The funding is intended to support local community events that enhance and enrich the lives of people over the age of 55 to combat loneliness and sometimes isolation ensuring they stay fit, active, healthy and connected and contributing to their local communities.
There are two levels of funding:
- Grants of up to £500 for small grass roots organisations.
- Grants of up to £1,500 for small local registered charities. Larger grants can be considered for exceptional projects.
The funder will only fully fund a grant request where the applicant holds no more than three months operating costs in reserve. For organisations that have more than this, up to 50% of the project costs will be funded.
Applications are accepted from small community groups and charities in the UK.
Priority will be given to applications that have a connection to, and are championed by, a local Home Instead office.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have a bank account in the same name of the group they are applying for funding under.
- Have a policy of being open and inclusive of all, irrespective of race, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
- Show that their group members are over 55 years old or the project for which they seek funding benefits people aged over 55 years.
Registered charities must be able to attach a copy of their governing documents and their last set of accounts as part of their application.
Applications will be considered from groups, associations and charities that do not service the over 50s directly but the project they require funding for does, ie, a local school wishes to hold a special afternoon tea for its local care home residents.
Grants are for wellbeing activities and projects that benefit people aged over 55 years and reduce social isolation and/or loneliness.
Funding can be used for:
- Regular weekly or monthly events and activities such as weekly cinema club, weekly knit and natter or Thursday lunch club.
- One off activities such as a day trip or a Christmas lunch.
- Activities such as yoga or a guest speaker for your group such as a local historian.
How To Apply
From January 2024, there will be four application windows per year: January, April, July and October.
Applications received outside of these windows will not be processed.
Applications received in:
- January will be processed and awarded in February
- April will be processed and awarded in May
- July will be processed and awarded in August
- October will be processed and awarded in November.
Applicants should complete the online form on the Home Instead Charities website. Small registered charities must attach their governing document and last set of accounts to their application.
