Below are some of the organisations that are offering support over Christmas and New Year period 2021

Dudley Council Plus are closed on the 24, 27 & 28 of December. They reopen on the 29, 30 & 31 of December. Support for emergency assistance payments will be available but on reduced capacity.

Domestic Abuse/Women’s Refuge
The Refuge service will be open and contactable 24/7 throughout and can provide telephone support, a Refuge place and coordinate with other Refuge services across the country. This includes access to the homelessness service emergency bed too. The main number for our Refuge is 01384 866334 and more info on our website: https://www.chadd.org.uk/new-beginnings/

DMBC’s safe & sound is reminding people that victims of domestic abuse can get help and support this Christmas by calling 📱01384 455411 24 hrs a day.

There are the national helplines too.

Young People’s Supported Housing
CHADDs Foyer service will be open 24/7 and this also includes access to an emergency bed for any young people presenting as homeless/roofless. The E-Bed is accessed through DMBC homeless service at Dudley Council Plus out of hours service or we can provide some help and coordination through calling: 01384 237555.

Our other services – sheltered housing, supported living, community support will have some services operating or are 24/7 anyway for their specific residents on site.

Black Country Foodbank
The opening times of Black Country Foodbanks will be on their website, they are being updated daily so please check the website:
https://www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk/

Public Health have emergency food and toiletry parcels that they can access out of hours. 01384 814444

Housing Finance
Our services will be closed to the public from the 23rd Dec to the 4th Jan although managers (Yvonne Steele, Alison Charley and Kelly Read) will be in the office and available on the 29th, 30th and 31st Dec.
Contacts:
Yvonne – 01384-811686 (30th & 31st)
Alison Charley – 01384-812476 (29th Dec)
Kelly Read – 01384-812486 (29th & 30th)

Benefits , Revenues and Isolation payments are all open during normal opening times over Christmas.
If there are any problems or issues, Steph Faulkner is the manager to contact during this period.

Homelessness Team will be open for business as usual during each working day up to and including the 23rd December. During the Christmas period and Bank Holidays the service will continue to operate as an ‘out of hours service’ accessible by telephone until the service re-opens for business as usual again on 29th December 2021.
The service will be accessible by telephone using the out of hours service over the New Year weekend and Bank Holiday will re-open in the New Year on 4th January.
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/housing/housing-advice-information-and-support/homelessness/

Team Manager is Hayley Rowley

Citizens Advice is open until Thursday 23rd December 2021 and then over the Christmas period the following services are open:
• Adviceline for the public to ring for any advice issue 0300 3309 044 open Wednesday 29 December 9.30am – 3.30pm
• Opened for pre booked appointments on 29th and 30th December
• Debt Helpline 07799 070595 available 29th and 30th December
• Debt self referral via our website 24/7,referrals will be actioned 29th and 30th December
• Universal Credit Hep to Claim Service 0800-144-8444 open 29/30/31 December

Normal service will resume on Tuesday 4 January 2022. All our staff are currently working from home.

Community Support

• Vi at Leslie’s Care Packages is taking referrals for people who need turkeys etc. or presents – referral@lesliescarepackages.org
• Hope House is open Christmas Day 4pm for turkey sandwiches, roast potatoes and pudding plus chat, company and some festive fun. Open to anyone.
• Halesowen Scout Group free Christmas two course lunch on Sunday 19th December delivered between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, will need heating up, to be confirmed before 16th December, call Ian on 07970 560 463.
• Amblecote Christian Centre – Christmas Day Meal call 01384 375 111

Places of welcome
The information below relates specifically to Places of Welcome, where the Place of Welcome is held in a church/community centre – other events may be happening, but just not Places of Welcome. ie Christmas Services/parties

Top Church will be open on Wednesday 29th December 1-3pm Free hot drinks with optional activities, all welcome St Thomas and St Luke
Top Church, High Street, Dudley, DY1 1QD

Hope House, Springs Church, 7 Zoar Street, Lower Gornal, Dudley, DY3 2PA – Mondays and Tuesdays 09:30 – 14:30 plus NEW Community Garden
Mondays and Tuesdays as normal 9.30am – 2.30pm until 20th and 21st December.

We will then be open
Christmas Day 4pm – 6pm

We will then reopen on Tuesday 4th January 9.30am.

Woodside Internet Centre, Hallchurch Road, Holly Hall, Dudley, DY2 0TQ – Mondays 10:00 – 15:30
Open 20th Dec
Closed 27th Dec
Open 3rd Jan

Community Hub, 16A Stone St, Dudley, DY1 1NS – Tuesdays 10:30 – 12:30
Open 21st Dec
Closed 28th Dec
Open 4th Jan

Primrose Hill Community Church, The Hub at PHCC, Chapel Street,Netherton, Dudley, DY2 9PN
Open 22nd Dec
Open 29th Dec
Open 5th Jan

Top Church, St Thomas and St Luke’s, High Street, Dudley, DY1 1QD – Wednesdays 13:00 15:00
Open 22nd Dec
Open 29th Dec
Open 5th Jan

Rainbow Street Community Centre, 49 Rainbow Street, Coseley, WV14 8SX – Thursdays 10:00 – 12:00
Open 23rd Dec
30th Dec TBC

Open Door Cafe, Christ Church, High Street, Lye, Stourbridge, DY9 8LF – Fridays 11:00 – 13:00
TBC
St John’s Church, Leys Road, Brockmoor, DY5 3UR – Saturdays 10:00 – 12:00
Closed 25th Dec
Closed 1st Dec

Black Country Mental Health, The Hub, Bushey Fields Hospital Site, Bushey Fields Road, Dudley, DY1 2LZ – Sundays 15:00 – 17:00 *If arriving by car, please call 07951580792 for site barrier code
Open 19th Dec
Open 26th Dec
Open 2nd Jan

Contact officer:
Carrie Blount

Places of Welcome & Buddying Facilitator Black Country

Mobile: 07377 918 101

Web: https://tctogether.org.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/impactpoverty

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRslaIOWDBvLW8kX7OYw2ow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/impactpoverty

West Midlands Fire Service is committed to making its communities safer, healthier and stronger. In recent months we have seen an increase in house fires starting in the kitchen and part of our strategy to tackle this is to deliver safe and well visits to everyone, but mainly targeting our more vulnerable members of the community. We aim to improve safety in the home, offer road safety advice and signpost where appropriate. Fire fighters will fit smoke alarms and specialist equipment where needed free of charge and will leave you with a booklet with handy tips for making your home as safe as possible. Please use the QR code to book a safe and well with your local fire crew and help make the West Midlands a safer, healthier and stronger place to live.

Safe and Well

Safe and Well – West Midlands Fire ServiceSafe and Well visits, formally home safety checks, enable us to advise and educate on safety at home. We also fit free smoke alarms!www.wmfs.net

Castle and Priory Neighbourhood Learning Centre Dudley

Resilience – Masterclass Details:

The aim of this course is to enable you to understand how to become more resilient and cope with setbacks in life, improve wellbeing and achieve your goals.

Date: Friday 9th July 2021 (10.30 – 12.30) Venue: Castle & Priory Neighbourhood Learning Centre

Cost: FREE

Contact: 01384 818143 or Emily.whitehouse@dudley.gov.uk

Are you interested in gardening or would you like to grow your own veg? If so, you are very welcome to join The Priory Pharmacy Community Garden. There’s no need to bring anything, just turn up on a Monday from 2pm – 4pm.

The Priory Community Garden has reopened and is now a Covid Safe ‘Place of Welcome’. There will always be a cuppa, biscuits and maybe some homemade cake to enjoy. You can find out more on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PrioryPharmacyGarden/

Naomi is starting a 0-5 year old session at Sledmere Centre on Fridays. Babies under 12 weeks are free and their is a siblings discount available. Get in touch to book your place via moomusicsedgley@yahoo.com or call 07955 701366

Children’s Mental Health Week is taking place on 1-7 February 2021. This year’s theme is Express Yourself.

Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. This could be through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that make you feel good.

The Children’s Mental Health website has lots of free resources that will help children and young people to explore what it means to Express Yourself. All of the ideas can be adapted for use in school, for home-schooling, online lessons or independent learning. 

You can get more information from a Place2B which is a children’s mental health charity with over 25 years’ experience working with pupils, families and staff in UK schools.

St Thomas’s Community Association are delivering some really great, fun, creative activities during February for young people aged 11-25, from photography and film making to theatre, dance and Henna painting! There’s something for everyone!  The programme will run over 6-8 week period. Below are the activities for week one.

Monday 1 February

Film Making 4:30pm-6pm

Urban Fusion (Over 16’s) 6:30pm-7pm

Tuesday 2 February

The Art Room (Over 16) 4:30pm-5:30pm

Urban Fusion (11-16 year olds) 6pm-7pm

Wednesday 3 February

Photography (11-16 year olds) 4:30pm-5:30pm

Photography (over 16) 5:45pm-6:45pm

Urban Fusion Dance (over 16) 6:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday 4 February

Creative Hub (11-16 year olds) 4:30pm-5:30pm

Quiz night (Over 16) 7pm-8pm

Friday 5 February

Open Mic (11-15 year olds) 5pm-6pm

Open Mic (16+) 6pm – 7pm

Saturday 6 Feb

Gather and Grow (11-16 year olds) 10am-11am

Youth theatre (11-16 Year olds) 11am-12noon

Henna Hand Painting (17-25 year olds) 1pm-2:30pm

Sunday 7 February

Youth Theatre (17-25 year olds) 11am-12noon

To sign up for any of the sessions email stthomasca@outlook.com or call 07957 683696. Follow (5) St Thomas’s Community Association (Sledmere Centre) | Facebook for more information!

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