The project is providing services to BAME elderly persons aged 65 or above living in Birmingham’s most socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Handsworth, Lozells, Aston and Perry Barr.

Those who made important contributions to our society as family members, as volunteers and as active participants in the workforce during their early life, but now are at an old age, during the pandemic are often neglected and lonely in isolation. Most of the BAME elders are unable to get any assistance in this difficult time because of language barriers, cultural differences and lack of IT skills. Because of the pandemic, BAME elders are also unable to go out, and most of the service providers are closed or not able to provide appropriate services for them. During the COVID-19 crisis, BAME households have been affected disproportionately. A key aim of this project is to help tackle and prevent the wider negative effects of the COVID-19 outbreak amongst the 65+ BAME communities.

• Providing support in English and Asian languages in the fields of welfare benefits, debt, housing, social care and support services.
• Giving general welfare advice on pensions, pension credit, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance, housing and council tax benefits, applications to grant giving trusts such as STWT, BGET etc. with the aim of maximising their income. This will allow them the choice and control to make informed decisions about how and when their daily needs are to be met.
• Providing services to BAME elders who are unable to go out for shopping because of the pandemic and have no IT skills for online shopping, by helping them to order online and with collection services.
• Support will also be provided for elders to visit their relatives and places of worship in adherence with health guidelines.
• We will provide befriending activities through video-link conversations for the home-bound elderly and support with going out for walks for those who are able to walk.
• We will endeavour to organise virtual light exercise sessions through the use of online ‘zoom’ services to keep people’s physical strength up. Regular video-linked conversations will be maintained to keep up morale.
• The increase in social participation will also be encouraged through activity taster sessions such as Chair Zumba, online IT and ESOL lessons through strict adherence with government guidelines.

For further information, please contact us on 01215230580