Category Archives: Advice & Support

Birmingham Adult Education - Get Connected 2019

Birmingham Adult Education : Get *Connected* in 2019

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It’s time to turn your dreams into reality!
We hope you have had an excellent start to the new year, and are looking forward to achieving great things in 2019!

If one of your new year resolutions was to get a better job, then one of our qualification courses could be just the start you need. Perhaps learning a new language would help you achieve your goal to travel, live or work abroad? Maybe this was the year you promised yourself you would make time to do something creative? Whatever you resolved to do take a look in our Term 2 Course Brochure and see if one of our brand new courses can help you reach your new year goals.

Don’t miss out – don’t miss a class. Just a little reminder that classes restart again in January. If you would like to check the time and return date for courses please call 0121 303 4318 or contact your centre.

Let’s make 2019 the year that you fulfil your ambitions!

On Monday 10 December 2018 BAES held its first ever partnership event with other organisations to give learners an opportunity to find out about possible next steps and progression options into further education and training to help them achieve their long-term goals and aspirations.

It was a very lively event with lots of questions being asked and information and advice being shared with learners about a wide range of courses at a variety of levels.

Read full article here >

Elderly AOP Citizen

Support services available for the over 50’s

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We have listed the following services that are available for people aged 50 and over. Others will also be listed in due course.

In the new year we will also create two new pages on the website with resources on services for elders, disadvantaged and job seekers that can be viewed or downloaded.

Contact The Elderly:
Contact The Elderly run hundreds of groups meeting every month across England, Scotland and Wales for fun, friendship, tea and cake!
Tel : 01522 306565 | Web : www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk

Independent Age:
Independent Age provides (alongside other services) regular phone calls or visits from a trained volunteer.
Helpline : 0800 319 6789
Web : www.independentage.org

See other general and advice and support services here >

Article Image Credit : Merelize at www.FreeRangeStock.com

FindFoodBanksBrum Website

FindFoodBanksBrum: Find food banks and other help in Birmingham

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FindFoodBanksBrum (FFBB) was initially set up to provide an interactive online listing service for food banks situated in Birmingham and the wider Black Country regions, formally launched in July 2013.

As well as a directory listing, the website also provides news and information on issues related to food banks, other charitable services and national developments on food and economy.

Other features include:

  • Privacy advice and tips to help visitors remain anonymous

  • Registered providers can contact FFBB to add any listings

  • Visitors are welcome to submit news for publication on the website or in the FFBB e-newsletter

The Directory is always free at the point-of-access for providers and the public.

FindFoodBanksBrum has a responsive design, and can be used easily on desktops, tablets and mobile/smart phones.

Visit the website here >

Uk Sterling Cash

Help with living costs and grants for people in Birchfield

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The Thomas Bromwich Charity provides grants for living expenses, help with small debts and more, for people that live within the following postcode areas:
B6 B18 B19 B20 B21 B42 B43 B44 (and some parts of B66 B74 WS5 WS9)

That is anyone who lives in:

  • Handsworth (the ecclesiastical parishes of St Mary, St Andrew, St James, St Michael, St Peter and the Holy Trinity, Birchfield and St Paul, and Hamstead);

  • Great Barr (that is, the ecclesiastical parish of St Margaret)

  • Perry Barr (that is, the ecclesiastical parishes of St John the Evangelist, Perry Barr, St Luke, Kingstanding, and St Matthews and Perry Beeches)

Grants are available to help with:

  • living expenses

  • repair or replacement of appliances

  • help with small debts

  • emergency payments for those with no recourse to public funds

  • a range of other needs

Find out more and apply click here >

Article Image Credit : Serge Bertasius Photography www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Crowd of people

Help with benefits & claims for Birchfield residents

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There are a range of services and online resources available in and around Birchfield that can help benefit claimants. We have listed some of these in the following.

Birchfield Library
www.birmingham.gov.uk/directory_record/5125/birchfield_library

Verification Service:
Birchfield Library provide a free document verification service for local residents.

Essentially, this regards checking and sending any formal documents that you are required to submit (e.g. birth certificates, tenancy agreements, bank statements etc) with welfare or housing benefit claims.

Available Tuesday: 9am to 12:30pm, 2pm to 4pm

Universal Credit claims:
They can also help you to make new claims for Universal Credit, child benefits etc.

Staff at the library can assist you with completing a claim for Universal Credit (or associated benefits). You can be referred by the Jobcentre or just walk in.

Available Thursday: 10am to 12:30pm, 2pm to 5pm

Contact them on 0121 464 4202

……………………………………….

Citizens Advice Birmingham
www.bcabs.org.uk/page/view/benefits

Citizens Advice can help you make sense of the benefits system.

Unsure of what you are entitled to claim? Has your benefit been reduced or stopped? Do you want to challenge the decision?

Citizens Advice Birmingham can give you practical support. They can;

– help you to work out your entitlement to benefits

– help you to fill in the appropriate forms

– help you to write review and appeal letters

– provide benefit checks and ‘better off’ calculations

– help you if you have to pay back overpayments

– help you if you have been a victim of fraud

Call the advice line on 03444 77 1010

……………………………………….

Birmingham City Council : Benefits and support
www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20017/benefits_and_support

The Council website has many resources and information about various benefits including Housing Benefit, Council Tax support and other housing and benefit related matters.

There is also information about benefit appeals, private renting, emergency food and essentials.

Click the link above for further details.

Article Image Credit : StuartMiles at www.FreeRangeStock.com

Laptop PC

IT Skills for Beginners + and job search skills sessions

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Birchfield Big Local has teamed up with Birmingham City Council’s Adult Education Service to provide FREE training sessions at Grosvenor Road Studios. Why not express an interest!

The course is in two parts (you’ll need to attend both days):

Part One: IT Skills for Beginners …
Participants will learn all the basic skills related to the use of computers including;

  1. Switching on and properly shutting down PC’s

  2. How to use a PC keyboard

  3. Using and producing documents

  4. Using online applications

And more ..

Basic requirements:

  • Participants must be on a job related benefit (e.g. Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit)

  • Participants must have at least a basic knowledge of IT and use of computers

  • Participants must have a basic grasp of English and be able to understand and communicate with the tutors

  • Must be able to commit to the full 2-day schedule (9am to 3pm)

  • Participants can bring along their own laptops if they wish

Part Two: Work Skills Course …
This part of the course will help participants to be more effective in their job search efforts.

These sessions will include:

  1. Job searching skills

  2. Completing application forms

  3. Appropriate behaviour in the workplace

  4. Mock interview sessions

And more ..

Basic requirements:
These are generally the same as the above.

Please contact Tippa Naphtali (Volunteer Co-ordinator) if you are interested in attending.
T: 07421 994753 E: tippa@birchfieldbiglocal.org

Article Image Credit : StartupStockPhotos at www.FreeRangeStock.com

Volunteers Colorful hands

The Elders Support Project: Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust

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The Elders Project is a Trust initiative supported by the SCC REACH OUT Equalities Task & Finish Group chaired by Dr Kenney-Herbert. The project was approved via the Dragons’ Den process and emerged from a response to the literature about the disadvantage of black African-Caribbean service users within mental health settings.

Whilst the initial target cohort was Afro-Caribbean service users, the project could benefit service users from any background and thus wider inclusion is encouraged.

The Elders Project was initiated to offer a proactive approach to supporting service users during their recovery journey with a specific focus on the difficult period of transition and discharge. The Elders project will first be introduced as a pilot intended for elected service users in Secured Services at the Tamarind Centre.

A cohort of Community Elders will be recruited from Faith, Sports and Music backgrounds to support the selected service users during their admission in Secure Care. Elders will be providing support in a range of methods including 1:1 support and group socials. Support with community integration and involvement, including service users’ period of transition from hospital to discharge into the community.

Initial visits will be for a maximum of 60 minutes duration on a weekly basis for a period of 6 weeks which will then be reviewed and evaluated by the Elders project team.

Download the full summary here >

If you would like to find out more regarding becoming a Community Elder Volunteer contact:
Beresford Dawkins or Caroline Mitcham
Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust
B1, 50 Summer Hill Road
Birmingham, B1 3RB
Tel: 0121 301 1067

Article Image Credit : Jack Moreh at www.FreeRangeStock.com