Press release
Minister Daly launches new Community and Voluntary Support Grant Scheme for Older People
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Today (Monday 15th July), the Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly TD, launched a new Community and Voluntary Support Scheme. The Grant Scheme will be administered by the HSE. €1 million funding is being made available to community and voluntary groups to continue to support older people to stay well and remain connected with their local community. Approximately €250,000 of this funding will be dedicated to dementia related initiatives.
The Minister said:
“I am delighted to launch this grant scheme which recognises the valuable services that community and voluntary agencies provide to support older people to continue living in their communities and maintain their social connections. The development of this Scheme was a key priority for me in last year’s estimates and service planning processes."
“The role of the community and voluntary sector in supporting our older citizens cannot be understated. The services provided contribute to positive ageing and better overall health; they include befriending, day care, social centres, meals on wheels, etc. It is not enough, however, to applaud the valuable service provided by community and voluntary agencies; we must support them to expand and develop their existing services. I also see scope under this grant scheme for small community groups to work together in an integrated and cohesive way, putting them on a more sustainable footing.”
Improving and developing community supports is in line with the vision outlined in Sláintecare, which supports a shift in our delivery of care to a model that will focus on prevention and early intervention, and that will provide most of the care in the community.
Minister Daly continued:
“I encourage community and voluntary groups across the country to submit ‘Older Persons’ Friendly’ projects that will provide new, innovative services or extend existing services, that are in line with our collective aims under the Positive Ageing, Carers and Dementia strategies and the Taskforce on Loneliness.”
Information regarding the Scheme and the application form is available on the HSE’s website today. Applications will be accepted up to 15th August 2019 and the Minister looks forward to announcing successful applications in September.
ENDS
The grant scheme, which has a closing date of 15th August for receipt of applications is open to community and voluntary agencies that currently hold a Service Arrangement or Grant Aid agreement with the HSE, or non-statutory agencies who aim to provide health and personal social services similar or ancillary to services that the HSE may provide. Detailed information and application forms are available from the HSE Community Health Organisations or via the following link: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/support-grant-for-older-persons/community-voluntary-support-grant-for-older-persons.html