9 minute read
Farewell from Adam Marshall
Reflections from
BCC Director General Adam Marshall
My first day as part of the Chamber of Commerce network was a sunny day in July 2009, meeting with business leaders from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland at the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay.
At that time, the UK and the world were beginning a long and complex recovery from the global financial crisis.
Now, nearly twelve years later, my time at the British Chambers of Commerce has come to an end.
Once again, our Chamber business communities are working to restart, rebuild and renew in the wake of another worldchanging period.
It has been a huge privilege to be part of the unique and special Chamber family for more than a decade. Over the last five years, I have been lucky indeed to lead the work that we do together to effect change on behalf of our business communities.
Together, we’ve influenced and changed government policy. We’ve spoken up for our communities, articulating the real-world interests of firms in every region and nation of the UK. We’ve built a stronger global network for British business, with Chambers and business groups now supporting twoway trade with over 70 countries worldwide. And as we begin life outside of the EU, Chambers have risen to the huge challenge of supporting traders and companies through a period of significant change.
Our international trade teams, and our new ChamberCustoms service, have delivered advice, training and brokerage to thousands of businesses as they adapt to new trading conditions – and we have continued to push both the UK Government and our European partners to solve the practical, real-world issues facing firms and to build a stable long-term relationship.
Over the past year, the Coronavirus pandemic has also impacted the way Chambers work, just as it has so many other businesses around the world.
Yet, as we have faced the same economic uncertainty as companies of every size and sector, our network of accredited Chambers has also grown stronger.
We have seen our business communities come together in new and special ways. As geographic distance has become less of a barrier, levels of collaboration, the sharing of ideas, and joint working on common challenges and opportunities has increased dramatically. The indispensable role played by Chambers, as cornerstones of local and regional business and global trade, has grown even more important. In every conversation, the importance of community, of belonging, and of coming together to support the places where we live and work has shone through.
Many in our communities are suffering, from businesses who have faced closure or a collapse in demand, through to individuals who have lost their livelihoods or experienced physical or mental health challenges. Chambers see and feel this acutely – and have been hugely influential in securing greater support for both businesses and their employees.
The recent UK Budget has reinforced the success of our approach, and shown how we as a Chamber Network can influence Government thinking so that as many businesses as possible can keep going until the economy fully reopens.
We have also seen significant movement on the training and skills challenges that the pandemic has only accentuated. Chambers across Britain are at the forefront of supporting young people into work, and there is great hope that a locally based approach to skills training with substantial Chamber involvement will finally emerge.
We are not out of the woods yet, and significant challenges remain.
Yet the eternal optimist in me sees innovation and progress as well, though we may still be too close to that change to be able to see it and label it as such.
But it is undoubtedly happening. Companies, and the people that sit behind every firm and every brand, are rising to the occasion, supporting each other and their people. And they are coming together, through Chambers of Commerce, to find pragmatic solutions to the issues that we face, collectively, in business.
As I come to the end of my time with the BCC, I know these civic business communities will lead the way and will be heavily involved as we work to restart, rebuild and renew.
Steps at Strawberry Field
Steps at Strawberry Field aims to provide inclusivity and offer a selection of accessible training, coaching and support to a wide range of people. Made up of four programmes - Steps to Work, Steps to Work lite, Steps to Volunteer and Recycles - it provides employment, work experience, training and volunteering opportunities.
For more information, to find out how you can join a programme or if your business can offer a placement, visit www.strawberryfieldliverpool.com or email steps@strawberryfieldliverpool.com #GatesOpenForGood
/StrawberryFieldLiverpool
@strawberryfield
WHO ARE WE?
Granby Community Mental Health Group Mary
Seacole House
Mary Seacole House opened its doors in January 1991.
The organisation is located in the heart of the community it primarily serves and operates from two centres in
Toxteth which is in the Princess Park Ward of Liverpool.
The organisation was set up to provide support services to local primarily BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic and
Refugees) people who are experiencing mental illness.
Our service users are mainly drawn from this area, but we also deliver services to BAMER people from across Merseyside. Mary Seacole House is a mental health charity and resource service set up to offer support and advice in emotional and practical matters, primarily for BAMER communities, however we work with all communities across Merseyside.
Mary Seacole House has maintained a track record of delivering services for over 29 years
Mary Seacole House is a place where people with diverse social and cultural backgrounds can come together in a non oppressive environment. Staff will offer support, advice and guidance in both practical and emotional matters.
The organisation endeavours to address the needs of culturally diverse communities within Merseyside providing a community based service, which supports and enables people from culturally diverse communities to challenge inappropriate practices and treatment within the mental health system
WHAT SERVICES DO WE PROVIDE?
Day Service BAMER Family Service Advocacy BAMER Community Advocacy Training Courses
WHO CAN REFER TO US?
Self Referrals Community Referrals Organisation Referrals
THANKYOU
If you have a client or would like a referral form or chat, please feel free to contact us
Day Service
info@maryseacolehouse.com
BAMER Family Service
kellie@maryseacolehouse.com
Advocacy
simon@maryseacolehouse.com
BAMER Community Advocacy Service
alex@maryseacolehouse.com
Or find us at refernet
TRAINING COURSES DATES AND TITLES
Introduction to Autism & Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Autism and the Criminal Justice system Introduction to Mental Illness
22/4/21 6/5/21 13/5/21
Introduction to Personality Disorder
20/5/21
Introduction to Learning Disability and Mental Illness 10/6/21 Introduction to the Mental Health Act 1983 17/6/21 Introduction to the Care Act 2014 Accessing and working with the Mental Health and Community Care Services 1/7/21 Introduction to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 15/7/21 Understanding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards/Liberty Protection Safeguards 29/7/21 Understanding different models of Independent Advocacy 12/8/21
Above links takes you to our events page where all the training is listed with all the details
The Women’s Health Information & Support Centre (WHISC) is a charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of women and their families throughout Liverpool and the surrounding areas
Established in 1984, our centre is based on Bold Street in the heart of Liverpool. WHISC is for all women, including women who are amongst the most vulnerable, isolated and marginalised in our communities.
In recent years we have seen a huge increase in need for mental health support and in 2019 we were awarded a three-year grant to open a crisis intervention hub. Since the Covid 19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions began, there has been a 64% rise in women requesting mental health support from WHISC. We offer a Listening Ear service; a safe space for women to talk with another woman about issues which may be impacting on their mental health and wellbeing. In the last year alone, our staff and volunteers have provided almost 3,000 one to one support sessions, either by telephone or face to face. Further grant funding has enabled us to provide food vouchers, small emergency funds to women in financial crisis and a lending library of tablets for women in digital poverty, so that they can attend our free online activities.
As a centre and community hub, everything we deliver is designed to improve women’s health, mental health and wellbeing. The wrap around support we provide enables women to move beyond a crisis, offering opportunities to attend training, workshops, support groups, classes and holistic therapies. Women often come to us, when they are in distress and we are proud to work with partners across the city, with the overall aim of improving access for women to the most appropriate service for their needs. We have found that lockdown restrictions have compounded women’s experiences of loneliness and isolation and all of our services are offered online or via the telephone so that we can reach out to women and help them to feel connected. Our current timetable is available at https://whisc.org.uk/
whats-on-at-whisc-the-womens-charity/
WHISC has an incredible team of volunteers, many of whom have previously accessed our services and offer their time, skills to support the women we serve and the work that we do. We know at WHISC that women are experts in their own lives. We offer opportunities for women to gain transferrable skills, employability training and pathways into further education, training and employment. Our service also has a proud history of working with local universities, offering placements and research opportunities to students in health and social care. Many of these students’ volunteer at the centre beyond their course, as they witness the impact of our services and want to stay involved.
With the easing of lockdown restrictions, we are excited to start re-opening our face to face services, with all appropriate safety measures in place. We also know that the need for support will increase and we are working hard to ensure that we can continue to provide services, to support women and families across our communities.
If you would like any more information or to donate, please visit www.whisc.org.uk/donate
