The idea
Our new Connect & Create sessions will bring together members of the local community at risk of social isolation and those who like to get out and about.
It will be a coffee morning with a difference with regular facilitated craft sessions, talks and opportunities to share your own skills and learn something new.
The sessions will happen weekly in Thompson Park Community Centre and will be based on the interest of the people coming along. Some ideas may include upcycling, craft sessions, knitting, local history, talks, digital awareness and staying safe online.
The funding will support 12 facilitated sessions as well as a contribution to the refreshments that will be available.
These brilliant sessions will bring together people of all ages to share the space, learn something new, and meet new people.
What we'll deliver
- 12 facilitated coffee morning with a difference sessions
- Contribution to refreshments
- Promotional materials
Why it's a great idea
This project will combat social isolation and support the mental health of older people within walking distance of the Centre.
We know since the covid pandemic lots of older people have felt more isolated, and we want to provide an accessible, welcoming creative space to reconnect.
By providing the funding to facilitate the sessions, it will be more than just a coffee morning: we want to help those with practical needs such as staying safe from scammers but also something to share, like passing on your knitting skills or local history.
We are developing a relationship with the Cultural Spring and other creative organisations to help us signpost the trained facilitators, and we will use some of the funding to target those we want to reach in our local area.
Steps to get it done
- Engaging with creative practitioners to agree sessions
- Developing programme with participants
- Delivery of monthly facilitated sessions
- Delivery of weekly coffee morning
