1. What do you want to do?

Thurso Community Cafe CIC wants to develop Thurso Thrive, expanding the café into a stronger community helping hub focused on mental health and wellbeing, poverty, isolation and early intervention.

Funding will allow us to employ a Community Impact Manager to lead the next stage of the organisation's development.

The role will:

• develop new mental health and wellbeing activities and support groups;

• strengthen our existing one-to-one support and mentoring;

• develop practical responses to poverty, including food support and access to affordable/free activities;

• create clearer pathways for people to access specialist mental health, financial, housing, employability and other services;

• increase opportunities for volunteering, skills development and progression;

• develop activities for young people and families;

• consult local people to identify gaps in existing provision;

• build stronger partnerships with schools, NHS services, third-sector organisations, community groups and local businesses;

• develop new community projects in response to identified need;

• improve monitoring and measurement of our social impact;

• identify funding and income opportunities to make projects sustainable;

• create a longer-term development plan for Thurso Community Cafe.

The Impact Manager will help us move from delivering a number of individual activities to providing a more coordinated community helping hub, where people can receive practical support and be connected to the right opportunities and services.

2. Why is your project important for your community?

Through our everyday work we meet people experiencing loneliness, poor mental health, financial hardship, food insecurity, lack of confidence and social isolation.

The strength of Thurso Community Cafe is its informal and welcoming approach. People do not need to identify themselves as needing help to walk through our doors. Someone may initially come for a coffee, free food, clothes, an activity or simply some company. This gives us an opportunity to build trust, identify when additional support may be helpful and connect people with appropriate services.

We believe there is a need for more early intervention and community-based support, particularly for people who may not engage with formal services.

Thurso Thrive will complement rather than duplicate existing services. The Impact Manager will work closely with other organisations to identify gaps and develop partnerships.

The project supports local Place Plan priorities around creating a healthier, more connected and resilient community; improving opportunities and wellbeing; reducing inequalities; supporting community-led activity; and ensuring local people have access to services and opportunities.

Thurso Thrive will also give residents a greater voice. Consultation and regular feedback will help determine what activities and services are developed.

3. What positive impact will your project have?

Thurso Thrive will help create a stronger, healthier and better-connected community.

We expect to see:

• reduced social isolation and loneliness;

• improved mental health and wellbeing;

• earlier access to appropriate support;

• increased access to food and practical assistance for people experiencing financial hardship;

• increased confidence, resilience and social connection;

• more volunteering and skills-development opportunities;

• improved opportunities for young people and families;

• stronger pathways into education, training, volunteering and employment;

• greater collaboration between community organisations and services;

• new projects developed directly from community need;

• better evidence of the difference our work makes.

We want people to move from crisis to connection, and from connection to opportunity.

Success could be as simple as an isolated person beginning to attend the café regularly, or it could mean someone progressing from receiving support to volunteering, gaining confidence, learning new skills or moving towards employment.

The longer-term impact will be a more sustainable Thurso Community Cafe with the capacity to respond effectively to changing community needs.

4. What key milestones have you achieved so far and what will your next steps be?

Thurso Community Cafe is already an established community organisation with premises, staff, volunteers, activities and partnerships in place.

We already provide community support, one-to-one assistance, volunteering opportunities, food support, reuse and affordable clothing, youth activities, health and wellbeing initiatives and community events.

Community Engagement & Support Evidenced: Our existing work gives us regular contact with local residents and first-hand understanding of emerging community needs. We will continue consultation throughout Thurso Thrive.

Project Plan/Feasibility/Business Case: The development of Thurso Thrive and the Community Impact Manager role forms the next stage of our organisational planning. A detailed annual work plan, targets and impact-measurement framework will be developed.

Necessary Consents: The majority of activities will take place within our existing community facilities and through partnership activity. Any additional permissions required for individual future projects will be obtained before delivery.

Quotes Obtained: Staffing and project costs are being developed as part of the funding process, with quotes obtained for additional project costs where required.

Funding Applications Submitted: We are actively identifying and approaching funders and partners to support the development of Thurso Thrive and its longer-term sustainability.

Our next steps will be to secure funding, recruit the Community Impact Manager, undertake wider community consultation, map existing services and gaps, agree partnership priorities, establish baseline impact measures and begin developing new activities.

During the first year, we will also produce a three-year development and sustainability plan for Thurso Thrive.

5. Anticipated Start and End Date

Anticipated start date: January 2027 Anticipated end date: December 2028

We propose an initial two-year development period. This will provide sufficient time for the Community Impact Manager to establish the project, develop partnerships, introduce new activities, measure outcomes and secure a sustainable future for successful elements of Thurso Thrive.

Our ambition is that Thurso Thrive will continue beyond the funded period and become an established part of Thurso Community Cafe's long-term work – providing a welcoming helping hub where people can find support, connection and opportunities to move forward.