The idea
The Spear Project is a peer-led community service for people in Leicester who are isolated or struggling with the rigours of life. We are aiming to assist anyone who needs help by way of a weekly drop-in where in addition to a free tea or coffee, visitors will receive advice and guidance under the supervision of trained volunteers and people with experience of delivering this kind of support.
At the moment we do not have a fixed location for the project but are in talks to confirm a central point. We believe in not focusing on a particular community or group; we understand that people may come from various starting points to require this kind of service. We are also well-versed in other local support services and will be signposting where needed.
What we'll deliver
- Benefits Advice
- Housing Support
- Signposting to Specialist help
- One to one action plans
- Improve health and wellbeing
Why it's a great idea
A growing number of people are suffering from loneliness and isolation; we see a need to rebuild a sense of community and mutual aid via the method of empowering peer-mentor initiatives within these communities. All of our team are currently volunteers and we've all overcome difficult obstacles in our own lives. We have a qualified health trainer among our team along with someone who has helped to run mental health awareness courses in the city. This method of outreach can have a profound impact on health improvements based on using the ideas and experiences of the very people who engage with us. Many of the people we will see are primarily in need of community and non-clinical support. We are part of a growing movement of 'social prescribing' which recognises the role that community can play in improving health and wellbeing, and is also a preventative measure as it means fewer people will get to the point where they need to visit their GP.
Steps to get it done
- Collect flyers to distribute eg. health; advice; foodbanks; benefits & housing, substance misuse; mental health support
- Use the Secular Hall for initial sessions, likely to be on a Tues or Wed from 11am to 4pm
- Design a flyer and distribute it in our catchment area to individuals and services
- Make an attractive video to promote our drop-in explaining what's on offer
- Run street stalls in the city centre promoting our drop-in and what we can offer to people
We are ambitious in our plans to secure a premises for this to be a long-term, ongoing project. This initial crowdfund will enable us to run the project in a downsized way, to provide immediate support to people in need, and hopefully pave the way for something more permanent.
In the team is a qualified Probation Health Trainer with experience of working at the Citizens Advice Bureau, Shelter Housing, the DWP and Refugee Action.
