‘CONNECTING Generations’ has taken off with a bang in Catrine.

Funded by the Lottery Community Fund, the project has officially been launched at the A. M. Brown Institute.

It has hosted several well supported events aimed at increasing community engagement and social interaction in the village.

Since the project re-opened on July 17, several hundred local folk have come through the doors in the last month to take part in a range of events for all ages.

The project aims to reduce social isolation and break down barriers within the community by providing activities and events that can be shared by everyone.

It is fully funded until May 31, 2020 by which time the team is hoping to have further funding in place to continue the project.

The events are designed around Catrine’s social heritage as an early industrial cotton town with a close-knit generational family structure and are inspired by the social cohesion and sense of community that oral and written reports tell us existed back then.

The Connecting Generations project team are working closely with Catrine’s Heritage Action Team.

A charitable organisation in the village whose mission is to bring the neglected but valuable heritage buildings in the town back into positive usage for the community.

They have put in an Expression of Interest for the A. M. Brown building through the East Ayrshire Council Vibrant Communities team, who are providing invaluable support for the project.

Staff and volunteers have converted the old Library within the A.M. Brown Institute in Catrine into the Connecting Generations Hub and so far the following events are up and running.

WEEKLY EVENTS

Swap Library – Opens July 23

Open Tues, Wed and Thurs, from 10am - 12pm. The coffee’s on and the kettle’s boiled! Come and browse. Bring a book to take a book or a small donation would be much appreciated.

Job Search Computers – available from July 23 Tues and Thurs 10am – 2pm

DWP Coffee Morning and Information session – Tuesday, August 27 from 10am - 12pm

August 27, some folk from Cumnock Job Centre will be here to answer questions and help with problems. Conn-Gen staff can also help with resumes and applications. Bring your questions and come along.

Conn-Gen Tots – Starts Thursday 22 Aug

Then weekly each Thursday from 9.30am-10.30am. Various activities including Soft Play, Crafts, Nature Walks

Over 50s Lunch Club – Starts Wed, July 31 Every Wednesday from 11.30am until 13.30pm. £3 per week. Guest speakers and a range of activities planned plus lunch cooked by Malky.

Community Cooking – Weekly from Tuesday 23 July

From 12pm- 2.30pm. More of Malky’s secret healthy recipes. £1 per portion includes all ingredients.

Recipes based on Family of four. Bring a container!

MONTHLY EVENTS

Game Night and Café at the A.M. Brown, monthly beginning Thurs, August 29.

On the last Thursday of each month from 6pm – 9pm, we will be hosting a Game Night and Café.

There will be a choice of tables, challenges and games on offer for all ages and skills. The first night we will offer a range to try. Everything is possible, from Chess to Poker from PacMan to Pokemon.