Social isolation is an issue that can affect anyone at any age and can result in a negative effect on physical and mental health, social connections are an important part of keeping us healthy and well. Projects that encourage people to connect with others are important to keep people happy and healthy in their own homes and communities.
If you are interested in setting up a project to help to reduce social isolation there are several funding opportunities available, our Capacity Building Fund supports those in the process of setting up and developing opportunities in the Borough of Telford and Wrekin. Other funding opportunities are also available offering a range of funding, take a look at the opportunities below to see if there is a fund that would suit a project you are planning.
The National Lottery Community Fund say social connections and community activities are at the heart of creating healthier, happier lives and a flourishing society. That’s why they support amazing community-led projects.
They offer funding from £300 to £20,000. And can support your project for up to two years.
You can apply for funding to deliver a new or existing activity or to support your organisation to change and adapt to new and future challenges.
They can fund projects that’ll do at least one of these things:
- bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
- improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
- help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
- support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Visit the National Lottery Awards for All to find out more.
Funding projects and organisations that work to make positive changes in their community. By community they mean people living in the same area, or people with similar interests or life experiences. Funding starts at £20,001.
Reaching Communities can fund projects or organisations that’ll do at least one of these things:
- bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
- improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
- help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.
They want to be flexible and respond to your community’s needs. So will offer funding:
- for the long or short term
- for a specific activity, or for broader costs to help your organisation or community
- for one organisation or to bring organisations together
- to support people, communities and organisations most affected by the cost-of-living crisis
- to help organisations address the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on how they work, now and in the future.
Visit the National Lottery Reaching Communities website to find out more.
This funding is for organisations working together in partnership to help their community. By community they mean people living in the same area, or people with similar interests or life experiences. Funding starts at £20,001.
They can fund projects or partnerships that’ll do at least one of these things:
- bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
- improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
- help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.
They want to be flexible and respond to your community’s needs. So will offer funding:
- for the long or short term
- for a specific activity, or for broader costs to help your organisation or community
- to bring organisations together
- to support people, communities and organisations most affected by the cost-of-living crisis
- to help organisations address the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on how they work, now and in the future.
Visit the National Lottery Partnerships to find out more.
The Foundations aims are to fund work within each of our funding programmes which:
- will make a lasting difference to people’s lives rather than simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems;
- is aimed at reducing isolation, stigma and discrimination, and;
- encourages or enables groups that experience marginalisation and/or discrimination to share in the life of the whole community.
Over a typical year, the Foundation make around 130-150 grants, to a total value of between £720,000 and £800,000.
The total amount they can offer is up to £15,000. This can be over three years, two years, or a single grant.
However, most grants they make are for much less than this amount, with the average grant size being £5,000-£6,000.
They aim to help organisations to become sustainable, supporting running and core costs to enable them to have flexibility, security and longevity and can contribute to project costs or salaries.
Funding focuses on:
- Asylum Seekers & Refugees
- Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Communities
- People with Mental Health Issues
- Offenders & Ex-Offenders
- Older People
- People Affected by Violence or Abuse
- Young People
Visit the Allen Lane Foundation to find out more.
It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people in the UK living with dementia will be 1.1 million (Alzheimer’s Research UK, 2023). There are a number of inequalities in care for dementia, with key factors including local service provision, ethnicity, whether your care is self-funded or paid for by local authorities, and whether you are diagnosed earlier or later in the illness.
Research suggests that having close ties to friends and family, participating in meaningful social activities may help people maintain their thinking skills in later life, and slow down cognitive decline.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation are supporting thoseliving with dementia and are particularly interested in targeted interventions such as carers support and social groups, Maintenance Cognitive Simulation Therapy, or other interventions working to achieve outcomes such as the following:
- Improved ability of carers to meet the needs of people with dementia (i.e. resources, knowledge, skills)
- Reducing loneliness, isolation and creating social connection
- Improvements to physical health and cognitive function
- Better access to support services
- Increased independence and influence over their own lives and treatment
As part of their commitment to being an evidence-led funder they will consider funding the evaluation costs of projects, particularly when it is a new project and the charity will then be able to use the evaluation to support its future funding proposition.
Small Grant
Small grants range from £1,000 – £5,000 per year, for up to three years for charities whose annual income is between £25,000 and £500,000.
Large Grant
Usually range from £10,000 to £60,000 in total and can be spread over one to three years, for larger charities whose annual income is between £500,000 and £5m.
Visit the Masonic Charitable Foundation to find out more.
Currently closed to new applications whilst they re-evaluate and develop a new strategy.
Visit The Tudor Trust to find out more.
Last updated: 21/05/2024 15:10
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