FiCD News December 2013

Faith in Throughcare (FiT) lunchtime meeting

 9^th December, 2013

On the 9^th of December around 30 people gathered in Central Baptist Church Hall to hear from members of the FiT team from Glasgow. FiT is an initiative that works through faith communities in Scotland’s poorest neighbourhoods to support people who are being released from prison to settle into more fulfilling lives within local communities.

It was great to hear from Professor Fergus McNeill who talked about the challenges faced even if you want to ‘desist’ from crime after leaving prison.  And then to hear from Davy and Charlie who talked positively about the support they had recently received from FiT after leaving prison and their hope for the future.

This is the latest in a series of meetings as we explore the possibility of beginning something similar in Dundee. If you would like to be kept informed or to be involved of the development of the work in Dundee please let us know.

Teaching Others Financial Capability

29^th November & 13^th December, 2013

More than 20 people have participated in training for teaching others financial capability. This has been delivered by the College Development Network in Scotland and was provided in the Steeple Church on the 29^th November and 13^th December.  Those who complete the programme are then able to deliver financial capability training in their own charities or faith communities.  There were a wide range of projects participating in this training and Gordon of FiCDundee is also completing the programme with a view to running a programme in a local community.  Gordon said: “I’m developing sessions on training entitled ‘Making Ends Meet’.  I envisage providing this training with other volunteers who could then continue it in their own community. It is all about helping people to manage their money in increasingly difficult circumstances. This will also be developed in conjunction with the local authority and financial inclusion charities.”

Dundee Drop In (DDI) services (update)

DDI is a group of church based projects that provide crisis help to those who are struggling to make ends meet. The projects provide drop in facilities that offer food, the chance to socialise and signposting to other services.  They include projects like Parish Nursing, St. Salvador’s food cupboard, Lochee Drop Inn, Eagles Wings, The Bus Stop at the Gate, The Big Issue Group, The Bridge at the Friary, Graham’s Kitchen and Street Chaplains.  Some time ago the projects agreed, with support from Dundee University, to undertake research with those who use these range of services.

Very recently the draft questionnaire was completed and with the involvement of participants from DDI services and students it is hoped to have questionnaires completed by April.  There is also financial support from the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership to pay for expenses and printing.  This research has the potential to be a very important source of information for the city and it is intended that understanding will be further developed through individual discussion following on from the questionnaire.