Tag: Waheed Saleem

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COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Residents invited to become Community Health Champions and transform local wellbeing

Staff at Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) engaging in community outreach work / Photograph supplied by WLCA

Words by Witton Lodge Community Association

Residents across Birmingham are being offered a unique opportunity to become a catalyst for change in their communities.

The Birmingham Community Health Champions programme is officially open for applications, inviting passionate individuals to step forward, gain expert knowledge and lead the way towards a healthier, more informed and connected city.

Funded by Birmingham City Council’s Public Health Team and delivered in partnership with Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA), the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between health services and local residents.

Building Connections

By empowering ‘trusted voices’ within the community, the programme aims to ensure that vital health information isn’t just a list of statistics for people to access but a supportive conversation between friends and neighbours.

The benefits of joining the programme and becoming a Community Health Champion are extensive. People will benefit from:

  • Professional Training: Gain free, monthly expert-led training on critical topics including mental health, nutrition, cardiovascular health, diabetes and air quality.
  • Personal Growth: Develop communication skills, build your CV and grow your confidence.
  • Flexibility: The role is designed to fit around your life. Whether you have hours to spare or just a few minutes for a chat, your contribution matters.
  • Full Support: Champions receive ongoing guidance and all travel expenses are fully reimbursed.

 

Tackling Inequalities

Waheed Saleem, Head of Programmes and Partnerships at Witton Lodge, added: “Community Health Champions will be trusted voices within their communities.

“By using the knowledge gained through the programme they will be able to make a real difference.

“Anyone with a passion to make a difference can join. This is a great opportunity to address health inequalities and improve wellbeing across Birmingham.”

A lack of experience is no barrier to becoming a Community Health Champion. People don’t need a medical background or prior work experience in a medical or health setting, they just need to have a genuine desire to help others.

The programme provides all the tools people need to share practical, accessible health advice through everyday conversations.

Joining is simple. Interested residents can apply via the Volunteer Brum platform by completing an Expression of Interest form. This is followed by a friendly introductory conversation and a comprehensive induction session.

Alternatively, you can get started immediately by completing the Community Health Champion Getting to Know You Form – North Birmingham.

For more details, please call Fauzia on 0121 382 1930 or email: Fauzia.begum@wittonlodge.org.uk

For more on Witton Lodge Community Association visit: www.wittonlodge.org.uk

Witton Lodge Community Association is a leading partner in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme, supporting independent local and community journalism.

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NEWS: WLCA call out for volunteers to help with ‘pocket park’ and regeneration of Erdington Swimming Baths

Words by Ed King / Pics by Joe Marchant (images under copyright)

Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) are putting the call out for people to help them with the ongoing regeneration of Erdington Swimming Baths, turning the century old pool into a new Erdington Enterprise Hub.

Looking for volunteers to join them at two sessions on Friday 6 September, one held at 10am-12pm and another between 1-3pm, WLCA will be working on renovating the main site entrance on Mason Road.

The jobs at hand include tending to the ‘pocket park’ that now decorates the frontage, a special urban oasis set up to bring the outside of the old Swimming Baths back into community use whilst the Enterprise Hub building work inside continues.

WLCA are looking for help turning the spoil, planting new plants, and painting the wooden planters.

Volunteers will also be asked to help lay ‘eco-rubber’ to the flooring in the morning session and add the finishing touches in the afternoon, depending on the weather conditions.

A full briefing will be given at the start of each session, with all necessary equipment provided. People are asked to bring clothes they can comfortably work in and will be suitable for the day.

WLCA will also provide a special lunch and refreshments for the group of local volunteers.

Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to register their interested with WLCA by emailing their Head of Programmes and Partnership, Waheed Saleem, on waheed.saleem@wittonlodge.org.uk – or by calling WLCA on (0121) 382 1930.

Witton Lodge Community Association recently secured £4m to start the ambitious Enterprise Hub project from the West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City Council, which has been in planning stages since before the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘Phase One’ of the development, which will futureproof the old Erdington Swimming Baths building by turning it into a creative hub for local businesses and entrepreneurs, was officially launched on Thursday 18 July.

(Click here to read our initial news report and click here to read our follow-on feature.)

Speaking at the ‘Phase One’ launch, WLCA Chief Officer, Afzal Hussain, told: “We’ve got the funds secured; we’ve got the plans in place, we’ve got the teams in place, we’ve got the community on side… it feels great. It feels great that we’re able to take that next step.”

Birmingham City Council Leader John Cotton, who gave a public address to attendees, further told Erdington Local: “It’s so incredibly exciting for Erdington, clearly this is about bringing a heritage asset – something at the heart of the community – back into use.”

He added: “I think this also pays tribute to the tremendous assets that we have out in our community – organisations like Witton Lodge that have been driving this forward and are rooted in the heart of our communities.”

For more on Witton Lodge Community Association, visit www.wittonlodge.org.uk