Locala provides NHS community health services in the three areas of West Yorkshire and as a social enterprise not-for-profit organisation it invests any profits back into services or into community projects.
The Community Fund is one way of doing this – community groups can apply for a share of the money available and the final decision on which groups are supported is taken by a group of Locala Members – made up of both Locala employees and people from the local community.
Following a bumper year of applications to the Fund, up to more than 80 compared with 30 last year, the Locala Members Council agreed to increase the amount of funding available to groups from the usual amount of £10,000 up to an amount for this year of £26,906.
Diane McKerracher, Chair of Locala’s Board, said: “We’re delighted to be able to extend the amount of support we could offer to community project through our Fund this year. The response to the call-out for applications was fantastic and with so many great projects we wanted to offer help to as many as we could.
“As part of our commitment as a social enterprise to supporting the development of our local communities we have donated over £75,000 over the past seven years through this Fund and we look forward to welcoming many more applications when the Fund re-opens later this year.”
This year the projects supported were:
- Kirklees Haven, Huddersfield
£1500
Voluntary peer support group who provide support to carers and families of people affected by drug and alcohol misuse issues - the funding will go towards paying a trained facilitator to run some of the sessions.
- Dementia Friendly Sowerby Bridge
£1000
A group aiming to make Sowerby Bridge a dementia-friendly community. The funding will go towards a second Dementia Action Day in May 2020, where residents over 65 will be invited to come together to learn more about dementia and the local support available.
- Safe Anchor Trust, Mirfield
£2500
Safe Anchor Trust provide therapeutic & enjoyable boat trips, to individual and groups with physical or mental disabilities, poor health or are experiencing social isolation. The funding went towards the cost of their ‘Santa Special Week’, which took place in December and saw 372 disadvantaged & disabled children visiting Santa and receiving a present as well as taking part in singing and craft activities.
- Huddersfield Live at Home
£1152
The scheme offers people aged 60+ opportunities to engage in services and activities that aim to reduce loneliness and social isolation and improve wellbeing. The funding will support their creative minds group to hold twice monthly music therapy sessions for those living with dementia.
- The Sutton Centre, Bradford
£1000
The Sutton Centre are a community group who have developed a program of activities for local people to access seven days a week. The funding will go towards renovating their café area to provide a home cooked meal and drinks to local people on a weekly basis to help reduce social isolation.
- Eden’s Forest CIC, Huddersfield
£1500
Eden’s Forest provide outdoor opportunities for children, young people and adults to support and develop mental & health wellbeing. The funding will go towards providing a fun and rewarding day to young carers, to enable them to indulge themselves and have time to play and create.
- Bradford PHAB Club
£1500
A voluntary organisation who aim to promote and encourage inclusion and community cohesion. Funding will go towards developing a program of sports activities for young people with life limiting illnesses.
- Young at Heart, Batley
£1500
Young at Heart supports elderly isolated people by facilitating weekly meetings in a safe supportive environment where members meet to socialise, play games and go on outings. At present the group is reaching full capacity so the funding will therefore support setting up an additional group.
- ROKT Foundation, Brighouse
£900
The charity was established to support people that would not normally engage in health and fitness to become more physically active; providing bespoke activity through one to one and group sessions to support physical and mental health & wellbeing. Funding will be used to secure enhanced instructor training for 10 individuals, aimed at supporting children and young people to climb, allowing instructors to tailor sessions to a varied client bases.
- Disability Support Calderdale, Hebden Bridge
£1354
Run by and for disabled people, the group provides information and support with benefits, housing and homelessness issues. The funding will help support facilitating extra group sessions for those who are isolated.
- Aspire Christ Church Woodhouse. Huddersfield
£1500
A weekly group who promote a diverse range of activities, providing support to those who are socially isolated and living in the Fartown area. The funding will go towards supporting the weekly running costs of the group for around three months.
- Streetbikes, Spenborough
£1500
Streetbikes run all-inclusive cycling sessions at Spenborough running track where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can cycle in a safe environment. They have bikes of various adaptations that can be foot or hand propelled and have three bikes that wheelchairs can be loaded onto. The funding will go towards supporting the existing running costs of the group.
- Birstall Knit and Natter
£1000
A weekly knitting group who meet in Birstall Library, aiding local people to get out and about, socialise and meet new friends. The funding will go towards purchasing materials and their storage, as well as some specialised needles to support a member who is losing their sight.
- ESCAYP – Emotional Support for Children and Young People Gomersal
£1500
ESCAYP offer a free counselling/therapeutic play service which every year supports over 300 children and young people across West Yorkshire. The funding will go towards supporting children and young people who have been exposed to domestic violence with at least six counselling/ therapeutic play sessions.
- Take Ten, Batley
£1500
A mental health and suicide peer support group run by volunteers with lived experience. They aim to raise awareness and remove the stigma of mental health whilst supporting individuals, families and friends of those who are affected. The funding will be used towards facilitating a homework project to support 33 young people who currently attend their peer support groups, as well as any other young people or adults who would benefit from accessing laptops and other IT equipment.
- Sky Positive Minds, Batley
£1500
Provides one to one sessions and group workshops aiming to improve the confidence and emotional resilience of women and children in North Kirklees who have experienced domestic abuse, have anxiety, stress or have experienced other challenges, Funding will go towards delivering a confidence and emotional resilience programme to girls in one to one sessions.
- Greenfields Family Centre, Dalton
£1500
Provides the residents of Dalton and the surrounding areas of Rawthorpe and Moldgreen with access to education and recreational activities for local residents. Funding will go towards storage facilitates for an already established food bank.
- Friends of Batley Station
£1500
A community group who work to promote practical environmental enhancement works to Batley train station. The funds will pay for a defibrillator to be installed at the station
- Honley Business Association
£1500
Works to bring businesses and the community together in the village of Honley. They run a weekly youth group, attended by over 20 young people every week and funding will go towards supporting a Youth Manager who will help expand the work of the youth group.
