Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees, this year it takes place between 15th and 21st June. At TDC we are proud to support Brighton’s refugee community and this week we come together with them in celebration and solidarity.
We deliver a range of services to Brighton’s refugees, asylum-seekers, vulnerable migrants, and others of BAMER heritage. Support provided by our MESH (Migrant ESOL Support Hub) and SPP (Social Prescribing Plus) caseworkers throughout the Covid-19 crisis includes well-being check-ins, food bank referrals, digital inclusion provision, free furniture delivery, financial, benefits, housing and health advice and referrals, access to online courses and groups, as well as facilitating our own online ESOL courses, as clients have lost their college based English tuition due to lockdown.
TDC staff are also working alongside the Sussex Syrian Community Group, the Oromo Women’s Group, the Bangladeshi Women’s Group and the Chinese Elders. As we put it in our values – Diversity is our strength.
Here’s a link to B&H Sanctuary-on-Sea’s Refugee Week Virtual Festival Guide, with information about all the events for Refugee Week 2020. Please share it, together with Brighton Refugee Week Facebook events page and @bhrefugeeweek Instagram.
The week of June 1st – 7th marks Volunteers’ Week – that time of the year when we give a huge thank you and a big shout out in recognition of the huge impact our amazing volunteers make.
We simply couldn’t do what we do without them, and their contribution has become even more essential during the past few months as the Covid-19 crisis has aggravated the inequalities we already knew existed within our society.
There are too many people to mention. As you would’ve read in Kirsty’s piece on Monday, more than 750 people participated in running activities and services in their communities that we are involved in.
But here are just a few of the people our team wanted to specially thank this week:
“I want to thank Cat for being community minded and a great volunteer in Hollingdean!
Cat is a mum of two lovely teenagers. She loves jewellery and is a maker, she’s caring towards others and loves a chat! She runs jewellery-making courses locally and bead-making workshops at local events both for children and adults. She is also a trustee for the Hollingdean Development Trust and founder member of a new Women’s Mutual Support group!
Thank you!”
Ceza Da Luz, Community Development Worker, Hollingdean & Saunders Park
“I’d love to give a big shout out to say Thank you to all the lovely volunteers who help out on the committee of Friends of Downlands Court, and those who support activities for older people here in Peacehaven. Also, likewise, to all the amazing people who work so hard to run community groups in Woodingdean. It is a pleasure to work with you all.”
Sue Sayers, Project Manager Older People
“THANK YOU Ros & Fran (& husbands and daughter) and Cat, Chrissie, Rob and Gus – without whom we couldn’t have distributed emergency food to 50 households each week across Hollingdean, Bates Estate & Saunders Park. You have all been amazing. You quite literally save my bacon, or at least my eggs & bread every week.”
Kirsty Walker, Director of Neighbourhoods Projects
“So many motivated people support food parcel packing and delivering in the North each week. This week, I want to specifically say thank you to three Brighton Uni student volunteers – Amias, Eliot & Sam – who have been so enthusiastic about packing of food parcels in Moulsecoomb & Bevendean over the weeks!”
Anke Thurm, Community Development Worker Moulsecoomb, Bates Estate & Bevendean
“Thank you to the Albion Community Garden for sharing such happy and colourful photos of the garden on Social Media – it brightens my feed no end.
Thank you to the Phoenix Community Association for immediately rising to the challenge to organise a Food Hub from the Phoenix community Centre.
It has been a delight to work with Amy-Lou Tilley (Secretary for Phoenix CA) and Sarah McCarthy (Chair) as well as Simon (vice Chair) who have worked tirelessly to provide a vital emergency response for their local community and beyond.
I have particularly enjoyed working at the same time on spread sheets with Amy Lou while on speaker phone – feeling we are working together even though we are in different parts of the city.
Tina March also member of the PhCA, thank you for creating a recipe booklet to go with the food parcels – amazing recipes and so quickly put together.”
Emma Reeves, Community Development Worker in Central Brighton
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An appeal has been launched to provide funds for the Food Hubs in central Brighton to ensure that those most vulnerable and affected by this crisis and experiencing hardship through loss of work and income are supported.
And this year, our partners at Community Works have produced a special poster for Volunteers’ Week, for people to colour in and put up in their windows this week. Click here to download your copy of the poster.
A recent recruit to our TDC Equalities team, Maha Mustafa, is working with us on the Social Prescribing Plus Project. Her journey with TDC started when she had support from a Community Development Worker to run groups in the BME community to bring people together. She then joined us as a volunteer and has now progressed to working within the team.
The picture below shows Maha speaking at the Community Works Equality Symposium, held in February 2018, about the challenges in raising a family between two cultures, the racism she has experienced since she moved to Brighton, and how she motivated herself to learn English and study at the Open University. Plus some of the food packages she prepared for NHS workers when the Covid-19 lockdown first began.
As a colleague of ours said “Maha has community spirit running through her” and as this week is Volunteers’ Week, Maha spoke to Community Works about her experiences.
What motivated you to become a volunteer at TDC?And how long have you been involved?
I saw that volunteering would give me the ability to understand and connect with others, especially since I have had similar challenges as other BME people living in the UK so I found interest in improving their journeys. Being from different countries, cultures and speaking different languages makes it very hard for women to navigate their way around the system and get support that they may have received from families and friends in their home countries. After navigating the system myself, I feel I am now at an advantage to make other people’s journey easier than mine was. I was volunteering at TDC for six months.
Can you talk me through a typical ‘session’ / give me a bit more information about what you do?Do you have a particular story or anecdote you would like to share about your volunteering experience?
I was volunteering at Trust for the Developing Community for several months; this gave me motivation to continue volunteering and finding out about the help that’s available to ethnic minorities. From my experience as a mother myself, I found it hard to navigate the system and raise my children between two cultures. I know how important it is to keep our identity and how important for our children to embrace it. It is also important to be aware of what the consequences could be on them, the family and the wider community when they begin to lose this connection to their culture.
What is your favourite aspect of the role?
Being able to give people constructive support, advice, guidance and structure. It is a rewarding role that allows me to support others in finding their way and navigating the system.
What benefits do you gain from volunteering?
I would say volunteering allowed me to learn new skills, build my self-esteem and confidence, meet new people from different background with different skills, gain experience and build my confidence to apply for a job.
What would you say to someone who was considering volunteering or helping in their local community?
It brings the community together; it has long standing benefits and you will receive more than you give, it’s an amazing learning experience where everyone benefits.
By Kirsty Walker, Director of Neighbourhood projects
In February this year, we celebrated some of our fantastic volunteers by giving “Community Champions” awards to inspirational individuals whose hard work giving back to their community makes a huge positive difference to people’s lives.
At practically every TDC AGM (and there’ve been a few now), somebody highlights that our community volunteers are our ‘life blood’ or ‘we couldn’t exist without them’.
This week, as we mark Volunteers’ Week, an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering, we want to make clear that this is not hyperbole – it is a simple fact in our neighbourhood’s team.
The neighbourhoods we work in are full of community activists helping each other, taking direct action, and even on occasion working with a public service to improve something in their area. It pains me to hear these communities referred to by their needs and deficits when mostly at TDC we just see their amazing passions, skills and strength.
In the year ending March 2020 more than 750 people participated in running activities and services in their communities that we are involved in and they contributed over £290,000 in volunteer hours and other in-kind contributions. They also raised a whopping £140,000 in funding for community projects.
So that’s the big picture stuff, but what does this look like on the ground?
It looks like
amazing individuals sitting up late with account books and receipt bags,
volunteers booking appointments at the resource centre for printing or Grantfinder;
small groups of people spending many an evening sat in cold halls planning projects;
large groups of people inviting out services and companies to discuss local plans;
and sometimes it looks like just ‘being together’. On high days and holidays, it looks like festivals and street parties. Mostly It LOOKS LIKE A COMMUNITY.
By working together, communities create a resilience, enabling them to face adversity, and this has never been more clearly demonstrated than by the response to the Covid-19 crisis.
Whether mutual aid, unincorporated group, CIC, or registered charity, there have been people at the hard end of the crisis ensuring no one is left behind. Some have been instrumental in making sure that everyone can eat as part of the emergency food network, others have created community oases through their gardening and some have reached out to those isolating though telephone or post.
So on this National Volunteers’ Week 2020 I say THANK YOU. THANK YOU for making this city better for all of us and for letting us be a small part of all the amazing things you do.
TDC has partnered with Community Works to launch a new online coronavirus help directory, providing trusted information on COVID-19 to residents of Brighton & Hove.
COVID Brighton & Hove is a new central resource which will be updated daily with the latest welfare advice, support offers, public health advice and all the vital rapidly changing information on COVID-19. It has a special focus on protecting and supporting the most vulnerable and excluded members of our communities.
We set up this website in coordination with Brighton & Hove City Council, health organisations and other local charities and community groups. The project was made possible by support from NHS Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group and Sussex Community Foundation.
The site addresses the needs of people in Brighton and Hove, focusing on the central question of “How can we help you?”. People can use the site to find help with everything from food shopping or getting a prescription, to coping with loneliness or finding advice about money and benefits. They can also use it on behalf of a friend, family member or neighbour who they’re worried about.
Our Chief Executive Athol Halle said: “It’s vital that anyone who needs help has a place to go to get up-to-date information. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of which services are open and how to get hold of support. The website will provide verified information for everyone in the city, linking trusted sources together in a single access point.”
Community Works CEO Jessica Sumner said: “The response to the coronavirus situation by charities, community groups, volunteers, the Council, and the NHS across the city has been incredible. While it’s been a really challenging time for lots of people, this crisis has also shown the best of the city and how we can work together to help each other. We hope that covidbrightonhove.org.uk will be an easy-to-access website that brings everything together – from Mutual Aid groups to mental health support.”
Organisations from across the public and voluntary sector in Brighton & Hove are coming together to tackle Serious Youth Violence. TDC will be hosting a conference at The Grand Hotel, Brighton on Wednesday 11th March to create innovative responses to youth violence and it is hoped that this event will kick start a coordinated and joined up service that will address the issues that young people in the city face.
This is part of the development of the Sussex Violence Reduction Unit funded by the Home Office through the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner.
Event Organiser, Jackie Sear, working on behalf of TDC says “This is a great opportunity for the voluntary sector, parents and young people, Police and Local Authority Services to share their experiences and knowledge and to find common ground. Brighton and Hove has a wealth of great services but often organisations are working in isolation and parents or young people may not know where to go for help. This event aims to create opportunities to develop partnerships and share good practice.”
The Home Office awarded £880,000 funding to the Office of the Sussex Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) to develop the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) across the county. This has supported a range of Local Authority and Voluntary Sector organisations to create new and enhance existing services that meet the needs of the community.
The conference will bring many of these services together along with other interested stakeholders.
Adam Muirhead, Director of Youth Work here at TDC, has been leading the Brighton Streets Detached Youth Work Programme, funded by the Police Crime Commissioner as part of the Violence Reduction Unit. This is a partnership between TDC, Hangleton and Knoll Project and the Tarner Community Project. The partnership is working together on the streets of Brighton and Hove to engage with young people who may be at risk of exploitation or victimisation and at risk of getting involved in criminal activities.
Adam says “Our city is a fantastic place to live and work for the majority of us, but sadly too many young people still fall prey to those who would exploit them for personal gain, often leading to violence. At the conference, we are looking forward to hearing from young people, parents and leaders in the field and see people working together to tackle the issues related to youth violence and overcome the barriers to resolving them”
Speakers on the day include representatives from the council’s Extended Adolescent Service, REBOOT Youth Programme, Community Safety team, Public Health team, Children and Young People’s Services, PCC, Sussex Police, Audio Active, Make Good Trouble, Fresh Youth Perspectives, Mentivity and the Trust for Developing Communities. There will be a keynote speech from the national organisation, SPACE, and presentations led by young people and parents.
There are a limited number of spaces remaining at Eventbrite.
For further details please contact the event Organiser Jackie Sear at [email protected] or by phone 07958 557 069
The Trust for Developing Communities is a charity tackling inequality in Brighton and Hove through community-led solutions. We do this by delivering youth work, research and training, and community development work across the city. Our vision is for Brighton & Hove to become a city of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, where all our communities thrive.
This film gives a flavour of some of our recent work, showing the range and vibrancy of the extraordinary people and projects we work with.
The film was created by filmmaker Amber Rose Morgan – https://www.ambermorgan.co.uk in collaboration with our Youth Team Manager Kate Barker. Many thanks to them and everyone else involved for all their hard work putting this together.
The TDC Community Champions awards were launched on Thursday 20th February 2020. These awards are given to inspirational individuals in Brighton & Hove whose hard work giving back to their community makes a huge positive difference to people’s lives. The Community Champions were selected by a panel of local people including TDC trustees and leaders from communities across the city.
The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Alex Phillips, presented the awards at our AGM, at which we also premiered a film about our work and enjoyed performances by people we work with – young people Cody and Chelsea sang, and musicians Jamal and Alaa performed a set of Syrian and Lebanese folk songs.
Read on to find out more about our 2020 Community Champions and see a video of the awards being presented…
Mike Noble
Mike has been the Chairperson of Friends of Downlands Court since 2010. He has worked tirelessly to raise funds to provide activities, outings and equipment at Downlands Court for the benefit of people over the age of 60 who live there and of older people in the wider communities of Peacehaven, Newhaven, East Saltdean and Telscombe Cliffs. He heads up the team of volunteers who support these activities, ensuring that they are acknowledged and thanked for their commitment. Mike produces a monthly newsletter to keep everyone informed about how they can be involved with Downlands Court and spends a lot of time building up useful community contacts (for example, schools, the police, town councils, and other voluntary sector groups) throughout the Havens.
(Nominated by TDC’s Sue Sayers who collected the award on his behalf.)
Bevendean Food Bank, Coffee Morning and Advice Service
This group are all fantastic volunteers that give their free time to manage and run the food bank weekly for 48 weeks of the year every Wednesday. They provide a community café space with first cup free with biscuits and then low cost from then on. They liaise with and provide a variety of other services to the attendees including Mind, Money Advice Plus, the local councillor drop-ins, job club plus lots more. Not only that but they apply for funding and organise a FareShare delivery every week to provide a huge amount of individuals and families with food and toiletries. They advertise and make links with local businesses for donations including the local harvest festival from the primary school. The group not only do this at the Wednesday session but go above and beyond by providing one off deliveries to those less able to get to the food bank or those needing food on another day if they missed the food bank day. In 2019 the group supported 212 people to get food and 83 of those were families. 70 Families were helped with food bags just on one day – Weds 18th Dec the last day before Christmas closure – one of the busiest days of the food bank when the group also organised a Christmas party and raffle for everyone to receive a free gift. It has been great working with the group who are so motivated to helping people no matter when it’s needed, they are there to support local people and help them in anyway they can. They should all be extremely proud of themselves.
(Nominated by TDC’s Kalishia Davey)
Bevendean Food Bank volunteers receive their Community Champions awards
Norma Chanuluka
Norma is involved with a range of community activity and projects in Hollingdean. She is an active member and resident involved with the tenant’s association in Hollingdean amongst other projects. For example, she has started the local knitting group after identifying a group of women that were isolated due to long term conditions and/or were recovering from tobacco/alcohol addiction. She is also involved with the local community edible garden in her neighbourhood. Norma is also involved with a range of citywide projects as well as playing a very active role in her church.
(Nominated by TDC’s Ceza DaLuz)
Norma Chanuluka receives her Community Champion award
Tracey Silsby
When it comes to talking about Whitehawk and what works within the community, Tracey is a pivotal asset. Not only is she a joyful, chatty wonderful member of the community she also runs the Hawks Community Café based at the Whitehawk Hub. During our time setting up the youth café Tracey has played a vital role in talking to the community, helping to promote the sessions as well as being an inspiring individual to the young people who attend. Every week Tracey stays to chat and check in with members of the youth team and the young people, she spends time getting to know the young people and members of the community and helps to bridge the gaps between ages as well as providing information between community groups and other resources that individuals may not be aware of. Tracey is an incredible asset to the Whitehawk team and is always ready to go above and beyond, She tries her best to meet the needs of the community and is always up for a challenge. I think it is fair to say that without her support, guidance and help the hawks youth café would not be able to function.
(Nominated by TDC’s Sophie Murphy and Caroline Vitta)
Tracey Silsby receives her Community Champion award
The ADHD Aware Group
The ADHD Aware Group has been supporting Adults with ADHD and other associated Neuro-Diverse conditions since 2011in Brighton and Hove and further afield. It’s a Free service run by dedicated volunteer Committee and Volunteers who staff the drop-in sessions. They offer a safe and nurturing peer led space for people to come together and support each other on their journeys to diagnosis through to everyday experiences of living with ADHD. This includes a family, friends and Partners drop-in where people living with a loved one with ADHD can also come together to help each other and a themed discussion group, where the members choose the topic and share tips and solutions on how to thrive whilst living with a Neuro-Diverse condition. I have seen this group save lives, give people their dignity and confidence back and most importantly, show people the positive nature of ADHD and how to open up opportunities for good. Where, before, it felt like there were none or there were simply too many barriers to climb and they just needed a guiding hand. They have given over and above for almost a Decade and I feel this reward would really show them, the power of what they do for others is incredibly valued by so many. They showed me that Neuro-Diversity when enabled, and treated equally, is like a ‘superpower’ a hidden talent lying latent just waiting to be discovered. Employers are now waking up to this fact, and the tide is turning, due to groups like this who strive to educate and inform on the positives of living with ADHD. I have the upmost respect and admiration for ADHD Aware Group and the lives it touches.
(Nominated by TDC’s Claire Burchell)
The ADHD Aware group receive their Community Champion award
Ann Menhinick
Ann is a founder member of the Purple People Kitchen (PPK), the vital foodbank for the Portslade community which has been running successfully since 2012. The PPK provides a hot meal every Friday afternoon at Portslade Town Hall and distributes food items to its clients as well as providing support and advice to those who need it. They were winners of the 2017 Community Stars Award from the Argus newspaper and would not exist if it wasn’t for the dedication of the many volunteers that run the kitchen on a weekly basis. As Ann has said “their commitment to work, to collect, cook and store food is commendable. They work hard to improve the lives of those who come to us with the knowledge that we have the continued support of a very strong public spirited local community”. Ann rightly praises the volunteers and local community but she too deserves credit for keeping the PPK going all these years hence my nomination.
(Nominated by TDC’s Mark Drayton)
Ann Menhinick receives her Community Champion award
Sara Fernee
Sara Fernee is a beacon and champion for her community and has grown more and more involved over the last years. Her passion is getting children and young people to experience the outdoors, nature and woodlands in the local community through her Fernee Forest Club, which provides forest school sessions in the local woodland in Lower Bevendean. Sara and her group have also started to invite the wider community by running Friday evening Fire & Feast sessions where not only children but adults can play in the woodland, experience outdoor cooking and eating. Sara is very community minded and loves the challenge of working collaboratively with the community garden, Bevendean Chomp, schools and other groups in the area. In 2019, she became a champion for local green spaces with a project idea of connecting Bevendean & Moulsecoomb through the Bevendean Downland, with the aim to create a map to make local nature trails accessible for everyone. Most recently, she headed the campaign to keep the old Scout Hut (an important historic community space in Lower Bevendean) an asset for the community. On top of all that, she also likes getting involved in other committees in the ward, such as Action in Bevendean Community, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean Neighbourhood Forum, Friends of Maggie’s Corner and running “little” side projects such as planting dozens of trees on the local primary school’s playing field and starting an orchard with pupils to encourage healthy eating.
On behalf of the BME Employment and Skills Steering Group, we’d like to let you know that after much deliberation, we have taken the decision to cancel the BME Employment and Skills Fair event on Wed 18th March.
Although a challenging decision, the steering group felt that in the current COVID-19 climate, we must ensure we are taking responsible action – taking into account the most up to date guidance, as well ensuring we are acting in the best interests of our communities.
We have experienced a number of queries from stall holders, about whether the event is still going ahead. As many of the general public are being increasingly encouraged to socially isolate themselves, particularly those most at risk in the BME communities, as well as professionals who are not front line workers and in light of guidance that is becoming increasingly restrictive, we feel it would be a prudent measure to postpone the event for the safety and wellbeing for all of our participants, at this time.
We want to thank you for your commitment to the project and will keep you informed of decisions going forward.
On Wednesday 18th March we will be working with the Black & Minority Ethnic Community Partnership (BMECP) to hold a BAME Employment and Skills Fair. This will be a chance for people from diverse backgrounds, including refugee and migrant, to talk face to face with prospective employers.
Employers will be showcasing opportunities to job seekers from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. The aim is to develop confidence and share awareness of opportunities, between employers and applicants from BAME communities.
At the fair we will also be launching our new Quality Mark for employers in Brighton & Hove.
The event is FREE but please book online here so we know how many people to expect. Eventbrite tickets here →
BAME Employment Fair
Wednesday 18th March, 4-8pm
BMECP Centre, 10a fleet street, Brighton, BN1 4ZE
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How did the BAME Employment Fair come about?
This Employment Fair is part of a piece of work which has been going on for the past few years. In October 2016 research commissioned by Brighton & Hove City Council and undertaken by the Ottaway group was published. Entitled ‘Race Equality of Employment & Skills in the City’. The Ottaway report made a series of 14 recommendations to help create a better environment that offers increased opportunities for people from BAME backgrounds to find paid employment and acquire skills that will improve job and career prospects. Following the Ottaway research, in 2018 TDC conducted the Employment and Skills Consultation to explore what role BAME led and/or focused Third Sector, Community & Voluntary Organisations and services could contribute towards addressing the need for employment skills and training for BAME communities.
The BME Employment and Skills project, initiated in July 2019, is the result of TDC’s consultation. It is a partnership led by TDC, working with BMECP and funded by BHCC Collaboration Funding.
The project is led by individuals and organisations from the targeted communities with a view to create a platform for BME led organisations to develop new ways of working and establish a collective approach to address concerns. The recruitment of steering groups members for the project was completed in September 2019. Six BME led organisations agreed to participate in the project and they form the project’s steering group. The steering group wanted to recognise structural and institutional barriers identified by the Ottaway report and not limit the focus and responsibility to the BME 3rd sector organisations and BME people.
The steering group decided to work on developing a Race Equality Quality Mark for employers willing to proactively remove barriers to employment and training opportunities for BME people. This would involve reviewing their own practices and building sustainable links with BME 3rd Sector and community organisations. The Race Equality Quality Mark that can be adopted by employers and reviewed regularly. The partnership (BME Employment and skills project steering group; BMECP and TDC) will be seeking opportunities and funding to continue this work beyond the 9 months of the initial project.
The project has developed links with key projects and organisations working with BME communities in the city e.g.The Hummingbird Refugee Project Brighton; The Migrant English Project; Voices in Exile; Migrant ESOL Support Hub(MESH); Sussex Interpreting Services; Vandu language Service and the Hangleton & Knoll Project. The project has also engaged key Employers in the city (primarily from Public and Private sectors) e.g. BHCC (Communities, Equality & Third Sector Team); BHCC (Human Resources & Organisational Development); Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group; NHS Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCG; NHS Hastings and Rother CCG; Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups; BHCC(Chamber of Commerce); Sussex Police; American Express and Brighton Business Improvement District.
The project has also planned the delivery of two workshops to consult on the draft Race Equality Quality Mark in advance of the employment fair, asking employers and potential employees how they think the Quality Mark should look. Please join us at one of these events and help us shape the way organisations in our city :
Workshop 1 – for individuals from BAME communities, to be held on 25th February 2020, 4-7pm Register here →
Workshop 2 – for employers, to be held on 27th February 2020, 2-4pm Register here →
The Employment & Skills Fair on 18th March will signify the official launch of the Quality Mark. The Fair will be an opportunity for members of BME communities and employers to meet and learn about job and training opportunities. It will bring together participants from both workshops, and wider BME communities, to have a face-to-face conversation, with employers, network and share opportunities. Employers are encouraged to have an information stall. The Fair will be during the week leading up to UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (on 21st March).
The Trust for Developing Communities in Partnership with small voluntary run Charity, Look Sussex, support weekly sessions for young people, who are visually impaired/blind to access fun and interactive youth sessions.
Look Sussex was established in 1992 and to date has supported over 250 families across Sussex offering access to support, friendship and advice as well as regular coffee mornings, youth activities and trips out.
Every Wednesday during term-time we hold youth sessions in the 67 Centre 5.30-7pm by Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre, Hodshrove Lane, BN2 4RW just opposite the Health Centre. We are keen to grow our membership and offer these great opportunities to young people locally. All the sessions are FREE.
The young people plan their activities with the youth workers and these can range from weekly cookery or craft-making activities through to silent discos, singing, messy play and quiz nights. Georgina often posts highlights of the sessions on facebook. We hope that as the membership grows, we can fundraise for trips out and more interactive resources like a set of musical instruments and braille balls for the pool table.
If you would like more information do get in touch with TDC, [email protected] or alternatively contact Look Sussex, Tara Dutton on [email protected] or call 07703 434119 or just drop into one of the sessions! If you know any families who may benefit from the sessions (we welcome parents, carers and siblings to stay for a cuppa and chat) everyone is very welcome. And if you are interested in maybe volunteering in your community and this sounds like a group you would like to help grow, let me know!
Look Sussex Youth sessions for Visually Impaired young people
Last year, in partnership with Community Works, TDC ran a course for Council staff on working with communities and volunteers. We followed up with one participant to see what difference it had made to her work in the Quality Monitoring Team.
“After the course I contacted the Supported Employment Team (SET) and explored ways for people with disabilities to work in care homes and supported living services. These supported working opportunities were introduced by SET to provider services at the Care Home Forum and some were interested. As a result one volunteer was offered paid work and another paid role arose. We anticipate that this is the start of lots of new opportunities in the future.”
Cassandra Whitfield, Commissioning Support Officer, Brighton & Hove City Council, Health and Adult Social Care
Cassandra got in touch to give us the above feedback and to tell us “I wanted to thank you, as I am sure that this would not come into fruition unless I had attended the training for ‘Creating Opportunities with communities and volunteers’ and a little spark of an idea came into my head. This spark has turned into two people with disabilities receiving paid work and fulfilling more of their potential, which is testament to building bridges and collaboration between teams.”
For more info on the Supported Employment Team, what support they can offer people with disabilities to overcome barriers to employment, plus support they offer to employers, please contact them via email [email protected] or Phone: 01273 295961
By Sayanti Banerjee, BME Community Development Worker.
Community Roots is a network of 16 organisations providing services and resources to support mental health across Brighton & Hove. The services are all person-centred, responsive and flexible and are designed to meet people’s needs, help them manage their mental health and realise their full potential. TDC is one of the partners delivering the work within the black and minority ethnic community in Brighton. TDC will be working together with the Hangleton & Knoll project to deliver and facilitate services that improve the mental health and wellbeing of people from local BAME communities. Here are some examples of the work we have delivered since the service began in October 2019.
Iranian Older People’s Group:
As a part of the Community Roots project, the Iranian Older People’s Group was set up in Dec 2019. The group aims to bring together people from the Iranian community to share a space and socialise. In my role as TDC’s BME Community Development Worker I will support the group to engage with citywide services, and with the wider community thereby improving wellbeing. The group is excited to get together and start something on their own and have a space for all older Iranians in Brighton to meet.
The Community Roots Iranian Group
Tarner Multicultural Group:
Tarner Multicultural Group meets at the Unemployed Centre once a month. The group is open to all. A guest speaker is invited every session to talk about improving mental health and wellbeing and raise awareness about various local services. The group engages in Bollywood dancing at the end of each session. The members have enjoyed the sessions and think it is a good opportunity to discuss issues, socialise and have some fun whilst they engage in exercise through dance. One participant said “I have never done Bollywood dancing before. I don’t exercise because I don’t enjoy it. This is a great way to enjoy some music, learn something new and burn calories! I have also found the energy advice quite useful. I now know that there are options to save on my electricity bill.”
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The Community Roots service offers Mental Health & Wellbeing Support in Brighton & Hove via a network of local services.
If you need support, or know somebody that does, please ring 0808 196 1768 (freephone) Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm and the Community Roots team will help you navigate and access the appropriate services.
