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These updates are collated by the Solihull Community Development Team and shared with you, our partners, within the community, to keep you updated with the different opportunities, funding, and activities that are happening in Solihull.
If you have any opportunities, funding or activities that you would like to promote please send to the Community Development Inbox at cdt@solihull.gov.uk. Please note, deadline for article submissions is Thursdays at 12pm.
The following items in this week’s newsletter are:
Community Updates
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Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme
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Solihull Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) Training
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Solihull Community Education - Solihull College
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Solihull Family Hubs - Lunchtime Networking Event
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British Cycling Community Activator Course
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Solihull Guide Dogs Fundraising Group
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Eastcote Park Activities
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What's On at Knowle Village Hall
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Have Your Say on the Council Plan
Volunteering Opportunities
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Knowle Fun Run - Volunteers needed to support Age UK Solihull
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Balsall Common Fun Run - The Lily Mae Foundation
Funding
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Grantfinder Funding Search - Multiple Funding Opportunities
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The Local Schools Nature Grants Scheme
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National Church Trust Funding
Community Updates
1. Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme
The HAF programme will continue during 2025 following the Department for Education providing confirmation of funding. This means that children who are currently accessing benefits related free school meals will continue to be able to take advantage of free activities and meals during the Easter, summer and winter holidays this year.
Family activities will also continue, allowing families to take part in a range of activities involving children and parents/carers. Details of the how to access activities for the Easter 2025 holiday will have already been emailed to all free school meal eligible families.
The Solihull HAF Programme is funded by government and aims to offer a healthy meal and enriching activities for children from reception to Year 11, in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM), during the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays. These are free of charge to the parent/carer of eligible children with a maximum number of sessions that can be booked per child per holiday period.
To view the HAF activities please click here. To find out what the Solihull HAF programme looks like in this short video here.
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2. Solihull Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) Training
Neglect is a priority for the SSCP, it is present in over 60% of Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews that take place when a child is seriously harmed or killed. Are you confident that those working or volunteering in your setting know how to recognise and respond to neglect?
There are spaces available on SSCP Module 6 Neglect- impact on child development taking place on 29.4.25 9.30-4.30 at Solihull Council House, to book please click here
Places are also available for Module 3 Child Protection, the challenges of multi-agency working; this module is aimed at those who lead or supervise others in safeguarding. It is on 30.4.25 9.30-4.30 at Solihull Council House to book please click here.
3. Solihull Community Education - Solihull College
Solihull College have a range of courses starting after the Easter break.
The variety of courses are being ran over 3 venues (Blossomfield, Woodlands and Stratford Upon Avon) and online. The courses include Writing for wellbeing, watercolours for beginners, sewing, cooking and much more.
if you are interested in any of the courses please call 0121 678 7000 (option 2) or email community@solihull.ac.uk. More information can be found on the website.
To view the flyer please click here.
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4. Solihull Family Hubs - Lunchtime Networking Event
Riverside Family Hub are hosting an informal lunchtime networking event to connect with fellow multi-agency partners, share information and strengthen their support network for families in the community.
When: Tuesday, 8 April
Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm
Where: Riverside Family Hub, Main Reception Area
There will be tea, coffee, cake and a chance to meet and get to know other partners, with an opportunity to share and learn about the fantastic services available for families in the area. Take with you any leaflets, flyers, or information about your service to share with others and help build awareness of what everyone offers.
This is a friendly, informal session—perfect for strengthening connections and growing the collaboration as a network.
For more information, please contact Louise/ Jack on riversidefh@solihull.gov.uk or call 0121 779 1750
To view the flyer click here
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5. British Cycling Community Activator Course
Do you love cycling and want to share this with your community? The British Cycling Community Activator Course may be just for you.
This FREE course is designed to enable Activators to engage individuals, groups, and communities in cycling activities. The training includes a one-day in-person session with some online learning.
Activators will be given free British Cycling membership and will be qualified to deliver traffic free rides and/or fun and games sessions within the local community. Activators will also be able to use the four community cycling hubs across Solihull.
The training date is still to be confirmed, but is planned for mid-May to end-of-June. Places are limited, and will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Register your interest now for this FREE course, complete our volunteer expression of interest form.
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6. Solihull Guide Dogs Fundraising Group
Solihull Guide Dogs Fundraising Group are looking for businesses who would like to hear about the work that Guide Dogs UK do to support people with sight loss live an active and independent life. If you would like to book a talk follow this link and they will be in touch.
Whether you love to bake or just eat cake – Make Every Cuppa Count is the perfect fundraising event for you.
The annual tea-rrific fundraiser is back this April providing the paw-fect excuse for a cuppa and cake in the office, mixing up a mess in the kitchen with the kids, or even tempting your pals and pups with some tasty treats.
Host a tea party, coffee morning or bake sale on 25 April and celebrate a paw-fect excuse to help provide life-changing services for people living with sight loss. For more information please follow this link Make Every Cuppa Count
You can also head over to their JustGiving website to sign up and get your paws on a fundraising pack including a bone-shaped cookie cutter and more. Once you’ve signed up, your online fundraising page will automatically be created for you to start collecting those all important donations – it’s never been so easy! To request fundraising materials please complete this form.
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7. Eastcote Park Activities
- Gentlemen's Club - Calling all Gentlemen, Eastcote Park invite you to our Gentlemen’s Club, their next event is on Thursday 17 April and is ‘Looking at the 20th Century 1993 to 1949 with David Knowles’. Join them between 2.30pm to 4.30pm for drinks, snacks and a virtual flutter, whilst enjoying and afternoon of racing. For further details, please contact Nicola on number below. Flyer below can be found here
- Memory Moments Café - Eastcote Park is launching a Memory Moments Café, bring your loved one along to enjoy an afternoon filled with music and memories. While they participate in the activities, you can relax and enjoy a well-deserved break with coffee and cake. Unfortunately, they are unable to provide personal care or assistance during the session. They kindly ask that attendees bring a companion who can offer support if needed. The first café will be Monday 28 April from 3pm to 4.30pm, booking is essential, please call Nicola on number below. Flyer below can be found here
- Easter Egg Collection - Eastcote Park are collecting Easter Eggs, sweets, treats and gifts for Smiling Families Charity, a charity who support families affected by illness or disability. Donations can be dropped, (but please don’t crack them) at Reception at Eastcote Park between 8am and 8pm daily. Flyer below can be found here.
- Charity Quiz - Eastcote Park are holding a Charity Quiz on Thursday 3 April from 7pm to raise funds for the Knowle Donkey Sanctuary, so gather your team and come and test your knowledge. Teams of 6 people, £10 per team to enter. Flyer below can be found here.
All activities above are running at Eastcote Park Retirement Village, Knowle Road, Barston, Eastcote, Solihull. B92 0JA. For further details, please contact Nicola on 0121 2691 236
8. What's On at Knowle Village Hall
The Knowle Village Hall Association has lots of exciting events coming up.
Please use this link to view the upcoming events here. You can also find all of these on the halls website - Knowle Village Hall
All events will be held at the hall, the address is Knowle Village Hall, St. John’s Close, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0NH. The website
If you have any questions, please contact Stephen Yeomans on 01564 778163
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9. Have Your Say on the Council Plan
Solihull Council is developing a new Council Plan for 2025-2030 and we would like to hear from our partners in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.
The Council Plan sets out our vision for Solihull, the direction we want to go in as a Council, and how we aim to travel that journey. Your feedback will be used to inform the new Council Plan, especially around vision and priorities, whilst helping inform the work we need to do as a Council towards achieving this future vision.
This survey will close for submissions on Friday 11 April 2025.
Questions for the VCSE sector | Your Voice Solihull (survey link)
Volunteering Opportunities
1. Knowle Fun Run - Volunteers needed to support Age UK Solihull
Age UK Solihull are working with the Knowle and Dorridge Lions, providing volunteer support for the Knowle Fun Run on Sunday 18 May.
The charity is looking for people to help as marshals, directing runners around the route and giving them moral support. Volunteers will meet at Arden School at around 10.45am, and should be finished around 1.45pm.
In return for providing volunteer support, Age UK Solihull will receive a donation from the funds raised by the event.
Please contact fundraising@ageuksolihull.org.uk or call 0121 704 7842 if you can help.
To view the poster please click here
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2. Balsall Common Fun Run - The Lily Mae Foundation
The Lily Mae Foundation are looking for volunteers to serve as Marshals at their eleventh fundraising Fun Run on Sunday, 15 September 2024.
You will join an established group of Marshals to ensure the safety of the runners and spectators.
You will be needed from 10.30am until 2.00pm on Sunday, 14 September - briefing sessions will be given in early September.
If you can support them or just want to find out more, please contact Geoff Heaps via email: geoff.heaps@lilymaefoundation.org or call 07960 199184.
To view the poster please click here
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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: Grants - March 2025
2. The Local Schools Nature Grants Scheme
The Local Schools Nature Grants Scheme allows Early Years, Infant, Primary and Secondary school and settings in England, Scotland & Wales to apply for £500 worth of outdoor resources, and a two hour training session thanks to the People's Postcode Lottery and their funding trusts People's Postcode Trust, Postcode Neighbourhood Trust, Postcode Places Trust, Postcode Society Trust, Postcode Local Trust and Postcode Community Trust.
You can download a copy of the application questions and terms and conditions here. This page contains information to help you increase the likelihood of your grant application being successful. It explains what we are looking for when reviewing applications, and how the scheme will run.
For more info and to apply visit School Nature Grant Guidance
3. National Church Trust Funding
National Churches Trust support a variety of churches, chapels and meeting houses across the United Kingdom with their grants programmes.
Their grants are available to any Christian place of worship in the UK that is open for regular worship. This fund aims to help keep church buildings in good repair, open for worship and community activities, and allow them to continue to serve people, communities and visitors in all sorts of ways.
Whether you are looking to repair your roof, install a kitchen or accessible toilets, clear asbestos or simply need help undertaking regular essential maintenance to your building, they offer a range of grants to suit the size and needs of your project.
For more information please use this link National Church Trust
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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