On this page you will find information on the following:
- Warm welcome
- Apply for Winter Connections funding
- Winter Connections events, activities and venues
- Background information
Warm welcome:
Winter Connections is co-ordinating and supporting a network of local places and spaces where people can attend events, try activities and meet up with others as the nights grow long and the wind turns icy.
Funding is available to help local organisations and venues make a difference.
Apply for Winter Connections funding:
Applications for funding are being invited from not-for-profit, voluntary and community organisations – and venues – with grants of up to £1,500 available to help cover additional costs associated with the individual projects.
To apply, fill in the online application form (link opens in new window).
For guidance and eligibility, visit our webpage (link opens in new window).
Applications will be accepted until all the available funding has been allocated.
We want Winter Connections activities to be available in every community in East Dunbartonshire, at different times and for residents of all ages. We would particularly welcome applications for projects which will be available during the festive period.
Grants from the Winter Connections Fund can be used to cover a range of project/activity costs, such as associated equipment, food, energy bills, venue hire, cleaning and staffing.
Potential examples include:
- A cooking project where ingredients are provided
- Projects which bring people from different backgrounds together, such as different cultures or age groups
- Electronic tablet/device classes for older people
- Lunch clubs
- Crafting or ‘making’ activities
- Classes with a focus on physical activity
- Sessions which promote simple energy efficiency measures.
The Council can help to connect venues with groups who can offer activities and vice-versa. Grant funding must be spent by the end of March 2024.
Please note, the Winter Connections Fund is not open to applications to support individuals or events to raise funds for other charities. It also cannot be used to cover costs of activities that have already taken place.
Applications will be reviewed – on a rolling basis – by representatives from the Council, East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership and East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action.
Winter Connections events, activities and venues
Bearsden
|
Group Name |
Where and when do you meet? |
Activities |
Who can access? eg Older people, everyone etc |
Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Killermont De Café |
Killermont Parish Church Rannoch Dr, Bearsden, Glasgow Fourth Tuesday of each month |
Anyone affected by Dementia including family and carers |
Ryan Gorman |
|
|
New Kilpatrick Parish Church, 28 Kirk Place, Bearsden G61 3RT |
New Kilpatrick Parish Church, 28 Kirk Place, Bearsden G61 3RT |
Bible for Duffers: Alternate Tuesdays 7.30pm in the church hall. Our fortnightly relaxed Bible study for all. Coffee Pot: Daybreak: Friendship Group: NK Country Dance: The Guild: Heritage Forum: The Monday Club: NK New Kids: NK Ramblers: Sing Song!: |
(all activities open to everyone. No charge)
(all activities open to everyone. No charge)
(all activities open to everyone with a degree of memory loss. No charge)
(Support for the bereaved)
All welcome, men as well.
A group for all those with an interest in the history of the parish.
Come and join us for friendship, entertainment, and afternoon tea.
£2 per family per session.
|
Please contact the church office (0141 942 8827, mail@nkchurch.org.uk) in the first instance. |
|
Apna Ghar Womans Project |
Monday's at 11am till 1pmKilmardinny house, Bearsden, |
To help promote friendship and local connections with other BME ladies living in and around East Dunbartonshire and enjoy being part of a group exploring new activities such as drama, cycling and walks. some exercise classes happening from the 29th Jan and then art classes from the 4th of Feb . |
BME woman from EDC |
Bishopbriggs
|
Group Name |
Where and when do you meet? |
Activities |
Who can access? eg Older people, everyone etc |
Contact details Name, email, phone number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Walk Run Cycle, East Dunbartonshire (Strength and Balance) |
Every Tuesday |
Strength and Balance sessions, it consists of 14 simple exercises that will improve strength and balance and reduce the risk of falls in adults. Delivered by trained Paths for All hosts. Improves muscle through adult lives. Exercises can be done with the group, on a walk and at home using take-home leaflets provided in the sessions. Tea and chat afterwards. Themed days too |
open to all, focused on over 65s (mainly consists of Older people and people recovering from injury) |
|
|
Differabled Scotland
|
Oregano's Bishopbriggs, Saturday 17th February - 2.30pm Saturday 23rd March - 2.30pm |
Neurodiverse Adult Lunch Meet-ups, provide an opportunity for people with autism, ADD, ADHD and Dyspraxia to meet new people and make connections in their local community |
Neurodivergent adults ( with or without a diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, ADD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia) |
Debbie Best to arrange a visit during these events on |
|
Ceartas/CAB A Bite & A Blether |
Wallacewell Community Fellowship, |
Every Monday 12.30-2pm |
Open to all over the age of 16, living in the East Dunbartonshire Area who are experiencing loneliness and/or social isolation. |
Lynne Donoghue |
|
Cadder Parish Church, |
Cadder North Hall on Cadder Road from 1.30 - 3.30 pm
Friday afternoon from 1.30 - 3.30pm and are held in Cadder South hall at Bishopbriggs Cross. |
First Monday: Runs the first Monday of the month. October – March, 1.30 – 3.30pm.
Winter warmth: At these sessions we have tea, coffee and home baking as well as activities like games or jigsaws. Occasionally we have a sing song too. |
We meet in Cadder North hall on Cadder Road from 1.30 - 3.30 pm and have different activities and speakers. Although it’s run by the church it’s nondenominational and all are welcome although the group is mainly comprised of women. The sessions are on a Friday afternoon from 1.30 - 3.30pm and are held in Cadder South hall at Bishopbriggs Cross. These sessions are open to all and will run on the following dates - Friday 3rd and 17th of November Friday 1st and 15th of December We will have other dates after Christmas. |
|
|
Bishopbriggs De Café |
Woodhill Evangelical Church, Bishopbriggs First Tuesday of each month |
Anyone affected by Dementia including family and carers |
Ryan Gorman |
Kirkintilloch
|
Group Name
|
Where and when do you meet? |
Activities |
Who can access? eg Older people, everyone etc |
Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkintilloch Mens Shed | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 10am till 3pm Unit 12, Kilsyth Road Workspace, Kilsyth Road, Kirkintilloch 66 1QE |
Creating a warm and secure place for men of all ages to meet, interact and engage in projects of their own choice. | Men of various ages and skill-sets acting individually or collaboratively | mensshedkirkintilloch@gmail.com |
|
Differabled Scotland
|
Nonna's Kitchen, 126 Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow Thursday 22 February -12.30pm Friday
|
Neurodiverse Adult Lunch Meet-ups, provide an opportunity for people with autism, ADD, ADHD and Dyspraxia to meet new people and make connections in their local community | Neurodivergent adults ( with or without a diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, ADD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia) |
Please contact Debbie Best to arrange a visit during these events on |
|
Ceartas/CAB
|
Kirkintilloch Baptist Church, |
|
Open to all over the age of 16, living in the East Dunbartonshire Area who are experiencing loneliness and/or social isolation. |
Lynne Donoghue |
| Contact Point in East Dunbartonshire | The Park Centre, 45 Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch. G66 3HU. Tuesdays, 1pm - 3pm Wednesdays, 10am -12 noon |
Warm and welcoming social space to meet with tea/coffee/cake chat and catch-up. Wide variety of fun activities, arts/crafts, quizzes, beetle drive, bingo, dominoes, table and floor games and much more. Seasonal events Hallowe’en, St Andrew’s Day, Burns Day, Daffodil Tea, Christmas Lunch. Excursions and barge sailings with the Seagull Trust. Invited Speakers on a wide range of topics. |
Primarily older people and adults with a disability of any kind but others are welcome to come and join in if they are socially isolated and/or lonely. |
Alice Morton or Janice Dickson |
|
Ceartas: |
The Park Centre Kirkintilloch |
Last Friday of each month |
Anyone affected by Dementia including family and carers |
Ryan Gorman |
Lenzie
|
Group Name
|
Where and when do you meet? |
Activities |
Who can access? eg Older people, everyone etc |
Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lenzie De Café
|
Lenzie Union Parish Church 2nd Monday of each month |
|
Anyone affected by Dementia including family and carers
|
Ryan Gormaninfo@ceartas.org.uk
|
|
Lenzie Old Parish Church, Garngaber Avenue, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch. G66 4LJ |
|
Lenzie Old Parish Church Hall Every second Thursday from 26th October 2023 at 2pm – 4pm |
Thursday Club Ladies and gents come along for a relaxing afternoon - we provide tea/coffee and home baking then people play scrabble, rumikub, dominoes, uno or 7s! Some people just sit back and chat and enjoy the company |
Open to everyone. Suggested donation of £2 per session |
Milton of Campsie
|
Group Name
|
Where and when do you meet? |
Activities |
Who can access? eg Older people, everyone etc |
Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Milton of Campsie Parish Church of Scotland
best dates would be when I am on the duty rota; Tuesday the 6th, 20th or 27th of February."
|
every Tuesday from 9.30 am to 12noon |
We offer a warm and sociable space for folk to meet over a cuppa and a scone/biscuit and are open to all. There is a play area set up in the hall for parents/grandparent carers with young children, which is much appreciated. We also have wifi and work stations available for folk who work from home to help alleviate isolation. There is no set price for tea, coffee or snacks, simply a gratitude bowl, so no-one feels excluded. The majority of our regular customers are of retirement age, some caring for children and they appreciate this social opportunity at an affordable price. We have no specific target group preferring to be open to anyone." |
Open to all |
Background information:
Winter Connections has been made possible thanks to an additional £1.5 million package of support agreed by the Council for 2023/23. That followed a £2.1 million allocation in 2022.
Other elements of the 2023/24 programme include:
- A further allocation of £300,000 to East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust to extend the programme of free swim and gym sessions for primary and secondary pupils to the end of March 2024
- An additional £50,000 for the Homelessness Hardship Fund, taking the total available to £100,000
- Confirmation that the School Clothing Grant will remain doubled for a further academic year (2023/2024)
- Continuation of the previous one-off Pensioner Support Payment consisting of a £100 payment for each eligible pensioner in October and a further £50 for eligible pensioners in January 2024, costing approximately £465,000
- The introduction of a Household Support Payment.
In addition, further funding is being provided to other organisations involved in cost of living support including:
- Cash funding of £10,000 to support the local foodbank
- An additional £50,000 for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau locally, recognising their role in relation to advice and support
- An increased allocation of £100,000 for the Community Grants Scheme.
Visit the cost of living support webpage (link opens in new window) for more information.