Starbucks Southend High Street

Taking part in art and craft activities can help reduce social isolation, increase self esteem and boost self confidence. Participation is of great benefit to children, young people and adults with special needs, physical disabilities and mental health issues and group activities can also help build communities. The Art Ministry runs regular sessions for 8 different groups of around 100 people in total, with various needs, and provides art and craft activities at around 10 community events for around 500 people in total each year, including free activities at a sports day and fun festival for disabled people. During the various lockdowns all of our in-house, outreach and community art and craft activities were suspended, but we did our best to distribute "Creating from home" activity bags to the most vulnerable socially isolated members of our local community and to run sessions via Zoom. The Art Ministry needs your assistance to help manage these activities, to cover the cost of materials, rent and the salaries of part-time session leaders. We are also happy to accept donated art and craft supplies.

Having consulted with more than 95 groups, both local and others coming into the town, it became apparent that many people are being excluded from activities at our sea resort that most of us enjoy and take for granted. Our proposal is to provide a shelter containing suitable changing facilities with hoisting, washing, disabled toilets and a space to relax in, complete with a kitchenette on the site of an old Tram Stop Shelter, demolished by the council earlier this year. We have a great deal of interest and enthusiasm about our project. From our discussions with a wide range of different groups, clubs and schools that are keen to use the building, the Shelter would provide these people with the opportunity to gain the benefits of the seaside that they cannot get elsewhere, for example 1. Wheelchair users would be able to access the beach, the sea, nearby toilets and changing facilities with an inside space that offers privacy and protection or appropriate inside space to retreat to in bad weather. 2. Groups from sheltered housing and care homes would be able to wile the time away and reminisce within a secure environment. 3. Special needs schools, locally and elsewhere, and other vulnerable groups who do not even consider having a day at the seaside because of the risk to their people would be able to do so. 4. Groups with learning difficulties will use the Shelter for visits to enable them to have the fun of the beach and seaside will give them the opportunity to experience team activities to improve their lives in a relaxed and controlled environment. The Shelter will have the facilities to provide for their needs. 5. People with personal equipment would be able to recharge batteries from power points available inside the shelter. The building would provide a safe base for all ages and groups. We believe that our project will help to reduce social isolation, promote further confidence, self esteem and community cohesion. We estimate that our project would benefit well in excess of 1,000 people, provide much needed facilities and become a hub for the local community along the sea front So far we have raised sufficient funds to enable us to purchase special matting to give wheelchair users access onto our local the beaches at Thorpe Bay and to Jubilee beach in Southend. We have also purchased an all terrain wheelchair that is suitable for children between the ages of 5-15 this is now available for hire free of charge and can provide access along the length of the beach and even in to the sea. The matting and special wheelchair has helped many people gain access to our seafront, for some it is the first time that they have been able to spend time on the beach with their friends and family. A building with the facilities needed by disabled people will go long way towards to helping them to share the experience of using the beach and having a great day out at the seaside.