Gateway Family Services

09/10/2026

A place to stay affects much more than housing. For families living in temporary accommodation, a move can disrupt school routines, healthcare appointments and the support of people close to them.

At Birmingham’s Temporary Accommodation Partnership Away Day, figures shared showed that around 20,000 people in the city were living in temporary accommodation, including around 10,000 children.

Seeking housing advice early can open up more options. At Gateway, we’re working with local partners to help families understand their choices and stay connected to health and community support.

Read our reflections: https://gatewayfs.org/understanding-temporary-accommodation-key-insights-from-the-temporary-accommodation-partnership-away-day/

28/09/2026

We're so excited to be part of the Here2Help Service providing LIfestyle Advice and support to Solihull residents. Look forward to seeing you in October :)

From 1 October 2026, our Here2Help Advice Service will be replacing our Community Advice Hubs 💬

The service will be delivered by Citizens Advice Solihull Borough CAB alongside local partners to provide free information, advice and support on topics including:

💰 benefits, debt and money matters
🏠 housing and tenancy issues
🤍 care and support options
🧑‍⚕️ health and wellbeing.. and much more

The service will initially prioritise urgent enquiries and support people already on the waiting list. In-person venues will be introduced gradually at a later date across all 17 wards in Solihull.

Find out more: https://loom.ly/0_jQTnU

13/08/2026

🎟️ A winning day out – and support for Gateway Grants too!

Congratulations to Tina, who was the lucky winner of our recent raffle for tickets to the Athletics Championships, kindly provided by as part of our contribution to the Active City Partnership, where Gateway is one of the Locality Leads for the South Locality Active Partnership.

Tina has kindly shared some photos from the day – including a great one with retired British sprinter Adam Gemili! 🏃‍♂️

Even better, all the money raised through the raffle will go directly into our Gateway Grants pot, helping our service users access items and services that can be difficult to fund elsewhere but can make a real difference to their lives.

A big thank you also to our Chair, Liz, who generously matched the amount raised through the raffle ticket sales, doubling the impact of everyone’s contributions. 💙

Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, and to Tina for sharing these lovely photos from the day!

11/08/2026

💬 “I have never felt rushed or like my concerns were a burden.”

It’s always lovely to hear the difference that good support can make.

One person recently shared this feedback about their experience with our Health & Wellbeing Coach service:

“Consistently approachable and patient, taking the time to really listen. The advice and encouragement have made a genuine difference to how I am managing things day to day.”

Our Health & Wellbeing Coaches provide person-centred support, helping people talk through what matters to them, build confidence and find practical ways to improve their health and wellbeing.

And we’re pleased that this support has now expanded into South Birmingham, helping us reach even more people in our communities. 🧡

Find out more about Gateway Family Services and our Health & Wellbeing support:
🌐 www.gatewayfs.org

04/08/2026

Making real change happen through working with the people who use services and those who work within them. Great partnership in action😊

Yesterday our Project Coordinator Chelsea went over to to celebrate and recognise the hard work that had gone into initiating 24 hour visiting for Service Users!

We know here at BSOL MNVP, through listening to women and families, this was a very welcomed step to ensuring people are supported through their postnatal journey, when they need it most.

To the Service Users who had shared their personal experiences, their stories and suggestions on the work created before it was in place, thank you.

Your voice has impact!

Whilst we were there, we had a look at the new 'Community Support' boards that are now in place. Following on from our recent 15 Steps, we made suggestions for Service Users to have visible access to current, and relevant support in their area.

We have our next quarterly meeting all things Birmingham Women's Hospital, and South Birmingham on Monday 14th September.

If you would like to join, share your Maternity story and be a part of impacting future Maternity Care, please do come along. DM for our eventbrite link!

Everybody is welcome🙋‍♀️

03/07/2026

Not a bad day at the office😊. Really looking forward to today's B:CAN Conference. Northfield Community Partnership Witton Lodge Community Association St. Paul's Community Development TrustBirmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustBirmingham City Council

03/07/2026

Great to be at the Annual Conference 2026

15/05/2026

Dorothy (name changed) is an older lady living on her own — independent, but with her family quietly worrying from a distance. 💛

When her granddaughter reached out to our social prescriber, Nick, she wasn't sure where to begin. Together, they worked through the options — from alarm pendants to care pathways — and Nick made sure she felt supported every step of the way.

The result? An alarm pendant now in place, a referral to Age Concern's Reconnector Service taken up, and a family that feels a little less alone in it all.

Early support really can make all the difference. 😊

If you or someone you love is facing similar worries around ageing, independence, or future care — please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to help.

➡️ Read Dorothy's full story on our blog: https://gatewayfs.org/when-worry-becomes-a-plan-social-prescribing-and-the-challenge-of-ageing-independently-in-the-uk/

21/04/2026

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

27/03/2026

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.