Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Issue 2: Focus on

INTRODUCTION Welcome to our second 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 February we are focusing on Ladywood 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.

We recognise the amazing support given by voluntary, community and faith organisations to communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you! It is clear the Covid-19 vaccination programme is progressing well and is important for enabling us all to move beyond lockdown. There is a wealth of information about the Covid-19 vaccine programme in Birmingham, including useful myth busters, on the BVSC website.

We would love feedback on the newsletter to help us make these really beneficial for social work teams and others who would find this information useful. If you complete our very short survey here you may win a £20 One4All E-gift card, redeemable in a wide variety of high street shops. 1 Table of Contents

03 Ladywood Neighbourhood Network Scheme 04 NNS - Supporting Professionals 05 NNS - Connecting With Social Prescribing

06 Early Help & Emergency Assistance Grants

07 Focus on Welfare & Debt Advice 08 NNS Small Grant Activity 1 09 NNS Small Grant Activity 2

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

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 2 Ladywood Neighbourhood Network Scheme

What Are Neighbourhood Network Schemes? Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNSs) are designed to support older people in Birmingham to connect with individuals, groups, organisations, activities, services and places in their local neighbourhood. They are an integral part of ’s community social work model.

A key task of NNS teams is to identify all the community activity and services which can support people who are 50+. This information can now be found on the Connect To Support directory

Contact Details

Chairman Do get in contact if you would like to be on the Chelsea General Hospital mailing list. (contact details are on p 12)

Ladywood NNS also share information and news on Facebook and their website. Please follow them on:

Key aims of Ladywood NNS Twitter @NetworkScheme Ladywood NNS is a partnership of organisations working together across , , Ladywood, Soho and the Quarter to Facebook ensure older adults have access to community- https://www.facebook.com/LadywoodNNS based support which contributes to their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Roles The NNS team supports the local assets; the community organisations delivering activities and The lead organisation is Birmingham Settlement services accessible to the over 50s. By working and there are three other partners; Karis together with the constituency social work team Neighbour Scheme, Nechells POD and Soho First and the assets, the programme provides pathways Community Development Trust (CDT). of support and better coordination of community- based activities. Project Support Workers, based across the four wards, work to connect social workers to local assets. The project workers aim to find all activities and services in the constituency which support the over 50s, and currently, those providing Covid 19 relief. They map these and upload onto the Connect to Support directory which can be accessed by social work teams and the public.

Carlene McKenzie, from Birmingham Settlement There are opportunities for assets to access the is the Project Co-ordinator and also covers Soho small grants programme and build their capacity and the . Kalsoom Tomlinson through training and awareness workshops. The works across the Aston ward. NNS team also holds a Wider Steering Group meeting quarterly to update local organisations Nettes Derbyshire covers Ladywood and works for and social workers on key issues. Karis Neighbour Scheme. Beth Bailey covers the Nechells ward and works for Nechells POD. Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 3 NNS - Supporting Professionals

Social Worker Perspective NNS connects a range of local agencies supporting older and vulnerable adults, such One of the Social Workers tells us about how as Social Prescribers. they have found the Neighbourhood Network Scheme. Ajminara Begum, Social Prescriber Working with Birmingham Settlement has been exemplary, from the time I Ajminara in her role as Social Prescriber for the contacted Maxine Reid (Lead) with a query Local PCN covers predominantly Ladywood, about support available, to the time I was Handsworth and the Jewellery Quarter. She is introduced to Shantel Carty (Community employed by Learner Engagement Training. Action Worker) - who has since been a valuable point of contact. She identifies patients’ needs and finds local organisations to help her support her patients. So far, I have made a couple of referrals to the service for citizens in Birmingham who have Ajminara referred one patient, Y, to been supported effectively. I have had prompt Birmingham Settlement for befriending calls as responses and regular updates on each referral. she expressed she was lonely, felt isolated and had no friends and family nearby. Ajminara said, "This is what the majority of my patients require as they suffer from isolation.”

How are you today?

Where requested support is not available, Shantel has been open and honest – she has gone the extra mile to try and help as well as making alternative suggestions on how the identified needs can be met. Working in partnership has greatly contributed Since then Y has been receiving weekly calls to accessing community services with ease and and has also been involved in some of the other to positive outcomes for citizens with activities Birmingham Settlement do, including social care needs. a festive art display.

B's story illustrates the difference community support makes. B, who is in her 50's, was Ajminara contacted Y for feedback. Y said the referred to Birmingham Settlement after an worker was doing an amazing job and also accident left her unable to work, destitute and praised the project for the support she is isolated. The Community Action Worker getting. connected B to the money advice team who accessed a grant and a food and fuel voucher. Adele from Birmingham Settlement said:

B is now doing gentle chair exercises and receiving help through Ageing Well. In addition, It’s been great to work with B has been referred to the employability scheme to help her gain suitable employment Ajminara to support this citizen when she has recovered from her accident. feel less lonely and isolated.

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 4 NNS - Connecting With Social Prescribing

Alison

Social prescribing has connected Alision to Form of Clouds run by Re:Future (a Birmingham City Council Prevention & Communities funded project). Here's her view:

I've been a recipient of social prescribing. I've had problems with depression and anxiety in lockdown.

My GP suggested I start attending an arts project Chairman at Perrot's Folly and I've been going to weekly Chelsea General Hospital sessions. An interview with a Social When we couldn't meet up in person we met on Prescribing Link Worker zoom. It could have been really tricky but because Sapphire McCalla is a Lead Social Prescribing Link of the people who were leading the sessions it was Worker for the People's Health Partnership a really good way of taking time out. It felt really Primary Care Network (PCN). She works with nine secure because we were all in our own homes. It GP practices including those covering was really heartening to see how hard Form of Handsworth, and Clouds worked to help people access it online. and the City Rd Medical Centre. Here's what she told us:

A lot of the situations facing patients don't really need medical intervention. We're here to step in and support with mental, emotional and social issues affecting patients. So we'll have a one to one discussion with patients, we will assess them and we'll try to find out what There's things you can feel and touch. It improves matters to them, as our main aim is to really your feeling of self worth. We made some books reinforce personalised care. We'll talk through with special binding and we did that on-line. some of the services which are in the community. In the summer we could meet outdoors at Perrott's Ladywood NNS are more than happy to support Folly and it was a really good experience. We didn't neighbouring colleagues. Carlene McKenzie came necessarily know each other but we had that to see me at the surgery. I won't forget that feeling of community. personal touch. We did leather working with punches and putting In the pandemic many services had to amend books together. I'm very proud of this. We ended their operation. It was good to see that NNS were up with items that felt like brand new and also able to capture this and send the information out have a story behind them. in a timely manner. When social prescribers work one to one The Steering Group meetings are a great with people, it does feel like you have way to meet different services in the area. worth, that people are helping you. Everyone is given an opportunity to say who they are and the services they offer. Website: www.refuturecollective.com

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 5 Ladywood Early Help

Birmingham Settlement - Supporting Emergency Food Assistance Fund families, children and young people Ladywood NNS and Early Help Children & Birmingham Children’s Partnership has Families have partnered to launch a small established new early help support in ten localities grants programme for groups and for vulnerable families. For Ladywood, the lead organisations who wish to bid for grants of up agency is Birmingham Settlement who has a team to £5,000 to provide food and support services on hand to support families and young people in the Ladywood constituency. It is with a range of issues from access to food to help coordinated by Birmingham Settlement and with debt and benefits advice. funded by Birmingham City Council.

Small grants are available for community, Chairman voluntary and faith groups who are supporting Chelsea General Hospital residents during the Covid-19 period and in the aftermath.

If you are or know of a group or organisation wishing to apply for a grant, please use the email address below to request the application and guidance pack. If you are delivering services in the locality and working with a family that needs help, then please Email: email us for information. [email protected] Alternatively, to discuss your proposal prior to To receive support from our partners in the submission, contact Maxine Reid on community you will need to complete Family 07764 977636 Connect form.

More information is available here.

Over the last ten months the team has supported over 7,500 families city-wide with a resilience grant which was paid to families who were struggling and in hardship. Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07764 977636.

Early Help Case Study They organised resilience funding for the family and a weekly food parcel. They also Birmingham Setlement worked with a mother and her connected the family to Birmingham three children after the father passed away due to Settlement’s advice team who advised them Covid 19. The family were struggling emotionally with on benefits. They also encouraged Mum to their sudden loss, caring for the children, their financial send the children to school and worked with situation, and unmet mental health needs. the school to arrange support for the children.

Partners for the Birmingham Children's Partnership Early Help Programme

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 6 Focus on Welfare Advice

One of the Prevention Outcomes for the Council is income maximisation. There are a range of organisations who provide debt and welfare advice to citizens in Ladywood.

Across Birmingham, the City Council has commissioned three organisations; Birmingham Settlement, Citizens Advice and Spitfire Advice Services, to provide money and debt advice. Contact details for the lead organisation in each locality can be found here.

Birmingham Settlement Karis Neighbour Scheme

Birmingham Settlement's Ageing Well Karis Neighbour Scheme works with individuals by programme is funded through a Prevention & walking alongside them. This approach enables Communities grant. It focuses on improving the Be Friends Caseworker, Daniel, to work with wellbeing, reducing isolation and increasing older, isolated residents through a range of issues, independence and covers Ladywood and Perry including benefit and grant applications, appeals Barr Constituencies. For more information please and debt management. Daniel's achievements in contact either Adele Preece 07710 856186 or the past year can be seen below. Shantel Carty 07305 056450.

109 citizens supported

£118,400 benefits claimed that citizens would not otherwise have received

The Ageing Well Support Caseworker refers He has also provided emotional support to citizens service users who may need support with debt battling loneliness and anxiety, heightened by the and welfare advice to Birmingham Settlement's pandemic. His regular phone calls mean a lot to specialist money advice service. citizens during this time of isolation.

The aims, to support health & wellbeing, are to: If it weren’t for you I don’t think I Reduce debt would be here. I had no-one else to Increase income among service users, speak to. Improve take-up of hardship grants Increase awareness of free local services. Karis Neighbour Scheme has also been able to continue the support provided by our Ladywood Below is a comment from one of the older adults Community Advice project through telephone who accessed the service: advice. It has supported citizens with 527 benefit issues over the past year (largely Universal Credit I was very stressed about my housing and Personal Independence Payments). It has benefit. I was referred to the Money represented citizens at appeals and tribunals too. Advice team who resolved it. They also helped me when I was issued Their advisor is contactable on Wednesdays on with a hefty TV license bill which had 07716 433551, or messages can be left on 0121 454 left me very worried. They put my 8994. General advocacy enquiries can be made to mind at ease. their main number: 0121 455 7524.

Email: [email protected] Website: www.birminghamsettlement.org.uk Email: [email protected] Phone: 0121 250 0777 Mobile: 07563 238421

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 7

Ladywood NNS Small Grants

What are these grants? 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 Ladywood are described. Over the past year many have supported the Covid 19 relief work.

Food and Wellbeing at St Move it or Lose it Germain's Church

As lockdown was announced last year, with NNS support, St Germain’s opened up a food distribution hub from its church hall. Volunteers from the church, the wider community, and the Real Junk Food Project Central staffed the kitchen and distribution. Quickly, they were providing 300+ people with fresh and tinned food for the week as well as hot meals three times a week (i.e. food for 3000+ meals per week). Move it or Lose It helps older people to stay active and live independently for longer through a programme of specially tailored classes offering opportunities to exercise and socialise together in their local community.

The original project offering classes at the Nechells POD could not go ahead due to the pandemic. Thanks to the team at Ladywood NNS, an alternative method of supporting older people at home was developed, specifically for those unable to get online. Participants received an illustrated book of exercises with a resistance band, and When collecting food, people shared their stories. regular phone calls to motivate them to do these It was clear that the Covid 19 pandemic had at home. churned up many deep needs. As well as providing additional resources, (e.g. clothing, household Participants have felt the benefit of at home necessities, signposting), the team at St Germain's activity, but as soon as it is safe to do so, classes will realised the devastating effect of Covid 19 on run again at Nechells POD. mental health. My aches and pains are much better They teamed up with an Emotional Wellbeing now I’m doing these easy exercises. Practitioner and now offer one to one sessions, equipping people with tools to manage issues The book and phone calls have been such as anxiety, increased isolation, illness, low brilliant and really helped me as I mood, depression, job loss and the impact of haven’t been able to see my family. relocation. Can’t wait to go to a class when they start again. Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website is www.stgermains.org.uk Website: www.moveitorloseit.co.uk

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 8 Ladywood NNS Small Grants (2)

Mount Zion Birmingham Care Group

Covid 19 has presented a challenge to Mount Zion Community Church’s outreach, putting a stop to usual activities. But it hasn’t stopped them supporting their community. The church, in Aston, is still able to offer food and clothing to those in need, in line with Covid 19 guidelines and regulations. They hold weekly online zoom meetings for people over 50 years old, which have been very successful. Members of the church call weekly to offer support. Support is available to Birmingham Care Group has been supported by people who don’t attend Mount Zion. NNS grants to support their food distribution to the communities of Ladywood and Soho & Ladywood NNS has helped them connect to local Jewellery Quarter Ward during the pandemic. GPs and social work teams.

For Christmas 2020 they were able to still organise their annual Christmas meal. This was prepared, cooked, and delivered to two hostels near the city centre.

They are still offering food distribution support and have extended this across the Ladywood constituency and have recently received a small grant from the Birmingham City Council Emergency Food Assistance Scheme. Their reach over a three month period is shown below.

500 food parcels each week

100 referrals from social workers and key workers

Our project has had a huge impact on On behalf of Mount Zion community our community in particular those team, I would like to say a big thank from the Caribbean. Having previously you to Kalsoom Tomlinson and delivered cooked meals to them at the Carlene McKenzie from NNS Ladywood project, for their beginning of Covid 19, we found many consistent support with relevant, of our Caribbean elders were not community literature on training, eating, as they were not receiving resources, and completion for our foods that were culturally sensitive. grant forms. You both are much We are now distributing food to our appreciated for your experience and knowledge. elders that supports their health and wellbeing.

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.mountzioncc.org.uk Website: www.birminghamcaregroup.org Phone: 0121 554 9638 Phone: 0121 523 9690

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 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.

Midland Sailing Club Birmingham Chinese Community Centre Midland Sailing Club is based at Reservoir. They are an RYA registered Training CCC-B promotes the physical, social and Centre and part of the national Sailability economic wellbeing of the Chinese community Programme, that supports people with disabilities in Birmingham & . ‘Winter’s to learn to sail.. Spring’ supports isolated older Chinese citizens through a befriending telephone service, social The Club runs two programmes (one citywide, one club, home visits and a range of activities, Ladywood only) for adults with physical or learning meeting language & cultural needs. The Society disabilities and older people, using specially also runs a digital inclusion programme, funded designed Access Dinghies. They make sailing easy, through a Neighbourhood Network Scheme safe, fun and accessible to all. small grant.

Taster sessions and courses can be arranged, allowing everyone to learn at their own pace.

Case Study: Mrs L, aged 82 with long-term health conditions, regularly dropped into the centre for companionship as well as help with letters and appointments.

A ‘Winter’s Spring’ volunteer supported her to join the digital project. After the group tutorial It was really easy learning to steer and 1:1 support, she started participating in online the boat with the joystick. It was activities and meetings, including gentle exercise so lovely to be sailing on the classes. Asked to describe how she feels now, she water. I will definitely come back. said:

Patrick aged 75 Happy, learning, healthy.

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.sailbirmingham.com Website: www.chinesecommunitycentre.orguk

Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 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.

Domestic Abuse Project understand the full nature of the abuse she had experienced and think through what her options Funding from BCC Adult Social Care allowed might be. Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWA) to respond to increased demand and expand their As part of these discussions, they supported her to helpline to cover weekends and Bank Holidays. consult a Family Law solicitor and arranged for a meeting with staff from their Home Options The case study below demonstrates just how service. Kiran talked through her plans to move in valuableChairman that support has been for women with relatives while waiting for her own place and seeking help around their experiences of abuser, Chelsea General Hospital was able to leave safely with her children when particularly since the onset of COVID and the her husband wasn’t around. impact of lockdown.

BSWA applied for grant funding to enable Kiran to buy new items for when the family has a new Case Study: Kiran home as well as tablets for the children to ensure that they could keep up with their education through the move and with the impact of Kiran initially contacted BSWA via their new COVID/lockdown. They said: webchat service. She told them that although she had been experiencing domestic abuse for several years, she had never felt able to make the first Kiran has often told us how glad she is phone call to us. Kiran said the level of control had that she finally reached out for support, escalated since COVID and lockdown, as both she acknowledging that webchat had and her husband were working from home. allowed her to “test us out” before picking up the phone to call. In that initial webchat, Kiran was blaming herself for the abuse and also for not leaving. She talked She recognises and is rightly proud of about her fears that even if she did leave, her her courage in contacting the helpline. husband would take her to court around child contact. There is still a way to go, with the prospect of court proceedings and the BSWA was able to explore some of Kiran’s fears challenges to find suitable and concerns and look at some of her safety accommodation, but Kiran feels far strategies, beginning to gently challenge the idea more informed about all the processes that Kiran was in any way to blame for what had involved, supported around the legal happened to her. matters, and knows we are here should she ever need us again in the future. A few days later Kiran rang the helpline, the first of several calls over four weeks where she was able Helpline: 0808 800 0028 to fully talk about what was happening, Email: [email protected] Website: www.bswaid.org Prevention Newsletter February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 11 Contact Details

Lead Ladywood NNS Contact NNS Contact for Ladywood

Birmingham Settlement Karis Neighbour Project Carlene McKenzie Nettes Derbyshire Project Co-ordinator NNS Project Support Worker Email: [email protected] Email: Tel: 0121 250 0746 [email protected] Mobile: 07495 710732 Mobile: 07931 734524

NNS Contact for Nechells NNS Contact for Soho

Nechells Hub Soho First CDT Paul Coates Carlene McKenzie Project Manager Project Support Worker - Soho Ward Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel 0121 681 2173 Tel: 0121 250 0746 Mobile: 07305 862545 Mobile: 07495 710732

Birmingham City Council Commissioning Team Contacts

The Prevention & Communities Commissioning Team consists of: Emil Prysak – Team Manager [email protected] Lise Smith – Contract Manager for Ladywood 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 February 2021 Focus on Ladywood 12