Jean's Bothy Update

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Jean’s Bothy Update 
H&L  Community Planning Group  February 2023 
Our membership continues to rise month on month (313 current total)  We are open to anyone over
age 16 and are seeing an increase in the number of 16-25 year olds registering as a member.  Our
monthly programme remains flexible so we can respond to our members as that changes over time. 
We are always keen to look at new partnerships with other organisations.  Our current partners on
the programme include:  Green Aspirations; Helensburgh Art Hub; The Journey Fitness; Happy Days
Yoga; Kathryn Polley Photographer; Wendy Alexander; Ann Greer; Creative Change Collective; The
Tower and Live Argyll.
Currently also working with Helensburgh Community Hub and Helensburgh & Lomond Carers on a
Book Festival to be held in March.  This was a result of all 3 organisations hosting their own book
clubs.  An exciting programme of events is planned.
Student Placements – Jean’s Bothy is supporting one student with a 360 hour placement to help her
achieve her HNC Social Work.  She plans to go onto University to study Mental Health Nursing and is
a great asset to have currently within the bothy.  We have also been approached by Glasgow Clyde
College to support a student who requires a 100 hour placement.  Working with Carr Gomm we have
managed to offer her hours jointly to allow her to complete the placements.  
Next month we will be offering free counselling sessions provided by a student currently studying at
Glasgow Cognitive Therapy Centre.  These will be offered to our members and timings etc will be
arranged between the counsellor and member.
At the beginning of January we promoted volunteering opportunities to get involved with Jean’s
Bothy for fundraising and events.  We were really pleased with the response we received and now
have a full team of 9 people who had their first meeting last week.  We are in the process of
planning a programme of events throughout the year, more details to follow shortly.
IncludED Short Film Launch – after the success and positive feedback received from the stage tour
we now have a short 10 mins film that was created by Creative Change Collective.  We plan to launch
this film online 22nd February 2pm.  Free Tickets will be available via Eventbrite and a short Q&A will
follow the film.  
3 of our groups (Art, Photography and Woodwork) are currently involved in an upcoming exhibition
to be held on the PSMaid of the Loch Paddlesteamer.  Called “The Life Aquatic Project” we are really
excited to be part of this.  The exhibition will open in April.
It’s really important that we include our members in the planning and development of Jean’s Bothy
and over the last 4 years we have had members help with this, but with such a large membership
now it feels the right time to introduce a bit more formal roles.  We are now in the process of
recruiting Member Representatives (3 in total) who will support the wider membership to have a
say, feel empowered and be part of Jean’s Bothy.