Catalyst for Change projects begin their journey

Twelve projects have been awarded funding through the Catalysts for Change Programme.

These twelve projects were selected on 14 October by an independent selection panel. The innovative community nurse-led projects are united by a focus on preventing or overcoming health inequalities.

Catalysts for Change is run in partnership between Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS) and The National Lottery Community Fund which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes, and is the largest funder in the UK.

Catalysts for Change projects work closely with individuals, families and local organisations to find new ways to tackle the physical and mental health issues important to them.

For the first time, there was a thematic category complementing the ‘open’ category available previously. Seven of the successful applications were chosen because of their potential to prevent, or mitigate the harm to health and wellbeing caused by ‘psychological trauma’ (toxic stress).

The seven themed projects are:

• teaching evidence-based skills to people with learning disabilities to help them better cope with the emotions  arising from being exposed to psychological trauma [Lesley Ferguson – Fife]
• looking at the impact on community nurses of caring for people with psychological trauma [Catriona Drummond, Lothian – in collaboration with Queen Margaret University]
• developing a trauma-informed, drop-in service for care experienced young people [Kirsten Kernaghan, Lothian]
• improving resilience and coping strategies among primary aged children in relation to actual or potential psychological trauma [Carrie Pearcy & Shona Hinton, Forth Valley]
• using physical activities and body awareness to assist women recovering from psychological trauma [Lorraine Close – Lothian – in collaboration with Womanzone]
• supporting teenagers living with eczema to cope with the toxic stress accompanying this long-term physical condition [Polly Buchanan – Fife]
• providing therapeutic pre-bereavement support to children who have been affected by a cancer diagnosis in their families [Seraph Davidson, Lothian, in collaboration with WithKids]

The five ‘open’ projects are:

• creating a breathing-through-singing group for people with COPD and other lung conditions [Fiona Halliday, Borders – in collaboration with The Cheyne Gang]
• introducing and sharing Namaste Care in to care homes, especially for people with advanced dementia [Tahira Abbas Ali, Lothian]
• creating fitness and dance opportunities for people with learning disabilities to encourage physical activity and social relationships [Mairi Macpherson, Western Isles]
• bridging the inequality gap by reducing financial stresses for people in a medium secure forensic unit (and their families) [Shona Hendry – Greater Glasgow & Clyde]
• empowering and enabling people with debilitating lung conditions through early intervention [Marion Mackie, Greater Glasgow & Clyde]

A new round of applications for 2020/21 will launched by next June.

More information, profiles and progress reports about these Catalysts for Change will be shared during the coming weeks and months.