The Bearwood Blog

Bearwood Action for Refugees are in need of a new chairperson as the current chair is moving. The role involves heading up an inspiring, young organisation dedicated to supporting refugees at home and abroad. This is a VOLUNTARY role, and they have a large dedicated team of volunteers who are experienced in fund raising, awareness raising and supporting refugees through their befriending project.

Please follow the link below to download a description of the role.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Mcu4hAF8n-YVowmMfZYMmvX7eGrItCf9oDX_EC4NKg/edit

To find out more and express an interest please email us at bearwoodactionforrefugees@gmail.com

Introducing the Kaleidoscope Sanctuary Hub which will offer an out of hours mental health support to residents of Sandwell.

What is the Kaleidoscope Sanctuary Hub ?

The Kaleidoscope Sanctuary Hub aims to help vulnerable individuals there and then, preventing admissions to A&E or causing harm to themselves or others.

We offer a listening ear, offer support and advice along with signposting information. We will support individuals manage the difficult times. A friendly support worker, will work with the person to create a wellbeing plan and empower them to seek support for recovery. 

What are the opening hours?

• Our service runs 6 days a week currently. (Every day except Friday)
• Current opening hours are 6pm -11 pm

As the service expands the days and hours of delivery will too!

What support are we offering?

• Phone calls
• Video support
• Face to Face- coming soon
• Text service- coming soon

Who we can help?
• Anyone aged 18+ who feels they are experiencing a mental health crisis but not in need of emergency services.
• Anyone who feeling alone and in need of some support. 
• A family member or friend of someone, who is experiencing a mental health crisis.

How can the service be accessed?
Anyone who is in need of support can call us directly. We want to remove as many barriers as possible so we will accept self-referrals and also referral from the Sandwell crisis team. We will be working together to support Sandwell in their times of need. 

• Call 0121 289 6111on Monday to Thursday 6pm-11pm and Weekends 6pm -11pm.
• Callers outside of these hours, will be advised to speak directly to the Sandwell crisis team on 0121 543 4100

A grant scheme has been launched by Sandwell Council to help households who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of £1.4 million has been made available to Sandwell Council from the government to help those most affected by Covid-19.

The grant is available for food and utilities – to buy food or help pay household energy and water bills – as well as other essentials like warm clothing, toiletries, sanitary products, blankets and sometimes towards other essential household equipment.

Applications for the grant can be made online at http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/wintergrant or those with no access to internet can call 0121 569 2266 to apply.

The grant is available throughout the winter until March and households can apply a maximum of twice during that period.

In the days before COVID (remember them) Black Country Touring theatre company put on an event at Thimblemill library about an unsolved murder in Quinton in the 1950s. It’s a true story and the series is presented by the great nephew of Fred Jeffs, the victim.

They are now working on a Podcast around the events of the time. The story ranges across Bearwood, Smethwick and up to Sandwell Valley. Graeme Rose the presenter, has interviewed dozens of people who were around at the time and their voices feature in the podcast series. It is a fascinating series which despite the dark subject mater at its heart is about so much more – how people remember events, how certain events are fixed on by young brains (most of the people Graeme interviewed were children at the time and are in their 70s and 80s now), how we view the past – and can you solve a murder 63 years after it has happened?

It’s an interesting story with lots of local interest and there’s a link on their web page with all the episodes on it here Fred Jeffs – The Sweetshop Murder and for a quick taster – so you can get a flavour of what it’s like – in this trailer
https://youtu.be/1MOvR8GBFc4

A grant scheme has been launched by Sandwell Council to help households who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of £1.4 million has been made available to Sandwell Council from the government to help those most affected by Covid-19.

The grant is available for food and utilities – to buy food or help pay household energy and water bills – as well as other essentials like warm clothing, toiletries, sanitary products, blankets and sometimes towards other essential household equipment.

Applications for the grant can be made online at www.sandwell.gov.uk/wintergrant or those with no access to internet can call 0121 569 2266 to apply.

The grant is available throughout the winter until March and households can apply a maximum of twice during that period.

Councillor Farut Shaeen, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for living healthy lives, said: “It is vital we get the money from this grant to those households who need it most.

“We are writing to households we think may be most affected financially by the coronavirus pandemic and have a newly established team on-hand to help our residents.

“Residents should get in touch if they think they may be eligible.”

Maria Crompton, Sandwell Council’s deputy leader, added: “The winter can be a particularly difficult time for those struggling financially so the grant will be a real life-line to those in need of help.

“We have lots of help and support on offer to Sandwell residents including this winter grant. I urge people to look at our website for details or those without access to the internet can call.”

Residents can visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/wintergrant to check if they are eligible and apply online.

Anyone struggling financially can go to www.sandwell.gov.uk/emergencyhelp and should only call the team if they have no access to the internet on 0121 569 2266.

Key messages

• COVID-19 rates are very high. Hospital admissions and deaths are increasing rapidly.

• Stay Home. Do not leave your home unless it is absolutely essential to do so.

• Do not have visitors to your home except for essential carers.

• Fines will be given to anyone not following these lockdown restrictions.