Archive Bridging The Gap Grant Programme Case Studies
Getting People Back into Work
LOST (Lee O’Brien Solvent Trust) (Fife)
The father and family of Lee O’Brien, who died at 16 as a result of inhaling cigarette lighter refill gas, formed this organisation.
They began their campaign against the sale of butane gas, sold as lighter refill gas, and offer advice and support to those affected by solvent abuse. The organisation does this by organising events, activities and talks to young people promoting solvent abuse issues to young people. They work in partnership with Fife Drug and Alcohol Addition Team and other appropriate agencies. A volunteer team who provides advice and services to victims and their families runs the project. For the past 3 years this service has been operating out of a volunteer’s home, The CRT award has enabled the organisation to take this project to the wider community.
SISG (Enterprises) Limited. Ayrshire Hearing Support (East Ayrshire)
The CRT previously awarded a Bridging the Gap grant to SISG to provide an outreach service in Cumnock for the hearing impaired. This organisation helps people over 50 years who are hearing impaired who struggle with the use of their hearing aid and experience isolation, low self-esteem and other personal problems. Through CRT support they have built on their previous work and created a befriending service specifically for those experiencing these difficulties. They now provide a more comprehensive service, which includes, carrying out home visits, setting up a local monthly befriending group and offering basic internet skills training to improve their ability to communicate and access information via internet and email.
Building Stronger, Safer, and More Attractive Communities
Action for Change, West Fife Green Map Initiative (Fife)
This project aims to tackle community safety issues in all regeneration areas in West Fife Villages by bringing members of the community together to develop a local community action plan. It is a service based on need as identified by members of the community working on the principle that regeneration in any community starts with the individual. The Green Map system or Green Map Community Plan can be used as a community organising tool, an empowerment tool and a way of promoting sustainable communities. Green Mapping involves all members in a community from primary school children to senior citizens.
The West Fife Green Map initiative is a way of bringing people together by breaking down communication barriers in the coalfield communities of Kincardine, Culross and Low Valleyfield. The Green Map idea will help them to have their voices heard in the community planning process and help improve the services they receive from the statutory agencies.
People living in coalfield communities feel cut off and isolated from their centre of government and feel disenfranchised when it comes to expressing their needs and having them addressed. This project addresses these issues.
Engaging Young People
Case Study - Synergie Youth Project (Fife)
The youth motivation project is a time-limited programme of activity for young people living in Linburn and Woodmill communities in Fife. The project is about raising aspirations, self-esteem and confidence of the community and the young people living there, coaching on life skills, encouragement, learning new skills and making new friends in a safe atmosphere are all part of the priorities for the project. The project meets the needs of the community in particular the parents and police concerns about the safety of their children being out at the weekend in alcohol environments. Previous results for this project have shown a drop in anti social behaviour and teenage drinking.
Equalities
Bellsbank Women’s Project
Bellsbank Women’s Project operates from its base in Dalmellington in East Ayrshire. This is an area of deprivation and is an extremely isolated community. This project offers a variety of educational and learning activities to adults living in the Doon Valley, including arts & crafts, yoga, sign language, sewing, keep fit, parent & toddlers Group, computing and oral history. They organise open days and aim to encourage more people to become involved in community activity and increase community cohesion.
The grant from CRT enabled the organisation to start a new group called ‘Dads, Lads and Lassies’ which is designed to encourage men to become involved in educational and social activities with their children. The project promotes the positive roles that men can play in their children’s lives and encourage interactions between parents and children. Additionally it contributes to their childrens lives by promoting an active healthy lifestyle and strengthens relationships and produces positive role models.
TIBAL ~ Together in Benarty and Lochgelly
TIBAL have received a Bridging the Gap grant of £9,946 from CRT to part fund start up costs for a 12 months pilot project where young volunteers are encouraged to befriend elderly people in the local area who are lonely and socially excluded.
The Lochgelly and Benarty Elderly Befriending Project will bring friendship to lonely elderly and socially isolated people living in the Lochgelly and Benarty area. This will reducing social isolation resulting in increased quality of life improved sense of well-being and beneficial effects on health for the elderly people who take part in the project.
