Investment theme: Growing social connections
Purpose:
to contribute contribute to the cost of salaries, art materials, and electronic equipment for their Blank Canvas project (a perinatal support group).
Year of grant: 23/9/2020
FR Number: FR-0054825
Amount awarded: £5000
Location: Glasgow
Full description
The grant will contribute to the cost of salaries, art materials, and electronic equipment for their Blank Canvas project (a perinatal support group).
HSGN believe that by increasing the number of digital group sessions they will be able to not only operate in the ?new normal? but also provide more accessible support to mums who are busy, cannot travel to physically attend groups or are not confident enough to meet other mums.
The Blank Canvas Project was running as a pilot before lockdown and now has been adapted to run online. HSGN has found that by running it online they have engaged women who may otherwise not have accessed the service and therefore want to continue running it online (and in person once guidance permits this). This project is facilitated by a midwife with lived experience and aims to create a peer support network for mums during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. HSGN state that activities during group sessions encourage regular creative practice as a means of reflection and mindfulness resulting in improved wellbeing, reduced symptoms of anxiety and low mood, increased self-esteem and new friendships are made. Groups provide support networks for mums who may be socially isolated.
HSGN estimate this project will benefit 200 mums based on data from current perinatal groups.
HSGN are requesting funds for a group worker for 5 hours per week over 12 months (£3306), a coordinator for 2 hours per week over 12 months (£2087), materials for Blank Canvas project including journals/diaries, drawing equipment and arts and crafts materials for mindfulness exercises (£1850), and 10 tablets to lend to mums with no access to technology (£100 each totalling £1000). The total project cost is £8243 and HSGN are requesting £5000 from this fund. They have already secured £3243 meaning that this grant would provide the balance of funds.
