Karis Neighbour Scheme

Karis BabyBank

Karis BabyBank is a project of Karis Neighbour Scheme supporting Birmingham mothers who are struggling to meet the financial cost of having a new baby.

Karis BabyBank is a provision for families with newborns and infants who are facing hardship and/or crisis which means they need help with essentials for their baby. This provision is based on referrals from other organisations and groups who are well placed to assess the need and identify what items families need, this includes social workers, children’s centres, health workers and other charities.

Our focus is on supporting families in and around the Ladywood area, although we do work with referral agencies more widely where there is acute need.

We currently support well over 400 families a year through this provision

You can find out more about the items we are able to provide
on the Karis Babybank Facebook page

Referral Agencies
Karis Baby Bank works with midwives, health visitors. social services and other professional groups in the Ladywood area to provide much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families in need in the local area and to very vulnerable families across the city

If you work with families in and around the Ladywood area and would like to find out if you could be a referral agency please contact
Ruth Pedzai, Children & Families Project Co-ordinator
ruth.pedzai@karisneighbourscheme.org for more details.

Karis BabyBank

Karis BabyBank is a project of Karis Neighbour Scheme supporting Birmingham mothers who are struggling to meet the financial cost of having a new baby.

Karis BabyBank is a provision for families with newborns and infants who are facing hardship and/or crisis which means they need help with essentials for their baby. This provision is based on referrals from other organisations and groups who are well placed to assess the need and identify what items families need, this includes social workers, children’s centres, health workers and other charities.

Our focus is on supporting families in and around the Ladywood area, although we do work with referral agencies more widely where there is acute need.

We currently support well over 400 families a year through this provision

You can find out more about the items we are able to provide
on the Karis Babybank Facebook page

Referral Agencies
Karis Baby Bank works with midwives, health visitors. social services and other professional groups in the Ladywood area to provide much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families in need in the local area and to very vulnerable families across the city

If you work with families in and around the Ladywood area and would like to find out if you could be a referral agency please contact
Ruth Pedzai, Children & Families Project Co-ordinator
ruth.pedzai@karisneighbourscheme.org for more details.

Karis BabyBank

Karis BabyBank is a project of Karis Neighbour Scheme supporting Birmingham mothers who are struggling to meet the financial cost of having a new baby.

Karis BabyBank is a provision for families with newborns and infants who are facing hardship and/or crisis which means they need help with essentials for their baby. This provision is based on referrals from other organisations and groups who are well placed to assess the need and identify what items families need, this includes social workers, children’s centres, health workers and other charities.

Our focus is on supporting families in and around the Ladywood area, although we do work with referral agencies more widely where there is acute need.

We currently support well over 400 families a year through this provision

You can find out more about the items we are able to provide
on the Karis Babybank Facebook page

Referral Agencies
Karis Baby Bank works with midwives, health visitors. social services and other professional groups in the Ladywood area to provide much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families in need in the local area and to very vulnerable families across the city

If you work with families in and around the Ladywood area and would like to find out if you could be a referral agency please contact
Ruth Pedzai, Children & Families Project Co-ordinator
ruth.pedzai@karisneighbourscheme.org for more details.

Karis BabyBank

Karis BabyBank is a project of Karis Neighbour Scheme supporting Birmingham mothers who are struggling to meet the financial cost of having a new baby.

Karis BabyBank is a provision for families with newborns and infants who are facing hardship and/or crisis which means they need help with essentials for their baby. This provision is based on referrals from other organisations and groups who are well placed to assess the need and identify what items families need, this includes social workers, children’s centres, health workers and other charities.

Our focus is on supporting families in and around the Ladywood area, although we do work with referral agencies more widely where there is acute need.

We currently support well over 400 families a year through this provision

You can find out more about the items we are able to provide
on the Karis Babybank Facebook page

Referral Agencies
Karis Baby Bank works with midwives, health visitors. social services and other professional groups in the Ladywood area to provide much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families in need in the local area and to very vulnerable families across the city

If you work with families in and around the Ladywood area and would like to find out if you could be a referral agency please contact
Ruth Pedzai, Children & Families Project Co-ordinator
ruth.pedzai@karisneighbourscheme.org for more details.

Karis BabyBank

Karis BabyBank is a project of Karis Neighbour Scheme supporting Birmingham mothers who are struggling to meet the financial cost of having a new baby.

Karis BabyBank is a provision for families with newborns and infants who are facing hardship and/or crisis which means they need help with essentials for their baby. This provision is based on referrals from other organisations and groups who are well placed to assess the need and identify what items families need, this includes social workers, children’s centres, health workers and other charities.

Our focus is on supporting families in and around the Ladywood area, although we do work with referral agencies more widely where there is acute need.

We currently support well over 400 families a year through this provision

You can find out more about the items we are able to provide
on the Karis Babybank Facebook page

Referral Agencies
Karis Baby Bank works with midwives, health visitors. social services and other professional groups in the Ladywood area to provide much needed essentials and equipment to mothers and families in need in the local area and to very vulnerable families across the city

If you work with families in and around the Ladywood area and would like to find out if you could be a referral agency please contact
Ruth Pedzai, Children & Families Project Co-ordinator
ruth.pedzai@karisneighbourscheme.org for more details.

Karis Befriends Advice

Karis BeFriends Advice can make sure you are getting the right benefits and offer other advice and support for people over 50 who are living in the Ladywood, Edgbaston or Harborne wards of Birmingham.

We can visit you at home to check whether you are getting the benefits you are entitled to, help with new applications, go through letters and make phone calls with you, as well as looking at additional help like the Warm Home Discount scheme.

Alongside advice around benefits and other issues, we can also connect you with other activities and services locally which you may need or be interested in.

To speak to our advisor, please call 0121 455 7524 or email katharine.harris@karisneighbourscheme.org, Katharine will make an initial appointment to visit you to discuss what areas you need advice and how best we can help.

Karis BeFriends

The Karis BeFriends project supports older people living in Ladywood, Harborne and Edgbaston, who feel isolated or lonely. We visit people regularly, so that you have someone to talk to and can get a helping hand when you need it.

Our befrienders can come and sit and chat over a cup of tea, or maybe take up a hobby you enjoy, or accompany you out for a walk or to get to an appointment. We can also help with sorting through post or making phone calls.

Alongside this we also arrange regular social activities in the community, giving you chance to get out and connect with others. From our Time for Tea afternoon teas, held bi-monthly at Queen Alexandra College in Harborne, and our weekly Senior Life Group, held at Oasis Church in Harborne on Tuesdays, to coffee afternoons, trips out and Christmas parties. We also run a weekly Art Group which takes place every two weeks at our main office in Ladywood. It’s a relaxed and friendly environment led by one of our experienced volunteers.

We want you to feel connected and supported and encouraged to continue to flourish later in life.

For more information on any of the activities, or befriending, please contact Helen or Patti on 0121 455 7524 or e-mail helen.bell@karisneighbourscheme.org.

Karis Neighbour Scheme and The Ladywood Community Advice service

The Ladywood Community Advice service is an easy to access advice service for people living in Ladywood and the surrounding areas.
LCA helps many people in complex situations, often with chronic ill health, homelessness or language barriers

If you’re having problems with your benefits and need help or advice about this, or are struggling with filling in forms, then you’re welcome to come and see us.

We can also help to explain letters you’ve received, or help you to contact bodies like the council or utility providers if you have an issue or need to find out information.

Last but not least we can also signpost you to other specialist advice services if you have issues we’re unable to help with.

If you’d like to make an appointment to see our Money Advisor please call on 0121 454 8994 or 0121 455 7524.