SANDWELL ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE

Fantasic news that our volunteer, Sanjiv Verma, has made it through to the second round of nominations to carry the Olympic Flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Nominated for his commitment and contribution to SAFSS and to the local voluntary sector, Sanjiv has a 1 in 14 chance of being successful. Sanjiv is committed to his volunteering and to the difference he makes to the lives of people with disabilities in Sandwell. We have our fingers crossed that he has his “moment to shine” and is recognised for the enormous contribution he has made to Sandwell.

The results are announced in December 2011. Good Luck Sanjiv, from everyone at SAFSS!

Our Chief Executive Parpinder K Dhatt was interviewd on RaajFM today. Parpinder talked about our range of services for children, young people and adults who have a disability, life limiting or life threatening condition.

If you have heard Parpinder’s interview and would like to find out more about our services, and how we could support your family please contact us on (0121) 558 2198 or pop in to our centre in Smethwick. We are located on the first floor ASRA Building, Fenton Street, Smethwick.

SAFSS have recently supported the work of Birmingham Sands by providing volunteers and free transport.

Birmingham Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, donates Precious Memory Boxes to 7 hospitals in Birmingham and the Black Country. The boxes are given to bereaved parents to enable them to start creating memories of their babies life. Each box contains two teddies, a hand knitted blanket,cards,  poems, information leaflets and a disposable camera. Birmingham Sands relies on volunteers to distribute these boxes and to provide transport.

SAFSS Chief Executive Parpinder Dhatt donated the use of our minibus and a driver to enable Birmingham Sands to move the important keepsake boxes. She said:

 ”As a charity SAFSS is committed to working in partnership with, and supporting other local organisations. All organisations who work with families know the impact that losing a child can have. I am pleased that SAFSS were able to support Birmingham Sands in this way. “

Ritu Sharma  from Birmingham Sands said “Voluntary organsiations working together is really important and SAFSS moving our Precious Memory Boxes really helped us. We are all in the same boat and we are very grateful to SAFSS for supporting us.

Birmingham Sands offers support to families whenever a baby dies. The organisation also works with professionals to improve the quality of care and services offered to bereaved parents and to promote research and changes in practice that could help reduce the loss of babies’ lives.

For further information about Birmingham Sands please email  birminghamsands@btinternet.com or contact the helpline on (07709) 425001

To celebrate Carers’ Week we will be holding a Carers’ Pamering Event at our centre in Smethwick on Friday 17th June between 10am-2pm.

Come and receive free beauty treatments including Mehndi, Nail Art, Yoga, Indian head massage, threading and enjoy a free lunch!

To book a place, for directions or for more information please contact: Kam on (0121) 558 2198

SAFSS would like to thank ASRA, Smethwick and Sandwell Primary Care Trust for supporting this event.

The event will be held at – SAFSS, ASRA Building, Fenton St, Smethwick, B66 1HR

SAFSS are pleased to support National Blood week and the call to ‘make a date to donate’.

Only 8.5 percent of blood donated in the West Midlands comes from the South Asian Community and during National Blood Week (13^th – 19^th June), NHSBT is urging the community to step forward and ‘make a date to donate’ blood in the coming weeks.

With specific blood groups, like type B, more common amongst South Asians it is crucial that people from this ethnic group donate blood: 25 percent of all South Asians are blood type B, compared to only nine percent of Caucasians. Also, conditions like Thalassaemia Major, which require regular blood transfusions, are more prevalent amongst this community.

Every year thousands of lives are saved or improved thanks to selfless blood donors. It is essential that new people register to become blood donors; the NHS needs 7,000 units of donated blood every day to be used for a wide range of reasons: not just for rare blood disorders, but also for surgery, to treat cancer patients and for use in difficult childbirths.

For more information about blood donation or to make an appointment visit www.blood.co.uk, call 0300 123 2323 or follow NHSBT at http://www.facebook.com/NHSBlood or www.twitter.com/NHSGiveBlood.  

We wish NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) all the best with their campaign.

Carers Week is here and  we have updated our links section to include Carers Direct. This service from the NHS provides information, advice and support for all carers. Please take a look at our links section to find out more.

We have been asked by our friends at Sandwell Parents For Disabled Children (SPDC) to tell you about an exciting funding opportunity.

Carers of a child with a disability can apply for a one off grant under a small pilot programme being administered by Sandwell Parents for Disabled Children. Carers can apply for up to £100.00. Exact details of who can apply and what the money can be used for are given in the application form below. 

Funding Application Form

The deadline for receipt of application forms is the 24th June 2011 but more importantly applications are being dealt with on a “first come first served basis” and only £10,000 of funding is available.

If you require any further information or clarification please do not hesitate to contact Linda Lloyd at SPDC on 0121 544 8880.

SAFSS is one of the lead organisations at the Sandwell Parents and Carers Event.

The event, being held at The Public, will outline the future of services for children and young people with SEN or disabilities.

Come along on Tuesday 22 March 2011 between 9.45am and 2.30pm, lunch provided!

We look forward to meeting you there!