Making Dundee Home is a project run through Dundee West Church. We are a community of hospitality, creativity and spirituality which promotes social and environmental justice and human wellbeing. To achieve this aim, we run a drop in for vulnerable adults twice a week where we provide lunches, clothes, referrals and create a place of belonging where we can provide 1:1 support. In doing this we work with a range of other voluntary and stautory partners. Those who attend often endure challenges such as addiction, problems with benefits, issues with housing and poor mental health. MDH is different to other drop ins, in that hospitalityrevolves around a three-course meal eaten together around big tables, encouraging the development of relationships between all that attend. Alongside this, we have creative activities that take place prior to and after lunch which range from drawing and painting to storytelling and work with Just Bee Productions on drama productions led by participants.
Making Dundee Home is a project run through Dundee West Church. We are a community of hospitality, creativity and spirituality which promotes social and environmental justice and human wellbeing. To achieve this aim, we run a drop in for vulnerable adults twice a week where we provide lunches, clothes, referrals and create a place of belonging where we can provide 1:1 support. In doing this we work with a range of other voluntary and stautory partners. Those who attend often endure challenges such as addiction, problems with benefits, issues with housing and poor mental health. MDH is different to other drop ins, in that hospitalityrevolves around a three-course meal eaten together around big tables, encouraging the development of relationships between all that attend. Alongside this, we have creative activities that take place prior to and after lunch which range from drawing and painting to storytelling and work with Just Bee Productions on drama productions led by participants.
While Wednesday and Friday are the only days the drop in runs, participants are aware that there is almost always someone on site that they can come in and talk to over a cup of coffee and can be enabled to deal with their issues, be referred to other services and access their Universal Credit accounts. We feel this provides vital support as people know there is somewhere they can go for trusted support all week.
Our second area of work is community dance. The three teachers we have are trained and qualified to run Dance for Parkinsons, with one being a very experienced teacher of community dance. Our Dance for Parkinson’s class runs weekly and engages people in exercises proven to aid their condition, provides a welcoming atmosphere and social interaction for participants and their carers. Participants report improvements in their physical condition and enjoy the company they receive during the class and afterwards when the participants and teachers sit together for tea, coffee and biscuits. This is also beneficial for people’s carers as they are welcome to join.
We also run Soul Space, a group that runs spiritual practices such as meditation and yoga with a focus on inner positivity alongside discussions led by participants. This group attracts a wide range of people but all benefit from positive socialisation and activities to boost a more positive mental outlook and promote social inclusion. This aims to enable people to move out of negative mental spaces and achieve positive outcomes in their lives. There is a varied group that attend these sessions but all appreciate a welcoming positive atmosphere and feel positive, refreshed and invigorated after sessions.
Take a look at our Facebook page by clicking on the image above to get more up to date information.