Hey friends and colleagues working across Dudley, It has been a while since we posted anything to this site for many reasons. Having chatted to a few colleagues recently it was agreed that we would refresh this platform as many have reported how great it was to stay connected and understand what is going on across the voluntary sector and with out statutory partners.

Just a couple of quick updates

Thank you to Emily Phelps from Barnardo’s and Jayne Sargent from Phase Trust who are now your voluntary sector representatives to the Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership Board ( DSPPB) in addition Jayne has also agreed to chair the Contextual Safeguarding Sub Group of the board. Do feel free to contact either of them if you wish to share anything or find out more. However I have still offered to deliver safeguarding training and have a long list of people waiting so will be in touch soon with dates and venues etc!

Dudley CYPF Network met on with Dr Catherine Driscoll Director of Children’s Services and Helen Ellis Assistant Director for updates and questions on zoom recently. Helen has already been in touch to say how delighted she was to see new faces in Dudley as well as our long service teams! Children’s Services are keen to explore opportunities to reconnect now that we are beginning to return to some form of normality.

Dudley Holiday Activities and Food Programme ( HAF ) begins again at Easter. Donna and I will now be project managing HAF for the next 3 years and look forward to welcoming our new member of the HAF team shortly ( more info to follow)

Dudley CVS are also looking to recruit or second another team member to the DCVS Children’s Team as our Youth and Community Development Officer, sadly our last round of recruitment to this post did not attract just what we are looking for which is a passionate, creative, dedicated professional to work directly with young people and to also support emerging youth clubs and activity providers across the borough. A new JD will be coming your way shortly so do consider any potential youth workers who have experience in setting up or running youth activities and who may be looking for their next opportunity.

I will be in touch shortly with some more updates!!

Nicki

Dudley Council is inviting people to have their say on proposed amends to some of its school transport policy.

The local authority is reviewing how children under statutory school age and those entering further education settings with SEND will receive support with education transport.

The proposals will bring the policy into line with national recommendations and does not affect children and young people without SEND or those of statutory school age.

Emphasis is being placed on offering transport training programmes to help those aged 16 and over gain the confidence and skills needed to travel independently, as we support them into adulthood.

The consultation process will welcome feedback from young people, parents, carers and educational settings over the next 90 days, with a mixture of online sessions and face to face meetings set to take place across the borough over the course of the consultation period.

People can read the consultation document and find out more information online at www.dudley.gov.uk/cyptransport and are invited to take part in the consultation at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DudleyHTSTconsultation

Alternative versions in accessible formats and community languages are also available.

Parents of children with SEND who currently have transport arrangements in place, and continue in their current setting, can be reassured that these will not be affected by the proposals.

All responses to the consultation must be received by 6 June 2022

Below are some of the organisations that are offering support over Christmas and New Year period 2021

Dudley Council Plus are closed on the 24, 27 & 28 of December. They reopen on the 29, 30 & 31 of December. Support for emergency assistance payments will be available but on reduced capacity.

Domestic Abuse/Women’s Refuge
The Refuge service will be open and contactable 24/7 throughout and can provide telephone support, a Refuge place and coordinate with other Refuge services across the country. This includes access to the homelessness service emergency bed too. The main number for our Refuge is 01384 866334 and more info on our website: https://www.chadd.org.uk/new-beginnings/

DMBC’s safe & sound is reminding people that victims of domestic abuse can get help and support this Christmas by calling 📱01384 455411 24 hrs a day.

There are the national helplines too.

Young People’s Supported Housing
CHADDs Foyer service will be open 24/7 and this also includes access to an emergency bed for any young people presenting as homeless/roofless. The E-Bed is accessed through DMBC homeless service at Dudley Council Plus out of hours service or we can provide some help and coordination through calling: 01384 237555.

Our other services – sheltered housing, supported living, community support will have some services operating or are 24/7 anyway for their specific residents on site.

Black Country Foodbank
The opening times of Black Country Foodbanks will be on their website, they are being updated daily so please check the website:
https://www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk/

Public Health have emergency food and toiletry parcels that they can access out of hours. 01384 814444

Housing Finance
Our services will be closed to the public from the 23rd Dec to the 4th Jan although managers (Yvonne Steele, Alison Charley and Kelly Read) will be in the office and available on the 29th, 30th and 31st Dec.
Contacts:
Yvonne – 01384-811686 (30th & 31st)
Alison Charley – 01384-812476 (29th Dec)
Kelly Read – 01384-812486 (29th & 30th)

Benefits , Revenues and Isolation payments are all open during normal opening times over Christmas.
If there are any problems or issues, Steph Faulkner is the manager to contact during this period.

Homelessness Team will be open for business as usual during each working day up to and including the 23rd December. During the Christmas period and Bank Holidays the service will continue to operate as an ‘out of hours service’ accessible by telephone until the service re-opens for business as usual again on 29th December 2021.
The service will be accessible by telephone using the out of hours service over the New Year weekend and Bank Holiday will re-open in the New Year on 4th January.
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/housing/housing-advice-information-and-support/homelessness/

Team Manager is Hayley Rowley

Citizens Advice is open until Thursday 23rd December 2021 and then over the Christmas period the following services are open:
• Adviceline for the public to ring for any advice issue 0300 3309 044 open Wednesday 29 December 9.30am – 3.30pm
• Opened for pre booked appointments on 29th and 30th December
• Debt Helpline 07799 070595 available 29th and 30th December
• Debt self referral via our website 24/7,referrals will be actioned 29th and 30th December
• Universal Credit Hep to Claim Service 0800-144-8444 open 29/30/31 December

Normal service will resume on Tuesday 4 January 2022. All our staff are currently working from home.

Community Support

• Vi at Leslie’s Care Packages is taking referrals for people who need turkeys etc. or presents – referral@lesliescarepackages.org
• Hope House is open Christmas Day 4pm for turkey sandwiches, roast potatoes and pudding plus chat, company and some festive fun. Open to anyone.
• Halesowen Scout Group free Christmas two course lunch on Sunday 19th December delivered between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, will need heating up, to be confirmed before 16th December, call Ian on 07970 560 463.
• Amblecote Christian Centre – Christmas Day Meal call 01384 375 111

Places of welcome
The information below relates specifically to Places of Welcome, where the Place of Welcome is held in a church/community centre – other events may be happening, but just not Places of Welcome. ie Christmas Services/parties

Top Church will be open on Wednesday 29th December 1-3pm Free hot drinks with optional activities, all welcome St Thomas and St Luke
Top Church, High Street, Dudley, DY1 1QD

Hope House, Springs Church, 7 Zoar Street, Lower Gornal, Dudley, DY3 2PA – Mondays and Tuesdays 09:30 – 14:30 plus NEW Community Garden
Mondays and Tuesdays as normal 9.30am – 2.30pm until 20th and 21st December.

We will then be open
Christmas Day 4pm – 6pm

We will then reopen on Tuesday 4th January 9.30am.

Woodside Internet Centre, Hallchurch Road, Holly Hall, Dudley, DY2 0TQ – Mondays 10:00 – 15:30
Open 20th Dec
Closed 27th Dec
Open 3rd Jan

Community Hub, 16A Stone St, Dudley, DY1 1NS – Tuesdays 10:30 – 12:30
Open 21st Dec
Closed 28th Dec
Open 4th Jan

Primrose Hill Community Church, The Hub at PHCC, Chapel Street,Netherton, Dudley, DY2 9PN
Open 22nd Dec
Open 29th Dec
Open 5th Jan

Top Church, St Thomas and St Luke’s, High Street, Dudley, DY1 1QD – Wednesdays 13:00 15:00
Open 22nd Dec
Open 29th Dec
Open 5th Jan

Rainbow Street Community Centre, 49 Rainbow Street, Coseley, WV14 8SX – Thursdays 10:00 – 12:00
Open 23rd Dec
30th Dec TBC

Open Door Cafe, Christ Church, High Street, Lye, Stourbridge, DY9 8LF – Fridays 11:00 – 13:00
TBC
St John’s Church, Leys Road, Brockmoor, DY5 3UR – Saturdays 10:00 – 12:00
Closed 25th Dec
Closed 1st Dec

Black Country Mental Health, The Hub, Bushey Fields Hospital Site, Bushey Fields Road, Dudley, DY1 2LZ – Sundays 15:00 – 17:00 *If arriving by car, please call 07951580792 for site barrier code
Open 19th Dec
Open 26th Dec
Open 2nd Jan

Contact officer:
Carrie Blount

Places of Welcome & Buddying Facilitator Black Country

Mobile: 07377 918 101

Web: https://tctogether.org.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/impactpoverty

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRslaIOWDBvLW8kX7OYw2ow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/impactpoverty

Skills Training would like to invite you to the Virtual Open Day which will take place on Tuesday 13^th April at 2:00 till-4:00.  During the Open Day, you will all have an opportunity to find out more about various support we have on offer, meet the staff, and ask questions.

The link below will allow you to be a guest in our Open Day, via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://skillstraininguk.zoom.us/j/92552742965?pwd=KytNYXJrSzA2VCtNTXpBMHQ5K2tzZz09

Please, feel free to invite your friends and family members so they can get an insight into the training and support we provide. Remember, you will receive £50 for each friend that you refer to us, and it’s always great to have a buddy on the course!

for more information visit Apprenticeships Training Provider | Skills Training UK or contact Trevor Campbell on 01384259501

Children’s Mental Health Week is taking place on 1-7 February 2021. This year’s theme is Express Yourself.

Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. This could be through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that make you feel good.

The Children’s Mental Health website has lots of free resources that will help children and young people to explore what it means to Express Yourself. All of the ideas can be adapted for use in school, for home-schooling, online lessons or independent learning. 

You can get more information from a Place2B which is a children’s mental health charity with over 25 years’ experience working with pupils, families and staff in UK schools.

Dudley Young Health Champions and Healthwatch Dudley are working in partnership with DMBC Public Health to roll out a ‘Young Covid Health Champions’ initiative. The project is not only supporting attempts to end this Pandemic, but also providing young people with much needed opportunities to volunteer and develop their skills during times of restrictions and lock down.  The aim of the project is to ensure that accurate and helpful information on the Pandemic reaches the general public. Young people that sign up are provided with an interactive, online information session on what the role of a Young Covid Champion involves. Young Covid Champions will then be provided with up to date, accurate information on advice from central government and public health that you will be asked to promote on social media, friends and family. In addition young people are a group that have been massively affected in terms of mental health and to support positive mental well-being, DYHC will be providing YCC with information and support that they can signpost peers to, for example the Izone Website (www.izone.org.uk).

We are running two Young Covid Health Champion information sessions for young people on:

Thursday 4^th February 6-7pm and Thursday 11^th February 6-7pm – if you would like to join either sessions us please email me stating which session you would like to join to fayehall@dudleycvs.org.uk with your:

• Name
• DOB
• Postcode
• Ethnicity
• Disability (yes or no)

St Thomas’s Community Association are delivering some really great, fun, creative activities during February for young people aged 11-25, from photography and film making to theatre, dance and Henna painting! There’s something for everyone!  The programme will run over 6-8 week period. Below are the activities for week one.

Monday 1 February

Film Making 4:30pm-6pm

Urban Fusion (Over 16’s) 6:30pm-7pm

Tuesday 2 February

The Art Room (Over 16) 4:30pm-5:30pm

Urban Fusion (11-16 year olds) 6pm-7pm

Wednesday 3 February

Photography (11-16 year olds) 4:30pm-5:30pm

Photography (over 16) 5:45pm-6:45pm

Urban Fusion Dance (over 16) 6:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday 4 February

Creative Hub (11-16 year olds) 4:30pm-5:30pm

Quiz night (Over 16) 7pm-8pm

Friday 5 February

Open Mic (11-15 year olds) 5pm-6pm

Open Mic (16+) 6pm – 7pm

Saturday 6 Feb

Gather and Grow (11-16 year olds) 10am-11am

Youth theatre (11-16 Year olds) 11am-12noon

Henna Hand Painting (17-25 year olds) 1pm-2:30pm

Sunday 7 February

Youth Theatre (17-25 year olds) 11am-12noon

To sign up for any of the sessions email stthomasca@outlook.com or call 07957 683696. Follow (5) St Thomas’s Community Association (Sledmere Centre) | Facebook for more information!

DMBC are offering some ‘Reducing Parental Conflict Training’ to anyone working with parents in the Dudley borough. These courses are being delivered by Knowledge Pool and offer 3 different module levels. The information in the attached document outlines each level, you can complete one or all three modules, there is a max of 20 people per course. You should complete module 1 before attending 2 etc.

There are a number of different dates as outlined below. All modules are delivered online between 9:30 to 12:30 pm.

Module 1: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reducing-parental-conflict-training-module-1-tickets-136813991331

20^th  January – Mod 1

22^nd February – Mod 1

Module 2: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reducing-parental-conflict-training-module-2-tickets-136822083535

21^st  January  – Mod 2  

4^th February – Mod 2  

23^rd February – Mod 2  

11^th March – Mod 2  

Module 3: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reducing-parental-conflict-training-module-3-tickets-136824322231

29^th  January  – Mod 3

5^th February – Mod 3

24^th February – Mod 3 

12^th March – Mod 3

If you would like to book onto one of the dates outlined above please use the link to Eventbrite. Once booked, Knowledge Pool will share the course log on details.

Please ensure you have permission from your manager before booking on the course.

If you require further information about the course or you have a whole staff team that would like to take up the offer please email innovation.fund@dudley.gov.uk or call Leanne Whitehouse on 01384 816260.

There is lots of help and support available to help families in crisis who have no access to fuel or food over the next six weeks. Here are just a few things that may help.

Families on low income who are entitled to free school meals will receive £30 vouchers per child directly from school.  If you have a technical issue regarding the vouchers you should contact the number of the voucher company or speak to your school.

Families who are not in receipt of benefit but who find themselves in crisis as a result of furlough or zero hours contracts etc. should contact their local family centres who have a system in place to assess personal circumstances.

Dudley North Family Centre, Bayer St, Coseley, Bilston WV14 9DS 01384 813096

Dudley Central Family Centre, Selborne Road, DY2 8LJ 01384 812 440

Brierley Hill Family Centre, Parkes Street, DY5 3DY 01384 813322

Stourbridge Family Centre, Forge Road, DY8 1XF 01384 818780

Halesowen Family Centre, Lye By-Pass, DY9 8HT 01384 813954

If a family irrelevant of whether they receive benefits or not have metered fuel and cannot afford to top it up over Christmas they should call the Winter Warmth Team on 01384 817086

Families who are having difficulty paying fuel bills should contact

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/extra-help-energy-services

Organisations that can help families in crisis.

Black Country Foodbank will be open for emergencies over the Christmas period. Visit www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk/locations/ to find the nearest places you can collect foodbank parcels from or call 01384 671250 to talk to someone who can help.

Asda Café Kids meals for free throughout December – Please follow this link to find out more https://corporate.asda.com/newsroom/2020/11/30/kids-can-eat-free-in-asda-cafes-throughout-december

St Thomas’s Community Association have set up a new foodbank at the Sledmere Community Centre. If you are struggling financially and require a food parcel you can collect one in person from the foodbank at; Sledmere Community Centre, The School Drive (off Buffery Road), Dudley, DY2 8EH.

The opening times are every Wednesday from 5pm – 7pm and Sundays from 11am -1.00pm. It will also be open over the Chirstmas period.

If you are unable to leave the house or collect in person the foodbank can arrange delivery, where prior notice is given. Please email stthomasca@outlook.com or call 07957 683696

Heaven’s Kitchen Based in the The Lighthouse Centre, Salop Street, Dudley, DY1 3AT provide a three course meal every Monday evening at 7pm and a cooked breakfast every Saturday morning from 10:00am call for more information 01384 239222

Champions Church, Netherton provide a hot food delivery service for those in need every Tuesday at 7pm contact kitchen@championschurch.org.uk or call 01384 242455

High Oak Youth and Community Centre run a community kitchen project that feed families in need on a Wednesday 10-2pm. They are based at 34 High Oak, Pensnett, Dudley, Brierley Hill DY5 4LA call 07982 428831 for more information.

Gather Dudley CIC based in the Churchill Shopping Centre, run a pay it forward scheme Monday to Saturday. If you are struggling to feed your family you can use the scheme. They also run a fair share food scheme on a Saturday morning where people can take away surplus free food that’s available. Visit www.facebook.com/gatherdudleycic/ or call 07375 084536 to find out more.

Black Country Well Being Centre based in Vale Street, Upper Gornal, DY3 3XF are providing hot meals for people in need on Thursdays and Fridays. They also run a foodbank on a Saturday Visit www.facebook.com/Black-Country-Wellbeing-Centre-214643865809630 or call 07501 827334

Life Central Church, Owen House, Little Cornbow, Halesowen, B63 3AJ provide Fortnightly hot meals for families in Crisis contact 0121 501 3542 for more information

Harry’s café part of Top Church Training in Brierley Hill can help support families in crisis visit Top Church Training Brierley Hill | Facebook for more information

Emergency Contacts

Children’s and adult care services emergency duty team 0300 555 8574

Emergency housing repairs 0300 555 8283

Callpay 0300 555 7000

Dudley Council plus 0300 555 2345

For further details follow this link

https://www.dudley.gov.uk/xmasopeningtimes