Wellbeing in Partnership – Update 33

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.)

COVID Vaccinations – please help ensure everyone in the top 4 priority groups in our communities has access to a vaccination and has not been missed

Anyone 70 or over OR anyone who has previously received a letter saying that they are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable) who has not yet received a vaccination can now choose to:

  1. Book their own vaccination at one of the Vaccination Centres (e.g. Artrix in Bromsgrove or Knights Pharmacy in Redditch) without waiting for an invite letter from the NHS by going online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by telephoning 119; OR
  2. If they prefer, they can still wait to be contacted by their GP to attend at their local GP led vaccination service.

Please Note:  GPs have asked that we do not encourage the public to ring their GP practice about a vaccination (due to the sheer volume and that this prevents people with other illnesses getting through on the phonelines) and that the messages should predominantly promote the booking system link above and the 119 number.

Can’t find your NHS number to book an appointment?  Then use this link:  www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/find-nhs-number/

Service / Support – Information Updates

 

  • BOLOH – Barnardo’s FREE COVID-19 Helpline to support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children and families – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children and families have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and are facing significant challenges to their emotional health and wellbeing.  Therefore, a new telephone helpline with a web chat facility is available. The helpline is not just a listening service; it will provide practical and emotional support over the phone/webchat and also refer onward to specialist community support.  Professionals can also use the helpline.  Further information for professionals is attached and details can also be found online at: https://helpline.barnardos.org.uk/

  • Worcestershire Libraries still running lots of FREE services during lockdown – Below are the services that our local libraries are continuing to offer during lockdown to support local residents:
  • Digital Champions volunteers are providing 1:1 support over the telephone as well as ‘Introduction to Zoom’ sessions.
  • Children’s Book Bundle – parents of younger children can request this to help with homeschooling and/or bedtime stories
  • Computer Bookings – Access to computers and internet throughout lockdown
  • Reserve & Collect – you can still reserve books free online or over the telephone and collect from your local library.
  • Ancestry – Free remote access to Ancestry Library Edition available from home until the end of March via the Digital Library.
  • eBooks, eAudio & eMagazines – 24/7 Access to your Digital Library.
  • Family events on YouTube channel – Activities and events available on demand to help keep little ones entertained.

Information on all the above can be found online at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/libraries or simply call the library service on 01905 822722

  • Ready Steady Worcestershire – Support for families during half term – A leaflet is attached from Ready Steady Worcestershire (a Partnership led by Worcestershire Children First) providing information on help getting food, simple recipes and school holiday activity ideas and support.  It includes an online map.

  • Family orienteering this half term in Bromsgrove & Redditch – Have some family fun during this February Half Term by completing an Xplorer course, in partnership with British Orienteering, when visiting Sanders Park in Bromsgrove (www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/xplorer) or when visiting Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch (www.redditchbc.gov.uk/xplorer)

  • *Opening Times CHANGED* – Health Visitor Telephone Advice Service – This Telephone Advice Service is open 9am to 3pm (instead of 8am-4pm) Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) on 0300 123 9551.  The advice line is for parents of children aged 0-5 living in Worcestershire who would like to access non-urgent support with regards to their child’s health. Urgent queries should be directed to clients GP or 111.

  • *Reminder* Financial & Debt Help for families – Aimed at families and young people who may be financially struggling this time of year, the Starting Well Partnership has put together a flyer to help promote some of the support available across Bromsgrove and Redditch.  Please find a copy attached.

  • Have a health condition but want to get active? – The Sports Development Team at Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Councils have been busy trying to help we all get active and here are just a few programmes which you may not be aware of – some are current and some are coming soon:

And don’t forget….

  • ESCAPE-pain – 6 week (2 session a week) education and exercise programme for anyone living with osteoarthritis – starting February!!

If you have any questions or you know someone who could benefit, they can contact Hayley Gwilliam direct –  or call 01527 881404

  • Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire – For your information, please find attached a Menu of Services that is available.

Level 1 Courses for Job Seekers

 

Funding

  • *Reminder* Redditch Borough Council – First round of the VCS Main Grant Pot (including Mental Health grant funding) is now open! – The Main Grant Pot (£40K) is there for Voluntary Community Sector organisations / groups to bid into for funding from £500 up to £7.5K to help with their core costs and salaries or to support them to deliver great community events, projects and activities!   For this year and due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Council is ringfencing £5k from each round of the Main Grant Pot for VCS groups to bid into for between £500 to £5k to deliver specific projects which support and help improve the lives of those Redditch residents affected by mental health issues or increased mental health issues as a direct result of the Coronavirus pandemic.  There is set criteria in place that anyone wishing to apply must meet. Each proposed project must be something that’s needed in the area, well planned, outcome focussed and aligned to the Council’s Strategic Purposes. For further details about the programme and how to apply, please visit our website www.redditchbc.gov.uk  or by following https://www.redditchbc.gov.uk/business/tax,-funding,-finance/grants-and-funding/voluntary-and-community-sector-funding.aspx Closing date for all applications is 4pm on Friday 26th February

Staff Training

  • *Reminder* – Safeguarding training in March and June – Raising Awareness of Child Exploitation Training – Please see email attached from Worcestershire Children First for further information on the new dates during March and June and how to book this important Safeguarding Training.

REMINDER – Public Health Worcestershire – latest COVID data and messages

  • 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.

 

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:

 

 

Surveys & Consultations

  • Children and Young People (CYP) Plan Refresh 2021 – Worcestershire is developing a new CYP Plan and Worcestershire Children First want you to get involved and have your say.  Further information is attached and here is the link to the consultation – www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cypphaveyoursay

  • Worcestershire Libraries’ Customer Survey is now live! – We’d like to hear what you think about library services (especially new services launched in response to Coronavirus) and how we could improve the services we provide.  It only take 5 minutes to complete the online survey: https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=161175195015 or you can find the survey by going to: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/libraries

  • *Reminder* Hospital Discharge During Covid-19 – Patient and Carer Surveys – Healthwatch Worcestershire is asking patients and their carers about their experiences of being discharged from hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020.  There is a Patient Survey and a Carer Survey which take around 10 minutes to complete.  Paper surveys are also available.  Further details are attached.

 

Webinars

 

  • Brum Breathes – Clean Air Zone webinars launched – For anyone in and around the Clean Air Zone coming to Birmingham on 1 June, Birmingham City Council has launched a series of webinars to help residents, city centre workers and businesses prepare.

 

 

Other Newsletters a

 

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

  • Carers Careline – latest E-Newsletter attached.

  • North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration (NWedR) latest newsletter aimed to local businesses also attached.

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: 

Attachments

Total Attachments: 5

Download: Carers Careline - February Newsletter (543 KB) Download: SupportBromsgrovePoster_Feb21_A4DESKTOP (318 KB) Download: Local Community Support during the Coronavirus Pandemic - updated Feb2021 (900 KB) Download: Barnardos capi-training-leaflet (3 MB) Download: Age UK H&W - Menu of Services 2021 (360 KB)