Bounce Back — Martin Joseph O'Neill

Bounce Back was a project engaging the communities of NW Dumfries funded by the Development Trust Association Scotland, responding to the devastating welfare reforms of 2016.

The project worked within the communities of NW Dumfries in response to 2016 welfare reforms initiated by the UK government. These reforms hit many of the most vulnerable individuals and families within Dumfries, with a larger percentage of those most affected residing in the communities of Lochside, Sandside, Summerhill and Lincluden.

The project sought to support and contribute to the work of community groups, organisations and initiatives throughout the area through active and colourful engagement with the arts, balanced with meaningful interaction and information around welfare reform. Providing a supportive system whereby people were empowered to establish a social enterprise/build upon their skills in an open fund to empower ambitious people in the community.

The project encompassed several workshops in sewing, up-cycling and creative writing, as well as interaction with the Stove’s regular programme of events. Opening with film screenings of I, Daniel Blake by Ken Loach in the Lochside Community Centre as well as The Stove, 100 High Street, the project partnered with inspiring arts and community groups LIFT and Creative Futures based in the area to respond sensitively to the lived experiences of those most affected, co-ordinating with partners and individuals in a measured response, laying the ground for a legacy of sustained support and engagement, managed and decided by the communities themselves.

A community voting system was set-up for community groups to pitch ideas, decided by the community of NW Dumfries, entitled the ‘Ignition Fund'. Since its inception in 2017, the fund is now annual with larger pockets of funding awarded to individuals and community groups.

A Zine entitled ‘Not Safe For Work’, made by members of the community alongside local artists was published and distributed for free. The Zine contained text and images from JobSeekers application forms as well as the minutes of governmental department meetings on welfare reform, in an attempt to distort the impenetrable, confusing and oppressive language adopted by the UK government.