Prevention and Early Intervention What works in Edinburgh?
Mind the Craic is an initiative by Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council in partnership with Volunteer Edinburgh and the Third Sector Strategy Group to research what really works in the field of prevention and early intervention for Edinburgh’s citizens.
From August to early December 2018, the Mind the Craic project, carried out by Virginia Bjertnes, met with people from various communities around Edinburgh, accessing them through voluntary sector. Partner organisations invited her to join groups, meet individuals and hear the voices of a wide diversity of people.
People interviewed ranged from 7 years old to 98 years old. They live all over the different geographical areas of the city. They were people with or without disabilities, from various ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientations and nationalities. Mind the Craic relays the experience of participants and volunteers of 66 different groups and projects.
Other informal conversations took place with members of staff and focus groups with more organisations brought context and depth to the voices and findings from field work observations. They brought the experience of years of practice for their colleagues, volunteers and the perspectives of their service users life journeys and difficulties.
Set to hear a 1001 voices of Edinburgh citizens, it has reached much further. We asked people what worked for them in the voluntary sector, why they came and what they get from it?
The strong message coming out of all those interviews is that what works is about relationships and community. It is about people who listen to each other and share. They share time as volunteers, they share skills, they support each other and they share laughter. When people are welcome as they are, they feel good and they have a place to turn to in time of need.
This research has shown that when we talk about a need of prevention and early intervention, people celebrate having a sense of community and a feeling of belonging. And it’s through community that people can be truly empowered.
Mind the Craic is also:
A short film to be watched here or below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv7_3OXL9S0
It was, on 25 March 2019, a storytelling event in partnership with Real Talk and the Scottish Storytelling Centre where some Mind the Craic participants came to share their stories.
An interim report was produced in March 2019 and can be found here.
