At the end of last year we made 16 £500 grants to a range of small organisations around the country, and we have been delighted to hear back from them with updates on how the money has been helping them to make a difference in their community. Here is a round up of some of the lovely feedback we received:

Barnet & South Herts MS Society used their funds to purchase an recumbent exercise bike to help their older members with their ongoing rehabilitation work.

The Lawrence Centre in Somerset put on a festive lunch for their members, many of who are living with dementia and were able to enjoy a day full of entertainment, company, laughter, and fun.

Age Concern in High Bentham put the grant to use supporting the costs of their community minibus service, directly benefitting around 35 of their service users who rely on the service to travel to the centre as well as shopping, doctors etc.

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly reached 30 older people in their local community with a number of events over the Christmas period, engaging with new service users and providing a range of activity sessions.

Trafford Veterans in Manchester welcomed 100 of their veterans community to a Christmas lunch, funded in part by the £500 grant from the Foundation.

Moorlands Voluntary Community Transport also used their funds to support their minibus service, which serves around 300 people in their community, and helps isolated older people to attend lunch clubs and community groups for connection, interaction and a healthy meal.

Portchester Community Association were able to provide a Christmas lunch for 45 local older adults, which they wouldn’t have been able to do without the £500 granted.

Ash-Worth Time Bank have used their £500 grant to support the ongoing costs of their weekly sessions that help around 30 local people through social events, craft groups, and a walking group.

Headway Thames Valley are working with our team in LSE Division to restore a small section of outdoor space at their centre, where many of their weekly attendees are over 65. They are putting the £500 grant towards the tools and materials needed for the project, and the local site manager from McCarthy Stone – along with Gemma, our Foundation Ambassador – is helping advise on this.

In Scotland, Cumbernauld Action on Care of the Elderly put their £500 grant towards the cost of providing a Christmas lunch for 70 of their service users. Not only did this directly benefit the older people, but it also provided valuable respite time for more than 30 carers.

Finally, Volunteer Centre Dorset were able to ensure that 28 isolated older adults had a meal delivered on Christmas Day, and our Foundation Manager was pleased to be able to help out with the deliveries to several people. In addition they were able to put some funds towards their Community Fridge project.