Neighbourhood Networks Schemes (NNS) in Birmingham work to prevent social isolation and loneliness in people aged 50 and over. To learn more, watch this short video showcasing Selly Oak NNS grant-funded projects between 2018 and 2021 – it makes your heart glad!
We have been working with some Neighbourhood Network Schemes in supporting their funded community and voluntary groups/projects. You can select an NNS area below to find out what we’re doing.
Selly Oak Neighbourhood Networks Scheme
Selly Oak NNS has awarded Birmingham Community Matters with funding to support community and voluntary groups in the area* that help them to achieve their aims.
*That’s groups in Billesley, Bournbrook, Selly Park, Bournville, Cotteridge, Brandwood, Kings Heath, Druids Heath, Monyhull, Highters Heath, Kings Norton North, Stirchley, Weoley and Selly Oak.
Forthcoming sessions
BCM and DigiKick social media marketing workshop
Tuesday 4 May, 10.30am to 1pm
If you’re new to promoting your group or organisation on social media, this informal session is ideal – exploring ways to use social media to your benefit. Find out how to reach more people, showing what your project or organisation does and its services or activities. During the session we’ll explore which social media platforms might be best for you to focus on, and look at choosing a ‘tone’ in which to write your content.
Sign up for BCM’s ‘social media marketing’ workshop here
Building lunch club connections
Monday 24 May, 12pm to 1pm
This session will link projects and organisations within the Selly Oak NNS which run lunch clubs. It will be informal and provide an opportunity to ask questions on behalf of your group, and get support from groups in the same position. This is a space to support one other to learn and think about next steps for your group in reopening such a vital service.
Sign-up link coming soon.
Managing community buildings
Tuesday 25 May 12pm to 1pm
An informal session, bringing together people with a responsibility for managing community buildings in the Selly Oak constituency. Come along and share your plans for reopening, repurposing and delivering things differently – or just get some moral support.
Sign-up link coming soon.
Online sessions and slides
We held a series of Fundraising Q&A online sessions with John Ellery of grant fundraising consultancy Get Grants to support groups in the Selly Oak NNS. Representatives from 18 different groups attended. People were able to ask questions about the current fundraising terrain, particularly in regards to the coronavirus crisis.
You can view the slides from each of the webinars below :
BCM Funding Webinar Selly Oak NNS groups April – 29 April 2020
BCM Funding Webinar Selly Oak NNS groups May – 21 May 2020
BCM Funding Webinar Selly Oak NNS groups June – 25 June 20-
Perry Barr Neighbourhood Networks Scheme
Perry Barr NNS has awarded Birmingham Community Matters with funding to support community and voluntary groups that support people aged over 50 in the area.*
* That includes Birchfield, Handsworth, Handsworth Wood, Kingstanding, Holyhead, Lozells, Perry Barr and Oscott.
We’ll publish dates when we have more sessions lined up.
Contact us for support
If your group operates in the Perry Barr constituency, you are very welcome to contact us to arrange one-to-one support. If you run a community building which has been closed since the coronavirus outbreak, and would like to work through any challenges in re-opening it (for example, relating to risk assessments and physical distancing), we can add you to a small group meeting. Get in touch today.
Hodge Hill Neighbourhood Networks Scheme
Hodge Hill NNS works with voluntary groups in the areas of Alum Rock, Bordesley & Highgate, Bordesley Green, Bromford & Hodge Hill, Glebe Farm & Tile Cross, Heartlands, Shard End, Small Heath, and Ward End.
Forthcoming sessions
Promoting your voluntary group
Wednesday 26 May at 10.30am via Zoom
Let’s find ways to tell more people about what your voluntary group does. Promoting your voluntary/community group in the right way can help more people to find you – maybe that’s people you want to help, new partners to work with, or funders willing to support your work. Marketing and promotion don’t have to cost lots of money and they don’t have to be complicated activities. During this session we’ll share examples of how small volunteer-led groups have used marketing to achieve some of their goals. We’ll explore some free or low-cost ways of getting your message out there.
Sign up here for the ‘Promoting your voluntary group’ session here.
Help and support from Birmingham Community Matters (BCM)
If your group operates in anyone of the NNS areas above, you are very welcome to contact us to arrange one-to-one support. We look forward to hearing from you!