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News
January 2012
Click the headings below to see the news article.
► 20 January - Volunteers Skills Translate Into Qualifications
Eight volunteer translators from local public sector and voluntary organisations are the first in the country to have their have their skills recognised with a national qualification thanks to help from Sandwell Homes.
 The volunteers have helped to pilot an Interpreting and Translation Course, which will now be accredited by OCN (Open College Network).
The course was run in conjunction with some of the partners who benefit from the volunteers services including Sandwell Homes and Sandwell Council.
The volunteers offer their interpretation and translation services to help members from their communities in the Soho and Victoria wards in Cape Hill to access a range of services and help including housing and benefits.
The interpreters are fluent in a number of languages including, Somali, French, Punjabi, Lingala and Urdu. They offer their services through organisations such as, Brushstrokes, African French Speaking Community (AFSC), Ileys (Somali Community Association) and Smethwick Pakistani Muslim Association (SPMA).
The course was held over two days at the Brushstrokes project in Smethwick and offered insights into best practice for sight translation, how to read body language and the importance of remaining neutral.
Vivien Heena, who volunteers with Brushstrokes, is fluent in French, Spanish, Italian and German found the course to be very relevant. She said: “I have been involved with Brushstrokes for seven years and find it very rewarding. I found the course very challenging but it has helped to give me confidence. Working with languages to give people advice is a big responsibility and sometimes we don’t perhaps appreciate the effect of being inaccurate or unethical.
“I really enjoy helping people, when you see them come in sometimes they seem so helpless and desperate and you can change that and they are so happy and grateful.”
Jacques Matensi-kubanza benefitted from the services of an interpreter when he first came to the UK from the Congo. He speaks, French, Lingala and Kikongo (languages spoken in the Congo), and is now volunteering within the local African French speaking community in Smethwick. He commented: “I am grateful for the help I received when I first came to the UK and now it is my turn to give something back.
“The course was really interesting and it has helped me to improve my technique. For example I now use much simpler language and try to ensure that everyone understands the conversation.
“I am really committed to helping the community where I am living, I am involved with Brushstokes and I run the AFSC. The course will help me with my volunteering and to try and make a difference to people’s lives.” |
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►3 January - Festive Cheer For Homeless
Festive Cheer For Homeless
| Community-minded volunteers from Sandwell Homes and local partner organisations worked over the Christmas break to serve up some festive cheer at a local homelessness project.
Hot meals, drinks, clothes and toiletries were on offer at the Centrepoint respite centre in Carters Green, West Bromwich – after being donated by warm-hearted employees and local stores.
Housing advice workers were also on hand to help with referrals to appropriate agencies and to provide general advice on staying safe.
Centrepoint is a charity which provides a place for homeless people to shelter for a few hours every evening throughout the year and is run entirely by volunteers.
Earlier this year, Sandwell joined forces with its Decent Homes partners, (Lovell Partnerships, Thomas Vale, Vinci Facilities and Wates Living Space), who gave the centre a £15,000 facelift including a new shower room, toilet and kitchen area plus additional storage space.
The partners also played Santa Claus delivering a multitude of presents including fleece hat and scarf sets donated by Decathlon in Wednesbury, and a range of other much-needed items.
Paul Field, interim chief executive of Sandwell Homes, who dropped in to the project earlier this week said: “I was impressed with the facilities and moved by the volunteers who were so willing to give up their time over Christmas.
“In addition to being able to help people with their more immediate needs of food and clothing, volunteers also try to provide solutions to other issues, visitors to the centre might have.
“For example, one young man was about to get a flat from a housing association but needed to find a way to get it furnished. We were able to refer him to some not-for-profit organisations that can support people in this situation.”
Simon Hackett, Sandwell’s cabinet member for housing added: “I’d like to express my thanks to all the volunteers and other partners who have given up their time to help those less fortunate than themselves, especially at this time of the year.
“People can find themselves homeless for all kinds of reasons - and may not know what help and support is available to them – hopefully the volunteers have raised awareness of the assistance Sandwell Homes and other agencies can provide.”
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►14 December - Christmas and New Year opening times
Our ho-ho-housing service centres, estate offices and property shops will be closed on the 26th, 27th and 28th December
| Kenrick Park, Tibbington and Riddins Mound estate offices will remain closed on the 29th and 30th December.
All offices will also be closed on Monday 2 January, 2012.
Please contact us on 0800 844112 for emergency out-of hours repairs and 0121 525 4688 for emergency homelessness enquiries out-of-hours.
For Choice Based Lettings please note that there will be a two week advertising cycle over the Christmas period starting on 21st December 2011 until 2nd January 2012.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our customers!
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►2 December - Christmas dinner on the menu at refurbished homeless centre
Christmas should be a little brighter for Sandwell’s homeless population this year following the refurbishment of a respite centre in the borough.
| The centre, which provides warm food and clothes using donations, has been given a £15k refurbishment by kind hearted construction partners working on the borough’s Decent Homes programme.
Social landlord Sandwell Homes worked with partners Thomas Vale, VINCI Facilities, Lovell Partnerships and Wates Living Space to deliver a shower room installation, new toilet, new kitchen, internal decoration, electrical work and new flooring at Centrepoint Christian Church in West Bromwich.
Centrepoint, which is a registered charity, runs the centre every evening with the help of volunteers and provides free basic necessities such as food, clothing and toiletries to more than 20 homeless people each evening. Visitors can also get help and advice.
Volunteers will be ensuring the centre remains open during the Christmas period so that rough sleepers aren’t forgotten during festivities.
Pastor David Marsh, who manages the centre, said: “The work that Sandwell Homes’ partners have undertaken has helped us immensely to improve the service we provide to homeless people.
“At last, we have proper kitchen facilities and visitors will have somewhere to take a shower, which is a luxury when you live on the street. I really can’t thank those involved with the project enough.”
Sandwell Homes and its partners are currently delivering the borough’s Decent Homes programme, which aims to bring the council’s 29,000 homes up to a national standard.
Councillor Simon Hackett, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Homeless people are among the most vulnerable people in our society and the work of organisations like Centrepoint is often crucial to their health and survival.
“I am grateful to the partnership for undertaking this charitable project, which will without doubt be a considerable help to homeless people in West Bromwich.”
People wishing to volunteer at the centre can contact Pastor David Marsh on 0871 717 7284 for more information. The centre also welcomes food and clothing donations.
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Sandwell Homes Limited
