Older and active
Grants from £300 to £10,000 are available to voluntary and community groups to promote health and wellbeing for older people.
From fitness and walking groups to tea dances and ‘knit and natter’– all kinds of activities can be funded.
These grants can offer a lifeline to older people, who are a valuable asset to our communities.
Jean Robertson, Lottery Officer, said: “There is a range of funding opportunities available, from Awards for All to the Council’s Community Grant Scheme. We are particularly interested in supporting activities and services for older people as these activities can help to reduce isolation and help older people stay active.”
Recent success stories include:
- Scottish Borders Elder Voice, which received £472 from the Community Grant Scheme for the development of a website and £3,950 from Awards for All for outreach services. The website money helped the group buy a compatible computer and software to support the ongoing maintenance of the website. The outreach project encouraged more participation by the elderly socially excluded in rural areas, involving a series of open days. The grant helped with the cost of venue hire, equipment and travel costs.
- South Garden Tenants Association received £1,617 from the Community Grants Scheme for recreational equipment for the sheltered housing complex. The grant helped with the purchase of a keyboard, sound system and ‘vibroplate’ exercise equipment as well as hire of a specially adapted coach to enable all residents to take part in two winter outings.
- Borders Curling Development Group received £47,686 from People’s Millions for its ‘8 to 80+’ project, which encouraged both the disabled and able bodied to take part in exercise. Children from as young as eight went curling with elderly people, in a bid to bridge the generations.
For more information
Contact Jean Robertson 01825 826543 jjrobertson@scotborders.gov.uk or Linda Cornwall 01835 826659 lcornwall@scotborders.gov.uk