Making connections to support the Strath
A welcome new addition to the Strath capital will soon be opening its doors thanks to the hard work of local volunteers.
Crieff Connexions is setting up the Crieff Response Hub at 19 High Street, which will provide support to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in the area.
The initiative came out of a joint idea between Crieff Parish Church and youth group LOGOS.
Services offered from the hub, among other things, will include a school uniform bank, support and signposting on wellbeing and financial issues, and access to food through a community fridge.
Funding for the project has come from the Church of Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council’s participatory budget scheme and an award of £20,000 from the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund.
Elizabeth Philip, from Crieff Parish Church, explained: “After a positive community response to our recent survey we are moving forward with some of our ideas in partnership with others in the community.
“We will be working with a wide range of partners including, churches, social prescribers, voluntary organisations, PKAVS, local businesses and the community food bank.
“We also hope to work with partners to address rural connectivity and digital exclusion, and to provide technical support. This may take the form of a lending library of devices.
“It is our hope to provide a Timebank so that people in the community can support one another.
“If anyone is interested in volunteering they can make contact via email or our Facebook page. Remake will be running a ‘library of useful things’ and they will locate in our hub once a week.
“We will try to work on a recycle-reuse basis in each of these areas as we support people in our community.”
It is hoped with sufficient volunteers on board, the hub will be open six mornings a week.
It is hoped that in the future the Crieff Response Hub can move into larger premises and provide more services, such as an enterprise cafe and soft play area.
Caroline Murphy, from LOGOS, said:
“Our goal is to connect the community and share information. We want to develop partnerships and work with all areas of the community.
“It’s a bit of a dream seeing it coming to fruition.”
For more information on Crieff Connexions and the new hub, contact admin@crieffconnexions.org.uk