The success of the Low Carbon Community project encouraged us to apply for funding to extend some of the services and activities we were able to provide. We received funding from the SCVO Adapt & Thrive fund from April 2021 – May 2021, which allowed for the continuation of the Low carbon Community Activities including Swap Shop / upcycling and cycle training classes for two months. 
The activities we were able to continue include:Upcycling - We continued with online up cycling classes which ran on a weekly basis. The online activities were delivered via Zoom and Facebook Live. We also provided our service users with sewing kits and, in some cases, sewing machines, allowing them to upcycle at homeSwap Shop - Gives our service users the opportunity to donate, swap & take clothing and other essential items. The aim was to offer support to people in need whilst reducing carbon emissions. The swap shop has been a lifeline for our vulnerable community and the demand for this continuesCycle training - This training taught 6 women to cycle at beginner level and gave 2 others the opportunity to cycle at a more advanced level.
These activities support the values of social inclusion for groups of people who are often hard to reach. The people we are supporting are often very vulnerable and so the services we provide help to build confidence, grow an awareness of the wider community and reduce the likelihood of destitution. These activities will benefit the wider community because we are offering support in areas which are already thinly stretched. This is also an excellent opportunity for our often-underrepresented ethnic groups to feel engaged and a part of the community they live in, and become a valued asset to the wider community. 
