Category

• Promising Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Prevention
• Mitigation
• Reduction

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Poverty driver

• Provide benefit in-kind (material)
• Provide benefit in-kind (experience)
• Increase income from benefits
• Increase employment income

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Keywords

• Community engagement
• Education
• Empowerment
• Food and drink
• Employment

Aim

The Project aims to reduce poverty and social inequality in Fullarton, Harbourside and the wider Irvine area; create employment and improve employability; foster community belonging through inclusive support for isolated and marginalised individuals; empower young people through social and sporting activities; and maintain a vibrant community hub that strengthens cohesion and wellbeing. Objectives include providing affordable, healthy food through the community kitchen and café; developing activities that combat boredom and encourage positive engagement; hosting mental health and addiction recovery groups; facilitating social opportunities through community groups and outreach programmes; providing flexible multi-use spaces; and creating employment and volunteering opportunities.

Summary

Primarily serving the Fullarton and Harbourside areas of Irvine, Fullarton Connexions (hereafter FC) was launched in 2016 following a local community survey. Responses highlighted requirements for more activities for young people in the face of boredom; help for people with mental health and addictions; and social opportunities for isolated and marginalised individuals. FC is a community hub with 8 employees and around 50 volunteers, all of whom live in the local area. The facility offers a range of services including an affordable community kitchen and café, youth activities, sports and community clubs, pre-school classes, recovery groups and community outreach projects as well as multi use spaces for small and large groups. FC plays a key role in tackling poverty locally by providing access to community empowerment resources through food provision, inclusive support and social opportunities.

What difference does it make?

Fullarton Connexions (FC) is valued as an asset to the community. People have written recommendations to express the value it offers. FC makes a difference to people’s lives who have benefitted by gaining a sense of belonging, building their skills and building their confidence. Some people have accessed the service because they can’t get a job, have volunteered and were successful in finding employment, either with the Project or elsewhere. Paraphrasing Ashley, he said “Beyond aims and objectives, some people have made close friends, and some have gone on to form long term relationships and continue to access the Project along with their children. These things matter, success is where people have come out of isolation, poverty and need and then go on to contribute to and further their community.”
Kids eat free – a dozen or so children eat in the café free of charge on a Wednesday.
Café – is affordable and has healthy eating goals.
FC will provide free food for those in need on a person-by-person basis
Pay it forward scheme where café customers can pay a meal in advance for someone who cannot afford it.
Carers from North Ayrshire eat free.
Room booking pricing is tiered and available to anyone, businesses pay full price, charities with tackling poverty focus have a 50% or more discount.
Café Solace Tuesday night is a peer recovery cafe discounted food to community. £2.50 for a 3-course meal.
Christians Against Poverty referrals and partner for debts advice
Free or Affordable community groups such as mind and body, Yoga, crafting.
Host to recovery groups like AA, CA, GA, mental health changes group.

Key take-aways

• No person is an island – you can only do what you can do. The need will always outstrip capacity.
• Look for gaps – who is falling through the nets and how do we support them?
• Play to your strengths, do what you do, well, take time to learn that and don’t try to be the solution to all of society’s problems.

 

Organisations

United Irvine Church of Scotland. Fullarton Connexions.

Location

FC operates in the Irvine Fullarton area which is ranked second Highest in deprivation in North Ayrshire and 60th in Scotland. Fullarton is also a Church of Scotland designated Priority area, which grants it a range of supports and opportunities in tackling poverty.

Contact