Lotteries are a fun and effective way for causes to raise much-needed funds in these difficult times.

By getting more people on board, they don’t just raise funds, they also raise awareness.

When you play South Staffordshire Community Lottery you know that 60% of your ticket price goes to good causes (more than DOUBLE what the National Lottery gives) and the money raised is going to good causes that benefit your local community.

Proceeds generated go into a general good cause fund, administered by South Staffordshire Council, which will be spent on providing vital support to a wide range of local organisations and community initiatives which have a beneficial impact on the local community.

Here’s why you should register

• 50 ticket sales can secure an annual income of £1,300
• An online fundraising solution that puts the ‘fun’ into fundraising
• It’s a simply and easy way of boosting your fundraising
• Year-round, free, marketing materials and support to help you raise funds
• 50p from every £1 ticket sale goes directly to your cause with an additional 10p going to the central fund used to further support local good causes
• Join today – it’s simple, free and easy

To find out how the council allocate grants to local good causes via their website, click on the link below ⬇️

Whilst the work is completed, the adjacent areas will be closed to the public.

We anticipate that the boardwalk will reopen from Monday, 16^th September if the work goes to plan.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

For more information, please visit our website below ⬇️

Money raised will be distributed to local charities: Papyrus, Staffordshire Blood Bikes and West Midlands First Responders.

In total so far, the Chairman has raised over £2000 on Just Giving.

Cllr Dan Kinsey commented: “The work Papyrus do to support mental health is vital, it means so much to me as I work with some amazing young people at the University of Wolverhampton – some of whom have terrible personal experiences or pressures, and I want to support them and their experiences.

Staffordshire Blood Bikes and South Staffordshire First Responders fulfil a vital voluntary role – supporting the people of South Staffordshire, with the First responders based at Wombourne Fire Station are at the heart of the community I serve.

I hope you will be able to support me in raising money for these genuinely wonderful charities this year.”

It’s been a great honour to use my platform to raise awareness of these great charities. I hope funding will go some way to helping the wonderful charities continue the fantastic work they do in our communities.’

If anyone would like to donate, please follow this link ⬇️

Would you welcome extra money and support with heating costs?

Pension Credit is worth, on average, £3,900 per year and unlocks additional support including Winter Fuel Payment, help with council tax, NHS dental care and for those over 75, a free TV licence.

Thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months – so long as there is entitlement during that time.

This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment is 21^st December 2024.

How can you help?

• Start a conversation with someone and signpost them to www.gov.uk/pensioncredit
• Share an official DWP social media post @DWP (Facebook) @DWPgovuk (X.)
• Request a quantity of A5 leaflets and A4 posters by emailing chiltonmannionjobshare@dwp.gov.uk (available on a first come, first served basis). Please note that these will arrive after the Pension Credit Week of Action.

Pension Credit campaign assets are attached and there will be a stakeholder toolkit on GOV.UK shortly.

Dates to remember 📅

Pension Credit Week of Action (2nd-6th September)

Pension Awareness Week (9th-15th September)

They are keen to assist with public health priorities to improve healthy lifestyles promote independence, self-care and reablement by providing a range of one-off grants.

Community Foundation Staffordshire (CFS) are administering the grants.

The funds are intended to help organisations to

• Support, sustain and/or build on Supportive Communities outcomes (thematic)
• Support, sustain and/or build on Better Health Staffordshire outcomes (thematic)
• Building skills, knowledge, and confidence around self-help or in finding help with mental and emotional wellbeing
• To support costs that are associated with the above outcomes but not limited to: training, equipment, promotional activity, venue hire, staffing or volunteer expenses

We are looking for projects that:

• Prevent ill health & promote self-care to enable individuals to be independent and live in their own homes for as long as possible
• Reduce loneliness and social isolation
• Supporting healthy aging
• Increase access to affordable healthy, nutritious food
• Increase access to opportunities for people to ‘move more’
• Enabling mental wellbeing and promoting healthy lifestyles as the norm

Grants are available between £3,000 and £8,000.

This programme is for over 18’s and families.

📅  Timetable

2nd September – Round two to be launched

30th September – Closing date for applications to be submitted

w/c 4th November – Successful applicants informed/funds distributed

31st March, 2025 – All projects to be concluded and awarded funds spent

Further details and the application form to the VSCE (Supportive Communities and Better Health Staffordshire) grants can be found here: VCSE Grants – Supportive Communities & Better Health Staffordshire – Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire

Mpox is a viral infection that spreads through close person-to-person contact. The virus has started in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year, and there is a potential for the virus to spread further across countries in Africa and outside the continent.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is working with the NHS, councils, and other government departments to ensure we are ready to respond to any cases we see in the UK and help prevent transmission.

It has published a blog post which includes information about what mpox is, the different clades, the key symptoms and how UKHSA is working with partners to respond to the outbreak. It has also produced a toolkit and resources to help councils share information which will be updated as the situation develops.

For more information please click on the following link ⬇️

Sign up at your nearest leisure centre and start saving now!

To find out more, click below ⬇️

Find out below about services and schemes available to help you get back to it and improve your health and wellbeing.