THE COMMUNITY BUREAU SCIO 

To cover the cost of running a canine companion project

This group will use the funding to establish a pet befriending project in the Mid-Argyll and Kintyre areas of Argyll & Bute. The project will use dogs to support around 85 vulnerable people by ....more

This group will use the funding to establish a pet befriending project in the Mid-Argyll and Kintyre areas of Argyll & Bute. The project will use dogs to support around 85 vulnerable people by reducing anxiety and isolation.

To cover the cost of running a social activities project older people.

To provide a regular COVID-19 safe venue for people across the communities of Campbelltown and Oban to access to better support their mental health and wellbeing.

Grant to The Community Bureau SCIO to support the organisation through COVID19

Detailed description not provided.

What we want to do This project is informed by our experience working with survivors of domestic abuse and our continued contact with many which has been recently supplemented with callers to our ....more

What we want to do This project is informed by our experience working with survivors of domestic abuse and our continued contact with many which has been recently supplemented with callers to our community space and to our other activities who have spoken about their experiences. We wish to respond to the poverty and lack of confidence this group have expressed by offering a combined project offering 1) financial and budgeting workshops providing information and support in areas without CAB provision; 2) benefits advice and support and 3) confidence building workshops to equip survivors with the emotional strength and confidence to challenge decisions impacting on their lives and rebuild their lives. There are a significant number of survivors particularly in western Argyll and estimates of around 1400 do not include those who are 'hidden'. Poverty and welfare reform, they tell us, ae impacting hugely in their lives and their attempts to rebuild their lives. As one woman told us; 'this is stripping me of any last dignity. I feel I am answering questions and giving details that make me feel naked in front of staff. I am trying to prove how impossible my situation is and they are trying to prove that I am worth nothing if I don't work' Or another woman who was being sanctioned, ' I tried to explain, explain the things I just cannot face. This man just said 'well you're not living with him now so you're alright then' and then he gave me the address for the nearest foodbank 53 miles away' Experiences such as this and feedback from holding four focus groups have formed this project. We recognise that domestic abuse is not a popular issue but it is rising in parts of Argyll, and support most often ceases once someone is rehoused. Often though, that is when problems begin and we can see desperation in the faces of those we have met. We want to offer practical and emotional support that can equip survivors to face the future stronger and armed with the information and resources they need. How we will deliver this By partnering with other organisations we can identify those who would benefit and supplement our support with other resources. This partnership approach includes organisations working with young people, (Young Carers, youth centre) and also those working with victims and survivors (Rape Crisis, Argyll Therapy Rooms) and connecting and with agencies such as JobCentre to help increase staff understanding. To deliver the financial and budget support, and the benefits advice and information we have a staff member who is a WiserAdvisor, previously working with a major bank as a financial advisor. Our plan is to train volunteers over the period of the project to enable this support to continue. The confidence building is a short course and will bb delivered iby one of our staff who has experience as a STEPS accredited facilitator, a Diploma in Counselling and is also a Mindfulness Practitioner. Again, we would aim over the project period to train volunteers thus building our capacity to offer support after the project completes. The project plan is designed over a seven month period from 1st March to 30th September 2020. During that time we would deliver the following: Six volunteer training sessions 14 workshops on finance and budgeting; 14 sessions of benefit advice, 7 confidence and personal development building courses each of four days duration. We would train 6 volunteers in both the finance / benefits work and a further 5 to deliver the confidence building courses. A referral system will be established for service users within the project and thereafter. People may also self- refer. To do this we would need to increase hours for two staff members by 6 hours per week each over the project period. We would equip volunteers with 6 tablets that can be used anywhere to access information to offer the advice and support relating to finance, budgeting and benefits. This ensure in future that our volunteers can reach people without service users needing to pay for travel and that information and contact details are readily to hand. There will also be cost of materials and of travel during the project period. By building our own capacity and with our volunteers fully trained the work will have far reduced delivery costs at the end of the project and can be integrated within our work. The future shape will be refined as necessary based on evaluation, feedback and monitoring over the seven month period. Why we want to do this Women, and a limited number of men, who have suffered abuse, often fled for their lives or sanity, experienced stress, depression and anxiety are simply treated as lone parents for benefits purposes. They are expected, when their children whom they have struggled to keep with them need them most, to actively seek work and are subjected to sanctions if they fail these tests. At the lowest point in their lives we have met women who feel they are being asked to explain what has happened to them – however intimate - they feel they have to 'prove' entitlement. Little is said about this group of people – and we recognise that domestic abuse is an uncomfortable subject. However, as we have become more aware of this double suffering, we are seeking help to provide this project. Research from CPAG and IPPR already shows that welfare and benefits cuts mean lone parents are amongst the very worst off with an income estimated at 44% below the Minimum Income Standard on which to exist, and assuming no sanctions are applied. The new system according to national research states that lone parents are amongst the very worst affected losing an average of £40 per week under the new systems. This is a monumental amount for anyone on a very low income and if sanctions are applied then crisis can be almost inevitable. This is exacerbated where someone previously had received Disability Living allowance, and now has reduced payments from Personal Independence Payments. Moving, as most survivors have to to escape abuse, is a change of circumstances which affects the benefits available. Worse still, there are cases considered fit for work in what have been described as ''unreasonable ways, MS for example is a fluctuating condition what can be accomplished one day may be impossible the next. Little or no account is taken of this'' (MS Society caseworker) Amongst lone parents local research identifies a significant number who have fled domestic abuse and violence. Frequently women and most often parents they and their children have suffered deeply. To expect that quite young children can be left by a mother when they are trying to rebuild a shattered life seems inhuman, and yet it is happening. The impact of abuse leaves most without confidence or self-esteem, both children and parent, and least able to manage their household budget or to tackle the decisions being made about them. Most support ceases at the point where they can be safely rehoused, and yet that is often where the problems begin. We aim to give people the tools to sustain a new life and the skills to grow in confidence. We have heard from a number of women just how belittled, and powerless they feel, and how they fear being unable to support their children and that they may lose them. When self- esteem is at rock bottom, and people have suffered trauma they are less empowered, and less likely to be able to work or challenge decisions. Anxiety, low mood and depression often result and a cycle of helplessness created. We want to intervene as early as possible and give people the tools to rebuild and repair their lives as well as manage on a minimum income. We also want to help them avoid sanctions and to understand their entitlements. We also believe, and evidence supports that if those who engage are more confident they will be able to engage or re-engage with their communities. Often this will be a new community since having to uproot and resettle is an outcome of fleeing domestic abuse. To reach and connect with the community requires sufficient confidence to integrate. We can also assist this by signposting to local services, activities and even making introductions. These are the reasons for this blended approach of the very practical assistance, information and support combined with building the lost confidence. In this way we can make a sustainable difference to life and combat the impacts and poverty exacerbated by welfare reform and the feelings of social isolation. Who will benefit This project is targeted at lone parents who have survived domestic abuse and their children. This group are particularly poorly equipped emotionally and often physically to deal with the complex benefits system and frequently find themselves in or approaching crisis. This can extend to using foodbanks, where they exist (there are only two in Argyll, over 100 miles apart) and to losing a tenancy, plunging the small family unit into homelessness and greater insecurity. The impacts can be devasting. We understand that this a very specific target group but it is also a group where their own personal needs are high and their children are at risk of suffering huge detriment as a result of welfare reform in addition to existing issues. Beneficiaries are likely to be 90% women although men are not at all excluded. This is based on available figures within west Argyll & Bute. We would work across the western area (the area of highest levels of domestic abuse and violence and also most likely areas of resettlement in a new community). Geographically this extends from south Kintyre to Oban and Lorn in the north. We believe if we can give parents the tools to have confidence in their abilities, and their right to speak for themselves and challenge decision coupled with the financial and benefits knowledge we can achieve a very high impact on a group of people frequently overlooked.

This funding will enable the organisation to sustain and develop a programme of community activities including a community volunteer programme, running a small volunteer led shop and a programme of ....more

This funding will enable the organisation to sustain and develop a programme of community activities including a community volunteer programme, running a small volunteer led shop and a programme of workshops and information sessions.

The achievements we seek through the extension funding are based geographically in far East and North Argyll, and we will reach a greater number of people in the following ways: • To prevent crisis ....more

The achievements we seek through the extension funding are based geographically in far East and North Argyll, and we will reach a greater number of people in the following ways: • To prevent crisis by the provision of sessions which will demonstrate how people can create low cost, nutritious meals using budget recipes and fresh produce which are easy to prepare for the whole family. • To intervene where people are in crisis already, offering support as above to improve health and healthy eating at lowest possible cost, and also to signpost to other support agencies where people can assess information and assistance • To facilitate people's ability to become more resilient, able to prevent future crisis by managing their costs of meals; to signpost to other money management supports • To balance equality by addressing the inequality of those living with poverty, increasing self-esteem and ability to cope; gaining confidence in their own ability and feeling less excluded due to poverty Widening the geographical area and including the rural settlements within the hinterland of both Oban and Helensburgh. • To address and mitigate as far as possible the impacts and effects of welfare reform and all its adverse conditions so that people are able to live as well as is possible on extremely limited and uncertain income • Giving people the skills, tools and knowledge to help themselves in future – building community resilience We believe these outcomes to be achievable for those in Oban and Helensburgh who are often the 'hidden' community largely ignored and often suffering prejudice and stigma – we aim to reduce that stigma by enabling people to cope with dignity in some of the worst of circumstances. One woman in Helensburgh, who had heard of the project from a volunteer at the foodbank, told us 'I take my handbag for a walk; I make excuses not to meet anyone for coffee; I search for out of date ready meals and I cry at home because I feel trapped' - it is these sorts of circumstance brought about by welfare in many cases which we seek to change. We cannot wave a magic wand and make people rich, but we can make them better off with good cooking skills, fresh food, and importantly we are helping to preserve dignity. Contrast this quote with one from a participant who told us 'I have hope that I can feed my family, and that I know how to make a meal that is good for us all and hasn't cost all my cash. I feel in control and it is good to know we won't have to go without - I am determined we won't make bad choices again. Even the kids are happier and eating vegetables and some of the fruit dishes' In addition, we will use some small funds to create materials which will support the legacy of the initial pilot project and further support the extension work. This has been suggested by both volunteers and participants including the production of a recipe book for distribution. This could be produced as an e-book and printed as required. In this way we could leave a lasting legacy which can be distributed and accessed by all. Our volunteers can continue to use these and give a recipe book long after the project has completed.

Towards the costs of the Developing Working Potential Project

We wish to help mitigate poverty and help people to become more resourceful and resilient by providing information and cooking sessions with fresh ingredients to help those most affected by welfare ....more

We wish to help mitigate poverty and help people to become more resourceful and resilient by providing information and cooking sessions with fresh ingredients to help those most affected by welfare cuts (reform) to learn to cook recipes on a budget and eat healthy, low cost meals which are easy to prepare. This service is not available currently in Argyll, and many are experiencing a mix of poor budgeting and poor diet exacerbated by the choices they make to cook and eat. Many people we have spoken to are suffering from welfare reform effects and do not have skills to provide low cost fresh food, which can still be affordable on extreme low incomes. For a lot of people 'fast food' is seen as the cheapest alternative but is nutritionally often a poor choice, and in fact more expensive. Sessions will also have money management advice, energy saving and benefits information available and volunteers can connect people to any o these agencies for assistance and support. We want to do this because numbers on 'suspended' benefits are rising in Argyll,as well as those in food poverty, existing on the welfare system and with low pay and seasonal employment it can be almost impossible to regain a living wage employment, particularly for those supporting a family of those with disabilities. Sessions will be provided locally, at Kintyre and Mid Argyll locations to avoid travel for those in poverty. We are seeing a serious impact on communities and a growth in social inequality which we wish to work to reduce and prevent further decline - to redress the balance. The project will require one sessional staff member, four volunteers at each location equating to a total available 'pool' of 12 volunteers, and sessions will be held weekly. We will work with the local TSI office to support and train new volunteers. Any volunteers preparing food will hold a food hygiene certificate enabling them a learning opportunity. we will use kitchens at community venues and have negotiated very low 'peppercorn' rate to ensure costs are kept low and thus the proejct offers value for its objectives. The idea came from volunteers themselves, some of whom has volunteered at a local lunch club. They felt they had skills in cooking and seeing waste from the local Tesco combined with awareness of those struggling to feed themselves and survive on a limited or suspended benefits income, discussed the idea with us, and the plan was born.Volunteers also cited examples of younger people on benefits being turned away from a lunch club but having nowhere else to turn. There is no foodbank in Mid Argyll. We spoke with two focus groups, each of 8 people and food poverty was clearly an issue and concern – some talked of living on pizza or other ready meals (which are an expensive option) and then not eating some days each week. This is neither healthy or best use of very limited income. It is an accepted fact that those living in poverty very often have the poorest diets. Over recent years there has been a focus on older people in particular and there are a number of community resources to support older people. There has been little to support working age families and single people struggling with the benefits system, and welfare reform. We would not be exclusive, and will work with anyone in need, but are keen to help those most affected by an unfair system which is exacerbating poverty. Activities will take place in Campbeltown which is a rural and remote settlement, and in Lochgilphead which serves the mid Argyll population. Lochgilphead has no Jobcentre, and few services for those on benefits. Campbeltown residents have limited access to any services, and extremely low work opportunities exist in both areas. South Kintyre has a sizeable ethnic minority and they are often amongst the poorest residents. The project will run for 36 weeks until 21 August 2018.