Grants are now available to help individuals and community groups kick-start their own innovative initiatives supporting health and wellbeing of residents in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
The council, in partnership with Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), is inviting people to apply for one-off grants of up to £5,000 to get their ideas for community-led initiatives off the ground.
The funding is coming from a budget held jointly by the council and the CCG. Applications must focus on one or more of the four key health and wellbeing priorities in the Royal Borough.
1. Improving access to services to better people’s health
2. Health prevention to reduce risk factors
3. Tackling social isolation and loneliness
4. Reducing mental or physical health inequalities.
Individuals and groups can apply online at https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/health-and-wellness-ideas until midnight on 6 June 2022. Public access PCs are also available in libraries, or ideas can simply be put into one of the suggestion boxes at Maidenhead Library, Windsor Library or Ascot Library.
Councillor Stuart Carroll, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Health, Mental Health, and Transformation, said: “Working with the NHS and other partners, we are promoting health and wellbeing across our communities, focussing on reducing inequalities in all areas to help people live healthier lives for longer.
“We already deliver and commission a range of services to meet local needs, and we’re now pleased to offer this great opportunity for those with strong, innovative ideas to get seed funding to kick-start complementary community-led initiatives.
“If you have a great idea, big or small, that aligns with the four key priorities then please do apply. We look forward to hearing about them. For successful applicants, the council will offer community development support to help people establish and sustain their initiatives.”
Caroline Farrar, Frimley CCG’s Executive Place Managing Director for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for residents of the Royal Borough to make a real difference and it is based on the fact that nobody knows their local community better than people themselves. We hope this funding will empower local groups to come together and find solutions for local problems.
“I am really excited about seeing what people can create together, and would like to remind people that you can submit an idea online, but also via one of the suggestion boxes at Maidenhead, Windsor or Ascot libraries. We really do want to hear from a range of people across the Royal Borough, and will support successful applicants in order to sustain the change they bring.”