‘We received £3,600 to fund an intergenerational project’
£3,600 from the #iwill Fund enabled All Saints’ CofE Primary School to run an intergenerational project
His school has done just that, by setting up a project where pupils visit residents with dementia in a local care home. The Maldon Up! project is led by the children, who plan and run weekly activity sessions with the residents. These include games, dancing and crafts, as well as simply chatting about each other
The project not only helps reduce feelings of loneliness for the residents, it has also had a profound effect on the young people taking part, says Philip Brown.
Maldon Up! is now entering its third year and so far more than 135 children have taken part. The project, which has been funded by a £3,600 grant from the #iwill Fund, has been so successful that there are plans to replicate it in other schools. The #iwill Fund supports projects that help young people engage in their communities and understand local issues. It is one of a number of grant-giving funds managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF). In turn, ECF is part of a collective network of 46 community foundations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each foundation manages charitable funds – set up by individuals, companies and public agencies – to support local projects and voluntary organisations. Collectively, UK Community Foundations make up the fourth largest grant-maker in the UK, giving £98million in the last year.
- For more information on grant opportunities in your region, go to ukcommunityfoundations.org