Champion Skill Share
Funding
The funding from Borders Community Action has had a highly positive impact on QME Care, enabling us to provide fully funded Place & Space Dementia Support Sessions throughout 2025 and reach people who otherwise could not afford to attend. It strengthened our ability as a charity to reduce loneliness, support carers with essential respite, and offer older adults a warm, safe space with nutritious meals during the colder months.
The success of Monday Mingle and Fish Supper Bingo has further demonstrated the value of community-based meal groups. These sessions quickly became a lifeline for many, helping to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and foster new friendships. The consistent positive feedback we received – highlighting improved mood, better nutrition, and increased social connection – has reinforced the importance of these services.
Organisationally, the funding has allowed us to expand our reach, strengthen our reputation as a responsive local charity, and build a strong evidence base for the long-term need for subsidised or free community support. It has also helped us develop lasting partnerships and given us the confidence to continue fundraising to make these groups a sustainable part of our annual community offer.
The funding has made a significant and meaningful difference to the people we support, particularly older adults and individuals living with dementia who are at high risk of loneliness and social isolation. It enabled us to offer free, warm, welcoming sessions where people could enjoy nutritious meals, take part in gentle activities, and connect with others in a safe environment.
Attendees told us that these groups often became the highlight of their week and, for some, their only regular opportunity to socialise. This has led to noticeable improvements in mood, confidence, and overall wellbeing. The freshly prepared meals also supported better nutrition, which can be a struggle for many older people – especially during the colder months when financial pressures can make it harder to cook a hot meal or heat their home.
Importantly, the sessions provided valuable respite for carers. Knowing that their loved ones were safe, engaged, and enjoying themselves allowed carers time to rest, attend appointments, or simply take a break.
Participants also formed new friendships and built stronger connections within their community, helping to reduce feelings of isolation long after each session ended. The positive feedback we received consistently highlighted how essential these groups have become, with many people describing them as a lifeline.
The funding has enabled us to make several meaningful improvements to our services, particularly within our community meal groups and dementia support sessions.
Firstly, we were able to increase the number of fully funded places available for local people living with dementia, ensuring that financial barriers did not prevent individuals from accessing vital support. This allowed us to reach more people who were isolated, vulnerable, or struggling with the cost of living.
We also expanded the range and frequency of our community groups, building on the success of Monday Mingle by introducing the Fish Supper Bingo sessions. This broadened our offer and provided more choice, creating additional opportunities for social connection, stimulation, and access to nutritious meals.
The funding supported the enhancement of our activity programme, enabling us to offer more structured, meaningful activities tailored to older adults and those living with dementia. These activities helped improve engagement, mood, and overall wellbeing for participants.
Operationally, the funding allowed us to strengthen our community outreach, improve planning, and gather more comprehensive feedback through surveys. This has given us a clearer understanding of community needs and has shaped how we design and deliver future programmes.
Most importantly, the success of these funded projects has encouraged us to embed meal-based social groups as a core part of our community offer, reinforcing our long-term commitment to reducing loneliness, supporting carers, and promoting wellbeing among older adults.
Yes, the funding has played an important role in strengthening community connections and creating new collaborative opportunities. By expanding our programmes and increasing the number of people we support, we have built stronger relationships with local partners who share our commitment to reducing isolation and supporting older adults.
The success of Monday Mingle and Fish Supper Bingo has helped raise awareness of QME Care’s community offer, leading to increased engagement with local groups, carers’ networks, and services that work with older adults and people living with dementia. These connections have improved referral pathways and helped us reach individuals who may have otherwise remained isolated.
The funding has had a positive and lasting influence on our sustainability and future planning. By enabling us to deliver well-attended, impactful meal-based social groups and dementia support sessions, we have been able to clearly demonstrate both the need for – and the benefits of – these services within our community. This evidence has strengthened our case for future fundraising and helped shape our long-term strategy.
The success of Monday Mingle, Fish Supper Bingo, and the funded dementia support sessions has shown that these groups are not only valued but essential, particularly during the colder months when isolation and financial pressures increase.
The funding has also allowed us to build stronger relationships with funders and partner organisations, increasing our visibility and opening up new opportunities for collaboration. This has improved our ability to secure future funding and support, contributing to greater organisational resilience.
Overall, we found the funding application and award process to be straightforward, supportive, and well-communicated. The guidance provided was clear, and the application form allowed us to demonstrate the local need and outline the impact our project aimed to achieve. We particularly appreciated the transparency around timelines and the prompt communication at each stage.
The award process itself was efficient, and receiving confirmation in good time enabled us to plan effectively and deliver the project without delay. The flexibility offered within the funding criteria also allowed us to tailor the programme to meet the specific needs of our community.
