For our latest Community Story we are learning about how the changing community of Solihull is being supported by the fantastic work of the Snooty Pooch CIC. Luke Upton caught up with Sarah-Amie Treanor BEM to talk evolving support, canine cafés, community hubs and the difference funding from National Grid’s Community Fund is making to those in need. 

Luke Upton (LU): Thanks for the time today, could you give us introduction to the community you serve in the Midlands? And why your support is needed. 

Sarah-Amie Treanor (S-AM): No problem, Luke. Our community is diverse and changing all the time, our population includes a significant percentage of residents aged 65 and over. The ageing population places increasing demand on local healthcare services and social care infrastructure. As with many communities, some elderly residents face challenges related to loneliness and mobility, particularly in rural areas, and especially during winter months when they need community driven support.

The influx of arrivals of individuals from Hong Kong under the BN(O) visa scheme has had a positive impact on Solihull but challenges exist and our volunteers ongoing support continues to facilitate the integration and well-being of new residents, through workshops, language support and the cultural differences of life in the UK.

The northern regions of Solihull experience higher poverty rates but there also significant pockets of deprivation which is borough wide. Notably, 54% of the borough's children living in poverty reside in the three North Solihull regeneration wards, where the child poverty rate stands at 33%. Being centrally located, we are able to offer help and support such as warm hubs, Holiday Activity & Food Programmes (HAF), confidential personal support to families who have lost faith in statutory services and need guidance with the multiple and complex issues they are facing  

Fuel poverty is another significant issue in Solihull. In 2022, 14.1% of households were experiencing fuel poverty, placing Solihull in the second-worst quintile nationally. This situation is concerning due to the associated health risks of living in cold homes and grants like this enable us to work on the ground, with the most vulnerable residents, enabling them to stay warm and well through colder months.

Approximately 3,800 children in Solihull are estimated to suffer from some form of diagnosed mental disorder. We support families with a safe community space, access to therapy dogs and mindfulness activities. We run a home education group every week which is at capacity and enables young people who do not attend school to build their confidence, make friends and get the emotional and physical support they and their families need,

 LU: Thank for that, really interesting. So, with all this going on, what’s been your particular focus in recent years?

S-AM: We’ve been looking at three key areas. There's Dog Therapy Programs, providing sessions where people who are struggling emotionally can interact with therapy dogs, promoting stress relief, mental well-being and, through our outreach programme, can gain confidence in going to and staying in school.

Then we have Community Programs, to strengthen our volunteers’ skills and decision making within the community. We see ourselves as the vehicle that enables all the great project ideas of our community to happen. We have over 30 volunteers ranging from 8-84 years of age and steering groups who focus on different community subjects - they tell us what is needed and why. We have supported over 70 young people gain their Duke of Edinburgh award. We provide volunteers with the training, skills and space to help them reach their potential and lead healthier and happier lives.

And finally, we have formalising education and training, we provide very supported work placements that enable people of all abilities to have meaningful and positive work experience and training opportunities. We are currently applying to be a training centre where we can support people with disabilities to gain qualifications in employability.

LU: Thanks, you’ve just received funding from the Community Matters Fund from National Grid and Localgiving. Can you tell us some more about the project it will help fund and what it aims to deliver?

S-AM: This fund will enable us to distribute warm packs and energy efficiency items such as warm blankets, radiator keys, insulated curtains, draught excluders, to people living with fuel poverty in Solihull. Our Wellbeing Hosts will visit isolated households to help people make their homes warmer and more energy efficient whilst providing companionship and support in understanding bills, tariffs and providing important contact information for emergencies.

We will also be Running a warm space in our community building – for 13 weeks between 1st December 2024 and 31st March 2025 which will be open 6 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition to food, energy advice and companionship, we will be providing physical activity/exercise, mindfulness activities, parenting support, support for people with additional needs and their families and cooking workshops

LU: How important is this kind of funding to your organisation?

S-AM: The Community Matters Fund is not just important, its vital. Statutory services are stretched, and local people need other local people with lived experience of their problems to help them. People need a space where they don’t have to fill in forms, answer questions or explain their circumstances to get help. Without this funding we would not be able to offer this crucial support and many families, without this help would be in terrible situations this winter. So I’d like to say a big thank you to Localgiving and National Grid for helping make a huge difference to our community.

LU: As we always ask, more money aside, what would help you most?

S-AM: Expertise and skills from professional people who can help us move forward with our plans. As a not for profit we are very lean staff wise and can’t afford the skills of professionals. Having an outside eye on our organisation would really help us.

LU: Brilliant, keep up the fantastic work!

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