Winter can be a difficult season, particularly for older people.

The cold weather can bring many challenges to our health and wellbeing. There are, however, lots of things you can do to get prepared for winter and to make sure you stay fit, safe and well.

This booklet offers information, along with a list of services from Dudley Council and other organisations. We want to support you during the colder months, especially people who may need extra help during winter.

https://www.dudley.gov.uk/media/0iilzb0a/winter-wellness-a5-2023.pdf

Provision House (formerly known as Loaves n Fishes) is a Christian charity based in the West Midlands. We are committed to the relief of poverty and all its effects on the people of Sandwell, Dudley and the wider Black Country. We aim to do this by delivering care in the way of furniture, clothes, household items, food and more to help those that need it most. We help them to build a home for themselves and also try to establish links with organisations for their ongoing benefit.

Support includes:

• Home Starter Packages
• Food Club
• Advice and Guidance
• Gardening Project
• Training and Work Placements
• Furniture Upcycling
• Community Re-Use Space
• Citizens Advice - Cost of Living Hubs
• Photography Club
• Street Teams
• Groundworks
• Refugee and Migrant Centre
• Shaw Trust
• Safe Families
• Heritage Project
• Progression Club (Job Club)

https://www.provisionhouse.co.uk/home/

Dudley Council has run the campaign for the previous four years, sharing hundreds of gifts with care-experienced young people to brighten up their Christmases.

Residents who wish to donate can purchase a gift from an online Amazon wishlist, which will then be included in a hamper for distribution to a young person who has just left the care system.

Donations can also be made for children and young people who are still in care. Gifts can include confectionary, perfume, toiletries and clothing.

The wishlist can be accessed online here via Amazon.

When buying gifts, people are advised to choose the gift registry address on the delivery page, which allows the items to be delivered straight to the council for distribution.

Gifts can also be dropped off at the Stourbridge Family Centre.

Parents and carers can come along to a special Dudley Family Voices (DFV) workshop next week to share their aspirations for their children and ideas on services which will benefit them in the future.

The workshop will give parents and carers from across Dudley borough the opportunity to find out more about DFV,  who want to work together to create the best life chances for children and young people.

Everyone is welcome to attend the next workshop, which takes place on Wednesday 27 November from 10.30am to noon at the local family hub in Brierley Hill.

During the session, group members will be asked to share their wishes for the future, will take a closer look at services and give ideas and suggestions on what’s working well and what needs to change. 

Book a place by calling 01384 813322 or emailing childfriendly@dudley.go.uk

Find out more about Dudley Family Voices