Bridgend Inspiring Growth

The identification of clear aims based on need, evidence, outcomes and

activities.

Investing in our BIG Cooperative Community could support the following:

Need:
 Respite/Supported employment: young adults with Learning Disability
aged 17 – 34yrs (respite for carers) addressing a gap in service provision
- funding via Social Work or Direct payments or Lottery funding under
criteria: a) Life transition b) Growing Community Assets. In 2009 there
were 3,745 adults known to Edinburgh City Council with learning
disability of which only 13% were in employment or supported
employment – still awaiting respite data.

 Environmental: improve local environment, reduce anti-social behaviour,

and promote environmental issues through education and healthy
activities - Lottery funding criteria - Growing Community Assets.

Evidence:
There is evidence to support both elements of the proposal

Intended Outcomes:

 Improve environment
 Reduce anti-social behaviour and fear in local community
 Provide age appropriate support/respite for young adults with LD
 Improve confidence of young adults with LD / young offenders
 Improve employment opportunities for people with LD / young offenders
 Improve awareness of environmental issues and biodiversity
 Promote growth of wellbeing

Social & Environmental Enterprise Activities:

 Allotment / kitchen garden - growing food, acquiring new skills

 The BIG café - selling cooked allotment produce
 The BIG courtyard – space for outdoor café seating, farmers
market/stalls/education
 The BIG brewery (micro-brewery) selling fruit/light beers/ciders to local
farmers markets, supermarkets or online. Harvest fruits from local
orchards.
 The BIG Eco-shop – sell eco and organic produce
 The BIG Barn – environmental education, learning opportunities,
workshops on rural skills/crafts, farmers market, Edinburgh Festival
venue: art, music, theatre, lectures…
 Within the BIG community we could expand with further ideas….office
space etc.

Outcomes would enable:

  Learning opportunities and personal development of young adults with
LD in an inclusive setting
 Foster independent living skills, independent travel and learning in
context
 Education – growing food, cooking food, environmental awareness –
involving young adults with LD but also young people, families and the
local community
 Health & wellbeing – healthy activities – gardening, nature/woodland
walks, cycling (embracing Craigmiller wood/cycle track)
 Entrepreneurship
 Multiple employment opportunities

The BIG cooperative hub would have a constructive impact on the local/wider
community:

BIG café – communication, social enterprise

BIG courtyard – communication, social / environmental enterprise
BIG brewery – social enterprise, learning new skills
Allotment produce – locally produced/sourced food - reducing carbon footprint
Big Barn - local Farmers market, social enterprise
Environmental education/activities - learning opportunities (biodiversity etc.)
changing lifestyles and attitudes
BIG eco shop – social enterprise, learning new skills

The BIG cooperative community’s positive and inclusive ethos could benefit
young adults with LD and their carers across Edinburgh, local residents of
Bridgend, allied partners and communities in south of Edinburgh. Also, people
working in the area - staff/patients travelling to Lothian University NHS
Hospitals or Biotechnology Park.

Sustainable design, technologies and development:

A mutual approach perhaps engaging students from colleges
(Telford/Stevenson/Jewel Esk) on building trade courses or engage young
offenders to learn disappearing skills: stonemasonry and thatching etc.

Use of eco design/technology for building materials e.g. biomass pellet boiler,
solar/photovoltaic panels, wind turbine, ground source? Materials such as
sheep’s wool/ hay bale, paper insulation, cedar roof tiles, reclaimed
stone/materials, oak beams…etc.