Wellbeing in Partnership E-Bulletin – Bromsgrove and Redditch – September 2022
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Dear all, Please find the September Partnership bulletin below. The latest Household Support Fund information remains at the top, but please scroll down for information updates on services, training, events etc. Following the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we would like to let you all know that arrangements have been put in place for a public book of condolence at the Town Hall and Parkside and space for floral tributes at the Bandstand in Church Green Redditch and the Bandstand in Sanders Park, Bromsgrove. There is an online service for messages of condolence for Her Majesty The Queen from Worcestershire Residents. You can view and contribute to it here Book of condolence (worcestershire.gov.uk) There will also be ceremonial events in the coming days of mourning and details can be found here Home – redditchbc.gov.uk |
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Services / Support – Information Updates |
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Household Support Fund (Phase 2 – up to end of Sept) **Pensioner Funding is still available** Due to high demand, family and single household applications have reached the maximum allocation for this phase of funding that runs until the end of September, but we still need your help to reach our local residents aged 66 and over who may be in need. A third of the funding was ringfenced for pensioners so this money can’t go to anyone else, and we want to ensure our pensioners receive the support that is just for them. Promotional material for Bromsgrove and Redditch targeting pensioners has already been circulated but is attached for your convenience. It would be appreciated if you could share, display, and hand out to help reach as many pensioners as possible who could apply to Act on Energy and Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch – details below:
Please refer to Act on Energy for help with energy and water cost (FAQs attached) The Spring/Summer 2022 Household Support Fund (Phase 2) is currently open for Pensioner Households only. If a pensioner household wishes to make an application, they can do so by telephoning the free advice line: 0800 988 2881. Qualifying pensioners from across the county of Worcestershire, can get support with their energy costs, fuel debt and where required, assistance to replace broken boilers and heating systems, subject to funding.
**Important Note** Unfortunately, due to high demand, new applications from family and single households are not being accepted. However, there is a waiting list that these households can register on as Act on Energy await confirmation of details regarding more funding due in October. For further information and/or to register for October funding, go to: Worcestershire Household Support Fund – Act On Energy
Please refer to Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch for help with food and wider essentials Funding is now only available to Pensioner Households that are struggling and need support with food and wider essentials. To check eligibility and apply, visit: Household Support Fund at Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch or call 0808 278 7890. **Important Note** Unfortunately, due to high demand, no further applications are being accepted from all other household groups within Bromsgrove or Redditch.
Energy Advice Service for Bromsgrove and Redditch residents Even if people are not eligible for the Household Support Fund, anyone living in the Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough can contact the Energy Advice Service, Act on Energy, to speak to expert advisors about their energy bills and minimising their home’s energy consumption while keeping warm and safe. Freephone advice line 0800 988 2881 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) or email
Seetec Pluss- List of training courses for participants Please find attached a document complied by Seetec Pluss, giving details of all free courses available to Seetec Pluss participants on the Restart Scheme. These courses are fully funded for jobseekers, with the majority open to all residents in Worcestershire. If further provision is needed, or for any omissions or errors, please contact Bobby at
Local Policing Charter 2022 Please find attached a stakeholder letter relating to the latest Local Policing Community Charter that West Mercia Police have relaunched. The charter can be found here: Local Policing Charter 2022 (westmercia.police.uk) One important part of the charter centres on communities’ accessibility to services and information they need. “Neighbourhood Matters” (an on-line web-based tool) allows officers and staff across all disciplines and teams from West Mercia Police to send and receive messages to the public via email, text, and voice message. Nearly 20,000 people signed up via the dedicated website Neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk but West Mercia Police are aiming to increase that number to help strengthen communications. You can sign up at: https://neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk
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Events, Roadshows and Open Days |
| Kingfisher Centre Event – Energy Roadshow
The Kingfisher Shopping Centre will be hosting an Energy Roadshow on Thursday 29th September from 10am – 4pm. The Kingfisher Centre Marketing Manager, Domonique Lippett is looking for local community groups and representatives to come along during the event to provide advice and guidance to local residents on hints/tips, access to grants etc during the winter months. If you are interested in joining in with the roadshow or would like to find out more, please email or call 01527 405800 / 01527 405805.
Bromsgrove Shedders – Community Open Day The Bromsgrove Shedders are inviting people along to ‘The Shed’ for a cuppa as part of a ‘Community Open Day’ on Saturday 10th September (10am-12pm) to help raise awareness of, and support this much-valued local group! If you know somebody that might be interested in joining (or supporting) the Shed, then please do encourage them to come along. See attached flyer for full details
Bromsgrove Library – Reminiscence Group restarting With the support of The Bromsgrove Society and Home Instead this group will start back up on 28th September and meet on the 4th Friday of the month from 10-11am. This group is a great way to meet new people and feel less isolated as well as providing an opportunity to share memories, photos, and memorabilia. Flyer attached.
Dodford Children’s Farm – Open Day Taking place on Sunday 18th September from 1-4pm, visitors can tour the facilities, meet the animals, enjoy music and dancing, refreshments plus stalls and activities. Full information can be found in the flyer attached.
Making Mental Health & Wellbeing a Priority For All – Event Taking place at Worcester Rugby Football Club on 11 October 9.30am to 12.30pm, this Worcestershire conference is aimed at Employers’ and Employees from Public, Private and Voluntary and Community Sectors, people with mental health conditions, advocates and other stakeholders. The event will focus on progress in this area in Worcestershire and be vocal about what needs to be done to continue stamping out stigma and discrimination. Further details are attached.
Bromsgrove Fire & Police Station Open Day – Saturday 17 September 11am to 3pm The popular Fire Open Day Event which the Police will also be supporting, will take place at the Bromsgrove Station on Saturday 17 September 11am to 3pm. Come along and enjoy a fun, family event!
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Funding/Grants |
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Barnardo’s Grant – Support for Ukrainian Families If you are working with or know of any Ukrainian families that are in need, funding is available for clothing, toiletries, household items and other support – Full information on attached flyer
Aviva Cost of Living Boost The Aviva Community Fund aims to bring people together to support those who need it most. Applications to the Aviva Cost of Living Boost is open and further information can be found at: Aviva Cost of Living Boost | Aviva Community Fund
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Consultations / Surveys |
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VCS Grants Survey Redditch Borough Council would like to get the views from the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Redditch about the future of the Councils Grant Scheme. The current policy for grant giving to the VCS is in the final year of the 3-year scheme. The Council is keen to ensure that the policy continues to be fit for purpose and provides the much-needed support to the VCS. To give your views, please complete the following survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RedditchVCSGrantsReview2022/ It should only take a few minutes of your time and will close at 23.59 on Wednesday 14 September 2022.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFR) – Public Consultation – Attendance Performance Measure HWFR have launched a public consultation exercise on a proposal to update the Service’s Attendance Performance Measure. They want to encourage individuals and organisations to have their say on the proposal, which is set out in a consultation document along with a short questionnaire. The consultation closes on 16 September 2022, and results and recommendations will be reported to the Fire Authority at the end of the year. You can read more about the proposal on the Service website or access the questionnaire here: www.opinionresearch.co.uk/HWFire. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, or would like any further information, email
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Training/Courses/Workshops |
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Digital and IT Skills Courses – HOW College For anyone looking to learn new IT skills or expand their knowledge, enrolment is now taking place for these short courses, further details can be found here: Digital & IT Skills: Beginners, Level 1 | Heart of Worcestershire College (howcollege.ac.uk) / Essential Digital Skills – Foundation Course, Entry Level 3 | Heart of Worcestershire College (howcollege.ac.uk)
Suicide prevention in the workplace – free online guidance session – Thursday 15th September 2022, 10:00am-11:30am Aimed at businesses working across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, delivered by Worcestershire County Council Public Health Suicide Prevention Team. Find out:
To register for the event, please fill in our registration form For more information about the programme visit: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20627/suicide_prevention/2538/suicide_prevention_in_the_workplace
Adult Learning Services Worcestershire – Art & Craft and Health & Wellbeing courses are now live! There is a selection of both Health/Wellbeing and Art/Creative Skills courses, available throughout the whole county of Worcestershire. Courses run in venues (mainly libraries) and online. Follow this link to see all available courses, book on and start learning this September. www.worcestershire.gov.uk/courses or email for more information.
Get involved – Make positive changes in children’s coaching The Children’s Coaching Collaborative (CCC) is a collective of passionate and committed young people’s coaches, physical education experts and policymakers with the shared vision of ensuring that children and young people – regardless of age, background or ability feel a sense of enjoyment from participating in sport and physical activity, so that they develop a genuine and lifelong love for being active. Find out more about this grassroots coaching movement and how to get involved by booking onto one of the September workshops. The workshop dates are:
Book your place or to understand more about the CCC ahead of the virtual workshop watch this video.
FREE Exercise Classes – STRONG AND STEADY All community strong and steady exercise classes will be FREE to the user from 1st October 2022. So, anyone that is referred in from now on, will not have to pay. The classes aim to help older people with falls prevention as well as the mental health benefits of re-connecting with other people post pandemic. For further details or to complete an online registration form, click below: Strong and Steady Exercise Classes – bromsgrove.gov.uk Strong and Steady Exercise Programme – redditchbc.gov.uk Alternatively, contact Hayley Gwilliam, Physical Activity Development Officer on 01527 881404
Making Mental Health & Wellbeing a Priority For All (free event) – Tuesday, 11 October 2022, 09:30 – 12:30pmTime to change Worcestershire is hosting a free conference aimed at Employers’ and Employees from Public, Private and Voluntary and Community Sectors, people with mental health conditions, advocates, and other stakeholders. The event will focus on progress in this area in Worcestershire and be vocal about what we need to do to continue stamping out stigma and discrimination. Full details can be found attached.
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Other Newsletters |
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DWP Latest Newsletter – 2nd September – Find attached
Community First E-Bulletin – September 22 – Find attached
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Involvement Network Update – 5 September 2022 – Find attached
DWP Weekly Update – 19th August 22 – Find attached
DWP Touchbase – Can be found here: Touchbase – 19 August 2022 (dwp.gov.uk)
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Looking for information and advice about Covid-19? Please go to Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Worcestershire County Council for information and advice covering vaccinations, travel, testing and more.
We hope you find the above useful.
The contents of these bulletins are made up of whatever you decide to send through so if you have information you think is relevant and helpful to share with other local organisations, you can email it to:
Kind Regards,
Della McCarthy & Ali Wakeman
Bromsgrove Partnership & Redditch Partnership
