Bharatiya Ashram

Dudhope Centre

Introduction

Bharatiya Ashram was established in 1995 to promote benefits for all, but primarily for ethnic minority clients of Dundee and surrounding areas. With an overall objective of improving the quality of life, the Dudhope Centre under the auspices of Bharatiya Ashram currently runs activities under the themes, Education, Health, Art, Social Initiatives and facilitates a wide range of other support services.

The Centre provides educational classes in Maths, English, Physics and IT, both for the community and to support young people of all ethnic origins, targeting standard grades and highers. On health issues the Centre provides Healthy Eating and Living initiatives, including a vegetarian lunch club. Dundhope Centre promotes Asian arts and culture and offers classes in Sitar, Tabla, Indian vocal performance and Dance. Art classes for the young and Life Drawings for adults, Arts Business Courses, Master Classes, Workshops etc. Yoga, Keep Fit sessions, Health Lectures, Complementary Healing Services, PA and Lights, Recreational Courses, Arts Management and Event Promotion Classes will soon start in partnership with Dundee College, Community Education.

Dudhope Centre Development

We have obtained a 25-year lease on a large property to increase and extend the Ashram's existing services. The development has secured the means for the Ashram's long-term development plans. The plans are to consolidate current services and provide a focus to increase, expand and introduce a range of support services within a centre which will service multi-ethnic and indigenous communities.

While the centre is open to all, the Ashram intends that the new facility will also become a wider ethnic centre, connecting the indigenous community with different cultures. For example, Bharatiya Ashram is in discussion with the Chinese and Bangladeshi communities, the Pakistan Society and Eastern European Associations about specific provision for them in the new centre, particularly since some of these communities do not have their own centres or accommodation.

The property has two large buildings connected by a common corridor.

Dudhope Centre Development is fundamentally about changing people's skills, knowledge, abilities, self-confidence, image, relationships and health. The Centre will accelerate delivery of these issues by co-ordinating and developing voluntary skills and input. The new facility , which will allow the Ashram to encourage a greater proportion of the indigenous population to participate is expected to expand. The Centre will also provide permanent surgery services for support groups e.g. Debt Counselling, Health, Pensions, Recruitment and Guidance, Investment and Employment services.

Sustainability

The Centre is to be developed to service a wide range of client groups. The centre is intended to become sustainable through income derived from the activities which will range from: the rental of accommodation to other voluntary organizations or relevant service providers; to fees charged where arts activities and performances occur; to income based on public sector contracts e.g. the expansion of the existing lunch club, and other proposed developments.

Funding

The Ashram has been successful in securing £780,000 approximately in grants towards staged Dudhope Centre refurbishment. Communities Scotland has awarded £175,000 for the refurbishment, which started in January 2008. By the end of March 2008 all enabling work, roof repairs and fees were met from this award. The Big Lottery Fund awarded us £250,000 towards Capital grant and £90,000 for three years for employing a Centre Manager. Awards for All of the Big Lottery Fund has sanctioned two £10,000 towards reports on alternative energy for the building.

Other funders were Dundee City Council, Robertson Trust, Gannochy Trust, Mathew Trust, The Clothmakers Foundation, Henry Smith Charity, Tudor Trust, Tay Charitable Trust, Aberbrothock Charitable Trust, SCHRI, Low Carbon Trust, The W. M. Sword Charitable Trust and Foundation for Sports and Arts.

On Revenue front, Dundee City Council, Big Lottery Fund, Lloyds TSB Foundation, Alexander Moncur Trust and finally Scottish Arts Council contributed. To keep this beautiful building working and for the sake of helping this Multi Ethnic Community in the areas of training in Education, Arts, Social Welfare, Health and Wellbeing, we need revenue Funding.