Thomas Bauld of Walton Court Residents Social Club in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire tells us how a 'Come on In' micro-grant from Creative Lives helped them buy new materials to encourage people in a sheltered housing complex to get together and take part in craft activities.

"The club was formed about seven years ago, comprising elderly residents from within a sheltered housing complex with access to a communal lounge.

The aims of the club are to promote social inclusion and general wellbeing by organising various events and activities to alleviate the potential of isolation, boredom and loneliness in old age and encouraging the elderly residents to engage with other neighbours.

The club has a fully functioning committee with a constitution and named bank account. Members pay a small fee towards the upkeep of the club and any profits from various events such as bingo nights, quiz nights, film nights and local entertainer cabaret afternoons are retained in the club account as we are a not-for-profit social club.

A gap in our events was suggested by a member who asked us to arrange an arts and crafts event, whereby residents could benefit from the talents of other members with regard to activities such as knitting, sewing, painting and drawing.

To this end, the Creative Lives micro-grant was applied for, to help us introduce regular craft events within our community lounge. The £300 was used to purchase knitting equipment (needles, wool etc.) along with sewing equipment and a variety of oil and watercolour paints with brushes, pens, drawing pads and paper. We are hoping to meet for this purpose weekly.

Our thanks go to Creative Lives for the start-up grant."