12 Days of Community
Here at the Big Help Project we are encouraging people and organisations within the Liverpool City Region with innovative ideas for projects that will support the local area, to apply for funding. Our funding has been utilised by so many community initiatives based within the Liverpool City Region; including Knowsley, Sefton, Halton, St Helens, Liverpool and Wirral. Through these resources many wonderful projects have been able to bring about change and achieve organisational goals, such as, supporting local communities; protection and assistance of marginalised or excluded groups; adapting services to meet new conditions; and keeping valuable services running. This Christmas we at the Big Help felt that we should share the efforts of our community impact fund awardees across our 12 days of Community campaign.
Day 1 – Tuebrook ABC
Tuebrook is an amateur boxing gym based in West Derby the club is all-inclusive and welcomes a diverse range of people. The club has inspired a generation of children to get involved in boxing, learn the essential life lessons it develops and most importantly, to stay off the streets. The group is headed by Jimmy Campbell. A volunteer at the club since 1978, Jimmy has overseen the progression of hundreds if not thousands of young boxers. It is people like Jimmy that keep kids safe by taking them off the streets and instead motivating them to pursue a new passion. The Big Help Community Impact Fund provided Tuebrook with the necessary resources to supply new equipment and training gear. With this Jimmy can continue to ensure that amateur boxing does a great job in keeping youngsters disciplined, and healthy. We at The Big Help recognise the role boxing clubs play in the communities throughout the country. This is what Jimmy had to say about the community impact fund.
“The funding we receive has had an immediate effect for the community centre sport activity. It has enabled us to buy new equipment and upgrade the facility. The centre is funded purely by the user groups as we receive no funding. Without the help of charities like yourself we wouldn’t be able to continue. Our club provides a safe environment for our user groups it helps keep them fit, helps with mental health and wellbeing. The social aspect for people to make friends. There are people who have adhd, low self-esteem, and armed forces who suffer with post-traumatic stress and this facility provides a release from everyday stresses. We have children who are brought in by their foster parents, children who have been bullied, we provide help for all the community which is a deprived area with little for them to do.”
If you’re interested in attending a session at Tuebrook or you’re a parent and want your kids to learn the skills that amateur boxing instils, then the session run Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night’s 5-7pm for just £3! Keep up the good work Jimmy and everyone else and Truebook ABC and Community centre. We think you’re fantastic!
Day 2 – Vision Community Football Club CIC
Vision is a non-profit CIC project that hosts football camps for kids in the Kensington area of Liverpool. The organisation takes revenue from developmental sessions and invests back into community projects. Vision are passionate about their mission of changing the lives of local children and families, supporting young people in areas such as crime prevention, mental health and obesity. Highlighting the key issues, we all see in our local communities. The CIC presents opportunities and development for kids through sport with a further ambition of building a sporting community that makes a genuine difference to the lives of young scousers. Big Help funding helped finance the Vision FDA Summer Camp and annual event for pupils of New Park Primary and the surrounding areas. The camp provides a lifeline for parents within the community during the school holidays. Providing an active, engaging place for children to learn, stay healthy and develop their skills through enjoyment.
We wanted to showcase the wonderful things that vision do this Christmas! If you’re local to Kensington keep an eye out for their football camps.
Day 3 – Paper Cup Coffee
Paper Cup Coffee is a not-for-profit café which can be found in Liverpool City Centre at Queens Square. The shop offers training to people who have experienced homelessness across Liverpool, giving them experience in hospitality industry, with the ultimate goal of supporting members into fulltime work. The café provides training in barista and customer service skills equipping individuals to apply for jobs with local restaurants and bars. The Paper Cup Project which has been supporting people living on the streets in the city for years and the coffee shop represents their latest undertaking in the battle against homelessness. Paper Cup co-founder Michelle Langan sets emphasis on the importance of the shop and how The Big Helps Community Impact Fund benefitted the initiative.
“We get a lot of people come in as the weather is getting colder. Homelessness figures have gone up in Liverpool and we are expecting to see more people over the winter with the cost-of-living crisis, as bills go up and people potentially lose their homes. So are main goal being to support those people experiencing homelessness in the city”.
“The fund has definitely help us because it’s meant that we have been able to change our menu for winter. Some of the funding bought a new oven, which has allowed us to do hot foods were before we were limited and didn’t have much equipment. It’s been amazing for us.”
We strongly advise that you go and check out this wonderful coffee shop! The work that Michelle and her team do is invaluable to our local community.
Day 4 – Strengthening Wellbeing Together CIC
Strengthening Wellbeing is a Liverpool based Community Interest Company promoting positive wellbeing for all families & children. Based in Liverpool the organisation hosts a range of workshops, classes, activities, and events across the city. The organisation is focused on a positive approach with predominance placed on empowerment and character strengths. It does fantastic work not only with children but provides support for their caregivers including parents and teachers. We at The Big Help understand the importance of a child’s wellbeing and mental health, the cultivation of a strong foundation of wellbeing in children & those who care for them, is imperative in developing a happier, healthier society for all. Funding from The Community Impact Fund has allowed Strengthening Wellbeing to continue their nature club at Mab Lane Woods.
Strengthening Wellbeing Together offers a range of activities from Nature Club, to Positive Psychology Art to Kid's Yoga. If you are interested in getting involved then you can find more information on their website here. We cannot wait to see what this incredible CIC does next!
Day 5 – The Comedy Trust
Since 2002, The Comedy Trust has helped more than ten thousand people use humour to become happier and healthier. The programmes mission is to empower participants to harness the positive power of humour in their daily lives to build resilience, create connections, boost confidence and develop alternative coping strategies. The trust delivers year-round courses and events, developing creativity, confidence and communication skills for every participate and exploring the evolving relationship between humour and health. We love the idea that laughter is a universal language that can bring us all together, break down barriers, ease tension and conflict, and generally improve our mental well being by reducing our levels of stress, release endorphins to improve mood, and improve our memory and also learning. Working extensively throughout the Liverpool City Region in developing and delivering ground-breaking workshop programmes in schools, universities and businesses. They also deliver the annual Liverpool Comedy Festival, making the funniest city in the UK the funniest city in the world for two weeks. Funding from The Big Help Impact Fund was used to help relaunch the Accessible CV project, supporting young disabled people in Liverpool to address the gap in unemployment. The project will help to address one of the key barriers young disabled people face when entering the world of work, the recruitment process. The programme allowed TCT to work alongside 9 young people to create their very own accessible CV and training in public speaking skills, confidence and technology training for recording and editing.
The work of The Comedy Trust is so vital to the Liverpool City Region. If you’re interested in attending one of their fantastic events, you can find more information here.
Day 6 – Creative Spaces Co
Creative Spaces brings the arts to parks, green spaces and community buildings across the Liverpool City Region. They are reimagining spaces across the LCR for arts, culture and creative happenings by hosting book clubs, creative, storytelling, and art workshops; helping to build stronger communities, improve people’s health, promote lifelong learning and create more active citizens. The work of Creative Spaces is so valuable for the local community. With funding from The Big Help, Creative Spaces were able to develop the Story Box project. Supporting reading for pleasure for children and their families. The project took place over the summer, hosting 4 pop-up reading events across Liverpool’s beautiful parks and green open spaces for 60 children aged between 4-11 and their parents/carers. The events brought families together to explore reading through storytelling, crafts and games and with each child receiving a free book and activity pack at the end of the session, allowing them to can continue these fantastic activities at home as a family.
Founder of Creative Spaces Rachel O’Byrne believes “Everyone should have access to arts and culture regardless of where they live because people-driven arts can do wonderful things.”
we couldn’t agree more! Art and cultural activities have the power to enhance the quality of people’s lives – bringing about personal enjoyment, enriched perspectives, and opportunities for public involvement. Find out more about Creative Spaces Co this way.
Day 7 – The Sensory Hive
The Sensory Hive is an innovative start-up venture, established by parents of children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities. The community organisation offers services in occupational therapy, sensory integration and education for individuals living with sensory processing difficulties. The community includes individuals who are neurodivergent (Autism, ADHD, SPD, Dyspraxia), and those Learning Difficulties, PMLD, and neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy and brain injury. improve user’s sensory integration so they can function in all aspects of daily life, equip caregivers with the tools to thrive and live fulfilled lives and provide users a safe space without fear of judgment or prejudice.
Approximately 20% of the population have sensory processing difficulties and our research shows that facilities like The Sensory Hive can help such conditions and that there are limited recreational adapted settings which meet disabled community needs. The Sensory Hives specialist sensory integration therapy centre, based in Whiston, Knowsley, is a hive of activity offering a sensory gym, immersive and interactive room, occupational therapy, LEGO-based therapy, rebound therapy, and hobby clubs.
Big Help Project was able to help the Sensory Hive in its creation of a sensory gym for users. The activities involve brightly coloured pillows, swings, ball pits, bubble fans, or tunnels and play equipment to cultivate appropriate responses to stimuli. The main beneficiaries of the gym are children and young people who use the space.
To find out more about The Sensory Hive visit their website here.
Day 8 – Autism in Motion
Autism in Motion is a parent led organisation, providing support, advice and guidance for families of children with neurological conditions mainly Autism and ADHD. They achieve this through facilitating courses, advice sessions and coffee mornings for carers to attend, as well as activities and days out. Each activity is carefully tailored and adapted to meet the needs of the diverse range of families that they support. Autism in motion offers specific support to parents and carers with education and training to ensure they can have the tools required to meet the needs of their family. This allows friendships to be formed not only with the children but with the parent/carers reducing social isolation, whilst building on the children’s social skills. Co-operation and support have the power to enhance the quality of parents’ lives – bringing about social inclusion, enriched perspectives, and emotional support.
Big Help Project provided funding to Autism in Motion to deliver their intergenerational project, improving emotional and mental wellbeing through creative expression, exploring a range of subjects such as emotions and identity. The project aimed to help families who were already socially isolated due to the nature of their child’s disability and the social difficulties that brings. The project brought together families in a safe an inclusive environment, increasing the mental health and wellbeing of all that were involved and giving the children a positive way to deal with any negative feelings they may have had.
Autism in Motion is a wonderful organisation and we encourage you to check them out!
Day 9 – Kinship Carers
The organisation focuses on kinship families. These are families, predominantly grandparents or friends who take on the full-time care of children who can no long live with their parents for a variety of reasons e.g. substance misuse, mental health issues, bereavement. Kinship Carers stop the children from going into Local Authority Care and the children have better outcomes. Lots of these children have the same start as any other child but, have traumatic childhood experiences and so not have access to support. Meaning that the Kinship Carer is often dealing with very challenging children. But, no matter what stage of the Kinship journey a person is on they are there to support. The organisation offers someone to talk to about the challenges of kinship. Offering advice, information, and signposting to relevant services related to individuals’ issues and concerns.
Kinship Carers offers a full calendar of events for kin families. Offering an opportunity for people to meet others with the same circumstances. Preventing family breakdown and strengthening bonds between all who live in a Kinship Family.
Kinship Carers is so valuable to our local community. Thank you for everything that you do
Day 10 – Palmerston School
Palmerston is an outstanding secondary school for students with severe or profound multiple learning difficulties, age 11-19. The school provides a learning environment which nurtures, supports and challenges pupils to develop their independence skills to be happy and confident. They support pupils with a variety of different learning styles through their differentiated curriculum strands. The work of Palmerston School is so valuable; helping students to reach their full potential, celebrating their achievements, and creating programs that facilitate communication development and independence. Palmerston is critical to its students, teaching them independence, self-esteem, self-confidence and resilience.
Big Help Project supported Palmerston School in its development of an outdoor provision for students. Funding from the charity was used to purchase materials that pupils can utilize in the outdoor area such as den making equipment. The funding also helped to purchase tiles for the school’s sensory trail. Panels that provide different tactile experiences, visual stimulation, and audio experience. Development of the outdoor provision has helped Palmerston to provide experiential learning through play and has been hugely beneficial for the children.
Big Help would like to congratulate Palmerston on its fantastic work this Christmas. Click here to find out more.
Day 11 – Yellow House
Yellow House provides social and emotional support to young people through creativity. They offer creative workshops and activities throughout the week, that young people can attend to build their creative skills as well as their social and emotional needs. The Yellow House is a multi-arts group, engaging the local community in theatre, art, performances, workshops in schools, writing, poetry and music. They are a very friendly youth arts and cultural organisation, open to everyone. If you are interested in attending any of the sessions, they meet regularly between Monday to Friday from 10am onwards, in central Liverpool
So many young people suffer from the effects of loneliness and isolation and so many are unaware that there are opportunities for change. Young people are suffering more from mental illness such as depression, self-harming, suicidal thoughts and even more so now linked to the current economic and social climate. Yellow House offers a safe and secure environment for people to explore their own dreams and aspirations. Yellow House has a proven track record for making major changes to young people's lives. We value the work that organisations such as Yellow house do so much and hope that they continue to change the lives of young people in our community.
Day 12 – 4 Corner
4 Corner A.B.C is a combat sports gym located in Fazakerley, Liverpool. The club's aim is to provide an inclusive safe space for young people and adults of all abilities to attend, participate and enjoy the sport of boxing. Using boxing and combat sports as a way to engage people in exercise whilst improving physical health and mental wellbeing. The gym provides an outlet and diversion for older teenagers who may otherwise be involved in low level crime and anti-social behaviour. It is so important to keep kids safe and transfer their focus and emotion into a passion or hobby such as boxing.
Big Help was able to provide 4 Corner with funding for equipment meant for young girls and more equipment necessary for the operations of the gym, making it possible for many young people in Fazakerley and Croxteth to participate in the activities. Boxing is more than a sport it transcends all aspects of life and will help you succeed in any area you wish to pursue. The trainers that promote and teach the sport are much more than another sports coach. They are a counsellor, a support figure, a friend, and a role model. Boxing is of the oldest sports in the world, it has done so much for society. If boxing were to be banned that would put a lot more youth back on the streets and in situations that are a lot more dangerous than the safe and controlled boxing ring.
We would like to thank 4 Corner for their work in the local community.