampson, Insight and VCS Engagement Officer with Shropshire Council as soon as possible.
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Shropshire Charities Write Open Letter to National Government on Cost of Living Crisis
Several Shropshire Charities, including the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, Citizens Advice Shropshire, Age UK Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, the Shropshire Good Food Partnership, and several local food banks, have composed and signed onto a letter calling on national government to do more for people in the county on the cost of living.
The letter writers state:
"This crisis has the potential to have huge knock-on effects on the health and wellbeing of the population in the long term. We will see existing inequalities widen and greater burdens placed on the NHS and social care. Locally, work is underway to help residents weather the storm, such as Shropshire Council taking a cash-first approach to distributing the Household Support Fund, making sure the support available through this scheme reaches those who need it most. However, this fund cannot stretch to meet the needs of all those who will be struggling."
The letter goes on to make specific requests of the government that the signatories believe will benefit Shropshire and others across the country. You can read the full letter here.
Those organisations interested in joining the other signatories can contact Sophie Padgett, Coordinator of the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, for further information.
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NPC Local Needs Database Now Contains New Trussell Trust Data
The NPC Local needs databank - an innovative tool that helps VCS organisations better understand needs and the work of charities across the UK - now has a new addition.
As the cost of living crisis deepens, the Local needs databank now shares interactive data from the Trussell Trust on emergency food parcel distribution since 2014. Food banks in the Trussell Trust network distributed over 2.1 million food parcels across the UK last year, an 81% increase compared to this time five years ago.
Learn how many parcels went to children, how many went to adults, how many were distributed in your region, and in which local authorities were the most parcels distributed by visiting the Local needs databank.
This new data from the Trussell Trust, sits alongside official statistics, such as those on multiple deprivation, age, health, ethnicity and Covid-19, plus data on local charity density and data from the NPC's other partners, Turn2us, Buttle UK, and British Gas Energy Trust. For more on why they have added the Trussell Trust’s data to NPC’s Local needs databank, read this guest blog on the cost of living crisis and using data to achieve your mission, by the Trussell Trust's Senior Policy Researcher, Grace Wyld.
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Current VCSE Engagement Opportunities
The VCSA newsletter will now contain a regular feature highlighting current open surveys and engagement opportunities that are relevant for VCSE organisations and their beneficiaries.
Flyers/materials for distribution will be made available for download as well as any relevant links. If you have engagement opportunities to share/list here please email Sarah Hampson, VCS Insight and Engagement Officer at Shropshire Council to have it included in an upcoming newsletter.
Family Information Needs Survey: The Family Information Service is keen to make sure that the information it provides, and the way in which it's provided, meets the ever-changing needs of families in Shropshire. Closes 24th June
- Survey link
- Need alternative format, email or phone 0345 678 9000
- Post feedback to: Feedback and Insight team, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shropshire. SY2 6ND
Victim Support: LGBT+ Support Services: Victim Support West Mercia want to gain a greater understanding of the visibility of victim / survivor support services in the LGBTQI+ communities in the region. They are also very interested in understanding any additional barriers/challenges to accessing such services; and/or reporting to the police. They would appreciate sharing of the survey with your beneficiaries as well as any feedback from the VCSE. Closing date 30th June
Coton Hill House service reconfiguration: consultation is designed to obtain the views of local residents and all stakeholders prior to making the planning application in summer 2022 for change of use of Coton Hill House, from a residential home to a supported housing scheme. Closes 30th June
- 'Drop-in week' in-person consultation at Coton Hill House from Monday 6th June through Friday 10th June between 10:30am and 6:30pm.
- Survey link
- Send feedback via email
- Post feedback to: Feedback and Insight team, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shropshire. SY2 6ND
Housing allocations policy revisions: Have your say on draft revisions to Shropshire Council's Housing Allocations policy. Closes 3rd July
Libraries strategy 2022-2027: Provide your feedback on the draft strategy, which describes the changes the Library Service will make to be at the forefront of the council’s future relationship with its residents, and how the service will work in partnership with others to deliver the county’s priorities. Closes 3rd August
Healthwatch: 999 and ambulance services feedback. Healthwatch want to understand how the current strains on the ambulance service are impacting people’s health and lives. No closing date
Healthwatch: Accessible Information Standard survey as part of the 'Your Care, Your Way' campaign. Closing date TBD
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Interested in having your organisation's stories of success featured in our newsletter, website or social media? We want to hear from you! Contact: VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk
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 Events to Recognise and Celebrate Shropshire’s Carers
Over 30 activities across Shropshire are set to take place throughout Carers Week (local activities are extended to a fortnight this year, from Monday 6 June to Saturday 18 June 2022) in recognition of unpaid and family carers across Shropshire.
The Carers Week Events Programme has been organised by Shropshire Carers Support Team, and comprises of both outdoor and online activities.
Organisations wishing to express support and promote Carers Week are encouraged to use the image above on their social media.
In addition, carers can also join ‘From Stress to Strength’ interactive workshops hosted jointly with Telford and Wrekin carers centre on Tuesday 7 June 2022 from 2pm till 3pm.
The Stress to strength is a programme of short workshops run by Caroline Rollings, including easy to learn self-help techniques that help calm stress relieve feelings of anxiety, fear, anger and live life with greater ease and joy. Carers will be able to join the free only workshop by signing up here. For further details about the events email Margarete Davies or phone 01743 255776.
All voluntary and community sector groups are encouraged to attend this workshop to hear more about the Draft Health Inequalities Plan for Shropshire.
The workshop will be an opportunity to hear about the draft plan and to provide feedback.
If you are interested in attending, please email Sarah Hampson, Insight and VCS Engagement Officer with Shropshire Council to receive a link for the meeting.
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service:
Online Information Session 14th June
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service celebrates the outstanding work of local volunteer groups across the UK. Groups do not have to be a registered charity, any voluntary organisation with three or more volunteers can be nominated. The award is the equivalent to an MBE and the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, giving Royal recognition to the work
they do.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire has been delighted to see so many voluntary groups in the county being awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and would like to support even more organisations across Shropshire win this award.
The Shropshire Lieutenancy will be hosting a Zoom briefing session to provide further information and explain nomination process on: Tuesday 14th June 2022 at 6pm – 7pm
For further information and/or to book a place please email Shelley Davies.
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Mayfair Community Centre: IT Officer
Mayfair Community Centre in Church Stretton is looking for an experienced IT Officer to take a lead on the development of IT services for Mayfair activities as well as programmes to support digital inclusion in the community. The post holder will be responsible for providing efficient IT support for the organisation and will coordinate a team of volunteers. We are looking for someone who has enthusiasm for the digital agenda, with excellent IT, organisational and people skills.
Between 22.5 & 37.5 hours, salary £25,000 FTE.
For more information and to apply, visit their website or call Mayfair on 01694 722022 and ask for Nicola or Cathy.
Closing date 13th June. Interviews 15th /22nd
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Energize: Empowering Communities Manager
Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Active Partnership has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Empowering Communities Manager to join the team.
Location: Hybrid, working within the office in Shrewsbury and from home.
Hours: Full time (37 hours per week). The post has flexible working, with some evenings and occasional weekend work, but it is intended for the role to be mainly delivered during weekdays, office hours.
Salary: £29,651 to £33,709 depending on experience
Contract: Fixed Term to March 2027
Download the person specification to learn more. You can also visit the Energize website for more information on the organisation and the role.
Please email your CV and covering letter by 12:00pm on Monday 13th June.
If you would like to have an informal discussion around the role. Please call Jessica Bradbury – Head of Operations - on 07958 318915
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Do you have a job or volunteer opportunity you would like us to promote? Please send your information to VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk and we will include it in our next newsletter!
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Government Announces £3m Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that it will launch a major new renovation fund to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The new £3 million capital grant fund will provide grant funding over three years (to 2025) to support capital improvement projects for village halls, such as installing Wi-Fi, extending buildings and modernising facilities. There are currently around 10,000 village halls across England. This funding is expected to be awarded to 125 village halls.
The Government has not yet released details on how the funding will be administered but states it will be announced ‘in due course’.
Commenting on the announcement, Chair of the Rural Coalition, Margaret Clark CBE said:
“Village halls provide the focal point for village life. They support important services and facilities and offer places to meet which would not otherwise be available to many rural communities.
“[The new fund] will allow more village halls to upgrade and modernise their premises, so that they can continue to meet the needs of their communities in the years to come.”
The Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Improvement Grant Fund follows a tradition of investments being made in village halls for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and King George V's Silver Jubilee in 1935.
The press release can be viewed on the GOV.UK website.
Further details of the new fund will be provided as soon as they become available.
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Don't forget to check out our website for the latest VCSA funding roundup as well as grants with rolling deadlines.
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To share your news with Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly members and our partners email: VCSAssembly@shrophire.gov.uk
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