Wellbeing in Partnership E-Bulletin – Bromsgrove & Redditch – Update 35

Dear all,

Please find the latest information bulletin below.  (Please note: These bulletins are designed to replace our monthly e-newsletter for the time being.)

REMINDER – Public Health Worcestershire – latest COVID data and messages

• Coronavirus Testing – There are now more places to get a free rapid asymptomatic Covid-19 test in Worcestershire for those who DO NOT have any symptoms of Covid-19.  Around one in three who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it.  These rapid (lateral flow) tests, which provide results within the hour, will help break the chains of transmission.  Further information can be found here, including local participating pharmacies offering this test and mass testing sites including Redditch Town Hall.  The Ryland Centre in Bromsgrove will be another site added shortly.  Information on all testing available, including how to book a test if you DO have symptoms, can be found here.

• Real Time Worcestershire Coronavirus Data – is publicly available.  The live dashboard shows the numbers of new cases Worcestershire wide and also by District.  Further information about COVID-19 cases in Worcestershire can be found through the LG inform data website.  There are also interactive maps covering all of the UK can be found on the gov.uk website.

• Please see the Worcestershire Public Health pages – for any local messages in relation to the lockdown, including further advice.  Those pages can be accessed here – www.worcestershire.gov.uk/coronavirus.  Information can also be accessed at www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/coronavirus and www.redditchbc.gov.uk/coronavirus.

• JSNA Annual Summary 2020, COVID-19 Health Impact Assessment and Executive Summary – The aim of the report is to highlight the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19 on people’s health and well-being and to begin to identify actions to mitigate negative impacts and build upon positive impacts. The full report and an executive summary can be accessed from the following link: https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20122/joint_strategic_needs_assessment/1500/jsna_summaries

REMINDER – The Local Community Responses aimed at supporting residents through the Covid-19 pandemic

Further details on the local community responses aimed at supporting residents through the Covid-19 pandemic is attached but basic contact details are listed below.  Please help ensure all local residents are aware so everyone is directed to and receives the support they need during this time:

• Support Bromsgrove – www.supportbromsgrove.com – Tel: (24 hr answerphone) 01527 306490 or Email: 
• Redditch East Stronger Together (REST) – Tel: 01527 919869
• Support Redditch Emergency Network (SREN) – Tel: 01527 359008 or Email: 
• Here2Help Worcestershire – www.worcestershire.gov.uk/here2help – Tel: 01905 768053

Service / Support – Information Updates

• Severn Trent “The Big Difference Scheme”  – Severn Trent has launched a scheme to help residents on low incomes to pay for their water charges.  Please see the attached documents for more information.
• Starting Well Partnership – the service has produced a guide to the Starting Well Partnership for Professionals.  Please find attached to this email.
• Age UK Dementia Community Support Service – please see attached a document which explains details of the new Age UK BR&WF Dementia Community Support Service.  The service aims to provide support to people diagnosed with dementia in various ways e.g. telephone appointments, online groups, and face to face one to one support.
• International Women’s Day 8^th March – Redditch and Bromsgrove’s Community Safety Team will be supporting the International Women’s Day (which is taking place on 8^th March) campaign this year and will be running posts on social media throughout the day in line with the national #choose to challenge campaign. For those who wish to join in, please send them your photos holding your right hand up to show your support for women all around the world in choosing to challenge and call out inequality. Here is the link to the national campaign.  https://www.internationalwomensday.com/theme   Could all photos with the name of the officer and their organisation be returned to   by Wednesday 3rd March.
• Take Back Our Lives Fest throughout March – is part of the County Council Take Back Our Lives campaign to support thriving under 30s across the County. The Take Back Our Lives Fest is a series of online events to help bring some energy to our audience through the remaining weeks of lockdown. From HIIT workouts to glow-up facials, these online events will feature on the Rona Hub and the County Council Facebook page each Tuesday evening.  We’re trying to spread the word far and wide so as many young people can engage with the events and would be extremely grateful if you were to share a post to your social channels. In doing so, you will not only be supporting our under 30s, but also the local businesses we’ve teamed up with to put this content together.  Further social media promotional materials are attached to this email for use by your organisation where possible.
• Domestic Violence Covert Help Schemes – with issues around domestic abuse even more pertinent during lockdown, there are schemes which operate locally and nationally where anyone suffering domestic abuse can go into a safe place such as a shop and use a codename to indicate they need help.  Nationally there is the “Ask for Ani” scheme https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pharmacies-launch-codeword-scheme-to-offer-lifeline-to-domestic-abuse-victims which recently launched, where victims can ask a pharmacist for ANI and they will be provided with a private space to discuss their concerns with pharmacy staff.  Boots in Redditch is signed up to this scheme.  Other domestic abuse and sexual violence helplines in Worcestershire can be found following this link https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/info/20379/domestic_abuse_and_sexual_violence

Surveys & Consultations

• VCS Engagement in the new Worcestershire Health and Wellbeing Strategy – Jonathan Sutton, the VCS Member of the Worcestershire Health and Well Being Board, is hosting three events to engage a broad range (big or small) of VCS organisations to understand how the strategy will be developed and understand the opportunities to influence the content.  Each event will last 90 minutes and will take place on Zoom.  Dates for these sessions and how to register are contained within the attachment to this email. To book your place go to click here to go to Eventbrite
• Worcestershire Housing Strategy Stakeholder Questionnaire – Bromsgrove and Redditch Councils would like the help of partners to develop a new Worcestershire Housing Strategy 2021-2040 and have produced a questionnaire to find out your views which you can access using this link https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/7b8fea0ff6ba4321a45ec3d75598012c  The questionnaire follows four main themes: Homes, jobs and growth; Wellbeing and inclusion; Quality and Standards; and Sustainability and net-zero carbon.  Questionnaires need to be completed by Friday 5^th March 2021.

Training and Courses

• Public Health England launches new Psychological First Aid training for those supporting children and young people affected by COVID-19 – The online course offers training for staff and volunteers on how to provide practical and emotional support to children and young people affected by emergencies or crisis situations. The course is available for all frontline workers such as teachers, health and social care workers, charity and community volunteers and anyone who cares for or is regularly in contact with children and young people aged up to 25, including parents and caregivers. It is free, takes about three hours to complete (split into three sessions that the learner can complete at their own pace) and no previous qualifications are required.  On completion, participants will have an understanding of what Psychological First Aid is, be able to identify who would benefit from support and how best to give help across the different age groups and also for those who might need extra support because of different needs.  The attached document gives more detail.
• New training dates are available for 2021 for Raising Awareness of Child Exploitation Training  – Worcestershire Children’s First is now offering new dates for their Raising Awareness of Child Exploitation training which is an online course.  Dates and booking information are contained within the attachment attached to this email.
• HOW College IT Courses Provision – please see attached course information for Entry Level, Level 1 & 2 IT courses available through Heart of Worcestershire College.

Funding

• Easter expression of interest for Holiday Activity and Food funding – Please find here RSW Easter 2021 Holiday Activity and Food Funding – expression of interest   –  the link to express interest in funding for the Easter, Ready, Steady, Worcestershire  holiday activity and food programme.  Please note this programme is being funded via the Department for Education’s Holiday Activity and Food grant. Whilst this programme ideally looks for face to face activities with provision of an accompanying meal, it is recognised flexibility will again be required over the Easter period due to Covid-19 restrictions.  Please also be mindful this particular fund has a primary focus on provision to Free School Meal children with flexibility of a maximum of 15% to reach the ‘Just About Managing’ group.  We realise some of you may require link up to Free School Meal children and we ask you about this within the form.  The deadline is the 2^nd March with decisions to be communicated w/c 8/3.

Other Newsletters a

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – latest Touchbase and latest weekly update from our local DWP Partnership Manager are attached.

• Act On Energy Heat4Health Newsletter Feb 2021 – please see the latest newsletter attached.

• Turn2Us Newsletter – this newsletter provides ideas of where to seek support for people struggling with financial problems.

• Worcestershire’s Children’s First Early Help Newsletter – copy of the newsletter produced by the Early Help Team

• Herefordshire and Worcestershire Involvement Network Update Newsletter – please find attached the latest update from the Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG Engagement Team.

Finally…

As you will all be aware, Government Guidance, can be found at Gov.uk/coronavirus.  From a Worcestershire perspective, for your information, here is a link to the Worcestershire Coronavirus Outbreak Control Plan too.  Plus, here is a link to Covid-19 vaccination weekly figures produced by NHS England.

We hope you find some of the information above helpful.  Please let us know if you would like any information put into these bulletins by emailing us at  .  We are currently sending out bulletins fortnightly.

Best wishes,

Della McCarthy & Helen Broughton

Bromsgrove Partnership / Redditch Partnership

Email: