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News and Updates from Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme
NEW Upcoming Meet the Funder Events!
Meet the Funder event - 20th January 2025 10am-2pm Edgbaston NNS
Edgbaston NNS will be hosting a 'Meet the Funder' networking event on 20th Jan from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Avery Fields Sports and Events, 79 Sandon Road, Edgbaston B17 8DT.
Book your place by emailing nnsedgbaston@ageukbirmingham.org.uk
Small Grants for Carer Activities: Spread Joy this Festive Season!
The festive season is fast approaching, and we know this time of year can bring both joy and stress, especially for those caring for loved ones. That’s why Forward Carers, in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS), is offering small grants of up to £500 to help Carers create memorable, social, and fun activities in their communities alongside other unpaid Carers.
These grants are an opportunity to bring people together. We want to ensure every Carer gets a chance to enjoy this special time of year in ways that enhance wellbeing, foster connections, and spread festive cheer.
What Can the Grant Be Used For?
These grants are available to fund local, grassroots activities that help unpaid Carers relax, socialise, and take a break from their caring responsibilities. You can use the grant to organise one-off or multiple activities that meet at least two of the following criteria:
- Boost Carer Wellbeing: Host events that offer Carers the chance to relax, recharge, and improve their mental and physical health.
- Festive Fun: Plan enjoyable, social activities where Carers can celebrate the season with others.
- Respond to Local Needs: Address the unique needs of Carers in your area by providing much-needed support during this busy time.
- Create New Opportunities: Offer activities that Carers wouldn’t otherwise have access to, helping them experience something new this holiday season.
- Support LGBTQI+ Carers: Bring together Carers from all backgrounds, especially those from LGBTQI+ communities, for inclusive, supportive events.
- Community Connection: Bring Carers and other community members together, provided there are at least four unpaid Carers involved.
Who Can Apply?
If you’re an unpaid Carer aged 18 or over, living in Birmingham, and registered with Birmingham Carers Hub, you are eligible to apply for this grant. Local groups and organisations supporting Carers are also welcome to apply and create activities to spread festive joy.
How to Apply
It’s simple! You can apply for the £500 grant by submitting a short application that outlines how your activity or event will benefit unpaid Carers in your community.
Go to https://forward1.grantplatform.com/ to register on the site and start your application. Before you begin, make sure you read all the information to give you the best chance of success.
What is the Grant Fund?
Managed by Forward Carers and funded by Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Children’s Trust, and Birmingham and Solihull ICB, as part of Birmingham Carers Hub, this grant fund empowers unpaid Carer groups to organise activities that promote wellbeing and social connections. We’re committed to supporting Carers across Birmingham, and our partnership with the NNS schemes enhances our ability to reach Carers from all corners of the city.
What is the NNS?
The Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNS) are funded by Adult Social Care, Birmingham City Council, to develop the support people need to lead happy, healthy, independent lives in their own homes and communities. There is a Neighbourhood Network in each of Birmingham’s 10 constituencies, most of which are run by a range of voluntary and community sector organisations. Each NNS works with community groups, organisations, and local services to develop activities and support adults over 18 years in need to lead happy, healthy, and independent lives.
We’re excited to see how these grants will help Carers across Birmingham enjoy a festive season full of support, joy, and community spirit. Don’t miss this opportunity to spread some holiday cheer!
For more details and to apply, please visit https://forward1.grantplatform.com/
Good luck! We wish you the best with your application!
Free repair for digital devices at Community Repair Café event on 5 December
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Dear colleagues,
Please find attached a flyer for an upcoming Repair Café by ReCognition Circular, one of our CDSN members, on Thursday, 5 December. The event will be held at St Cyprian’s Memorial Hall, Fordrough, Hay Mills, B25 8DL.
People can bring their digital devices (computers and mobile phones) to be repaired for free at the event. The ReCognition Circular team will also repair other non-digital items such as household electrical items and bicycles.
Fairer Futures Fund – Locality Small Grants
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Dear Sutton Coldfield Groups and Organisations
Fairer Futures Fund – Locality Small Grants
We wish to tell you about a grant programme which was launched last week by Heart of England Community Foundation and BSol ICS (Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System), called Birmingham Fairer Futures Fund – Locality Small Grants.
The ten Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNSs) in Birmingham have been asked to support local community organisations who wish to apply for these latest grants. The north locality area is made up of two NNS teams, Sutton Coldfield NNS led by Age Concern Birmingham and Erdington NNS led by Witton Lodge Community Association. In Sutton Coldfield and Erdington we have a mutually shared partner, Compass Support (part of the Pioneer Group).
The north locality area (Sutton Coldfield and Erdington) has been allocated a combined grant budget of £384,163, which could fund applications up to the individual value of £15,000 each per year for three year projects. If sufficient assets (community organisations) from the north locality make successful applications to this grant programme, it would fund around 8.5 projects at the maximum value of £45,000 each over 3 years.
Some key points we want you to be aware of about the Locality Small Grants programme:
- Fairer Futures Fund
supports improved health and care services, reduction in inequalities and
enhances access to care.
- The Locality Small
Grants programme will fund projects that meet priorities within four main
themes. It is imperative that organisations read and understand these
themes and address interventions in your application which specifically
support one of the sub-priorities.
- Your application should
be innovative and specific to the themes and sub-priorities in the
guidance, the fund won’t pay for existing services and should be evidenced
with local need.
- Your application must be
seen and approved by either Erdington or Sutton Coldfield NNS teams (in
the north locality) before final submission on 9th January
2025.
- There is a relatively
short window in which to develop and submit an application to this fund,
we advise groups to work within this schedule:
- Late October to early
November 2024 – find out about the fund, read all the guidance, attend a
community event in Sutton Coldfield/Erdington, make contact with our NNS
teams to discuss your ideas and explain your interest.
- November to early
December 2024 – Produce a draft of your application and send it to the
NNS team by 15th December.
- Late December / early
January 2025 - Liaise with the NNS team in order to make changes if
needed and produce your final draft.
- Submit your final
application to the Programme website by 9th January 2025,
prepare to submit all information and answer all questions indicated in
the application guidance.
- Successful awards will
be made from March 2025 onwards.
We are planning to hold a north locality event for assets from both Erdington and Sutton Coldfield on Friday 25th October 2024 at Witton Lodge Community Association, 87 Witton Lodge Road, B23 5JD, between 12 and 4pm. At the event we will provide fuller information and guidance about the programme and answer questions about your ideas and whether the fund is for you.
In the meantime, please read the detailed information about the programme at these links:
Information about the
programme on Heart of England Community Foundation website:
Includes a video of Zoe Sweeney, Programme Manager at Heart of England Community Foundation, explaining the applicant guidance.
Applicant Guidance on FFF Locality Small Grants Programme including the four themes and sub-priorities:
Application questions and guidance:
Please let us know if you can come to the event or if you are interested in applying to this programme so that we can mail you further information.
Groups in Sutton Coldfield please email nns@ageconcernbirmingham.org.uk with the subject line Fairer Futures Fund – Locality Small Grants
Groups in Erdington please email enns@wittonlodge.org.uk (subject line as above).
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