Making it Real in Dudley is now publishing a weekly round-up of all activity on a thursday. View last weeks update: 17 – 23 Jan 2014 FINAL (pdf...

Dudley Council’s community opportunties programme is for people with a physical and/or sensory impairment.  The programme enables and supports them to access a variety of opportunities in the community. The service can be for individuals or small groups.  It includes support with independent  living (improving domestic skills, support with shopping and banking), travel training, social activities and help and support in finding work placements and employment. The team can be contacted on 01384 813460....

The University of Birmingham is looking for older people who use care services, and carers, to take part in a research project which aims to measure the contribution of small community organisations in adult social care. The university will be interviewing people who use these small organisations to find out their experiences, and would like some older people and carers to work alongside them as interviewers. Interviewers will be paid £10 per hour for the time spent interviewing and all travel costs will be paid too. If you are an older person who has used social care services, or a carer for someone who uses care services, and might be interested in working with the university, get in touch with Catherine Needham at the University of Birmingham, via email c.needham.1@bham.ac.uk  or telephone 0121 414...

Events will be taking place across the Dudley borough to mark Dignity Action Day on February 1.  Dignity Action Day is a national event that calls on people to treat individuals who use care services with respect. Carers for people who use care support services are invited to a Digni-Tea event at the Coffee Cups Café, on Thornhill Road, Halesowen.  It will take place from 2 – 4pm on Tuesday February 18.  Organised by Dudley Council’s Adult Social Care Community Engagement Team and Halas Homes, free tea and cakes will be available, along with the opportunity for carers to gain support and advice, as well as to discuss what dignity in care should mean. Anyone with an interest in care services is invited to attend a tea party at Halesowen Library, on Queensway Mall, on Friday January 31, between 2 – 4pm.  As well as giving people free refreshments and cake, visitors will be asked to share with staff their thoughts on what dignity issues people in care face.  Those who attend will also be asked to consider becoming a dignity champion, to provide a steer on how to create a system that provides compassion for those that use the care service. Another council-run Dignity Action Day event open to the public is a workshop and refreshments session, taking place at the Queens Cross Network, at 10.30am, on Tuesday February 4.  The Network, which supports people with disabilities, is based on Wellington Road, in central Dudley.  Contact the Queens Cross Network on 01384 813460 to book your place. Various other events will be taking place for care service users and carers at council-run sheltered housing and other venues across the...

Winter Debt Problems? The Centre for Equality and Diversity, 16 a Stone St ,Dudley has recently launched a new financial mentoring service. This service can help hard pressed Dudley residents struggling after heavy  Christmas expenditure to cope better. A  completely free borough-wide  money mentoring service which offers help and support to anyone concerned over bills or debts. Peter Dyson one of the money mentor volunteers has told us that he can currently book an appointment in less than a week so there is no need for anyone to agonise on their own with money worries. Peter said – ‘We aim to give help to anyone who is struggling with debt and will meet up with them over a number of weeks if necessary.This will help residents to gain control over their finances and budget properly for future expenditure.We do not make any charge for our help. Please contact me on 07936 576194 – e mail moneymentorscfed@yahoo.co.uk. I will be happy to chat to you to see if we can...