Here are some suggestions for where you can access support, supplies or advice:
Government Support for ‘Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Persons: This is a link to the relevant page on the Government website – https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable, which explains that those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should have received a letter from the NHS or been contacted by their GP or hospital clinician.
Birmingham City Council Emergency Community Response Hub: Find out how to access support on the Council website.
For food parcels, online activities and telephone support contact: The Active Well Being Society: Brum Together Tel: 0121 728 7030 or email relief@theaws.org
Brum Baby Bank is helping people with small children access supplies. If you require help accessing supplies such as formula or nappies, complete this online form.
Support with Mental Health Big White Wall is an online community for people who are stressed, anxious or feeling low. The service has an active forum with round-the-clock support from trained professionals. You can talk anonymously to other members and take part in group or one-to-one therapy with therapists
Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid is continuing to provide support as safely as possible to women and children affected by domestic abuse. Call the freephone helpline on 0808 800 0028.
Refuge’s freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline is open. If you’re scared of your partner and want to speak confidentially, the expert team are there for you. You can also request a call back at a time that’s safe for you. alone.
www.streetlink.org.uk – Bed spaces are being made available for all rough sleepers in Birmingham at Washington Court. The site has been thoroughly deep cleaned. You can refer anyone to a bed space via or by calling 0800 880 7157.
Tenants in rented accommodation experiencing issues can seek help through the Acorn Union.
BVSC: A wide range of useful information and links are accessible on their website: https://www.bvsc.org/C19SupportBrum. This link takes you to a ‘pathway’ for those seeking support: https://www.bvsc.org/covid-19-pathways-accessing-support-birmingham.
Hall Green Constituency
Sparkhill Food Bank is still open at it’s centres throughout the constituency – including Sparkhill and Balsall Heath.
Local Support groups
Moseley : Moseley Together Tel: 07796 668257 or email info@moseleytogether.org.uk
Moseley Alternative Giving Campaign accepts applications for small grants to assist people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Outreach support is continuing via telephone and signposting.
Kings Heath – contact through: Facebook or email KingsHeathVN@gmail.com
Balsall Heath – Balsall Heath Covid Call Tel: 0808 1699599
The Sultan Bahu Trust in partnership with Islamic Help are delivering food parcels to people in need in B11 & B12 postcodes. E-mail friends@bahutrust.org.
Hall Green North and Sparkhill – via Facebook or email covid19@gmail.com
Hall Green Neighbourhood Support Network via– Facebook
Sparkbrook – via Facebook
Stirchley: via Facebook
Business Support
In March 2020, the Government announced it would provide Birmingham City Council with £230 million to deliver financial support to approximately 16,000 eligible businesses which have been affected by COVID-19.
Find out if you are eligible for grant funding here
Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has some very good advice on it’s website: I would recommend reading its Mind the Gap report . You don’t need to be a member to sign up for their newsletters.
The Federation of Small Businesses also offers support to SME’s and issues a newsletter.
Locally Kings Heath BID is offering a home delivery service for it’s member businesses and support with accessing grants.
Raise the Bar is a campaign to pressure the Government to expand the rateable value threshold for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses from £51,000 to any business with a rateable value up to and including £150,000 in these sectors, allowing further businesses the opportunity to access the £25,000 grant. Most of our local pubs are at present unable to claim this grant, and yet will be severely impacted for longest by the Covid19 restrictions. You can read the open letter to the Secretary of State for Business and please sign the petition
Top up to Local Grants scheme On 2nd May the government made an announcement which will be relevant to businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates
