Posted 1:00pm
It has been a full and busy month, but also a productive one. We have made some serious moves forward, and I have to say I am feeling excited.
Of course, the main news was our lottery proposal for seed funding for a year. Three full time and one part time salary, plus all the direct costs and overheads too. I have to say it was a cracking document, completed by Lawrence but amended and overseen by several others. It was the eighth or ninth draft that eventually was delivered online. I know they are looking at it, and it will be some months before any award, if we get one.
This was helped by significant meetings with prospective partners in Islington, Haringey, Hackney and Camden during July. All were positive and left us feeling upbeat . Naturally there are no guarantees, and over the last few years we have come to expect things not to run smoothly. But we are so prepared at the moment. This really is the culmination of years and years of work, sacrifice and effort.
Delighted with the contacts we have established in Haringey - with the Well Being Network, the DWP, and with Bridge Project - all growing in July. We have a cracking meeting already arranged for Tuesday morning in Haringey. And the beauty of that is we have our fitness session in Highbury at the same time, and Dean will be in charge. It may seem like a small success, but HMHB can have two events running at the same time. This is massive for us, considering lack of current funding and there are three of us (two of which have 40 hour a week paid jobs).
We had a cracking chat with Peabody today, one of the largest housing providers in Islington, and we are meeting up with them next Wednesday for the day, where Lazza is being introduced to prospective partners. Exciting times ahead there.
We also had a good meeting yesterday with people who can fund some work in Camden, and this is something I will be looking at over the next few days.
Of course we also managed to establish some excellent partnership possibilities in Hackney too. It really is all coming together at a great time. It does mean a lot of work, and there never seems enough hours in the day to do all of it. But that is part of building our product. Yay!!!!
August is going to be one of establishing and preparing. In the mental health field it will be fairly quiet. People are away on holidays and lots of places slow up at this time. It is therefore a great time to try and tie up all loose ends, look at getting in some funding applications, and looking forward to what we can do in the autumn months while we wait on the lottery (and keeping everything crossed for that).
Personally, for me (Lazza) it has been a good month. I am working my way nicely towards my weight targets again - and realise that I need to work just as hard in August and September. Mentally I feel in a good place - this, as you can imagine, is a very stressful project. Thanks to everyone who may read this. Your support and friendship mean so much. If you want, please like and follow this blog. Also please like and follow our health blog - www.healthymindshealthybods.blogspot.com - we try and make entries most days, and we love it.
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