the echo may/june 2017
FEATURING Sharefest dudley Practical projects co-created by people in the places they live.
Safeguarding Keeping people safe from abuse and harm in Dudley borough.
the power of peer support Healthwatch Dudley host another successful People’s Network.
news IN THIS ISSUE Dudley Volunteer Awards 2017.................. 2 Share Fest Dudley ........................................3 DIYYA ........................................................... 4 Dudley CIL..................................................... 5 New parent and carer group...................... 5 Safeguarding training ‘What to do if’...... 5 Safeguarding - Keeping people safe........ 6 The power of peer support.......................... 8 Enabling and nurturing peer support....... 10 Carers Week 2017......................................... 10 Family Fun Day 2017................................... 11 Repair Café Dudley..................................... 12 AVAILABLE IN LARGE PRINT ON REQUEST
Dudley Volunteer Awards 2017 #dva17 Dudley Volunteer Awards 2017 (#dva17) has officially launched. Why not take the time to nominate some of the amazing volunteers you know? If you know a big-hearted volunteer who brings colour to your community making Dudley borough a more vibrant place to live, someone who gives their time to help local people, nominate them for an award now! Whether they are 9 or 90, an individual or a group, supporting grass roots sport by coaching or stuffing envelopes, they are all special and we need you to help us celebrate their contribution. We are also looking to recognise businesses who support community activity. If you know a big-hearted business who supports what you do, tell us all about them: maybe their staff have done a team challenge for you, or they’ve donated items or fundraised to help your group. Let’s celebrate big-hearted volunteers who bring colour to our community. i Contact us for a nomination form at dale@dudleycvs.org.uk or nominate now on our special awards blog www.dva2017.wordpress.com
Dudley Volunteer Awards 2017 #dva17
Volunteering isn’t just black and white Who adds colour to your community? orthe nominate echo | 2 now on our special awards blog: www.dva2017.wordpress.com
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Hot on the heels of Do Fest Dudley in March, Share Fest is an invitation to initiate and co-create all sorts of practical, enjoyable projects across Dudley borough. (Do Fest was highlighted in our last edition of The Echo - check it out for an idea of what it was all about www.tinyurl.com/echomarchapril) Share Fest features over 30 opportunities to share, make and learn between Friday 9 and Sunday 18 June. These opportunities have been co-designed by over 50 local people and include the launch of a number of new projects. Local business owners, community-based charity Halas Homes and residents living near ‘Top Shops’ in Halesowen have been inspired by Incredible Edible in Todmorden and are going to kick-off Incredible Edible Halesowen with a connecting and planting session on Saturday 17 June, accompanied by a lunch of edible flowers and sandwiches. An idea from Amsterdam, the Repair Café, is being launched in Dudley on Saturday 10 June by an enthusiastic group of local people who hope to give a new lease of life to clothes, furniture, bikes and more. An emerging Dudley-based community arts organisation, CollectivCr8, will perform for the first time at Creative Connect on Friday 9 June. The piece is called Freedom. CollectivCr8 will be exploring Black British arts and its many origins, and warmly invites anyone interested to join a follow up session on Tuesday 13 June, when a monthly Open Project Night launches in Dudley. Open Project Night is an invitation to develop ideas, plan events and activities, work on social change and
creative projects and more in a shared space in the open. This increases opportunities for connection and a collective approach to making change in Dudley. Residents in Halesowen are bringing the global non-traditional learning community, Trade School, to Hasbury Community Centre with classes running over 4 days. Trade School Dudley continues to grow, with 5 new teachers and classes. Since it launched a year ago 113 local people have bartered for knowledge in anything from keeping urban chickens to learning basic Spanish. Explorations of our shared spaces in Coseley, Halesowen and Dudley are invited by photography enthusiasts living in each of these 3 parts of the borough.
i For details about the above and more, see the full Share Fest programme at www.sharefest.uk
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local charity news news
DIYYA Supporting women in the community Since 2010, we have seen DIYYA grow into a successful and bustling organisation. All it took was a group of determined women with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm, passionate to support women in the community and their families who may be isolated due to language and cultural backgrounds. In the beginning, DIYYA felt it was important to build a bigger picture of the aspirations of local women and their families by engaging and connecting with the local community. With some support from Dudley CVS, they gathered research and came up with a plan that would meet the needs of women in Lye and surrounding areas, but that would also respond to their own wishes in the future. This plan formed the basis of a bid to Awards for All and to a small grants fund in 2012. Originally, 3 ladies were involved, now a fantastic 13 volunteer their time to bring local people together to make friends, build confidence and develop skills through a range of activities including wellbeing, fitness and health, and English language courses. Today, we revisited DIYYA to join them for an event in collaboration with Dudley & Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust, a powerful event covering topics such as domestic abuse and psychosis. The community hall was packed with a fully engaged audience, it was clear to see just how much they had grown since we first met them back in 2010 and most importantly how they had developed a safe and comfortable environment for women to ask difficult questions. This event also marked the end of their photography project, a set of artistically designed postcards by their students to illustrate and raise awareness of domestic abuse.
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During the last 5 years Dudley CVS has supported DIYYA to access £44,000 of funding and most recently helped them to become a registered charity and linked them with a new organisation supporting the Roma community, Reaching for Change. Together, Dudley CVS has helped both organisations to run joint activities through the Active Citizens initiative. Members of both groups learned more about each other’s languages, cultures and traditions, which has helped them to interact with each other outside of the groups. DIYYA now raise their own income to ensure that the group’s activities are sustainable and continue to provide community support to the women in their neighbourhood. i If you would like more information please contact Becky Pickin at smallgroups@dudleycvs.org.uk
news news Dudley CIL Dudley CIL is a registered charity run by and for disabled people across Dudley borough. It was established in 2010 after an independent living conference and are a membership based organisation offering peer advocacy and support as well as information to anyone in the Dudley borough. In 2011 they carried out research to find out issues concerning the disabled community in the local area, the results revealed issues relating to hate crime, accessible information, education and training, housing and transport as well as health and social care and money. Today, these issues are even more of a concern for the disabled community. Dudley CIL is now looking to set up a social enterprise to provide economic support and sustainability for their organisation and would like to be able to make contact with more disabled people, many of whom are difficult to find due to isolation. i If you have skills in this area and would like to volunteer or work with Dudley CIL, or would like to get help and support contact Ken on 07989515771 or email dudleycil@outlook.com
A new group for parents and carers Is your child struggling with their mental health? More children would prefer to talk to parents and carers about emotional health than anyone else...but who do you talk to? Come and join a new informal group to get information, share your experiences and help shape the future for young people’s services in Dudley borough. Parents and carers of young people in Dudley borough can come along to: - Meet people who may have similar experiences to you. - Influence local decision makers to improve services. - Get mutual support and find practical solutions. - Get lots of information and find out about local services. i The group will meet on Tuesday 27 June and Tuesday 25 July 10am - 12noon, DY1 Community Building, Stafford Street, Dudley. There is no need to book just turn up, a warm welcome and light refreshments will be waiting for you. Would you like to know more? Or are you worried about childcare? Email: hello@healthwatchdudley.co.uk or call 03000 111 001.
‘What to do if ….’ Safeguarding course In June Dudley Young Health Champions and Dudley Youth Council will be hosting a safeguarding training course called ‘What to do if ….’ aimed at young people. The course will cover basic safeguarding in a young person friendly format and will look at issues such as signs of abuse and what to do if a young person has concerns. i The course will take place on Thursday 29 June 5.30pm - 7.30pm and be held at DY1, Stafford Street. Refreshments will be provided. For further information please email Faye at fayehall@dudleycvs.org.uk
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SAFEGUARDING
7 things you need to know about safeguarding PROTECTING PEOPLE AT RISK OF HARM IT’S EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
Whether you are a member of the public or represent an organisation, it is everyone’s responsibility to report situations where people are at risk of abuse, harm or neglect. You may be concerned because someone has told you something or you may have seen or heard something that makes you feel uneasy.
Busting the jargon
Everyone has a right to live in safety. The term safeguarding means to prevent or respond to allegations of abuse, harm or neglect of children, young people and adults who are at risk in Dudley borough.
There is more than one type of abuse
Don’t assume that abuse refers only to physical violence. Any action that harms or exploits someone, including emotional and financial abuse or neglect are all covered by safeguarding. Abuse isn’t always clearly visible but there are often tell tale signs, so whether you manage a large charity, volunteer with a small group or keep an eye on your next door neighbour, it is important to be aware and know what to do.
Who is taking responsibility
There are lots of organisations working together to share the responsibility of keeping local people safe. Dudley Council, West Midlands Police, NHS, Fire Service, voluntary organisations, schools and other agencies all sit on Dudley Adult’s and Dudley Children’s Safeguarding Boards to protect people. When a concern of abuse or neglect is reported, there is a legal duty for this to be acted upon. It is important to note that there are significant differences with how children and adults are safeguarded because both are treated differently by law.
What you should do
You may be concerned about abuse or neglect because someone has told you something. You may have seen or heard something, or you may be being abused yourself and need help. Whether you belong to a local organisation or not, anyone can report a safeguarding concern. Visit: www.safeguarding.dudley.gov.uk and follow the instructions on the page. Or report by telephone at 0300 555 0055 (for adults) or 0300 555 0050 (for children). If you belong to a local voluntary group or organisation you should have a safeguarding policy. If you need help with this contact Dudley CVS on 01384 573381 or email info@dudleycvs.org.uk.
Data protection doesn’t get in the way...
If someone tells you something in confidence, don’t feel that your hands are tied. The Data Protection Act tells us not to share personal or confidential information unless it is absolutely necessary. If you feel that someone is at risk to themselves or others it is important to report it.
What happens next
Your concerns will be taken seriously and treated in confidence. You will be asked for basic information about what you have been told, what you have seen, heard or suspect, or if you are a victim of abuse, what is happening to you. You will be asked your name and this will not be shared without your permission. Most importantly, if you are concerned that a person is in immediate danger or in need of medical attention you should contact the police or ambulance service by calling 999.
news SAFEGUARDING
WHAT does abuse and neglect look like? Abuse can take place by anyone whether the person is known to us or not. It can occur in the home, in clubs, in care homes, at school, hospitals, day centres, public places - anywhere. It’s everyone’s responsibility to report a safeguarding concern, but what do we need to look out for? Physical abuse involves deliberately hurting someone and causing injuries. It isn’t accidental and could include hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, throwing things or even misusing someone’s medication. Domestic abuse and relationship abuse might involve controlling, degrading or violent behaviour and can also include forced marriage and ‘honour’ based violence. If you are in a relationship you should feel loved, safe, respected and free to be yourself. If your relationship leaves you feeling scared, intimidated or controlled, it is possible you are in an abusive relationship. Sexual abuse is any sort of non-consensual sexual contact, it can happen to men, women or children of any age and involves inappropriate touching, assault or rape. Child sexual exploitation is when people use the power they have over young people to sexually abuse them. Their power could come from a difference in age, gender, intellect, strength or money. Financial or material abuse. People who we trust to pop to the shops or help us with banking or claiming benefits have our best interests at heart - but not always. Financial abuse applies to people over the age of 18 and can range from stealing, to pressurising people to sign over property, or asking to be named in wills to claim inheritance. Neglect happens when our most basic needs are not being met by the people who are supposed to be taking care of us. If someone is hungry, dirty, without shelter or if they have a medical need, they might be in danger. People may be neglected by others who care for them, or they may be neglecting themselves. Institutional/organisational abuse happens when people are mistreated in a health or social care setting. Perhaps someone’s personal wishes are ignored resulting in a lack of dignity, choice or personal independence. This kind of abuse may happen because of poorly trained or supervised staff, or a closed culture where new ideas are discouraged. Discriminatory abuse is harassment because of race, gender, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. This kind of abuse can occur or can be overlooked when organisations do not provide appropriate anti-discrimination training. With safeguarding discrimatory abuse applies to adults, other laws protect children. Psychological, emotional and mental abuse can be extremely difficult to recognise and difficult to report. People who abuse in this way break confidence and esteem to make their victims more reliant on them. They use controlling tactics such as bullying, intimidation, harassment, humiliation, verbal abuse, or constant criticism to isolate from friends, family and services that can help. Modern slavery or human trafficking is the trade of people most often for the purposes of forced labour, sexual slavery or commercial sexual exploitation. The Home Office stated there could be between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of slavery in the UK.
Spot the signs
• Unexplained injuries, personality changes, regular absences from work without notice. • Low self-esteem, withdrawal, depression, fear, anger, or children expressing overt sexual behavior or language. • Young people with much older boyfriends or girlfriends - especially if from an unstable family background, are misusing drugs or alcohol, are expressing or are receiving unexplained gifts. • Unpaid bills, lack of personal care or no access to cash on a day-to-day basis.
Find out more Find lots of useful information and factsheets about keeping children and adults in Dudley safe, such as a guide to ‘What happens after you report abuse’ produced by Dudley Safeguarding Adults Board. For more information visit www.dudleysafeguarding.org.uk or call 0300 555 0055
local charity news news
People’s Network the power of peer support Peer support is people power! It happens when people come together to share skills or to discuss their experience of an important issue, illness or health condition or by giving each other emotional support. Our peers are people who are in the same boat as us, who have been there and done that, so they can relate better and share what they know in a more honest and equal way.
hat is Peer support? We were introduced to some truly inspirational peer groups at the People’s Network hosted by Healthwatch Dudley in May. The packed event focused on local groups who are supporting each other in Dudley borough and sharing some of the benefits of peer support. We heard from Disability in Action, a user-led organisation based at Queens Cross Network, Wellington Road, who provide support and informaton services. This is more powerful because the people there know the challenges local disabled people face in their everyday lives. They support each other with a wide range of issues including personal budgets and direct payments. It is a place where people can go to meet friends in similar situations, have a chat over coffee or take part in activities such as arts and crafts, cookery, gardening, and relaxation sessions. An active member of the group had a life changing accident at work which meant that he could no longer pay the mortgage, “Talking to people going through the same situation as me has really helped and given me reassurance.” i For more information visit: www.disabilityinactiondudley.co.uk or email disabilityinaction.ulo@hotmail.co.uk White House Cancer Support provides practical help, emotional support and information to people with cancer, their families, friends and carers. They are a small team assisted by volunteers, some of whom have a personal experience relating to cancer. Tracy was experiencing sleeping problems and suffering from exhaustion after her husband passed away from cancer four years ago, it was then that she found White House Cancer Support to seek counseling. Following this formal support she decided the echo | 8
to attend group activities, she said, “It was good for me to meet other people who were going through similar situations, some people were going through cancer treatment, others had lost loved ones to cancer. It was a great comfort to know that the group was there for me.” White House Cancer Support offers weekly support groups and activities for patients and carers including yoga, art therapy, crafts, exercise and the art of relaxation. They also offer information services, complimentary therapy and transport to help people get to and from hospital for treatment and other appointments. i For more information visit www.support4cancer.org.uk or email info@support4cancer.org.uk ‘Airtime’ is a weekly peer support group for people in the local community with respiratory conditions including COPD, a disease that can lower self-esteem, reduce mobility and negatively affect quality of life. Providing a safe caring environment for people to meet and learn from others in similar situations, control their symptoms and take part in enjoyable activities, enables them to feel a greater sense of belonging. Activities include, Tai Chi, seated yoga, art therapy, laughter yoga, singing therapy, quizzes and bingo, mindfulness and meditation as well as health talks on mental health, medication and diet. A member of Airtime told us about how restrictive his life was before he started to attend the group, he said, “Getting out and attending Airtime has made me able to come off medication for anxiety.” The main aim of the group is to reduce social isolation and take pressure off the NHS by reducing hospital and GP admissions relating to the disease. i The group session is free and open to anyone with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
In Kind Direct
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FUNDING INFORMATION The following funding opportunities may be available to peer support groups:
and related respiratory conditions and takes place every Thursday at 1pm- 3pm at the DY1 Community Building, Stafford Street, Dudley. For more informaion email Nina Gee, Airtime Co-ordinator, at nina@dudleycvs.org.uk
Janet was born deaf so really values the support at the Sign Café in Dudley. English isn’t often the first language of local deaf people who instead rely on British Sign Language (BSL). Janet explains, “At the Sign Café, professionals visit and help us to learn about new technology and we are able to share experiences with each other to find out about different things.” i The Sign Café takes place once a month at the Queens Cross Network in Dudley and provides a meeting place for people who use sign language. For more information contact: disabhearing.dachs@dudley.gov.uk Members of the dudley deaf community have recently been meeting with Healthwatch Dudley and local decision makers in health to improve services for people who experience hearing loss. A recent achievement of the group has been vibrating pagers introduced in hospital waiting areas to help alert to appointment times. For more information contact Healthwatch Dudley: deb@healthwatchdudley.co.uk Exboozehound, also known as Jon Mansell, is an “Expert By Experience” offering online peer support via his blog, social media and individual meetings, using his own experiences with mental illness and addiction to help others. Jon said: “My peer support group, blog and online videos help people to cope, this enables me to support people all over the world” i Read more on exboozehound’s blog: www.exboozehound.co.uk
Community Forum GrantS Size of grant available: Up to £5000 Aims and outcomes of funder: Community groups have the chance to bid for grants to help them continue their work, in line with the authority’s community council vision. Additional information: The community forums are an excellent way for people to tell us what things are working in their communities and where we need to support them to make improvements. Contact details: Philip Tart – Philip.tart@dudley.gov.uk Website: www.dudley.gov.uk/community/communityforums/introduction/ Active Citizens Fund - West Midlands Police Size of grant available: Community Projects and Small Grants Aims and outcomes of funder: To engage with the public and encourage ‘active citizenship’ enabling communities to be actively involved in projects that will make a positive difference to their communities and themselves. Additional information: Two types of applications will be considered for funding: Community Projects and Small Grants: Community Projects will usually require larger amounts of funding and will be supported at partnership level with engagement from other agencies. Contact details: dy_partnerships_team@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk Website: www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/key-issues/activecitizens-fund/ Dudley Soup Size of grant available: Crowdfunding – suggested donation £5. Aims and outcomes of funder: SOUP’s aim is to give residents the opportunity to learn about projects happening in the borough giving them the chance to vote on the project they think will benefit the community the most. SOUP gives local groups and small enterprises the opportunity to pitch for funding. Additional information: SOUP acts as a platform to share resources and support projects that benefit the community. Contact details: Karl Denning karldenning@aol.com Website: www.dudleysoup.com/submit-a-proposal-to-dudley-soup the echo | 9
news Enabling, supporting and nurturing peer support with people living with long term conditions On 11 May 2017, Dudley CVS held a session to explore how voluntary organisations, community groups, faith based networks and social enterprises could help enable, support and nurture peer support with people living with long term conditions. The NHS Five Year Forward View highlights the importance of supporting people to manage their own health better, the NHS becoming a better partner with the voluntary sector, encouraging self-management for people with specific conditions and peer support. Dudley borough’s new Multi-Speciality Community Provider (MCP) will set out to: • Work with partner organisations, including the voluntary sector in helping to build community capacity and resilience, and • Promote education, encourage self-management and peer support. In light of the above, the session highlighted opportunities for the voluntary and community sector to collaborate with each other and people to share skills and resources to enable peer networks to grow. A need was identified for developing a consistent approach to measuring the value and outcomes being achieved through peer networks to demonstrate impact in line for the MCP. Going forward Dudley CVS will be: • Working with the sector, partner organisations and people to develop useful tools for supporting and developing peer support networks • Talking, listening and gathering lots of great information about the value and power of peer networks which will be shared both online and offline • Delivering a session on developing evaluation tools for demonstrating the impact of peer networks i For more information contact: Kate Green, Integrated Plus Manager, Dudley CVS on 01384 573381. Email: buildingblocks@dudleycvs.org.uk
Carers Week 2017 Building Carer Friendly Communities Carers Week 2017 will take place from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 June 2017 to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. This year Carers Week will be focusing on Building Carer Friendly Communities. Communities which support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own. Dudley CVS Carer Coordinator together with members of Dudley Carers Alliance have a number of activities taking place during Carers Week including Carers Tea and Chat with a free breakfast bap and a brew at DY1, and Family Fun Day also taking place at DY1 venue, Stafford Street. Information will also be available at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Black Country Museum Carers Event on Sunday 11th June 2017 where Carers and their families have free access to the Museum. i Infomation and details can be found on the Dudley Carers Alliance website www.dudleycarersalliance.org.uk. Join us for a free bap and a brew at DY1, Stafford Street, Friday 16 June, 10-12 noon, other breakfasts are available at normal café prices. Please let us know if you are coming for catering purposes, call us on 01384 573381. Carers and cared for welcome! the echo | 10
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Join us at our Family Fun Day to celebrate Volunteers and Carers Weeks Dudley CVS will be holding a Family Fun Day to celebrate Volunteers and Carers Weeks. Meet local groups and take part in fun activities, including crafts and sport, we would love you to come along! There will be refreshments, a fire engine, bouncy castle and lots of friendly people to talk to, so we hope you’ll drop by. You’ll get chance to meet some amazing local people who give their time to support local communities. Dudley Feelgood Choir will be performing between 11am and 12pm, which will be a treat you won’t want to miss! The new Mayor of Dudley will be dropping by, together with the outgoing Mayor, Cllr Mohammed Hanif between 11am and 12pm. Why not pop along and say ‘hello’, we’d love to see you. i Join us for a day of fun on Saturday 17 June 11am - 2pm at DY1, Stafford Street. For more information please contact Eileen Fielding at admin@dudleycvs.org.uk
Subscribe Would you like to hear more about news and events from Dudley CVS? Why not subscribe to our e-bulletin www.interests.me/org/dudleycvs If you would like to share your good news stories, successful collaborations or upcoming activities, we would love to hear from you, please contact our Communications Officer at comms@dudleycvs.org.uk
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And finally....
This echo was brought to you by... Dudley CVS TEAM MEMBERS: Dudley CVS Office: Helena Norman, Communications Officer 7 Albion Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3EE Becky Pickin, Small Groups Development Officer T: 01384 573381 W: www.dudleycvs.org.uk Lorna Prescott, Senior Development Officer @DudleyCVS facebook.com/cvsdudley Kate Green, Integrated Plus Manager Eileen Fielding, Volunteer Centre Development DY1 : Manager Stafford Street, Dudley, DY1 1RT Melissa Guest, Communications Development Officer To hire the venue, call Dale on 01384 573381 @dy1venue
BRIERLEY HILL CIVIC haLL: Bank Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3DH To hire the venue, call James on 07801 710807 @bhillcivic
Dudley CVS is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee Place of registration: England Company number: 1998105 Charity number: 517766
facebook.com/bhillcivic w: bhillcivic.co.uk
Contact Telephone: 01384 573381 Email: dale@dudleycvs.org.uk