Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service have been appointed by Eric Wright Charitable Trust to deliver a community small grants programme. The programme is aimed at local organisations (with an annual turnover of less than £30,000) within the VCF sector providing activity to address locality community cohesion, reduce social isolation and make a positive difference to the lives and wellbeing of people of all ages.

Projects should strongly support specific local needs in the following key areas:

• Increasing opportunities to participate in local community action and activity
• Keeping people well and feeling part of their community
• Increasing resilience and improving mental wellbeing, enabling individuals and families to cope well, overcome barriers to achieving their potential and increase their skills
• Support people who are more vulnerable, such as those with long term conditions, who are frail and/or have complex needs
• Promoting greater partnership working between the community and services, and other VCF organisations
• Reduce social isolation, with a positive impact on health and wellbeing

Please note: Burnley Small Groups Funding has now been spent. Groups from Pendle & Rossendale can still apply. 

What is Social Prescribing?
Vision:
Social Prescribing is a mechanism for linking patients with non-medical sources of support within the community.
The Social Prescribing approach offers a vision for health services in which it is recognised that assets – personal strengths as well as family, friends, communities, and peer networks, can work alongside each-other to support individuals to live well. This approach complements existing medical care and treatment.
Patients with social, emotional, or practical needs can self-refer or can be referred via their GP or other health professionals and services into a range of local, non- clinical services provided by the voluntary, community and faith (VCFS) sector using the Social Prescribing Team.

Aims
Projects or schemes should complement the ICB’s strategic aims and commissioning priorities to support an Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach:
ABCD Criteria:

• Improving the health and wellbeing of local people
• Backing real people’s dreams and ideas
• Working alongside people and trusting them to shape their own futures
• Bringing energy and creativity to kick-start change
• Tapping into existing assets, resources, talents, and skills
• Building new connection and relationships
• Working with social entrepreneurs and businesses to create new enterprises and jobs
• Sparking community-centred investment and regeneration
• Working with communities to shape more effective health, care, and welfare services
• Creating a culture which, wherever possible, says ‘yes’, rather than ‘no’
• Using language, which is positive, concise and cuts out jargon
• Boosting confidence through creative and inspiring activities involving everyone
• Creating culture change, enterprise and inspiration in communities which lasts long after we’ve gone