Exciting news! Our ‘Mentally Wealthy Moray!’ project has been shortlisted for ‘Money for Moray’s’ funding – we are looking for £4,000 this year to invest in our Champions network in Moray. We currently have over 80 people signed up as Champions who know firsthand how stigma and discrimination can make them, and those they love, social isolated.
We want to use our life experiences to help others, inspire them to challenge their preconceived ideas and connect with their community with our support. The money will let us pay for expenses for travel so that we can visit new groups, for us to put on more events in local areas with other groups, to pay for expenses like childcare or carers support so folk with commitments can get involved too.
Brilliant! I hope the hub wins the funding, but how can I help?
We need to make a short presentation of 2 min to the public on Saturday to try to convince them that we can be effective in creating this change. Those attending then vote for the winners – if you are free, and want a free lunch, come to the Grant Hall, Rothes at 10am. It will be finished by 2.30pm, but I don’t think you’ll have to wait all that time, just if you want to know the outcome.
Please tell your friends and below is the official press release for your information.
Press Release
Released March 9, 2017
MONEY FOR MORAY- LOCAL PROJECTS AIM TO TACKLE SOCIAL ISOLATION
Around 20 groups from across Moray will take part in a public voting event on Saturday 25th March, to compete for their share of a £40,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Community Choices Fund.
58 groups applied to the scheme, which closed to applicants on 10th February, for projects totalling over £117,000. Applicants that met the criteria will take turns to make a two minute presentation at the Grant Hall in Rothes on the 25th, with those attending at the open event voting for which projects should receive a share. Successful groups on the day will receive their cheques from Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Social isolation occurs when an individual experiences a lack or absence of contact such as with family or friends, community involvement or access to services. Applicants were invited to submit ideas for sustainable projects that offered new or additional activities to tackle social isolation.
Alastair Kennedy of the Money for Moray group said “This event will help those applicants who are successful to take their ideas for alleviating social isolation a step forward. This is done in the knowledge that their success is due to the majority of attendees voting for their individual application – which is real democracy at work.”
