The Public Health team in Dudley Council has secured funds from the NHS to champion oral health and well-being and support children & families in Dudley.

Since the pandemic there has been a steady increase in families applying for free school meals as they find themselves in financial hardship during the current financial climate. With around a third of children in Dudley living in low-income households, Dudley’s Community Toothbrush Scheme aims to support families across the borough, who’s oral health needs may have had to slip down their list of priorities, when compared with food and warmth. Not looking after your teeth can cause tooth decay which can impact on children’s health and social wellbeing including disruption of sleeping, eating, speaking, socialising and school attendance.

As part of this scheme, we would like to offer all KS1 pupils a free toothbrush pack, including (a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, an oral health information leaflet and our new Healthy Lunchbox Resource which offers families advice for making healthy, yummy, cost effective and tooth-friendly lunchboxes).

Further information about the scheme with a list of places families can collect their free toothbrush packs from at:  https://lets-get.com/dudleys-community-toothbrush-scheme/.

Household support fund – help with cost of living during the winter time

This scheme is to help if you are struggling to pay your bills due to the cost of living increases. It is a one off payment made to eligible households in Dudley Borough. To apply, you will need to meet certain criteria and complete an application form.

Who can apply

You can make an application if you live in the Dudley Borough and:

• You are the only adult in the household and your gross income, including wages and any other income (for example, pensions and all benefits), is less than £35,000 per year and your savings are less than £6000.

Or

• You are a multi person household (this includes your partner, children or and anyone else that lives with you) and your joint gross income, including wages and any other income (for example pensions and all benefits), are less than £45,000 per year and your savings are less that £6000.

You will also need to tell us why you are struggling to pay your bills. People who are eligible will receive a minimum one off payment of £150.

How to apply

Once you have logged in to apply for the household support fund, you can either search through a drop-down list for Dudley Council or input a ‘quick code’ to take you directly through to our application form. The code for Dudley's household support Fund is 425BNP.

Online applications can be completed via the link https://grantapproval.co.uk/ full details are available on the Dudley Council Website https://www.dudley.gov.uk/council-community/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/

Could you foster?

Nexus Fostering is a well-established and highly regarded fostering agency, based in Birmingham, who are urgently seeking full-time & respite foster carers throughout the area. The agency is rated Ofsted 'Outstanding' in all areas and place a high premium on the quality of support and care that they provide to every one of the foster carers and, in turn, the children and young people placed with them.

To find out more about becoming a foster carer or a respite carer in Dudley and surrounding areas please call 0800 389 0143 or email foster@nexusfostering.co.uk