The members of the Kilwinning Community Shed would like to embark on a pilot project to create a 'buddy bench' for use in a locally identified primary school, and if successful, to roll this project out to other primary schools in the Kilwinning area. Alongside a buddy bench we would also aim to offer an outdoor chalkboard with the option to include an indoor 'postbox' whose function is determined by the school themselves.
Project Description
The members of the Kilwinning Community Shed would like to embark on a pilot project to create a 'buddy bench' for use in a locally identified primary school, and if successful, to roll this project out to other primary schools in the Kilwinning area. Alongside a buddy bench we would also aim to offer an outdoor chalkboard with the option to include an indoor 'postbox' whose function is determined by the school themselves.
As a Community Shed whose aim is to reduce social isolation and combat loneliness by offering a place to meet new friends and be creative, we see the value in conversation in aiding good mental health and wellbeing. We know poor mental health and loneliness spans all generations, as well as the negative impact loneliness has on a person. We aim to help combat loneliness regardless of age.
We have a creative group of talented members who enjoy being part of the Shed and giving back to the wider community. Understanding the advantages of being together and having a place to come and sit, chat and interact with others has given our members great enjoyment and has improved their mental health through simply being together.
As an organisation have experienced the generosity of our local population in the donations we have received to enable us to establish a successful and creative space where we can meet, socialise and be creative. In return, we want to give something back to our community and help aid the future generation of children in talking to each other or a trusted adult through the use of a buddy bench, where they can go and sit and other children can join them and gather around to help foster new friendships. When we explored the idea of equipment such as a buddy bench, chalkboard and postbox and the advantages it could bring to the children, we acknowledged how important this is regardless of age. We have members in the Shed who have recently moved into Kilwinning from other cities and towns and the Shed has been a lifeline because they know no-one. Children who have perhaps moved to a new school have the exact same experience, and a buddy bench, placed in the right space within the school grounds would be an indication to the other children that this person sitting on this bench is looking for a friend and wants to chat. This would enable other children to gather round and support their fellow pupil. We are hopeful the addition of an outdoor chalkboard would continue that new friendship by giving the children a place to play games, or express themselves, again bringing children together to have fun. The idea of a postbox will simply be a tool to be used for whatever the school and pupils determine, whether it’s a suggestion box, nomination box or whatever is decided. Our aim is to create the physical equipment on behalf of the school, we would aim to liaise with the head teacher once the school children have contributed their thoughts and input to the style and design of the project, we will not be interacting directly with the pupils.
As Shed members we are excited to embark on a project which will not only give us great satisfaction in the actual building of the equipment, it creates a hub of energy and creativity within the Shed itself, from sharing ideas by talking about style, design and 'who can do what'. We utilise the skills of our members, and in doing so, they feel valued and energised in creating projects that are beneficial for the local community.
This community spirit, fun and banter bonds us across our 'woodmen' and 'lady shedders'. When we share ideas for projects it involves all of us. Sometimes the woodmen will build our ideas and the lady shedders get to work refining the output, whether it's painting or decorating it or arming ourselves with a hot glue gun - the end result is always admired - then we make more!
Our costs for the project include:
Dressed wood and marine plywood - £400
Router and templates (to enable the chosen designs and text on the equipment to be routed into the wooden projects) - £300
Vices and clamps for chalkboard and post boxes - £50
Materials to secure the bench in place (this will be determined as the project progresses and likely to include metal/wood/concrete fixings or a combination) - £100
We believe these costs are indicative to enable us to complete the project and provide the tools to enable us to extend the pilot to other schools in our community.
Location: Currently we are located in a temporary location the town centre (the old Job Centre building) which was temporarily gifted to us by a local businessman. We have the use of this building until January 2026. Our aim is to be successful in the CAT application for Blacklands Hall in Kilwinning. Should we be unsuccessful, we are hopeful North Ayrshire Council may offer us alternative accommodation. If we are successful with Blacklands, our intention is to utilise this space for internal activities involving other community groups as well as our own, and with the adjoining land to create a community garden and cafe.
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