Leading Lives is a social enterprise providing a range of high-quality supports to people with social care needs across Suffolk.
It supports people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, complex needs, people with autism, older people, younger people in transition and family carers. Leading Lives’ purpose is to support people with social care needs to lead the lives they choose.
In line with its social enterprise principles, Leading Lives has established a Community Benefit Fund to support local groups and organisations who share its vision. Since 2013 £120,000 has been awarded to 45 local community projects across Suffolk.
What funding is available this year?
This year £20,000 has been allocated to the Fund and will award grants for a minimum of £200 and a maximum of £3,000.
What can be funded?
Leading Lives is looking to award grants to projects that support the following themes:
- Technology (including assistive technology) which have a benefit to individuals with social care needs
- Projects which have a positive impact on the local environment for the benefit of people with social care needs
- Better health & wellbeing
- Projects which benefit family carers of those people with social care needs – in particular, projects which provide a break from the caring role for family carers
- Projects which support adults who have autism – e.g. for social activities, progression, independence, learning etc.
Criteria for awards
Linked to the above-identified themes, this year’s Fund will be focused on suitable projects that support adults and young people in transition with social care needs. For example people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, older people etc. and family carers in the geographical area (i.e. Suffolk, north-west Essex and south-east Norfolk) in which Leading Lives operates.
Ideally, Leading Lives are looking for organisations that have not previously benefited from this fund, or if you have, any such application would need to be for a new/different project relevant to the themes identified above.
Particular priority will be given to bids which foster a partnership approach. The fund will award grants to organisations – charities, community groups, voluntary groups. Leading Lives will not fund individuals or commercial organisations. It will award grants to charities, social enterprises and other not for profit organisations.
Application Process
Applicants will need to complete an application form to be considered for funding. For more information contact sarah.laflin@leadinglives.org.uk or download the outline letter and application form. The application period runs from 15th February to 31st March 2020.