Deadline: 23-Dec-22
The Caring Together Warwickshire has launched its Innovation Fund to support any career who lives in and/or takes care of someone who lives in Warwickshire.
Warwickshire County Councill have allocated funds that can directly support carers to support and promote health and wellbeing. This is being promoted as an Innovation Fund.
Aims
- The service aims to support carers via three main aims:
- Improve access to information and advice to support and maintain carer health and wellbeing
- Help carers to feel connected to their community and support carers to have a break from caring that is meaningful to them.
- Ensure carers voices are heard by the services that support them and give carers autonomy to choose/influence the support they receive
Funding Information
- Any not-for-profit group or local organisation can apply to run a small project and can bid for an amount from £500 up to £3000.
What can the Innovation Fund be used for?
- Each group can apply for funding from £500 up to £3000 for use directly with carers in their community, to enable those with caring responsibilities to have the space and time to engage in activities for their own personal well-being. The proposals must demonstrate coproduction with carers themselves for example, targeting adult carers caring for adults, parent carers or young carers. The application should preferably have a level of sustainability built in. They are looking for applications from all district and boroughs and will allocate to ensure equitable access to the fund. For illustration purposes only some potential ideas could be:
- ‘meaningful activities’ that engage the cared for in a safe environment, to give their carer, the confidence and peace of mind to attend a leisure pursuit or a social event or interest
- A volunteer or befriending local support services that encourages carers to network with each other and remain connected
- Group activities for carers that take place at the same time as activities for their loved ones. This might involve room hire, entertainment, an activity host and support staff, UK-based trips, or experience days.
- Virtual and/or digital support for carers, assistive technology, and online support
- The purchase of equipment, materials, or activities by an existing carers group to be able to offer more engaging or fun sessions to their members.
- Supporting carers to come together around a common interest book club, allotment, choir etc.
- Targeting a particular group or area such as faith group, male carers, a particular village, or neighbourhood.
Eligibility Criteria
- Any Warwickshire based carer group or not for profit community organisation can apply for a funding. Formal organisations must have a constitution, bank account, appropriate insurance and a committee or board of directors. A group of carers can also set up as an informal small enterprise. Alternatively, Carers Trust Heart of England can facilitate the release of funds to informal groups without accounts. This enables unincorporated groups of volunteers to apply as well as more formal charitable organisations or community interest non profit groups. All groups much submit an evaluation of the activity they are funded for.
For more information, visit Caring Together Warwickshire.