Just Start Talking

“It was great to feel a little bit of normality” – Sourcing funding to connect people in Coseley through fish and chip suppers

Helena Norman Big Local, Big Local Plan, connectors, Local Trust, older people , , , , 0 Comment

Over the Summer, Just Straight Talk (JST) applied to the Heart of England Community Foundation Coronavirus Resilience Fund and received a grant to support the most vulnerable people and isolated people in the community. Part of this funding allowed the Just Start Talking’s Community Connectors (funded by East Coseley Big Local) to treat people shielding in Coseley to a free fish and chip supper.

Residents who would normally receive a friendly phone call from JST’s community connectors during the lockdown, instead enjoyed a doorstep visit and friendly chat, with the added excitement of feeling a little bit of normality with a delivery of fish and chips.

One of East Coseley Big Local’s plan priorities was to continue to organise Coseley community meals to help people who may be feeling lonely to come together to connect socially and build friendships. These meals took place four times a year but were cancelled due to lockdown restrictions.

When lockdown rules eased during the Summer months, JST’s Community Connectors organised an outdoor meet-up at Jack Newall Court for those feeling socially isolated and in need of non-virtual connection.

“As part of the recovery process for our community, we decided to help with their confidence in those steps to rejoining society by doing the chippy run meet up. Providing chairs placed at a sensible distance apart and hand sanitiser with optional extra PPE available we decided to give it a try. The importance of eating a meal together.”

Big Local workers are aware that many people will be experiencing new feelings of anxiety due to the pandemic. Part of our work in the recovery phase of Covid-19 may be to help isolated people to rebuild their confidence and feel safe to leave their homes.

“We understand that the recovery stage from Covid was for some is going to be harder and slower than others and we need to respect that in each other but for now, it was great to feel a little more normality”  JST Community Connector

Read more about East Coseley’s response to the pandemic here: http://www.eastcoseleybiglocal.net/covid-19-review/

Big Local project investment for digital inclusion

Helena Norman Big Local, Big Local Plan, connectors, local groups and clubs, older people , , , , 0 Comment

Since the beginning of the lockdown in April, Big Local workers and projects have been exploring new, creative, and virtual ways to interact, connect with, and support the Coseley community.

One of these new connecting methods included Virtual Coffee Mornings, organised by Just Start Talking’s Community Connectors, providing a welcoming online space for people of all ages to connect and get involved in activities when feeling isolated in their homes. Before lockdown restrictions, coffee mornings had previously taken place at Rainbow Community Centre, where local people would come together to chat over a hot drink and take part in craft activities including pom-pom making for Pom-poms 4 Loneliness.

For some people, the move to a new online meeting space was an entirely new way to communicate. When it was discovered that some people were unable to join virtual activities because they lacked the IT equipment to do so, the community connectors submitted a funding application to East Coseley Big Local’s Project Investment Team to purchase tablets. This funding has since enabled more people to join in with the virtual coffee mornings and connect with friends online.

In the months following, JST’s Community Connectors supported people to build their confidence and learn new digital skills through one-to-one tutorials. Some of the people who received the tablets wanted to advance their I.T. skills even further. 

Billy, one of the recipients of the tablets said he’s now joined Facebook and it’s changed his life as he’s been able to get in touch with old friends as well as new.

Another resident, Jean, 83, was supported to create a Facebook account to connect with her wider network of friends and family. 

“At 83 years young, many people would dismiss the idea of using the internet, never mind going onto Facebook which I understand but being open to going online opens up so many more opportunities to reduce isolation and loneliness from within your own home. Now she’s all set up, we’re both excited about old friends she may become acquainted with again.”  JST Community Connector

One of the tablets, that was given to a Jack Newell Court resident, was hooked up to the TV in a common room, so now 15 residents join in and have taken part in all kinds of activities.

Supporting people to build confidence with technology has become an important part of tackling loneliness and isolation in Coseley. 

More people are now motivated to join coffee mornings to reduce their feeling of isolation and loneliness. Due to this, Big Local Community Connectors plan to run more sessions, potentially 2-3 times a week to connect more people together.

Read more about East Coseley’s response to the pandemic…We’ve drawn together a report featuring insights from Big Local workers and Core Group members, research and existing knowledge to provide a record and examples of ways in which East Coseley Big Local projects and partners responded to COVID-19 during lockdown, in relation to East Coseley Big Local Plan priorities, and to indicate and give examples of emerging and potential activities and work which responds to Big Local Plan priorities and recovery post-lockdown. Read the review here: http://www.eastcoseleybiglocal.net/covid-19-review/

Just Start Talking – A new project supporting people to feel more connected in Coseley

Helena Norman Big Local, community activities, connectors, local groups and clubs, older people, Supporting our local groups, young people , , 0 Comment
Just Start Talking – A new project supporting people to feel more connected in Coseley

Great news! Just Straight Talk (JST) has been successful with an application for funding through East Coseley Big Local. The new pilot project called Just Start Talking, which launched at the beginning of March 2019, will work to connect local people and support those who may be experiencing loneliness within the Coseley community. The new project aims to provide a supportive environment to empower people to start feeling better about their futures, their opportunities and the community where they live.

Two newly recruited community connectors David and Shona will support local people by connecting them to activities, coffee mornings, befriending and group sessions, enabling people to increase their social circles and develop a routine. Most of these activities will be held at the Rainbow Centre, Rainbow Street, Bilston.

People from Coseley will have the opportunity to be involved through volunteering with the project, presenting great opportunities for social interaction and to cultivate new friendships, potentially helping to decreas the feelings of loneliness.

Just Straight Talk (JST) is a Coseley-based social enterprise supporting people by providing the practical help and motivation they need to turn their lives around and reach their life goals. JST works holistically with people in a tailor-made way to ensure complex situations are approached together and that a helping hand is on offer through life. The team constantly goes the extra mile to ensure full support for people by providing a range of practical, inspirational support and mentoring. JST has a strong track record of helping people to increase their confidence and self-esteem, resulting in positive engagement within society. JST recognises that in East Coseley isolation and loneliness is prevalent and works with partner agencies to help support this issue. 

If you or anyone you know would like to find out more about the new project, Just Start Talking, and how we can help to support you, your family, friends or even your neighbour to help reduce loneliness and isolation please email drobertsjst@gmail.com shona@jst@gmail.com or call 07726210092.

Loneliness is not the same as being alone, and has nothing to do with how many people you see – it’s the quality of social contact that makes all the difference.