Grantown Remakery is a charity based in the Scottish Highlands, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore. I talked about this, a year or so ago, with George Livingstone as the guest. It seemed a good idea to see how they weathered the pandemic and did George have views on how the wider community could support the causes and challenges they saw. We will hear that the project has changed since we last spoke in a number of ways.

We talk of the wider social trends and challenges faced by those they help. 3 strands of work for the 3 days they can afford to open.

1) Working with young learning disabled adults often isolated and lonely

2) Existing work with children helping to transition from school to further education.

3) developing a partnership with Job Centre Plus and 16 to 25 year olds who were deemed ‘not work ready’

It is a community social work scheme whose value to the area is significant, especially when the fall out from the pandemic adds to the existing challenges from rural poverty.

 In addition they are also working on two new developments; 1) meeting shortly with the local Medical Practice with the view to becoming and organisation that GP’s can use on a social prescribing basis, and 2) are about to meet with ex forces representatives to consider what support we might provide to veterans who are having difficulty accessing work. This would involve opening for a further day.

All of this assists with fundraising as they can apply for funds for each discrete part of the project rather than on a blanket basis.

Also acknowledge that they are a member of Circular Communities Scotland, a national organisation which is about encouraging reuse of items rather than replacement which opens up further funding opportunities to them and enables the support of core work.

Also George is thinking of stepping down over the next year or two so any interested parties in the NE of Scotland can contact and have a conversation.

Grantown Remakery http://www.grantownremakery.org.uk  provides Employment Skills Development, volunteering opportunities and support for Young People who may be having difficulty in Transition from School to Further Education and Employment, Adults with a Disability or with Mental Ill-Health, supporting all in their journey to recovery and towards fulfilment of their personal goals.

It aims to provide an alternative to landfill disposal by repairing, upgrading, recycling and reselling of goods through a Community based system. This helps pay for coaching and supervision. They have developed strong business relationships with both Partners and the Local Community to identify the best service for individuals in need of support and skills development within strong environmental awareness and action

Email info@grantownremakery.org.uk  Tel 01479 873612

by

The post 153 The small but important charity grows! appeared first on Thoughts On The Social World.