what we do
At our Improving Lives Hub in Clydebank we offer a one stop shop for people living with disabilities. Are you looking to find a new hobby? Want to apply for benefits? Need help filling in a form? Need help with SDS?
Whatever it is we can help.
Welfare rights
DO YOU NEED HELP TO APPLY FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS?
The Voiceability advocates are in our Improving Lives Hub every week!
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BENEFITS AN ADVOCATE CAN SUPPORT YOU WITH INCLUDE:
* Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
* Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
* Best Start Grant School Age Payment
* Best Start Foods
* Carers Allowance Supplement
* Job Start Payment
* Child Disability Payment
* Child Winter Heating Assistance
* Funeral Support Payment
* Scottish Child Payment
* Young Carer Grant
* Adult Disability Payment
Get in touch with us to book your appointment.
Telephone 0141 237 4560
blue badges and bus passes
Did you know we can help you apply for or renew your National Entitlement Card (NEC) disabled persons bus pass? Or that we can advise and support you to apply for a Blue Badge?
Get in touch for more information.
Call 0141 237 4560 for more information or to book an appointment with one of our advisors
Self Directed Support
Do you know about Self Directed Support and how it could benefit you?
Get in touch and make an appointment with one of our advisors to find out more or click here
disability sport
We are passionate about ensuring that disabled people have the same access to opportunities as everyone else and sport holds a special place in our hearts. We are committed to bringing accessible disability friendly sports to West Dunbartonshire. Our first move in this has been to intriduce disability karate to the area.
We want to make sure that financial restrictions are no barrier to taking part in activities for disabled people too.
Come along and join us on Monday for some Karate fun.
10.30am to 11.30am
Antonine Sports Centre Duntocher.
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All this has been made possible by generous funding from Foundation Scotland and Ballie Gifford Community programme.
This funding also allowed us to pay for annual license fees, class fees and hall hire for a class of 30 people.
As always we also have to thank our amazing instructor Graham from Kugatsu Disability Karate and the Antonine Sports Centre for their continued support in helping us to bring disability martial arts to West Dunbartonshire.
personalised support plans just for you
Our experienced advisors offer one to one appointments to discuss any improvements you would like to make to your lives. We can put together personalised support plans to ensure that every aspect of your requirements are covered and our service includes follow up calls to make sure your plan continues to work for you.
Improving Lives can help you with many other supports including help to access a new hobby, support to apply for a Blue Badge, information on local and national support services and organisations or just somewhere warm to come and have a cuppa.
Don’t feel lost.
Help is out there.
Contact us today
meeting space
Are you looking for a meeting space? Office space for drop ins or appointments? A place for holding groups or classes?
Get in touch with us today.
Telephone 01412374560
Hobbies and support groups
We host various support groups from our Improving Lives Hub including an Art for Anxiety group, Autism support and discussion group, jewellery group, knit and natter and a Men's Fishing Group. We also have thousands of contacts in our database for various new hobbies, groups and organisations near you. We can even help to introduce you to new groups at other organisations for the first time to make those first steps a little easier for you.
open days
Every year we host an information and support open day to bring the help, groups and organisations available direct to you face to face. It's the perfect way for the public to find out what's available, ask any questions you may have and see if it's the right thing for you.
Our last open day showcased over 50 organisations and was attended by close to 300 members of the public.
Digital Skills
Need help to get online?
Book a session with one of our Digital Champions who can show you how to surf the web, access your emails, stay safe, do your shopping online and more!
Call us on 0141 237 4560
sensory garden & allotment
We don’t just have our purpose built accessible Sensory Garden - we also have a wellbeing allotment too!
Our allotment is the perfect place for growing vegetables, mindful gardening and running our upcoming workshops.
Every Tuesday our allotment is open from 10.30am to 2.30pm for budding gardeners to join us! We need help with the weeds!
If you’d like to join us then get in touch.
breakfast and blether
Breakfast and Blether is a chance for anyone to join us for free cereal, toast, cuppa and a good blether.
Every morning between 9am and 10am you can join us for breakfast and a chat with our advisors.
Ever wondered if our advisors can help you? Why not come on in and find out.
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“IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE’S EATEN IN THE MORNING AND TO HAVE A GOOD CHAT AND BANTER”
animal therapy
We have partnered with Patchwork Ponies to offer animal therapy and "time with animals" sessions. Animal therapy offers a range of emotional, social, and developmental benefits for children and young people. Interacting with animals can reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation, while also promoting confidence, empathy, and emotional regulation. In particular, spending time with ponies can be especially powerful. The gentle, non-judgemental nature of ponies helps children feel safe and accepted, which can be especially beneficial for those who have experienced trauma or struggle with communication.
For more information on this please email us at contact@improvinglives.co.uk