Cost of Living Public Meeting
Fersands & Fountain Community Project called a public meeting in early October 2022, to find out our communities’ thoughts on the Cost-of-Living Crisis. We wanted to find out how it affected people in the community and discuss what they thought could be done to help.
Over twenty people turned up for the meeting to show concern and talk about the effects.
To begin with, people started telling stories of how they have already been affected and that already they have seen their lives and routines changing.
“Its not only food and fuel its children’s clothes, pajamas, everything that used to be £3 or £4 pounds is now nearer to £10”
People agreed they are being far more careful when they shop, but bargains are few and far between. Many agreed they were now really rationing the heating or hot baths and showers. People said they had begun to eat less too and are buying more Frozen food.
What came across very strongly though, was the common feeling of fear, when completing the survey many people spoke of fear, stress, anxiousness, worry, those words were repeated.
Following the public meeting where a survey was conducted with 50 responses, the following suggestions seemed most popular. Bring back the monthly Free Meals, increase access to the Pantry, provide access to Food fuel /food Vouchers and many more suggestions.
The best thing to come from these meeting and the survey is that a new team of volunteers have been identified and we are going to work with them to provide some services that people really want. We will put on free transport to Supermarkets and provide free meals. We will open during holiday periods, offer a Warm Space, and free classes!
Family Centre Apply for Planning Permission
We have also submitted plans to Aberdeen City Council to alter the building and turn part of the Centre car park into a garden for the nursery children.
The ambitious plan will see a patio door entrance sheltered by a canopy, open up on to an exciting new garden area. The area will be resurfaced with several different materials, dividing up different learning and play areas. Fersands have contracted local firm, Tinto Architects, to help create the design, draw plans and manage the project.
When our Nursery arrived at the centre twelve years ago, the childcare service had far fewer children and the sessions were only for a couple of hours. Now the Family Centre offers pre school education for up to forty-four children every day! Each child now gets four and a half hours childcare every day so there is need for a larger garden for them to enjoy. The Centre also is encouraged to implement a Free Flow policy which allows children to decide if they want to play in or outside.
We also now recognise there is great value and strengths in outdoor learning as it can be so beneficial for children’s development. The increase in opportunity for physical exercise will help develop motor skills, balance etc, the bigger garden space will help promote science, learning about planting growing insects & wildlife.
The hope is to have a more colourful and stimulating space that children want to play in and is nicer for the community to look at as they pass by. This exciting creative development can demonstrate that we do really want to give the best possible start to the children in all our communities.
