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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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VCSE Covenant for Solihull workshop
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FREE Bicycle Repair Drop Ins this August - Sustrans
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FREE Energy Advice Training - Act On Energy
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Sandant Care - Mental Health Drop-ins
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Solihull Pride 2025.
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WCAVA Solihull: Meet the Funder Event
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Hoarding Awareness Workshops
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Read Easy - Helping Adults Learn to Read
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Skills for Success - FREE training & Summer Workshops
Volunteering Opportunities
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Read Easy UK Volunteer roles
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Retail Volunteer - Marie Curie Knowle Shop
Funding
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Grantfinder Funding Search - Multiple Funding Opportunities
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The Community Energy Warwickshire Fund
Community Updates
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1. VCSE Covenant for Solihull workshop
In September, CAVA will be holding an online meeting to discuss a local VCSE Covenant between the local voluntary sector and Solihull Council. They want to hear what community groups, charities and CICs would want from this.
A VCSE Covenant will set the trajectory for the relationship between Solihull Council and the VCSE, so it is important to be there and have your say.
The session will be held online on Tuesday 9 September between 2-3pm.
Any Solihull VCSE can register to attend here: https://solihullvcse.eventbrite.co.uk
For further information or to ask any questions, please contact Lisa Rawlinson, CAVA VCSE Networks and Representation Lead via email: lisa@wcava.org.uk
To view the flyer please click here
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2. FREE Bicycle Repair Drop Ins this August - Sustrans
Pedal problems? Sustrans got the solutions! Get back on the road by visiting Sustrans expert bicycle repair drop-in service on the following dates:
📆Monday 4 August - Waitrose, 29 Homer Road, Solihull B91 3QG - 11am-3pm
📆Friday 8 August - By entrance to Asda, Shirley, Parkgate, Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull, B90 3GG, 10am-2pm
📆Thursday 21 August - Waitrose, 29 Homer Road, Solihull B91 3QG - 11am-3pm
Dr Bike Services include:
- Security marking
- Bike safety check
- Small repairs
- + 8 free D-locks
If you have any questions email westmidlands@sustrans.org.uk
To view the flyers please click here & here
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3. FREE Energy Advice Training - Act On Energy
Are you a frontline worker who works with people who may be struggling to pay their bills?
Act on Energy are hosting FREE energy advice training to share their knowledge so even more people can be supported when they need it most.
Attending a training session will provide you with the essential knowledge and skills to better support residents and to understand what is going on in the world of energy. Key issues that will be covered include:
- What is Fuel Poverty – and its impact
- Understanding the Energy Crisis and where we are now with pricing and billing
- What help is available now
- Longer term solutions
There are 7 dates the training will be running, these are:
- Friday 15 August - 10am -12pm
- Tuesday 9 September - 11.30am - 1.30pm
- Wednesday 24 September - 11.30am - 1.30pm
- Wednesday 22 October - 11.30am - 1.30pm
- Wednesday 5 November - 11.30am - 1.30pm
- Wednesday 26 November - 11.30am - 1.30pm
- Tuesday 9 December - 11.30am - 1.30pm
Please sign up on the following link to register
Energy Advice Training Tickets - Eventbrite
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4. Sandant Care - Mental Health Drop-ins
Sandant Care offer drop in sessions to access support information on a range of topics, signpost to relevant social care teams, specialist charities, engage in stimulating activities such as health & fitness, crafts and games; a place to go for socially isolated adults.
The drop ins are for anyone who is 18+ and live within Soliull. No referral needed and there are 4 loctions you can attend. These are:
- Layca community centre, Shirley;
- Connection church, Kinghurst;
- Family Tree social club Chelmsley Wood;
- Solihull methodist church hall.
There are various times for the sessions with different activities happening. For all the dates and times please see the flyer or access the website
For more information please call 0121 448 5010 or visit the website here
To view the flyer please click here
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Get ready to celebrate love, equality, and community at Solihull's first-ever Pride event. Make history Let’s make history together—come and be part of Solihull's vibrant and inclusive Pride weekend!
Solihull Pride will be held in Solihull town centre on Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 September with the main stage in Mell Square. There will also be entertainment and performances in hospitality venues across the town centre.
The event is FREE for everyone to join in and is running from 11am on both days for a packed line up. The Pride Parade (running on Saturday at 11am) will go through the heart of Solihull. Make history together and be part of Solihull's vibrant and inclusive Pride weekend!
You can enjoy a Continental Street Market (Sat & Sun from 10am) with amazing food from around the world. The event is Family-friendly Dog-friendly (dogs to be on a lead) and it is disabled accessible
The event is sponsored by npower Business Solutions and supported by amazing local businesses.
For more information please click here
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6. WCAVA Solihull: Meet the Funder Event
Are you a community or voluntary group, charity, CIC, not-for-profit organisation in Solihull? Then join CAVA at their Funding Roadshow! The roadshow is being held at Seeds of Hope (St Barnabas Community Hall), Over Green Drive, Kingshurst, B37 6EY between 1pm - 4pm.
Funders include:
- Heart of England Community Fund
- National Lottery Community Fund
- Severn Trent
- Groundworks.
Representatives from Solihull CAVA will also be there to speak to groups and offer support around funding.
The event is a drop in, but registering a place will support CAVA to manage anticipated numbers and ensure they have enough refreshments! There is also free onsite parking.
To sign up to the event please click here: CAVA Funding Roadshow | Eventbrite.
(event is a drop in, but registering a place will support to manage numbers and ensure there is enough refreshments!)
For further information please contact Lisa Rawlinson, CAVA VCSE Networks and Representation Lead via email: lisa@wcava.org.uk
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7. Hoarding Awareness Workshops
Join Clouds End CIC in one of their informative workshops aimed at people who hoard, people working in mental health, or people working in charity/third sector organisations who feel they need more understanding or wish to offer support to people with hoarding behaviours.
Sessions are run between 10am-3pm and cover:
- Understanding why people hoard
- How to start and use hoarding support groups
Lunch is also provided.
Dates for the future sessions are on the flyer. In 2025 - 4 & 18 August,13 & 27 Oct, 3 Nov, 8 Dec. In 2026 - 21 Jan, 2 Feb, 2 Mar
Sessions are held at Age UK, Solihull, Lower Ground Floor, The Core, Central Library, Solihull, B91 3RG
For more information or to register please email: help@cloudsend.org.uk
To view the flyer please click here
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8. Read Easy - Helping Adults Learn to Read
2.4 million adults in England alone cannot read at all or struggle to read, but many people don’t tell anyone. There are many reasons why some people find it difficult to learn to read when they are children, but the good news is that it’s never too late to learn. It can seem like a big challenge, but improving your reading skills can change your life. Read Easy have helped hundreds of adults to learn to read & are there to support you individuals where they’re ready.
Read Easy will help any adult who either can’t read or who lacks confidence with reading. They are proud to be inclusive. Their reading coaching is confidential, one-to-one and absolutely free!
Read Easy will provide you with a personal coach, so that you can learn quietly & comfortably at your own pace. It is also confidential, so that nobody needs to know you are having coaching, & it’s flexible, so you can arrange your sessions to fit around work or other responsibilities. You & your coach will be given a list of places where you can meet, so that you can choose somewhere that will suit you both. These places will be quiet & discreet, so that you can work together without being overlooked, but where there will always be other people around on the premises.
If you would like to refer someone you know or find out more, have a chat with your local Coordinator Sue Hill 07504 286290 or email bsesnetworker@readeasy.org.uk or visit their website Read Easy Birmingham South East & Solihull - ReadEasy
9. Skills for Success - FREE training & Summer Workshops
Free training at Chelmsley Wood Culinary School
Free full-time courses for anyone aged 16+ are on offer with the opening of Chelmsley Wood Culinary School in September, subject to eligibility. To help learners put their new skills to practice, an eatery will be open to shoppers. Find out more about the courses from this link.
Summer workshops for work or training
The Skills for Success team will be delivering workshops over the summer to support Year 11-13 pupils in Solihull to navigate various work and training pathways. The workshops cover CV writing, skills for interviews, apprenticeships, application support, overview of pathways and transition. To view the flyer, click here
Volunteering Opportunities
1. Read Easy UK Volunteer roles
Read Easy UK are looking for volunteers to join their team, whose goal is to ensure that anyone who wants to learn to read, can. Current Read Easy UK roles:
Fundraiser
If you're motivated by sales or development or live for the 'thrill of the deal', then becoming a local Read Easy Fundraiser will appeal to you. Local Read Easy Fundraisers use their existing skills and develop new ones to raise funds to ensure the group's running expenses are covered, so that more people can learn to read in the community! You must enjoy networking and be comfortable discussing finances to be suitable for this role, not to mention passionate, enthusiastic and committed to the cause.
Safeguarding Champion
Our volunteer Safeguarding Champions ensure that their group implements, understand and follow the Read Easy UK Safeguarding Policy and organises DBS checks. For their local volunteers. This is a valuable role on the team with responsibility for the Reader’s and the Reading Coach’s safety.
To find out more about local volunteering vacancies, visit: Read Easy UK - Volunteer Roles
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2. Retail Volunteer - Marie Curie Knowle Shop
Marie Curie retail shop are are looking for volunteers to help them sort through all the donations, pick out the best items and prepare and sell them to the customers. Without the help of dedicated volunteers, they could not provide customers with high quality items at affordable prices. This allows them to raise funds so nurses can continue to provide care to terminally ill people and support for their families.
The role will include some of, but is not restricted to, the following tasks:
- Sort through donations, being aware of the possibility of a hidden gem and better quality brands
- Prepare items for sale by checking, hanging, steaming, sizing and pricing them
- Work on the shop floor and provide excellent customer service to our shoppers
- Operate the till
- Help out with basic housekeeping to keep the shop clean and tidy
Young Volunteers can apply, however, a signed Parent/Guardian Consent Form is required for all volunteers aged 14-17 years.
For more information or if you have any questions regarding this volunteer role, please contact the Volunteering Operations Centre at volunteering@mariecurie.org.uk
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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: Funding 2025
2. The Community Energy Warwickshire Fund
This fund is a grant programme for projects in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull looking to improve their energy efficiency.
There are grants of up to £2,000 available and aims to fund projects that:
- Support the development and installation of renewable energy projects
- Encourage the sustainable use of energy and reductions in carbon emissions
- Promote public awareness of environmental issues and support educational initiatives
- Encourage the implementation of sustainable initiatives to community buildings
Please read the Fund Factsheet and the Essential Information before applying.
For more information and how to apply please click here
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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