New grants venture to help the elderly

A new grant scheme is being unveiled by Staffordshire County Council tomorrow on UK Older People's Day. Community and voluntary organisations are being invited to submit bids for cash.

Funds will be available through the Health for Older People scheme to deliver community programmes which aim to improve the lives of people aged 50 and over across the county. Small community groups can submit projects to improve health and wellbeing, and maintaining the independence of older people.

Grants of £500 to support groups in their work will be up for grabs.

Larger voluntary organisations have the opportunity to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £10,000.

Councillor Matthew Ellis, the council's cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, is officially launching the scheme.

"This scheme provides a great opportunity for the voluntary and community sector to develop the work they do in local communities with older people.

"Working with and supporting these organisations will mean that there will be a wider range of wellbeing services accessible locally, supporting older and vulnerable people in the community and enabling them to live their lives the way they choose," he explained.

He said the council wanted to encourage groups to think about how they can best use grants to extend their work or develop new projects.

"Focusing on an area such as improving community transport for example, can increase access to local facilities and social activities allowing people to feel less isolated and more part of their community," he added.

Councillor Ellis said the population aged over 65 in Staffordshire was set to rise by 17 per cent in five years time and the council needed to be planning for that now.

The closing date for applications is January 4 and a guidance and application pack has been developed to support groups in their applications. Joint applications are also welcomed.

For more information about the Health for Older People grants scheme or to request an application pack, contact Shelley Davis from the council's health development team on 01785 288279 or 07815 826811 or email shelley.davis@stafford shire.gov.uk