Job Title - Finance and Admin officer and Volunteer Co-ordinator and Project Planner  

Amount Requested: £10,654.20

LIFTDG is a community driven company that currently works with other organisations to help families and individuals that are in need by providing food parcels, household goods and clothing. We have two shops based in lochside where we take donations and members of the public can also come in and purchase items for £1. Any funds raised get put back into the local community to be able to organize free events, trips and weekly workshops for all different age groups in the local area. With the current pandemic we have been unable to organize large group events due to government guidelines but we are currently doing online activites via Facebook where we have recruited local individuals and business to take part. Volunteers play a big part in our organization and they do the day to day running of the shop, help with organising events, and delivery of food parcels. We have a lot of experience in the past delivering different projects in the local area such as the Lochside Gala, Easter Funday and Christmas and Halloween parties.   We have two paid posts within the organisation and this is the Volunteer Coordinator (28 hours per week) and the Admin and Finance Officer (11.5 hours per week). The actual hours that are worked are higher but funding does not allow for the hours to be increased at this moment in time. We have seen a large increase of people in need due to people being made redundant, furloughed or unable to apply for jobs at this moment in time. Domestic abuse figures are also on the rise which has resulted in individuals/families leaving their family home with nothing and we are helping to provide them with items, clothing etc. to get them back on their feet again. With guidelines hopefully starting to ease soon we are starting to plan events again on the hope they go ahead and because of the publicity we have received we are also getting more enquiries from people offering to volunteer with us. Our workload is increasing and we would like salaries to reflect this.  

Job Title- Project Co-ordinator and Bike Mechanic 

Amount Requested: £8,640.00 

Wheels of Fleet is a recycling, repair bicycle project, based in the grounds of the Mill on the Fleet in Gatehouse.

We have two paid self-employed workers, with 14 regular volunteers, and a waiting list of 3 wanting to come along, learn and help out.

Our aims are to make cycling more affordable to many, to offer bike confidence lessons, basic bike repair workshops to help make individuals’ bikes more sustainable and economical to run.To increase awareness of local journeys to work or interviews, using our local printed maps. Promoting cycling as a health activity to improve personal fitness and raise mental health awareness of these benefits. To increase a cycle community to help people meet others through this healthy activity.

We have created a very friendly, approachable project, which has given many the confidence to take up cycling again or indeed for the first time. We promote widely, costs are based on ability to pay or free, depending on individual circumstances, while also encouraging many to learn new skills in a safe and positive environment. Appointments can be made so privacy can be allowed for anyone who requires this.

To sustain a positive and close relationship with the local community, producing updates on events, workshops and availability of bikes. To coordinate between customers and the bike mechanic, using useful local knowledge and judgement of character to help run a smooth operation.

Our two new posts will complete all of the following: To promote a sustainable project with its main ethos of promoting cycling and staying true to always being affordable to many, coordinate volunteers, fulfilling their needs for learning and at the correct pace and energy that fits with each individual. To create a positive atmosphere for all involved ,with regular meetings, in a group, and with individuals, assuring all have a voice and are being heard.

To produce publicity on a regular basis, encouraging a network with other bicycle projects throughout the region.  

Job Title - Support Worker 

Amount Requested = £8,154.00 

Food Train runs services to support local older people to maintain their independence and to be able to stay at home for as long as possible.  Our main core service is a grocery delivery service, this enables older people to access fresh grocery shopping on a regular basis.  This reduces food poverty for older people, we are also a very well-known and trusted partner of the HSCP enabling us to get information out to the older generation across the region.  Food Train has operated in the Dumfries and Galloway for 26 years which confirms stability and experience of delivering successful support services to older people.  These services are needed even more now than ever due to the increased threat to older people from Covid-19, we have the experience and expertise to ensure that services are delivered to the most vulnerable people efficiently and safely.  This funding would allow us to employ an additional staff member ensuring that we can continue to meet the increased demand on our services in Dumfries and Galloway.  

Video: SES Digital Showcase Food Train 2020 - YouTube 

Job Title - Food and Budgeting Co-Ordinator 

Amount Requested = £10,663.00 

Currently, DGMA is accessible to any public member, women, men, families with children, homeless and low-income individuals and families, for people in work poverty, fuel poverty, refugees, asylum seekers, members of Minority Communities, pensioners, over 50s, young people, unpaid carers, and disabled people.  

DGMA with this project, Food and Budgeting Coordinator aims to ensure the people of Nithsdale, especially those in deprived, marginalized, hard to reach, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and seldom heard groups to have their voices heard, and work with them to improve their livelihood, maximize their household income, have improved equal access to healthy food, and access to information and services are maintained.

Video: https://youtu.be/HHanUsiSCAY 

Job Titles - Customer Service Team Leaders 

Amount Requested = £15,000.00 

The funding will provide the opportunity to fund existing volunteering posts where no funding has been in place and volunteers give of their time voluntarily. The objective will be to create new posts, ensure sustained provision of existing volunteers and more importantly provide for succession planning for future replacement of the two Directors

From one DG Home to another  

Newstart’s vision is to provide a local led solution to local problems and demonstrate financial self sustainability. The team collect donations of second hand furniture and household goods from the public and local organisations and from the many household clearances that we undertake. The social enterprise offers every conceivable household item for sale at much reduced cost, which helps fund the project and provide affordable help and support in the fight against poverty and homelessness. Approximately 30% of goods that we collect are provided free to families and individuals on referrals from their support groups.

Newstart has become a vital tool in the peoples fight against Poverty. In our experience the benchmark – the Poverty zone- are people and families in our community that are unable to meet their Basic needs in a sustainable way. We have testaments and Case studies that clearly evidence how we helped them overcome that challenge. Removing the stigma of seeking help is vital and DG Councils anti-poverty strategy polices underpins Newstart’s aims and objectives and are central to our processes and systems. 

We now have another unit to complement our free school and baby wear.  A warm winter clothing room offers free clothes, shoes, blankets for all ages! This has been a huge success. Over 22,000 items have been donated and 12,000 items given out.

A successful partnership was developed with Gretna Gateway who now collect donated goods for our free Unit. They created and provide a shop unit for the very purpose of collecting clothes, both new and used. A link exists on their Web site and Social media site. Before lockdown one post achieved 37k views! Even in the current lockdown situation we are collecting a Van full of Goods this month.

A further room at our Warehouse now provides a complete range of mobility equipment, wheelchairs, Zimmer frames, rise recline beds and chairs. These are mainly collected at house clearances. Again, these are loaned out free of charge. We currently have 39 wheelchairs loaned out! 

We currently work with partner organisations and respond to their requested referrals for disadvantaged on an almost daily basis. The groups include DG Social services, Community Link workers, Sonas, DGHP, Loreburn, British Legion, SSAFA, Women’s refuge, SW Scotland rape crisis abuse centre and most local Care homes and Shelter.

By providing every kind of essential household items either at very reasonable cost, payable free of interest, or (on referral from support groups) completely free, we help the vulnerable to become independent. It is crucial that we plan for this to continue and this will not be possible without recruiting staff to deliver this.

Job Title - Anti-Poverty Outreach Worker      

Amount Requested = £12,000.00 

At River of Life, we’ve loved helping people through our surplus food drop-in services over the last couple of years. We’ve always been passionate about meeting practical needs and access to food is the most basic need everyone has. We collect and distribute from Aldi, M&S, Tesco and Lidl stores on a daily basis. Good food that would otherwise be thrown away now supplies vital needs almost 365 days a year!

We’ve gained a reputation as welcoming, non-institutional and non-judgmental in our approach to anyone who comes to us for help and we’ve developed precious relationships with hundreds, or even thousands of people.

Through the last year of crisis, we’ve noticed some important opportunities to help people even more, by helping them find longer term solutions to the difficulties they face.

What we want to do, if successful, is employ an Anti-Poverty Outreach Worker to find loads of other sources of help – financial, skills, work and life skills – to help people build a better life for themselves and their families. Often folk just need to know where to turn and some encouragement that getting out of poverty permanently is possible. 

The outreach worker would come to our drop-in sessions to chat and be available to meet up for coffee with people who want to discuss their opportunities further. They’ll be a listening ear with knowledge to help access tangible services and assistance.   Please vote for our project and help lots of ordinary people get out of poverty for good!

Video: The Pantry at River of Life.mp4 - Google Drive

Job Title - Horticultural Trainer 

Amount Requested = £13,760.70 

Potters Garden ‘s experience of working to tackle poverty is diverse. 

We work with people of all ages living with Autistic Spectrum Condition/learning disabilities/additional support needs that vary in complexity, we provide horticultural and woodwork training placements. Additionally, we work with young people in transition with additional support needs, from Stranraer Academy.  Most of whom have entry level academic skills, some will have a learning disability, while others live with autistic spectrum conditions. For some, college is not an option as it requires a level of ability which most of these young people have not yet acquired; also, the pace of learning at college can leave young adults unable to keep up, hence more likely to give up. 

The role of the Horticulture Trainer involves working with people of all ages living with Autistic Spectrum Condition/learning disabilities/additional support needs. The post holder will train individuals and group users in horticultural/gardening skills.   

Job Title - Support Worker 

Amount Requested = £8,154.00 

Food Train runs services to support local older people to maintain their independence and to be able to stay at home for as long as possible.  Our main core service is a grocery delivery service, this enables older people to access fresh grocery shopping on a regular basis.  This reduces food poverty for older people, we are also a very well-known and trusted partner of the HSCP enabling us to get information out to the older generation across the region.  Food Train has operated in the Dumfries and Galloway for 26 years which confirms stability and experience of delivering successful support services to older people.  These services are needed even more now than ever due to the increased threat to older people from Covid-19, we have the experience and expertise to ensure that services are delivered to the most vulnerable people efficiently and safely.  This funding would allow us to employ an additional staff member ensuring that we can continue to meet the increased demand on our services in Dumfries and Galloway.  

Video: SES Digital Showcase Food Train 2020 - YouTube 

Job Title - Support Worker 

Amount Requested = £12,671.27 

The new post of Support Worker will focus their time recruiting and working with volunteers who require additional levels of support, so they can play a part in community life and share their skills and expertise with the Community Reus Shop, so in turn we can benefit the community.  The Support Worker will work with local organisations and agencies to recruit volunteers and work with them to maximise their experience during the time with us.

The Volunteer may work in our showroom, warehouse, office, workshop or van. Or possibly on one or more of our projects, such as Scottish Week, Active Travel, Christmas Hampers or Free School Uniforms.  So they can learn skills in specific areas that may aid them to gain employment or enter further education.  Similarly other volunteers may have a wealth of skills that they can share with us to benefit the community, just needing some encouragement and support to participate.  

Some of the benefits to our Support Worker working with volunteers may include;

•    Developing Skill sets

•    Improving access to employment and training

•    Reducing health conditions

•    Establishing new friendship groups

•    Peer mentoring

•    Having access to affordable homeware

•    Sign posting to additional services 

Collective these support our volunteers to help to alleviate the effectives of poverty, so enabling volunteers to make steps forward to combat poverty

Video: https://youtu.be/wy2UbjCi9P4 

Job Title - Volunteer Development Co-Ordinator 

Amount Requested = £12,000.00 

Summerhill Centre in North West Dumfries needs your vote to help us reduce poverty levels; reduce the cost of living expenses and increase equal opportunities in our communities. We can do this by maintaining and building upon our existing free community food sharing projects, our Health and Wellbeing activities for all ages which include: •    Helping hand to reduce cost of living through our new Community Food Pantry whereby people choose  own food and essential items in a dignified and affordable manner.  •    Provision of healthy and fresh food boxes delivered to our most vulnerable. •    Weekly home made soup for distribution through First Base Food Bank.  •    New skills to prepare healthy homemade meals to take home for all the family. •    Fun youth activities; weekly trips; fitness opportunities; daily support & supper.  •    Community Buddies - adult fitness, home baking kits and wellbeing activities  •    Community Training and First Steps in Digital Connections  •    Environmental skills at our Community Land Art, gardens & food growing allotment 

Summerhill Centre is Dumfries Hub for Fareshare Food Provision. We plan and organise  food from Glasgow Fareshare every Tuesday and Friday to support our many partners who then receive the  food and distribute into our communities.  Our activities are critical to continue tackling poverty with a dignified approach and developing positive routes out of despair.  These are only possible with our army of volunteers who collectively give over 260 hours per week facilitating our many groups and managing the centre.  We need funding to employ our Volunteer and Community Development Co-ordinator. Our work helps to develop each individual to grow and develop strengths and independence to work their way out of poverty.  We also help to develop effective community leaders, regardless of their experiences or circumstances. By the Community – For the Community

Video: https://youtu.be/PAWRC4pgw-I