Working with NHS to offer grants for community projects for second year, to improve physical and mental health

These projects are aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of local residents and the communities they live in.
Applications for the health and wellbeing grant fund are now open.

The grant fund will provide much needed investment to support organisations working with individuals or communities who face health inequalities that may have been worsened by the cost of living crisis.

Cllr Max Wilkinson, cabinet member for economic development, culture, tourism and wellbeing, said: “I am really pleased that for the second year running, we are able to work with the NHS to create this much needed grant.

“I know how much local community partners valued last year’s funding and I look forward to seeing the projects that will come forward and make a significant difference to the wellbeing of our local residents and the communities they live in.”

The six district and borough councils in Gloucestershire have been given access to money from the Strengthening Local Communities Fund to support health and wellbeing, with each area developing a plan for how to direct the funding.

In Cheltenham, the council is working with Cheltenham Integrated Locality Partnership (a group including health and social care providers and local government working together to bring services together and plan how they are delivered to local populations) to manage the grant-making process.

Helen Goodey, director of Primary Care and Place at NHS Gloucestershire, said: “We want to transform the way communities, voluntary organisations, the NHS and local authorities work together to improve the health and wellbeing of all people across Gloucestershire.

“It’s fantastic that the council has decided to use Strengthening Local Communities funding to offer grants to local community projects; we know how important these are in helping people re-connect with their neighbourhoods whilst promoting physical activity and wider cultural opportunities and we’re delighted to be supporting it.”

Angela Gilbert, community development team manager from Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, said “We were pleased to have the involvement of local voluntary and community sector partners in helping to shape the priorities for this year’s grant programme. So we are really confident that the awards made will make a real difference to people in Cheltenham’s communities.”

Last year the council supported 21 projects with a total of £125k worth of grants. This included support for Young Gloucestershire to deliver mental health support for local young people to reduce the anxiety and social isolation that some young people experience; support for Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation to deliver walking cricket sessions for the over 50s to improve their health, fitness and mental wellbeing; and Creative Age, an arts-based, social community project for people with dementia and their carers in Cheltenham. Information on the other projects that benefitted is available on the council’s website.

Organisations are being encouraged to apply online by 31 October 2023.

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