Services / Support – Information Updates

**NOW OPEN for New Applications**  Act on Energy – Worcestershire Household Support Fund (Phase 3 – ending 31st of March 23)

This scheme has been reopened and offers qualifying residents across the county of Worcestershire support with their energy costs, fuel debt and where required, assistance to replace broken boilers and heating systems, subject to funding.  Eligibility criteria for support is not restricted to solely vulnerable households in receipt of benefits, but criteria will be applied for the different elements of support on offer.  Further information can be found online at:  Worcestershire Household Support Fund – Act On Energy  Residents can apply online or by calling 0800 988 2881.

Bromsgrove & Redditch Cost of Living Webpages and Leaflets

Don’t Forget!  Although shared previously, please find attached a copy of the joint Bromsgrove and Redditch cost of living leaflets.  Printed copies are available at Customer Services at both Redditch Town Hall and Parkside in Bromsgrove which you can collect and distribute to your service users.  There are cost of living webpages on both Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District Councils’ websites too at: www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/costofliving and www.redditchbc.gov.uk/costofliving.  See something missing on the webpages?  Let us know as they can be updated anytime.

Know of a new warm space or any other provision?  We can include in the next cost of living bulletin to help keep all agencies updated.  Please email .  Thank you to everyone who has already emailed information.

Redditch District Collaborative – obesity, frailty, mental health and wellbeing sessions – would you like to join?

Redditch District Collaborative (RDC) are now focusing on their priorities and want to re-engage with partners across the public and voluntary and community sectors and hold specific task and finish group sessions which are as follows:

• Monday 14th November – 12:30-2:30 (Obesity T&F Session)
• Monday 21st November – 12:30-2:30 (Frailty T&F Session)
• Wednesday 23rd November – 12:30-2:30 (Mental Health & Wellbeing T&F Session)

 If you would like to be part of any of the above sessions and have NOT already received an invite directly, please get in touch directly with Claire Lojko, Programme Lead for RDC, at  who will look to include any missing local agencies where possible.  If you have been invited, please remember to accept the invite!

Christmas Food Hampers

Newstarts in Bromsgrove and are working alongside other organisations to provide Christmas Hampers for Bromsgrove Residents. Their aim is to ensure that those in need are able to receive a hamper.

In addition to receiving a Food Hamper, this year, Charford Fish Bar are kindly offering a free meal to residents of Charford on Christmas day.

To register for a hamper and/or Christmas Day meal,  Please complete the attached from and return to NewStarts by Midday on Friday 25^th November.

Spike Bikes in Charford – Sunday 20 November 11am-3pm – All welcome to the FREE event!

The Starting Well Team at Bromsgrove District Council are working with Spike Bikes to support families and people with bike safety and basic repairs.  Spike Bikes are running a FREE workshop event on Sunday 20 November 11am – 3pm from the Co-op on Gilbert Road in Charford, Bromsgrove.   People can access from any area – they do not have to live on Charford.  Families or cyclists of any age can pop along and receive safety advice, basic repairs such as punctures, bike health checks or guidance on what bikes to buy.   Please help promote.  Flyer attached with further details.

*New* Stop Smoking Support Service for mums with a child up to 3 years old

Please see information attached about the new smokefree homes service supporting mums and other household members with young children to quit smoking.

The service will:

• Support mums (and other household members) with young children
• Provide 1:1 support with a trained Smoking Cessation Advisor
• Offer free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

Age UK BRWF –  Changes to Groups & Activities in Bromsgrove & Redditch

There has been a change to some of the groups in Redditch and Bromsgrove. For full details and a copy of the updated Redditch activities leaflet visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/activities-and-events/redditch-activities-events/ and for the Bromsgrove groups, please visit: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/brwf/activities-and-events/bromsgrove-activities-events/

Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Age UK H&W are currently running several activities including the dementia cafes and meeting centres, walking friends and much more. To find out all the latest that’s on offer, please visit:

Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire| Activities and events

Winter Vaccinations Campaign launched  

The Winter Vaccinations ‘Boost Your Immunity’ Campaign is now underway.  The campaign is in support of the seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes. To enable you to support this campaign you can register here: Campaign Resource Centre (phe.gov.uk) and download assets from the Campaign Resource Centre.

Self-Employment Support and Training Provision for Worcestershire learners

Please find attached two documents that Seetec Pluss have circulated. One provides links to self-employment support in Worcestershire and can help anyone wanting to start a business or become self-employed.  If you know of any other self-employment resources in the region, please email    Also attached is a document that lists the top 20 training providers in Worcestershire and supports the delivery of the Restart Scheme.

DWP – Health Adjustment Passport – Information Sessions on Teams

Attached are details of information sessions that will provide an overview of the new Health Adjustment Passports (HAP). The Health Adjustment Passport can be used if an individual has a disability or health condition that makes it harder to move into work or stay in a job. The sessions will be running for partners in November and December. The dates and Teams links are imbedded within the attachment. Please feel free to forward to other staff or organisations that you believe may find these overview sessions useful, but please note they are for DWP Partner Organisations only and not for members of the general public.

Home Learning Environment campaign launched

Better Health Start for Life and the Department for Education have launched a new campaign to encourage parents and carers to chat, play and read more with their children to develop their communication, language, and literacy skills before starting school. A range of resources are now available on the Campaign Resource Centre and for full information on the campaign, visit:  Better Health Start for Life Home Learning | Campaign Resource Centre (phe.gov.uk)

Better Health Start for Life Breastfeeding

There are new Better Health Start for Life Breastfeeding resources available on the Campaign Resource Centre along with a range of free orderable and downloadable resources to help promote the suite of digital and hard copy support tools (including the Breastfeeding hub and Information Service for Parents), which assist mums and new parents through their first weeks of breastfeeding and beyond.

Events, Roadshows and Open Days

White Ribbon Domestic Abuse Conference

A joint Herefordshire and Worcestershire White Ribbon Conference will be held on Friday 25 November 2022 9.30am to 4.30pm. The Conference is titled ‘Time for Change’ – ending violence against women and girls’ and will focus on ending violence against women and girls and challenging abusive behaviours. More information and the booking link can be found here: Event : White-Ribbon-Conference-2022–Time-for-Change–ending-violence-against-women-and-girls – 17608 (herefordshirecpd.co.uk)

The Anti-Violence Bee tour is coming to Bromsgrove, Rubery & Redditch

The Anti Violence Bee, produced by the Ironworks in Oswestry will be in Bromsgrove, Rubery and Redditch on the 15^th and 16th November 2022. This tour coincides with the national Operation Sceptre – Anti Knife Crime week of action from 14^th-20^th November.

The Future of Employment Support for Worcestershire 2023 – Network Meeting will be held on Thursday 26 January 10am – 1pm

This event will focus on the Worcestershire employability provision as well as providing an opportunity to network, share ideas and see what’s going on. Click here to book your place.

Consultations / Surveys

Worcestershire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-25

Please find the link for the Worcestershire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-25 consultation. This online survey relates to Bromsgrove and Redditch districts, to complete the survey and give your feedback and views, please visit:  Worcestershire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-2025 The survey closes at midnight on the 6^th December.

Training/Courses/Workshops

Stretch Your Money Course – FREE

Adult learning Worcestershire are running this course at various local libraries where residents can learn how their phone can help them to budget, with top moneysaving apps, tips and advice! Full details can be found on the attached flyers.

*FREE* Domestic Abuse Training – January – March 2023

Please find attached the next phase of domestic abuse training dates in Worcestershire. This (recently updated) training is available between January – March 2023 and will take place via zoom.  The feedback received from delegates so far has been exceptionally positive and highlights not only an increase in knowledge but also an increased confidence when applying the learning to professional practice.

There are three modules of training, and the learning outcomes can be found on the attached flyer.

Module 1: Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse

Module 2: Working with Domestic Abuse within the context of Multi Agency Working – promoting critically reflective practice

Module 3: Understanding and Working with Perpetrators

To apply for a place please email: 

Healthy Minds Long Term Conditions courses

Please find attached details of the new Herefordshire and Worcestershire Healthy Minds courses for people who are living with long term health conditions such as Diabetes, Long Covid and Post Covid Syndrome (PCS).  Post Covid Syndrome (PCS) – These tailored courses are aimed at people living with Long Covid and Post Covid symptoms who are struggling with mild to moderate low mood, depression, anxiety, stress, or panic and presenting with low risks to themselves and others.  The courses are run remotely by Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners. People that are interested in these courses can self-refer via www.healthyminds.whct.nhs.uk or call 03000135727. Professional referrals from GPs, practice nurses and other staff are also welcomed, referral form attached.

Funding/Grants

Oakland Foundation

The Foundation’s focus is to help ‘disadvantaged children under the age of 16 and their families’. They provide funding support based on the following themes:

*Education: to ensure children get the best education, no matter their background.
*Health and nutrition: to ensure children have access to healthy food.
*Sport: to ensure children have access to sport and activities irrespective of social background or physical ability.

Although open to Worcestershire and wider, they are keen to receive applications from Redditch and/or Bromsgrove in particular.  To find out more visit:  The Oakland Foundation (oakland-foundation.com)

Other Newsletters

DWP Weekly News Update Bulletin, 21 & 27 October and 10 November 2022 – Find attached

DWP Touchbase, 21 & 28 October 2022 – Find attached

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Involvement Network Update, 7 November 2022 – Find attached

Note: This edition includes links to a survey on: Older Adults Mental Health hospital at home service and children, young people and their families experience with health and wellbeing services.

Healthwatch Worcestershire News Bulletin – November – Find attached

Community First E-Bulletin – November 2022 Newsletter – Find attached

Worcestershire Growth Hub – Newsletter Video Update – November Update