Grants help groups rebuild

Small grants help member groups get back on track

After two years of lockdown, many community member groups were in need of some assistance to get them back up and running when pandemic restrictions finally eased. To help with that, we handed out £90,000 in small grants to 81 member groups to help with running costs, staff training, transport costs, outings and get-togethers. The money also allowed groups to buy materials and equipment, provide lunches and refreshments, hold celebration events, pay for fitness or IT tutors and cooks for lunch clubs. For those still responding to lockdown, there were grants to provide telephone and online services and doorstep deliveries. The typical grant award was less than £1,500, but Age Scotland members made a little money go a very long way. More than 4,550 older people benefitted from the activities funded through the grants programme. Over the past few months, members have been telling us how they used their grants. Older people attending groups that received a grant spoke of improvements to their mental health, once they had something to look forward to, and said they felt more connected and less isolated. Building – or rebuilding – connections post-pandemic has been a vital part of the grants delivery programme.

Larkhall and District gardening project | Taynuilt Fitness & Balance group’s grant paid for a trainer

People enjoyed learning new things, the chatter, and the activities. Physical well-being also improved through activities such as yoga, keep-fit classes, fitness and balance sessions, and walking groups. Age Scotland member groups themselves also report some benefits over and above receiving much needed funds to keep their services and activities going. Some have been able to secure additional funding from other sources as a direct result of their Age Scotland grant. Others have forged new partnerships with local stakeholders or piloted different ways of working to improve the quality of their work and respond to increased demand for their services. Well done to all our 2021/22 Resilience and Recovery grant holders, and very best wishes to all those member groups who have just been awarded funding through the 2022/23 Age Scotland Support Good Connections Grants Programme.

Contact Age Scotland’s Community Development team if your group needs information or advice to raise funding for your services and activities. Call 0333 323 2400 or email us at members@agescotland.org.uk