Trident Reach: The People Charity is delighted to announce the launch of the Single Access Point for Learning Disabilities in Birmingham. The Single Access Point is the first point of call within Birmingham for individuals with learning disabilities who need housing related support. The phone line is also open for providers currently working with those with a diagnosed learning disability.

The phone number is 0121 633 1706

The happy achievers

Trident Reach have been working alongside our customers and City College Birmingham to deliver a educational courses to vulnerable people.

Since November, 16 service users from across our services successfully completed the life skills programme and 1 service user from one of the care homes completed the Learning Power Award.   We worked in partnership with City College Birmingham and the Life Skills Council.

The life skills files are a way of supporting the customers to engage in something productive.  It is an opportunity to engage the customers in a qualification around there own personal development and exciting activities and opportunities.    The course is to develop life skills in a person centred package tailored to the individuals needs.  The outcomes of achievement show examples of positive behaviour, adaptability, motivation, commitment, positive attitude, confidence and communication.

Each individual committed themselves to meeting up regularly to complete the course.  The classes were completed in the comfort of their own home to suit themselves and their own learning style.  Through dedication the service users reached their targeted hours.

The service users who achieved the award are Saleem Griffith, Akhtar Bi Bi, Jason Mainwood, Sandra While, Daniel Roberts, Simon Fradgley, Damon Rathbone, Anthony Sigerson, Pam Gouldingay, Barbara Conway, Helen Gardener, Thomas Beary, June Spence and Liam O’Neill.

Each portfolio was incredibly varied, Saleem engaged with the BBC to develop his career within the media.  Akhtar concentrated on improving her literacy skills.  Jason created his own CD.  Sandra learnt how to use a type writer and a sewing machine.  Daniel helped cooked the Christmas dinner for the people where he lives.  Simon improved his skills in budgeting.  Damon worked on move on.  Anthony is arranging a cheese and wine event to raise money to put the Internet into the day centre at Bishops Court.  Pam and Barbara learnt how to use the Internet.  Helen improved her swimming in time for her summer holiday.   Through this course we are proud to say that Thomas has gained employment.  June developed her skills around money and Liam took part in group activities.

To congratulate all of the service users for their success we invited them to Farlie House on the 30^th of July to celebrate and share their achievement in an awards ceremony.  The tutors from the College presented a speech to recognise the service users for all the hard work they have put into the project and the outcomes the service users achieved. Our head of new buisness Janette Beckett said a few words of congratulations and distributed the certificates and vouchers of the value of £100 for a shop of their choice.  After the ceremony we put on a buffet and everyone took the opportunity to celebrate.

Trident Reach thank all of the students for their hard work and would like to say thank you to City College for once again being supportive and understanding partners.

Lucy Bird,

Creative Learning Coordinator

The staff from Signet got stuck in giving our garden a much needed make over including some back breaking digging, painting the fence to make them nice and bright as well as planting a vegetable patch.

  Alongside members of the Reach’s Social Investment team, Signet also helped us re paint the nursery making it an a happy and colourful place for the children to play in. The Signet staff members were also kind enough to donate outdoor play equipment which is already going down very well.

It was an action packed day and Anderton Park road now looks fantastic. A big big thank you to everyone to Signet and the fantastic work they put in.

If your organisation would like to support Trident Reach then please get in touch with Andy Pearson on 0121 633 2194 or email andy.pearson@reachthecharity.org.uk

If you would like more information about these vacancies please go to our Job Vacancies page.

Salary: £22,000 - £29,500 per Annum (Depending on experience and qualifications)

Full Time: 36.5 hours

Based in Birmingham

This exciting new post is responsible for overall management of the charities new Learning Disabilities service in Birmingham. You will be an experienced manager responsible for ensuring the service meets Supporting People ‘A’ standards. You will be experienced at developing person centered Rota’s, Budget management and supervising and developing a staff team. A knowledge of the personalisation agenda is key for this role along with an in depth knowledge of Learning Disabilities services. You will be responsible for developing practices and ensuring a high quality service is delivered to our customers.  A requirement of the role is to complete weekly performance reports and payroll data therefore computer skills are essential. The successful candidate will be responsible for all operational management and supporting the learning and development of your team.

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For more information please contact Caleb Wright on 0121 633 2194 or via email on calebw@reachthecharity.org.uk

Full Time: 37.5 hours

Based in Erdington, Birmingham - overseeing Birmingham, Sandwell and Shropshire Services

Responsible for the strategic and operational development of the Charity’s  Homeless and Mental Health services in Birmingham, Sandwell and Shropshire. You will be an experienced senior manager with an in-depth knowledge of homelessness and the government strategies within this service. Ideally qualified to degree level you will be responsible for tendering for new business while developing and expanding the existing services. You will drive the business to ensure that all services meet the Supporting People ‘A’ standard while also managing the budgetary requirements, therefore financial awareness is essential.

This exciting post brings the challenge of developing new strategies for talent management within the services to ensure that we retain the highest quality staff in order to deliver the best possible service for our customers. You will be required to produce reports detailing the improvements you are making to the services therefore excellent computer, communication and presentation skills are essential. This post will be both rewarding and challenging and the successful candidate must have a dedicated work ethos and a high level of knowledge surrounding both homelessness and mental health.

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For more information please contact Celeb Wright on 0121 633 2194 or email calebw@reachthecharity.org.uk

Full Time: 37.5 hours

Based in Erdington, Birmingham - overseeing Birmingham, Sandwell and Shropshire Services

Responsible for the strategic and operational development of the Charity’s  Homeless and Mental Health services in Birmingham, Sandwell and Shropshire. You will be an experienced senior manager with an in-depth knowledge of homelessness and the government strategies within this service. Ideally qualified to degree level you will be responsible for tendering for new business while developing and expanding the existing services. You will drive the business to ensure that all services meet the Supporting People ‘A’ standard while also managing the budgetary requirements, therefore financial awareness is essential.

This exciting post brings the challenge of developing new strategies for talent management within the services to ensure that we retain the highest quality staff in order to deliver the best possible service for our customers. You will be required to produce reports detailing the improvements you are making to the services therefore excellent computer, communication and presentation skills are essential. This post will be both rewarding and challenging and the successful candidate must have a dedicated work ethos and a high level of knowledge surrounding both homelessness and mental health.

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For more information please contact Caleb Wright on 0121 633 2194 or via email on calebw@reachthecharity.org.uk

We are aiming to raise nearly £5000 that will go towards supporting some amazing projects for some of the most vulnerable across the Midlands.

Please come and join us and raise pounds for charity and lose pounds from your body

If you would like to learn more about the Run for Reach or anything else on how you can support the amazing work we do please contact Rachel Chiu by phoning 0121 633 2194 or by email: rachelc@reachthecharity.org.uk

Gillian Orton from one of registered care homes came and spent the day with our Social Investment department and with support from her care worker was kind enough to write about her experience.

Gillian with the Social Investment Team

“Hi my name is Gillian I worked at Fairlie House on 22^nd June which I really enjoyed

I travelled to Fairlie House in a Taxi I was in a great mood, my carer Karen accompanied me.

When I arrived I spent time with the social investment team, I attended a team meeting which I participated well in. I then helped to interview for new staff as I like to see people working. I then helped put together packs for the staff conference which was in the same week.

The best part of my day was having my picture taken and chatting with everyone at Fairlie House.

I made lots of new friends and got a certificate for all my hard work which is now on the wall in my house.

When I returned home everyone was interested in the day I had had and I was more than happy to share my experience.”

On behalf of the Social Investment team we would like to thank Gillian for coming to spend the day with us and thank her for helping us with preparations for the staff conference. We are not sure if we would have been ready without her.

Everyone at Trident Reach would also like to thank all of our customers who contributed to a great week and got involved in the events and celebrations that took place across our services.

This is what the Birmingham Mail had to say about it today.

” A Midland charity worker claimed politicians don’t care about disabled people after only one of six parties replied to her request for an easy-to-read manifesto. Rachel Smith, a 22- year-old support worker with Trident Reach, The People Charity, said she had been encouraging people with learning difficulties to vote in the general election.

To help her, she asked each party to send a simplified version of its manifesto to its Aston base so that people with learning difficulties could understand what the aims and objectives they were trying to promote - but only the Liberal Democrats obliged.

UKIP sent our their full manifesto, while Labour, the Conservatives and two others failed to reply she said.

Rachel said it was “rude and inconsiderate” and showed why the public had lost faith in politicians. ” We are disgusted with all the parties who didn’t respond. It just proves that they are not bothered. There’s no equality”

The charity offers support to 23 people aged between 24-65, with learning difficulties ranging from autism to cerebral palsy.

After the Birmingham Mail became involved the Labour party contacted the charity and sent out details immediately. The Tories said their easy to read manifesto was only launched on Tuesday.

Both parties said they were now available on their websites”