Funds Boost of £71,650 Awarded to Local Groups Tackling Social Isolation In Hampshire Communities
Grants totalling £71,650 have been awarded by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) on behalf of Hampshire County Council to 18 countywide groups working in their local communities.
The organisations receiving the grants were identified by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF), which administers the Valuing Hampshire Communities grant fund on the County Council’s behalf.
The funding aims to support residents who may be susceptible to social isolation, as well as older people who have specific vulnerabilities owing to loss of friends, family, mobility or income. There is a proven correlation between social isolation and health and wellbeing. The grants provided by the Valuing Hampshire Communities Fund, will promote preventative care and support for these people in need while tackling the issue of loneliness.
Jonathan Cheshire, Chairman of HIWCF said: “We would like to thank Hampshire County Council and the Valuing Hampshire Communities Fund for enabling us to reach right to the heart of the local communities to help reduce social isolation and disadvantage, making a real difference where it is most needed. However, there were some very valid projects that we were not able to make awards to this time around, so our Foundation still has much work to do.”
Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “Our grant recipients provide locally-based, timely support to their communities, offering a diverse range of services across the county. Our grant funding makes a big difference to residents by supporting the delivery of services that improve health and wellbeing, removing barriers to employment and enhancing overall quality of life.”
The 18 groups receiving an award are:
| Group Awarded | Grant Amount | Area |
| Basingstoke NeighbourCare | £5,000.00 | Basingstoke and Deane |
| Home-Start North West Hampshire | £4,000.00 | Basingstoke and Deane |
| Test Valley Men’s Shed | £3,720.00 | Basingstoke and Deane |
| Whitehill Village Hall | £5,000.00 | East Hampshire |
| Asian Welfare and Cultural Association | £4,356.00 | Eastleigh |
| Everyone Active | £5,000.00 | Fareham |
| Lowry Girls (Community Choir) | £4,660.00 | Gosport |
| Brendoncare Club Hampshire | £4,994.00 | Havant |
| Havant and East Hampshire Mind | £4,350.00 | Havant |
| Fordingbridge & District Day Centre for the Frail and Housebound | £871.00 | New Forest |
| Rae Straton Lunch Club/Day Care | £1,000.00 | New Forest |
| DeafPLUS | £5,000.00 | Rushmoor |
| Parkside (Aldershot & District Learning Disability) | £4,949.00 | Rushmoor |
| Vine Drop-in Centre | £3,917.00 | Rushmoor |
| Age UK Mid Hampshire | £4,976.00 | Test Valley |
| Enham Trust | £4,357.00 | Test Valley |
| Swanmore Voluntary Care Group Lunch Club | £2,000.00 | Winchester |
| Weeke Community Association | £3,500.00 | Winchester |
| Total | £71,650.00 |
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Thank you to Basingstoke Neighbourcare for supplying photograph showing a volunteer assisting a client with a Hospital visit
