Suffolk Carers Fund (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 4-Mar-22

The Suffolk Community Foundation (SCF) has announced Suffolk Carers Fund that provides grants for activities within communities that enable adult unpaid carers (aged 18+) who are supporting other adults, to sustain their caring role by increasing their feelings of wellbeing, choice and control.

Aims

This grant programme has been created by Suffolk County Council and aims to support adults providing unpaid care and support to adult family members and friends who are older, disabled or seriously ill, due to frailty, physical, emotional and/or mental health issues including addiction.
The support offered by unpaid carers is critical to these people and is one of the most valuable assets within their communities but can be incredibly difficult for those in the role. This funding programme recognises these challenges and seeks to support those who provide unpaid care.

Objective :The objective of the fund is to enable their adult unpaid carers (aged 18+) who are supporting other adults, to sustain their caring role and increase their feelings of wellbeing.

Themes

Helping family members and friends recognise their role as unpaid carers at an early stage and identify and access the support they need.
Supporting unpaid carers to access opportunities which sustain and improve their physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
Enabling those with caring responsibilities to fulfil their educational and employment potential, build and maintain their social connections, and have time for relaxation/recharging.

Interest Areas

From small grassroots and community organisations run by/for adult carers
About innovative/start-up projects and those that will fill gaps in the current provision for adult carers
How organisations will support carers to have short breaks away from their caring responsibilities
How organisations offering face-face learning, employment or leisure activities will make sessions as accessible as possible to carers i.e. what arrangements for the cared-for person will be put in place to enable the carer to attend
How organisations will support carers to become more competent and confident with using technology.

Funding Information

Grants of up to £20,000 (or micro grants of up to £5,000) for activities within communities that enable their adult unpaid carers to sustain their caring role, by supporting their feelings of wellbeing, choice, and control.

Further Information to Strengthen your Bid

applicants should clearly demonstrate (where appropriate):
- The need for the project, with evidence
- The expected impact of the project – on carers individually, and statutory organisations
- The expected outcomes of the project, including how these will be validated by carers. Note for grant requests of over £5,000 – please also provide details of the outcome indicators and monitoring/assessment tools to be used to capture baseline and progression data to demonstrate the impact on carers and their families
- Where additional funding or in-kind contributions have been requested or made
- How applicants will seek to ensure the sustainability of the project going forward, where it has demonstrated positive impact on unpaid carers
- How applicants will ensure that unpaid carers are aware of their statutory entitlement to a carers assessment (via Suffolk County Council Customer First or Suffolk Family Carers), and will signpost to this, and further statutory support as appropriate
- Applicants should show how they have engaged carers in the development and design of their project
- Applicants should demonstrate how they will work in partnership with other organisations/groups where possible
- how the project will be promoted to carers, and how it will be made as easy as possible for them to participate i.e. the accessibility of the environment, facilities e.g. car parking, communication/language needs
- How the project could be extended/scaled-up/widened if required, including by the use of technology if appropriate
- If appropriate, how the project will help support carers after their responsibilities have changed, e.g. the cared-for person has moved into residential supported care, or following bereavement.