The first round of the Pargiter Trust Grants has seen more than £19,000 awarded to Bailiwick charities working with elderly people. Five recipients were awarded grants: Milly’s Foundation, Guernsey Hard of Hearing Association, Carers Coming Together, Eldad Elim Church and the Guernsey Arts Commission.
The Guernsey Community Foundation has been working with the Pargiter Trust, a UK based charitable trust, which aims to assist disadvantaged elderly people to be independent, healthy and socially included. The Foundation is acting on behalf of the Pargiter Trust to distribute £50,000 in 2014 to the charitable sector or to those working with the elderly, via a grants programme.
Milly’s Foundation is a new registered charity in Alderney, which has been set up to develop dementia services for island residents. An award of £3,500 will provide professional dementia training costs for volunteers, carers and caregivers, along with activity materials for a new drop in day centre at the Connaught Care Home. With Alderney’s high percentage of older people (a third of the population being over 65)the incidence of dementia is becoming an increasing issue for the population, with few services currently in place.
A grant of £4,300 was awarded to the Guernsey Hard of Hearing Association. This organisation gives free help and support to deaf and hard of hearing adults, many of whom are elderly. The grant will fund the provision of digital listeners across the island’s care homes, so that staff and family can communicate better with hard of hearing residents. The grant will also support the purchase of specialist smoke alarms for those with hearing impairments, enabling them to remain in their own homes safely.
Carers Coming Together has been given a grant of £3,500 to continue its support work with Guernsey’s carers. The group exists to offer a break and support to unpaid carers looking after long-term sick, disabled or frail and elderly relatives. Their events aim to give carers some time to themselves whilst meeting others in the same situation. Two thirds of the carers attending these events are over 65 themselves and often caring for older relatives. Funding will support the programme of Away Days, volunteer expenses and other events.
Funding of £2,500 has been awarded to Eldad Elim Church to offer an occasional free hot meals service to senior residents within the area of upper St Peter Port. This church group, registered as a charity, provides general community facilities and hopes to provide this meals service to around forty senior community members. The service will help to alleviate loneliness, reduce isolation and provide a friendly environment for conversation or for sharing any concerns that senior residents may have about their circumstances.
£5,650 has been awarded to the Guernsey Arts Commission for a pilot Reminiscence Arts project 'Bringing Memories to Life' with dementia sufferers and their carers. The programme will stimulate memories for participants and provide an enjoyable specialised activity for those with dementia, who often cannot take part or actively participate in more standard activities. The project will work to train local artists on how to use the arts to connect to those who are affected by dementia. The artist will then share their skills and techniques with those who care for people with dementia, professional or 'informal' carers, many of whom lack experience in leading specialist activities for those with dementia.
A spokesperson from the Pargiter Trust said: “We are delighted to announce our first grants to organisations in Guernsey. The work of these five organisations impressed us greatly and we are pleased that older people within the Bailiwick will receive support in a variety of ways through this grants programme”.
The Guernsey Community Foundation is managing the application and distribution process on behalf of the Pargiter Trust. The second round of funding will be open for applications later this year. Anyone interested is asked to contact Sadie Siviter de Paucar of the Foundation on 748056 or sadie@foundation.gg .
Notes:
Grants will be awarded to support work or projects meeting the following themes: improving health and well-being of older people; improving access to facilities, advice and training; overcoming problems – helping older people who are experiencing difficult circumstances.
Grants may fund existing services or facilities, or new initiatives and can contribute to either capital costs such as funding new equipment, or support on-going running costs. The Trust will also accept applications from organisations supporting carers of older people and may also accept applications from professionals working in this field.
The Pargiter Trust was formed in 2005 by the late Hon. Isobel Cooper – Heyman, in order to provide grants for the relief of older people in need living in England and the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Mrs Cooper – Heyman was a Trustee of The National Benevolent Fund for The Aged (NBFA) and was a passionate campaigner ensuring older people have the support they need to maintain independence and live healthy, happy lives.
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Issued by Sadie Siviter de Paucar, Guernsey Community Foundation. Tel 748056.
Email sadie@foundation.gg
