6 Projects Funded
Browse all the community projects we've supported. Each one represents your contribution to making Helensburgh better.
Funding towards a Social Outing with Transport and catering for residents
Waverley Court Residents Social Group
As a Group of Retired Residents we meet socially and try to keep active arranging social activities internally and many charity fundraising events over many years. We would like to treat our residents to a day / afternoon out with a lunch or afternoon tea supplied. However as the prohibitive cost of coaches and mini buses make this an impossibility we would ask you to consider us in your purusal of your funding.
Supporting 30 beneficiaries
TAI-hard with a ZEN-gence
Helensburgh and Lomond Grey Matters
The project provides a weekly Seated Tai Chi class for older people. The class is already running successfully and funding is needed to continue and sustain the programme. It offers a safe, accessible form of gentle exercise that supports physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connection. The project benefits older people in the local community, particularly those with reduced mobility, balance issues, long-term health conditions, or who are at risk of loneliness and social isolation. The class improves strength, balance and confidence, helping reduce the risk of falls and supporting independence. It also supports mental health, reducing anxiety and improving mood through mindful movement and routine. Socially, it brings people together, reducing isolation and strengthening community connections. Family members have also expressed their thanks for what we do - they know older relatives are part of a caring community group and loved ones supported to improve both physical and mental health. Our Tai Chi instructor also produces YouTube videos for members who can't attend the class every week or for those who want to do homework. The funding we are asking for (together with our own fundraising) will support the group for a year. Cost of instructor per year is £1,500.
Supporting 35 beneficiaries
The Listening Ear
Visibility Scotland (formerly GWSSB)
Our Listening Ear project supports blind and vision impaired people across Scotland through information, advice and wellbeing support. Although based in Glasgow, Visibility Scotland hosts a busy bi-monthly meeting in the United Reformed Church at 35 West Princes Street in Helensburgh on the second Wednesday of every second month. This friendly peer support group is very well attended and has occasional speakers from the Sensory Impairment team, Assistive technology experts, local carers organisations etc. This has the benefit of keeping the (mainly) elderly attendees up to date with solutions which help them thrive despite their visual disability. This wards against isolation and loneliness and allows people to exchange hints and tips in a warm, safe space over a cuppa. Visibility Scotland are experts in the field of improving the lives of people with sight loss since 1859. We have had a presence in Helensburgh for over 10 years. Both staff members who attend and facilitate the meetings have lived experience of sight loss themselves, providing empathy and insight into the concerns of this vulnerable community.
Supporting 55 beneficiaries
Club Summer Outing, June 2025
Helensburgh & District Chest, Heart and Stroke Club
Established 33 years ago, run by volunteers, self-funded for people who have had strokes or heart/lung conditions. Aims to reduce isolation and build confidence. The requested funding covers an annual group outing (Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre in Glasgow + lunch at IKEA). Total cost: ~£495.
Supporting 25 beneficiaries
Helensburgh Lunch Club Christmas lunch and replacement of the lunch club freezer
The Helensburgh Lunch Club
A highlight of the calendar is the Club's Christmas lunch, provided free of charge to all members. Almost all members are widows or widowers, mostly living on their own, often isolated in the community, and very often unable to cook for themselves. About a quarter of members are over ninety years of age, and two members are registered blind. All members look forward to socialising at the club at lunchtimes, and especially look forward to the Christmas lunch. Members overwhelmingly rate the opportunity for socialising and 'getting out' as the most important aspects of the lunch club, highlighting both social and mental health benefits. Many directly reference how it 'combats isolation', 'combats loneliness' and say that 'people care about me here'. Expected Christmas lunch cost is £500. An additional part of this project is the need to replace the club's antiquated and failing freezer, important to the continued functioning of the club. Beko UFF4584W Frost Free Under Counter Freezer costing £260.
Supporting 60 beneficiaries
KEEPING ACTIVE
Grey Matters Active Ageing
We run 3 fitness classes per week for older people, to improve strength and balance and reduce falls, slips and trips, to improve physical and mental health and also reducing loneliness and isolation. We hire trained professionals to facilitate these classes. Feedback from attendees is collated regularly and the groups have made a huge difference to the mobility and flexibility of members. One member reported that the classes helped her to recover from a hip operation another said its helped her to cope after a bereavement. Another has said the groups have given them a new outlook on life and they now have a circle of friends. (The Peer support in the group is wonderful) We have members with long term health conditions such as Parkinson's who attend the Tai Chi and they have reported many benefits too. Many people who attend are also Carers for a spouse and see these groups as 'Their Time' a chance to improve their health but also a chance to socialise and relax. We welcome self referrals and referrals from Health Professionals, family members and friends. We are a preventative measure and we see our groups and interventions reducing pressure on family and indeed the health services, that along with improving the life of the attendee we believe we make a huge impact our community. Our 3 groups including facilitation and hall hire would cost us around £5300 per year to run. We had applied to the Argyll and Bute Councils Supporting Community Fund Without any Success. We ask attendees for a small donation towards groups if they can afford it. Any funding we could get would be greatly appreciated and we are fully aware of all the wonderful causes in Helensburgh and Lomond that are equally worthy and needing funding.
Supporting 50 beneficiaries
Have a Project That Needs Funding?
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