21/12/2023 - Permalink

Adult social care small preventative grant programme to be launched in the New Year

Related topics: Adult social care / Community / Health

Shropshire Councils adult social care small preventative grant fund will be open for applications in January 2024 for grants of up to £4,000, for community-based organisations in Shropshire that support wellbeing and independence.

The council will be looking to grant fund activity supporting residents to remain independent and physically and mentally well, with the aim to prevent avoidable admissions into hospital or from reaching a crisis.

Funding will be available for activity to be delivered between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. It is aimed at voluntary organisations and community groups working in Shropshire, and for those wishing to start up new initiatives. All applicants will need to demonstrate how their proposed activity supports The Shropshire Plan .

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Cabinet Member for adult social care and public health said:

“Following the success of this years’ grant we want to give community and voluntary organisations the heads up that another round of funding will be available in the New Year.

“This year 18 organisations were awarded grants, totalling over £40,000. Community led activity of this nature is essential in helping us to tackle inequalities, such as those influenced by the rural nature of our county, rising hardship associated with the cost of living and our aging population.

“Those community and voluntary organisations have been delivering some amazing activities and support across Shropshire which are having a positive impact in our local communities. It’s been very inspiring and encouraging to see how their projects have been supporting residents to keep physically and mentally well and helping to reduce the pressures on our health and social care system.”

Feedback from those who attended the various grant funded community-based projects across the county:

“I feel part of something genuine, I feel heard, and my opinions are valued. I wouldn’t be here if Designs wasn’t here.” Customer attending Designs in Mind new referral group.

Designs in mind activities

Designs in Mind activities

“Thank you for the session. We found it helpful, and we’ve been doing some chair exercises and hearing you say that moving was important has encouraged my dad to move about a bit more and not just sit in front of the telly. Well done…we’ve been trying for ages!” Customer attending one of Community Resources falls prevention sessions in rural village hall locations.

“My mental health has improved so much over the past year and personally feel attending Art Shack is the thing that has made the most difference to me.  I have gone from requiring lots of NHS support and doctors time to now managing mostly on my own.” Customer attending one of Art Shack’s Get Creative sessions and Qi Gong workshops and Mental Health first aid training.

Art Shack's activities

Art Shack’s activities

Due to the high level of applications that are received for the preventative grant programme, the council also strongly advises groups and organisations to firstly consider if the activity to be delivered is suitable to be funded through alternative grant programmes that are available, and suggest accessing the following resources:

Further information

Eighteen organisations were awarded grants in 2023, totalling over £40,000. Those awarded funding included:

Organisations hosted activities that would:

  • 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.