Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing for Adults Fund Year 3 successful applicants

Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund

Year 3 AWARDEES

A summary booklet of all grant awardees from the Scottish Government's Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund administered by VASA.

Chatty Spaces Grant

From an overall fund of £333,412.08 from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Funding for Adults, 12% was allocated to successful applicants for the ‘Chatty Spaces’ fund which allows local organisations to deliver a regular social space in their community, bringing people together to socialise and ultimately reduce isolation and loneliness.

Grants for this fund were up to £5K. 11 local, grassroots organisations were successful in securing just over £40K of funding to deliver on this particular initiative.

Annbank Over 60’s aims to tackle isolation in the older population within their local area. They meet up two afternoons per week in Annbank. This allows older members of the local villages to come together and engage with one another in a secure, warm and friendly environment while enjoying a host of activities.

The purpose of the group is to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of their members by engaging in a variety of activities, such as carpet bowls, dominoes, curling, card games and beetle drives.

The organisation also provides entertainment for special occasions like Burns Day, Easter, Halloween, St Andrews Day and Christmas. By celebrating these special days together, it ensures that the over 60’s in the community know they have somewhere and someone to celebrate with if they should want company, instead of feeling excluded and isolated at home.

Contact Details

Name: Christine O’Hara

Telephone: 01292 520 448

Barr Community SCIO’s Monday Club is run entirely by local volunteers. It runs on a weekly basis on Monday afternoons in Barr Community Hall, providing a consistent, reliable and friendly venue for anyone wishing to attend.

The Club is open to everyone, but is aimed particularly at people who may be feeling lonely, isolated, or suffering from health issues and for whom some good company and mental stimulation would be a positive thing. It's an informal weekly get-together for anyone living in and around Barr where all ages, including families with children, can come together, share food and drinks, play games, partake in arts & crafts, and other activities.

They are providing a cosy, warm space where people can interact with friends, neighbours, and perhaps also people they haven’t met yet. Hot food and drinks are always available, and a range of entertainment in the form of board games, arts & crafts provision and quiet spaces for conversation.

Contact Details

Email: barrscio@gmail.com

Carrick Rugby Football Club

On Friday Nights, Carrick Rugby Football Club run a fantastically successful Diversionary Programme for young people. This funding will allow them to expand their programme to offer a warm, safe space for anybody who would like to join in social activities with refreshments provided. They will also be offering activities in partnership with Active Schools.

The Chatty Space welcomes everyone whether they have links with the rugby or simply want to be involved within a relaxed social group.

Being part of a whole community group provides opportunities for social mixing, helping to tackle social isolation & consequent negative effects on many adults. This will also offer the chance for intergenerational activities; the project was suggested by parents whose children attend Diversionary Rugby.

Contact Details

Contact: Aiden Strachan

Email: rbdocarrickrugby@gmail.com

A welcoming social space for adults will be provided, including those whose young people are participating in Diversionary Rugby at Carrick Community Campus and also anyone else from the community.

Friends of Dundonald Castle

Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre, run by Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO, is the Community Hub and Chatty Space for Dundonald, welcoming both regulars and visitors daily.

They host free, weekly clubs and activities at their warm and accessible Hub. This includes a Knit n Natter group, walking groups, Scrabble, Ayrshire Young Archaeology Club, Crazy Castle Kids and their Castle Cronies group.

The funding will enable them to offer a sweet treat and hot drink to those attending their wonderful Knit ‘n Natter group every Monday afternoon and also help them to remain open through a challenging winter. Their lovely, friendly group runs from 1pm - 3pm every Monday, is open to all, and offers a warm welcome to everyone.

Contact Details:

01563 851489

info@dundonaldcastle.org.uk

www.dundonaldcastle.org.uk

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

Girvan Community Garden

A Chatty Space operating within the Girvan Community Garden, Sundays 1pm - 4pm.

Offering a free hot drink, soup and bread, attendees can enjoy a social atmosphere while also enjoying the acoustic music session each Sunday.

This years funding allows Girvan Community Garden to continue to build on the established Chatty Space already funded the previous year.

The Community Garden also provides other activities throughout the spring/summer 2024 and have an extensive programme of events already in place.

Contact Details

Email: secretary@girvancommunitygarden.com

Website: https://girvancommunitygarden.com/index.php

Facebook: Girvan Community Garden

Providing a Chatty Space with a hot meal and some home baking every Wednesday from 10am till 2pm.

The team at KAG will welcome all within their community and surrounding areas to enjoy a hot meal in a warm friendly environment. Participants will also be able to access local services such as Employability and Skills, Quit Your Way and a Community Links Practitioner.

The funding will allow them to offer better quality hot meals alongside their free Community Food Larder in a warm and inviting environment thanks to the support of the Chatty Space Initiative.

Contact Details

Contacts: Amanda Kerr and Stefany Lawrie

Kincaidston Community Centre Facebook page

Email: Kincaidstoncommunitycentre1@gmail.com

Mossblown Matters were delighted to receive funding from the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults. This has enabled them to continue to provide activities for their community.

Zumba sessions

Sound bath sessions

Tap dancing sessions

A roller skating session for the community

The organisation have also continued with our very successful Chatty Space on a Friday where people can come along for a chat and a breakfast roll.

Contact Details

Name: Dianne Campbell

Email: mossblowninfo@gmail.com

The Wallacetown Chatty Spaces will provide the community with the chance to access two locations in their area and host different services offering vital support and assistance throughout the year.

A sense of community will be created by bringing residents together, tackling isolation among those attending. There be services available to access plus a range of activities to encourage attendance at the Chatty Spaces, creating friendships within the area.

The Room@Wallacetown will host a breakfast club where people can gather to enjoy a breakfast roll, hot drink and snacks. After everyone has enjoyed their breakfast, attendees can also enjoy a game of bingo or a wee quiz.

The Wallacetown Community Hub will provide a café style drop in throughout the week – people will be able to meet there and enjoy a warm, safe space to socialise and also benefit from a range of services offering support – health, housing, benefits and energy assistance just to name a few.

Contact Details

Name: Lizzie Adrain

Email: lizzieadrain@riversidecommunitytrust.org.uk

dship Group

Symington Friendship Group extends a warm welcome to adults wishing to come along and meet up with others over a cup of tea, coffee and snacks.

The group meets up on a Wednesday in Symington Community Hall 2, from 11.45am - 2.45pm.

The group offers various activities- bingo, cards, dominoes, scrabble and quizzes, with occasional musical entertainment, or you can just sit and chat and have a laugh.

This funding will allow the group to continue their activities through a Chatty Space till March 2025.

Contact Details

Name: Anne Allan

Text / Whatsapp: 07784543171

Facebook: Symington Friendship Group

Vics in the Community

The community corner continues to offer a warm safe space for all each week. They offer a healthy lunch and plenty of warm drinks, and attendees can enjoy a different activity each week from bingo, quizzes, crafts, and even a wee sing song. The community corner welcomes individuals from all age groups and tailors their programme to suit each person's needs.

The community corner has a relaxed friendly atmosphere where people can come and receive support & advice for a range of issues such as health & wellbeing, benefit forms, disability advice, food & utilities.

Contact Details

Name: Marna Ferguson

The Community Corner runs Wednesday’s 12pm –2pm at Dalmilling Church Hall.

Email: wellbeing@vicsinthecommunity.com

Phone: 07470782867

Website: www.vicsinthecommunity.com

Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults

SMALL GRANT

Up to £15K

The main fund was split into 2 separate funds which comprised of a Small Grant of up to £15K or a Large Grant of up to £30K. Organisations could apply for the Chatty Spaces funding previously detailed plus one of the main grants.

The next section details the successful applicants for the Small Grant of which just over £76K was allocated to deliver a wide variety of projects.

Adventure Centre for Education

Through the funding, Adventure Centre for Education will run The Blue Health Green Health Hub in Girvan. This will be a transformative project leveraging the natural beauty of the area to enhance mental health and well-being.

With a focus on outdoor activities, the hub will engage individuals seeking mental health support by utilizing nature as a therapeutic medium. They integrate evidence-based concepts such as Blue Mind and Green Health which offers a holistic approach to wellbeing.

The activity days on offer will be tailored to the unique characteristics of different seasons and also to those people who choose to engage. These carefully curated activities, rooted in scientific principles, aim to address social isolation, particularly among those over 50 but not exclusively.

The project aims to provide accessible and inclusive mental health support which will not only foster community engagement but will also establish a dedicated meeting space in the heart of the town at Girvan Harbour. Their vision is for anyone to access nature-based well-being activities and to make a significant impact on Girvan and surrounding community's overall mental health.

Name: Chris Saunders

Email: info@adventurecentreforeducation.com

Phone: 01465 710077

Carrick Rugby Football Club

New Horizons project will deliver a range of experiences based around team building, strengthening social connections, improving physical health & build awareness of wellbeing support tools. Liaising with professionals to provide mental attitude training & suicide-prevention awareness.

Carrick Rugby Football Club will build on the peer support model created during the first award period, of this funding, which created new connections across the club. Activities are open to the community with adults welcome to join in & experience the support offered by their community club through the project.

The project will include volunteers & non-playing members, increasing selfconfidence & developing a greater sense of belonging, encouraging new volunteers who benefit personally whilst bringing benefits to the club/community.

The project will allow the club to introduce a range of service providers offering participants new experiences that are neither generally affordable nor accessible.

Contact Details

Contact: Aiden Strachan

Email: rbdocarrickrugby@gmail.com

The Heartbeat Cardiac Support group meets weekly to encourage those who have had a heart attack or stroke to get out and keep fit.

The project aims to do this by building confidence in the attendees and reduce the feelings of isolation and loneliness through an exercise class delivered by a qualified instructor for those who have had a stroke or heart attack, allowing them to return to a normal lifestyle.

The activities aim to help sustain a healthier level of fitness and prevent further ill health by increasing physical and mental health. By maintaining a healthy heart, it is thought that this prevents further disability and enables longer independent living.

The club has been active for over 30 years and the funding from the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund will help cover rising costs, as there is still clearly a strong desire for the group to remain active. With hospital physio care decreasing, uptake of the fitness classes is increasing. The funding will allow the group to grow capacity

Contact Details

Name: Robert Richardson

Phone: 01292 281840

Website: www.chss.org.uk/group/heartbeat-cardiac-support/

Demand for a Weigh to Go Programme was founded from discussions at the Cosy Corner in Kirkmichael. It will provide the opportunity for people to gather together to exercise, discuss healthy eating options and improve health and wellbeing.

The Weigh to Go Programme will run for 24 weeks from February 2024 and will be facilitated by an experienced tutor with a wealth of experience who will support participants while they are attending the sessions. Each session will contain 45 minutes of circuit exercises scaled for all abilities and 45 minutes of education and discussion on eating well.

Contact Details

Email:

Catriona: catrionahaston@hotmail.co.uk

Lindsay: lindsaymcquater@gmail.com

Phone:

07708871386

07921135408

Seagate church hosts a Cosy Cafe every Wednesday from 4.30pm-7.30pm at Cafe 141, Troon.

Attendees are offered a 2 course hot meal with unlimited tea and coffee. Board games, for example chess and card games. are available every week, with regular quizzes and special focus evenings e.g. sewing or journaling which are great ways to socialise and get to know others in the community.

This all contributes towards companionship to combat loneliness and offers support to those struggling with the current cost of living crisis in a warm, safe and welcoming environment.

This funding will allow the organisation to continue to deliver on last years Cosy Cafe.

Contact Details

Name: David Tudor / Judy Pitt

Email: judypitt@seagatechurch.org.uk

Phone: 01292 319663

The Ukrainian Community Group (UCG) raised initial funds to open a Ukrainian Community Centre in Newmarket Street, Ayr. Approximately 375 Ukrainian Refugees are living in South Ayrshire and centre membership is open to them all.

The UCG centre aims to create a safe and supportive space for Ukrainian refugees who have fled war and resettled in South Ayrshire to meet and connect with other Ukrainians living in the area. The centre is used for:

Informal social gathering.

Peer support. Community Kitchen. Educational programmes. Arts and cultural activities. Low-level mental health-related activity actively such as support about bereavement, loss, and separation.

Information sessions with inputs from Health, Care, Housing, Police, Fire, and Third Sector organisations. Cross cultural activity seeks to enable the Ukrainian group members to integrate with the local population.

The centre will be available 7 days a week for Ukrainian Refugees to use. The activities provided will ensure that those living in the area have a space to meet others who have been through similar trauma, maintain connections, and form new relationships. The centre aims to tackle social isolation and deal with the trauma involved in fleeing from their home country.

Contact Details

Email: ucg.southayrshire@gmail.com

Facebook: @UCG Facebook

Ukrainian Community Group

Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults

LARGE GRANT

Up to 30K

The next section details the successful applicants for the Large Grant of which just over £187K was allocated to deliver a wide variety of projects. This funding mainly went towards staff costs for the successful applicants.

The remaining £30K was allocated to 2 organisations who were commissioned to deliver projects where gaps were identified in relation to fund priorities.

Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO

Ayr Housing Aid Centre SCIO has been serving their local community since 1986 and are well respected.

Providing accurate, easy to understand, free, independent, accredited housing advice, advocacy and representation means their services have directly evolved from service user needs and expectations.

Providing advice, advocacy and representation on topics including:-

Housing Options, Security of Tenure and Tenancy Rights

Homelessness, Eviction, Rent Arrears, Harassment and Illegal

Eviction

Mortgages & Secured Loans, Rent and Council Tax benefits, entitlements and grants

Disrepair, Discrimination

Anti-Social Behaviour and Relationship Breakdown

They strive to empower people to take control of the situation, which has an impact on mental health by reducing anxiety, pressure and stress associated with the threat of homelessness and the homeless system.

Demand for their services has continued to increase, and the impact from the first year of funding has been dramatic. This is the 2nd year of funding from the CMHWF and it will enable Ayr Housing Aid to continue to make a huge impact on those in housing crisis.

Contact Details

Email: info@ayrhousingaidcentre.com

Phone: 01292 288111 or Text/Whatsapp: 07549 603895

Website: https://ayrhousingaidcentre.com

Facebook: @ayrhac

The Community Wellbeing Hub in Maybole supports residents in the Carrick area with integrative healthcare, wellbeing sessions, community groups, and outreach.

The third year of CMHWF funding will allow the Hub to expand on the huge success of the last 2 years, offering blocks of holistic therapy sessions to Carrickresidents who are struggling with a long-term health condition/disability, or stress, anxiety, or depression.

Referrals come from NHS channels, GPs, Community Links workers, Social Work and Mental Health Services, and the outcomes of the previous years have been very well received by those health professionals.

A number of clients who benefitted in years 1 & 2 have gone on to change their lives dramatically. Many now volunteer with The Hub, and a significant number have now retrained, or are in the process of retraining, as holistic therapists themselves.

To support this, the 3rd year of the project will include a provision for Hub clients to retrain as therapists, bringing long term improvement to their lives, and building the Hub community to allow them to reach even more people in need.

Contact Details

Name: Anya Rae

Email: communitywellbeinghubcic@gmail.com

Website: www.ayrshirehealingcentre.com

Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre, run by the charity Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO, is the Community Hub and ChattySpace for Dundonald and welcomes regulars and visitors daily.

This funding will be used as a contribution towards providing the much needed services offered within the busy Community Hub.

At a time when many are experiencing significant rising costs, the organisation aim to provide an accessible and safe place of warmth, comfort and friendship for their community over the winter months, allowing them to meet and chat with others, including the lovely team of staff and volunteers. Free WiFi, a cosy corner with books for all ages to borrow and enjoy, and a kindness tree are just some of the support offered, alongside a programme of free community events for all to enjoy throughout the year.

As well as a warm and welcoming place to grab a bite to eat, the Community Hub will continue to provide space for free, local, regular groups of all ages to meet, including Knit n Natter, Scrabble, walking groups, Crazy Castle Kids, Ayrshire Young Archaeology Club, Poetry Group, Dundonald Historical & Archive Society and the Castle Cronies.

Contact Details:

01563 851489

info@dundonaldcastle.org.uk

www.dundonaldcastle.org.uk

Friends of Dundonald Castle

The Girvan Community Garden will be delivering a programme of activities to address social isolation and in turn add to better general mental health and wellbeing.

Working in partnership with Girvan Living with Leisure, classes will be delivered in the garden to the over 55's on Monday afternoons from 1 - 3pm.

A Green Gym for volunteers on Tuesdays from 10am - 2pm will continue to operate as well as the offer of a weekend café from 1pm - 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

There will also be 4 community events throughout the year, where generations will have the chance to gather socially and interact in a safe outdoor environment. Funding allows GCG to employ 2 gardening staff to maintain the gardens for all to enjoy.

Contact Details

Email: secretary@girvancommunitygarden.com

Website: https://girvancommunitygarden.com/index.php

Facebook: Girvan Community Garden

Girvan Community Garden

Harbour Ayrshire

Harbour Ayrshire was established in 2022, assisting people with drug and/or alcohol problems.

Harbour Ayrshire delivers a range of solution focused options, while creating opportunities for some of the most vulnerable people in the community, allowing them and their families to live a life free of the stigma and suffering of addiction.

Harbour Ayrshire has a volunteer programme consisting of a dedicated, hardworking, and compassionate group of lived experience individuals who give their time and commitment in an inspirational way to create hope that “change is possible”.

Funding received through the CMHWF in the first year made such an impact on those who volunteered and interacted with Harbour that they have been awarded a 2nd year of funding to continue making a difference in people's lives - this will allow them to continue employing a full-time Volunteer Coordinator to manage and support their ever-increasing team of volunteers, allowing Harbour Ayrshire to grow capacity and deal with the increased demand of referrals.

Contact Details

Name: Harbour Ayrshire

Email: info@harbourayrshire.co.uk

Phone: 01292 623016

Website: https://harbourayrshire.co.uk

Hope Wellbeing Centre

HOPE Wellbeing (SCIO) is a non-profit Christian charity based in Ayr. They are a team of trained listeners, befrienders, counsellors and mental health workers who have a heart to serve the people of South Ayrshire, offering their time and experience to support those in the community who are struggling emotionally as a result of bereavement, grief or loss, loneliness or any other emotional difficulties.

The HOPE Wellbeing Centre is a safe place to access emotional or social support in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The Hope Wellbeing Centre Co-ordinator supports a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers. All volunteers are trained through the HOPE Listening programme and have ongoing training and supervision. Their bereavement volunteers also complete the HOPE Bereavement Training.

As recipients of year 1 & 2 funding through the CMHWF, HOPE have also now been funded in year 3 to continue and grow on the amazing work that has been delivered already.

Contact Details

Name: Donna-Marie White

Email: donnamariehopewellbeingcentre@gmail.com

Phone: 07547697510

Facebook: Hope Wellbeing Centre.

Vics in the Community

With funding received through year 1 CMHWF & receiving further funding in year 2, Vics in the Community have continued to work within the core of North Ayr, supporting those most in need with an array of issues from mental health & wellbeing to benefits & utilities.

Vics in the community already have many established groups & initiatives running, growing from strength to strength. Through their groups, they promote a YOU CAN attitude encouraging their members to become more independent and confident. This has resulted in an increase in volunteers from groups, taking on a voluntary role within the charity. They are also gaining valuable qualifications, meeting new people and most importantly feeling valued as part of a team.

The groups continue to remain person centred and the approach is tailored to each individual, they now offer a drop-in service where a member of the team is on hand to deal with any queries or concerns.

Vics in the community have built up very strong relationships with the North Ayr community over the years and will continue to host community pop-up events, sports sessions, fun football, suicide prevention talks & wellbeing events throughout the year.

Groups Mindful Monday’s – Monday’s at Lochside Community Centre, Teddy Bear Tots & The Community Corner Wednesday’s at Dalmilling Church, Wednesday Wanderers – Dalmilling Church

Contact Details

Name: Marna Ferguson

Email: wellbeing@vicsinthecommunity.com

Phone: 07470782867

Website: www.vicsinthecommunity.com