Projects funded in round nine of the Community Grants Scheme. Children’s Essential Winter Warmers (West Lothian Financial Inclusion Network) In response to a highlighted need from their local community advisors, WFLIN aim to provide winter essentials for children within families that are struggling with changing household budgets due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as changes in welfare and benefit payments including the overall upsurge in prices of food, fuel and other essentials. Dr Bell’s Mindfulness Dip (Dr Bell’s Family Centre) A new weekly mental health and wellbeing open water dip led and facilitated by Dr Bell’s Family Centre, aimed at Leith women and Mums with challenging life circumstances. With childcare provided, the group braves the cold water, experiences physical and mental-health benefits, and is supported by mindfulness and wellbeing practitioners. Image 2021 Community Grants recipients LinkNet Monitoring Edinburgh Monkeys Hockey Camp (Edinburgh Inline Hockey Club (The Edinburgh Monkeys)) The Edinburgh Monkeys Hockey Camp will provide participants with a fun filled activity camp that will develop players fitness, skills, teamwork and skating within a fun filled environment. Everybody's Talking (Pilmeny Youth Centre) Offering mental health support to young people who are suffering from anxiety and high stress levels. From Garden to Plate (Winchburgh Community Growing Group) WCGG are a community growing group which has been growing fresh vegetables and fruits in 50 planters spread across the village to make healthy food accessible to all. Now, they want to show the health benefits of the produce by offering nutrition talks, foraging sessions, cooking sessions. LGBTQ+ Surf Therapy Programme (Groundswell Community Project Scotland) Groundswell Scotland are a community of intersectional self-identifying women holding safe space for individuals to find their healing, power and belonging in the ocean’s waves. Their research-based surf therapy curriculum is rooted in trauma-informed, nature and community therapy models to support holistic and sustainable healing of participants. No More Tears (LINKnet Mentoring Limited) “No More Tears” project aims to help lonely and isolated black and minority ethnic (BAME) people living in Edinburgh and the Lothians to make more social contacts and to move towards personal development through the provision of one-to-one befriending by volunteer befrienders and the provision of English language development and other group activities. The Natural Sensory Garden (The Very Inclusive Play Club (The VIP Club)) The VIP Club supports 0-5 year-olds with additional needs, equipping parents with skills, knowledge and tools to use at home. They provide a welcoming learning environment where children are accepted, involved and engaged. They want to develop their play in a Natural Sensory Garden and need storage for vital sensory equipment. The Wee Kitchen (The Wee Haven Youth Project) Young people from Wester Hailes aged 11-16 will shop and cook, within a set budget, for them and their peers to help increase skills and knowledge around money management, food and nutrition, having an positive impact on the general health and wellbeing of them and wider family members. Trans Active Edinburgh (LEAP Sports Scotland) Trans Active is a community development project which will set up a social and physical activity group designed to improve physical health and mental wellbeing of trans and non-binary people in Edinburgh. The project will directly reduce the exclusion of trans people whilst empowering them to be more physically active. Wellbeing youth project in Craigmillar The project is designed to increase mental health wellbeing of young people (12-17 year olds) living in Craigmillar, an area affected area by poverty. Using well researched methods, e.g., sports, arts activities, and building positive relationships with the Lighthouze charity members and volunteers from the University of Edinburgh. This article was published on 2024-07-22