Open Space (360G-SCVO-a0gb000000QAf2NAAT)

We would like to employ a part time community development worker to increase the project's capacity to support local people to develop their own projects and increase self confidence and move towards employment,if appropriate. Our cafe manager had not worked for 10 years prior to working for Open Space. He learned to manage volunteers, control stock and manage cash and provide a welcoming entry point to other services and activities. During the past two years we have worked with volunteers with additional support needs and health needs. Our manager has now moved to full time employment and we would like to develop the cafe as a space to try new things, meet new people, engage with local issues and connect with welfare support, employabilty support and access to IT. We take a person centred approach and we are special because we have had great success through encouraging 18 people to complete Glasgow University's Activate course, from which we gained 2 new community initiatives (Tenants' Action group and Parent and Toddler Group) and 4 people have gone to further education. 6 other people are currently taking part in Activate and we expect that further support will be needed as they pursue their own personal or community interests. Our project manager is an Activate tutor. Through Activate people begin to find their voice and have the confidence to speak out and challenge unjust decisions, and know how to understand power and approach authority. This increased capacity allows people to seek help sooner and avoid reaching crisis point. Our success means we need more community development support because we have more people wanting to do things for themselves and their community. The cafe development will depend on skillful person-centred support to develop as a volunteer-led community hub.