Community Updates
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1. Living With Heart Disease Event
If you or your family members are dealing with this kind of health issue, don't miss this event. We believe it may be helpful for you.
Date: Wednesday 11 December 2024
Venue: Balsall Common Library, 283 Kenilworth Rd, Balsall Common, CV7 7EL
Time: 10.30 am-12.30 pm
If you have any questions about the event please call 08082 787 976
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2. Free Bus Travel with Transport for West Midlands
Between Monday 9 December and Friday 13 December all of the region’s buses will be free to use from 7pm onwards. Passengers can simply hop onboard and travel anywhere across the West Midlands bus network.
The offer is valid for travel on any bus in the bus travel zone and beyond with some operators.
For more information visit Free Bus Travel | Transport for West Midlands
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3. Have Your Say on Community Advice Service
Solihull Council is reviewing the Council's Community Advice Service which provides information and advice on a range of topics including care in and out of the home, benefits and grants, legal problems and energy efficiency. Available to Solihull residents aged 18 and over, the current service is delivered from two Community Advice Hubs in Chelmsley Wood library and The Core in Solihull town centre. The hubs are led by Age UK Solihull and a partnership of local organisations.
As part of the review, we want to hear people’s views and experiences of using the community advice hubs. And ideas for the service in the future.
Please visit Your Voice Solihull and share your views or read our press release for more details.
Paper copies of the survey are available on request from the community advice hubs and Solihull libraries.
The survey closes on Wednesday 18 December.
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4. Chadwick End Christmas Fayre
Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of festive fun to help raise funds for the village hall and playground.
The Fayre is on Sunday 8 December at Chadwick End Village Hall, Warwick Road, Chadwick End, Solihull, B93 0BL.
As well as Christmas songs from Silverlining Ladies Barbershop Chorus, there will be a selection of stalls and also tombola, games and festive eats and drinks.
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5. Private Fostering
So what is private fostering? It’s where children are cared for on a full-time basis by people who are not direct relatives e.g. friends, neighbours.
Is one of your neighbours looking after a child or young person who they aren’t the parent or official carer for?
Are you aware of a teenager under 16 (under 18 years for people with a disability) who has started living at their boyfriend or girlfriend’s family house and is not returning home?
Concerned about who’s looking after a child? Call the MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) team on 0121 788 4300. For information click www.solihull.gov.uk/Children-and-family-support/Private-fostering
6. Menopause Wellbeing Champions in the workplace Training
DRC (Disability Resource Centre) are running a specific FREE Menopause Wellbeing Champion training for smaller organisations.
As part of the "Menopause In and Out of the Workplace" project, this free training is opened to organisations with up to 250 employees that are based in Solihull, Warwickshire or Birmingham can. Training sessions will take place between now and the end of March 2025. Some sessions are already available to book here and more will follow early 2025:
https://www.bvsc.org/bvsc-menopause-support-in-and-out-of-the-workplace
Menopause Champions can provide invaluable support and signposting to employees within your organisation. They can provide an extra layer of support to formal HR processes. The training will cover a range of topics with participative engagement from attendees.
These free sessions will be held at a range of dates and locations. Act quickly, as places are limited and get booked fast!
Find out more on the link below. You can book this directly, or contact if you have any questions.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/menopause-support-in-and-out-of-the-workplace-60455032523
Any questions, please contact Aline Boblin aboblin@disability.co.uk
8. Marie Curie’s Research Voices Group
Marie Curie’s Research Voices Group exists to help Marie Curie make a difference to palliative and end of life care through its research and policy work. All you need to join is experience of living with a serious life-limiting illness, caring for someone or someone who has been bereaved. You don’t need to know about research and policy, just have an interest in using your personal experiences to inform our work and make sure that we make a difference.
You can get involved as much or as little as you have time for and according to your interests. The group is made up of over 40 people with a range of lived experience and interests. They offer a supportive and a safe environment and provide training. N435 Research Voices Group leaflet_digital final.pdf
For more information, please contact research.info@mariecurie.org.uk
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9. We Care UK Christmas Toy Appeal
Help We Care to ensure that no child wakes up on Christmas day without a present.
With the “Cost of Living Crisis” continuing to have a negative impact on families across the UK, we want to ensure that no child within our community wakes up on Christmas Day without a present.
All of the children that they support are via a referral from local councils, NHS community teams, social services and schools.
Join in on their 21 days of giving from 1 December to 21 December. You can donate online by visiting Donate to We Care UK
If you would like to set up a donation point or want to volunteer get in touch info@wecare-uk.co.uk or call 01455 363100
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10. Solihull Apprenticeship Show
With around 1,900 attendees for the last show, Solihull Apprenticeship Shows will return in January. This event showcases apprenticeships as an alternative career route to university, with opportunities up to degree level. Attendees will have the chance to speak to employers and training providers from a range of sectors, as well as current apprentices. Exhibitors include University Hospitals Birmingham NHS, JLR, Rolls-Royce, the NEC group, Fortem, Severn Trent, Solihull College & University Centre, South & City college Birmingham and Solihull Council.
Anyone who wishes to learn about apprenticeships and work opportunities, especially those aged 15-18, are encouraged to come along to North Solihull Sports Centre on Wednesday 29 January 2025, between 3.30pm and 7pm. Sign up now.
Volunteering Opportunities
1. Girlguiding Knowle District Volunteer Roles
Knowle and Four Ashes Districts cover Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath. They have over 15 different units of Rainbows, Brownies and Guides always looking for a helping hand!
Girl-facing roles range from 1 hour a week helping with unit activities, but can build into leadership training and qualifications. They also have opportunities that are more flexible and perhaps take a few hours every month or half term - such as unit treasurer - they are seeking at least 1 unit treasurer to help keep their accounts straight.
Become a Girlguiding volunteer, you can make a real difference to help more girls know they can do anything. There’s lots of ways to help, from taking girls on adventures to empowering girls to speak on matters that are important to them.
To register your interest, visit Register your interest | Girlguiding or email knowlegirlguiding@gmail.com
Please note, Girlguiding is a girl only space - the young members and unit leaders are girls and women. They do however have opportunities for parent helpers (many of which are Dads and Grandads) or non-girl facing roles which include Treasurers etc.
2. Volunteer with Solihull Scouts
Solihull Scouts are on the look out for some more enthusiastic volunteer leaders to help them run their section. Their current team is aged between 23 and 32, and they’re pretty active with a weekly term time programme, DofE programmes and Scout camps and events throughout the year.
A DBS is required (Scouts will do this) and training provided. No other skills required, just a ‘can do’ attitude. It’s a good social experience for volunteers too.
There are also long waiting lists for other sections within Scouts (squirrels, beavers, cubs and scouts) across wider Solihull too so there are always volunteering opportunities with them, please visit Solihull Scouts to see more about what the groups do.
They also always need help a variety of non-youth-facing roles such as building maintenance, administration and fundraising. If any of these roles are of interest to you, please visit Join Us : Solihull Scouts
Funding Opportunities
1. Grantfinder Funding Search - Multiple Funding Opportunities
The team have access to Grantfinder, a funding database, where there is a wide range of funding opportunities that cover a variety of topics. In each newsletter, one of the team will be pulling together a list of funding available.
Please see link to view the various funding opportunities at present: November COL & VCSE grants
2. Veolia Environmental Trust Funds
The Veolia Environmental Trust has announced the launch of its latest funding round, which provides grants to support community and environmental initiatives. Available grants include Community Grants and Habitat and Biodiversity Grants, ranging from £10,000 to £75,000. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organisations and local authorities. The funding is intended to assist in developing or enhancing community buildings and outdoor spaces, as well as the conservation, restoration, and improvement of threatened habitats and biodiversity. Additionally, for larger landscape-scale projects focused on habitat creation, management, and species protection, Environmental Improvement Grants exceeding £75,000 are also available. The deadline for applications is 12:00 midday on 7 January 2025.
Grants for Community and Environmental Projects (England
3. The Hill Dickinson Foundation Grant
This grant could provide up to £1,000 to support projects in Birmingham & Solihull that address issues such as mental health, employability, food poverty, or homelessness.
Key details:
- Grant amount: Up to £1,000
- Deadline: Wednesday, January 13, 2025
- Focus areas: Mental health, employability, food poverty, homelessness
To be eligible, they must be a:
- Be a small, grassroots organisation with an annual income under £250,000
- Be based in Birmingham or Solihull
- Have a well-defined project that aligns with the foundation's priorities
To apply,:
- Complete an online application form
- Provide supporting documents (e.g., governing documents, financial statements, safeguarding policy)
Please check out the foundation's website for more information. Hill Dickinson Foundation
4. The Clothworkers Foundation
This grant is specifically designed to support capital projects for UK-registered charities, CICs, and other not-for-profit organisations. This includes funding for:
- Building projects: Purchase, construction, renovation, or refurbishment of buildings.
- Equipment: Purchase of essential equipment like office furniture, sports equipment, digital tools, and more.
- Vehicles: Funding for vehicles like minibuses, cars, or boats, but not for leasing or community transport.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for this grant, the organisation must:
- Be registered as a charity, CIC, or other not-for-profit organisation in the UK.
- Demonstrate that at least 50% of the beneficiaries of the capital project belong to one or more of the foundation's priority groups.
How Much Can An Organisation Get?
The grant amount can vary depending on the size of the organisation and the scale of the project. The foundation funds both large and small projects, so it's worth applying even if there is a smaller project in mind.
For more information and to apply visit The Clothworkers Foundation
My Solihull Map
With the My Solihull Map, you can find places to go, things to do and people to talk or listen to in your neighbourhood.
Please use this link to access the map: My Solihull Map
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