Expand our Community Hub to seven-day opening, improving access to crisis support, mental health, wellbeing and community activities for people of all ages across Easter Ross.
Estimated Cost
£150,000
Fox & Friends Highland Funding Statement Fox & Friends Highland is seeking £150,000 of revenue funding to expand our Community Hub from three days a week to seven days a week, allowing us to meet growing demand and provide more accessible support, wellbeing activities and early intervention services for people across Easter Ross. Our vision is to ensure that everyone has access to a safe, welcoming and supportive community hub throughout the week, including evenings and weekends when many other services are unavailable. By being there when people need us most, we can intervene earlier, prevent problems from escalating into crisis, strengthen mental health and wellbeing, and build a more connected and resilient community. Our Community Hub has been open for around 18 months and has already become a trusted community asset, with between 100 and 150 people accessing our services each week. In addition, on a busy week, over 100 families access our Community Food Share (Food Bank), demonstrating the significant and growing demand for practical support across Easter Ross. Fox & Friends Highland established the Community Hub around 18 months ago after extensive discussions with local residents, partner organisations and statutory services, all of whom identified a growing need for one central community hub within the area. We recognised the importance of creating a welcoming space where people could access support, activities and multiple services under one roof. Today, the hub is home to 12 partner organisations, providing employability support, early years and family intervention, adult mental health services, welfare advice, youth projects, additional support needs groups and intergenerational activities. By encouraging partnership working, information sharing and a holistic approach to supporting individuals and families, we ensure people receive the right support at the right time. We are located in an area of multiple deprivation where demand for our Community Food Share (Food Bank) and wider support services has increased dramatically over the past few months, reflecting the growing challenges facing individuals and families across Easter Ross. While many people reach us in crisis, we believe that early intervention is key. Equally, many people visit simply for friendship, activities and connection, helping to reduce loneliness and improve mental health and wellbeing before problems escalate. Our hub has truly been built by the community, for the community. Local people have helped renovate and paint the building, create our community garden and shape the activities and services we provide. At the heart of our hub is our Community Drop-in Room, which is open to anyone who would like company, support or simply a cup of tea and a friendly chat. There is no referral or appointment required—just a warm, welcoming space where people can feel safe, connected and supported. In addition to our three weekly Community Drop-in sessions, we also operate a 24-hour emergency food parcel collection and delivery service for people requiring urgent support outside our opening hours. Demand for this service has increased by approximately 30% over the last three months, highlighting the growing level of need within our community. Our out-of-hours service currently supports between 8 and 15 families every week with emergency food assistance. By extending our opening hours, we will be far more accessible, enabling more people to receive face-to-face support, practical advice, companionship and early intervention, reducing reliance on emergency out-of-hours assistance and helping people before they reach crisis point. We already deliver a wide range of community-led wellbeing activities identified through local consultation and requested by residents and partner organisations. These include our Men's Meet, Women's Knit & Natter, Family Bingo, intergenerational afternoon teas, three weekly Community Drop-in sessions, where the kettle is always on, our Community Food Share (Food Bank), and the area's only Additional Support Needs family dinner group, where the whole family can come together to enjoy a nutritious meal in a safe, welcoming environment. We also provide Fox Tots toddler sessions, a monthly community market, and regular community outreach in schools, care homes, libraries and at community events. With additional funding, we will introduce a range of new community-led groups requested by local people and partner organisations. These include an ASN Youth Club, after-school activities, a wellbeing group for people living with cognitive decline, a wellbeing group for people living with lifelong physical or mental health conditions, a community gardening and growing group, and more inclusive community events such as discos, quiz nights, Burns Suppers and seasonal celebrations. We will also expand our successful partnerships with local primary schools and Alness Academy to schools across Easter Ross, giving more children and young people the opportunity to take part in intergenerational projects and community activities that improve confidence, wellbeing and community connection. Our ambition is to create a seven-day community wellbeing hub that supports people from birth through later life, strengthens mental health and wellbeing, reduces loneliness and social isolation, provides early intervention before people reach crisis, and ensures everyone has somewhere safe, welcoming and supportive to turn. Together, we will build a healthier, more connected and resilient Easter Ross where everyone has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive. I think this now reads as a very strong funding case. It clearly explains the need, the evidence of demand, what you've already achieved in 18 months, and exactly how the funding will expand your impact across Easter Ross.
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