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    Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club: Championing Football and Mental Health

    Miriam Leighton on 16 November, 2022

    Bonnyrigg Rose Community FC (CFC) is a football club that is gaining recognition for its work championing mental health and wellbeing in Midlothian. As such, it was one of four local charities to receive a larger grant from the Midlothian Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund in 2022. A total of £36,884 was awarded via Midlothian Third Sector Interface to enable the ongoing development of services for local people, including peer support groups, mental health training courses and refurbishments to the club’s community hub building.

    The way the BRCFC’s staff and trustees see it, football and mental health are deeply inter-connected. It wasn’t always this way however, because prior to 2019 the club’s main concern had been to ensure that its ageing astro-pitch was replaced. Community programmes were seen as being important, but up until that point they had been viewed as more of a side project to football related activities.

    A pivotal moment came when the club held a special one-off community event in the summer of 2019, with the input of Midlothian Council’s Communities and Lifelong Learning team. At the event local people were asked about what their town needed and what they wanted from the club, by completing a survey tool known as the ‘Place Standard’. The responses gathered highlighted that Bonnyrigg lacked groups and activities for older people, as well as needing more targeted opportunities for young people. It also became clear that the club had the potential to play a role in championing grassroots mental health initiatives. This meant moving beyond a focus on sport alone, embedding themes such as wellbeing and connectedness more deeply throughout the club’s community programmes.

    Trish Sime (Development Manager) and Jim Wilson (General Manager).

    Since 2019 the club has worked with organisations such as Health in Mind to expand the delivery of initiatives including ‘Midlothian Men Matter’. BRCFC’s premises also provides space for several groups which help to reduce loneliness and isolation among local people. Given the high rates of suicide among young men in Scotland and the club’s ability to reach this target group through football and sport, an key date in the calendar for Bonnyrigg Rose is Suicide Prevention Week, which takes place every year in September. To raise awareness of this issue, the club has hosted free Mental Health First Aid training for anyone in Midlothian with an interest in attending. Group based coaching work with younger men who are struggling to cope has also been a feature of the club’s provision over the past 18 months, alongside school-based wellbeing programmes, yoga, free counselling and peer support activities.

    We caught up with Trish Sime (Development Manager) and Jim Wilson (General Manager), a few months after they received the club’s grant from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, to find out what has been achieved so far. Trish and Jim explained that the Fund has given them more freedom to continue linking football and mental health together by giving them additional resources – including core staffing hours – to focus in on progressing their plans for more community-based provision. Knowing that physical space is a particularly important resource and in short supply, the club got to work quickly in using their capital grant to replace old windows in the community hub building, making it a warmer and more welcoming facility. By investing in physical spaces where people can connect with each other more, the club is paving the way for further investments in community mental health and wellbeing.

    Having charted the huge efforts made by BRCFC to support mental health and wellbeing in Midlothian, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) found that the impact of community participation in the club was worth an amazing £3.95 million. This commendable achievement is underpinned by UEFA’s commitment to support the club and its activities in the longer term, helping to build an even stronger foundation for the involvement of the community in helping to decide on future priorities (not just those that related to football)

    Speaking about the connection between sport, community and mental health, Trish Sime told us:

    “Sport brings people together. Through teamwork and a positive attitude, relationships are fostered, and trust is created. People rely on their teammates, friends, and peers to help them through challenges – both on the field and off. Using the power of football and sport in general to talk openly about mental health and to break the stigma is positive, and it’s the right thing to do.”

    Trish Sime

    We couldn’t say it better than that, and we’re keen to see what comes next for the club because the future for BRCFC looks bright. You can follow BRCFC on Twitter or check out the main BRFC club website for more info about what they are up to.

    Midlothian Third Sector Interface Communications Internship

    Miriam Leighton on 16 November, 2022

    £9.50 per hour in line with the national living wage.
    21 hours / 3 days per week. Hours can be worked flexibly provided two days are spent in the Dalkeith office each week.

    This post will allow the successful applicant to develop their professional skills in communications.

    It would particularly suit a graduate who is considering a career in communications, marketing and/or the third sector. As part of the role, training and guidance will be given about the third sector in Scotland and how Midlothian Third Sector Interface (TSI) works. The post holder will also be encouraged to attend courses from Midlothian Voluntary Action’s annual training programme, plus other opportunities from local and national providers such as Business Gateway, Just Enterprise and SCVO.

    The internship will be a chance to learn and understand more about the local third sector in Scotland, including how charities are run and governed, volunteering and social enterprise. There will be the chance to work on events, provision of training, social media, website development, Google analytics, design/infographics and copywriting.

    Candidates can only view the vacancy once they have been accepted into the GCAS Talent pool. Job Reference GCAS492.

    Closing date 5pm on 29 November 2022.

    Resist potential cuts to third sector budgets

    Miriam Leighton on 25 October, 2022

    We are once again concerned that there will be cuts to third sector budgets by statutory funders.

    We wish to strongly resist this, and we are keen to make sure that decision-makers are aware of the impact of cuts. Therefore, we have created this short survey which aims to identify how much additional funding statutory grants/SLAs allow us to lever in, the volunteer input it facilitates, and the number of jobs at risk. Please take a moment to contribute to this very important research.

    Complete survey

    Midlothian Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund goes live this Monday

    Miriam Leighton on 13 October, 2022

    An image of a sunflower is being used to promote the Fund in Midlothian.

    We’re pleased to announce that the Midlothian Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund will re-open for Year 2 applications at midday on Monday 17th October. Our local guidance documents will be released then as well, along with application forms for three separate grant streams.

    The Fund, which has been issued by the Scottish Government to every TSI across Scotland, is being used to promote mental health and wellbeing through community based activity led by local third sector organisations and voluntary groups. TSI’s will distribute the Fund to these other organisations over the next few months.

    The Fund has a strong emphasis on collaboration, capacity building and the development of creative projects that can work at a very grassroots level, together with local people. It is being overseen in Midlothian by a team of staff and volunteers from the TSI, Midlothian Council, Health in Mind, CAPS Collective Advocacy and Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership.

    In Year 2, we will be looking out for project proposals related to themes including suicide prevention (particularly younger men), bereavement/loss, trauma, community transport and accessible spaces. The use of creative approaches such as the arts, sport, or physical activity is very relevant and could even be the main vehicle for project delivery, so long as clear links are made to mental health and wellbeing outcomes. The Fund is geared towards those groups that are most at risk, including people from black and minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ people, and those living in poverty.

    This is a great opportunity for people in communities to turn ideas into reality by sourcing some new or additional money to get things going. If you’ve got a proposal for how the mental health and wellbeing of people in your community could be improved, get in touch for a chat to see if it would be worth applying. More information about the Fund in Midlothian, and the Year 2 guidance for Midlothian, can be found here.

    TSI Statement on the Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

    Miriam Leighton on 9 September, 2022

    We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the afternoon of Thursday 8th September 2022. The Queen dedicated her life to serving the British people and was a strong supporter of charities and volunteering in Scotland. It is the end of an era and marks the passing of time in a period of significant change and uncertainty.

    Midlothian’s Lord-Lieutenant and Provost Richard Callander, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and the UK Government’s Prime Minister Liz Truss all paid tribute to The Queen yesterday. Books of condolence will be open on Friday 9 September from 10am at venues across Midlothian. There will also be the opportunity to leave flowers in some locations. You can find full details of this on Midlothian Council’s website.

    We are awaiting information about what will happen next and will circulate a further update to the third sector in Midlothian once guidance is issued. 

    Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2022 – Winners

    Miriam Leighton on 16 June, 2022

    Midlothian Volunteer Award Winners 2022

    The Midlothian Volunteer Awards are all about celebrating the amazing efforts of volunteers in Midlothian. The awards take place every year during Volunteers’ Week (from the 1-7th June) and are a great opportunity to promote some of the fabulous volunteering projects that exist in Midlothian.

    Congratulations to this year’s winners (full details here).

    Jim Hiddleston

    Miriam Leighton on 25 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Wellbeing Essentials

    Jim Hiddleston is a long-standing and well-known volunteer in the Roslyn area, however his recent involvement with the new social enterprise ‘Wellbeing Essentials’ has included some incredible work during the latter stages of the Covid pandemic. As part of this project Jim helped to drive forward eight different new start-up initiatives throughout 2021 including the Roslin Rustie Walk, Roslin’s Loving Local Now and Rosslyn Community Bowling Club. Jim’s contributions have made a big impact in Roslin and he is a very valued member of the local community.

    Ageing Well Volunteer Team

    Miriam Leighton on 11 May, 2022

    The Aging Well Volunteer Team have done a tremendous job this year supporting people over the age of 50 – many with long term health conditions – to lead a more active lifestyle. Throughout Midlothian the volunteers offer 45 activities each week including health walks, new age curling, dance and other sports. The peer support they provide is key to the success of Ageing Well. All 58 volunteers act as valuable role models to encourage others to take better care of their own health and wellbeing. Volunteers are very loyal to the project and one has been with the project from the very beginning, for 22 years! With over 4000 hours given to the project in the past year alone, Ageing Well volunteers are a dedicated, enthusiastic group of very special people.

    Nominated by: Ageing Well Midlothian

    Lynn Pillans

    Miriam Leighton on 11 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Rosewell Development Trust

    Lynn Pillans is a gardening volunteer who supports various projects at The Steading and in the surrounding areas of Rosewell. Lynn welcomes new gardening volunteers and is always thinking of ways the experience can be enjoyable and inclusive for all. As a former landscape gardener, she happily passes on her knowledge to others. Lynn was instrumental in developing a sensory garden for the community with raised beds and scented/tactile planting. Other volunteers are always excited to see what ideas she comes up with. Her latest additions to The Steading include a living wall, a living picture and a very creative planting arrangement incorporating a step ladder.