Our project

We work tirelessly to empower refugees, asylum seekers, and other vulnerable individuals to rebuild their lives in a foreign land. Through consistent engagement with our students and service users, we have identified a pressing need many of them are battling poverty due to unemployment. A significant number of new refugees have recently joined our society with little to no knowledge of how to access employment opportunities. Despite their eagerness to work and contribute, they lack the skills, confidence, and awareness needed to secure jobs.

To address this challenge, we are launching the "Job Club” project, a program exclusively designed to equip refugees and asylum seekers with the essential skills and confidence to enter the workforce. This initiative will provide a structured pathway to employment through tailored workshops, practical training, and one-on-one support.

Objectives

1. To teach key employability skills such as CV writing, interview techniques, and job search strategies.
2. To build participants’ confidence through soft-skills training, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
3. To provide guidance on navigating the job market, including understanding workplace culture and labor laws.
4. To foster connections with local employers and create opportunities for work placements or apprenticeships.

Activities

• Weekly classes on employability skills.
• Mock interviews and practice sessions.
• Digital literacy training for job applications and online communication.
• Networking events with local employers and recruitment agencies. We regularly work with Street League, Search, and Graham Hygiene. Our in-house Admin Officer supports our students with searching for jobs on job boards, applying for suitable jobs, and writing CVs.
• Ongoing mentorship and support to help participants sustain employment.

Expected Outcomes

1. Increased employability among refugees and asylum seekers.
2. Improved confidence and self-reliance in navigating the job market.
3. Strengthened connections between employers and the refugee community.
4. Reduction in poverty levels within the community

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.

 

Partizan Gymnasium is a new Boxing and Kickboxing Gym based in North Muirton Perth. I’ve grown up and lived in North Muirton and aspire to give back to the community after travelling the world gaining a wealth of experience in both sports and achieving Scottish & British titles.

Knowing how boxing and kickboxing has enhanced my life, my aim is to share what I’ve experienced with the local community and provide a chance for people to get involved in both sports. In response to the cost-of-living crisis and the continuous interest from youths and community organisations it has inspired us to develop this free programme to support young people, provide new opportunities to learn skills, without putting financial strains on families.  

Through Boxing and Kickboxing we can address so many social issues and we are keen to work with partners in the community to tackle these. After recent spates of anti-social behaviour there is an increasing number of youths who are disengaged.

At Partizan Gymnasium we want to promote a sense of pride in the community which is why we are developing a new angle of approach to widen opportunities to get involved with sport, in a safe environment, with our motivated and keen coaches and volunteers who are positive role models supporting this programme.

Partnership working is key to our proposal, we already have a wide range of partners on board including interest from the Police Scotland and the Safer Communities team and we are keen to explore new partnerships. As we build trust with our young people we can support them to build confidence and develop skills in the sport that they can use in their everyday life and become a part of the community. We can work with them to engage with the community supports available to them through partner organisations that can provide them with the supports they need, improving their life chances.

We plan to run a referral system for this programme and we are keen to work with Schools and Community organisations/ groups who are at the frontline and working with youths deemed hard to reach, as a result of the impact of the cost of living crisis.

We will run 3 Allstars programmes targeting different age groups throughout the year and we plan to work with 20 individuals each programme.

The 12 week programme is divided into 3 key areas and can be adapted to reflect the different age groups involved, some activities may change in order keep things fun and engaging.

The full programme can be viewed as an attachment and will cover three main areas.

Week 1 – 4 = Fundamentals (Weeks 1 – 4)

Week 5 – 8 = Wellbeing, Fitness and Nutrition (Weeks 5-8)

Week 9 -12 = Technique and Finesse (Weeks 9 – 12)

As part of our funding, we will purchase additional boxing gloves, shin guards and pads required for participants to use during the programme, this equipment is costly and can be reused for those who aren’t able to buy their own equipment. I would also like to offer Allstars participants a Partizan Gymnasium T-shirt and certificate on completion of the programme.

 With this funding we will also look to upskill volunteers with Boxing Scotland coaching qualifications, First Aid training and cover the cost of PVG scheme disclosures.

Being able to offer opportunities like this to the community and share my passion was entirely why Partizan Gymnasium was set up, Allstars success will also provide evidence for future programmes and the future of Partizan Gymnasium.

 

 

Letham Climate Challenge wish to develop our Furniture Store to create a community tool library. Just like a library for books, you can have access to things you sometimes need or want to use without spending lots of money and without having to find space for it in your home. Examples include tools for DIY projects or sewing machine; pressure washer, carpet cleaner, camping equipment, specialist cookware or even an electric bike. 

We currently sell second hand furniture and household electricals PAT tested by our volunteers. This project would allow us to extend the scope of our organisation by reducing our communities spending while contributing to our carbon net zero targets. By using our tool library, members would save money, save space, and save the planet.

We are currently in a cost-of-living crisis, and are based in an economically deprived area. Tool libraries across the UK are known to save their uses an average of £300 per user per year. We might all have a small basic tool kit in our homes, but when it comes to larger, more expensive items many people cannot justify the expense.     

Home-owners with limited resources could then maintain their homes, which helps to provide for housing security. We would like to encourage more of our customers to develop their DIY skills so that furniture can be upcycled to increase their longevity. As an organisation we pride ourselves on encouraging sustainable living and sustainable practices. With the production of a tool library, we can provide our community with access to hundreds of useful items for free. This will encourage our community to try out those upcycling projects, to mend their existing items rather than buying new. 

By sharing resources, we are making our community stronger and more resilient. By borrowing instead of buying we are reducing production and consumption of the same, infrequently used items. Our community would be reducing their carbon footprint and helping to transition towards a circular economy. By not buying new items, we reduce the amount of resources extracted from the Earth, save energy from production and reduce the amount of eventual waste.

We intend to track the amount of items borrowed to track the collective carbon saved by our community. We are promoting the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling among people in Perth, demonstrating how small actions can address the climate emergency. 

We have the space, but now require the tools and equipment to build an inventory. We will seek as much second-hand as possible, but many items will need to be purchased from new. We also need to create an online inventory website to list items available, and allow registration for membership and members to book out items. We expect the tool library to be very popular, so would require a part time member of staff to manage it and itemise all of the items being borrowed and returned.

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/

Our club has always demonstrated our values which are to provide a safe, fun and inclusive netball club. We have always ensured that our girls understand the benefits of how having an active lifestyle can only bring positive outcomes for their physical and mental health. It also helps our girls from the different schools across our area to make real connections and friendships away from the ever increasing dependency children have on social media. Perth City Juniors were re-established in 2021 and since then we have managed to obtain success in the form of twice winning the Netball Scotland Scottish Youth Cup along with many netball leagues throughout Scotland and across all of our age groups. We also have some girls who have gone on to represent Scotland. The costs involved in playing netball competitively can put a financial burden onto parents therefore our committee have always strived to fundraise so that we can keep our fees low. 

We have a culture of giving back at our club with many of our older girls volunteering their time to help coach sessions at the club as well as within their secondary schools. Many of them have obtained coaching qualifications along with becoming umpires. With this in mind, we'd like to continue this by giving back to our communities. 

We are hoping that with a successful funding application, we can deliver free netball sessions within local primary schools. We would like to coordinate with the headteachers and Active schools coordinators to offer 4 weekly sessions to be held either in school hours or as an after school club. 

Our hope is that by offering these sessions, we can encourage the children to subsequently be involved in playing netball at the many clubs in Perth & Kinross. Showing that no matter what their socioeconomic background is, there is accessible netball available to everyone. Following these free taster sessions, we'd hope to hold some holiday camps to benefit all netball players in the area. The funding would also allow us to upskill our coaches and equipment so that we could deliver a high quality holiday camp catering to girls of differing levels of netball ability.   

We have witnessed first hand the positive impact that being involved in this team sport, can allow our girls to thrive, be successful and boost their confidence. We hope that our application will be successful to allow us to include more girls who will benefit from our club.

The Royal Voluntary Service manage approx  150 volunteers in the Perth & Kinross region and we have a need for transport to support the elderly & vulnerable in the community.We are applying for a mini bus and need to upskill the volunteers for the coming years. We would like to train 10 drivers on the MIDAS mini bus course and also 15 first aiders. Currently we run Perth lunch club,Perth social club,Crieff lunch club,Bridge of Earn lunch club and are looking at a new lunch club in North Muirton. The elderly clients need transport to get them to the clubs which will greatly help with nutrition ,mental and physical well being. We are being tasked with growing the numbers at each of the clubs and opening new venues thus requiring a transport solution.

This vital training will allow us to run this service.