£190,000 fund for social prescribing to launch in Keighley, Bradford

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Keighley Community Health Grants will help community businesses and community organisations to offer activities which boost health and wellbeing.
20 Jan, 2020

Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in and around Keighley can now apply for a slice of the £190,000 pot to support social prescribing projects.

Keighley Community Health Grants has been created by GiveBradford and Power to Change, the charitable trust which supports community business.

The purpose of social prescribing is to connect people who face challenges such as isolation, mental ill-health or need some support to get more active, with practical activities in their community which might help them. A range of activities could be eligible to apply for the new fund, but some examples include art classes, gardening, cooking, debt or welfare advice, physical activity like dance classes, volunteering or singing.

Susie Finlayson, Development Manager at Power to Change, said: “Health is influenced by a wide range of social, economic and environmental factors, and social prescribing allows medical professionals to signpost patients to incredibly effective services in their community which can make a huge difference to their lives.

“We believe that community businesses and other community-based organisations are well placed for this work, and that access to these kinds of services and activities can complement the invaluable work being done by doctors and nurses within the NHS.

“Across the country the NHS is rolling out social prescribing and in Keighley, alongside the GP surgeries, we are keen to support the creation of a thriving community response to the social determinants of health.”

Kate Hainsworth, Chief Executive at GiveBradford and Leeds Community Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside our partners on this ground breaking, pioneering project, which we believe will deliver real value for Keighley, making a huge difference to the lives of those that need support the most.”

Dr Tom Ratcliffe, a GP who works at Holycroft Surgery in the heart of Keighley, is one local supporter of the idea. He said: “This is a brilliant new fund for community groups and businesses in Keighley to deliver healthy activities and link to local health initiatives such as social prescribing! We want Keighley to be a healthier town and this will help us achieve this ambition. The fund has been made possible by local GP surgeries and the health and social care system matching resources closely with the voluntary and charitable sector.”

The fund will be open for three years, with organisers hoping to distribute £190,000 in 2020 alone.

GiveBradford and Power to Change are organising a briefing event on Friday 31 January 2020, 13:00-15:00 at the Central Hall, Keighley. Follow this link to register.

For further information about the fund visit leedscf.org.uk/keighley-community-health-grants or email grants@leedscf.org.uk

About Power to Change
Power to Change is the independent trust that supports community businesses in England.

Community businesses are locally rooted, community-led, trade for community benefit and make life better for local people. The sector owns assets worth £890m, and comprises 9,000 community businesses across England who employ 33,600 people. (Source: Community Business Market 2019)

From pubs to libraries; shops to bakeries; swimming pools to solar farms; community businesses are creating great products and services, providing employment and training and transforming lives. Power to Change received its endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2015.

www.powertochange.org.uk @peoplesbiz

For more information please contact: Alex Valk 07384 812777 alexv@www.powertochange.org.uk

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.

We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

About GiveBradford

GiveBradford is creating a city of opportunity for all. We work together with partners to create positive change with the communities that need it most, by investing funding and expertise to build a better future now.​​

GiveBradford was launched in 2017 by Leeds Community Foundation and in 2019 had distributed over £835,000 in grants to across Bradford, enabling positive change in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in our communities.​

We distribute grants, share advice and use our specialist knowledge to help community projects thrive, so they can make an even greater impact and create opportunities for people to be Healthy and Well, Work and Learn and be Financially well, Thrive and Be Safe, and Experience and Play.​