Organ Donation Week took place last month (21–25 September 2026), raising awareness of the difference organ donation can make to the lives of people waiting for a transplant. But raising awareness shouldn’t stop when Organ Donation Week ends. This half term, the conversation continues with a series of sessions for young people. These provide a chance to learn more about organ donation, discuss the issues and ask questions in an open and supportive environment. Through the Volunteering for Health programme, young people aged 13–21 will be able to get involved in the following activities: October half-term volunteering event – a half-day, face-to-face NHS volunteering experience where young people will learn about organ donation and explore creative ways to raise awareness and encourage conversations within their communities. Sign up here for more details 👉 Sign up to our mailing list Community Research Work Experience – up to six local schools will take part in projects giving students practical work experience while exploring issues around organ donation and developing ideas to support greater awareness and understanding. Here is a video to explain more about the programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUo6FmW-_ls Schools interested in participating can register their interest using this link . Virtual Organ Donation Volunteering – young people who cannot attend in person can take part online, learning about organ donation and working in small groups to develop ways of sharing the message in their own schools and communities. Participants will also have the opportunity to present their work and feedback to healthcare professionals. This project will take place online from the end of October through early January. Sign up here for more details 👉 Sign up to our mailing list . About Volunteering for Health Volunteering for Health is a £10m national programme being delivered through a partnership between NHS Charities Together, NHS England, and CW+, supporting 15 local systems across England. It provides funding and practical support to break down barriers to volunteering, test new ways of working, and build good practice across the NHS. In Birmingham and Solihull, the programme is led by BVSC with Birmingham Community Healthcare Charity (BCHC) and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust (BWC). The programme aims to: Improve access to meaningful health volunteering opportunities Develop new volunteer roles tailored to meet the changing nature of volunteering and the evolving needs of the health sector, with a focus on addressing health inequalities in underrepresented groups and communities Effectively involve young people in volunteering.

As we mark the International Day of Older People on 1 October, Bridge Point West Midlands CIC is celebrating the contribution older people make to our communities while highlighting a challenge we see regularly: too many older residents are becoming disconnected from the services, technology and social networks around them. One recent moment captured this perfectly. During a digital inclusion session in Yardley, a gentleman was asked what he used his mobile phone for. His answer was simple: “Incoming calls.” With a little practical support, he learned how to find the photographs stored on his phone. It was a small step, but his reaction showed why this work matters. Digital inclusion is not simply about technology. It is about confidence, independence and staying connected. Bridge Point West Midlands CIC was established in 2025 to support older adults, unpaid carers and people experiencing isolation through practical community-based support. During September, we delivered a four-week Healthy Living and Wellbeing programme in Yardley, bringing residents together with organisations working across digital inclusion, carers support, diabetes awareness, falls prevention and men’s health. What we are learning is that older people rarely experience just one challenge. Someone who is digitally excluded may also struggle to access health information. A person with mobility problems may become socially isolated. An unpaid carer may prioritise someone else’s needs while neglecting their own wellbeing. This is why our approach is based on more than simply running activities. We aim to identify needs, build trust, connect people with appropriate services and follow up afterwards. The programme has also shown the value of bringing specialist organisations directly into familiar community settings. Residents are often more willing to ask questions and seek help when support is accessible, informal and delivered alongside people they already know. Alongside our wellbeing work, Bridge Point operates a referral-led mobile food support service, including doorstep deliveries for residents who may be unable to access traditional food provision. We also use community activities and outings to help reduce isolation and strengthen relationships. One of the most encouraging things we have seen is older people supporting one another. Participants with stronger digital skills have helped others. People have shared experiences, encouraged neighbours and built new connections. Older people are not simply recipients of services. They are contributors, mentors and an essential part of our communities. Our next step is to strengthen partnerships with health services, housing providers, voluntary organisations, local authorities and community groups so that more older residents can access support earlier and closer to home. Our message for International Day of Older People is simple:Growing older should never mean growing disconnected. Bridge Point West Midlands CIC welcomes referrals, partnerships and conversations with organisations that share that ambition. Daniel Aliu Director, Bridge Point West Midlands CIC

ChangeKitchen CIC 's Gen22 Food & Social Action Project gives young people aged 16–24 in Birmingham the chance to gain 30 hours of supported volunteering experience with award-winning catering social enterprise ChangeKitchen CIC. Young people can develop practical kitchen, teamwork and communication skills, build confidence, strengthen their CV and gain a valuable work reference, while making a positive contribution to their local community. The experience is tailored to their interests and supported by a welcoming team throughout. Amaan (pictured accepting a certificate from ChangeKitchen's James Leach) took part in the last programme. His mum, Sehreen, shares her experience of seeing Amaan take part, the difference it made to his confidence and skills, and what the opportunity meant to him. “My son Amaan is an exceedingly kind and hardworking individual. He always thinks the best of people and gives his utmost effort regardless of his circumstances or situations. He will go out of his way for others weather he physically can or not. He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was 10 years old. He has learning difficulties and communicating difficulties. Unfortunately, when Covid hit and the whole world went into lockdown, Amaan got ill. Due to the delay in being seen and getting treatment after 6 months he ended up with lifelong mobility difficulties. He got nerve damage below both ankles resulting in paralysis in both feet. He lost a lot of muscle in his legs and arms. Because he is tall, he finds it difficult to balance without physical support. He lost the ability to write, clothe himself, feed himself. He found it difficult to do the everyday tasks he did daily. His hands had clawed up, and he could not move his fingers due to muscle weakness. Due to safety concerns at college, he did not have many options on which courses he could pursue. He also did not secure the Maths and English level 3 requirements to apply for apprenticeship opportunities. Amaan does not go places he is not familiar with alone. He always has me or his dad with him. There are some places he likes to go alone to, to buy his favourite Boba drinks or buy his anime collectibles. Recently we found out that there were volunteering opportunities available at ChangeKitchen CIC, helping in the kitchen environment. When I told Amaan about this he was very excited as it is something that he loves being able to do. We contacted James and were asked to come and introduce ourselves and to go over any concerns that could arise if Amaan were to volunteer at ChangeKitchen CIC. Amaan was a bit nervous because he had faced obstacles in other settings which ended up in him having to not continue there. But once we went and Amaan had a look around and spoke to James his concern was no longer there. He really looked forward to his first shift. What was even more advantageous was that we live on the same road as where ChangeKitchen CIC are based. It is a 2-minute walk so commuting is not a problem. When Amaan had his first shift he was excited, and when he came home, he was happy, he enjoys being part of a work environment as well as being part of a team. The opportunity has given him the chance of being part of something that he enjoys the most. He was particularly excited about being asked to help at The Workplace Event at the NEC. He really enjoyed working with the team and talking about what was made and serving customers. He now looks forward to his shift times at ChangeKitchen CIC. It gives him the opportunity to be a part of an organisation and being part of a team.” SOURCE: Sehreen, Amma’s mum, April 2026 About ChangeKitchen CIC ChangeKitchen CIC is an award-winning social enterprise event catering company specialising in climate-friendly menus prepared with passion & kindness. Our positive social impact comes from supporting people back to work & cooking healthy free community meals for those impacted by the cost of living crisis. We also work collaboratively with food partners to reduce food waste and improve food justice across Birmingham.