Community groups tackling loneliness to benefit from government funding and also from Northampton Town FC

Book clubs, walking groups and other community projects will be able to apply for a £4 million fund designed to help reduce loneliness in the coming months.

The Local Connections Fund – made up of £2 million from the Government and £2 million from The National Lottery Community Fund – will be used for hundreds of small grants worth between £300 and £2,500.

These investments are designed to help local organisations bring people and communities together as the country recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

For information see here

Also available locally is funding from Northampton Town Football Club Community Trust, the official charity of the club. Their mission is to connect communities and improve lives. They run a range of projects across the town and county to engage young people and adults in the areas of physical and mental health, education training and employment, women’s and girls’ football, anti-crime, disability, tackling loneliness and social isolation. They are always looking for volunteers for a range of roles across the work that they do. If you aren’t a football fan, no problem, there are pastoral, befriending, and other roles too.

https://www.ntfccommunity.co.uk/  – various projects.

They also have staff for the Tackling Loneliness project making befriending phone calls, doorstop visits, online social groups, walks and stadium visits (when allowed) and are keen to find out if they can support any agencies doing this.  https://www.ntfccommunity.co.uk/tackling-loneliness

https://www.ntfccommunity.co.uk/extra-time

On another note, they have some funding to deliver adult mental health aware courses (via Mental health England) with free places for voluntary charity/community groups particularly those helping with foodbanks, befriending, homeless, parents, community groups, good neighbours scheme, parish councils.  It would be suitable for any staff who support the public really who may be approached by those struggling with poor mental health.

 

 

 

 

Anna Letts

Programmes Manager

Premier League Kicks

Northampton Town FC Community Trust