Newsletter
Settlement stories: The benefits of volunteering.
Maureen is a 67 year old woman who is retired and lives alone. After retirement Maureen found it difficult because she did not know what to do with her time and felt isolated and alone. To alleviate this, she began volunteering at one of Birmingham Settlement’s charity shops. Since then Maureen has made many friends and feels that she has built a new support network from these relationships. Working in the shop has helped her get to know customers and other volunteers living nearby and enjoys seeing the same people every week for a chat and catch up. Maureen says that volunteering has made her feel useful again and has encouraged her friends to become volunteers too due to her positive experiences. The impact on Maureen’s health and wellbeing has been fantastic as the shop activities keep her physically and mentally active; Maureen challenges herself without overdoing it!
Support Zurich’s 1,000 mile cycling challenge!
This September staff at Zurich Community Trust will be cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and they need your support! If you are interested in taking part as a cyclist they would welcome your involvement, but if not then making a donation to the cause would be very much appreciated! Income raised during the event will be split between a group of charities that Zurich are supporting, and Birmingham Settlement are proud to be one of these. For more information please see their website: http://www.z1000m.com.
Zurich Community Trust is working in partnership with Birmingham Settlement’s Ageing Well programme for the next three years, and will be providing funding, as well being involved in the programme’s activities and events.
I’m dreaming of summer rain.
This week Birmingham Settlement was proud to unveil a new art project at the Centre for the Aston Family called Dreaming of Summer Rain. The project was inspired by ideas shared through a series of workshops with members of the local community and includes the hopes and dreams of the community, a sense of belonging, and a celebration of different cultures. The piece contains a wide variety of colours and patterns that represent the many different people who live in the local community. The piece was designed to brighten up the atrium of the Centre for the Aston Family and lift the spirits of those who visit us there. Dreaming of Summer Rain was designed by Melanie Tomlinson with the contribution of Birmingham Settlement’s service users.
Birmingham’s Affordable Nail Care Service
Our Nail Care Service is going strong with nail carers based at locations across the city. Why not check out our new Nail Care website www.bhamnailcare.co.uk to find out more? It provides lots of information about the services available including a postcode checker to find out where your nearest nail carer is located
We currently have an expanding list of more than 40 nail carers working across Birmingham with another troupe of students getting trained up this term at Birmingham Metropolitan College.
Make do and Mend with Women & Theatre
We’re joining forces with Women & Theatre on 29th February to perform a unique piece of community theatre full of fantastic stories and tips, all designed to help people make their money go further.
As a charity, debt management is something at the very heart of our work so the 29th is planned as an Open Day, featuring money surgeries and advice, as well as a chance for potential volunteers to visit and find out more about what we do. It will then culminate in the performance, entitled ‘Make, Do & Mend.’
Make, Do & Mend is a project Women & Theatre have been developing across Birmingham over the last 5 months. The company has been researching with a variety of community groups to understand the issues people face, and collect advice and information to resolve any problems. They have had informal sessions and conversations, as well as running a series of intergenerational workshops to develop the project. The performances have been designed so that community members can join the company in the morning to be ‘reheased into’ the performance to share with audiences in the afternoon. This will create an exciting mix of professional and community performers – a participation technique Women & Theatre have delivered successfully a number of times.
Terina Talbot, Women & Theatre’s Associate Director said; “We’ve been working for several months with community members, and it’s looking very exciting. With stories and songs, and contributions from all generations, ultimately, it’s a feel-good piece of theatre that everyone can enjoy. So if anybody wants to get involved, or needs debt advice, or simply a good afternoon out – we’d encourage them to get in touch.”
All activities will be happening from 11am at the Centre for the Aston Family, 359-361Witton Road, B6 6NS. For more information or to book free tickets to the performance (which starts at 1.15pm) call 0121 250 0777 or email info@bsettlement.org.uk
Seeing is Believing – Zurich Insurance Staff shake out their Cobwebs!
Following a successful application to Zurich Community Trust, we have become the insurance company’s local partner for the next three years. We’re receiving £7,500 a year for Ageing Well, our older people’s programme, and they’re going to be helping out in a range of areas from business support to challenges. Some of the manager’s from the Birmingham office came to visit the Centre for the Aston Family to see what we do. Along with Martin Holcombe, our Chief Executive and Ageing Well service users they took part in a cobweb shaker designed to raise the heart rate and get people feeling good. The group of 10 had a tour of the Centre, seeing the Little Settler’s Day Nursery, Stay and Play and the Cyber Suite we offer there. Everyone really enjoyed the day and stayed for spot of lunch before heading back to the office.