The Midlands and Lincolnshire

KeyRing Midlands and Lincolnshire

We're always looking to work in new areas. Take a look through our existing services or contact our National Office on 020 3119 0960 or at enquiries@keyring.org.

Read about our Midlands and Lincolnshire projects below:

Sandwell Networks

Warwickshire Community Links

Warwickshire Short Term Support

Grimsby Networks

Sandwell Networks

In Sandwell we support people who are homeless or at the risk of becoming homeless. We have been working in the area since 2015.

We have 4 networks in Sandwell for 40 Members.

West Bromwich (Network of 10)
Rowley Regis (Network of 10)
Oldbury (Network of 10)
Oxford Road, West Bromwich (Network of 10)

KeyRing in Sandwell can help if you:

Are at risk of becoming homeless, have you been served an eviction notice and don’t know what to do?
Are homeless. We can meet you in the community, sessions don’t have to be at home only.
Struggle with reading your letters and bills.
Need support to develop your independence/ life skills

To get KeyRing support in Sandwell you must:

Live in Sandwell
Be over 18 years’ old
Need support to build independence

What makes us different?

KeyRing in Sandwell is unique to other services, alongside the more traditional support services we offer community support. Community support includes our community hub session and building network’s of connection across the Sandwell area.

We believe that every person has something to offer and we can link you in with other people within our service for you to offer/receive support.

If you would like to be part of KeyRing, you are more than welcome to attend our community hub sessions. Any member of the community is welcomed to attend these sessions.

Wednesdays 10am-12pm - Wood Lane Community Centre, 157 Wood Lane, West Bromwich, B70 9PT.

If you would like support or to meet new people and make some new friends, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Lucy: 0753 435 0167

Warwickshire Community Links

Our Community Links service offers short term mental health support.

We can support people for up to six sessions with:

Advice
Guidance
Signposting
Making connections with people and communities
Focussed emotional support

Personalised support during specific periods of life that could cause deterioration of mental health.

Support is provided through a combination of 1:1 support, group work and peer support. We link in with carers, health and social care professionals and other organisations delivering support.

To be eligible for this service a person must:

Have a mental health need (inclusive of undiagnosed needs)
Be aged 17 or older
Live in Warwickshire, or be registered with a GP in Warwickshire
Not be entitled to social care services

For more information about the service please contact Matthew Wilson at matthew.wilson@keyring.org or on 07825 275 405.

Download a referral form

Man pointing at open sign

Two hands

Imogen*

Imogen was homeless and her self-esteem was low.

Woman in a yellow top

When Imogen came to KeyRing she was homeless and recently bereaved. Her self- esteem was low and, especially due to the pandemic, she was feeling very isolated.

We supported her with exercises to encourage healthy self-esteem. Imogen worked on thinking more positively and dealing with anger. This helped her to arrange payment plans with debtors and supported her to think of ways to prevent future debt. Imogen now opens her bills and letters. She knows who she can speak with if there is something that she does not understand.

She identified groups that she wanted to be part of and KeyRing supported her to attend when she was able. Working alongside the local housing provider, Imogen has found a flat that she loves in a place where she wants to live.

Warwickshire Short Term Support

KeyRing offers a 12 week support service for adults across Warwickshire.

The service is for people who do not receive any other support but would benefit from some help with a particular issue.

We will work with each person to create a 12 week plan which will be regularly reviewed.

Support is flexible and can be provided in a variety of ways including:

• one to one support
• group support
• peer mentoring
• support through messaging, online forums and video calls
• telephone support
• drop-ins

For more information about the service please contact Matthew Wilson at matthew.wilson@keyring.org or on 07825 275 405.

A man and a woman looking at paperwork together

A woman on the phone

James*

James was homeless and struggled with the benefits system.

Smiling man

James, who is 18, became homeless after an altercation with a member of his family. This led to a conviction for violent behaviour. James moved through several temporary accommodation placements due to drug misuse and antisocial behaviour. He has a childhood diagnosis of autism, ADHD and struggles with anxiety.

He struggles to navigate the benefits system or work with professionals around his wellbeing.

KeyRing worked with James to engage with the Council, Mental Health services and external housing support services. We also attended his court appearance with him. We referred James to Social Services Mental Health Adult Team and housing support. We coproduced a tailored support plan with intensive support across the agencies.

We held budgeting workshops and supported him to claim Universal Credit. We supported him with creating his CV and looking for college courses that reflected his skills and passion.

On the day that James moved into supported accommodation, he said he felt that he “had an opportunity for something good in my life”. He is looking forward to attending a mechanical engineering course.

Grimsby Networks

Grimsby, also Great Grimsby, is a large coastal English seaport in North East Lincolnshire. It ran the largest fishing fleet in the world by the mid-20th century, but fishing declined dramatically after the Cod Wars denied UK access to Icelandic fishing grounds.

Grimsby is the main cultural, shopping and industrial centre for much of northern and eastern Lincolnshire.

Grimsby people are called Grimbarians; the term codhead is also used jokingly, often for Grimsby football supporters.

Great Grimsby Day is 22 January.

KeyRing have been supporting Grimbarians since 2011. We offer support in many areas including the Willows, Nunsthorpe, Cleethorpes and East & West Marsh. We support people with many different needs who want to live independently. Our Community Enablers can help you with managing your money, looking after your home and helping you to get involved in your community, as well as linking you up with other people in the area.

We have a variety of monthly activities that you can get involved with if you want to.

KeyRing think it is important for you be to be as independent as possible. We can support you in the way that you want.

Our hourly rate is £13.50, and we will consider referrals from anyone.

For more information contact anne.palmer@keyring.org or on 07717 894476.

Two men sat on a sofa with a dog

Woman with hands in the air

Josh

Josh was living in a residential service and wanted to live independently.

Smiling man in pink top

Josh is 26 years old and has been with KeyRing for six weeks. Josh was living in a residential service for people with a learning disability. This was not a suitable place for Josh who wanted to live independently.

Josh found himself a flat, but the landlord was a little concerned and wanted Josh to have a guarantor.

Josh’s social worker made a referral to KeyRing. We contacted the landlord and discussed how we would support Josh to be a suitable tenant and Josh was able to move in.

Josh has an appointee but feels he is capable of managing his own money. We are working with him to achieve this.

Josh “previously called me several times a day, this has almost reduced to no calls, which I see as a real positive in his transition to independent living."

Susan Kidd - Social Worker, Whitby

Paul

Paul is living on his own for the first time.

Smiling man in blue tank top

Paul is just on his way to pick up the keys to his new place. Paul is 28 and it’s the first time he’s lived on his own. He is “really excited to be living independently”.

He joined KeyRing 4 months ago and we’ve been supporting him to prepare for a move away from the family home and to find a property that he loves. During those four months we’ve also supported Paul and his Dad through the unexpected loss of Paul’s mum.

Paul’s dad gave up work for a period of time because Paul had never been on his own during the day before. Now Paul’s dad has felt able to resume work.

We’ve connected Paul with the local community as well. He only moved to the area 5 months ago and he is already well on his way to filling every day. He is especially keen to get a job in one of the local charity shops just as soon as they reopen.

Paul has also made friends with other Members. Paul’s dog Alfie has been the perfect ice breaker and one of the other Members is learning about looking after a pet from Paul.

Paul is so keen to build his independence that he has already memorised the bus routes he needs to take after being shown just once.

We are sure that Paul will bring lots of experience and passion to the local network and we can hardly wait to get him involved.