Summary

Description

In partnership with Your Voice Inverclyde we would like to hold a day and night event in the heart of the west end of Greenock on a Saturday early July. It will take place in the building and grounds of Lyle Kirk. Outdoors there will be arts & crafts/ home baking stalls. Other 3rd sector organisations will be invited to participate and will be given a stall to use as they see fit. Within our community Gardens there will be an emphasis on horticultural activities. Stalls will line the side and front of the building. Throughout the day we will have fun competitions, entertainment and face painting in place for younger children. We will also be serving freshly made pizza directly from our outdoor pizza oven. There will be no hire charge to stall holders and no charges for food on the day. Our plan is too remove as many financial barriers to participation as possible for people. Indoors during the day there will be an opportunity for local people to perform music or to show off other talents. We will also have more stalls, tea/coffee and food. In the evening the space will be transformed ro host a family friendly ceilidh.

Since March 2020 the provision of spaces where community can occur has been greatly restricted. there is children who have never attended a birthday party nor any other 'normal' events out with their immediate families. increased separation anxiety and underdeveloped social skills, especially in Nursery and early years primary school have been linked to prolonged social isolation due to Covid Lockdown. Our day will provide an opportunity for children to be part of a larger social gathering but one whose size is not overwhelming. They will be there supported by a family member or guardian not only taking part but learning about positive social interactions through observing how the adults interact in their larger social circles. Adults too have missed out on so much of being a part of the community, supporting each other and enjoying being a part of extended networks eating, laughing, and enjoying life together. Our event will provide a safe space with the old familiar feel of a Gala Day.

Through our existing drop in cafe Lyle Gateway already brings together people from Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Gourock, Greenock and Port Glasgow weekly. In addition to this our community garden provides space to Ardgowan Primary School, BB, Scouts, New Scots and other members of the local community. We work closely with iFit supporting people returning from short prison sentences to their community. More recently we have begun to support a group of female New Scots with space and materials for them to learn English quicker in order to help them feel more a part of the wider Inverclyde community. It is hoped that some of the New Scots will be hosting their own stalls, sharing food and specialty coffees from their own cultural heritage. All of these people and groups will be participating either as attendees or hosts

The added value of working in partnership with the Community Connector Social Prescribing team at Your Voice is that they have a caseload of identified people who may be disadvantaged in terms of social inclusion, they can encourage folks to attend the event. It will also provide an opportunity for their team to engage with people attending to raise awareness of their role, additional community assets and opportunities people can benefit form, and the importance for individuals to be connected and feel valued within their community, ultimately improving people’s health and wellbeing.