Outside the Box is delighted to announce that we have received funding from the Scottish Government Wellbeing fund administered by the CORRA Foundation to support the wellbeing of families most affected by the pandemic.

A key aspect of wellbeing is the ability to make and maintain the friendships we want, both locally and through the things that interest us and the experiences we share. During the pandemic lockdown this has been very hard for families who face multiple difficulties such as poor mental health, financial insecurity, English not being the first language and shielding.

We will be using the funding to develop resources to support families to make connections and maintain friendships using traditional methods, such as talking to neighbours and families at a safe distance and also to explore ways to make connections using digital options in a safe way. Some of the resources include

• Ideas for making contact with your neighbours
• Ways to support positive mental wellbeing
• Easy guides for setting up social media and apps for videocalls, messaging and to allow people to join online peer support groups
• Ways to stay safe
• Postcards, letter ideas and activity packs for get togethers

We will also be supporting an existing family based peer support groups in Clydeside to meet using digital video calls like Zoom and WhatsApp and ways to keep in touch in using messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook.

And also working with three new groups in Falkirk, MidLothian and Borders to set up new digital peer support groups for families.

In the longer-term, the materials produced and the learning will becomes a set of resources will be used by families and the wider voluntary and community sector across Scotland. For more information see our web page and contact Louise.