The Connect Me Centre a place where you can meet in a safe space – all ages, all backgrounds, all cultures, abilities – there's no barriers & our centre will play a key role in strengthening the local community Create a Community Shop which aims to create positive social, environmental and economic impact from surplus good food & household waste. The Community Shop will provide volunteering opportunities and meaningful employment to those in the city. Improve individuals health & well being, providing opportunities to be an active part of the community. Providing activities, projects & services to improve access to health, social & employment opportunities for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Modern life is busy & this has led to a reduced sense of community where many people feel isolated in their own homes. Activities & events at the centre will give people a chance to get out, have regular contact with others & create friendships and bonds

What we'll deliver:

• To work with others to promote and improve the West End as an area in which to live, to work, and as an area to visit.
• Providing a range of health & wellbeing services & activities which reflective the needs of the communities we serve.
• Provision of activities that promote inclusion and break down social isolation
• Work with others to ensure widest range of services & activities available that best matches the needs of the community
• Focusing on promoting physical and mental wellbeing in its widest sense
• Providing opportunities for local people to access education and training

Why it's a great idea:

Community centres can take an active role in improving the health and wellbeing of local people, & we know that the Connect Me Centre will do just that. The Connect Me Centre will be a place that will provide an efficient free service to help you get connected to other people, organisations, services and opportunities. Whether you need new connections, or simply a better ones with your existing services, we can help you get connected with the people you choose. Members will gain access to debt advice and employability skills, cook club and home budgeting, and a range of other services, including wellbeing and mental health support. No one better understands the problems and potential of a community than those who live there. That’s why we set our strategic vision based on the feedback we get from the local community as it is very important to us that we deliver what is needed rather than what we think people want.

Steps to get it done:

• A Community Shop will be set up
• We will distribute a minimum of 20 wellbeing boxes a week
• We will feed over 30 people a week
• We will set up a minimum of 2 leisure activities that take place each week
• We will recruit 10 volunteers
• We will train all volunteers
• We will connect 10 new services with the community

Centre Aims 1 To ensure that in all of its initiatives we recognise the multi-cultural character of Leicester & seeks to implement equal opportunities policies 2 To encourage the involvement of local residents in planning & implementing specific initiatives to ensure that in all of its activities the Connect Me Centre is sensitive to their needs &aspirations 3 To promote, support & encourage the establishment of coproduced community developments & other innovative ways of meeting community needs 4 To work with others to create a healthy & balanced Leicester economy which supports its communities effectively & provides a wide range of employment & social opportunities West End 5 To work with others to promote & improve the West End as an area in which to live, to work & visit 6 To work with others to improve public areas in & around the West End extending the range of leisure & recreational facilities 7 To improve health care services, educational & Childcare provision in the area