News and Updates from Sutton Coldfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme
Join our sessions in Boldmere on Tuesdays between 2pm and 3pm.
Why don't you join us? Everyone should be singing as it makes us all feel happy and we have so much fun every week. Make new friends too as we're a very friendly bunch of people...
We can't wait to see you..
BVSC stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and along with our partners across Birmingham we will be doing all we can to help and support the humanitarian crisis.
We have collated some links to useful sources of information that may help you in supporting people of Ukraine.
Many people in Birmingham want to do whatever they can to help, and one way is to donate.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is a coalition of 15 leading UK charities, has launched a collective appeal to provide emergency aid and rapid relief to civilians suffering during the conflict.
Leaders from The Polish Expats Association (PEA) in Birmingham, together with a partnership of community leaders (CEE) have set up a GoFundMe page to help refugees fleeing Ukraine gofund.me/7b070324
You can also help by providing accommodation to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Find out more about the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme, which opens on 18 March.
The following websites provide good sources of guidance and information:
Summary of Official-Level Briefing (Dept of Levelling Up)
RESET are the organisation leading on the design of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and VCSEP understand that they require support in regards to appointing a head of safeguarding to support the team and development of the programme.
Citizens Advice Bureau Guidance on volunteers who wish to participate in Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Drop-in advice is always available at the Refugee and Migrant Centre with locations in Birmingham, Wolverhampton or Walsall. Contact information for all locations is available from their website, link above.
Updated information about Government announcements on Ukraine are available via West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership UK.
Relate Birmingham are offering free phone chats for Ukrainians in England & Wales with loved ones at the centre of the current crisis. Bookings can be made via Relate's website.
The British Red Cross has produced advice guidance for Ukrainians arriving in the UK:
• Advice for Ukrainians arriving in the UK (English)
• Advice for Ukrainians arriving in the UK (Ukrainian)
• Advice for Ukrainians arriving in the UK (Russian)
Migration: Policy & Practice supports the effective settlement of migrants and a positive integration agenda in Birmingham and the Black Country.
Ukranian Institute London lists various ways you can support the humanitarian crisis.
NCVO has published a guide for charities and civil society which includes: giving donations; supporting grassroots action; and campaigning.
Kent Council has produced some useful guidance
Applications for Hardship
Grants from the Household Support Fund are now being accepted again from
trusted partner agencies in partnership with the 10 lead agencies across the
city.
We reserve the right to close the fund to new applicants at short notice should the profiling of the applicants in the system indicate the remaining funding will be distributed in full.
What support is available?
Grants may be applied for up to £150 per household. Each household is only eligible for one grant award payment. If you have previously received a hardship grant award from the Household Support Fund, please do not reapply as your application will be rejected.
As part of the application process, individuals will be signposted to other support available to them in the locality such as: money and welfare advice, utility support, food bank/pantry, and connect families with local community resources.
There are 5 categories of support that can be applied for:
1.
Food
2.
Gas, electricity, water
3.
Essentials linked to gas/electricity/water costs
4.
Wider essentials
5.
Housing costs
The focus of this fund is intended to support households experiencing hardship by supporting them to meet costs associated with food and/or gas electricity, and water usage.
Support from this fund does not cover recent Government announcements in February 2022 in relation to £150 Council Tax rebates or the £200 energy utility provider support announced by the HM Treasury.
Who is eligible?
Applicants will need to undergo an assessment process, with a trusted partner agency, to determine eligibility to access the fund.
In order to apply, households with children must be entitled to Free School Meals (or Healthy Start Vouchers for households with pre-school age children).
For households without children, we are accepting applications from households where at least one person is in receipt of one or more of the following means tested benefits:
• Council Tax Support
• Housing Benefit
• Income-based
Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Social Funds (Cold
Weather Payment, Funeral Payment, Sure Start Maternity Grant)
• Tax Credits (Child Tax
Credit, Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit
How to apply?
Once eligibility is confirmed, the trusted partner agency will complete your application to receive your hardship grant.
To identify your local trusted partner agency please see the list of lead organisations below.
If you are unable to identify your local lead partner organisation please contact hsf@bvsc.org for further support.
How are grants paid?
Hardship grants are paid directly into the applicant’s bank account. Alternative arrangements can be put in place if you do not have access to your own bank account.
This process can take up to a total of 7 working days in order to complete necessary financial checks, including fraud detection measures.
If you have a query regarding an existing application please contact the trusted partner organisation who submitted the application on your behalf in the first instance.
Please do not contact trusted partners until 7 working days after your application has been submitted as they may not be able to provide an update on the progress before this time.
Lead locality organisations:
Edgbaston
householdsupport@gatewayfs.org
0121 456 7821
Erdington
Support for Families
ErdingtonFamilies@compass-support.org.uk
0121 748 8199
Erdington Support for Adults
contactus@compass-support.org.uk
or
Chantelle.Holmes@wittonlodge.org.uk 0121 748
0891
or 0121 827 6295
Hall Green
Household.Support@GreenSquareAccord.co.uk
07855 409 582
Hodge Hill
EarlyHelp-Hodgehill@family-action.org.uk
07816 086 607
Ladywood
childrenandfamilies@bsettlement.org.uk
07764 977 636
Northfield
info@northfieldcommunity.org
0121 411 2157
Perry Bar
PerrybarrEHnetwork@spurgeons.org
0121 752 1900
Selly Oak
StaceySeaman@malachict.co.uk
07544 655537
Sutton Coldfield -
Support for Adults
info@ageconcernbirmingham.org.uk
0212 362 3650
Sutton Coldfield -
Support for Families
SuttonEHnetwork@spurgeons.org
0121 752 1860
Yardley
EarlyHelpYardley@barnardos.org.uk
0121 289 4875
Carers of adults in Birmingham
For carers of adults living anywhere in the city of Birmingham please contact Birmingham Carers Hub on 0333 006 9711. To apply for the HSF through the Carers Hub, the carer must live in the city and be registered with the Carers Hub.
.png)
.png)
.png)
