Community Creative Studios - Activity Afternoons

Hey, is great you're here. 

You may already know a bit about us but lets just have a little recap on this journey so far. 

I'm Amy, and I have run my own small business for over 10 years now, supported by my family. 

Last year after seeing the mental health benefits of creative classes and also personally noticing the lack of support for people locally we decided to set up a community interest company.

Now there was a personal drive behind this as well, our son George who was 15 at the time, and was about to leave an education system that didn't fit his needs, was struggling with a lack of groups that he could attend and be with his peers and also with things that made him feel capable and gave him a sense of achievement.

Unfortunately this is true for so many people in our community, so we pushed forward to try and make a change.

We found and took over new premises in July 2024, it needed a lot of updating to fit our needs but with some funding and a lot of friends and family support we were soon seeing big changes. 

Then it was trying to get our name out there and let people know what we are trying to achieve.

Our aim is to improve peoples mental health and wellbeing and reduce isolation in our community.

We have met some lovely people so far and the class space is used for regular monthly groups, book club, meet and makes and a men's mental health support group, as well as being used by other CICs in the area to host their own groups to support our community. 

Personally I have had to learn about righting grant applications and how fierce the competition is. Although we have been lucky in receiving support from Social Enterprise Kent to run Epilepsy support groups, Thanet district council to host a meet and make group and Margate Mayors office to help with wheelchair ramps and fire extinguisher costs.

And that leads me to the reason for this Crowdfunder.....

3 weeks ago I met with 3 local occupational therapists who were desperate to find some groups that people in the community they work with could attend. They talked about how local resources were dwindling with groups closing and how that is leaving people with no where to go. They told me that they discharge people leaving them with activities and 3 months pass and they see the same person again who isn't getting out because things are closing. 

Adults in our community are being left with no purpose to their day and often alone and isolated. 

You might not see yourself or loved one as an adult with complex needs but the definition is :

Adults with complex needs are defined as people aged 18 or over who need a high level of support with many aspects of their daily life, and relying on a range of health and social care services. This may be because of illness, disability, broader life circumstances or a combination of these.

The aim with this funding is to support the running of a weekly afternoon session for 2 years that people can attend with a carer if needed. We will have a range of activities on each week and have some guest attendees in to offer a variety of sessions. If we can raise enough we will also use the funding to create an nice undercover seating area in our yard with seating and tables for outdoor activities, with raised beds for planting. 

The yard currently

We want to create a space that people can be welcomed and be part of a community, get out of the house and have some independence. Hopefully improving mental wellbeing. 

If these are popular and capacity met then we will look at extending to 2 afternoons.