ROYAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE 

Living Well with Dementia groups (Northumberland)

We aim to provide welcome home food hampers to patients being discharged from hospital within the Retford area.

Banbury's community centre, the Cornhill Centre, is run by the RVS. However, our funding from the RVS and other areas has been extremely limited this year and some of our projects will have to stop ....more

Banbury's community centre, the Cornhill Centre, is run by the RVS. However, our funding from the RVS and other areas has been extremely limited this year and some of our projects will have to stop if we cannot find funding. The RVS now pays for the staff and maintenance of the Centre but that is as far as it goes. The project started early this year and is a regular Tuesday lunch for anyone to come to around Banbury and the surrounding villages. We have found that due to COVID many projects and events based around socialising and stopping isolation have completely stopped across Banbury. This project has become extremely successful with many of our clients saying it is their only socialisation the whole week. We put on social activities with a warm lunch. We have found that many of those coming are also struggling to pay for three meals a day, so this has helped them! Unfortunately our funding has run out for this so it will have to stop in two weeks time if we cannot secure more funding. After the lunch we put on a light seated exercise class run by our volunteers who have been trained. This has helped a lot of older people feel more confident with their mobility and the majority of those who come to the lunch then come to the exercise class. We have been able to provide this for people in the surrounding villages too by providing them with transport, as we saw that those in rural areas were most isolated. We have taken feedback from those who benefit from this service and it is overwhelmingly the case that they feel as though they depend on this service for socialising. We will spend this grant on continuing this project and being able to expand to allow more people to access this service.

Grant to support the Shaping The Future of Volunteering coalition to bring together best practice related to disability inclusion for volunteers from across their organisations. Final amount of grant ....more

Grant to support the Shaping The Future of Volunteering coalition to bring together best practice related to disability inclusion for volunteers from across their organisations. Final amount of grant dispersed may differ due to project underspend and with

Living Well with Dementia groups in Cramlington and Blyth/Ashington

We are supporting vulnerable older members of the community with Safe and Well calls, visits, help with shopping, patient transport to NHS appointments, and activities in our virtual village hall.

It would help us meet extra mileage, phone and PPE costs as we support vulnerable older people with safe-and-well calls, and help with shopping and essential transport to NHS appointments.

We are supporting vulnerable older members of the community who are isolated and lonely with Safe and Well calls, help with shopping and medicines, and essential patient transport to NHS appointments.

It would help us meet extra mileage, phone and PPE costs as we support vulnerable older people with safe-and-well calls, visits, help with shopping, transport to appointments and virtual activities.

We are supporting vulnerable older members of the community with safe and well calls, visits, help with shopping, patient transport to NHS appointments, and activities in our virtual village hall.

Powys Covid Recovery Programme

This one-year project is supporting a resident-led Project Development Group and three resident-led Community Centre Groups to become sustainable, constituted groups which can provide a range of ....more

This one-year project is supporting a resident-led Project Development Group and three resident-led Community Centre Groups to become sustainable, constituted groups which can provide a range of activities for people aged 50+ in Hadley, Leegomery and Ketley in Telford. The project delivers social activities including coffee clubs, creative writing, arts projects, exercise groups and wellbeing cafes. Project volunteers receive training and support, building on the success of the existing volunteer programme. Regular activities give local people the opportunity to meet others, build friendships, and work together on shared goals.

This one-year project focuses on priorities identified by residents in Bretton, Peterborough. It aims to provide sustainable activities for older people, and to ensure that residents’ voices are ....more

This one-year project focuses on priorities identified by residents in Bretton, Peterborough. It aims to provide sustainable activities for older people, and to ensure that residents’ voices are heard and included in plans for Bretton Park. Participants come together in three community-led groups. A Steering Group oversees the overall project development, the Older Peoples’ Network group coordinates activities for social housing residents, and Bretton Park Group works collaboratively with other local groups who have a stake in the development of the Park, so that residents have a collective and stronger voice. Participants also work together to strengthen social bonds in the local community.

This one-year project supports residents of Barnham Cross estate in Thetford, Norfolk to deliver a range of accessible social activities including arts and crafts, exercise, support groups and a ....more

This one-year project supports residents of Barnham Cross estate in Thetford, Norfolk to deliver a range of accessible social activities including arts and crafts, exercise, support groups and a wellbeing fayre. Residents are also be supported to campaign to bring changes to infrastructure and businesses, improving access to make Thetford accessible for all. All activities include time for socialising, enabling participants to make new friends and build their own local support networks. A steering group of local people lead the project, guided by feedback and input from residents and participants.

This one-year project runs a multi-activity community hub for older people in Biddulph. The Hub runs from two venues in the town, hosting activities such as arts and crafts, traditional games, and ....more

This one-year project runs a multi-activity community hub for older people in Biddulph. The Hub runs from two venues in the town, hosting activities such as arts and crafts, traditional games, and table tennis. It also provides IT support for beginners, genealogy classes and local service signposting, and a community café drop-in. The project is managed by an organising group made up of local residents and volunteers support the running of activities. Participants build connections with other local residents who they may otherwise not have met and form new friendships, enabling them to grow in confidence and self-esteem.

This one-year project supports Arbroath residents to run and make sustainable a range of activities for older people. This includes a singing group, social dining, Nordic walking, and seated ....more

This one-year project supports Arbroath residents to run and make sustainable a range of activities for older people. This includes a singing group, social dining, Nordic walking, and seated exercise. Activities take place at Russell Square, a community space and venue owned by a local housing trust. A community steering group made up of local residents oversees the project development. The aim is for the group to become an independent organisation that can run the venue and make it available to other groups in the community. Through participation in the steering group and regular activities, participants build social networks and work collectively to develop the community venue.

This one-year project supports local residents to run a range of activities for older people in Boston. The activities include arts and crafts, Zumba, singing group and Qigong. A Community Steering ....more

This one-year project supports local residents to run a range of activities for older people in Boston. The activities include arts and crafts, Zumba, singing group and Qigong. A Community Steering Group oversees the development of the project, link smaller activity groups together and offer support to secure funding, find venues and work better together. Participating in regular activities and having the opportunity to volunteer alongside other residents will also encourage stronger social connections to develop.

Supply of "treats" to elderly, isolated people.

Grant to fund a Community Engagement and Activities Coordinator to support older people across Cornwall to increase their social connections.

Money will be used to provide much needed help to our elderly including a morning activity and new equipment.

Living Well with Dementia groups (Northumberland)

The group will provide traditional woodworking, craft and social activities, for men and women from remote villages in Northumberland. This will enable them to provide more activities to help develop ....more

The group will provide traditional woodworking, craft and social activities, for men and women from remote villages in Northumberland. This will enable them to provide more activities to help develop the skills and reduce the isolation of more older people.

This funding will enable us to broaden our scope and offer entertainment and a freshly cooked lunch to more local elderly people.

This new project will create music and memory social groups for older people in rural locations to help reduce social isolation and provide opportunities for increased participation. Using music as a ....more

This new project will create music and memory social groups for older people in rural locations to help reduce social isolation and provide opportunities for increased participation. Using music as a focus, the project aims to help clients' self-esteem and confidence as well as promoting community engagement. Clients will be referred from local healthcare providers, NHS clinics and GP surgeries as well as local charities.

Voices of Volunteering: 75 Years of Citizenship and Service

RVS Men in the Workshop will provide opportunities for young and old generations to mix during practical activities. The project will involve older men and young people working together, sharing ....more

RVS Men in the Workshop will provide opportunities for young and old generations to mix during practical activities. The project will involve older men and young people working together, sharing skills and conversation. This interaction with others in the community will help reduce social isolation of older men who are less likely to interact with friends and family.

Towards the salary of a locality manager who will expand WRVS's services for older people into Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar and Cleveland.

Timebanking programme grant to Care Bank (WRVS) Grant Ref AC00252

To contribute towards the cost of community transport to transport stroke patients to and from the club every week.