Gateway Family Services

Honoured to be nominated in the Health and Wellbeing Award category at Solihull Civic Awards🤩☺️Solihull Council

Why Social Prescribing matters 💚

Since April, 4,969 people across Birmingham and Solihull have been referred into Social Prescribing — connecting them to practical support, community services and local organisations.

Many of the challenges affecting people’s health aren’t medical — they’re about housing, finances, loneliness or feeling disconnected.

In fact, around 1 in 5 GP appointments are linked to non-medical needs.

Social Prescribing helps bridge that gap by connecting people to local support, community services and practical help.

Across Birmingham and Solihull, this support is helping people feel more connected, more supported, and better able to manage their wellbeing.

Today is Social Prescribing Day 💚

Across Birmingham and Solihull, our Social Prescribers are supporting people every day with the challenges that affect their health beyond medical care.

Here’s what Social Prescribing means from across our PCNs 👇

🚫 Household Support Fund – Now Closed for New Applications & Enquiries 🚫

The Hardship Grant Community Fund scheme is currently paused and not accepting any new enquiries or applications at this time.

✅ Already submitted an enquiry since 23 June 2025?
If your enquiry was successful, you are already on our Waiting List. A member of your local area team will contact you using the details you provided within the next 3–4 weeks.
✅ Received an approval email?
If you’ve completed the enquiry form and received an approval confirmation email, your place on the Waiting List is secured. The HSF team will be in touch within 3–4 weeks to support you with the full application.

📞 Please be patient as our team works through the Waiting List.
To help us reach you, please ensure:
• Your voicemail is switched on
• Your phone can receive calls from withheld/private numbers
Thank you for your understanding.

🎉 We’re proud to announce that Gateway Family Services CIC has achieved the Thrive at Work Bronze Award!

This accreditation recognises our commitment to creating a workplace where staff wellbeing, mental health and support are a priority.

The independent assessment highlighted a number of strengths across our organisation, including:

✔ A strong commitment from leadership to staff wellbeing
✔ A workplace culture where colleagues feel comfortable discussing mental health
✔ Accessible support including Mental Health First Aiders, counselling and reflective practice sessions
✔ Health and wellbeing initiatives such as menopause awareness, lifestyle campaigns and wellbeing activities
✔ High staff engagement, with 84% of our team taking part in the staff survey

Staff described Gateway as “a great place to work”, reflecting the supportive and inclusive culture we continue to build together.

A huge thank you to our incredible team for their dedication and passion. When our staff thrive, we are better able to support the families and communities we serve.

We look forward to continuing our wellbeing journey and progressing further in the Thrive at Work programme.

📢 Household Support Fund – Update

📅 11th March 2026

Our Hardship Grant Community Fund is currently paused for new enquiries and applications.

If you submitted a successful enquiry after the scheme opened on 23rd June 2025, please bear with us — you’re now on our Waiting List. A member of your local team will contact you within the next 3–4 weeks using the details you provided.

If you’ve completed the enquiry form and received an approval email, your place on the waiting list is secure. You will also be contacted by the HSF team within the next 3–4 weeks to complete your full application.

🙏 We kindly ask for your patience while the team works through all enquiries.

📞 Please ensure your voicemail is switched on, and your phone can accept withheld/private numbers, so we can reach you if you miss our call.

⚠️ Please note: Completing the enquiry form does not automatically guarantee a grant payment. Eligibility checks will take place during the application process, and you may be asked to provide additional documents before any payment is approved.

This year marks 20 years since our organisation began working alongside communities.

We reach this milestone at a time when the last few years have tested the voluntary and community sector like never before. Across Birmingham, Solihull and the wider West Midlands, CICs have faced rising demand, tighter funding, and increasing uncertainty — all while the needs of local people have continued to grow.

Through that context, our focus has remained steady. Last year alone, our teams supported over 10,800 people, delivered 44,000+ hours of support, and provided practical help to families, carers and individuals facing some of life’s hardest moments — from cost-of-living pressures to poor health, isolation and caring responsibilities.

So, whilst reaching our 20th year is certainly something to be celebrated, this year we wanted to acknowledge the resilience behind the work, the trust built with communities, and the commitment of staff and partners who continue to show up every day.

As we move forward, we remain rooted in our purpose: investing in people, listening to lived experience, and delivering support that makes a real difference.