Genie Gym; exercise classes with childcare attached

Improving access to a healthier lifestyle and improving the wellbeing of individuals by providing childcare during exercise classes to remove barriers for parents. A series of classes will be run, while children are looked after within the same building (for example, by utilising 2 rooms in the same community centre). The aim is to provide access to classes that would otherwise be out of reach for parents who cannot afford them, and who do not have anyone to care for their children. Exercise improves mental health and by improving the wellbeing of the parents, the children will also benefit.

Get Crafty

Our current popular weekly craft day offers a safe, warm space for people to meet, share stories, develop friendships and connect through art and craft. We want to add a Saturday craft workshop aimed at families. A shared activity creates a lasting memory, brings people together and gives the mind a short break from the pressures of the current cost of living crisis which is affecting us all. We do not want to pass our increased costs on to people already feeling the pinch. Funding would enable us to offer these sessions free of charge to all.

“Not on my own”

Improving wellbeing and enabling people experiencing homelessness to reach their full potential and thrive.

Homelessness is a devastating, isolating, lonely experience linked to physical and mental ill-health, poverty and occupational deprivation. Building upon grassroots efforts, user feedback and participatory research, this project will be managed by Plymouth Soup Run in partnership with Plymouth Alliance members, Plymouth Access to Housing (Path) and Shekinah, plus the Health Inclusion Pathway Plymouth (HIPP). It will target people who are homeless or in transition, (e.g. from rough sleeping into accommodation, from addiction to recovery, from hospital admission and treatment to discharge), providing personalised support to tackle economic and practical obstacles to leading healthy, meaningful lives, and building sustainable futures.

Simply Counselling Cost of Living Crisis

At Simply Counselling we want to address our waiting list for funded places from very distressed people who cannot afford to heat and eat as well as accessing the mental-health help they need. Already the pandemic lockdowns caused huge increases in the number of people who were left abused, lonely or depressed and the current cost of living crisis has culminated in augmenting these problems to conditions of toxic shock for many people. Our waiting lists show the need and our success over the past 16 years proves our validity. We want counselling to be accessible to all in Plymouth.

The Village Hub Club

Our need is working with people not for them and to ensure support is proportionate.

We have found the following useful:
Having an Emergency Fund where visitors can access provisions at a local shop
Providing Advice and Support
Sharing information at awareness events – a one stop shop
Paid advertising to reach as many people as possible.
Work with existing partnerships e.g. JarSquad learning to turn surplus food into meals
Upskilling the community by providing training on food hygiene so visitors can make nutritious meals for the community using items from our food larder.

What’s next Stoke?

Mindful Art Club Cost Of Living

My idea is to hold a group once a week and will be alligned to health inequalities, lonliness and isolation. Our vision is to develop the emotional literacy and help-seeking behaviours of the people who come so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We want our community to come together and support each other.We will create wellbeing, generate resilience, provide accurate information and social networks. We know there is a need for this project as we are a grass-roots organisation and listen to peoples stories everyday about how much they are struggling with the cost of living

Home Springs Eternal

There is an identified need in our community for essentials that help families and individuals to feel settled at home. As we head into Spring, we want to deliver packages to people to help them during the cost of living crisis. These will include new kettles, toasters, quilts, pillows, bedding, cutlery, blankets, essential kitchen equipment and shower curtains, towels, as well as cleaning and hygiene items. They will be catered for each person/family’s needs and especially for those who are having to move into a home with just days notice – such as fleeing domestic violence, or given asylum.

Onward community drop in activities

We currently run a weekly food aid drop in session that has also gown in to a social gathering opportunity. Apart from supporting people with food items we have become aware of other needs both emotioinal and practical. As part of the drop in we also have Plymouth claiments union who meet every fortnight to support people with benefit advice. We would like to expand with other activities and support to people.

We have had many requests for various other support, both practical and creative and see there is great need. We would like to engauge a community sessional worker.

Giggles Crisis Support

We’ll offer a space where our community can get help with forms, phone calls & signposting to food/warm banks. Whilst here they can join in with our craft workshops to give their minds a much needed rest from all the fears & worries caused by this cost of living crisis.

They’re already reaching out for financial help, assistance & advice from us.Their mental health is suffering & we already have a safe, warm , trusted space, we’re in a prime position to help. Our community will be supported, listened to & know that they are not alone in this crisis.

A Warm Welcome

Finding would enable us to offer a ‘Warm Welcome’ to a new group of adult members who have both mental and physical health issues.
They come to the club an average of 2 sessions per week, to chat, be with others in the same situation and to take part in some physical activity to help releave stress and isolation.
To be able to offer FREE hot drinks and some limited hot food would greatly enhance the sessions for this marginalized group, who are mainly but not exclusively older males.
Working with the group since September has identified the need