SCHOOL OF BEING – FUNDING & GRANTS SUMMARY
School of Being – A Creative Social Recovery Centre
Location: Antiga Fàbrica de les Capses, Canet de Mar (Barcelona Province)
Proposed Launch: Pilot Phase – Autumn 2026
Submitted by: The School of Being | Greville Edwards – Founder
Partners Invited: Cultural Institutions, Health Services, Local Authorities, Educational Platforms
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MISSION & VISION
The School of Being is a restorative cultural centre for people affected by trauma, burnout, anxiety, grief, and social exclusion.
We use creativity, care, community connection, and cross-generational exchange to help individuals rediscover dignity, expression, and belonging.
Vision:
To create a living, creative ecosystem where personal healing, social reintegration, and shared knowledge-building become everyday realities—without stigma or pressure.
Mission:
To offer inclusive, non-clinical, culturally grounded pathways for recovery through hands-on arts, language learning, wellness, skill exchange, and digital empowerment.
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BENEFICIARIES
Adults and young people affected by:
• Local residents of Maresme who benefit from free cultural and recreational access
• Community elders, retired professionals, and survivors who wish to offer care and connection
• Neurodivergent or emotionally sensitive individuals who may feel unseen in traditional systems
• Emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, burnout, or insomnia
• Social isolation due to injury, ageing, caregiving, abuse, or early-life trauma
• Job loss, economic precarity, or relocation-related stress
Core Principle: Everyone is a participant, not a patient. There are no formal labels—only shared presence and personal pathways forward.
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KEY ACTIVITIES & STRUCTURE
Location Layout:
• Factory of the Imagination — Big Arts, High Craft , Digital Design, Creative Gallery, Presented Process
– includes Adobe Creative Cloud workshops and AI generated storytelling labs and projections
• Wellness Villa — Open Studios & Habitats, Movement & Mindfulness , Training & Tutorials, Self & Care
• Communal Heritage — Story & Oracle, Meals & Making, Pamphlet & Printing, Cafe & Conversation
Recurring Programmes:
• Creative skill-sharing: collage, digital design, textiles, photography, journaling
• Multilingual learning workshops (Catalan/Spanish/English + community-led classes)
• Digital empowerment: “Create Your Own Website,” “AI for Daily Living,” “Adobe Basics for Healing & Self-Expression”
• Community care circles, including first-aid and emotional support training
• Open cultural events and shared exhibitions open to the wider public
• Youth–Elder Interchange Programme (mentorship, conversation cafes)
Caring Presence Model:
We invite ‘caring presences’ – people who’ve lived through tough challenges, learnt how to cope, and enabled in managing uncertainty, resistance, fearfulness wishing to give back and quietly guide.
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MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
Pilot Phase (Year 1):
• 200+ participants across all 3 main buildings (creative, wellness, communal) + Admin Building
• 30 + Community Focused Congregation per month
• 80% Participant Engaged Social Development Sessions
• 25–50 Sustainable Creative Production and Digital Project Development (e.g. zines, photo series, websites)
• 10+ local elders / recovered individuals engaged as ‘caring presences’
• Public visibility via 4 exhibitions, 3 open events, and 1 community archive
Impact KPIs:
• Participation diversity (age, background, experience)
• Self-reported recovery indicators (confidence, creativity, connection)
• Public engagement (attendance, feedback, media coverage)
• Digital literacy improvement (AI & Adobe creative use cases)
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VALUE TO FUNDERS & PARTNERS
For Cultural Institutions:
• Supports contemporary social healing through participatory creative practice
• Generates new artworks, exhibitions, and collaborations with underserved groups
• Expands inclusion and co-creation in regional cultural life
For Health & Mental Wellbeing Stakeholders:
• Complements overstretched systems with low-cost, community-led models
• Encourages self-directed recovery and emotional resilience
• Offers visible prevention tools through engagement and education
For Local Authorities:
• Fosters social reintegration and civic contribution among isolated residents
• Strengthens cross-generational and intercultural community cohesion
• Positions Maresme as a forward-thinking region for mental wellness innovation
For Private Sponsors & ESG Partners:
• Aligned with social impact goals in mental health, ageing, community resilience, and digital literacy
• Brand visibility through events, creative products, and outreach campaigns
• Opportunity for long-term partnership with a replicable, scalable model
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Barcelona / Maresme cultural and social funding bodies
• Ajuntament de Barcelona (City Council cultural and social grants)
• Diputació de Barcelona (provincial government)
• Catalunya Cultura grants
• Fundació “la Caixa” social and cultural initiatives
• Barcelona Activa support programmes
• Local ESG-focused foundations and social enterprises
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School of Being — Programme Map Outline
1. Core Programme Strands
A. Creative Recovery & Skill-Sharing Workshops
• Arts & crafts, language learning, creative digital media (Adobe CC, Canva, Notion)
• Focus on skill-building, creativity, and self-expression as therapeutic and social reintegration tools
• Monetisable workshop pathways enabling participant progression to income generation
B. Caring Presence & Community Support
• Informal helpers acting as empathetic peers, guides, friends, not clinical volunteers
• Emphasis on emotional responsiveness, active listening, gentle encouragement
• Helpers trained in boundary awareness and ethical presence without medical language
C. Wellness Centre Activities
• Progressive exercise, gentle movement, mindfulness and body-awareness programs
• Group and individual sessions in the restored Antiga Fàbrica de les Capses facilities
• Integrated with creative activities to promote holistic well-being
D. Social Enterprise & Sustainability
• Partnerships with creative tech companies (Adobe Creative Cloud for Education, Canva, Notion)
• Workshops designed to build skills that can lead to paid projects, commissions, or freelance work
• Revenue reinvested to support ongoing programme sustainability
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2. Participant Flow & Roles
• Entry through welcome sessions and initial assessment of needs and interests
• Assignment to creative workshops or wellness programmes based on preferences
• Optional engagement with Caring Presence peers for social and emotional support
• Progression encouraged through skill-sharing leadership opportunities and paid workshop roles
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3. Delivery Structure & Locations
• Use of 3 main buildings at Antiga Fàbrica de les Capses:
• Building 1: Creative workshop studios and digital labs
• Building 2: Wellness Centre with exercise and mindfulness spaces
• Building 3: Social and communal spaces including café and meeting rooms
• Scheduled programme cycles with rolling intake to maintain community flow
• Integration of digital and physical sessions to broaden accessibility
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Grant-Ready Project Summary with focus on Barcelona / Maresme
Project Title: School of Being — A Creative and Caring Social Recovery Centre
Project Overview:
The School of Being provides a unique, socially inclusive environment for individuals and groups working together to create things of Form, Function, and Design – using creative skills, digital technology, and traditional methodology, wellness oriented activities, and peer-supported presence, these projects foster community connection, sustainable output, and economic integration.
Objectives:
• To empower participants with creative and digital skills leading to sustainable income opportunities
• To build a compassionate, non-clinical peer support network that enhances emotional well-being
• To integrate progressive wellness programmes for holistic recovery
• To establish a replicable social enterprise model fostering long-term sustainability
Expected Outcomes:
• Minimum 60% participant progression into monetisable creative roles within 12 months
• Increased self-reported emotional resilience and social connectedness measured through surveys
• Active engagement of at least 20 trained “caring presence” peers per cycle
• Sustainable partnerships with local tech companies and cultural bodies ensuring resource continuity
Partnerships & Collaborations:
• Adobe Creative Cloud for Education: software access, joint workshop development
• Canva and Notion: digital collaboration tools and training support
• Local cultural foundations and municipal bodies (Ajuntament de Barcelona, Diputació de Barcelona)
• Wellness experts and local health-promoting organisations
Budget Overview:
• Staffing (programme coordinators, workshop facilitators, helpers’ training)
• Facility maintenance and equipment (digital labs, wellness centre)
• Partnership and software licensing fees
• Marketing and outreach activities
• Evaluation and monitoring tools
Funding Request:
€800,000 to cover initial 18-month pilot phase with detailed milestones and community impact reporting.
Overview Summary:
The School of Being is a community-based creative recovery centre designed to support people experiencing psychological and emotional distress—whether from trauma, burnout, social isolation, or life transitions—by offering structured yet informal workshops rooted in creativity, peer presence, and skill-building.
We target those who are often underserved or resistant to formal mental health care, including:
• Individuals suffering from chronic stress, insomnia, burnout
• People recovering from trauma or emotional disruption
• Isolated elders and young adults facing low future expectations
• Volunteers and helpers with lived experience of emotional hardship
Our model uses creative expression (arts, crafts, digital media), skill-sharing (languages, first aid, IT), and emotionally supportive group experiences to enable healing through dignity, contribution, and community.
Programme Pillars:
1. Creative Workshops (painting, digital art, collage, photography)
2. Digital Empowerment (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud training, journaling)
3. Language and Skill Exchange (Catalan/Spanish/English, peer tutorials)
4. Community First Aid & Contribution Skills
5. Intergenerational Connection – bringing youth and elders together
Key Objectives:
• Provide 200+ participants/members per year with access to creative recovery activities
• Facilitate measurable improvement in self-perceived wellbeing (target: 85%)
• Build cross-generational engagement and skill exchange
• Create a replicable pilot model for other urban/rural Catalan communities
Outputs:
• 100+ workshop sessions/year
• 10 community showcase events
• 50+ digital portfolios or creative outcomes
• 25+ ‘helper volunteers’ trained and instructed in best practise (relations, friends, lonely but caring, etc)
• 1 pilot impact report delivered to each and all funders, supporting institutions, and collaborators
Timeline:
• Q4 2025: Initial funding secured, space activation, local partnerships
• Q1 2026: Programme launch (creative, language, and digital workshops)
• Q2 2026: Showcase, impact report, scaling to new regions under review
Funding Request:
• €25,000 – €40,000 (initial pilot phase)
Covers space rental, materials, workshop facilitation, digital tools, outreach
Partners Sought:
• Mental health agencies and cultural institutions
• Creative technology companies (Adobe, Canva, Notion)
• Local municipalities and education networks
• Public health and social innovation foundations
Contact:
Greville Edwards
The School of Being | grev.eu | igrev.com
Email / Phone / Website / Instagram
Stakeholder Matrix
Barcelona Cultura / CCCB
Cultural policy alignment, co-programming, dissemination
Agenda 21 Cultura
Framework guidance, evaluation tools, international partnerships
Canet de Mar Municipality
Site support, local services integration, civic permissions
Fàbriques de Creació
Residency model advising, peer exchange
Academic Partners (e.g. UAB, ELISAVA)
Research partnerships, student engagement, evaluation
Elder & NGOs
Resident-mentors, memory preservation, wisdom sharing
Youth Platforms & Schools
Project-based learning participants, creative apprenticeships
Cultural & Urban Planners
Design of adaptive reuse spaces, resilient infrastructure
European Culture Networks (Culture Action Europe, New European Bauhaus)
Visibility, replication, policy integration
CEAC
Coordinadora d’Emergència Ambiental de Canet de Mar
https://sites.google.com/view/ceacanet/inici?authuser=0
https://sites.google.com/view/ceacanet/inici/novetats-i-agenda/recuperem-can-jover?authuser=0
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EL PATRIMONI DE CANET ESTÀ EN JOC. – L’ INSTITUT A CAN JOVER!
Amb la participació de:
- Joan Carles Sallas, arquitecte urbanista
- Enric Badosa, biòleg maresmenc
- Francesc Rodríguez, historiador i membre del Centre d’Estudis Canetencs
DIJOUS 20 D’ABRIL A LES 19 H
Sala d’exposicions Ramon Capmany
Plaça dels Americanos
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Resources & Infrastructure Outline
Site & Space Use:
- Fàbrica Jover, Serra i Cia, and Antiga Fàbrica de les Capses, Canet de Mar: for studios, workshops, micro-residencies, co-housing prototypes, exhibition, event, and performance zones.
- Outdoor grounds: experimental gardens, gathering spaces, and ecological learning zones.
Core Facilities:
- Shared kitchens, tool/workspaces, media labs, publishing/cultural production rooms
- Intergenerational co-housing and co-existence model (pilot: 12 units)
- Accessible public zones (exhibition, events, storytelling salons)
Personnel & Roles:
- Cultural director / community curator
- Program coordinators (youth, elders, arts)
- On-site caretakers and facilitators
- Visiting artists, researchers, and fellows
- Cross-generational mentor–apprentice pairs
Digital & Educational Resource
- Online archive & publication platform
- Curriculum tools: DIY pedagogy toolkits, care economy frameworks, cultural memory mapping
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Cultural and Social Impact Outcomes
Cultural Innovation
New models for co-creation, cultural inheritance, and elder–youth knowledge transfer
Social Inclusion
Empowerment of aging populations; participatory culture as a right
Education& Creativity
Open-source intergenerational curriculum and peer-led learning frameworks
Ecological Sensibility
Regenerative use of space and materials; ecological storytelling and practices
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Budget (Indicative Breakdown)
Site renovation and adaptive reuse – cost €800,000 over 2 years
Personnel & facilitation – cost €1,500 pm avg. x 20 staff – €360,000 pa
Residency & Programming – cost €80,000 – (€200 pm per studio space rents x 8) – €19,200 pa return
Semi-permanent 11 month rents renewable – €1,000 pm 60sq.mtrs x 8) – €96,000 pa return
Public events & publishing – expenditure €180,000 / income €320,000 (€20 a head x 1600 over year)
Research & evaluation – €120,000 extra and o/t admins
Administration & Contingency – €120,000 – 2 full-time admins @ 60k pa
Once the site is restored and buildings become available the School Campus could be host to a variety of local and visiting presentations, assemblies, and events.
Translations – Summary & Flyer (Catalan & Spanish)
CATALAN – Escola de Ser (Resum i Full Informatiu)
ESCOLA DE SER
Recuperació Creativa, Empoderament Digital i Pertinença Comunitària
Un espai per curar-se. Una manera de pertànyer. Un camí per redescobrir-te.
T’enfrontes a:
- Estrès, desgast o sobrecàrrega emocional?
- Efectes persistents de trauma, abús o aïllament?
- Ansietat, insomni, pèrdua de rumb o motivació?
- Sensació de no encaixar dins les expectatives socials?
No estàs trencat. Ets humà. I és possible sanar a través de la creativitat, la connexió i noves eines de vida.
Què oferim:
- Tallers d’Arts i Manualitats – curació pràctica a través de la creació
- Escriptura Creativa amb IA – diaris guiats, poesia, narrativa personal
- Competències Digitals amb IA – pàgines web, organització vital, art digital
- Grups de Llengua i Comunicació – català, castellà, anglès
- Formació Cívica Pràctica – primers auxilis, suport veïnal
- Espai Social Inclusiu – càlid, segur i sense judicis
A la província de Barcelona
Multicultural, multilingüe, inclusiu
Algunes sessions en línia
SPANISH – Escuela del Ser (Resumen y Folleto)
ESCUELA DEL SER
Recuperación Creativa, Empoderamiento Digital y Pertenencia Comunitaria
Un lugar para sanar. Una forma de pertenecer. Un camino para reencontrarte.
¿Te enfrentas a:
- Agotamiento, estrés o sobrecarga emocional?
- Efectos persistentes del trauma, abuso o aislamiento?
- Ansiedad, insomnio o pérdida de rumbo?
- Sentirte fuera de lugar en la sociedad?
No estás roto. Eres humano. Y es posible sanar a través de la creatividad, la conexión y nuevas herramientas para vivir.
Qué ofrecemos:
- Talleres de Arte y Manualidades – sanar creando con tus manos
- Escritura Creativa con IA – diario, poesía, cuentos personales
- Herramientas Digitales con IA – páginas web, organización personal, arte
- Grupos de Idiomas y Comunicación – catalán, español, inglés
- Formación Cívica Práctica – primeros auxilios, apoyo comunitario
- Espacio Social Seguro – acogedor, sin juicios, abierto a todas y todos
Provincia de Barcelona
Multicultural, multilingüe, inclusivo
Algunas sesiones online
Draft Letter of Support / Partnership Proposal
To Whom It May Concern,
We write to express our strong support for the School of Being (Escola de Ser), a unique, community-rooted initiative responding to the urgent mental health, social isolation, and digital inclusion needs in our society.
The School of Being offers a non-clinical, creative, and compassionate framework for recovery and self discovery, aimed at individuals who care and share, and those navigating the effects of stress, anxiety, trauma, burnout, and life disruption. Through an innovative program of arts, language, and digital empowerment – including the responsible use of AI – the School reactivates individual dignity, self-expression, and social connection.
This initiative aligns strongly with municipal and European goals, particularly within the fields of:
- Mental health and well-being (Pla de Salut Mental de Catalunya)
- Intercultural and inclusive culture (Barcelona Cultura, Agenda 21)
- Digital literacy and civic innovation (EU Digital Europe, New European Bauhaus)
We believe in the School of Being’s potential to:
- Offer replicable models of creative recovery
- Promote intercultural dialogue through accessible community programming
- Empower underserved communities with contemporary tools for resilience and contribution
We encourage your support, collaboration, or consideration of partnership with the School of Being as it develops its three-year pilot phase in the Barcelona province.
Sincerely,
[Your Name / Title]
[Institution or Affiliation, if any]
[Email / Contact Info]
SCHOOL OF BEING
VISION, PROGRAM & PROPOSALS
I. Vision Statement
School of Being: A Centre for Creative Recovery and Social Reconnection
The School of Being is a restorative social centre dedicated to individuals navigating the lasting effects of psychological trauma, occupational burnout, abuse, and other life-altering experiences that have made social integration and daily functioning a challenge.
It is a sanctuary for those who live on the edges of society — people who struggle with insomnia, anxiety, loss of confidence, and a sense of disconnect from the community.
Rather than focusing on what is “wrong,” the School nurtures what is possible — restoring dignity, resilience, and purpose through creative participation, practical contribution, and compassionate community.
It is not a clinic or institution. It is a human space — a workshop of becoming — where healing comes through doing, creating, learning, and being together.
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II. Program Formats
Community Flyer Format
SCHOOL OF BEING
Creative Recovery, Digital Empowerment & Community Belonging
A place to heal. A way to belong. A path to rediscover your self.
Are you struggling with:
- Burnout, stress or emotional overload?
- Long-term effects of trauma, abuse or isolation?
- Anxiety, sleeplessness, or a loss of direction?
- Feeling unable to meet society’s expectations?
You are not broken. You are human. And healing is possible — through creativity, connection and new tools for living.
What We Offer:
- Arts & Crafts Workshops – hands-on healing through creation
- Creative Writing with AI Tools – guided journaling, poetry, storytelling
- AI & Digital Empowerment – build websites, create art with AI, organize your life
- Language & Communication Groups – multilingual self-expression
- Practical Community Training – e.g. basic first aid
- A Warm, Respectful Social Space – no judgment, all welcome
Who It’s For: Adults overwhelmed by trauma, burnout, or life challenges. A space for rebuilding with creativity, kindness, and today’s tools.
Based in Barcelona Province
Multicultural, multilingual, inclusive
Some sessions available online
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Grant Application Format (Technological Integration)
Project Title: Escola de Ser / School of Being
Legal Form: [To be confirmed]
Location: Barcelona Province
Executive Summary
The School of Being is an inclusive and forward-thinking recovery centre for adults impacted by trauma, psychological distress, burnout, or social exclusion. We combine creative expression, community connection, and digital empowerment — including therapeutic and practical uses of AI tools — to support autonomy, confidence, and social reintegration.
Program Highlights
- Creative Recovery
- Arts & crafts workshops
- Guided journaling and storytelling
- AI-assisted poetry, writing, visual art
- Digital Confidence & Technology
- AI tools for personal organization and time management
- Website building and digital portfolios
- Trauma-informed digital literacy
- Social & Linguistic Integration
- Language exchange (Catalan, Spanish, English)
- Communication and public expression skills
- Intercultural dialogue circles
- Community Reconnection
- Civic responsibility training (CPR, first aid)
- Volunteering and public contribution
- Community events and digital showcases
Target Groups
- Adults with trauma-related psychological challenges
- Burned-out professionals (teachers, carers, healthcare workers)
- Migrants and culturally diverse communities in Barcelona
- Those excluded from digital or social participation
Goals
- Facilitate emotional healing through arts and storytelling
- Build confidence with AI tools for mental clarity and planning
- Promote active, supported social reintegration
- Create a replicable model of non-clinical recovery
Funding Request Seeking €[amount] to support:
- Facilitators, artists, and digital mentors
- Tools, supplies, licenses
- Space and accessibility upgrades
- Online modules and outreach
- Evaluation and sustainability planning
Alignment with Regional/EU Initiatives
- Pla Integral de Salut Mental i Addiccions de Catalunya
- Pla Estratègic de Cultura de Catalunya 2021–2030
- EU New European Bauhaus
- Digital Europe Programme
- Ajuntament de Barcelona third-sector innovation initiatives
Impact & Evaluation
- Creative and digital skill development
- Tangible self-expression and trauma processing
- Reduced isolation, improved social function
- Open-source replication potential
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III. Extracted Principles
- Dignity through doing, not diagnosing
- Peer-based recovery, not professional gatekeeping
- Healing as an ongoing, creative process
- AI as a bridge — not a replacement — for human expression
- A return to community through contribution, not correction
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IV. Tone and Language
- Warm, human, invitational
- Directly addresses those in crisis or transition
- Multilingual, multicultural, inclusive
- De-medicalised, empowering, generative
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V. WordPress Web Copy (Draft
About Page:
The School of Being is a place to recover, create, and reconnect — with your self, your community, and the world. We support adults navigating trauma, burnout, or isolation through a gentle program of arts, language, digital empowerment, and mutual support.
Programs Page:
- Arts & Crafts for emotional regulation and expression
- Journaling, storytelling, and AI-assisted creativity
- Digital tools for personal planning and portfolio building
- Language and communication groups
- Civic engagement and public contribution training
Get Involved Page:
- Join as a participant
- Volunteer as a peer or mentor
- Support the project as a partner or donor
AI Tools for Recovery (Future Section):
Examples of how AI is used:
- Daily journaling prompts for mental clarity
- AI-generated images to support narrative therapy
- Personalized planners for managing recovery goals
- Creative writing support for memory and confidence building