Strong Foundations Grant announced in Bristol

Our Strong Foundations Grant was launched last month to attract community and charity groups in the Bristol region to apply for a share of our fund.

Following a 4-week application window, we received 15 applications via Action Funder from those eligible groups that require funding or support for new ideas or existing projects. Successful applications were shortlisted and a judging panel of Sir Robert McAlpine representatives selected the winning projects, which will be awarded up to £3,000 each.

Thank you to all those that applied and congratulations to our awardees.

Introducing our Bristol awardees

Rewild Child

The funds secured will pay towards a Youth Officer at Rewild Child to support young people experiencing mental ill-health/disadvantage in outdoor, nature connection activities that build skills, confidence and self-esteem. Through shared experiences in green spaces, young people will develop new friendships and develop greater ownership for their community. 40% of places are designated for young people experiencing inequality.

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Incredible Kids Summer Club

As a grassroots charity formed by parents of disabled children, Incredible Kids is in a unique position to really know and understand the needs of its beneficiaries. They are able to get to know all of their families individually and ensure that the service reflects their needs and grows with them. Funding will pay for Playworkers at their Saturday Summer Holiday Club where disabled children and their siblings can meet, make friends, have fun and become less isolated this summer.

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Alive Dementia – Friendly Allotment

The goal of the project is to improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia and their carers. The allotment will bring them together, provide opportunities to meet regularly, connect with nature, share gardening knowledge, learn new skills, make friends, build confidence, and improve the local environment. Funding will be spent on a trained facilitator to support beneficiaries in their gardening activities.

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The Virtual Cooking Club

Funding from our Strong Foundations Grant will enable Square Food Foundation to positively impact the health, connectedness, and life chances of families. They will introduce 25 families to new foods and flavours and encourage them to try cooking and eating new dishes. They will inspire up to 75 children to take an interest in food and cooking and show up to 50 parents that cooking with their kids doesn't have to be messy, expensive or scary! The kits are a way for families to get to know Square Food from their homes and pave the way for them to sign up to classes in the future. The kits also provide a lever for families to meet and engage with each other over social media where they share pictures of their recipes, make suggestions and ask questions. Funding will pay for overheads, ingredients & packaging and staff costs.

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Reducing older adults’ social isolation and loneliness

The project allows Somali elders in Bristol to have a purpose, get out of the house, meet people, socialise and learn. It will improve their physical and mental wellbeing and alleviate isolation and depression in old people from a Somali background who are isolated. Bristol Somali Resource Centre will offer them befriending services, online information sessions and telephone support during Covid-19 restrictions. When the restrictions are lifted, they will run activities such as gentle exercise, sight-seeing trips and wellbeing information sessions. Funding will be used to pay running cost of the project including volunteers' expenses, room hire, transport cost and refreshments.

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We're delighted that we can extend our virtual cooking club to more children and families across South Bristol. With support from Sir Robert McAlpine, we can encourage children and families to cook, support them to try new foods without worrying about cost or waste, and provide them with some skills for a healthy, happy future.
Claire, Square Food Foundation