During these difficult and unprecedented times, Age UK Solihull remains committed to providing the best support to older people across the borough. If you’re worried about how you or someone else will manage during the coronavirus pandemic, we are here to help. Please see below or contact us on 0121 704 7840 to find out more about how we have adapted our services to meet local need in the current crisis.
Support is available for Solihull households who may be struggling to make ends meet due to the effects of the pandemic.
Grants can be available for:
To be eligible, households need to evidence that they have been adversely affected by the pandemic. A fixed amount of funding is available and strictly on a first-come first-served basis. Support grants will be available until 30 September 2021 or when all funding has been spent, whichever is soonest. Limits apply to all grants.
To apply for a grant, email partners@ageuksolihull.org.uk or telephone 0121 704 8080.
This funding has been provided by Solihull Council via the Government’s COVID Local Grant Scheme.
Age UK are conducting a survey to understand more about the current health and care needs of older people. They are looking to hear from older people themselves but also from friends and family who want to share their loved ones' experiences on their behalf. Age UK will be using the information as part of their work to influence Government and to help improve the support which older people receive in relation to health and care. Can you help?
Although all Age UK Solihull services have remained open during the pandemic, many have needed to be provided remotely. We are thrilled that our Postural Stability Instruction (PSI) Service - the only evidence based exercise for frequent fallers - has resumed group classes.
Participants were equally excited to be back out, meeting others and improving their strength, balance and fear of falling. The classes are supported by a fantastic team of volunteer drivers and class assistants and are all socially distanced.
Thank you to Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group for their continued support of this vital service and the Family Renewal Centre for reopening for us.
If you would like to find out more about our PSI service, please click below or telephone 0121 704 7845.
Our popular social clubs will be reopening in September, you can find out more about these here or by telephoning 0121 704 7846.
Volunteer DriversWe urgently need volunteers to take an older person their weekly Postural Stability Instruction (PSI) classes, which have recently restarted after previously being delivered remotely.
This a rewarding role as you will get to know your client (who will have had a recent fall) and see their strength and confidence grow each week.
Expenses are paid and masks, gloves and infection control training provided.
More about becoming a Volunteer Driver
Shirley and her Volunteer Driver, John, (above) were recently featured in the Solihull Observer, where you can read about how the classes have improved Shirley's confidence.
We are also looking for volunteers to support our new Linking Veterans Together service, which is designed to tackle loneliness and improve wellbeing amongst older veterans and their spouses living in Solihull.
Veterans Champions will support clients to improve connections, try new things, and increase their independence. This role is completely flexible and will vary based on the needs of the client, but could include accompanying clients on short walks or public transport, escorting clients to activities and meetups, attending initial club visits with clients to provide encouragement or moral support, assisting clients to get started with digital technology or supporting those with some experience to improve their skills, helping out at quarterly activities and more.
Age UK Solihull continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and provide support to older and vulnerable people in our local communities. The way in which we deliver our service has adapted throughout this challenging time, but older and vulnerable people and their health and wellbeing remain at the forefront of everything we do.
The Community Advice Hubs continue to provide all services by telephone, email and have now reopened for essential face-to-face appointments. These services include Information and Advice to any adult resident of Solihull and specialist services including Benefits, Debt, Disability support, Direct Payments and help with your Health and Wellbeing. Whatever your query, please telephone 0121 709 7590. Some of our Hubs team remain working from home, therefore you may be directed to leave a message and then you will be called back but we are trying to answer as many calls as we can directly. You can also contact the Advice Hubs by email at admin@solihullcommunityhub.org.uk.
The Age UK Solihull Clubs remain closed, due to the social distancing regulations and the higher risk of transmission indoors. The planned date for reopening is September 2021. As we are unable to open our clubs and as a response to the pandemic, we have significantly increased the number of telephone befriending and welfare calls we make to older people. We have also resumed home visits for face-to-face befriending. If you or someone you know is feeling lonely or isolated, please contact the Linking People Together Team on 0121 704 7846.
After being delivered by telephone and video for most of the pandemic, our Postural Stability Classes for frequent fallers have now restarted at the Renewal Family Centre in Solihull. We continue to take referrals for this service, so if you are 65 and over and have a history of falls in the last 12 months, please speak to your GP and ask for a referral to the service, or contact the Postural Stability Team on 0121 704 7845. For gentle exercises that can be done at home, please see our online videos here.
The Age UK Solihull Home Support Service is resuming all its help in the home tasks. If you need help with shopping, preparing meals, light housework or maybe a respite break from caring responsibilities please contact the team on 0121 704 7848. Please note this is a chargeable service currently charged at £18.50 per hour.
Our shops have now reopened in accordance with the Government's roadmap out of lockdown.
There are many reasons why people get into debt and the coronavirus pandemic has led to more people struggling to make their money stretch to pay for normal daily living expenses. If you are in debt, the most important thing to do is to ask for help.
The Solihull Community Advice Hubs are here to help you to find solutions.
Our Postural Stability Instruction (PSI) Service is a FREE gentle exercise programme designed to reduce the risk of a fall by improving strength, balance and confidence.
If you or someone you know is over 65, has a history of falls in the last 12 months, is registered with a Solihull GP, and would like to complete the PSI programme, please contact your GP or call us on 0121 704 7845.
We have received many grateful comments from our clients, telling us what a difference our volunteers have made to their lives.
We are so grateful to our volunteers for their hard work and dedication to supporting older people.
We put together this heartwarming video of quotes we'd received for Volunteers' Week 2021.
Whether it's coming along to one of our organised events or raising funds yourself with a sponsored challenge, Age UK Solihull has a range of exciting opportunities to suit everyone. Whatever you decide, the money raised will go towards helping Age UK Solihull to support local older people. All the money raised in Solihull, stays in Solihull.
Published on 06 August 2021 10:50 AM
Although all Age UK Solihull services have remained open during the pandemic, many have needed to be provided remotel...
Published on 19 July 2021 10:20 AM
As you are undoubtedly aware, we are experiencing a period of high temperatures here in Solihull and across the...
Published on 07 July 2021 02:37 PM
Shirley had spent years struggling to walk, with many falls, fractured bones, pain and an overall fear of falling. Sh...
Age UK Solihull has been awarded funding by the Energy Redress Scheme to provide energy related advice for two years from 01 September 2020. The Solihull Home Energy Project can help Solihull residents to receive a switch comparison, make applications for grants, give support to reduce fuel debt and negotiate with energy suppliers and provide advice on how to be more energy efficient and reduce bills.
When home visits are resumed, a trained Energy Advisor can visit you in your home to provide you with a Home Energy Survey.
For more information please contact the Solihull Winter Warmth Helpline on 0121 704 8080.
Older people need us now more than ever. Please help us be there during these lonely and difficult times.
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Would you like to volunteer for Age UK Solihull? Find out how you can get involved.
See the different ways you can support Age UK Solihull.
With our forthcoming fundraising opportunities, you can help us help local older people.
Our quality marks
Age UK Solihull has achieved the Age UK Charity Quality Standard (CQS). The CQS is externally assessed by quality assessment experts, SGS.