Community leaders whose vital health projects have benefited from all-important grant funding have urged others to follow in their footsteps and apply for a share of £200,000 to help their initiatives get off the ground.
The Healthy Ambitions Suffolk grants programme offers funding to both new and existing health projects which will benefit people living and working in the county. And with the next deadline for applications closing on 31 May 2010, groups who have already successfully bid for a grant have urged others to follow their lead so that even more people across the county can help their own healthy ambitions become a reality.

Among those to benefit so far have been the West Suffolk Voluntary Association for the Blind, which is based in Bury St Edmunds and helps people with sight impairments to maintain their independence and quality of life. They successfully applied for a grant of £4,000, which has part-funded a specialist for a 12 month period who will help around 200 partially sighted people to make the best use their residual vision.

“The grant funding has helped us enormously, as it has allowed the association to continue to provide our low vision therapy service which helps partially sighted people to make the most of their residual vision,” said Gail Cornish, of the charity.

“The service has been extremely well received and makes such a big difference to our clients. We have had examples where people have come in and only been able to read the top letter of an eye test board. After the sessions, they can use their residual eyesight much more effectively, and can go home and read bank statements, appointment dates on letters and even newspaper print.

“Being able to do these things is really important for maintaining independence and a good quality of life, and can also help to build people’s confidence so they can go on and do other things they may not have considered before. In addition, better sight means people are less likely to suffer falls or other accidents – all of which goes to show the widespread benefits which this important service is bringing to our community.”

Out & About, which is based in Ipswich and gives disabled children and young people the chance to have fun and enjoy ordinary, everyday leisure activities, has also benefited. The charity was awarded £3,800 to help pay for a recruitment campaign to find more young volunteers, who will provide one-on-one support to disabled children as they pursue their choice of activity.

Kate Higgs, fundraising manager, said: “We applied for a Healthy Ambitions Suffolk grant to fund a specific campaign to recruit more 16 to 25-year-olds to provide direct support to disabled young people from across the county.

“We’re really delighted our application was successful as our volunteers can have such an impact on the lives of the children and young people they work with. As well as helping them feel more included, taking part in social activities also boosts their wellbeing and confidence by giving them a real chance to be a part of their community. The volunteers also benefit hugely, as their work with us helps them to gain new skills and build confidence which can, in the long term, help them find full time employment.

“We’re really grateful for the funding we’ve received and would encourage any other groups who have a good idea to help improve health and wellbeing across the county to consider applying for a Healthy Ambitions Suffolk grant. It could be just the helping hand you need to get your project off the ground.”

All of the grants are aimed at community and voluntary groups run and led by local people. This could include residents and tenants groups, allotment societies, self-help groups or any organisations working to promote health and wellbeing.

Sally Hogg, head of health improvement partnerships at NHS Suffolk, said: “We are delighted that the grants which Healthy Ambitions Suffolk has awarded so far have already made such a difference to people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life.

“We’re now encouraging other groups from across the county to take inspiration from these successful applications and get in touch and tell us their own ideas which could benefit from some vital financial backing. Healthy Ambitions Suffolk could give you just the help you need to start making a real difference to people’s lives.”

Grants of up to £4,000 are on offer, with a further £4,000 a year (up to a maximum of £12,000) available for exceptional applications which require funding for more than one year. The deadline for the next round of applications is Monday 31 May.

Groups interested in a grant should contact The Suffolk Foundation, which is managing the scheme, to discuss their ideas before making an application. Project coordinator Sue Wright can give further guidance and is available on 01473 734127.

The Healthy Ambitions Suffolk strategy aims to make Suffolk the healthiest county in the UK by 2028 by cutting the number of preventable deaths and helping people to live a healthier lifestyle. Currently it has three main strands – children and young people, businesses and older people. More strands will be added in the future.

A wide range of partner organisations are working together on the initiative, which is driven by Suffolk Strategic Partnership.

More information is available at