Investment theme: Growing social connections, Improving health and well-being
Libertie Project, Inverness: £4899 Covid grant 2019: Supporting women through Covid leading to a new social enterprise development
Purpose: Providing self care kits to w
omen using the project to sustain them through Covid
Achievements:
In total we reached 98 women across the Highlands who had not used our services before through a referral partner network of over 100 organisations and a social media campaign to encourage self referrals. The packs were a DIY self care guide alongside creative materials and resources and links to online platforms and workshops. The popularity of the packs exceeded what we had planned for. As a result of this funding we were also able to enter as a supplier for the Pockets and Prospects project which saw us gain 2 contracts to supply creative wellbeing packs and develop a specialist pack for young people. We are now developing a creative hub with it’s own creative studio and are planning to start an enterprise that repurposes pre-loved and donated creative materials and equipment to benefit people.
Emma, a busy full time working single mum of 4 primary school aged children felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of self isolating and prolonged periods of lockdown and home schooling. She was placed on furlough and had to manage on a reduced income of 80%. Her mental health was affected and she began to feel more anxious about the future. A community Covid response group made contact with Emma and told Emma about the creative wellbeing packs. Emma was delighted with the pack and spent hours doing creative activities. She also enjoyed working her way through the DIY self care guide and learning a new skill of making ornate paper flowers. As Emma improved her skills and started using the pages from old newspapers and damaged children’s books that were due to be recycled she wondered if these paper flowers would make environmentally friendly wedding favours. Emma began to research how to make Highland flowers out of paper and decided she would try and develop an enterprise idea that she could work towards, once the children were settled and back in school. Emma felt for the first time, a sense of hope and that she had options and opportunities for her future.
Women’s Fund for Scotland has given a total of £5, 899 grants to our grant partner Libertie Project. We are pleased we have been able to support your excellent work in this way. Thank you for all that you do and for choosing us as your funding partner.
