The community in which a child lives has a great influence on their attitudes, beliefs and the support they receive. In recognition of this Sandwell Children's Fund supports a range of community-based work that aims to build local structures and develop partnerships between neighbourhoods and service providers so that local issues can be addressed together.

Safeguarding Children and Young People

The lack of child protection awareness puts children at risk. Over 1,000 people within the voluntary sector have already received Child Protection Training through a partnership between Sandwell Children's Fund and the Local Safeguarding Children Board. Following the success of the initial programme funding , this has been renewed, with the aim of amaking Sandwell a place where safeguarding is at the heart of all of our activities.

Contact Details:

Social Inclusion & Health
Julie Humphries
TDC
Popes Lane
Oldbury
B69 4PJ

Telephone: 0121 569 4443

Community Policing

Sandwell Children’s Fund has a long-standing partnership with West Midlands Police and supports a Community Police Officer who works closely with the community and local schools in Hateley Heath and Harvills Hawthorn. The role aims to improve relationships with the police and address issues of youth offending, anti-social behaviour and bullying at an early stage.

Contact Details:

Community Policing
PC Vernon Thornton

Sandwell Children's Fund
63-69 St Vincents Crescent
Harvills Hawthorn
West Bromwich
B70 0LG

Telephone: 0121 557 1577

Head 2 Head Young Persons Counselling Service

Murray Hall Community Trust runs a counselling service called Head to Head for children and young people. The service is Borough-wide and provides a confidential way for children to discuss problems or issues in a sensitive and helpful environment. With joint funding from Sandwell Children’s Fund and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service counselling is available for young people up to the age of 19.

Counselling can help children and young people to:

• Reduce Levels of distress
• Develop better relationships
• Regain self-esteem

Contact Details:

Head 2 Head

Murray Hall Community Trust
Neptune Health Park
Sedgley Road West
Tipton
DY4 8LU

Telephone: 0121 612 1803

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Family Group Conferencing

Family Group Conferencing works with families to resolve issues together. The families of young people involved in anti-social nehaviour, or showing other risk factors, may be offered this service. Families are encouraged to come together and make decisions in the best interests of the children, ensuring that their views are heard and taken into account. The service is running in Tipton and will soon be available in Harvills Hawthorn and Hateley Heath.

Contact Details:

Barnardos
Cheryl Richards
Family Group Conferencing

Telephone: 0121 555 6167

Galton Village Community Development

In partnership with Smethwick Town Team Sandwell Children’s Fund is funding a Community Development worker for the Galton Village neighbourhood. The worker supports the development of community activities and encourages local people to contribute to the planning and development of local services and facilities. The service has supported the development of a girls group and a youth group for the young people in the neighbourhood.

Contact Details:

Faith in the Black Country
Mr Hopeton Green

168 Birmingham Road
Oldbury
B69 4 EH

Telephone: 0121 544 2112

Fax: 0121 544 9468

Youth Inclusion Support Panel

Sandwell Youth Inclusion Support Panel targets children identified as being at risk of offending or presenting challenging behaviour and develops support packages. It has been piloted in Rowley Regis and Tipton and will be available across the Borough from the Autumn.  

A multi-agency panel develops packages that include youth work, group activities, counselling, and support for parents and educational programmes. Service providers can access the service through the service coordinator, and self-referrals are also accepted. The service aims to get families and agencies working together on a single package of support for the young person. Early evidence shows that this is proving to be an effective way of supporting young people.

Contact Details:

Sandwell Youth Offending Team
Gail McLeary
SGS House
John's Lane
Oldbury
B69 3HX

Telephone: 0121 537 8804

Community Support Service

Local needs are often best met through the provision of community-based services. The key to making this provision sustainable is the active involvement of local people and partners. The Community Support Service provides support to local people and agencies to encourage them to participate in developing and running these services. This may include supporting funding applications, arranging training and recruiting  volunteers.

The Community Support Officer also works with other voluntary and statutory sector organisations to promote the work taking place in Children's Fund areas and where possible build links between services.

Contact Details:

Sandwell Volunteer Bureau
Freeth Street
Oldbury
B69 2AB

Telephone: 0121 544 8326