Wincred Blog Site

News !!! Award won Social Entersprise - Making People Happy

2010-05-05T08:12:00.003Z

News
West Midlands

Making People Happy (Mph) scoop award
This week, social enterprise Making People Happy (Mph) Ltd scooped the Walsall Endeavours CIC Award for Enterprise at the Walsall Disability Awards at Bescot Stadium. Making People Happy is a social enterprise set up by Tina Hellings and Mark Phillips aiming to improve the quality of life, health and well being of corporate and community groups in the UK through the mentoring and training of instructors to deliver specialist activities in a wide range of settings.

To contact Mph about accessing corporate or community services, please call Tina Hellings on 07850 117 321, or visit:

http://tinyurl.com/37evxw9

Money Survival Kit for single parents.

2009-12-21T14:52:00.003Z

One Space site for finance and debt advice
The Single Parent Action Network is providing a 1-2-1 benefits, money and debt advice service to help one parent families on low income avoid debt and financial crisis.

We are asking front-line practitioners if they will signpost single parents to the One Space site and help them to avoid the debt that is very often triggered by Christmas.
SPAN’s social networking site for single parents, www.onespace.org.uk has recently launched a new online ‘Money Survival Kit’ to give immediate help to single parents facing financial crisis. SPAN is encouraging front-line staff in children’s centres, community groups, housing associations and faith groups to support single parents in accessing the site. It also contains useful information for front-line staff on finance and debt issues.

The One Space ‘Money Survival Kit’ provides a range of money saving solutions which single parents can access at a time and place which is convenient for them. The online resources include 1-2-1 finance and debt advice via email as well as solution-based case studies that reflect real life experiences.

Debt at this time of year can spiral out of control, especially through door stop lenders and high bank charges. This can have a knock-on effect, leading to not paying the rent or council tax - building up arrears and then potentially facing the bailiffs. Another significant trigger point for debt is separation and divorce. There is so much to deal with – applying for benefits/tax credits; maintenance issues/ mortgage and housing issues. The officialdom and complexity of it all means that problems can build up making it harder to address, especially when there is also the emotional pressure and depression.

For more information on real life practical help for those facing financial problems visit www.onespace.org.uk and click on ‘Money Survival Kit’

SPAN, Millpond, Baptist Street, Easton, Bristol BS5 0YW Tel: 0117 9514231
Email: info@spanuk.org.uk

Top Tips to Avoid Christmas Debt Hangover

2009-12-09T13:41:00.005Z

10 top tips for avoiding debt

The Citizen's Advice Bureau is urging people to avoid starting 2010 with a Christmas debt hangover, and has published a 'top tips' leaflet on how to avoid this.

The leaflet suggests:

1. Plan early for Christmas and budget accordingly

2. Don't forget everyday bills and pay them on time

3. Don't rely on an overdraft

4. Pay outright if possible to avoid credit card debt

5. Shop around for the best prices

6. Avoid buying from unauthorised traders

7. Do your own credit checks on card interest rates

8. Always read the small print on credit card terms

9. Be organised and repay outstanding debts on time

10.Start planning and saving for next Christmas.

Walsall Centre for Independent Living holding an event on Diabetes

2009-11-23T14:52:00.001Z

Walsall Centre for Independent Living will be holding an information event for people with Diabetes on

Friday 27th November 2009

Over 13,000 people in Walsall have Diabetes. Come along and find out more about the illness, equipment, benefits advice and get a free cuppa and a reduced sugar biscuit!

The event is on from 11.00am – 2.00pm at the
Centre in Bridge Street, Walsall.

Guest speakers - Richard Rawlinson – Diabetic Optometrist and
Tom Cassey Diabetic Chiropodist

For more information call 01922 650790

Fundraising Events

2009-06-19T08:40:00.003Z

Dear all

As you may be aware our funding has this year been cut by a massive £77,000.

In order to maintain service delivery for victims, children and perpetrators we have launched a fundraising campaign that includes various public events including carnivals and fun days across the borough.

We have also organised our own events that may be of particular interest to you, your family and friends, these are:

Ø Sunday 16th August: Family fun day at Willenhall Memorial Park, where you are invited to take part in either a sponsored walk or sponsored dog walk, or just watch the displays, browse the stalls or try your luck on the tombola. Sponsorship forms are available from the office.

Ø Sunday 30th August: Family fun day at Moat Caravan Park, Manafon, Nr Welshpool, SY21 8BL. Family sports events, bric-a-brac sale, various stalls and tombola. Please ask Sheri for directions if you wish to attend this event.

Ø Monday 28th September: Ladies Pamper Evening at the Long Horn, Sutton Road. Tickets are £10 each and include as many ‘pamper sessions’ that you can fit in (including: facials, leg waxing, Indian head massage, manicure, pedicure etc.) the licensee has kindly offered to provide everyone with a glass of ‘bubbly’ to assist relaxation!

Ø Friday 23rd October: Grand Charity Night at the Bonser Suite, Walsall Football Club. Live music, disco, 2 course meal, charity auction and grand draw of our raffle. Tickets £25 each.

Ø Grand Raffle: Tickets are now available at £2.00 each or £10.00 per book of 5. The prizes are:

1. New Fiat Panda 1.1 Active Eco
2. Wii + Wii fit
3. ipod
4. Electric Keyboard
5. £25 Toby Carvery Voucher
6. Family ticket to the Black Country Museum
7. 2 tickets to Monkey Forest, Trentham Gardens

If you are able to sell any raffle tickets, or tickets to our events, to your families, friends or colleagues please either email your requirements or call the office. We are more than happy to deliver tickets to you or you can pop into the office to collect them and have a coffee. We even have posters to help you promote the raffle.

We would also be very grateful to receive items for either tombola stalls or the bric-a-brac sale so if you’re having a clear out this summer please send unwanted items in our direction.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Kindest regards

Sheri Rogers
Domestic Violence Co-ordinator
Walsall Domestic Violence Forum
01922 406767

Art Speaking

2009-06-09T13:41:00.001Z

The New Art Gallery Walsall invites you to a series of audio described talks on specific artworks from its collections for blind and visually impaired people.

The aim is to help visually impaired people to gain access to our magnificent collections and to highlight specially chosen pieces for interpretation describing their form, colour, subject matter and mood.

Carvalho's Rhodroponicum
Sunday 21 June, 1pm - 1.30pm

Join curator Jo Digger for a talk and Keiko Higashi for an audio description of Melanie Carvalho's art work, Rhodroponicum, a collage that brings together ideas of the environment and the modern world and society.

Dod Proctor's The Quiet Hour
Thursday 9 July, 1pm - 1.30pm

Join curator Jo Digger for a talk and Julie Jones for an audio description of Dod Proctor's The Quiet Hour, a serene and atmospheric painting characteristic of the artist's style.

The Art Speaking project is run by Art Sense and has been funded by Arts Council England, West Midlands in partnership with Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

For more information on the talks and to book a free place for you, your friends and family please contact the gallery on 01922 654400 or visit thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk

Image: Melanie Carvalho, Rhodroponnicum, 2005, collage on paper, ink and watercolour, The New Art Gallery Walsall Collection

Citzens Advice Information

2009-05-18T14:56:00.001Z

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

Mortage Rescue Scheme

2009-04-27T08:31:00.000Z

Mortage Rescue Package

Think Family Partnership Workshop

2009-04-27T08:23:00.001Z

Workshop

Minutes of Meeting on 04.03.09

2009-04-27T08:11:00.002Z

Wincred Minutes of Meeting 04/03/09

Walsall People

2009-04-03T11:19:00.001Z

Check on the services that are provided by walsall people.
Website is www.walsallpeople.co.uk

Keeping Well and Warm Packs

2009-03-18T13:24:00.002Z

Keeping Well and Warm

Walsall Housing Group and NHS Walsall have a number of FREE Keeping Well and Warm packs to distribute within the following areas:

Beechdale North
Beechdale West
Caldmore West
Palfrey North
Darlaston

You can be referred for a Keeping Well and Warm pack through your GP, Health Trainer, Housing, Community or Voluntary Sector Organisation or you can refer yourself.

You need to meet certain criteria:

 Total household income below £21k

 Receive a qualifying benefit such as income support, disability living allowance, child tax credit, amongst others.

 Have a health related condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, cancer or other long term health condition.

There are a limited number of packs available, so please get in touch early to avoid disappointment.

To check if you qualify call Walsall Housing Group on

Jo Baker
NOW Programme Administrator
01922 426748

Financial Inclusion Survey Results

2009-03-18T11:55:00.003Z

http://www.zoomerang.com/Shared/SharedResultsSurveyResultsPage.aspx?ID=L23RLUX2AYUK

Walsall Child Poverty Strategy

2009-03-18T09:21:00.000Z

Walsall Children Trust Child Poverty Strategy

Electrical Goods Package

2009-03-10T10:03:00.002Z

Check on website - WWw.scotcash.net

White Goods Packages

Scotcash can offer our customers’ great deals on white goods through Scottish Hydro Electric. We can provide the finance for everything from washing machines to vacuum cleaners and all at the same rates as our personal loans. It is a quick and easy service and any goods ordered can usually be delivered within the week. All the products provided are energy efficient which will help to keep the running costs of the appliances to a minimum.

As well as individual items we have also put together a few starter packages for anyone who is just starting out in their new home for example:
Fridge
Washing Machine
Cooker
Vacuum Cleaner
Microwave
Iron
Kettle
Toaster

You can get a package containing all of the items listed above for under £600 and with all our packages the price includes vat and delivery.

You can spread the cost of these items as our personal loans are repaid over a length of time to suit your budget and repayments can be either weekly or monthly. Brochures are available in our office so if you wish to see further information on the products and to see how much we could save you just ask one of our loans officers.

Social Enterprise Trade Fair - Making People Happy

2009-03-10T09:22:00.001Z

News

West Midlands

Social Enterprise Trade Fair - short film reporting the event, featuring Making People Happy.

Produced by CentralVision on behalf of Social Enterprise West Midlands.

http://www.centralvision.tv/VOD.aspx?vodid=94b71443-c387-4222-b09c-4a56092d6fc9

Walsall Council promting information on Support into Jobs and Redunancy Support Roadshows

2009-03-05T12:37:00.002Z

Walsall Council recently signed up to the Local Employer Partnership agreement with Jobcentre Plus as part of our ongoing commitment to support disadvantaged communities and workless residents to secure employment either with the authority or with our partner organisations. To support this vision we have planned a series of events promoting the local authority as an employer and current job vacancies. The events will also promote the range of services available from our local partner organisations and where appropriate engage with other public sector employers and local private employers to advertise their forthcoming job vacancies. The events will place an importance on offering training and support to those who are at risk or have been made redundant so that they can quickly re-enter the labour market.

The aim of the events is to promote employment opportunities, the skills and personal qualities required for these jobs and the range of support available locally to assist local people, particularly those who are long term unemployment. Importantly the events are to raise the awareness and aspirations of local people to consider the range of services and support available to help them make positive steps into taking up employment in the future.

The events take the form of table displays and there will be opportunities for attendees to receive help and guidance on issues such as ‘how to complete successful job application forms’ and ‘interview techniques’, CV writing, motivation and confidence. There would be no cost for attending the events. Most events will run in local venues between 10am to 4pm.

Successful Event so far:

10th July 2008– Walsall Town Centre at St Paul’s the Crossing, WS1 1DA – this event was attended by 260 individuals looking for work or support. There were 19 exhibitors offering support and assistance to individuals of which the following were promoting job vacancies available; Walsall Council, WM Fire Service, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall Housing, Starting Point and Jobcentreplus.

10th September 2008– Darlaston Town Hall, Victoria Road, Darlaston – 220 attendees, 22 exhibitors offering support and assistance to individuals of which Asda, Walsall Council, WM Fire Service and JobCentre were promoting live vacancies

12th November 2008– Blakenall Village Centre, Thames Road, Blakenall - 150 attendees. There 25 exhibitors offering support, advice and assistance. Employment opportunities were promoted by Homeserve, Mid Counties Co-op, MacNeillies, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Grp, Walsall Council, Walsall teaching Primary Care Trust, West Midlands Fire Service, WM Police, Jobcentreplus

21st January 2009 – Palfrey Sure Start, South Street, Palfrey, WS1 4HE – 120 attendees. There were 20 exhibitors offering support, advice and assistance. Employers promoting vacancies included Homeserve, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall teaching Primary Care Trust, Jobcentreplus.

Future Dates of Events are::

11th March 2009 – Beechdale Community Centre, Bloxwich, WS2 7DX

24th April 2009 – Aldridge Community Centre, Middlemore Lane, Aldridge WS9 8AN

1st July 2009 – Willenhall Chart Centre, 19 Gomer Street, Willenhall WV13 2NS

24th September 2009 – Walsall Town Hall, Lichfield Street, Walsall WS1 1SZ

11th November 2009 – Darlaston Town Hall, Victoria Street, Darlaston WS10 8AA

Are You Missing Out on Benefits?

2009-03-04T09:21:00.002Z

Visiting services at Walsall Council visit customers in their home when they are unable to call into the first stop shop at the Civic Centre.

We give customers advice and help them complete claim forms for housing and council tax benefit and a range of welfare benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Carers Allowance, Pension Credit and funeral payments.

If you need help completing a form, please contact us:-

By phoning us on 0845 111 2830 during office hours

Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.15pm
Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm

By Textphone on 0845 111 2910 for deaf or speech impaired users
By emailing VisitingServices@walsall.gov.uk

Severn Trent Charity

2009-03-03T10:32:00.002Z

Click on link below for information on Severn Trent Charity.

http://www.aurigaservices.co.uk/index.html

Funding to Promote Financial Inculsion

2009-03-02T16:17:00.003Z

http://www.friendsprovident.co.uk/common/layouts/subSectionLayout.jhtml;jsessionid=E3CYTRGV3CUOMCWCDYYCFGAKYIPDIIWA?pageId=fpcouk/SitePageSimple%3Afriends_provident_foundation_landing+_page#

Advise on Credit Crunch/Recession

2009-02-10T09:03:00.001Z

http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/recession

Story from Walsall CAB

2009-02-03T16:22:00.004Z

To read story please click on this link.

LBV Television Roadshow

2009-01-30T16:42:00.002Z

You can preview examples of roadshows and film clips by clicking on to the website - www.lbv.tv – and then going to show reels or roadshow tabs.

minutes of meeting 21.11.08

2009-01-27T10:35:00.002Z

Minutes of the meeting are now available to view here

Devlopment of Walsall Heart of Enterprise

2008-12-09T14:13:00.002Z

To see this story with its related links on the guardian.co.uk site, go to

http://www.guardian.co.uk/heartofenterprise/walsall

Fuel Poverty

2008-12-09T14:09:00.001Z

Whg Round your Way

Feel free to look at document by clicking the link below.

http://www.whg.uk.com/documents/Website/Documents/Newsletters/RYW%20NOV08Final.pdf

Wincred Meeting 21 November

2008-11-21T15:32:00.002Z

Thanks to all who attended for a most valuable meeting. Don't forget we all promised to share our news and profiles. Geeta will forward forms to fill in and meanwhile get posting to the blog with stories, news, links etc. We will sort out getting it on the Wincred site in the place where it belongs.

Let's communicate!

Fuel poverty

2008-11-20T11:34:00.001Z

What is your organisation doing about fuel poverty?

What we are doing for Walsall

2008-11-19T13:41:00.003Z

Hi and welcome to the blog site. This thread is to let us share what we are doing for financial inclusion. There is more going on than we know - and you've got to tell everyone what you are doing.

If it's an event, let us know and we will publicise it on the Wincred site as well. But put down a couple of lines here and a link or phone no so people can follow it up.

As a starter, whg is making fuel poverty and keeping warm a special feature of our November newsletter to customers, coming out any day now. This has links, phone numbers, tips and even a lightbulb offer. You may find something in it to help your campaigns or people. For a copy, reply to this or email the webqueen.

Looking forward to hearing your news

Martin R

Welcome

2008-06-18T11:42:00.008Z

Welcome to the Wincred chatroom!

Feel free to browse, respond, raise new points, tell us your news, ask for help.

Your readers are the other members of the Wincred community - people working with Walsall people on money and debt issues.

We'd like this to be a vibrant, active area, so please make a contribution before you go: answer/comment on a post or raise a new question by using the 'New Post' link on the blue bar above.

Any problems contact webqueen@whgrp.co.uk