Warm Welcome Birmingham - Newsletter

 

We've now had over 100 Warm Welcome Spaces register to join the Directory, with more than 60 spaces now available on the Directory. Read on to hear how Warm Welcome Spaces have enabled families to be provided with extra support over the last few weeks.

Christmas Opening Hours As we head towards to Christmas period, we need to ensure our Warm Welcome Directory reflects any changes to your Spaces opening days/times If you have any changes to your confirmed days/times between 19th December & 3rd January, please notify us via email WarmWelcome@Birmingham.gov.uk

Warm Welcome Spaces - Network Event 16th December 2022 NEWSLETTER #2 WARM WELCOME SPACES NEWSLETTER BIRMINGHAM 

We will be hosting our first Warm Welcome Network Event on 16th December, for all registered Warm Welcome Spaces. This online event will be an opportunity to hear from other spaces on their experiences, share best practice as well as updates from Birmingham City Council on Warm Welcome Funding. Keep an eye out for an invite in the coming days, we hope to see you there! 

Information Sessions

We're continuing our Information Sessions, in partnership with Thrive, for Warm Welcome Spaces. You can register to join an information session on Eventbrite - we will be adding new dates for December The information sessions provide you with useful information on what a Warm Welcome space is as well as tips and ideas on running your Warm Welcome.

Warm Packs

We are currently working with partners to explore the provision of warm packs for residents during the winter months To ensure the warm packs contain the most beneficial items for homes, we’d like to hear from you and your visitors. What items would be most useful? For example; blankets, slow cookers, LED lightbulbs You can provide feedback via WarmWelcome@birmingham.gov.uk

Cost of Living - Grants

We'll be providing further detail on the Warm Welcome Grant Funding at our network event on 16th December The Emergency Food Aid Fund has recently launched, enabling spaces / projects to apply for grants of £4,800 to help them support Birmingham residents during the Cost of Living Crisis - You can find out more and apply at Birmingham.gov.uk/emergency-food-aid-fund Asda's Foundation are also providing cost of living grants between £500-£2000 to Community spaces providing Warm Welcomes. You can apply through the Asda Foundation. 

Network Spotlight

Share Shack, through their listen and connect service, were able to support a family in obtaining food at the weekend working with their partners. They were also able to provide the family with food to take home that day as well as providing them access to a slow cooker to allow them to make a homemade meal within their temporary accommodation. Whilst at the Share Shack they enjoyed some of the activities on offer that day as well as having an evening meal. 

Spitfire's Warm Welcome in Castle Vale has welcomed friends and families, young and old since opening providing free warm refreshments with plans to offer warm meals over the coming winter months. Across their Warm Welcomes within the city they are providing opportunities for people to take part in activities, access services and get practical advice and support during the cost of living crisis

Channel 4 recently featured St Nicholas Warm Welcome Spaces part of a piece on the Cost of Living Crisis following the recent Autumn Budget - You can watch the feature here: ‘The poor aregetting poorer’: How cost of living is impacting those at thebottom – Channel 4 News 

You can send any positive experiences from your Warm Welcome, to share with the network, here; WarmWelcome@birmingham.gov.uk