18 voluntary and community groups benefit from grants for health and wellbeing
Voluntary and community organisations across Shropshire have been awarded grants to help them support local communities.
The Adult Social Care Preventative Small Grant fund 2024-25 from Shropshire Council is awarded to community and voluntary organisations that support the health and wellbeing of residents through community-based activities.
The council has looked 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.
This year 18 organisations were awarded grants, totalling £30,000.
Those awarded funding are:-
- 4 All Foundation 4 All Foundation – Shropshire
- Community Resource Home – Community Resource Desktop (community-resource.org.uk)
- Remap Custom Disability Equipment & Aids Shropshire UK | REMAP
- Cavalier centre Cavalier Centre | Horse Riding Equestrian Activities for the Disabled
- Wattlesborough Village Hall Wattlesborough Village Hall Home
- Open Space Studios CIC Home | Open Space Studios CIC
- Shrewsbury Food Hub Shrewsbury Food Hub | Reduce Food Waste, Save the Environment
- Shropshire ME group Home – SHROPSHIRE ME GROUP
- Working Together Ludlow https://www.workingtogetherludlow.co.uk/
- Open Harmony CIC Music | Open Harmony CIC | Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin
- Omega Letterbox – Omega… Ending Isolation | Ending Loneliness
- Designs in Mind Shropshire Mental Health Support – Designs In Mind Oswestry
- Samaritans of Shrewsbury Samaritans of Shrewsbury
- Chorley Village Hall Chorley Village Hall | Bridgnorth | Facebook
- The Hive (HMM Arts Ltd Home – The Hive (hiveonline.org.uk)
- Aims Network for carers.
- MHA Communities (Shifnal district) MHA Communities Shifnal & District | Befriending, Lunch & Social Groups | MHA
Grant funding was also provided to Shropshire’s Community Resource to add to their ‘Spark up’ grant fund to help start up new initiatives and community groups in local communities.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:-
“In light of unprecedented financial challenges, we are facing, our priorities remain focused on our most vulnerable.
“I am delighted that we have been able to provide these grants to local voluntary and community groups who play a vital part in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local communities.
“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 ageing population.
“The Adult Social Care Small Preventative Grant fund offers a crucial lifeline to those organisations who give people a new lease of life, by improving their physical and mental wellbeing. This preventative work is essential in helping to reduce the pressures on our health and social care system.
“This year 18 organisations were awarded grants, totalling over £30,000. Those community and voluntary organisations are delivering some amazing activities and support across Shropshire which are having a positive impact in our local communities.
“I look forward to seeing the outcome of their great work.”
Successful applicant Shropshire ME group said:-
“Thank you so much for the fabulous news about our grant application, and I confirm we are delighted to accept your offer of a grant.
“It will be an enormous help and enable us to move forward with our plans to ensure that everyone in Shropshire diagnosed with ME/Long Covid is automatically referred to us for on-going support.”
27 organisations had applied for the annual grant: those who were not successful in funding this year were signposted to other sources of support.
Further information
Feedback from those who attended the various grant funded community-based projects across the county from April 2023 – March 2024.
Customer attending Designs in Mind sessions:-
“Deeper chats have taken place about fears I’ve been battling with, chats about feeling lonely, isolated, and depressed. Each and every single time, by being brave to share what I’m dealing with, I’ve left the studio feeling massively better than when I arrived with my burden.”
Art Shack customer:-
“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. “This amazing project can continue to support more people improve their wellbeing and know any funding received will be put to very good use keeping the place running for all those who benefit now and who will in the future. “
Rural Art Hub:-
‘I’ve only been to two sessions so far (although I’m planning more) and as someone who suffers with a range of chronic illnesses both mental and physical, it gave me peace and respite from my world, and I was able to just be in the moment. Wonderful stuff, thank you.’
The Hive:-
– Music Club participant, when asked questions about their progress
What I have enjoyed the most is: “…everyone being so supportive. I feel like I have become a new me, being around people able to see the good in me.”