Success Stories

The Big Disability Group

The Big Disability Group were awarded £4304 in Community Budgeting Phase 4 to create an office or base for the charity to work from. The aim was to allow the group to have face to face contact with the public and space where the committee and volunteers could meet and to reach out to people who did not have access to the internet.

When asked how the people benefitted from the project, the group said;

“We knew that by offering a physical space for the public to contact us and reach out for help that we may be able to help people that otherwise we would not have been able to and we found this to be accurate. We had contact from more older/elderly members of the public than we had been dealing with previously. As we had chosen a busy community centre to rent our office we then shared a space with several groups and organisations who dealt with people with disabilities and this meant that we had several walk ins to our office too.

Having the physical space also meant that a couple of our members spent more time with our volunteers and chose to become volunteers themselves - which in turn improved their confidence and they got to try out several different tasks and roles and become a part of our team.”

Overall, 91 young people (12-17yrs), 304 adults (18-64yrs) and 134 older people (65+) benefitted from The Big Disability Group’s project. 

 

Haldane Youth Services

Haldane Youth Services was awarded £3963 in Phase 4 of Community Budgeting to work in partnership with the Leamy Foundation to  convert an area that had become abandoned into a garden area that would host a sensory area, a memorial area and an allotment where food could be grown for our cooking funshops. The groups ‘Eco Warriors’ created a Fairy Trail, planted herbs such as Mint, Rosemary and Lavender in a sensory garden based on smell and touch and also planted fruit trees in memory of friends of the project that have passed away.

When asked how people had benefitted, the group said;

“Those involved in this project gained a better insight into landscaping and how to plan and maximise the use of space available. The group took a derelict area and converted it into an area that can be enjoyed by many. This taught those involved the skills of teamwork and co-operation.

Those involved within this project learned about how to create ideal conditions for growing seeds to sustaining plants and creating a natural habitat for wildlife. These are transferable skills that could be replicated or shared with extended family or peers. The project encouraged young people to become more inspired and to create garden areas at home.

12 of our young people and 3 adult volunteers completed their John Muir Award during this project which broadens horizons for the future.”

Overall, 132 children (0-11yrs), 3 young people (12-17yrs) and 11 adults (18-64yrs) benefitted from this project.