Giving Back has been funded by The NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation to set up a new community hub/café in the old bowling pavilion at Dawson Park.
This will be renamed Sakura, the Japanese word for cherry blossom, which is something the park is well known for. We are in the final stages of signing the lease for the building, and as soon as this is done, we are ready to progress further.
Thanks to Nicoll Russell Studios and Fairhurst we now have all the drawings, plans and structural survey completed and ready to send to Dundee City Council and we also have funds available from Northwood Trust to start developing the site and progress the project as soon as planning permission is received.
How Sakura is working towards community need.
Local Community Plan
Sakura is working with Dundee City Councils local community plan for the area. Sakura is looking to develop the following areas
1 Support regarding the cost of living crisis
2 More support for people in recovery
3 More access to be involved in the community
4 A community Facility
5 More access to Green spaces.
We are continuing to work with the community to get greater engagement and further development opportunities.
Feasibility Study
In March 2022 Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) commissioned Iconic Consulting to undertake a feasibility study of its Co-op funded Growing Chrysalis service. The feasibility study aimed to provide evidence on the need and sustainability for a new multipurpose community space at the former bowling green site in Dawson Park, Dundee. SAMH manages and maintains Duntrune Community Garden in Dawson Park in partnership with Dundee City Council.
The Growing Chrysalis Feasibility study encouraged SAMH to look into developing a Community Café in the Building next to the garden space.
Community Consultations
Giving backs priority is Community involvement. Last year we completed multiple community engagement events to develop the Café/ Hub. this is seen in the report bellow. We worked with community members to develop a needs based approach for future development. The main areas that people requested to be accessible through this project was the following.
1 Support with reducing loneliness and isolation
2 Support with Cost of Living Crisis
3 Therapeutic, mental health and wellbeing sessions
And more…….
Bringing Sakura to life.
Sakura café/hub will be a community space for groups, services, coffee and cakes. We want to bring the garden inside with bright colourful upcycled materials to recycle unused and unwanted equipment.
Can you help ?
We are looking for second hand items if you have any from the list below please contact Fiona Gilmore the Manager of this project at fionagilmore@givingbackdundee.com
Second hand paint needed for the inside and outside of the building.
Unused tile needed for the bathroom and storage area.
Second hand chairs to be sanded and painted for the cafe.
Any style of wooden chair would be amazing.
Any style
Second hand tables for the café/hub area.
Any styles and colour.
We are looking for a cake fridge to be donated.
We need a stainless steal kitchen.
Any size
Shelving would also be greatly appreciated.
And equipment.
Fairhurst has published a large spread on the Sakura Café/Hub coming to Dawson Park.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) , Nicoll Russell Studios, and Fairhurst, and funding so far has been received from NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, MVV Sponsorship and Northwood Charitable Trust, as well as via various fundraising events supported by the local community. In addition, Starter Packs have provided numerous donations and free storage facilities. Construction is hoped to begin in 2025, with design and planning support currently underway. Thank you to everyone for your support so far.
If you would like to help support the development of the Café/Hub please email info@givingbackdundee.com.
Click the learn more link
Fairhurst Supports Sakura Café & Hub with Giving Back
"Thanks to everyone who has helped so far with donations and supported us with our fundraising events. We are really looking forward to creating a welcoming space for the whole community to enjoy"
Fiona Gilmore
Sakura means Cherry Blossoms
If you want to have a look at Dawson Park where the café will be located and the cherry blossoms it is named after, please have a look at this video by Dylan Drummond - Son Of The Sea Video Production - https://www.sonofthesea.co.uk
From our kitchen to yours
Recipes submitted by the community. From your grannies special soup to dishes you won’t find in the typical store cookbook! A Little preview of what is in the works. Video guides and downloadable PDFs as well as printed recipe cards available at the cafe.
