Prevention Newsletter Issue 3: 2021 Focus on

INTRODUCTION Welcome to our third newsletter!

The Prevention and Communities (P&C) Commissioning Team want to share some of the fantastic work happening in communities all over . Each month, we will focus on a different constituency to share local knowledge and showcase the wide range of initiatives taking place. For March we are focusing on Erdington constituency.

Our newsletters show a fraction of what we are achieving with our voluntary and community sector partners to support Three Conversations and the new way of working across Adult Social Care.

We aim to share examples and ‘stories of difference’ from across all the different services and support we manage. This includes Neighbourhood Network Schemes, the Prevention and Communities Grants Programme, our Covid-19 response, Vulnerable Adults Grants and the city- wide Information, Advice and Guidance contracts.

The pandemic has now lasted for 12 months and Neighbourhood Network Schemes have been at the forefront of ensuring that citizens have had support not only around essential items like food and medicine, but also health and wellbeing. They have done this through creating connections, supporting and advising groups and citizens and distributing small grants. This newsletter provides an insight into how voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations and activists have made a real impact in one constituency.

There is a wealth of information about the Covid-19 vaccine programme in Birmingham, and advice for people and organisations running community activities as we move out of lockdown on the BVSC website. 1 Table of Contents

03 Erdington Neighbourhood Network Scheme 04 Social Worker Perspectives 05 Stong Partnerships with Covid19 Taskforce

06 Focus on Erdington Community Volunteers

07 Focus on Green Spaces and Wellbeing 08 Erdington NNS Small Grants 09 Erdington NNS Small Grants (2)

10 Prevention & Communities Grants 11 Vulnerable Adults Grants 12 Contact Details

Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 2 Erdington Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS): An Overview

What is Erdington NNS? New Job Club The Erdington Neighbourhood Network Erdington NNS and Sutton NNS worked in Scheme (Erdington NNS) is community-based partnership to host the first Joint Panel to and locally led and is part of a wider network of approve a Job Club – part of Erdington Churches Neighbourhood Network Schemes across the Together initiative. Erdington Foodbank. city, established to support older adults to live identified a need to support the people who independent and connected lives. have had significant barriers to employment and little or no understanding or access to Witton Lodge Community Association and computers. It was a desire to give support, Compass Support work in partnership to ensure access, information and guidance to all. all wards are reached across Erdington. A key

task of the team is to identify all of the The Job Club works alongside Sutton and Chairmancommunity activity and services which can Erdington Job Centres and with specific work Chelseasupport General people Hospital who are 50+. This information coaches to help all, but especially the over 50’s. can now be found on the Connect To Support They run three sessions at three different directory. venues: Tuesday at George Road Baptist Church B23 7RY, Wednesday at Six Ways Baptist Church B23 8AD and Thursday at Chester Road Baptist Church B73 5HU.

Networker Support

The NNS Networkers assist potential assets with the process of making an application and offer support if required. There are two Networkers who are able to assist/review applications prior to submission if required. The Networkers' contact details for the different locations are on the back page.

Witton Lodge Community Association and Compass Support meet regularly as a Delivery Contact Details Group to discuss their delivery, processes and to share updates and information. They also host Do get in contact if you would like to be on the networking events, Citizen Panels and asset mailing list. Contact details are on page 12. workshops, and participate in Steering Groups, Erdington NNS also share information and news Social Work Cluster Meetings and Funding on Facebook and their website. Panel meetings. In doing so, they proactively bring together voluntary, community, faith and www.wittonlodge.org.uk/about-us/news/ social enterprise sector organisations, and work collaboratively with social workers and health Twitter care professionals to support older adults @wittonlodge through the growth of networks and friendships, so that they can live independent WittonLodgeCommunityAssociation and connected lives.

Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 3 Social Worker Perspective

Sarah Middleton's Story of Anna Mangoo Difference Senior Practitioner Delivery Sarah's social work team huddle covers Here, Anna explains the support that the NNS , Pype Hayes and Perry Common. provides her: She says: Working on the Erdington Constituency My experience of working alongside team there are times that we need to look Erdington Neighbourhood Network for local resources depending on the need Scheme (ENNS), has been positive. The of the citizens. I worked in partnership with Networker joins our Team Huddle Meetings on NNS when looking for food banks in an x a weekly basis. This is a two-way process of emergency. I was able to contact the assigned information sharing, where we can discuss our worker for the area who was very knowledge of required services to highlight knowledgeable and easy to communicate with. gaps, and the Networker is able to link myself and my colleagues to local groups and services. I was given a list of food banks with details of their working times and what other services The fundamental aspect of the ENNS they provide. This is useful information that can programme supports community Social Work be shared with the team and helps to build and the Three Conversations Approach, rapports with local services. My experience of connecting citizens to their local communities, NNS has been positive, easy to access and feels meaning that the ENNS is proactively used by supportive. Social Workers/Social Care Practitioners and is seen by myself and my colleagues as an We hold weekly meetings with the NNS extension to Adult Social Care. Witton Lodge partner. This give us the opportunity to hear offers advice and support to our team and what resources are available in the vulnerable citizens and is a valuable Erdington area. Equally, we are able to service to all that use it. share the gaps.

Erdington Constituency

In total Erdington NNS has awarded grants to 31 groups to enable them to deliver their projects and activities to citizens predominantly over the age of 50, enabling them to live an independent and connected life.

This map details the wards these groups are operating in across the Erdington Constituency.

Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 4 Strong partnerships with Erdington Covid19 Taskforce

Why the Taskforce Was Set Up Developing New Projects A range of new partnerships have been built and The Erdington Covid19 Taskforce was established new projects forged to tackle the challenges in in March 2020 by groups and organisations across Erdington. Expanding money advice services, Erdington who wanted to support their setting up domestic violence support groups and communities throughout lockdown. Drawing on running regular family activities are just a few of the networks and connections of Erdington the successes made possible. Neighbourhood Network Scheme and with the support of , the Taskforce Chief Officer, Afzal Hussain, says: brought together community organisations, faith groups, volunteers, the MP, Councillors and other stakeholders, to show the best of their Reaching out to our vulnerable and elderly community. residents has never been more critical,” he said. “The level of support, care and provision 12 Months of Activity they need during these unprecedented times demands a co-ordinated and strategic In the last 12 months the Taskforce has supported response that is locally rooted. By working thousands of people with over 300 volunteers together the 40 local organisations of the mobilised to help their neighbours. Over 18,000 Taskforce are continuing to make a real food parcels and essential supplies such as impact. medicine have been delivered to vulnerable residents, while over 20,000 wellbeing activities As a community, Erdington has responded including telephone calls, activity packs and brilliantly to the issues and fallout from the virtual sessions have supported residents most Coronavirus pandemic. affected by the pandemic to stay well during a period where stress, anxiety and mental ill health have affected many people. Telephone: 0121 382 1930 / 07507 386 263 Email: [email protected] Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington

5 Focus On Erdington Community Volunteers

Chairman Chelsea General Hospital

Helping Neighbours David co-ordinates the group. He explains: We had 500 online members in our first 24 Since the start of the pandemic, a national hours and it’s grown consistently since then. network of mutual aid groups set up by residents We wanted a platform for people who wanted who simply wanted to help their neighbours and to help, to meet up with those that needed their communities has emerged. Erdington help. Community Volunteers has led the way in Erdington, delivering food parcels and medicine, For many of the volunteers it has been an and completing shopping for hundreds of extremely positive experience. It’s given them vulnerable residents. Working closely with partners an opportunity to help when there was a sense and networks, they have been the backbone of of helplessness. volunteering efforts in Erdington and without their They wanted to help, they wanted to help the time and dedication, many vulnerable residents community, but they didn’t know how. They would have been left suffering. didn’t know the established organisations that existed. This platform, this group, has given them that opportunity.

Since the end of the first lockdown, the group has expanded its work in many areas, developing new projects such as family sports days, creating public artwork, and tackling issues with housing and litter to name just a few.

Now a constituted group and on the Asset Register for all to find, Erdington Community Volunteers have many exciting plans to continue supporting the Erdington community.

Photo above & quotes provided by Erdington Local

Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/625073991557017

Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 6 Focus on Green Spaces and Wellbeing

A Lifeline in the Pandemic

During the last year parks and green spaces have Construction has now begun on an exciting new become vital for the nation’s wellbeing, providing community facility. The ‘Eco Hub’ at Witton Lakes, opportunities to connect, stay well and be will further evolve this work and create new revitalised. Witton Lodge Community Association opportunities for small groups funded by the has led an exciting pilot programme of ‘green Erdington Neighbourhood Network Scheme, to social prescribing’ in Erdington to test the gather, deliver services and use green spaces for potential of using green spaces for health and better wellbeing. It is being developed by Witton wellbeing. Lodge Community Association, and the project, should be completed later this year.

Part of Naturally Birmingham (Future Parks Accelerator), a Birmingham City Council programme funded by The National Trust, a range of activities have been delivered in partnership with health and community organisations.

Virtual ‘Active in Nature’ sessions have used social media platforms to bring the joy of green spaces into people’s homes, covering topics such as mindfulness and physiotherapy through connecting to nature. ‘Parks At Home’ has helped vulnerable residents stay busy in their homes, working with supported living sites to help them to grow their own plants and brighten up their Photos: , Witton Lakes & the design for living space. the Eco Hub.

Through the programme new links have been built, ideas tested and learning shared so that parks and health go hand in hand together. The Website: www.wittonlodge.org.uk evidence is clear; engaging with your natural Telephone: 0121 382 1930 / 07507 386 263 landscape, connecting with the open and green Email: [email protected] spaces in your community is medicinal. Email: [email protected]

Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 7

Erdington NNS Small Grants

Grants to Meet Local NNS Priorities Every NNS constituency has a small grants scheme to enable the voluntary and community sector to run activities that support older adults. In each constituency a Steering Group along with the social work team determine what the local priorities are. On this page and the next, examples of these grants in Erdington are described. For application forms for Erdington small grants contact [email protected]

Compass Support Wellbeing Packs Old Codgers Social Club The Wellbeing Activity Packs, providing a range of This group in Kingstanding was activities and organised by Compass Support, have set up to enhance and improve proved very successful with 150 citizens supported. the overall mental health and wellbeing of its members. Due to the lockdown, one citizen was struggling with social isolation and loneliness, so a Social In between lockdowns the group Prescribing Link Worker referred her to a digital were able to attend fishing trips. inclusion project. As a result, through using social This resulted in a positive outcome media, she became aware of the wellbeing for those struggling with the packs. She looks forward to these each week, along effects of social isolation for all with the 45 minute conversations on the doorstep those who took part. with the volunteer who delivers them.

Email: [email protected] Tel: 07773 428705

Erdington Litter Busters This litter-picking group of residents not only clear litter. The group also creates important opportunities for connectivity and for socialising.

Another citizen was self-isolating and was What has also emerged is how much people becoming depressed. The packs were able to lift appreciate ‘giving back to their community’. This her spirits and give her something to break the group have continued to go from strength to days up. Compass Support established there were strength and have also recently received positive three ladies living close together all doing the ‘The media coverage on breakfast television, Crochet Corner’. Birmingham Evening Mail and Birmingham local Facebook Page. She was able to talk with them over the phone about local places, weather and general chat. They went on to do the quizzes together over the phone too.

She has become a volunteer to deliver the packs for the final phase and feels this has given her a purpose to get out and interact with people again.

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.compass-support.org.uk Website: www.facebook.com/groups/ErdingtonLitterBusters/ Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 8 Erdington NNS Small Grants (2)

Valuing the Outdoors at St Martin's NNS Supporting Foodbanks

St Martin's Social Care Project has created a community garden and seating area. The participants of the Community Garden said how great it was to get outside and exercise, whilst making a difference to the area around St Martin's and being able to see other people.

It was great for their self-esteem and confidence too. One lady contributed this to the WhatsApp group chat afterwards:

My it was hard work doing the garden at St Martin's but still it looks lovely what we did. One direct result of the Covid-19 Pandemic was the increased demand for food, continuing to rise on a weekly basis. Bethany Foodbank was supported through ENNS funding to increase their working week, including the additional costs of a driver delivering food up to 9:00 pm at night.

Email: [email protected] Phone: 07703 663506 Reaching Bangladeshi Men

Email: [email protected] With the help of an NNS Small Grant New Hope Website: www.facebook.com/stmartinssocialcareproject Global (NHG) supported 41 citizens, largely men feeling isolated. NHG ran fifty-five varied sessions. Lunch at St Chad's They included playing simple online games and watching documentaries and Bengali movies. St Chad's Lunch club provide meals to individuals

who are lonely, have few connections and often The physical trainer created simple fitness have ill health. The lunch club offers more than programmes for the participants, and motivated meals; it is a place where older, lonely residents and guided them to achieve their goals of staying meet for chats, interactions, develop friendships, fit during the lockdown. The project has participate in games, exercises and get the enormously helped some of the older opportunity to volunteer in helping at the club. It beneficiaries to get fit both mentally and gives them a sense of belonging, purpose, self- physically. esteem and boosts their morale.

They have shared all the current government Due to Covid-19 they required additional resources guidelines on the Covid-19 situation with the to support their activities. Their application request participants in the sessions. New Hope Global staff was to purchase items to meet the demands and volunteers were also able to carry out which include additional tables and chairs to allow shopping and medicine collection when needed. for social distancing.

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.stchadserdington.org.uk Website: www.nhglobal.org.uk Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 9 Prevention & Communities Grants

What Are These Grants? In summer 2019 there was an open application process for organisations able to support the City Council's Prevention First agenda. Forty-six organisations were successful. Details can be seen in the Prospectus. Due to Covid-19 these have had to adapt, but almost all are still delivering activities and support. Please contact them directly to check what they can offer at the moment.Two Erdington examples are included here.

Compass Support Wellbeing First St Martin's Social Care Project

Compass Support’s Wellbeing First projects offers Before lockdown, Debbie, the community support services and activities for people with development practitioner at St Martin's Social disabilities, mental health conditions and those who Care Project Perry Common, was bringing are, or are at risk of becoming, socially isolated. The people together in activities that enabled them project is open to residents of Ward and to grow good connections with other local the Reddicap Ward. people.

Their popular wellbeing exercise classes, tailored to During the last 12 months she has provided the over 50s or those with limited mobility, are now creative and safe ways for people to stay livestreamed and accessible on Facebook and were connected with each other and not lose the viewed over 3000 times last quarter. relationships they have and that mean so much to them. She also secured the additional NNS funding for the community garden (see page 11).

Cindy, one of the participants says how much this group has transformed her life:

I had no friends. Because of this group because of the funding and everything I'm actually in contact with strangers. I've had fun on WhatsApp The programme offers befriending, bereavement I've actually laughed. I know it may sound daft, support and counselling to support mental but this is true. I've laughed. I've had my cheeks wellbeing. Independent Living Support Services aching from grinning. provides practical solutions, benefits, debt and utilities advice, and support to access equipment and other services, helping people to live independently at home.

Their innovative project focusing on hoarding and self-neglect is developing a model for multi-agency working (including social landlords and social workers) in response to tenants who have hoarding related issues. The project is developing a toolkit of resources and a referral pathway, as well as a St Martin's is one of 12 church linked training programme. organisations across the city that are part of the Body Mind Spirit Partnership which is working to In addition, they were able to access additional NNS reduce and prevent the isolation of older adults. funding to deliver wellbeing packs (see page 9). It is managed by Thrive Together Birmingham.

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.compass-support.org.uk Website: www.facebook.com/stmartinssocialcareproject

Prevention Newsletter Issue 3 2021 Focus on Erdington 10 Vulnerable Adults Grants

What Are These Grants? At the beginning of the pandemic the City Council put out a call to the voluntary and community sector. This was to provide additional support to adults who might be clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 and also to isolation and poor health due to lockdown. Sixteen organisations were grant funded. Below is one example that operates city-wide.

New Heights Support During Covid-19 for Older and Disabled Citizens New Heights based in Kingstanding supports local people in need and seeks to build cohesion in the community. New-Heights supported vulnerable people during the lockdown periods by providing practical items and maintaining Chairman links with volunteers and the citizens they support.Chelsea General Hospital

New Heights also supported their communities to Telephone Newsletters Coffee chill engage in a wide variety of on-line activities from befriending & chat bingo to arts and crafts. Citizens were also able to access zoom coffee mornings helping them to remain connected to their communities and to avoid the negative effects of social isolation. New Heights went above and beyond expectations, Zoom coffee Reading group, Cards of supporting the community in ways that met the morning bingo, art & craft kindness diverse needs and interests of their local community. This included providing a service offering advice to victims of domestic abuse.

New Heights also involved young people in Delivery of free Live Facebook On-line relaxation supporting their communities. Local young fresh meals chat sessions people involved in the Youth Social Action Project, delivered by New Heights Youth Forum during Achivements school holidays, were involved in making and maintaining indirect contact with local older New Heights were able to support people in the people through writing letters and designing and local community in Kingstanding and the sending ‘Cards of Kindness’. Young people also surrounding area over 700 times thanks to the used their October school holiday to decorate Vulnerable Adults Grant. New Heights met the boxes and packages for use when delivering a needs of the most disadvantaged people in Christmas Community Meal on Christmas Day. Kingstanding and surrounding areas, providing over 450 hot two course meals to disadvantaged people in the surrounding areas. What Next? New Heights continue to support local people, in particular with two projects.

Their Breathe Advice & Advocacy Service helps citizens to access welfare benefits and know their rights. They also provide counselling for people who have suffered domestic abuse.

Counselling Service Tel:0121 384 2333 Domestic Abuse Counselling Tel: 07753 224835 Prevention Newsletter March 2021 Focus on Erdington 11 Contact Details

Lead Erdington NNS Contact

Debbie Bates Health & Wellbeing Development Manager Witton Lodge Community Association

Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0121 382 1930 Mobile: 07458 104237

Networkers

Perry Common, Kingstanding, Erdington & [email protected]

Castle Vale, Pype Hayes, & Stockland Green [email protected]

Birmingham City Council Commissioning Team Contacts

The Prevention & Communities Commissioning Team consists of: Emil Prysak – Team Manager [email protected] Lise Smith – Contract Manager for Erdington NNS [email protected]

Plus: Rukia Siddique Quaced Hussain Matthew Bick Claire Starmer Susan Coke Rita Adams

We are supported by BVSC Benita Wishart – [email protected] Susannah Wilson

Prevention Newsletter March 2021 Focus on Erdington 12