1. Building Community Capacity
Brenda Whitelaw
Community Initiatives Manager

2. Background Realisations Starting Out Project
Sustainability project to support new & vulnerable tenants
3 year funding from PCF & Big Lottery
Realisations
People not ready for work – need support & confidence building
Big issue with mental health and addictions
Loneliness & Isolation
Need local classes and clubs
Support for Welfare Reform & Improve Digital Literacy

3. Our Target Group Lone Parents Elderly Cultural Integration
suffering from anxiety depression & low self esteem – Lacking Purpose – career to JSA
Mental Health & Addictions
Need purpose/new interests/classes/support
Elderly
To alleviate loneliness & isolation - Need purpose need involved in the community; clubs, classes
Cultural Integration
23% of our tenants are from BME backgrounds - Need to engage them, ESOL classes, employment etc

4. Community Based/Community Led
Funding by Aspiring Communities Fund for 2 staff
Developing a wider Community Regeneration Strategy
Developing partnership activities to improve economic, social & environmental issues in our communities
Building Community capacity programmes & community development techniques
Set up referrals and service level agreements
Following the Thriving Places Model- Glasgow Community Planning Partnership

5. Strengthening our Communities
We need to work closely with residents, external agencies, local organisations to:
Identify opportunities
Develop plans and proposals
Make funding bids for new community projects
Increase levels of economic activity
Enhance Community Resilience & Empower residents

6. Go Connect Activities
Nails Course

7. Go Connect Events

8. Go Connect Activities

9. Go Connect Activities

10. Partnership Work: Movin’ & Groovin’ and Young at Heart (HSCP & GCC IGF Funding)
Rainbow –Befrienders
SWCT – Transport
Friendship Club
Chair Yoga
Chair Aerobics
Bingo
Entertainment
Cinema Trips
Karaoke
Tea Dances

11. Tenant Feedback
“This group is a lifesaver for me. I no longer need my antidepressants and I’m happy again”
“It keeps me busy and takes my mind off my problems. I’ve met new friends, much nicer people than I usually hang about with and they’re all helping me”
“I’ve met so many people, and I now have so much confidence. The team at goConnect has no idea how much they have done for me They really have saved me from a life of anxiety and panic attacks”
“The staff at the project are so helpful and supportive, I can tell them anything and they’ve got me the support I need without feeling embarrassed. I am feeling so much positive about my future, all thanks to the support I have got through the goConnect Project”
“They have no idea how much they’ve done for helping me. I went from panic attacks to feeling so happy and positive. I even got my first job ever which I love and I am so proud of myself. This project really has saved my life!”

12. Community Empowering – Sharing skills, Encouraging, Belonging!
“Give a man a fish and that will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. Chinese Proverb