Organisations from across North Birmingham attended an Erdington Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) showcase event this month to celebrate the impact services have had on supporting elderly and vulnerable residents.

The event, organised by scheme facilitators Witton Lodge Community Association and Compass Support, gave community groups funded through the Erdington NNS the chance to share their stories with each other and the benefits of the programme.

Professor Graeme Betts, director of Adult Social Care at Birmingham City Council and councillor Paulette Hamilton, the Council's cabinet member for Health and Social care were both in attendance.

They were joined by representatives from funded community assets Spring to Life, the Aston Villa Foundation, Erdington Litter Busters, Salus Fatigue Foundation and Upcycle and guests from John Taylor Hospice, Compass Support, Birmingham Voluntary Services Council, Sutton Coldfield NNS and West Midlands Fire Service.

Also taking part were volunteer and befriender, Sharon Haden, and local resident Ranajit Chaudhuri, who both gave heart-warming accounts of how the NNS funded projects has helped them during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health & Wellbeing lead at Witton Lodge, Debbie Bates, said: “Erdington NNS is a locality and constituency-based network of organisations and individuals, funded by Birmingham City Council, which enables engagement with community assets to support older people.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has presented even tougher challenges for the people of Erdington to cope with but the organisations funded through Erdington NNS have excelled in reaching those who are vulnerable and most at risk and giving them a real sense of purpose and opportunity."

Since its launch in late 2019, Erdington NNS has distributed more than £170,000 worth of funding to organisations established to help the elderly and isolated to live independent and connected lives.

Providing bespoke support to people in Erdington, Perry Common, Stockland Green, Kingstanding, Pype Hayes, Gravelly Hill and Castle Vale, the scheme has already;

• Approved 38 small grant applications and funded Volunteer Training via Capacity Building
• Created projects which have benefited 2,215 people
• Recruited and mobilised 152 volunteers to support the vulnerable
• Awarded more than £174,000 in grants to fund projects and activities
• Established a Citizens Panel of 30 local residents to help shape services

For more information on Erdington NNS and how it could help you, click here