We wish to improve and upgrade our site in Alness, with a new building that can see us through winter and improve and extend our community garden to make it accessible for everyone in the area.
Estimated Price
70000
Flip of the Coin CIC seeks funding to continue to deliver an ongoing, trauma-informed, creativity and nature-based wellbeing programme for people experiencing poverty, isolation, and poor mental health in the Highlands. Funding will enable us to continue to:
Provide regular group sessions at our community garden, The Flipside, including: Art, craft, and creative expression workshops. Gardening and outdoor nature connection activities. Informal peer support circles and group wellbeing sessions.
Deliver structured one-to-one support for participants who need additional help: Wellbeing check-ins and emotional support. Life-coaching and confidence-building interventions. Supported introductions to new environments for participants experiencing anxiety.
Offer volunteering and peer support pathways for participants ready to progress, including: Mentoring and co-facilitation opportunities in group activities. Skills development in community engagement, gardening, and creative delivery.
Enhance community accessibility and engagement by: Removing barriers for rural participants and those experiencing social or financial disadvantage. Providing transport support, flexible session times, and non-clinical, welcoming spaces. Co-designing activities with participants to ensure relevance and empowerment.
Funding will cover facilitator fees, materials and tools for creative and gardening activities, training for peer volunteers, and small grants for transport or participation support. We also need a building on site; our community is growing, and we need a large, solid, warm indoor space for winter.
The Highlands is home to communities facing significant challenges related to poverty, isolation, and mental health, particularly in rural areas where access to services is limited. Flip of the Coin CIC addresses these gaps by providing:
Trauma-informed, non-clinical support: Many participants struggle to engage with statutory services due to previous negative experiences or anxiety. Our women-led, lived-experience-informed approach ensures participants feel safe and understood. Reducing health inequalities: By combining creative, nature-based, and peer support activities, we offer early interventions that improve long-term mental and physical wellbeing, particularly for those who would otherwise be excluded. Community reconnection: The Flipside garden is a ‘third space’ where participants can rebuild social networks, reduce isolation, and reconnect with their local environment. This is particularly aligned with the Highland Council Areas Place Plan priorities of enhancing community wellbeing, supporting vulnerable residents, and promoting inclusive participation.
Alignment with the Areas Place Plan: Improving mental health and wellbeing: Our sessions directly support strategies to enhance individual and community mental health resilience. Reducing rural isolation: By providing a local, accessible space, and supporting transport for those living remotely, we tackle geographical barriers to engagement. Building inclusive communities: Through co-designed activities, volunteering pathways, and peer mentoring, we empower participants to take an active role in their community. Sustainability and local employment: Most staff are recruited locally, bringing valuable lived experience, which strengthens community cohesion and capacity.
The project is expected to generate multiple positive outcomes for participants and the wider community:
Individual outcomes: Improved mental health and reduced stress and anxiety through trauma-informed creative and nature-based activities. Increased confidence, self-esteem, and resilience via 1:1 coaching and supported peer interactions. Skills development in art, craft, gardening, and peer support roles, improving employability and volunteering opportunities. Stronger social networks and reduced isolation, particularly for women living in rural or economically disadvantaged areas.
Community outcomes: A stronger, more connected local community where vulnerable residents feel included and supported. Growth of local volunteering and peer support structures that empower participants to help others. Contribution to the wider wellbeing agenda in the Highlands by demonstrating effective, scalable models for rural trauma-informed support.
Long-term impact: Reduced demand on statutory services by providing early interventions that support mental health and social wellbeing. Participants progressing from attendance into peer support or volunteering roles will help sustain and expand the programme, creating a cycle of empowerment and community capacity building.
Key milestones achieved: Community engagement and support evidenced: Worked with over 120 people since Jan 25 Project plan/feasibility/business case created: A detailed plan outlining session delivery, participant pathways, and evaluation methods has been developed. Necessary consents obtained: Risk assessments, insurance, and health & safety protocols for community garden activities are in place. Quotes obtained: Costs for materials, tools, facilitator fees, and transport support have been collected. Funding applications submitted: This application is part of our strategy to secure sustainable funding to continue and expand delivery.
Next steps: Recruit and train additional peer volunteers to support group activities and mentoring pathways. Expand creative and gardening sessions to accommodate increased participant numbers, while maintaining personalised support. Implement a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track wellbeing improvements, social connectedness, and participant progression. Develop a long-term sustainability plan, including potential collaborations with local health and community partners.
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