Community Updates
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/ activities that you would like to promote,
please complete the Pro Forma, and forward 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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Easy Fundraising - daily £100 donations in December!
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Thrive Club – Walfinch Solihull
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Knowle Gate Care Home Christmas Fair
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Charity Quiz for Knowle Donkey Sanctuary
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The Festive Postroom at Newlands Bishop Farm
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Memory Mornings at Berry’s Café
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Elmdon Park Calendar 2026
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Winter Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF)
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Solihull College Information
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Hoarding Awareness Workshops
Volunteering Opportunities
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Volunteer Opportunities at Solihull Talking Newspaper
Funding
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Grantfinder Funding Search - Multiple Funding Opportunities
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The Weston Charity Awards
1. Easy Fundraising - daily £100 donations in December!
It’s the season of giving, and funding website easyfundraising are spreading some festive cheer with their Christmas Crackers competition, running 8–21 December.
Each day, your organisation could unwrap a £100 or £200 donation - the perfect little stocking filler to boost your funds before the new year.
Simply head over to easyfundraising and register your organisation here (it’s free). Then, from 8–21 December, find the Christmas Cracker and give it a click each day for your chance to win a lovely festive donation. Encourage your volunteers, staff and supporters to join in too - every click means another chance to win!
And while you’re at it, remind your supporters to do their Christmas shopping the easyfundraising way. With over 8,000 well-known retailers including eBay, Tesco, Boots, M&S and thousands more, they’ll raise free donations for your organisation every time they shop - at no extra cost.
Don’t get left out in the cold - register your organisation now in time to join in the festive fun from 8 December.
Get involved here
2. Thrive Club – Walfinch Solihull
Walfinch Solihull is running a series of free community wellbeing sessions this December, designed to support older adults to stay active, creative and connected. These relaxed sessions are suitable for all abilities and led by qualified instructors
Art Class
📆 Thursday 11 December, 2pm, Royal British Legion Shirley, 186 Stratford Rd, Solihull, B90 3GG
Seated Exercise
📆Thursday 18 December, 2pm, Royal British Legion Shirley, 186 Stratford Rd, Solihull, B90 3GG
All sessions are free to attend, with optional donations which will support the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
No booking is required, but if possible, let us know in advance so we can plan seating and materials. Walk-ins are very welcome.
Find out more: https://walfinch.com/solihull/events/
To view the flyer, click here
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3. Knowle Gate Care Home Christmas Fair
Celebrate the festive season with Knowle Gate at their Christmas Fair. Enjoy a wonderful selection of stalls, festive food and drinks, entertainment, games, and plenty of seasonal cheer. It's the perfect chance to come together, meet the team, and share in the holiday spirit with the residents and community.
📅 Thursday 11 December, 5-7.30pm at Knowle Gate Care Home, 1331 Warwick Rd, Knowle, Solihull B93 9LW
If you have any questions about the fair please call 01564 332233
To view the flyer, click here
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4. Charity Quiz for Knowle Donkey Sanctuary
Join Eastcote Park for their final Charity Quiz of the year! They’re going out with a bumper Christmas Quiz on Christmas Jumper Day! Complete with a prize for the best festive jumper — so bring your brightest, boldest knits!
📅Thursday 11 December from 7pm at Eastcote Park, Knowle Road, Barston, B92 0JA.
Let’s finish their 2025 fundraising for Knowle Donkey Sanctuary with a bang and celebrate the season together. Gather your dream team (up to 6 people) and book your spot for just £10 per team.
Call Ben or Nicola on 0121 269 1236 or email eastcote.enquiries@cinnamoncc.com
Festive fun, friendly competition, and a brilliant cause — they can’t wait to see you there!
To view the flyer, click here
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5. The Festive Postroom at Newlands Bishop Farm
Set inside the beautifully transformed tipi in Newlands Bishop Farm, this experience invites families to get creative, feel the magic of the season, and enjoy a cosy Christmas moment together. With the help of one of Santa’s cheerful elves, children can write and post a letter to Santa, make reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve, read heart-warming Christmas stories in our book corner and complete a festive scavenger hunt around the animal walkway and tipi – find the hidden letters, solve the word, and claim a sweet reward!
This self-guided activity is suitable for the whole family to enjoy at their own pace. Tickets are per person and include everything you need for a magical time. And the best part? Parents will leave with a magical reply letter from Santa, ready to surprise their child at home with even more festive joy.
📆13-24 December, between 10am-2pm, Newlands Bishop Farm, Berry Hall Lane, Catherine De Barnes, Solihull, B912RY
To book, please click here - Newlands Bishop Farm - Events
To view the flyer, click here
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6. Memory Mornings at Berry’s Café
Hosted by the Blanning Dementia Centre
Join Blanning Dementia Centre for their new relaxed and friendly memory mornings in 2026. You can meet the team from the Blanning Dementia Centre, connect with other families, and share experiences in a warm and welcoming environment.
Enjoy a free hot drink and slice of homemade cake while you chat and unwind.
📆Monday 12 January 2026, 10am-12pm, Berry’s Café, Newlands Bishop Farm, Berry Hall Lane, Catherine De Barnes, Solihull, B912RY
For more information please contact the Family Care Trust on enquiries@familycaretrust.co.uk or 0121 770 1578
To view the flyer, click here
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7. Elmdon Park Calendar 2026
Park 2026 calendars are available for sale at a bargain price of only £8 this year. They would make a fantastic Christmas gift or stocking filler.
The calendar shows the beautiful animals in Elmdon Park as well as raising money for our local community. Proceeds from previous calendars have funded the establishment and maintenance of the Elmdon Triangle - by the duck feeding platform and also the defibrillator and bleed kit which is now on the wall of the church hall.
We have a smaller supply of calendars this year so don't delay, order yours today! Order your copy at Elmdonparkgroup23@gmail.com
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8. Winter Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF)
The Winter Holiday Activities and Food Programme have funded activities running this Christmas at 23 venues, consisting of 14 holiday clubs and 9 trips.
Families eligible for benefits-related free school meals have been emailed a unique booking code for each child. Bookings can be made directly with providers:
Childrens and young persons activities
Family activities running at our two leisure centres, Evergreen Family Hub (Smiths Wood) and Planet Ice Solihull
Specialist activities for children with SEND
If you have any questions, please email hafinfo@solihull.gov.uk
9. Solihull College Information
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Coffee Morning
Join Solihull College for a free coffee morning
📅Wednesday 21 January, 10.30am at Coffee At The Wood, Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre, 4 Maple Walk, Birmingham B37 5TS
Would you like to :
- Get involved in community projects?
- Find out about volunteering?
- Make new friends?
- Improve the local area?
- Learn new skills?
Email community.projects@solihull.ac.uk if you would like to know more.
To view the flyer, click here
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Get Into Floristry
Free course for residents living in North Solihull (Kingshurst, Chelmsley Wood, Fordbridge & Smith's Wood wards). Explore flower arranging and teamwork as you design a floral feature for a community celebration.
📅Fridays from 16 January to 17 April, 11.45am - 3pm at Woodlands Campus, Solihull College & University Centre, Auckland Drive, Birmingham B36 0NF
Complete the form here or email community.projects@solihull.ac.uk
To view the flyer, click here
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Get Into Personal Training
Develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to begin your journey into personal training. This course combines theory and hands-on experience to build your understanding of fitness, anatomy, and effective training methods. You'll also explore pathways into further study and careers in the fitness and wellbeing industry.
Free course for residents living in North Solihull (Kingshurst, Chelmsley Wood, Fordbridge & Smith's Wood wards).
📅Tuesdays from 13 January to 17 February, 12 - 4pm at Three Trees Community Centre, Hedingham Grove, Birmingham B37 7TP
Complete the form here or email community.projects@solihull.ac.uk
To view the flyer, click here
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10. 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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Volunteering Opportunities
1. Volunteer Opportunities at Solihull Talking Newspaper
Do you enjoy keeping up with what’s happening in Solihull? Would you like to make a real difference in someone’s life? Solihull Talking Newspaper is calling on local people to help share news and events with those who are blind or partially sighted. The charity produces audio recordings of local stories so that listeners can stay connected to their community. Right now, they’re looking for volunteers to join their friendly team.
Each volunteer editor will be asked to record every six weeks. The studio is at The Core in Solihull town centre and training can be provided. It is also looking for someone who can oversee the distribution of postal pouches for sending recorded memory sticks to those listeners who don’t listen on-line. The team are also looking for a volunteer to monitor e-mails and pass them on to the appropriate volunteer.
For more information and to apply for any of these roles visit: Volunteer Vacancies – Solihull Borough Talking Newspaper
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: December 2025
2. The Weston Charity Awards
Midlands charities could win £22,000 in support and funding with Weston Charity Awards. Applications for the 2026 Weston Charity Awards are open, giving charities across the Midlands the chance to access transformational packages of expert support and funding.
Winners have the chance to access a package of strategic mentorship worth £16,000, plus £6,500 of unrestricted funding. Ambitious charities across the Midlands, North of England, and Wales are invited to apply for the awards, which offer transformational support packages worth over £22,000 each.
Up to 22 charities working in community, environment, welfare, or youth sectors will be selected for this substantial programme of support, designed to help organisations strengthen their leadership, plan for sustainable growth, and build long-term resilience.
Each front-line charity is matched with a team of senior business professionals, known as Pilotlighters, who provide tailored coaching on topics such as income diversification, business planning, long-term strategy, volunteer recruitment, and operational efficiency. This expert guidance helps small charities gain the skills and capacity to thrive in an increasingly challenging environment.
Eligible registered charities include those that have delivered a service for over two years, have at least one paid full-time member of staff in a leadership position, and have an income of less than £5 million per year.
For more information and to apply 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
If you have any opportunities/ funding/ activities that you would like to promote, complete the Pro Forma, and forward to the Community Development Inbox at cdt@solihull.gov.uk.
Please note, deadline for article submissions is Thursdays at 12pm.
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