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.

Our group Safe Art is dedicated to providing a safe space for adults with mental health difficulties to come along for tea and coffee, to socialise with members in similar situations, and help them out of the isolation that poverty and the current cost of living crisis is causing. Though our Arts Facilitator, we provide many different art and craft projects, some of which are chosen by our group members. Currently we have around eleven regular members who come along to the group each week and a few members who prefer to come every other week. Our group members can join in with group projects, work on individual projects, for example colouring books, knitting, drawing and painting in various media. The group members don't have to be artistic and can also choose to come along purely for the social aspect of being in the group. 

Social Isolation is a highlighted issue and is a current challenge for our group members. We are based at the Crieff Community Hospital where it is easy and accessible for everyone who wants to attend. Our group members recognise this venue as a comfortable and safe environment where the group will share their own experiences and challenges, while also recognising the need for confidentiality. Our numbers are steadily increasing with use of posters and word of mouth.

For our group members, the cost of living crisis has created not just a burden on personal budgets, and finances, but also an emotional and mental stress which has had a negative impact on mental health and wellbeing. Our group provides some peer support using the medium of art and crafts as a common interest. Arts and Crafts provide something for us to focus on for a few hours a week. By having a positive outlet some members of the group have now found employment and some have moved onto further education. 

 This project is for the materials and a facilitator to complete a new group project over 2025. The project will be a mixed media wall hanging of the Eppie Callum Oak Tree which can be found along Lady Mary's Walk in Crieff. This magnificent Oak Tree got its name from the lady who ran the Oakbank Inn, a favourite amongst drovers and it's alleged that the massive tree started its life in a teapot! It is well known for sheltering the notorious outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor from his enemies and aided Bonnie Prince Charlie, who allegedly hid inside its trunk. 

We are looking for £2,000 for this project and this cost includes, fees for the art facilitator, a day trip to Stirling Castle where there are many tapestries and wall hangings to gain inspiration from as well as a tapestry studio which shows how the tapestries were made. We would need to pay for transport that would accommodate our disabled members, so that they don't miss out. We are also looking to cover the entry costs to the Castle itself. 

For our tapestry, funding is required for a good strong backing to accommodate the size and weight. Materials and threads we will aim to source as sustainably and as cheaply as we can from places such as Remake, Cancer Research, Child after Child and Charity shops, this way we also support local shops in Crieff. 

In recent years we took part in PKC's 22 Women project, Raise the Roof, as part of the Scottish Government Year of Stories in 2022. We chose Katie McNiven for our women and we researched all her stories and worked with MoKa to create a clay piece of art which told her story. We hope to make our wall hanging just as impressive and share this magnificent Oak tree and its story with All of Crieff.

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

Perthshire Rugby: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

At Perthshire Rugby, we believe every child should have the chance to enjoy the benefits of sport—no matter their background. That’s why we’re launching a FREE summer rugby and multi-sports camp, ensuring financial barriers don’t hold kids back!

With the rising cost of living, many families struggle to afford extracurricular activities. But sport is more than just a game—it builds confidence, resilience, leadership, and friendships. 

Our Vision: A Week of Sport & Community

Monday 11th August | 9 AM – 3 PM – Multi-sports camp

Saturday 16th August – Community Funday & BBQ

Completely FREE – No hidden costs! Healthy lunches, snacks & drinks provided Expert coaching from qualified rugby & sports coaches Inclusive & fun for all skill levels

This isn’t just about rugby—it’s about building a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.

We need your vote to secure funding and make this happen!

Vote for Perthshire Rugby today! Help us inspire the next generation and create lasting change.

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

"People who give you their food give you their heart." - Ceasar Chavez

The aim of our Logos, Eat, Repeat Project is to consistently provide free food at after school and evening sessions from May 2025 – March 2026 during term time. This includes toast, fresh fruit and hot/cold drinks.

We've previously had funding to provide food for young people during the holiday periods and would like to extend this offer to cover term times as well (May 2025- March 2026).

Following Maslow' developmental theory, we understand that food is key to growth and progression. By providing free food at each of our sessions, we ensure that all young people have access to a basic need without stigma.

We run 3 after school clubs for high school aged young people and 2 evening clubs, one specifically for S1’s and the other for S2 and over.

We currently offer toast and hot drinks at our sessions but due to the increased demand, we are unable to sustain this. In every evaluation that we have completed the young people have indicated that food is one of the key factors in why they attend the club.

There are young people living in the community who don’t regularly come into the club, but will come to the door and ask for toast because they know Logos is a place where they can get something free to eat.

One young person described: "I think the first time I came was because of the food and drinks but I have grown attached to the club and it's like a second home to me." - Young person aged 15.

We would like to be able to provide free food at each of our After School and evening club sessions from May 2025 – March 2026. This would include hot and cold drinks, toast and fresh fruit.  

Young People always ask to cook and bake in their youth club sessions. Along with providing food at our after school clubs, we would also like to offer at least 2 cook and eat sessions per month, whereby the young people are involved in cooking a meal which they can eat together.  This would also give them the opportunity to try new healthy foods. We are currently running Soup-A Saturday’s as part of the Warm Space funding, and we would like to be able to offer similar sessions during our evening clubs.

Through our Soup-a Saturday sessions where young people make soup together, we have observed young people improve their team working skills, communication skills, listening skills, responsiveness, resilience and responsibility. 

Youth voice and participation is fundamental in our delivery. One of the requests from our young volunteers, many of whom are volunteering as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award, is to complete their level 2 Food Hygiene. We would like to provide the opportunity for them to complete these awards.

Whilst the charity is focused on the young people the range of activities they are involved in allows respite for their families and carers. By delivering more than 5,000 hours of purposeful activities every year, our members can each benefit safely from over 4 hours per week of vital socialisation and friendship.

The heating costs of community halls has gone through the roof, it has meant that halls have to charge a lot more for rent, whether they want to or not. It is heating costs that have prevented our clubs from moving premises. The cost-of-living crisis has impacted in particular on the poorer and less able members of clubs. Many members spend the majority of their time at home, so are affected to a greater extent by the increased heating costs. If we receive money we will be able to continue to offer these sessions at affordable prices to the young people.

We are seeking funds for the cost of the room hire for activity classes stated below and the cost of the Volunteer Co-ordinator for next year. We can only deliver these projects by having a roster of 24 local volunteers who unfailingly offer their time to support our range of activities, and having a co-ordinator to support them is essential. The total cost is £7,030. However we are seeking £2,343 (a third of this cost to equate to the proportion of our young people living in South Crieff ward). 

We run the following activities which makes a huge difference. •    Tuesday Club social group – weekly, average 20 attendees – promotes social and interpersonal skills and with the support of volunteers allows members with learning disabilities to access a range of enjoyable activities of their choice including arts and crafts, games, quizzes, films, music and trips further afield. •    Wednesday Social afternoon group – weekly, average 6 attendees – meeting to socialise and enjoy games, music and films. •    Knock Down social & citizenship group – fortnightly, average 15 attendees – similar to Tuesday Club, but with more emphasis on partnerships and involvement with other local groups and organisations, such as Crieff Highland Gathering, Perthshire Amateur Operatic Society, Remake Scotland and the Co-op. •    Thursday Zoom informal friendship group – meeting fortnightly via Zoom with average 6 attendees. A one-hour online get-together to chat about what each person has been doing recently and to share news. Hosted by two adult volunteers. •    Boccia group in partnership with P&K Disability Sport – weekly, average 15 attendees (including some younger, non-SBB members) •    Saturday Lunch Club- a  popular kitchen workshop - monthly for 3 hours with 6 places. Members are taught food skills to prepare and make a themed lunch led by an Activity Leader and supported by volunteers. The group then sits down to enjoy lunch together and chat.

Coupar Angus PS Parent Council would love the opportunity to provide each pupil with a piece of toast when they come into school in the morning.  Research has shown that eating breakfast is important for everyone, but especially for children.  In general, kids who skip breakfast will feel tired, restless and irritable. Eating a healthy breakfast has been shown to help attention span, concentration and memory - all very important for learning.

Senior pupils carried out a breakfast survey, the majority of pupils surveyed said they do have breakfast most days, however 6% said they don’t have breakfast before school.  Pupils said when they don’t have breakfast in the morning they come into school feeling hungry, tired, unhappy, sad & angry.  86% of pupils surveyed said they would like to be offered toast when they first come into school.   

P7 teacher Mrs Gourlay believes offering each child something to eat in the morning will improve learning & behaviour within the classroom.

Around 20% of pupils at Coupar Angus PS are classed as living within relative poverty – we want to do anything we can to help these pupils by offering warm toast as they come into school.  Giving every child the best start in life is the first of five strategic priorities adopted by Perth & Kinross Council and we believe providing breakfast will give them a good start to their day.

Coupar Angus PS currently runs a breakfast club from 8am however this is chargeable at £2 per day which could potentially exclude some families.  Toast For All will be free for every pupil.

We plan to run Toast For All initially on a Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday and if it’s as big as a success as we think it will be we hope to roll it out to 5 days per week.  We plan to start on the first day of term after the Easter holidays on Wednesday 23rd April and run until the Easter holidays in 2026.  The teachers will monitor improvements in learning/behaviour and we will do more surveys with the children to gauge their opinions on the project.

A rota will be drawn up for each week and a teacher/volunteer will arrive at 8.45am and prepare the toast.  It will be put on lidded trays to keep it warm and senior pupils will take it around all classes at 9.05am and offer it to every pupil.

We believe every child should have something warm to fill their tummy in the mornings and we hope this will improve behaviour, attention spans and willingness to learn.

As a result of improvements made at the stadium at Davie Park, Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Football Trust (BRCFT) are excited to offer a programme of activities within the new built-for-purpose social space, designed to benefit the needs of the entire community, by promoting improved health & wellbeing.

It is BRCFT’s intention to open the space on an ad-hoc basis daily to provide a warm, welcoming space for residents of the SIMD 1 community in which it sits. As a result of ongoing community engagement, this has been identified as something that is very much needed, particularly during the winter months, due to the levels of deprivation the neighbouring communities are facing, resulting in glaring health inequalities.

However, not only do we want to open this space to use when needed, but we also intend to develop an activity programme that brings the community through the doors, providing the ability to utilise other support services that are on offer and, thus, reducing the stigma of accepting help. Due to the strength of the presence that BRCFT and the sport of football has in the local community, it provides the unique opportunity to destigmatise and normalise the acceptance of support, making the Trust in a powerful position to monitor changing needs and be responsive to this.

The health & wellbeing project is designed to alleviate the impact of poverty and the cost-of-living on the health and wellbeing of Rattray residents. Recent key findings from SPICe publication titled ‘getting the inactive active: barriers to physical activity and their potential policy solutions’ (Scottish Parliament, 2025) highlights that Scotland have ‘disproportionately poor health outcomes’ and those facing the highest levels of deprivation are far less likely to participate in sport and physical activity, despite being the population that benefit most from it. Therefore, this identifies the need for a more targeted offering, due to the following conclusions: 1. 35% of school pupils living in 20% most deprived areas in Scotland are most likely to be inactive (only 23% for those in 20% least deprived areas evidencing the health inequalities). 2. People with disabilities, who are also experiencing poverty, are considerably more likely to have higher levels of sedentary behaviour. 3. Only 55% of 65–74-year-olds meet CMO guidelines for physical activity – 29% have very low activity. 4. Physical inactivity costs NHS Scotland over £77 million per annum.

Therefore, to support the Rattray community to improve these outcomes, the health & wellbeing project will encompass the following main features: 1. Introduce free BRCFT-led activities using new staff structure – Football Education Officer, Football Development Officer & sessional coaches 2. Provide venue hire at no cost to community organisations that promote improved health & wellbeing - 3 hours per week available with the focus being on mental health, women & girls, and disabilities, due to identified need. 3. Ad-hoc use of venue as a warm space – community café-style offering, hot drinks facilities consistently available etc.

This funding would be utilised to develop our initial programme of free activities, inclusive of: 1. Games club - video and board games in a social environment with physical activity incorporated into session - designed to encourage inactive children and young people to attend and increase physical activity levels. 2. Weight management sessions 'Fan Fitness' - 90-minute session for over 35s to improve mental, social and physical health by promoting lifestyle and behaviour changes through fun, educational and interactive activities. 3. Walking group - low-level activity suitable for all ages and abilities. 4. Sporting memories - supporting people aged 50+ including those living with dementia, depression or facing social isolation to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. 5. Activities for people with disabilities - adaptive and inclusive activities for people with disabilities who face limited access to activities to support their health & wellbeing due to related barriers.

It is essential to be able to provide access to activities at no cost to support those who are least active to become more active by reducing the barriers of participation, such as cost. This provides the opportunity to build upon the activity provision to reduce health inequalities in the area as BRCFT continue to build partnerships with NHS Tayside.

Although the maximum benefits are likely to be experienced by those living in Rattray, due to evidence that targeted physical activity provision is largely more beneficial in the 20% most deprived areas, it won’t be limited to the Rattray community due to BRCFT having a broader remit in Blairgowrie, Rattray and surrounding areas, and pockets of deprivation existing even in more affluent areas.

References: Meir, D., & Scott, D. (2025). Getting the inactive active: Barriers to physical activity and their potential policy solutions. Edinburgh: The Scottish Parliament. Available at: https://bprcdn.parliament.scot/published/2025/1/10/c1a1038a-6254-45be-b329-edba530b47e1/SB%2025-03.pdf

Letham4All SCIO has been working with a variety of partners across Perth and Kinross at a very local community level, a dignified and holistic route to reduce the impact of poverty.  As a result of this work, Letham4All has successfully piloted the use of the Pay Point Platform and extended to scope of Perth Cards, to provide small amounts of financial support, to help people in immediate financial crisis. Working with existing referral routes this project will provide an additional route for support for those who are not successful with a crisis grant or where a crisis grant is not an appropriate option. The Paypoint Platform enables the sending of utility voucher codes by text message to a mobile phone that can be redeemed in the usual place people top up their utility cards/keys and the Perth Cards across Perth and Kinross can be used in a variety of shops to purchase food and utilities.

This referral-based support has been accessed by a range of public agencies and 3rd sector organisations who have had no other means of supporting people with financial support to offer a breathing space while longer-term solutions are set up. This has been particularly effective out with traditional working hours and at weekends and support can be organised and delivered within an hour.  We know from feedback from agencies that being able to offer this quick solution to those most in need is very beneficial to the household, encourages further discussion to longer-term solutions to prevent further crises, and reduces stress and worry. Partners have also told us that being able to use the Pay Point Platform as a means of offering support saves valuable staff time in handling and delivering cash payments for utility tops-ups and is a much faster way of getting support to their clients.  To deliver this project Letham4All and its partners use the Citizen Advice Bureau’s information-sharing protocol, The Fast Online Referral Tracking System, FORT. This system enables all partners to see what referrals and support services have been received by a service user eliminating the risk of duplication, and giving support services a clear picture of services received and of any gaps emerging in meeting the needs of the person.Letham4All will reach out through its existing partners and networks in Coupar Angus, Meigle, and Alyth to ensure that information on how this support can be accessed through the referral process and The Fast Online Referral Tracking System is widely shared and understood.