Bearwood Hub Newsletter - Summer Updates!
The newsletter is back!
Find out below what’s happening at the Hub over the summer!
(If you think you can spare an hour each week to help us write the newsletter then please get in touch!)
Job Vacancies!
We currently have two part-time opportunities available to join the Bearwood Hub team:
Administrator - We are seeking a dynamic and highly organised Administrator to join our team. If you are a motivated and detail-oriented professional with a passion for playing your part in helping our team become more efficient and effective, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
Information, Advice & Guidance Officer - This role is essential in helping clients navigate various challenges, including housing, employment, benefits, and other personal issues.
To find out more about the roles and how to apply go to bearwood.cc/job
Summer Timetable
Wednesday Warm Welcome - Open during August!
Join us Wednesdays throughout August at Bearwood Baptist Church Hall for a Warm Welcome! From the 7th - 28th August we’ll be operating a slightly revised timetable:
11:30am - 1:30pm - For adults without children (if you have children please join us at 2pm!)
2 - 4pm - Family friendly session
Both sessions will include a pay what you can hot food provision - which is open to all!
The Sandwell Cost of Living Team will be with us over the summer between 11:30am and 1:30pm for those who need some advice about Debts, Advocacy, Housing and Benefits (if you have children but need to speak to an advisor please contact us in advance via 07599595514 or to communityhub@bearwood.cc to arrange an appointment).
Our games table has also had a bit of a boost and now features: Uno, Chess, Draughts, Chinese Checkers, Mancala, Noughts & Crosses, Snakes and Ladders, Backgammon, Dominoes, Banagrams and more!
The free shop and Bring Your Own Art Club will be open as normal.
Our English for Everyday classes will be continuing at 12pm on Wednesdays for current students, and will be accepting new students in September.
Join Co-Working for the Summer!
Perhaps you’re working on a new project, or maybe you just need to get a few hours done away from the distraction of home or the kids? Come and give our co-working space a try!
Benefits of Bearwood Community Hub’s Co-working Space include:
A friendly, supportive & focused work space
High-speed Wifi
Options for Standing / Sitting Desks
Laptop raisers, wireless keyboard and mouse (Bluetooth USB) so there’s no need to carry all your accessories around
Second Screens available
A range of teas and coffees included
Self-entry options for flexible working hours
Local networking opportunities
Subscription / pay as you go options to suit you
Private spaces for meetings / calls*
Open ALL summer!
Starting from… FREE! Your first half-day here is free to try, just get in touch with Lizzie at communityhub@bearwood.cc to arrange your first visit, then it’s £5/half day to use.
* Additional charges apply
Grief Kind Space
On 20th May the very first Grief Kind Space in the Midlands opened in partnership with Bearwood Community Hub, Sue Ryder and the Dorothy Parkes Centre.
What is a Grief Kind Space?
They are weekly, in-person drop-in sessions held in the local community and run by trained volunteers. The sessions provide a safe, informal and supportive place for people to come together and share their experiences of grief, helping attendees to feel heard and less alone.
The sessions are welcoming, inclusive and open to anyone who is over 18 and has experienced a bereavement, whether you want to attend regularly to connect with others in similar situations or just drop in for a quick chat.
Drop in on Mondays between 10am - 12pm at Dorothy Parkes Centre for a friendly cup of tea and a safe space to talk about your grief.
Stay & Play - Back in September, until then…
Bearwood Community Hub’s Stay & Play sessions at Bear Bookshop are on pause over the Summer but will return Monday mornings in September between 10am and 11:30am.
Until then, you can check out the exciting programme of events and activities on offer from Bear Bookshop for kids and adults of all ages!!
Coming soon:
Smethwick Arts Collective - "an arts centre without walls”
We are thrilled to be taking part in the Smethwick Arts Collective with Black Country Touring, The Parakeet CIC and Spectra Arts, thanks to funding by Heart of England’s Inclusive Communities.
Starting this Summer you’ll find a range of exciting and varied arts events happening in and around Smethwick!
Sandwell Borough of Sanctuary Films
Bearwood Community Hub and Black Country Touring have been working together with Forward Poetry Prize winning poet Bohdan Piasecki, to create four short films that challenge the negative narrative around migration by sharing authentic stories from local sanctuary seekers who have built new lives in Sandwell.
Follow Bohdan as he interviews four locals about their experience of moving to the UK and how they’ve made Sandwell their home. We set Bohdan the challenge of writing a poem inspired by each person he spoke to, within 24 hours of their conversation.
The first film will be launching online Mid-August.
With big thanks to The Space for supporting and making this project possible.