Progress to date

Through a successful business case funding application to Firstport, they awarded Start It grant funding; greatly supporting us in establishing legal structures, insurance cover, venue hire, promotional items and website development. 

The initial 6-month period involved raising the profile of the company, meeting with a range of prospective partners, scoping needs and gaps in local provision, whilst submitting a number of funding applications. These were supported with local support recognising the value in what a recovery café approach would bring with people advising of limited opportunities.

Interim project management work was delivered between April and September within Join the Dots, supporting development of a holistic ‘one stop shop’ model supporting people within community justice. This being a successful project through implementing the approach with input from a range of partners where participants benefitted from a number of developmental opportunities and interests.  

As part of funding allocated by Firstport, this supported identifying premises and agreeing a long-term hall let at the Howard Centre, located within central Kilmarnock, with availability on a Friday evening. This being an ideal arrangement to hosting a recovery café as the centre currently providing a range of projects, particularly reaching marginalised groups; sharing the same ethos and value base.

Access to the Centre kitchen facilities is available from 1pm each Friday in order to prepare food in advance for a 5pm opening. There are also smaller rooms available should people wish to engage with more individualised support from other service providers; along with the option of delivering thematic groups during café opening. 

Following a number of funding applications for the provision of recovery cafes within the local prison and community, we were delighted the National Lottery Awards for All awarded a grant of £8,288 however they required this being match funded in the knowledge of awaiting a decision from the Alliance Scotland Self-Management Fund. We were ecstatic hearing a grant of £30,000 had been awarded for an 18-month period. This was announced at the Scottish Parliament in early October during Self-Management Week. The funding supporting us taking the next steps of moving the vision to actions and allowing us implementing the café model.