2016 Community Learning Programme

Learning new skills, improving employment opportunities and gaining confidence could prove the first step to a better you.

 

Through the year SARH help to deliver free to attend short courses and one-off events designed to help people improve their chances of landing a job or finding a new direction in life.

 

All courses take place in a relaxed environment where you can learn within a friendly informal surrounds. Sessions are delivered by experienced tutors, staff and volunteers who are committed to offering support and helping people learn.

 

The Community Learning Programme (CLP) calendar for 2016 can be found in the events section of the SARH website, where customers can book places and manage their attendance.

 

So please come along and join us – you never know what life changing opportunity might be around the corner!

600 Jobs Up For Grabs

The new town centre development on Riverway comprises of 18 shops and restaurants.  The 19,000 sq ft leisure and shopping facility is expected to create 600 jobs for the area.

The development will house shops, restaurants and a five-screen, 900 seat cinema.

With so many new employers coming to the area pop up shops will be appearing to assist with employment.

If you would like further support to improve your employability why not attend one of our regular work clubs or get 1-2-1 support in the home.  For more information call 0800 111 4554 or email cp@sarh.co.uk

So What?
By supporting people to improve their employability we can help people reach their potential and be the best they can be.

More for your money:

By improving employment prospects we can help people to maximise household incomes and improve unemployment statistics locally, benefiting the local economy.

Growing Health Project sees Fantastic Outcomes

As a funding requirement for the Growing Health Allotment Project it is essential that we report on a variety of outcomes set out as targets for the project. Over the past 12 months we have seen positive impacts on lifestyle and the surrounding environment.  Below are a few of the positive outcomes which have been reported on as a result of the allotment project.

• Over 1000 individuals engaged in the project
• Over 900 hours of volunteer time
• 97% of people increased levels of physical activity
• 97% of individuals improved mental wellbeing
• 83% of families fruit and vegetable consumption Increased
• 100% feel proud to have the project within their neighbourhood
• 19 partner organisations involved in the project
   

So what’s next? The 3 Growing Health allotment sites are now being managed by the local community , however the Community involvement Team are working to secure funding to help support the 3 Growing Health Allotment sites through their first 12 months of growing.

2016 SARH Garden Competition

Every year, dozens of our customers open up their gardens to judges as part of the SARH Garden Competition.

The competition has become one of the highlights of the summer with dozens of SARH Customers opening up their gardens to our team of judges. 2015 saw top-class entries across the categories, which include window boxes, communal gardens, allotments, and more traditional front and back gardens.

Applications are now being invited for this summer’s competition, which is open to all SARH Customers in Stafford and the surrounding areas.

The awards give SARH the chance to recognise and support the efforts customers are making to improve the areas where they live whilst throwing the spotlight on some hidden garden gems!

2016 Categories

• Best Front Garden
• Best Back Garden
• Shirley Wheat Award – Best Communal Garden
• Young Gardener of the Year – aged 18 or under
• Community Gardener of the Year
• Best Allotment/Vegetable Garden
• Best Wildlife/Eco Garden **New for 2016
• Best Shed **New for 2016
• Best Water Feature **New for 2016
• Most Creative Use of Space**New for 2016

Follow this link for more information around each category.

How to Enter

Online entry forms can be accessed via the SARH website. The deadline for entries is 1^st July 2016. Judging takes place week commencing 18^th July 2016 and the winners will be announced during a special Awards event on the 3^rd August 2016.

Feel Good Food Project Comes To An End

The Feel Good Food project will come to an end on 26^th May after a very successful 12 months. The projects aim was to change the eating habits of families in some of the most deprived areas of Stafford. The project delivered a variety of cooking and educational events to schools, community groups, and Independent living schemes, the ‘6 week nutrition course’ being the heart of the project. A successful breakfast club and evening cookery courses all added to the success of the project with all targets being met.

- Recruitment of Volunteers C

- Level 2 Food Hygiene Training C

- To engage 100 people in nutrition based activities C

- To deliver 60 nutrition activities C

 

So what?

Through a range of activities the projects aim was to give individuals and families the tools to make improved dietary and physical activity behaviour changes to their lives. Most importantly to make those changes themselves and to maintain them. Activities such as cooking sessions, menu planning and budgeting were all put in place to empower the community to make healthier life choices and reduce health inequalities.

More for your money:

How people feel about themselves has a direct impact upon lifestyle choices made by individuals and families. In helping people to lose weight and take more exercise this helps people to feel better and lead to improved confidence and self-esteem.

Confidence and self-esteem issues come in when seeking and gaining employment.

Community Tool Bank

The Community Tool Bank is now open every Friday.  Come along for all of your gardening equipment that is available to hire for just £1.  New members must provide proof of address and have ID.

So What?  Garden tools are often not a priority when taking on your first tenancy.  Mowers and strimmers can be costly to buy.  By providing an affordable hire service tenants can maintain their gardens at a cheap cost.

More for your money:  By providing such a service SARH tenants can take a pride in the green spaces which make our neighbourhoods more visually attractive.

If you want any more information about any of the events that have already happened or that are coming up in the future please do not hesitate to contact us on:

 

cp@sarh.co.uk or call us on

0800 111 4554