We are appying for support to allow us to provide Baby Sensory classes to our members.  Baby sensory is a fully interactive session which includes music, bubbles , puppets and sensory experiences. 

By supporting the parents and carers to bond, form attachments and play with their child the child's health and wellbeing is improved and they thrive in a safe environment. This early intervention results in better outcomes for all. The babies and children have the opportunity to mix with children of their own age and stage of development and this leads to learning how to socially interact appropriately with others.

The sessions are open to all and are led by a professional in child development.

The classes cost £50 per session 

The idea for this group is that they will meet regularly to talk it out, to make things, or bake things and to carve out a space for themselves to do things that they would like to do. Often socialising as adults involves alcohol and costs money. After recently running an arts and crafts course, It was clear within the feedback I received that people want and need something to look forward to, something regular and reliable that allows them to do something for themselves - to meet new people and just have a chat, about anything and everything. 

At the first session I would like everyone to come together, to generate ideas of things they would like to do within the group, any activities, conversations or new skills they'd like to learn. This could be anything from crotcheing to baking, from arts and crafts to having guest speakers in, games nights or simply just a cup of tea and a chat. 

This group aims to build a sense of community spirit, to reduce social isolation and promote positive mental health and wellbeing through the simple act of socialising. the group would be open to any adults who would like to come along, from any background and any walk of life. 

Proposed breakdown of costs:

This project will run in partnership with the North Ayrshire Foodbank, they have offered to match the funding requested by this application, in order to allow the group to run for as long as possible. 

• £1000 - materials/ ingredients/ equipment for activities 

Mindful Makers supports Health and Wellbeing in the Three Towns. Our mantra is ‘Be Kind to Your Mind’ (see Descriptive Image attached), and we will build on our successful previous projects (see Document 1 attached, Saltcoats Mindful Makers Report July 2023). We are a non-registered not-for-profit group and are applying for funding to continue teaching and nurturing creative textile skills in the context of mindfulness and social connection. Our aim is to combat loneliness, so we bring people together in a positive and safe environment while building confidence through the acquisition and practice of new skills. We also aim to enhance emotional resilience, by encouraging and challenging people to adapt to new techniques; for instance, in August we explored how being outdoors in nature can heighten the stress-reducing benefits of mindfulness, and the success of this exercise meant that we intend to repeat it annually. To meet the increased demand for Mindful Makers activities over this past year we doubled engagement opportunities for participants who come from all across the Three Towns. Please see the Box below for a description of how we organise our activities.  Funding goes to the provision of materials, and workshops and tutoring are provided free of charge to ensure there is no financial barrier to participation amongst vulnerable and/or disadvantaged communities (see Document 2 attached for a few examples of Mindful Makers activities). Mindful Makers will provide a warm welcome throughout the winter at Saltcoats Library, and through our outreach work at CLASP HOPE in Stevenston, while a link has been established for outreach work in Ardrossan where we plan to hold an Introductory Workshop at the Library in January 2024. Additional activities already planned for the next few months include:  A further 6-week outreach textile project at CLASP HOPE in Stevenston starting on 19 September; we will be supporting the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival in October by holding an extended workshop focussing on the benefits of mindfulness and shared experiences for mental well-being, and also involve Saltcoats Book Group using carefully selected reading materials; we will support a collaborative community fund-raising event in conjunction with CLASP HOPE in October where we will sell items produced using participants’ new skills to raise additional funds to support our sustainability. Through a link with Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society made at the North Ayrshire Participatory Budgeting and Chit Chat event we are proposing to hold a field trip as the basis for a creative project.

We are applying for funding of £600, to reflect the enormously increased costs of materials in recent months and our greater number of participants. £550 will be for materials, and £50 for awareness-raising and hand-outs.

To book the mobile cinema for one session - £250

Purchase of food for a meal for 120 individuals  at £3.50 per head - £420

Snacks for during the film for 120 at £1.50 per head - £180

Selections boxes for  children - £150

Dementia Wellbeing Cafe has recently opened on the 21st July and runs every Friday in the Argyll Community Centre from 1-3pm.  It is for people living with demenita and the unpaid carer, friend or family member to come along to have a chat and a cuppa and meet other likeminded people to provide support.  There is also releveant support organisations that come along to answer any questions. 

The money will be used to reemburse volunteer expenses, replensih cafe stock e.g. tea/coffee biscuits etc to enable us to continue to provide the cafe free to people to, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to people attending. 

The Ardrossan Church of the Nazarene is based on Glasgow Street, Ardrossan and is well used by both the church and the community. The church building is open daily and hosts a range of church and community activities, groups and events.

We are planning on redeveloping the grounds by the side entrances of the church (which are the main entrances during the week) into a safe and welcoming community space. This space will include a seating area where visitors to the building, or members of the community who are passing through, can sit and rest or socialise. The space will also include a growing area with raised beds built and installed, where members of the community can come and work together to grow and harvest their own fruit and vegetables. Raised beds will enable people of all abilities to particilate, and the space will also be wheelchair accessible.

Both of these elements will help to combat things like social isolation and contribute towards the positive physical and mental wellbeing of members of the community. The growing area in particular  will also help to build confidence, and resilience, as well as building community. We are requesting funds specifically to go towards the development of the growing area.

Costs

Raised Planters - £574

Compost - £357

It is intended to extend the use of the facilities to other local groups including pensioners, those with Alzheimer's/Dementia, and a friendly hub for those who would otherwise find themselves suffering from isolation. It is centrally located and it is intended to offer a wide range of activities from bingo, cards, dominoes to book exchange, colouring books, nostalgia and gentle exercise. As those who suffer from Alzheimer's and Dementia are susceptible to certain colours it is intended to repaint internally(£400) and also offer a change of coloured crockery (£100). Whilst materials for the activities would also have to be obtained (£200).  The Function Suite are also keen to offer a variety of entertainment each month for the general public to attend including music, race nights, etc (£300).  We feel that the Function Suite can play an important role in the integration of people from all age groups, genders, ethnicity and will try wherever possible to be all inclusive.

Life Lines is a group that supports and promotes Suicide awareness. The group have been runing for a number of years and have made information packs. With the change over the last few years organisations in the information pack have changed. Life lines have now become Digital. They launched this new tool on Suicide Awareness day this year. 

This group works closely with organisations to add them to the resource. Being digital they can add and remove numbers and details so the the resource is kept up to date. 

The group would like to apply for: Pop up banners x 2 £150 each, Gazebo  £350, and promotional materials £350. Having the QR code on these items could be the life line that the person needs. 

This will allow the group to attend information days and have pop up stalls promoting  positive mental health awareness.