Boost Fund Stories: Portobello Older People’s Project
Portobello Older People’s Project
The Boost Fund is delivered by Corra Foundation and is a partnership between STV Children’s Appeal, Comic Relief, and Corra Foundation, and is supported by players of Postcode Lottery. Boost is currently open to applications and provides small grants for community-led organisations across Scotland supporting local people affected by poverty or disadvantage.
Portobello Older People’s Project (POPP) is a lunch and social club for socially isolated older people and those living with dementia. It offers them the chance to get out of their homes, share a meal and participate in social activities such as games, discussions, entertainment and outings. It runs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from the Portobello Baptist Church Hall.
POPP set up back in 1992 to help reduce loneliness and isolation amongst older people in the local area. The purpose is as relevant today, possibly more so as families are physically separated, often by long distances.
POPP offer the opportunity to have lunch and to socialise with others and (if appropriate) give carers some time to themselves. Members are collected in the morning by bus and taken home again in the afternoon. Tea and coffee is served on arrival, and lunch is provided and an afternoon activity is shared. POPP celebrate the seasons with events like our annual Christmas and Halloween parties and Burns Night celebrations. We often put on entertainment by local musicians and offer activities like chair exercise classes.
We’ve had really lovely spring days out recently with Cycling Without Age Musselburgh at The Fisherrow Centre. Both were great fun and members are well wrapped up in blankets. One member declared “That was more vitamin D that I’ve had in the last year!”
POPP is led by a management committee. There are currently six Trustees, including a Chair and Treasurer. Day-to-day management is provided by a part-time, paid Project Organiser, supported by up to 20 volunteers.
The Boost Fund specifically allowed us breathing space to continue within an uncertain public finance landscape, after we heard that some of our main funding was being cut. The application process was straightforward, and relatively quick, with acknowledgement of our application and decision communicated speedily. It also gave us the financial security to be able to take on the local dementia project (Monday Club) when it faced closure.
Many thanks to Portobello Older People’s Project for writing this piece for us. You can follow them and find out more: Facebook
The Boost Fund is currently open to applications here.
