WomanKIND Clydesdale members have been making welcome bags for the Ukrainian refugees who are now staying in Biggar. This is a small gesture in line with our aims of spreading kindness, which we hope will convey warmth and welcome to our new friends and neighbours.
The contents included toiletries, toys, plants, confectionery, notebooks and other items. There were some wonderful cards made by the Beavers, and a card for each person from WomanKIND Clydesdale. We have also donated some of the comfort blankets used in our other projects. The bags have been appreciated by the new families and we are grateful for donations and funding that has allowed us to do this. The idea came from Refuweegee who are based in Glasgow. https://www.refuweegee.co.uk/your-donations
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WomanKIND Clydesdale has funded a series of small schools transition days at Wiston Lodge. These were fabulous experiences! The funding has helped to build confidence and relationships for these young people heading to high school in August 2022.
The schools involved were: Abington Primary, Auchengray Primary, Biggar Primary, Black Mount Primary, Carnwath Primary, Coulter Primary, Crawford Primary, Lamington Primary, Leadhills Primary, Libberton Primary, Tinto Primary and Wiston Primary. The thank you letter we received from Libberton Primary School summed up the experience: "The 3 days were a great success with all participants enjoying canoeing, climbing trees, roasting marshmallows, team building exercises, den building and many other activities. This gave loads of opportunities to take risks, make new friends and feel more settled about going to High School in August, particularly as the chance to go on a residential in the past couple of years was not possible. Your kind donation has given these children a fabulous opportunity and in addition, has put smiles on a lot of faces." The ethos of WomanKIND Clydedale is to spread a little kindness where it is required and to involve the Community at large wherever possible. Our Handbags for Christmas project ticks all the boxes. The project was so successful after its initial launch in 2015 that we repeat it every year, and it just gets bigger and bigger. We crowd-source hundreds of new toiletries, accessories and beauty supplies as well as good condition and new quality handbags and men's toilet bags from the Clydesdale community. We then stuff the bags with several donated products and wrapped them up beautifully in cellophane and ribbon. The first year we made around 140 ladies' Christmas gifts which were distributed through our partner network of foodbanks and vulnerable group organisations. In 2017 we decided to provide both mens' and womens' bags. We provided a total 550 bags in 2017 and an astonishing 784 in 2018. Since then the project has grown and grown! Our main objective remains to provide a gift for those experiencing hardship during the festive season. This includes refugees and Asylum seekers who arrive in Scotland. In 2021 we have broken all records!! In total, we have produced 659 womens' bags and 377 mens' bags giving us a total of 1036 gifts made and delivered. In addition, WomanKIND Clydesdale will once again be providing a kindness bag to every person who receives a Christmas lunch, organised by Biggar Community Action Group, at The Bield, at The Gillespie Centre or delivered to their home. This means that our total will probably be over 1084!! This is astonishing and a massive big thank you to all those who donated goods and helped to fill the bags and deliver them to those whose lives will be made just a bit brighter by this act of kindness. Joanne Grant and Moira Pedreschi arranged a mass bag packing session in The Gillespie Centre on Sunday 7th November. We are delighted to report that 192 handbags were filled and wrapped with bows and tags attached - all ready to go to Clydesdale and Peebles Food banks later in the week. Massive heartfelt thanks to everyone who turned up to help. You are all stars. Thanks also to everyone who donated handbags, toiletries or created gifts for us. The work continues, as the demand grows year on year.
Our most recent project took place mid-lockdown. It originated from a suggestion from one of our members, Maggie, who felt many new mums were struggling because they lacked the normal supporting networks, such as “mums and toddlers group” or extended family gatherings, due to Covid restrictions. She suggested we send them a wee gift, to let them know that WomanKIND Clydesdale and the community were thinking of them, and that they were doing a grand job. And so “Mumsgift” was created. We purchased gauze gift bags, and Maggie wrote an “ode” to be put in each bag. We asked our members and the Community for any small unwanted gifts they might donate, we added some jewellery and a keyring and we purchased either cupcakes or a primrose to be given along with the gift. Gifts were distributed on a nomination basis and in total we delivered 40 Mumsgift, which received a a delighted response. 28/7/2021 Next Project for WomanKIND Clydesdale - comfort bags for children. Can you help with materials?Read NowWomanKIND Clydesdale want to get cracking with their next project: Comfort bags for kids, taken into safe accommodation or similar. They are often moved without their toys or favourite belongings and our bags are beautiful bespoke presents filled with a snuggly comfort blanket, mug and hot chocolate and other age-appropriate items - books or colouring books, pens or pencils etc. The kids LOVE these bags and it is a conversation opener for the social workers. We NEED your help. We want to make about 70 of these bags initially and we are looking for: Fabric: preferably new. self-coloured/patterned, age-range 0 to 18 years. Needs to be hard wearing / of a reasonable weight e.g Heavy weight cotton/cotton polyester mix (sheeting is NOT suitable as it is too Light weight) Curtain fabric (med weight) or Drapery fabric (suiting) Denim or Corduroy or Cotton Twill Heavy weight Linen or Burlap/Jute (close weave) Medium/Heavy weight Calico (bleached or unbleached) Canvas ( this could be decorated by the children with acrylic paint, fabric pens/ permanent markers - bonding activity!) Fabric size for the above: We are asking for the pieces of fabric to be a minimum of: Length 50cm x Width 80cm. Or. Length 100cm (1meter) x 40 cm Thread: Suitable for machine sewing, any colour, full/nearly full reels Drawstring: Long lengths, minimum of 4 meters. Ribbon or Cord or Twill tape To decorate bags: We are looking for items in new condition and preferably in bright colours Cotton Fabric: self coloured or patterned: 30cm x 30cm minimum Buttons: medium and large, individual or sets, any colour Zips: metal/nylon, any size or colour Ribbon: self coloured or patterned, any colour, length or width Brownlies in Biggar has agreed to be a drop-off point for any donated items. |
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September 2022
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