This funding programme is open to small grassroots organisations and registered charities.

Home Instead is the UK’s leading provider of home care.

Their funding helps to provide activities and projects for those aged 55+ years, through wellbeing activities and programmes in the local community. They aim to prevent social isolation and loneliness.

Grants of up to £500 are available to small grassroots organisations and of up to £1,500 for small local charities.

Projects are only fully funded for organisations who hold no more than 3 months operating costs in reserve. Those with more than this, are offered a maximum of 50% of their total required funding.

This can fund regular weekly or monthly events and activities (eg. cinema club, knit and natter, lunch club), one-off activities (eg. day trip, a Christmas lunch) and activities such as yoga, or a guest speaker for your group.

They will consider applications from groups, associations and charities that do not service the over-50s directly if the project they require funding for does, eg. a local school holding a special afternoon tea for local care home residents.

They prioritise activity that has a connection to, or is championed by, a Home Instead Office. The Richmond office is in Teddington.

There are four application windows a year in:

• January – processed and awarded in February
• April – processed and awarded in May
• July – processed and awarded in August
• October – processed and awarded in November.

Find out more and apply online at the Home Instead Charities website.