21 February 2023 – Plymouth Octopus

Home Economics – Core Skills for home, life and work!

Posted on 21 February 2023 by

The one thing the team want you to know

Well established, our innovation drives our passion to empower people to gain the skills and mindset to attain self sufficiency, resilience and contentment. People tend to turn for help in a crisis and our passionate tutors can help show them there is always a way out of whatever predicament they are facing. We believe developing new skills and overcoming barriers will help them to increase motivation and the desire to succeed.

Project description

We plan to provide weekly workshops delivering:
6 core activities – participants can join weekly workshops to address any of the challenges they face during the cost of living crisis.
Budgeting
Cooking,
DIY
Sewing
Parental Support (Messy Munchkins sessions)
Employment & Careers Advice

Driven by participant input, we will have an adaptable delivery. We have our own premises but also use community facilities to ensure accessibility across Plymouth.
We have been delivering for over 10 years and have a strong membership. Some workshops have recently finished through cessation of funding. We have a list of referrals which shows the ongoing need and work with other partner agencies for both referral and support.

Due to our EU funded project finishing we have recently ceased running our workshops but we are still receiving referrals and requests for activities from Job Centre work coaches.

Our weekly parents and child sessions for under 5’s provided much needed facilities for new parents along with baby weighing (a service which has become very scarce since the pandemic), support and advice, simple cookery for parents and children, as well as a hot meal at lunchtime for them, a place to meet and make new friends, working with other agencies such as Wolseley Trust, Peninsula Dental School, Devon & Cornwall Police and the Fire Service we were able to offer visiting workshops to provide information and education. These sessions were run with small funding pots from other organisations but have now ceased. We were donated equipment, toys and resources from a closing Children’s Centre. We have the premises, we have equipment, we have a waiting list, we have staff ready, we just need additional funding support.

We know the project will succeed as this project is an accumulation of the best of previous projects – the bits that worked, that people enjoyed and wanted to attend and had the best results.

Funding needed £10000

What group or groups of people will the project be working with and why?

Whilst this project will be open to anyone who is referred or self refers, our target audience is 18-25 year olds. We have strong links with Job Centre young persons team as well as Social Services and other agencies such as Foster Care services, Youth Services etc.

What areas will the project be working in?2-3 neighbourhoods

Whilst based in our own premises in North Prospect, we also have good links with halls in Keyham and St. Budeaux to run additional workshops and sessions. We have a minibus/mobile office so are able to transfer people to other locations, collect them to attend our premises or see them remotely if necessary.

What is the group or organisations track record? Track record:
Been delivering for many years

How new is the idea? Experimentation:
Been delivering for years

Budget

Salaries & peoples time 60%

Project costs 16%

Event/hire/rent 15%

IT spend 0%

Core costs 9%

Capital 0%

Organisations involved

St. Thomas Church, Wolseley Trust, Colebrook SW, D&C Police, Fire Service, Peninsula Dental School.

£4 Budget Cinema Ticket for Unwaged or Low Income

Posted on 21 February 2023 by

The one thing the team want you to know

We don’t want people to break the habit of coming to the cinema because they can’t afford it. It is widely proven that engagement with the arts alleviates anxiety, depression and stress, boosting feelings of wellbeing, and building communities. We introduced a £4 Budget ticket in a trial period in the last quarter of 2022. We sold 242 tickets and welcomed 53 people to the cinema for the first time with this price. Plymouth Live named PAC as one of Plymouth’s kindest businesses for this initiative. We’d love the chance to make it a permanent offer and develop it further.

Project description

PAC has introduced a Budget cinema ticket price of £4 for Unwaged and Low Income (Full price £9). Anybody can purchase these, we do not ask for proof of income. We understand that financially struggles are detrimental to dignity and self-confidence. We trust and respect our audience and are non-judgemental about anyone who purchases a ticket at this price.

We have trialled the Budget tickets, and the media attention, as well as the boost to ticket sales, proves that there is a need for them. Our social media posts about the new price are our most “liked” ever, with comments like “Thank you, this is a great initiative” from Cllr Jemima Laing and “I really appreciate the concession prices otherwise I just wouldn’t be able to see such a range of films” from customers.

People can no longer afford the things they used to enjoy, such as the occasional trip to the cinema. This is concerning, because it is widely proven that engagement with the arts alleviates anxiety, depression and stress, and provides a huge boost to mental health and wellbeing – as people explore new ideas, emotions, and briefly escape from their day to day difficulties. The best way to watch a film is to make it an event and see it on the big screen, with an audience. It provides an immersive, social experience without phones or other distractions that can’t be attained at home.

The cost of living crisis has caused an epidemic of loneliness, with a recent study from Eden Project Communities reporting that 1 in 8 people are enduring loneliness, viewing social and leisure activities as a luxury that they can no longer afford. At PAC, our staff and volunteers are always friendly, and visitors often comment that they regard the venue as a safe space to visit alone. There’ll always be someone to chat with, and a community to feel part of.

We sold 242 £4 tickets in the last quarter of 2022. We welcomed 53 new visitors using this ticket price. Each ticket is a £5 discount on the full price (£9). This cost PAC £1,210. £5000 would fund this scheme and allow us to grow it in the coming year.

Cinemas, especially independent cinemas, are struggling, with significant closures over the last few months. PAC is no exception: we are fighting hard to survive and need to increase audiences.

Funding needed £5000

What group or groups of people will the project be working with and why?

Here at Plymouth Arts Cinema we work hard to be accessible to all sorts of different groups, and embed ourselves into the community as much as possible. With this offer we will be working with culture lovers in Plymouth who may be unwaged or “working poor” and who fall through the gaps of many other initiatives to alleviate cost of living issues.
We work with a lot of different groups, and reduce ticket prices for these, but wanted to have a price point for people who might not necessarily fit into any of these groups but may be on a tight budget. We trust and respect our audience, and are non judgemental about anyone who wants to purchase a ticket at this price, so do not ask people to prove their income level.
What sets us apart from the multiplexes and other cinema chains is that they don’t engage with the community. We work with other arts organisations in Plymouth to screen local interest films and support local artists and filmmakers. We welcome speakers and local organisations (e.g. environmental) to introduce films, which builds a filmmaking ecology in the city.
Communities we engage with:
– Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council Women’s Network – video
– Fotonow + Plymouth Youth Justice Team project
– Relaxed screenings once a month. Working with Plymouth Autism Spectrum Service and Age UK. Tickets £4
– Bringing in Baby -Tickets £4

What areas will the project be working in?City wide

Plymouth as a whole, but we will target lower income areas in our online advertising.

What is the group or organisations track record? Track record:
Been delivering for many years

How new is the idea? Experimentation:
Established for a few months

Budget

Salaries & peoples time 0%

Project costs 0%

Event/hire/rent 0%

IT spend 0%

Core costs 100%

Capital 0%

Organisations involved

Plymouth Arts Cinema

Motherland seed

Posted on 21 February 202313 March 2023 by POP

The one thing the team want you to know

Being displaced from a motherland or your root of origins creates a huge disorientation in the personality, confidence and sometimes the willingness of moving forward for the individual. Using our lived experience of being displaced and re rooted in Plymouth , we are sharing the knowledge and techniques used to effectively integrate and share our values , it being the food , the story or the planting a seed that reminds you your motherland into the homeland. By planting and growing edible seeds from motherland into the homeland soil. Healing and resilience will grow in the community.

Project description

The project is for a co-design process across generations and cultures working together to drive and create growing spaces for the wellbeing of communities. In particular asylum seekers and refugees have been welcomed to British soil and need to find a sense of belonging and purpose. Meaningful role models and pathways are important for the future livelihoods of present and younger generations. Older generations have cultural wisdom and skills to share. Envisioning future pathways on shared common ground (‘soil’) is a powerful way of shaping the shared future of diverse people and communities. Children need opportunities such as this to validate their creativity, and their ability to contribute to society. Both young and old can find a sense of purpose and belonging together through growing and sharing food, caring for and connecting with the soil and natural environment. But what about the environment and land itself as a collaborative partner? There are important potential growing sites within the Stonehouse area, These plots are bordered by areas housing many asylum seekers and refugees, as well as a primary school with 70% BAME children. Millfield Trust is offering small pockets of land which could house greenhouses, garden spaces next to social housing areas are being offered as potential spaces for growing food. The motherland seed project will assist the Stonehouse residents in skills and knowledge of plants and crops which can be grown in an urban and British environment, to include culturally relevant foods for diverse cultural cuisines and tastes. The project is at its essence aligned with the regenerative processes already taking place within the Stonehouse neighborhood and communities, bringing together people in direct connection with the land and soil, for wellbeing, a sense of belonging and livelihoods.

Funding needed £7300

What group or groups of people will the project be working with and why?

The Bame communities and particularly of those of refugee backgrounds that have settled in Plymouth

What areas will the project be working in?1 neighbourhood

Stonehouse

What is the group or organisations track record? Track record:
Been delivering for many years

How new is the idea? Experimentation:
Established for a year

Budget

Salaries & peoples time 22%

Project costs 28%

Event/hire/rent 25%

IT spend 0%

Core costs 25%

Capital 0%

Organisations involved

DBI, Apricot Farm, Pfan

The Kind Shop

Posted on 21 February 202313 March 2023 by POP

The one thing the team want you to know

We need to keep the Scrapstore running for the benefit of all, whilst we continue to apply for grants, and do amazing trading through the till, workshops and as part of the local circular economy, there are financial gaps that need filling, so that we don’t pass those costs onto those who can least afford it but need our service most. We want to continue to provide an affordable, accessible, welcoming, thriving and creative resource centre and workshop space -a connecting place – for and with our communities, underpinned with kindness and a non-judgemental approach.

Project description

Our plan as always is to use our experience and local knowledge to ensure that those that need us most have access to what we can offer, ( if you haven’t been please come and visit us or check us out www.plymouthplay.org) to continue to raise funds through bid writing and trading opportunities in order to develop new resources. We will continue to support what we see as the crisis worsens: that our footfall is increasing, not just in number but in variety. To share with others what we have to offer and to make sure that financial ability does not restrict accessibility. We will continue to collaborate with others across the city helping to make our space and resources available to all, linking individuals that we meet into other opportunities, helping to reduce loneliness and social isolation, by not only being that “Kind Shop” at our resource base, but also through meeting people in the parks and green spaces on their doorstep, always demonstrating that kindness, trust and safety are paramount. Local residents and the wider community will always know what to expect when they see us at events and will know that as they build a relationship with us, that they understand how we can help & support them during these difficult times and where we can bring a bit of ‘normality’ and happiness. Today as we write we have two examples of teenagers reporting that “crafting has saved my life”, especially where there are additional needs and neurodivserse/sensory processing issues. Such challenges are amplified at times such as the cost of living crisis. What this means in real terms .. ..we want to keep doing what we do .. keep the Scrapstore open 4 days per week and the first Saturday of each month. In essence we want to be around to make sure that play and creativity aren’t seen as something just for those who can afford it. We will have a presence in the geographical community as well as with our many communities of interest. In our delivery model we are supported by and support volunteers from many different backgrounds. We want to be around to offer support to our visitors and members, to be HERE, NOW – to be that ‘Kind Shop’.

Funding needed £4959

What group or groups of people will the project be working with and why?

Our focus will be to support those who need us most, those in need of our offer whether it be play & creativity resources for local families, arts and crafts for organisations that support local people, carpet and home furnishings for those coming out of a care environment, or currently homeless or community groups running a warm space. We provide volunteering opportunities for local people (and those often excluded from other opportunities – people with learning difficulties and long term health conditions) and those who may not fit the standard image of a volunteer ie only available for a couple of hours, not really sure what they want to do or why, and those that ‘don’t fit in’ other places.

What areas will the project be working in?1 neighbourhood

Stonehouse as we are based here, but we will continue to have a city wide reach.

What is the group or organisations track record? Track record:
Been delivering for many years

How new is the idea? Experimentation:
Been delivering for years

Budget

Salaries & peoples time 80%

Project costs 10%

Event/hire/rent 0%

IT spend 0%

Core costs 10%

Capital 0%

Organisations involved

We will continue to work with a wide and varied selection of organisations including: Timebank SW, Gladrags, Arts groups, Routeways, Plymouth University of Arts, Barnardos, Childcare providers, Bogey Nights, commercial suppliers reducing their landfill/incinerator tonnage, Borrow Don’t Buy, Precious Plastics, Clean Our Patch, Art and Energy, Trevi House and the team of community builders and well being hubs.