Welcome to our August edition of the Northfield NNS Newsletter.
Hello from Jess here. And welcome to our August newsletter which has a bit of a summer theme going on.
Firstly, many of you will know that the Northfield Beaches went ahead last week despite the weather. In particular a massive shout out to all those organisations and partners involved in the Premier access day on Weds 26th July and thanks to our colleague, Owen O’Brien from our NNS team, for organising a hugely successful day enjoyed by so many families and adults with special needs.
We have received lots of lovely feedback from people who enjoyed that day. Please see the social media post from our friends at Cerebral Palsy Midlands.
“Had an absolutely amazing day today at Northfield Beach with the Northfield Neighbourhood Network Service! It was a Premier Access Day exclusively for adults and children with additional needs, and let me tell you, it was incredible!
From pony care, sound bath, t-shirt creating to dance performances, there were so many inclusive and accessible activities for everyone to enjoy! It’s heartwarming to see such dedication to making sure everyone feels included and can have a blast.”
Thanks also to the rest of the NCP team led by Becky Debenham for organising and putting on 5 fantastic days of free activities for families of Northfield. We were especially pleased to be joined by our friends from CASBA who volunteered and worked alongside us making sure everyone had a lovely time.
Here are a couple of photos that explain better than me the wonderful Northfield Beach events:
And there’s more to come. From 9th – 13th August the Beach moves to Kings Norton Green. Please do come along and join in the fun. The NNS team will be hosting a specific marquee for “Compassionate Communities”. You can hear about charities and organisations who are supporting “end of life”, and others who are there to help with “bereavement and loss”. Please do pop in and find out more.
Together Minds
In each newsletter we like to highlight the great work going on in our communities. This month I’d like to introduce “Together Minds” who received some NNS funding earlier in the year.
“Together Minds is a non-for-profit Community Interest Company. We use the lived experiences of the founder and directors to support the mental health of disabled individuals and their family members.
We were delighted to receive funding from Heart of England from the Northfield NNS Fund for Younger Adults
This funding enabled us to deliver our “This is Us” programme at Deelands Hall in Rubery. The programme is a series of 5 interactive workshops that have been specifically co-designed for adults with moderate to severe learning disabilities. The 5-week programme focuses on key topics including mental health, self-care and seeking support.
This programme is delivered in an accessible and inclusive style in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. It enables an individual to feel safe to share their experiences and concerns. In addition, we utilise the added benefit of peer support. Peer support is a valuable tool as it helps to create a supportive community where participants can share their experiences, learn from each other, and build their own support networks.
We received fantastic feedback from everyone that attended including “it has been fantastic”, “I have loved it, I just wish it was longer”and “my well-being box has really helped me”
Events
Free Wellbeing Course for People with Disabilities
A martial arts group in Birmingham is offering people with disabilities a new course to help them enhance their quality of life – and the course is free
Find out more here on the bvsc.org website
AbilityNet Digital Skills Training
AbilityNet is leading on a joint project with BT to support people over the age of 65 to gain access to free digital skills training. Their aim is to support over 1000 people in Birmingham. We’re sharing it out to all the assets within Northfield to see if any of you know of any citizens which would benefit from the service.
To find out more, go to AbilityNet’s website
Please contact Rob McLean directly at rob.mclean@abilitynet.org.uk with any queries.
GoodGym Social Visits
This exciting initiative is aimed at reducing loneliness and isolation among older people by providing them with a friendly visit from a GoodGymer or two. With the Office for National Statistics finding that half a million older people don’t see or speak to anyone for at least five or six days a week, the GoodGym social visit hopes to tackle this issue head-on.
Read more on the bvsc.org website.
Online chair yoga in Birmingham
On Wednesdays 11-12
Weekly health and fitness sessions on Zoom tailored for older people.
Our weekly exercise sessions for older people, delivered by trained professionals, will keep you active from the comfort of your own home.
Each 60-minute session includes around 45 minutes of gentle exercise, plus time to get to know one another in a friendly, sociable setting.
Our weekly sessions run for 8 weeks at a time and are currently available free to older people living in Birmingham
Register your interest apply to activity groups (reengage.org.uk) or ring freephone 0800 716543
Death Literacy Index Survey
Birmingham has signed up to the Compassionate City Charter, which is focused on supporting people who are seriously ill, dying or grieving and those caring for them. Many of you will know that Northfield NNS is leading on this area of work from a neighbourhood level and we are supporting local groups within Northfield to engage with this work. You asked us to keep you informed of progress and let you know how to get involved.
Firstly, You can help Compassionate Communities UK to understand your experience by completing a short questionnaire. See the link below:
And secondly, come along and visit the Compassionate Communities marquee that will be at the Kings Norton beach from 9th – 13th August.
Complete a short questionnaire
Survey around employment for sensory impairment
Please see information below about a survey by BID Services on understanding the employment needs of those who are Deaf, hard of hearing, sight impaired, severely sight impaired of deaf blind.
Do help to share this with your contacts/stakeholders.
The survey is available below and the deadline is 14 August.
