TURNUP SPARKBROOK AND LONGBRIDGEPROJECT CASE STUDIES

InnovationUnit

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YOUTH ACTION SYNDICATE

The syndicate are a mixed group of local young people aged 11-17, businesses and community members who are working together to design and deliver community based social action projects to improve

life in Longbridge.

Tony, 16, along with a group of local 11-17 year olds, community members and a local business, come together to decide which social issue in their community they will choose to tackle.

Together, over the summer holidays, the Syndicate form a working group that actively tackles their chosen social issue. Young people recieve mentoring, support and resources from their partner local business which all helps to deliver an exciting and impactful social action project.

Tony celebrates his valuable and challenging experience at the end of the summer with friends and family. He has gained new skills and experiences and made a really positive impact, not to mention making lots of new friendships and contacts locally!

LONGBRIDGE YOUTH ACTION SYNDICATE

Longbridge

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FACEboard is a community pin board that helps organisations to understand what families would like to improve in their lives, and community. FACEboard connects people with shared interests and allows organisations to collaborate to produce joint solutions

for the people who most need them.

FACEboard

FACEboard

Jenny is a busy mum of two. She has lots of ideas about how things could be better in the community but feels unable to voice them. She is home alone most days with her young children and has very few friends locally.

One day Jenny notices the FACEboard at Nursery. She sticks up a suggestion for more trips outdoors. The FACEboard organisers connect her with other local parents who want to do the same thing.

Jenny and the group meet to plan a parents and toddlers trip to a nature reserve. After a few months, the group are organising more and more activities for themselves and the community. They feel able to voice their opinions and take action to make things happen.

Longbridge

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Time for meTime for me is a space for parents to enter before pick up time, to let go of their worries, rest their mind and body and meet their children

feeling happy and relaxed.

T Ime for me

Rob is a single dad, who works nights at a factory as a security guard. Three days a week he picks up his daughter from nursery, before going to work. Rob is tired and stressed about the day ahead and is often running late.

When Rob gets to the nursery he is asked to spend a few minutes in the quiet room. The room has comfortable seating, is warm and welcoming and has some relaxation techniques to follow. He was reluctant at first but has now come to value the quiet time before pick up time.

After a few minutes Rob’s daughter Alexa comes to meet him. He is relaxed and feels happy to see her. On their way home they talk about Alexa’s day and what she has been learning. Pick up time has become something to look forward to for them both.

Sparkbrook

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Family Plan

Family PlanFamily Plan is an integrated tool that allows families to map out and choose the services that they want to access during the early years of

their newborn child’s life.

Both Alisa and the children’s centre keep a copy of the plan. It becomes the basis upon which she interacts with services. She is supported to update it at regular intervals.

Alisa has just given birth. Her midwife has asked by the local children’s centre to introduce themselves to Alisa and arrange a time to meet her in person at her home. A worker from the children’s centre visits Alisa’s house.

Using an interactive planning tool they look at all the services and support Alisa might access through her child’s early years journey. Alisa decides which support is most important to her and when she would like to access it. This becomes her plan.

Sparkbrook

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SPARKLERS: Empowering parents

Confidence and connections for new parents in Sparkbrook

Sparkers: Empowering Parents is a programme of training and support that pairs parents who have used children’s centres with new parents, empowering them to find out about the help that is available around

them.

SPARKLERS

Amina has only just registered with the children’s centre through the new birth process. She is often isolated and has ‘low moods’. She is worried about her 4 year old’s development and doesn’t know where to turn.

Amina is paired with a parent mentor that has previously used children’s centre services. She is from a similar background and has been been given training to help Amina through her early years journey.

Amina meets with her mentor regularly for informal advice and guidance. She becomes better at accessing the support she needs, when she needs it, and is introduced to local people with whome she builds relationships.

Sparkbrook

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