Funding announced to protect older people next winter

Volunteer-led projects aimed at helping older people stay healthy over the winter period are set to benefit from £2m of funding, the Government has announced.

Projects which will support potentially vulnerable older people over the coldest part of the year are being encouraged to apply for access to the funding which will see the programme run until March 2015.

Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd said: “We want to make sure that older people have the support they need next winter. There is already some excellent work being done in the voluntary sector and this partnership is about finding the best programmes and supporting them to do more.

“It is also about building a case to encourage more commissioners to look at the wider role that the voluntary sector can play in supporting people in their own homes.”

It is hoped a boost in funding for voluntary led programmes will help to avoid pressure on A&E services and engage potentially isolated older people with their community.

A number of similar programmes have already helped people make the transition from hospital to home and other wellbeing initiatives have been introduced to encourage older people to remain healthy during the winter period by improving their nutrition and exercise habits.

The fund is being administered by the Social Investment Business Group on behalf of the Cabinet Office’s Centre for Social Action and the National Tripartite. The National Tripartite was set up in 2013 to work on local improvement plans for A&E standards and is made up of NHS England, Monitor, the Trust Development Authority and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care.