Supporting Independence From Alcohol, Fireside
SIFA Fireside is a local, Birmingham-based charity that provides support to people who are socially excluded or disadvantaged, tackling alcohol issues, homelessness and health inequalities through emergency resettlement and tenancy support, counselling and a specialist day and residential alcohol service, as well as working with offenders and ex-offenders.
Their aims and objectives are to empower service users to achieve independence; their staff operate within a robust ethical framework. SIFA Fireside has 25 years experience of working with vulnerable adults specifically supporting people who are homeless or at risk of losing their accommodation.
Health 4 Life
The ‘Health 4 Life’ project has allowed SIFA Fireside to dedicate two staff members to plan and develop groups that are aimed at improving people’s quality of life.
To date, regular groups have been running in areas as diverse as acupuncture, discussion groups, healthy eating on a budget as well as basic literary and numeracy skills. They run a monthly fun event called "indoor Olympics", which gives service users a chance to compete in table tennis, table football and Scalectrixs.
SIFA Fireside have also planned a three month arts project that will cover subjects such as photography, painting, film, animation, creative writing and collage. During this project people will be exploring the theme of ‘My Birmingham’ through the different art forms. The work produced will be exhibited at St Martins Church in the Bull Ring for two weeks in June. The groups are being led by professional artists and writers, including Birmingham's Poet Laureate Chris Morgan, so the sessions will be really fun and informative!
In June they will also be starting a drumming workshop for people who are interested. The bWell team at SIFA Fireside are constantly looking for new ideas for groups so if you have any ideas please contact Kevin or Marie on 0121 666 7023.
This project aims to improve mental well-being through a range of evidence-based interventions such as encouraging and supporting social activity, exercise, and education about diet, emotional health and coping skills.
To find out more, visit the SIFA Fireside website (external site) - http://www.sifafireside.co.uk/