Sandwell Churches Link is Securing its Future

Dear Everyone,

If you attended our annual conference, you will know that Sandwell Churches Link is in the process of changing its structure and governance at the moment.

Up to now Sandwell Churches Link has been an unincorporated organisation with a small management committee and a seconded part time development worker.  The management committee draw members from a range of churches in Sandwell and up until recently has been chaired by the Venerable Hayward Osborne, Archdeacon of Birmingham.

Sandwell Churches Link is an organisation that endeavours to support churches and networks in their ministry to tackle poverty and disadvantage across the towns and neighbourhoods of Sandwell and to help ensure they are connected into the necessary partnerships that facilitates communication with the local authority and other public bodies and other voluntary groups.

The management committee have been working closely with Thrive Together Birmingham and Transforming Communities Together as well as the three dioceses that Sandwell falls into, Birmingham, Lichfield and Worcester in order to help secure the future of Sandwell Churches Link so that it can become an effective organisation. They are therefore in the process of seeking charitable registration and securing appropriate resources so that it can serve churches of all denominations across the borough and work with other regional and national organisations, such as the Church Urban Fund, Church Action on Poverty, Safe Families for Children and Children's Society etc and draw on some of their knowledge and expertise.

The new trustees need a little time and space to form the new organisation and put together a strategic plan and secure the funding and resources.  We are therefore asking if you could bear with us.  You should hear from us again in the Autumn.  If you can, do continue to keep an eye on our Facebook page to find out about ongoing relevant news and information.

Yours sincerely

Rosie Edwards
Chair - Sandwell Churches Link                        

Smart Network - Smarter Choices Project Offers

Liz Wood from Centro writes:

The Smart Network, Smarter Choices Project is a wide-ranging project that is making a difference in the West Midlands by helping community groups travel more sustainably, encourage healthier communities, reduce carbon emissions and tackle congestion.

 

The Smart Network, Smarter Choices programme offers free activities for people over 16 years 

of age;

• Free bus/train/metro tickets for job seekers (WorkWise)
• Free 4 week bus/train/metro pass for people who are about to start a new paid job after a period of unemployment
• Level 1-3 cycle training (minimum group of 6)
• Ride Leader Training
• Led cycle rides
• Bike Instructor Training
• Cycle maintenance sessions training
• Personal Journey Planning for community groups
• Sign-posting for walking support

Liz Wood is the Community Engagement Officer for the project, working with community groups and organisations to ensure they are well supported when accessing sustainable transport services. Liz works directly with community groups, matching their unique travel needs with the offers provided through the programme.

Liz has been working in your community since 2013 and is highly knowledgeable in the sustainable travel offers available in your community.

Eligibility

Is your community group or organisation eligible for the programme? The Smart Network, Smarter Choices Project is available on the following corridors:

Birmingham and Solihull

• A34 Walsall Road
• A41S Warwick Road
• A45 Coventry Road
• South Birmingham Technology Corridor

Black Country

• A4123/A459 Black Country West
• Route 4
• A34 Walsall Road
• Pensnett Trading Estate

Coventry

• Coventry North

Email Liz and find out about the Smart Network, Smarter Choices offers and how they can benefit your group today LizWood@centro.org.uk

Smart Network, Smarter Choices site: http://mynetwork.org.uk/offers/

The Big Lottery - Awards for All Programme

The Big Lottery Fund is encouraging voluntary and community groups that are considering applying for an Awards for All grant to attend one of the webinars held by funding officers from the Big Lottery Fund.

 

The Awards for All programme offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 to help pay for project costs for social and environmental projects that benefit local communities and make a difference in the lives of those most in need. The programme is open to applications from voluntary and community groups, charities, not-for-profit organisations, and statutory bodies, including schools and town councils in England.

The webinar provides an introduction to this small grants programme, as well as guidance on eligibility, programme criteria, examples of how best to evidence need for the project and top tips on achieving successful outcomes.

Webinars run every week and last approximately 30 minutes to an hour. Questions can be asked throughout the presentation through a live chat panel.

To join an Awards for All webinar, please email webinars@biglotteryfund.org.uk or telephone 0345 410 20 30 to book a place.

Further details can be found on the Big Lottery Fund website

Source: Big Lottery Fund, 17/04/2015

Acts 435 Event

Thrive Together Birmingham are hosting an event to promote a website called Acts435 that enables people to give directly to people with a particular need.

It may be a useful resource for your church to be linked to.

Hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham

 Monday 29th June from 6pm – 9pm

 Balsall Heath Church Centre 100 Mary St, Balsall Heath, Birmingham. B12 9JU

A light dinner will be provided

Acts 435 is a website that enables people to give directly to support a person or family with a specific need. Churches and projects act as the go-between, advocating on behalf of someone, placing a request of financial support for them, receiving the money and supporting the person in need to spend it on what it is intended for.

Currently there are no churches and projects registered as advocates in the West Midlands and so Acts 435 are keen to recruit in Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull.

This event is an opportunity to hear about this resource and how it works, and how to sign your church or project up as an advocate able to place requests on behalf of people in need in your neighbourhood.

For more information visit the website: www.acts435.org.uk

Dinner will be provided so please register for the event so that we know how many to cater for.

To register for the event contact Debbie at info@thrivetogetherbham.org or call 0121 426 0442.