Communities in Sync

Communities In Sync is a dynamic partnership of quality health, social care and wellbeing providers working together to improve the lives of people in the local community.

Our members

Click the logos below to find out more about each member.

Our services

Parents Advocacy, Guidance & Empowerment (PAGE)

PAGE (Parents Advocacy, Guidance and Empowerment) provides person-centred support for Sandwell parents with learning disabilities and/or autism. PAGE is a dual-support service offering both independent advocacy and practical wellbeing support, to build confidence, strengthen independence, and ensure their voices are heard. From attending meetings to developing everyday skills, our support is focused on helping families thrive.

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Step Up Sandwell

Step Up Sandwell enhanced the employability and skills of unemployed and economically inactive Sandwell residents, through targeted education, skills, training and volunteering opportunities.

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Birmingham Bereavement and Wellbeing Service

Birmingham Bereavement and Wellbeing Service (BBWS) supports adults in Birmingham who are struggling after a bereavement, whether this be recent or a while ago. BBWS offers one-to-one emotional and practical support. From a listening ear, to grief support, to supporting people to rebuild routines and reconnect with their communities, our support is focused on improving wellbeing and helping people move forward at their own pace.

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WDH Sandwell

WDH Sandwell focused on the wider causes of health inequality and how these shape health and wellbeing. Over 18 months, through collaborative partnership, we delivered personalised support to more than 3,000 residents, with 97% reporting a positive difference.

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Page

Supporting parents with learning disabilities and/or autism through advocacy and independent living skills training during Children’s Services interventions.

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Talking Therapies Plus

From October 2024 to the end of March 2026 we delivered flexible, community-based therapeutic support to Sandwell adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and bereavement.

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Our aims

Improve the quality of life of local people, especially those most in need, through the provision of high quality, responsive, generalist and specialist services in the field of health and wellbeing.

Bid for and secure contracts for delivering services in health and wellbeing [delivered by a group of providers], thus increasing the likelihood that grassroots, small and/or specialist providers are not wiped out from the local supply chain.

Co-produce service development with Members to address gaps in local service provision, and subsequently source funding to deliver those services.

Become a provider of choice and the local single point of contracting, representing a wide range of high quality, vetted charitable organisations.

Our impact

How we've helped

Still here today

I was in a desperate situation and was admitted to hospital after a suicide attempt. My mental health had deteriorated because of a series of major losses, family problems and past trauma, and I needed help to stay alive and understand what was happening in my mind.

Finding my voice again

I had really bad anxiety and depression, and because of my selective mutism I found it especially hard to be around people or speak in busy situations.

Parenting through grief

I was struggling because someone very important in my child’s life had died, and I had so much grief and unfinished emotion tied up in that loss.

See what our members & partners say about us

CIS played a vital role in delivering our UKSPF community programme, ensuring funding reached the residents who needed it most. Their team not only exceeded targets but also made a genuine impact on the lives of local people. Their expertise, commitment, and ability to deliver effectively has been invaluable, and we are extremely grateful for the positive difference they have made through their support on the programme.

Adele Smith, Programmes Manager
Sandwell Council

Partnership working is vital for modern charities, and being a CIS member has given us ready-made collaborations that allow us to act quickly and adapt when new opportunities arise. The support CIS provides in building and maintaining these partnerships has been instrumental to Age UK Sandwell’s ongoing growth and development. Their role has strengthened our ability to respond with agility and ensure we continue delivering valuable services to the community.

Steve Thomson, Chief Executive Officer
Age UK Sandwell

Being a member of CIS has been hugely beneficial, giving us access to opportunities through their local knowledge and enabling us to collaborate on contracts that would be out of reach as a sole provider. With CIS, we can reach more diverse communities, work with a wider range of partners, and deliver greater impact. The team is consistently supportive, thorough, and professional, making CIS an invaluable partner in our work.

Khatija Patel, Chief Executive Officer
Ideal For All

Sandwell Advocacy are proud members of Communities in Sync, which gives us valuable opportunities to collaborate with partner organisations and strengthen the voluntary sector. Through CIS, we can share resources, skills, and expertise, enabling us to deliver more robust and innovative health and social care support. This collective approach enhances the quality of services and makes a real difference to the lives of people in our local community.

Dave Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer
Sandwell Advocacy

Working with Communities In Sync has allowed us to reach communities that traditional NHS services have not. We can offer support to people in their local neighbourhoods and through VCSE and charitable organisations that they trust. This has helped us to provide an offer that is more flexible, creative, culturally sensitive and high quality. Also CIS have been able to mobilise projects quickly and cost effectively. Multi-partner projects allow for shared accountability, shared learning and integration that benefits communities and citizens with choice and timely support.

Laura Brookes, Associate Director of Partnerships
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

CIS are a fantastic community consortium, providing a strong voice for the voluntary sector in Sandwell while supporting members to identify and deliver new opportunities. For a charity of our size, this support is invaluable. CIS demonstrate real passion for the sector and are always there to back their members, helping us evidence strong outcomes and ensuring the success of the projects we deliver together.

Calum Nisbet, Chief Executive
The Kaleidoscope Plus Group

Third sector organisations were once seen as working in silos, but in Sandwell this has changed significantly thanks to CIS. As a member, we collaborate with organisations we may never have engaged with before, fostering information exchange, peer learning and support. Regular partnership working ensures best practice is shared and embedded into new services, shaping delivery models that strengthen the sector, benefit the community and improve outcomes for the people we serve.

Pat Johnson, CEO
Sandwell African and Caribbean Mental Health Foundation Trust