Project Overview

Project Title: Monthly Lunch Clubs  

Duration: One year  

Total Funding Requested: £1,800

Objectives:

1. Promote Community Integration: Create a welcoming space for individuals from diverse backgrounds to gather, share a meal, and engage in meaningful conversations.

2. Provide Access to Information and Resources: Collaborate with local services such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Welfare Rights, and the Heat Project to provide attendees with valuable information and support.

3. Reduce Social Isolation: Foster connections among participants, helping to mitigate feelings of loneliness and enhance overall well-being.

4. Encourage Healthy Eating: Serve fresh, nutritious lunches that promote healthy eating habits and well-being.

Audience

Our lunch clubs will primarily target individuals from minority backgrounds, but we welcome all community members to join us. This inclusive approach will help to break down barriers, encourage understanding, and promote a sense of belonging among participants.

Activities and Structure

Each monthly lunch club will include:

Light Refreshments: A healthy, balanced meal prepared from fresh ingredients, promoting nutrition and well-being.

Guest Speakers: Representatives from partner organisations will be invited to speak and provide information on various topics, including welfare rights, financial advice, mental health resources, and community services.

-Open Forum: An opportunity for participants to share their experiences, ask questions, and seek support from staff and volunteers in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Expected Outcomes

Increased Community Engagement: Participants will develop new friendships and connections, fostering a sense of community.

 Improved Access to Resources: Attendees will gain awareness of and access to local services, enhancing their ability to navigate challenges they may face.

 Better Quality of Life: By reducing social isolation and providing nutritious meals, participants will experience improved mental and physical well-being.

Conclusion

We believe that the Monthly Lunch Clubs will be a vital initiative for promoting community cohesion, providing support, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals in Perth. With your generous funding of £1,800, we can implement this project and create lasting positive impacts within our community.

Thank you for considering our proposal. We look forward to the opportunity to work together to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

We appreciate your support and consideration.

Your support with this funding would allow us to

Continue to rent a property on the High St which creates an accessible and visible community venue for everyone in North and Central Perth to be involved in making and mending.

To build on those connections that individuals have made in their community, and all the positive impacts that has on well-being by offering more workshops and groups.  

Offer free or very low cost access to an activity that has proven environmental, health and well-being credentials. 

To continue to put volunteering and peer mentoring at the heart of everything we do at On the Mend by upskilling and increasing opportunities. 

Expand what we currently offer over more days and to reach more people who cannot afford to enjoy lots of the leisure activities on offer in Perth.

Share the knowledge and skills of CATH outreach, housing support and literacy staff to as many in the community as we can and help those experiencing difficulties in housing, accessing benefits and the social isolation that poverty/lack of opportunity often brings.

On the Mend has been based on the High Street for just over a year having a positive impact on the Central and North Perth Community.  We would like to be able to open more days and offer more opportunities for individuals and local groups to be able to access our workshops.  This continuation funding would also enable current participants to build skills further as we have found peer mentoring has been a really successful way of engaging and is a gateway to more structured volunteer opportunities.

On the Mend currently operates Wednesday to Friday and the current core activities are;

Wednesday morning Textile Upcycle, which currently has 16 participants where attendees can come along and knit, crochet and sew all with donated materials and all free of charge.  Some participants come with a strong skill level and take great pleasure in sharing those skills, others are perhaps new to making.  For many in the group it would be prohibitively expensive to buy and learn to use a sewing machine but with the support of On the Mend staff and others in the group we have seen confidence and skills grow.  We currently do not have enough time to accommodate everyone wanting to use a sewing machine and would want to create a new group for this activity to develop and increase inclusion.

Wednesday afternoons is Furniture Upcycling.  To keep within space constraints and to adhere to health and safety best practice this group is kept to a maximum of 8 participants.  Again, this activity is free and we provide all materials with the pieces of furniture being saved from going into landfill.  This workshop has created a small income with upcycled items being displayed in the window and sold.  This creates a huge sense achievement,by working on something over a number of weeks, and seeing the finished piece going to someone’s home.  This group demonstrates, on a tight budget, the impact of repurposing rather than buying new.

On Thursdays we have had a community-driven crochet group, this developed from a tutored group with participants wanting to keep the group going themselves.

The Friday the Fun Crafternoon has been a huge success and we do not have the capacity for everyone who wants to attend.  During the Crafternoon participants are given the opportunity to make an upcycled item to take away, no special skills are required.  A huge part of this, as with all the groups at On the Mend, is the social aspect. Whilst being creative everyone is chatting, laughing and connecting with their community.  It has been extremely difficult to turn anyone away and we would very much like to be able to offer a second session of the Fun Crafternoon. 

We have run a number of volunteer led workshops in,for example, upholstery and needle felting and have worked with local organisations like Trauma Healing Together and would aim to build on collaborative projects with other organisations in Perth. Everyone who attends On the Mend groups has access to the expertise that CATH staff have in housing, benefits issues, literacy and building confidence and skills .  This is not the focus of any On the Mend activities but can serve as a gateway to anyone who may find themselves in need of support or advice.

Meigle Parent Council would like to bring a fun range of clubs to the children of Meigle, Alyth, Coupar Angus and surrounding areas. 

We understand that the the cost of living crisis has impacted families to the point that they can no longer afford to pay for their children to attend clubs and classes outside of school. We have also identified that there is a lack of after school activities in the local area.

Our plan is to offer a different club for 8 weeks each term, running from April 2025-April 2026, including art, dance, outdoor skills and yoga & mindfulness. These would be led by experienced instructors within Meigle Kinloch Hall and Belmont Woods for outdoor activities. A healthy snack would also be provided at every session. We intend to give each child that attends the yoga & mindfulness classes a Mindfulness Journal to take home to continue what they will learn in the class. 

Children's Mental Heath Charity Place2Be's 2025 theme is 'Know Yourself, Grow Yourself'. We feel that the activities we have selected will give them the safe and supported space to explore their interests that will ultimately help support and enhance their mental wellbeing. We hope that through these classes they develop healthy life skills and habits, boost their self confidence and build resilience to help them cope with whatever life may put their way. 

We have based our numbers on approximately 20 children, coming to this number by looking at similar classes that have run in the past in similar sized villages. 

Letham4All SCIO operates the Community Fridge Project in the Letham, Muirton, and Moncreiffe areas of Perth to prevent good food from going to waste and help people stretch their budgets. The Community Fridges operate as a universal service, meaning they are open to anyone in the community, with no referral being required and they can used as many times as people want to use them.

The Community Fridge Project collects surplus food every evening from local supermarkets, which is then sorted and distributed between the different sites. Some surplus food is blast-frozen and is available from freezers in each of the areas. All of this surplus food is freely given away, as well as frozen meals prepared by another local charity made from surplus food. In each of the Community Fridge, there is a range of tinned and dried goods which people can purchase at 20p an item, up to a maximum spend of £2.00 (10 items). The Letham Community Fridge is open 7 days a week, with Muirton and Moncrieffe Fridges being open 4 days throughout the week.

The Community Fridge Project is supported by around 60 volunteers who take on a variety of roles across the whole operation of the project. We know that around 400 people from over 1000 registered users, access the project every week and that throughout the ongoing cost-of-living crisis it has been an invaluable support to people, stretching their budget when they need it. The Project has saved 1000s of tonnes of good food going into landfill and is helping locally to tackle climate change. This funding will help pay for some of the operating costs of the 3 projects and help fill the shelves with the 20p items. The Community Fridges also provides a wide range of information about other support services available in the community including financial well-being guidance, health and wellbeing services, and other community groups and organisations.

Project Overview

Safe Space is a 52 week initiative designed to support ethnic minorities and financially vulnerable individuals in Perth. By offering targeted workshops, emergency assistance, and community engagement opportunities, this project empowers participants to achieve financial independence, improve their well-being, and strengthen their sense of belonging. The initiative will provide practical skills development, entrepreneurship support, and essential resources to help individuals overcome poverty and social exclusion.

1. Expand Warm Space & Safe Space Workshops

   • Transition from immediate relief efforts to long-term financial empowerment by equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed for self-sufficiency.

2. Small Business Startup Support (in partnership with Business Gateway)

   • Offer step-by-step guidance on launching small businesses, covering key areas such as business registration, financial planning, accessing grants, and marketing strategies.
   • Provide one-on-one mentorship and networking opportunities to help aspiring entrepreneurs navigate business challenges.

3. Skills Development for Freelance and Self-Employment

   • Deliver training sessions on practical skills that enhance employability, including digital literacy, communication, budgeting, and time management.
   • Offer resources on freelancing, self-employment pathways, and how to effectively market services.

4. Enhance Emergency and Cost of Living Support

   • Expand access to grocery and essential packs for individuals and families struggling with the rising cost of living.
   • Provide immediate relief while working towards sustainable financial solutions for participants.

5. Strengthen Community Engagement & Trust

   • Foster a safe and welcoming environment where ethnic minorities feel valued and supported.
   • Create opportunities for peer networking, social integration, and shared learning experiences.
   • Encourage self-sufficiency and resilience through collaborative community engagement.

• Weekly Workshops: Sessions on employability, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, designed to equip participants with practical skills for economic independence.
• Small Business & Freelancing Support: Guidance and mentorship for those looking to start businesses or transition into self-employment.
• Emergency Relief: Distribution of grocery and essential packs to support individuals and families in need.
• Networking & Peer Support: Community-building events that encourage knowledge sharing and mutual support.

Ethnic minorities and financially vulnerable individuals in Perth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, financial independence, and social integration.

• Increased financial stability for participants through access to small business and self-employment opportunities.
• Improved mental and physical well-being by reducing financial stress and offering a pathway to economic security.
• Stronger community bonds through engagement, collaboration, and shared learning experiences.

Through this initiative, Safe Space will not only provide immediate relief but also empower individuals to take control of their futures, break the cycle of poverty, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The club is based in Rattray and offers boxing lessons with separate classes for both adults and children. We are run totally by volunteers who give up their free time to ensure the club keeps running. Some of these volunteers have been brought up in poverty and can share their own experiences how much boxing helped them through that and other challenges in life.

We also share our space with local mens mental health charity Mantalk. We are very aware of the benefits boxing can have on not only your physical wellbeing but your mental health also. We work closely with Mantalk to encourage some of the guys along to give boxing a try and this has been massive in helping some of the Mantalk men.

We are affiliated with Boxing Alliance Scotland which allows our boxers to compete in competitions.  This gives the boxers the opportunity to showcase their learning and abilities and gives them memories for life. We currently have two novice champions and one open Scottish champion however no matter if it’s a win, lose or a draw these opportunities give so much to their development, not only as a boxer but as a human being.

We are a not for profit club and any money we take in goes towards keeping our minibus on the road, travelling to competitions, heating and replacing any small damages. Boxing is a sport that needs to be accessible to all so we try to keep our membership fee down to ensure it is. Currently we ask kids  for £10 a month( around 80p per session) and adults £20(around £1.60 a session). No one is ever turned away because they are unable to pay. In an ideal world we wouldn’t take any money as we believe sport should never be barriers for getting involved in sport however with the little we have coming in its already very hard to sustain.

This brings us to why we are applying for funding. Due to very little funds its very hard to update, renew the equipment we need to continue to offer this great sport at low cost and safe to the community. The basics needing renewed come to a total cost of just over £7000 which is a massive amount, we are asking for £5000 in this application and we have just raised around £1300 and with the young boxers planning a sponsored hill climb we would look to make up the remaining amount. These are things that we will have no choice to get to keep the club running safely and if the funding application is not successful then we will have to explore other options. The last thing we want to do is raise any memberships which would then put up a lot of barriers for those already struggling to the cost of living.

For those not involved in boxing it can be hard to understand the sport, however it gives so many people a sense of belonging. It offers discipline, fitness, opportunities to compete with the best and the benefits to mental health is immeasurable. If our project is given the green light then we will be offering free boxing lessons to any resident of Rattray for free for 10 weeks to allow them to give it a try and see the benefits for them self

All Strong supports the improvement and self-management of mental and physical wellness. We work with a wide range of partner organsisations and the public to support those with mental health issues, autism, unpaid carers, those struggling to engage in mainstream activities, addiction recovery and more.

Following on from a successful and well-attended pilot programme of art and social groups, we are applying to this fund so that we can run 3 hour-long sessions each week for 48 weeks over the next year at no cost to participants. We currently run over 20 wellbeing sessions each week covering a range of self-management activities, and have identified the need to provide further creative and social sessions that are inclusive, supportive, non-judgemental and with all materials provided.

These groups will be open to the public (16+) and will be aimed at supporting:

- those experiencing mental health issues

- those experiencing isolation and loneliness

Activities will take place in our welcoming and comfortable tailor-made Creative & Social space, with tea, coffee, fruit and snacks on offer, and will be facilitated by our experienced art instructor.

Sessions will include:

- use and guidance in a wide range of art materials

- a chance to chat and share in a non-judgemental environment

- use of our music room

- wellbeing journals

OUTCOMES:

- improved mental health and wellbeing

- increased connection to others, community and sense of belonging

- development of healthy habits and routine

This project will greatly complement our many gym and physical activity sessions, further supporting people with both mental and physical health. This project will be open to the general public, and along with our social media the offering will be promoted via our partner organisations which include other charities and organisations supporting people with mental health conditions, additional support needs and challenges.

Overview: Wonderland is a community-based initiative devised by Adventure Circus SCIO in 2024. Wonderland’s aim is to bringing free outdoor circus performances and workshops to local parks in Perthshire. The project focuses on engaging children and families, particularly those from low-income areas, offering them the opportunity to experience live circus entertainment and actively participate in circus skills training within their own community (Perth), out of doors during the summer holidays. 

Our goals: 

• Access to the Arts during cost of living crisis: we want to provide children and families in low-income / semi-rural areas with the chance to see a professional circus performance, something that may otherwise be financially out of reach. 
• Skill Development: we love to share what we do, and so our performances always include an element of participation to encourage children to engage in circus skills. For example our performers will help members of the public to try juggling, hula hooping, and aerial arts, promoting physical activity, creativity and self-confidence. 
• Community Building: Our visits are intended to offer a community activity that brings local people together for a fun, inclusive and interactive experience. As an outdoor spectacle, there is no limit to the number of people who can attend. In 2024 we performed Wonderland in Perth to approximately 150 people of all ages. 
• Wellbeing Focus: It is our long term aim that our Wonderland events provoke audience members to consider taking part in circus skills, either through our education programme, or through self practise. Circus arts have a well known reputation for improving mental/emotional wellbeing due to a long history of inclusivity, and the skills offer an opportunity for self-expression, resilience and crucially for young people, play. 

Key Activities: 

• Outdoor Circus Show: Our professional circus performers will put on an engaging outdoor show that is family-friendly and accessible to all ages.  The show is based on Alice in Wonderland and so the story concept is recognisable to many people because of it’s well known characters and timeless themes such as curiosity, exploration, personal growth, absurdity and nonsense! 

• Taster Sessions: After the performance, children and adults will be invited to try their hand at various circus skills like juggling, hula hooping and aerial hoop workshops led by the circus performers. Participants will be encouraged to experiment and learn. 

• Community Involvement: Alongside our performers, local volunteers from Adventure Circus, including our young leaders, will assist with workshop delivery and gain valuable community experience. We will spend time getting to know local people and can encourage them to join us, continue to practise independently. 

Target Audience: 

• Children aged 3-14, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds who may not experience many special activities / experiences due to the cost of living crisis and limitations of the family budget 

• Families and community members who may not typically access large-scale entertainment or arts events because they cannot afford to attend or because they do not have the means to travel out with their area due to limitations of public transport / cost. 

Benefits: 

• For Children: Encourages physical activity and boosts confidence and resilience through fun, engaging experiences. 

• For Families: Provides a free, inclusive arts/circus experience that brings joy for all the family and introduces new ways to engage in physical activity. 

• For all: floor skills such as juggling and hula hooping are extremely low cost and are accessible beyond our Wonderland experiences through our community classes, or through self exploration at home using resources such as youtube/TikTok/Instagram 

• For the Community: Strengthens local connections Adventure Circus has within different areas throughout Perth & Kinross and helps to create lasting memories by bringing a positive, uplifting event to the community. 

Outcomes: 

With your help, we will be helping to increase access to the arts for children in underserved areas, we will encourage/enhance physical and mental wellbeing through creative circus play and we will help to strengthen community cohesion and pride in local parks as venues for cultural and recreational activities. 

By bringing the magic of the circus directly to the community, Wonderland creates a free, accessible opportunity for children to see, learn, and play, and best of all, it is all set up right in their own parkland!

Video: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17929916303875766/

2025 will be our fourth year running our Back to School Pack. In 2021 we provided 152 packs, in 2022 - 340, in 2023 - 400, and in 2024 we provided 512 Back to School Packs and 91 Back to Nursery Packs (our first year running this service). Our Packs are available to anyone who lives in these wards.

What is in a Back to School Pack? 

Our packs include 3 shirts, 2 bottoms, 2 jumpers/cardis, 2 PE t shirts, 2 PE bottoms, a PE jumper and a school bag. We also aim to include school shoes and/or trainers plus stationary and other back to school essentials like pack lunch boxes or pencil cases. Everything a child needs for taking part in their school journey. 

What is in a Back to Nursery Pack?

Our Back to Nursery packs include 5 days of mix and match outfits; 5 jumpers, 5 t-shirts, 5 bottoms, messy play clothing, a seasonal jacket and footwear. We also add in extras such as sun hats, vests and socks as we know children need these items to fully participate in their learning and no one comes home clean after one day in nursery!

Packs are personalised to each schools colours and the child’s style preferences (so you can tell us if they won’t wear shorts, or will only wear cardigans!) and their sensory needs to make sure the packs are made to suit the individual. We also ask for bag colours and characters and try our hardest to match up to their personal style. We believe our service should make the child feel confident and comfortable that they match their peers. 

SO IF YOU THINK THAT...

- All children should have access to high quality school uniform?

- We should protect our environment and make positive pre-loved clothing choices? 

- By making little changes to our own lifestyle to support others we can make big changes for the future of our children?

Then please support us by voting for our Back to School & Nursery Pack project.  Thank you.

Team Social Flock

Crieff ConneXions Cafe is a social space in Crieff Connexions where people can meet,  chat and find support from volunteers and staff. We will be open 3 times on the week providing a safe,  accessible and warm environment for people from across the community to meet.   A range of people in Crieff experience social isolation due to their family circumstances,  age or condition. The community cafe provides a low-cost place to meet others,  get support and access services.  We would like to step up from offering tea, coffee and biscuits to delivering a warm plate of soup to those who come along. With this added value will reach more people and provide them with nourishment.  We will be able to utilise some of the surplus vegetables and bread, which we collect, to make an impact on food waste. Money will be spent on storecupboard ingredients, equipment and training. Some existing volunteers will be upskilled to make and serve soup, we have young volunteers working with us as well as volunteers with special needs and those who find it hard to get work.. Crieff ConneXions also provides a community pantry,  offering low-cost food,  a school uniform shop,  providing gently used school uniform, public WiFi, access to computers and printing and a low-cost second-hand shop.  We want to provide support for people whilst giving the dignity and choice.  For this part of the project we would like to reach out to local elderly people through an invitation leaflet,