Funding available for Community Groups

Community organisations providing supper for carers, residents with additional support needs and their families are encouraged to bid for funding through new Council and NHS grants programme.

A new Community Health and Wellbeing Grants programme was launched on Tuesday 15 August, providing funding for community organisations to deliver home support, breaks for carers and support with physical wellbeing.

The grants programme is being run jointly by Cheshire West and Chester Council and the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB). Community groups big and small are being invited to bid for funding for innovative projects that will make a difference in communities.

As part of a consultation run by the Council, people accessing services and their carers explained how they'd like to see services become more coordinated, with better links between health and local community services.

The consultation also found that community sector organisations:
* preferred a grants programme covering a minimum two-year period

* supported models of care that focus on a more local offer for residents and carers

* requested a more flexible relationship with the Council that had the opportunity to respond to emerging needs in communities.

Councillor Sheila Little, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said:
"We're delighted to launch our new Community Health and Wellbeing Grants programme alongside our NHS partners.People want to enjoy happy and healthy lives at home and our grants programme will allow people to find more support locally in their communities.

The new grants programme will be far more accessible, flexible and innovative for community groups and we hope to receive applications from new organisations we may not have previously worked with.

We'd encourage any community organisations to look at the programme and consider submitting an application."

The Community Health and Wellbeing Grants programme, which is worth around £500,000 in total, will remain open until Friday 25 September, focusing on three key areas.

* Home support
* Carer breaks
* Physical wellbeing

The aim for successful bids is for residents and carers to:

* feel supported to live independent and confident lives in their own home
* have a good support network to maintain the running of their own lives
* feel safe and connected to the communities they live in
* access support locally at the right time.

Grants are likely to fund services that delay or prevent the need for high-level care, covering the west Cheshire area.

Apply online

CWAC say that a grant criteria pack is available on The Chest North West Procurement Portal, providing all the information you need about this new programme and help is available with submitting applications if required.
N.B. Tarvin Online were not able to verify this on the portal, and have contacted the organisers of the information sessions for guidance. If anyone has advice on how this can be done, please drop us an email so that we can share it.

The Chest

Information sessions will also be held to support organisations with the application process, taking place on the following dates.

* 1 September 2023, 9.30am to 12.30pm -- The Portal, Ellesmere Port
* 7 September 2023, 1pm to 4pm -- The Portal, Ellesmere Port
* 14 September 2023, 9.30am to 12.30pm -- Microsoft Teams (virtual)
* 14 September 2023, 1.30pm to 4.30pm -- Microsoft Teams (virtual)

Places are limited to 22 people for the in-person sessions and will be available on a first come, first served basis. If you'd like to get involved, please email: engagement@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

A panel, including representatives from the Council, ICB and community sector (non-applicant), will meet once applications have closed to award grants.