This June, we saw communities around the UK come together for the Great Get Together. With social distancing restrictions in place, many of these interactions took place online. Inspired by the inventive ways that people found to connect virtually, we partnered with Facebook to launch the Great Get Together Facebook Community Grants Scheme.
Through the scheme we are delighted to have funded 11 community projects across the country that are working to bring people together online and on social media. From virtual feasts to inspirational speakers, each project is – in its own way – helping to build stronger communities.
Read more about these amazing projects below.
Intergenerational Music Making
Surrey-based Intergenerational Music Making combine 30 years experience to bridge social divides using music, improving the mental health and wellbeing of those involved at the same time. Using this grant, IMM will be developing a Care to Create Hub that brings together resources to encourage intergenerational connection through music.
https://www.imm-music.com/
Naz Legacy Foundation
The Naz Legacy Foundation are hoping to ‘Break the Glass’ with this grant, by hosting a series of talks from inspirational speakers, such as Miriam Gonzalez Durantez and Cllr Jas Athwal, the first and only Sikh Council Leader in London. With this excellent lineup of speakers, Break the Glass aims to raise the aspirations of young people by giving them the opportunity to hear from people who were just like them and faced obstacles on the route to success.
http://www.nazlegacy.org/
Bridges for Communities
Bristol’s Bridges for Communities are passionate about connecting people of different cultures and faiths. Over the next few months their Peace Feasts will bring people together using three simple ingredients: food; stories; and friendship. You can learn more here: https://www.peacefeast.org/
Nova New Opportunities
Co-organisers of West London’s TedXLadbrokeGrove, Nova New Opportunities are hoping to keep the momentum going in the run up to next year’s TedX event by hosting a series of virtual salons exploring themes ranging from race to education, the environment to a universal basic income. 2020 has shaken things up, the question is how do we move forward to build a better world together?
Trapped in Zone One
Great Get Togethers always provide positivity to Tower Hamlets and Trapped in Zone One are hoping to continue that. They are working together with grassroots organisations to host a creative event to empower local communities to come together.
https://www.trappedinzoneone.com
BBest Hub
BBest Hub is made up of 22 schools in the Batley and Birstall area of West Yorkshire, providing support to over 8,000 children and their families. In response to the pandemic BBest Hub will be using this grant to increase their online presence and remain at the heart of the local community online.
Chit-chat
Formed in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, chit-chat provided a non-judgemental space for people to have a chat about anything! At its core, chit-chat focuses on finding common ground and sparking a conversation whether it’s over sport, music or food. Through chit-chat UNITE, the chit-chat team will bring together people from different backgrounds in Blackburn with Darwen on Zoom to take part in group activities, working together to solve problems and complete tasks.
Kumon Y’all
The last few months have seen people – both the young and the elderly – feel isolated and disconnected. Yorkshire-based Kumon Y’all’s ‘Let’s Engage’ project will teach young people how to make a video guide on how to use Facebook. This will then be shared with older people in local residential homes, helping them to stay connected virtually, during the difficult months ahead.
C4WS Homeless Project
C4WS Homeless Project supports those who are homeless to access housing, employment and other holistic welfare to enable them to rebuild their lives. As part of this, they run a Jobs Club to support the employability needs of those who use their night shelter. Now, with the help of this grant, the Jobs Club will take place online, ensuring C4WS can continue to help those that are homeless rebuild their lives.
https://c4wshomelessproject.org/
The Sporting Memories Foundation
Talking about sport is the bedrock of Sporting Memories Clubs for older people, whether they happen face-to-face or online. That’s why they have launched #TalkAboutSport, to demonstrate to as many people as possible the health, wellbeing and social benefits of talking about sport. With their in-person clubs closed, Sporting Memories are opening new channels of communication, using Facebook as a platform for their members to come together online, whilst adding resources and guidance to their website as well.
https://www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com/
Leonard Cheshire
Leonard Cheshire work to support communities that are inclusive to all, with the interests of people with disabilities and long term conditions at the centre of everything that they do.
With visits to their care homes heavily restricted, residents have little face-to-face interaction. To help tackle this the Inclusive Communities Events will run 5 virtual hubs across the UK, hosting events that provide an opportunity for communities to come together, interact and tackle feelings of loneliness and isolation.
