September 2024 Newsletter

Funds Raised for the Safe Sleep Scheme - Thank you Bishop Michael

Earlier this year Birmingham’s new Bishop, Michael Volland ran the Birmingham Half Marathon to raise funds for the Safe Sleep Scheme.

Thrive is incredibly grateful to Bishop Michael for not only choosing to run on behalf of the Safe Sleep Scheme, but also for highlighting the issues faced by many families in our city.

The Safe Sleep Scheme was developed as a direct result of the ‘Real People Honest Talk’ conversations, (highlighted in our March 2023 issue), facilitated by Thrive with Birmingham Forward Steps (BFS), and Children’s Centre partners across Birmingham, listening to the voices of families with young children who are rarely heard in the policy arena. Stories were heard about the poor conditions of the accommodation families are growing up in, and one issue that stood out was the fact that some families did not have access to Moses baskets, cots and beds for their children and were therefore having to share a bed with their baby or toddler.

In response, the BFS Poverty Strategy group began considering what might be possible and as a direct result the Safe Sleep Scheme pilot project was set up, led by Thrive and Birmingham PlayCare Network, providing equipment to families in need.

Referrals are made through Children’s Centres and requests can be made for a Moses basket, cot or bed which will come with a bedding set and additional sheets, stairgates, potties and baby hygiene packs.

Through a grant from the Household Support Fund, the scheme was initially piloted in Perry Barr, Hodge Hill, Erdington and Ladywood, but having been enormously successful it has now been extended citywide.

Kinder Valley in Aston, who supply, deliver and assemble the beds for the scheme, have played a pivotal role in making the project a success and recently organised an event where they gave away their surplus stock to Children’s Centres to give out to families in need.

A big thank you to Kinder Valley and to all those involved in making Safe Sleep Scheme a successful project!

If you'd like to donate click HERE or go our website for more information.

Cadent Warm Hubs

Birmingham now has almost 300 registered Warm Welcome Spaces spread across the city. Ten of these centres are getting extra support from Cadent Gas to enable ten specialist Warm Welcome Centres known as ‘Cadent Centres for Warmth’, to grow their work around energy efficiency and energy safety.

These groups are able to offer slow cookers, heated throws, heated seat covers, and most importantly, help their participants to become more energy efficient and reduce their outgoings. This pilot project is being well received as people are supported to understand more about how to heat their homes efficiently and save on cooking costs, as well as register for the PSR list.

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK wide service which provides extra advice and support, including when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply.

To find out of you are eligible to be on the register click HERE

Community Development Workers in the Centres for Warmth have been sharing impact stories with us:

"The heated chair pads and blankets are proving a great hit. I almost reduced someone to tears by offering them a blanket -they had been saying how cold their flat was that they just go to bed in the evening"

"What a wonderful surprise! A big pallet of gifts delivered for the community. Huge thanks to everyone involved in this amazing effort. We received 100 Slow cookers and 20 blankets and are planning to distribute them on Monday. This generosity will surely make a difference in many lives. Thank you all so much!"

"…she said that she had not had her heating on for 4 years because she was so anxious about it; we were able to give her a heated seat pad and a slow cooker along with instructions. Again, she was very grateful and amazed that she could get this help".

Warm Welcome

Could Your Organisation, Faith Space or Venue be a Warm Welcome Space?

Thrive Together Birmingham are continuing to support churches and organisations to help grow the network of Warm Welcome spaces across Birmingham. We are keen that ideally this should be an all year round activity connecting and supporting local people in our neighbourhoods; our partners in Birmingham City Council and Warm Welcome nationally are able to offer seasonal support.

If you would like a chat about how to set up a Warm Welcome Space please feel free to email Louise: louisew@thrivetogetherbham.org

Groups in Birmingham and other local authorities can also register with the National Warm Welcome campaign here and be added to the national map. The National Warm Welcome Campaign have announced that their online map of Warm Welcome Spaces is now officially live - see it here

Safe Spaces for Young People - Youth Cafe at St Andrew's Chelmsley Wood

St Andrews Chelmsley Wood run their Youth Café every Monday after school. It has become a popular group and around 45 young people from 6 different local schools attend regularly.

Run by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, the church opens up its building and offers activities that range from gaming, table tennis to tabletop board games, as well as having access to coaches who offer sports and gymnastics sessions to enable young people to stay fit and healthy.

It is a successful and growing group but it started small and grew out of relationships, as the church looked to find ways to reach out to their community and build connections. The church initially put on some events which were sponsored by local businesses and from there set up the Youth Café.

One of the volunteers at this group is a lady in her 70’s, when asked why she was involved in running this group she said, I want to help and be part of it because I want to know what young people are experiencing, and I want to know how best to serve them.

As well as activities that keep their interest the young people share food together.

There are a number of young people who attend regularly who are neurodiverse which adds some complexity and this has meant that activities such as creating a sensory area have become an important and a welcome addition to the group.

Asked what advice he would give to other groups wanting to set something up, churches in particular, Rev Andi Thomas said,

"Be prepared to listen, and don’t be frightened, just start by opening up the doors and see what happens, see who comes along"

St Andrews is not a huge church, but with a little bit of vision and imagination, as well as a commitment to the local community it is incredible to see what can happen.

If you are running something like this in your local neighbourhood or would like to start something, then we would love to hear from you. For CofE churches wanting to open a Safe Spaces for Young People in their neighbourhood there may even be some funding available to help you do so. For more information do get in touch at info@safespaces.org.uk