Community Inclusion Project

Community Inclusion Project Report April 2017-July 217

MUTO

The Muto project offers a structured programme of workshops that reduce social isolation and improve self-esteem and confidence in clients to enhance their independent living skills. Clients often share similar backgrounds and are able to relate to one another during the workshops and many lasting friendships have been formed. Workshops run on a Monday from the Falcon Centre and the rest of the week is outreach workshops across the county

Muto has evolved from working mainly from The Falcon centre to travelling to local communities group where there is a need for therapeutic creative activities. Muto works regularly with Shepshed Changes, who are a group of isolated individuals with profound needs. Muto also works regularly with Loughborough Wellbeing Café and Age Concern.

Muto works exclusively with counterfeit clothing and all products are made from this. Muto has made tote bags, cushion covers, woven rugs, make-up bags, bottle gift bags, Christmas products, upcycled clothing and accessories.

Volunteers are encouraged to attend festivals, craft events and meetings to support new skill development and ensure volunteers were included in all aspects of the project. 

Muto aims to enhance volunteers’ social and learning skills and has helped volunteers develop their own peer mentor relationships with clients. Several volunteers have moved on to teach others in the community or sell their own upcycled items developed from skills learnt at Muto.

We have developed the idea of a Muto Pod which is a group of people who come together as often as they chose to work on upcycling projects.  The Sapcote Sewers are a Muto Pod who are currently making Tote bags which are sold, to a local library group.

In May Sapcote Sewers made 35 bags for the library group on behalf of Muto.  These bags are made using the Muto clothing and are used as an alternative to carrier bags at events. 

In June  21  bags were made in one session and given to  “Story  Explore”,  another local project who give free reading books to vulnerable families.

A master class with Janet Gray from “feedmycreative”, a social enterprise from Birmingham was held for Muto volunteers.  Janet used Mutos’ fabrics to teach volunteers a range of skills in up cycling.

In May a workshop for the Mental Health Wellbeing café was held at Loughborough Leisure Centre as part of National Mental Health Week. This was well attended and 8 people took part in our workshop saying that they had found it “a very relaxing and calming few hours”.

A session was held at The Shepshed Changes were 12 participants all experiencing mental health difficulties attended. This went well with feedback from one participant:” I haven’t done any sewing since I was at school and I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it. I would really like to do more!”

The Glastonbudget festival ran for 3 days from Friday 26th May. The Muto bus attended with 2 volunteers who helped with running sewing sessions, making sales and providing information about Muto to interested festival goers.

In June Muto attended the Leicester Riverside Festival.  It was a well-attended event and the bus attracted a lot of attention. Over the weekend 74 items of clothing were sold.

On Sunday, June 11^th the Muto bus attended the Leicester Vegan Market highlighting issues around reducing the need for landfill and up cycling.         

Muto was part of National Volunteers Week and attended an event at The Falcon Centre with the other community inclusion projects.  We held drop in workshops for new volunteers to showcase the work that the project does. We had interest from 3 new volunteers during the event.   

Muto is currently working with 5 core volunteers who help run the workshops. 2 retired ladies with skills in the textile industry that attend twice weekly. 2 young people aged 18-24 with mental health needs who attend weekly referred by Leicestershire Community Inclusion team and 1 Asylum Seeker who lives in supported accommodation.

“All the work I have done with Muto has enabled me to move forward and socialise more, joining other groups. Before I came to Muto I didn’t get out much and now I have joined a local dance group and art class because I am more confident and know that I CAN do things” ( Denise  – Muto ex client)

 THE DROP-IN SERVICE

The Drop In meets a vital need in the community to provide this service without the need for referral or eligibility criteria and with the vision that for some individuals being able to access this service without barriers will help to reduce their social isolation and need to commit crime whilst helping to improve their health, well-being and sense of belonging to their community.

In addition to providing hot meals and drinks staff and volunteers at the Drop In are trained to deliver a professional service and are able to provide advice or signpost individuals to organisations who can help with issues including housing, debt, benefits, health, smoking cessation services, drug and alcohol recovery and support.

 “I love the vibe to your service, ever so friendly and welcoming. I know if I was vulnerably housed, I’d want the same. Your staff and volunteers are super nice too, I am a little sad to have to cut short my visits, as you have a great project going on.”

                                                                                                Steve, Rethink Mental Illness worker, 2nd May

Case study:

In January we had 2 of our service users came to us informing us that someone had set fire to their narrow boat up in Yorkshire over the Christmas period, they were advised to go to CBC to inform them of the situation and that they were homeless. CBC put them up in a B and B, whilst they waited for their homeless declaration to be approved. They attended the Drop In every day we were open, keeping us up to date with their housing. After 2 weeks they came in and informed us that they were being housed and had been to view a flat/bedsit in Thurmaston.

They were in desperate need of kitchen utensils, bedding, furniture and much more. In about a week we all managed to get them everything they needed by way of people donating the items for their kitchen and with bedding and towels.

They were both very grateful for all the help that The Drop In had given to them and stated that ‘without having that sanctuary to go to they don’t know what would have happened to us’.

Testimonials:

‘I like it when it is open. It gets me off the streets all day, or I am in a tent on a field’.

‘Knowing I can get my food here, means I don’t have to stuff cobs down my top from Greggs’

‘The pain is so horrendous when I’m at home and I don’t want to get off the settee, helping out at The Drop In helps to take my mind off it’

During April and May 341 people accessed the service with 57 food parcels distributed.  There was also a large increase in the number of rough sleepers using the service with 9 attending a single session in May. 

In the last 2 months, 4 current Falcon Support Service users signed up to be Peer Mentors and 1 ex-service user. They are now actively volunteering at the Drop-In and accessing training opportunities such as food hygiene, first aid and professional boundaries.