26/04/2023 - Permalink

Grants awarded to voluntary and community organisations to help support people’s wellbeing

Related topics: Adult social care / Community / Partner organisations

Voluntary and community organisations across Shropshire have been awarded grants to help them support local communities.

The Adult Social Care Preventative Small Grant fund from Shropshire Council is awarded to community and voluntary organisations that support the health and wellbeing of residents through community-based activities.

This year 18 organisations were awarded grants, totalling over £40,000. Those awarded funding included:

Organisations will host activities that will:

  • help people avoid hospital admission
  • support those discharged from hospital to regain their independence
  • help people with cost of living pressures
  • support people’s health and mental wellbeing.
  • support falls prevention and reduced levels of inactivity.

Thirty-two organisations had applied for the annual grant: those who weren’t successful in funding this year were signposted to other sources of support.

Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and communities, said:-

“I would like to say congratulations and thank you to all those who have received our Adult Social Care Preventative Small Grant fund.

“The health and wellbeing of our residents is one of our key priorities. We want to create the conditions that enable residents to lead a healthier lifestyle and thus prevent ill-health and reduce the need for long-term or hospital care.

“Community-based activities and groups are vitally important in maintaining our individual wellbeing and independence, and in creating strong and resilient communities. We are so lucky in Shropshire to have so many wonderful voluntary and community organisations that offer such activities and we want to support them to continue making our communities stronger and healthier.

“We had a lot of applications this year so it was a challenging task in allocating funds to enable us meet the best outcomes for local people as identified in the council’s Shropshire Plan.

“We would love to have awarded all who had applied; however, we felt that we needed to award grants to those organisations who provided strong evidence on how they would support local communities and help achieve our priorities.”

Bev Baxter, CEO of Community Resource who was awarded a grant, added:-

“We’re thrilled to receive support from this grant programme. The funding will enable us to reach more people across Shropshire, particularly in rural areas, and not only help reduce their risk of falling but support them in improving their overall health and wellbeing.”

Nigel Bishop, Chief Officer at Working Together Ludlow, said:-

“Working Together Ludlow is extremely pleased to have been awarded a grant by Shropshire Council through this programme.

“The grant funding will help support the running of our Diversity Club, which offers a safe and supportive environment for adults with learning disabilities and difficulties to have fun, learn new skills, make friends, gain independence, and participate in the local community.

“Our fortnightly sessions, held at Rockspring Community Centre in Ludlow, provide opportunities for members to enjoy trips out into the local community, including sports and games at local leisure venues, visits to various clubs and activity groups and social evenings in local pubs in Ludlow and the surrounding area.

“The grant funding will help us to continue to develop and deliver a wide range of interesting and engaging opportunities supported by our staff, volunteers, invited guests and activity providers.”

 Kate Fejfer, from Shropshire European organisation, added:-

‘We are very pleased to receive a grant from Shropshire Council. It helps to deliver very important workshops on ‘healthy relationships as an introduction to a conversation about domestic abuse’.”

Rachel Powell, Scheme Manager  at MHA Communities Shifnal and District, added:-

“Thank you so much for your generous grant towards our dementia support group.

“Following research, it was determined most need was for reliable respite cover. Therefore, the main aim for this group is to give valuable respite to carers. Attending together initially will progress towards short respite solutions as and when the person with dementia feels settled and does not need to see their carer.

“The member living with dementia will be supported by MHA staff and volunteers: keeping them occupied is paramount to help them relax and manage for that short time without their carer.”

The successful applicants will also join Shropshire’s Community Connectors network and support Shropshire’s Social Prescribing programme. 

Further information 

About Shropshire Council’s Adult Social Care Preventative Small Grants Programme 2023-2024

Shropshire Council’s Adult Social Care Preventative Small Grants Programme 2023-2024 is designed to provide a grant funding opportunity for community-based activity that supports wellbeing and independence.

Funding is up to a maximum of £5000 per grant for activity delivered between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. It is aimed at voluntary organisations and community groups working in Shropshire. The council welcome funding applications for community-based activities that enable people to stay physically and mentally well, and that support independent living and prevent avoidable admissions into hospital. Funding should contribute to growing existing activity and/or the development of new ideas and start up initiatives that support the wellbeing of Shropshire’s residents.

The funded activity must contribute to one or more of the council’s priorities for grant funding which include activity which supports:

  • Admission avoidance
  • Supporting discharge from hospital settings
  • The cost of living pressures
  • Health and mental wellbeing
  • Falls prevention and reduced levels of inactivity.

Furthermore, applicants will need to demonstrate how they support The Shropshire Plan and the priorities for healthy people. These are:-

  • Tackle inequalities
  • Early intervention
  • Partnerships
  • Self-responsibility.