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 - Continuation of Project Worker & Support Worker Posts 

Amount Requested - £14,951.00 

Over the past year of the lockdown the Fed Up Café has delivered 29,464 hot meals to over 200 people who were isolating from the corona virus.  The service has proved essential to many people and in particular to families who otherwise would not have managed with staying at home.  For this we have to thank the staff and volunteers, as well as those of the Community Reuse Shop who provided the transport and delivery services.  These people put their lives at risk throughout the lockdown to serve the community.   

We are now looking to continue offering a free 3 course hot meal 5 days a week as a vehicle to combat social depravation from coming out of the lockdown, as well as isolation and, more important, help improve people’s mental health. 

We aim to feed those who are most in need of it and also in need of company and a break from the monotony of day to day life. We also make deliveries of free hot lunches to those who, for whatever reason, are unable to make their own way to the café for the meal.  We will however encourage people to use the café and to interact with others in the same situation as themselves, and when there is someone in need of help we can point them in the right direction with good sign posting. 

We provide opportunities for volunteers to come and learn new skills, increase self-esteem and gain self-confidence as well as gaining a sense of being part of a team. We aim to provide them with transferable skills to assist our volunteers gain paid employment making them contributors to the state instead of recipients from to state. 

We are always looking to evolve and stay fresh whilst maintaining our core values and ensuring those who need assistance get it. Our service enables people to have the power to choose what direction their lives may go, and we try to aid them along the path they choose. We encourage the wider community to help in whatever way they can and try to involve as many as possible in everything we do. We are a service that does not discriminate. 

Video: https://youtu.be/FjPJb9MrmA0 

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 Title - Shop Manager Post 

Amount Requested = £15,000.00 

The Community Shop Dumfries & Galloway is a not for profit social enterprise.  Our slogan is " Supported by the community for the benefit of the community " true words spoken. It has been running for 5 years and has helped support many local organisations and hundreds of people in our town. In times of hardship the shop has helped people get through the toughest times , just that bit easier. We know it's appreciated! We have had many volunteers from all walks of life and for a variety of reasons. Working alongside people whom for whatever reason just need a lift , a bit of encouragement.  Having the chance to build up confidence as well as transferable skills and feel good about themselves in a friendly environment. These are key attributes that many people long for to get them to the next stage. Everyone is good at something, it's taking time to find it with people that matters.  The shop is simply like no other, a vital part of the community. A place that frequently guides and signposts people in many ways. A wealth of information for many a real team effort that creates a ripple effect of goodness throughout. Seeing our volunteers grow and progress is a true testament to the dedication  given by many. In addition to our loyal supporters who donate  unwanted goods. Helping us all to reduce waste and landfill and therfore also helping to save our planet. Such a lot of greatness from so many all of which says so much about our town and the people in it. None of which would be possible without the  guidance and planning provided by the dedication of the shop manager.  In such uncertain times the services at the shop are needed more now than ever before.  Like so many places without support and  Funding we will simply not be able to survive. 

YOUR VOTE IS APPRECIATED    THANK YOU.