Microgrants

This will be continued to be delivered online until the new year, then hoping to review for face to face delivery dependant on guidance. Taking this proposal online has meant they can deliver double the sessions because of 1-hour online recording and  saving on the venue costs. The savings means that they can now purchase instruments for all participates to use at home to ensure physical activity. Please see below feedback below from the session: 

Louise Harnigold of The Stroke Association: “Wow that was amazing thank you so much. Everyone had a great time, the music sounded fantastic and we have already had a few people contact us asking when we can do that again.”

This is to enjoy movement via dance and then having space to share what’s on their mind with others… Purple Genies have another 2 established groups that support men and women, the WOW and the WOLF  programmes which work with people who are in recovery from domestic violence and need support with their mental health. The WOW programme is for women, and the WOLF programme is for men.

Together we Grow have been successful in securing LDP funding to work specifically with young people not in mainstream education and suffering from a range of mental health issues. Participants will work throughout the growing year learning about food production and rural craft all within a few hundred metres of their school. Skills will be developed which will enhance life prospects, including horticulture and landscaping, construction, basic food preparation, and small scale commerce. 

Successfully launched last month, following the award of an LDP micro grant. All horticulture packs were allocated within the first two weeks for clients of Refugee Action, Sanctuary Housing, and families of key workers from North and Home Farm Primary School. Director Wayne Setford told us the group engaged in a lively Zoom chat after the showing of videos to inspire and educate them. There is also a WhatsApp group for those who wish to carry on these conversation and form new friendships. These sessions take place weekly on Friday mornings, and the plan is to host a face-to-face gathering for all participants once social distancing and group gathering guidelines allow, where spare produce will be prepared, cooked and shared by all

This meant they were able to reach more clients, more regularly than initially intended. Feedback from the sessions revealed that those taking part were exercising more frequently than they would if they did not have the resource available. This was due to the increase in motivation to take part in a ‘group’ session and the accessibility of being able to perform exercises at home. Travel is a significant barrier for some of their clients and delivering online doubled the class size they had anticipated for the sessions. More than just the physical benefits the classes have provided to clients, it has been a means for them to stay connected, preventing isolation and the opportunity to get together with familiar faces that would otherwise be impossible. It has also been a great educational tool that has shown clients ways in which they can stay active and manage their symptoms at home, at any time, and independently, that will benefit the individual in the future. 

They are planning to run weekly ladies only Zumba from Monday 22nd June 5pm-6pm and weekly Tai Chi from Tuesday 23rd June 5pm-6pm. The organiser arranged some home visits (whilst maintaining social distancing) to get some participants familiar with using Zoom in order that they can participate

One of the recent approved micro grants, Berts Belly Busters organiser Roberta (Burt) has made some hats for her new Belly Busters when her sessions start. Burt is super excited to be able to start the sessions and help families get active in Walton.

Feel Good Rhythm had 33 participants attend their first session with great feedback.“Hi Lisa, I just wanted to thank you for the drumming workshop. My daughter has had a particularly bad couple of days but she came out from this evenings session beaming and exclaimed “I loved that! I really enjoy drumming” (the girl is 12 and has mental health problems)