Support Start Up Stirling!
Leave your donations at the locations within the main supermarkets in Stirling. You
r contributions do make a real difference to those less fortunate. From the Links page you can visit Start-Up Stirling’s website to learn more about this organization.
What is Start Up Stirling?
Start Up Stirling is a registered charity serving Stirling in Central Scotland. The charity operates to assist and support families and individuals experiencing homelessness and financial hardship by providing home starter and well being packs, listening/befriending support and crisis food packs.
Start-Up Stirling aims to help local individuals and families through the provision of emergency food supplies and support to access other services. For people on low incomes, a sudden crisis, failing or delay in receiving benefits, redundancy or an unexpected bill may mean going hungry. Every day parents skip meals to feed their children and some are forced to choose between paying the rent and bills or eating.
Who supports Start Up Stirling?
Many items which go into the packs are donated from individuals, community groups, local Churches, Schools and College, Voluntary Organisations, Businesses and Individuals. These items are checked, sorted and assembled into packs by Start-Up Stirlings volunteers and distributed in partnership with a range of agencies. They reach and support vulnerable individuals and families who may find it difficult to cope with their current financial or housing difficulties.
Home Starter Packs.
The Home Starter Packs consist of three large boxes of items which contain some of the most basic essential items for starting a new home. These items are both donated and purchased and are packed up by Start-Up Stirling’s volunteers and distributed through the Stirling Council Homelessness Team and The Bridge Project when someone is moving into their new accommodation.
A printable list of these items can be obtained from the Useful Documents page on Start Up Stirling’s website (see our Links page).
In addition to the three main boxes, also provided are new duvet and pillow sets and kettles. In the past, Start Up Stirling has been able to access small household appliances through energy saving schemes however these are not currently available.
We also provide a range of smaller packs for those who are entering temporary accommodation. These consist of small bags of food items and refreshments and also provide toiletry packs that are distributed as above and also at The Salvation Army Hot Meals Service.
Listening/Befriending
Start Up Stirling is interested in hearing from individuals who might be willing to volunteer who can spare a couple of hours a week to offer listening, friendship and support to someone who is feeling isolated. We hope this will help the person to develop social relationships and allow access to a wider range of support.
Volunteers are trained regarding confidentiality, boundaries and listening and are looking for both men and women volunteers of all ages, with a wide range of interest and experiences, who have time and commitment to give, whether they are employed or unemployed, retired, a student, or parents with a little spare time.
Some individuals may just need a little bit of support and enjoy meeting for a cup of tea and a chat, others might wish to go shopping, go for a walk, a swim or go to the cinema or they might want support with joining a community group or taking up a new hobby. Start-Up Stirling also can offer signposting and support to engage with other organisations that may help the individual improve their situation.
Volunteers are provided with on-going support and expenses are paid related to volunteering. Volunteers who work one-to-one with individuals are required to join the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme and provide full details. Start Up Stirling ask volunteers to provide two references before beginning their voluntary work.
You don’t have to be an expert….all that is asked is that you are willing to participate in the training, be willing to listen, share, laugh and be a friend. If you feel interested and want to know more, please get in touch for an informal chat over a coffee. Help them to make a real difference.
How Start Up Stirling operates
Start Up Stirling operates a robust referral only service and work with partner organisations in the community to ensure the provision goes to those most in need.
Self referrals are not taken and anyone who is told to ‘turn up’ is not supported and food coupons or vouchers are not given out. This ensures the goodwill and donations are not abused and go to those who have a real need. This service is operated as a last resort and referring partners are asked to ensure that recipients have fully explored other means of support.
It is important to share that our service is ‘more than food’. Start Up Stirling ensures that they work with other support services to help those in need engage in finding long term solutions whilst helping them manage their immediate crisis. Start-Up Stirling is doing its best to stop the “revolving door” of crisis for these individuals and families.
Start Up Stirling currently operate on a Monday and Wednesday at community access points in two locations in Stirlingshire and hope to develop two additional community access points in the coming months.
At least 70% of the goods that are distributed are donated by the local community and this effort is essential to ensure they can sustain the service and increase our capacity to meet the need. Anything their supporters can do to set up donation stations, local community collections, encourage fundraising and volunteering will make a world of difference to our efforts.
The main referrers to the service are currently Stirling Council (Housing and Criminal Justice), Stirling Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Stirling Women’s Aid, Homestart, Forth Valley College and many smaller organisations. These agencies receive full training in Start-Up's systems and they build strong relationships with their partners to ensure the system works well.
Welcome to Autumn, and the launch of this year's campaign. The theme this year is all about getting cosy, and getting prepared for the colder months to come, wrapping our communities in kindness. There are lots of things that are happening, and we would love it if you would like to participate in our fundraising and events that are planned for this Autumn.
This year's Autumn campaign focuses on three elements - Food, Warmth and Connection
Food
The demand for Crisis Food continues to outstrip the amount of food that is being donated at our Donation Stations, and we are on track to have another busy Winter. In the past year, the number of people who needed to use our services increased by 18%, but the amount of food that was donated in our donation stations dropped by 18%.
There will be 2 food donation days at Tesco Superstore in Stirling on Thursday 25th and Friday 26th September, 10am- 4pm, to help to raise awareness of the need for continued food donations.
We especially need the following items to be donated. We have printed shopping lists for anyone who would like them. If you would like to borrow one of our donation stations for the duration of the Autumn campaign, please get in touch.
.png)
Warmth
As the weather gets colder, that is when it can become difficult to make ends meet, having to balance whether to heat, eat or pay the bills. The following items will be used to supplement our Home Starter packs, which are supplied to people who have received keys to a new tenancy after a period of homelessness. This will help people to get cosy, supporting them to spend less by providing essential items for their new home.
Single and double duvets
Pillows
Fleece blankets
Kettle
Toaster
Because some of the items are bulky, we have created an Amazon Wishlist entitled “Get Cosy” where there is a selection of the items above. £10 and £20 Amazon gift cards can also be donated. Amazon e-cards with a value of £5 upwards can also be donated, but the system doesn’t allow them to be added to the wishlist.
We are also very happy to accept donations of the above items at our warehouse at 16B Whitehouse Road, Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling, FK7 7SP. Please note that all the items on the list have to be new, due to hygiene standards or electrical item testing rules.
Connection
Our weekly Community Hubs provide warmth, comfort and connection for everyone that comes along, whether they require crisis food support or not. We want to make sure that we can help as many people in our rural communities as possible. Get cosy within a warm, friendly environment, and have something to eat, whether lunch, or tea and coffee, all of which is free of charge. The change in the seasons can be tough for many, with more time at home, where people are more likely to feel isolated and lonely.
.png)
Financial donations and regular giving
These are a vital source of unrestricted funding for us, allowing us the flexibility to allocate our funds to where we need it most. From keeping the lights on in the warehouse, to room hire at the Community Hubs, or purchasing essential items for the crisis food parcels. Monthly giving via standing order also allows us to project how much funding we have each month, providing stability and the opportunity to plan our services. Please donate via our website. Every donation we receive makes a difference. If you are a UK Tax Payer, please add Gift Aid too.
Other ways to get involved
Here are two upcoming events for the Autumn months. It would be great to see you at either of them. Maybe you would like to organise a fundraising event to support Start Up Stirling too?
17th October - Quiz Night at Over The Bridge in Bridge of Allan. 7.30pm start. Tickets are £5 each, with a maximum of 6 people per table. Book your tickets here:
1st November - Little Monsters, Big Hearts Halloween Party. 1pm-4pm at Fallin Miners Welfare. This event was so popular, it was a sell out last year. £10 per child and £3 per adult.
Tickets are available directly from the organiser on 07450 550544. Funds raised will be split between Start Up Stirling and Save The Children.
1st November - Race Night - Riverside Bowling Club, Riverside, Stirling, FK8 1LX. 7pm start.
For more information about the event, please contact Plumbase Stirling on 01786 471471, or email stirling@plumbase.co.uk
Have a great Autumn, and thanks for your continued support and help.
For more information, please contact
Julie Christie and Amanda Monaghan
Start Up Stirling Fundraising Team
E: mail@startupstirling.org.uk
T: 01786 561027