BEAM Project – Free Wellbeing Programme for Carers

 

The BEAM Project is a free 3-week wellbeing programme for carers supporting an older adult aged 50+. The programme is designed to give carers dedicated time to focus on their own wellbeing, while the person they care for enjoys safe, engaging support in a high-quality Older Adults Day Care setting.

What the programme includes

• Free weekly wellbeing sessions for carers of adults aged 50+
• Free respite care for the older adult, with age-appropriate activities
• Free lunch for both the carer and the person they support
• Delivered at Moorfield Hall, Shard End, Birmingham

Programme structure

Each cohort meets once a week for three consecutive weeks:

• Week 1: Movement, relaxation, mindfulness and stress reduction
• Week 2: Nutrition, energy levels, sleep and metabolic health
• Week 3: Rest, recovery, resilience and personal wellbeing planning

Upcoming dates

• Cohort 1: 15th, 22nd & 29th January 2026
• Cohort 2: 5th, 12th & 19th February 2026

Key information

• Participants must be carers supporting an adult aged 50 or over
• Attendance at all three sessions is required
• Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis

Referrals / enquiries

If you are aware of any carers who may benefit from this programme, please encourage them to get in touch directly:

Email: Daycare@ageconcernbirmingham.org.uk

Winter Wellbeing Bags for vulnerable older people in Sutton Coldfield

Just in time for the cold spell, a big thank you to Katie Bradshaw and colleagues at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for the donation of 18 winter wellbeing bags to be distributed to vulnerable older people in Sutton Coldfield. Pictured is Pete Millington from Sutton Coldfield NNS (part of Age Concern Birmingham) who braved the icy roads to pick up the bags from Katie at their HQ at Priestley Wharf.

The production of the bags was funded by Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust. Each bag contains a hat, scarf, mindful colouring book and pens, flask with hot choc and soup, blanket and hot water bottle.

DBS Checks - Understanding Eligibility: Workshop for West Midlands VCSE Sector

DBS aims to protect the public by helping employers make safer recruitment and employment decisions, and by barring individuals who pose a risk to vulnerable groups from engaging in regulated activity.

In the new year, DBS are running workshops for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in the West Midlands.

The sessions are free-of-charge and will be delivered via MS Teams.

The DBS Eligibility Workshop is suitable for anyone who has responsibility for engaging with DBS processes and legislation within their organisation including those who decide on levels of checks to be applied for, carry out recruitment or manage staff in regulated activity, or have responsibility for safeguarding.

The workshop will cover:

• The different levels of DBS checks
• When an employee is eligible for a check
• Regulated Activity - Children and Adults
• DBS Update Service
• What safe recruitment practices can be in place, that DBS checks form a part of

Registration Link - DBS Eligibility Workshop

The DBS Partnerships team reserves the right to amend or cancel should we, for whatever reason, be unable to deliver an advertised training session. In these circumstances, the partnerships team will endeavour to provide adequate notice but will also ensure that a substitute date is made available. If you have any accessibility requirements we need to be aware of please email me rebecca.haines@dbs.gov.uk a minimum of two weeks prior to the session, where the advertised date allows.

Dementia in Sutton Coldfield

Supporting people with dementia and their families and carers is a priority prevention outcome of Sutton Coldfield NNS and of our lead organisation Age Concern Birmingham which includes the Dementia Carer team based in the Carers Hub.

To start the new year in January 2026 SCNNS have produced a gap analysis document which tracks down the facts and figures about the prevalence of dementia in our constituency and in the neighbouring constituencies which make up the north and east localities of Birmingham and north Solihull, Erdington, Hodge Hill and Yardley.

This document looks at the definitions of dementia and how these are addressed in the city's services and strategies. The document also looks at dementia in the context of Birmingham's Ageing Well strategy, the government's Dementia 100: Pathway Assessment Tool and the priorities of the Birmingham & Solihull Dementia Strategy 2023-2028, as well as a list of other key findings about dementia prevalence and some of the health and social issues which affect dementia prevention and onset.

Finally, the document includes a mapping index of local community and voluntary assets (services, groups and organisations) which offer support to people with dementia and their carers. Many of these details have been sourced from the City's Connect to Support database.

Our Dementia Gap Analysis.       

Key Facts:

Dementia prevalence in Birmingham, UK, shows about 4% of the population are affected, similar to England, with around 13,000 people estimated to have dementia in Birmingham & Solihull, a figure projected to rise. Birmingham leads in diagnosed cases due to its large population, but struggles with diagnosis rates, with an estimated 4,000 people undiagnosed, falling below national targets, though improving.  (Birmingham City Observatory)

Dementia prevalence rises significantly with age, affecting 1 in 14 over 65s in the UK generally. 

Birmingham's challenges include its large, aging population, with numbers expected to grow, making diagnosis and support crucial. 

Two-thirds of unpaid carers for those with dementia are women. By the age of 60, 1 in 5 women will have provided unpaid care to an elderly friend or relative. 

Estimated total number of people living with dementia in Sutton Coldfield is 1,588 (1.64% of population) compared to the national average of 1,370, ranking it #145 in UK. (Figures from Alzheimer’s Research UK)  

According to Birmingham City Council, one in three people over 65 years will develop dementia. 

125 years of YMCA Sutton Coldfield

Celebrate 125 Years of YMCA Sutton Coldfield supporting the community! 

Join us on 20 January 2026 for a historic event marking YMCA Sutton Coldfield’s incredible 125 year journey. This free community celebration brings together history, music, and connection in the heart of our town. 

Why attend? 

Unmissable Performances: Enjoy live entertainment from the charity’s talented youth and community groups. 

Commemorative Film Premiere: Experience the story of YMCA Sutton Coldfield like never before. 

Networking & Community Spirit: 

Meet YMCA Sutton Coldfield staff, local businesses, and residents who make Sutton Coldfield thrive. 

Historic Venue: Celebrate in the iconic Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, a building steeped in Edwardian charm and cultural heritage where the charity first began in 1900. 

Buffet lunch: A free buffet lunch will be served in The Vesey Lounge before the performances. This is more than an event; it’s a celebration of the people, stories, and partnerships that have shaped our community for over a century. 

Be part of history. 

Be part of the future. 

📍 Venue: Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Hall Vesey Lounge and Auditorium 

🎟 Free Entry – Everyone welcome! Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance due to limited spaces.