MRC Community Exchange Sarah Phoenix Community Exchange Development Officer

Project Overview Start date: March Sarah was employed for 1 day/week during March, thereafter 18 hours/week, to co-ordinate & manage this project. Project is based at Marlene Reid Centre, Coalville. Due to insurance reasons, activities can only happen in the building & grounds of the MRC Centre. Innovation idea: Community Exchange, similar to TimeBanking. Where people can exchange skills. An example: Kay has knowledge of gardening, she banks 2 hours helping Michael in the MRC garden club. So he spends 2 hours. Main project aims: Increase users confidence and abilities, where prior, they might not have been able to afford. Also to increase community connectedness. NameBankedSpent Kay2 hours0 hours Michael0 hours2 hours NB: This table shows that at the start there will only be a few exchanges. especially as people initially bank time.

Achievements in 6 months Transactions /Exchanges Hours Banked2091 Spent603 Total2694 NB: At the start of any project, there will always be more banked hours as we get off the ground with new projects.

Data People involved in MRC activities 15 Total people involved in community exchange over 6 months 38 New people to MRC32 MonthTotal ppl involved New to MRC May10 June62 July2416 August356 Sep388 Total3832 New ppl involved in activities they couldn’t afford previously 13 Ppl reporting increased employment & volunteering opportunities through the gardening scheme 26

Case Study 1 Nicola. Before I have suffered from depression and anxiety for approximately nine years and have not worked for about four years. I have attended various therapy courses over the last four years and completed a year long therapy programme, where I attended 5 days a week, in December Before MRC, I had lost all confidence in myself and my ability to undertake tasks sufficiently. I had also lost my nerve when it came to speaking to people and because of this I tended to avoid any type of social situation. I would become incredibly anxious over pretty much everything and often avoided leaving my house. How I feel now When I initially started I was incredibly anxious. I was afraid of talking to people but really made an effort to be as friendly as I could to everyone I came into contact with. This was exhausting at first but now I feel completely relaxed and at ease. I also worried that I wouldn’t be able to remember how to use various computer programs such as word and excel. I didn’t feel pressurised. Although some days I still get paranoid. Some days I still get anxious but I always find that when I have been I leave feeling so much better in myself. My mum has also commented that when I get home I seem to have a ‘spark’ and seem more alive.

Case Study 2 Kay. Before MRC I struggled for a while with depression and anxiety, especially when I had a husband and two small children depending on me. I felt I couldn’t cope and overwhelmed by my emotions. I didn’t have much strength or self confidence. I wanted to help others and myself, but I didn’t know what to do. I also had financial worries. After being involved in MRC I feel my confidence has grown. I have been involved with the gardening project and myself, and my husband have come in for website/IT training which has given us something in common to discuss, rather than talking all the time about the kids! I have started a small part time business doing garden maintenance in Coalville and my husband is going to help as well. This would probably not be possible with out the fantastic help from the MRC centre and in particular Sarah Phoenix! Her support and knowledge has meant a great deal. Hopefully our financial worries will be a distant memory, especially as hopefully we will soon have our own website for the business!

Overall achievements in 6 month period cont’d. Activities New community activities: 6 1.Gardening Club 2.IT training 3.Website training 4.Jewellery/Craft club 5.Exercise class 6.Baking group

Communication Organisations contacted/involved: Coalville Fire and Rescue Service Coalville Princes Trust Coalville Rugby Team Hermitage FM Coalville Eye (local magazine) Down to Earth Garden Maintenance Mind TimeBank Leicestershire A Place to Grow (Enderby) Stevenson’s College Age Concern Coalville Library Gumtree (online) Landshare (online) Coalville Community Forum - Communities and Placement officer Coalville Older Person’s Group Coalville Resource Centre Ashby School First Contact (Magazine) Swanswell Alcohol, Drug and Support Services Leicester University (student social work placements) Enrich Geraint Jones Chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council Morrison's Coalville ASDA Coalville

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