Supporting Independence Fund projects receive council backing

A series of projects aimed at helping adults with disabilities and older people live more independently have successfully bid for more than £162,000 from the council’s Supporting Independence Fund.
The fund, launched by the council’s Adult Social Care and Health department in May, aims to give organisations with plans for imaginative and inspiring initiatives a helping hand in getting their projects off the ground. In total, the council received 22 bids with ten projects selected to receive a portion of the £200,000 on offer. Organisations were able to submit applications for funding ranging from £500 to £20,000.

Successful bids range from a scheme aimed at reducing social isolation through supporting people to set up their own unique dinner party experience, to a project establishing a network of ‘safe havens’ in shops and local businesses and a programme for getting the over-50s active through dance.

A full list of successful bidders, and details of their projects, can be found on the council’s website, and the Adult Social Care and Health department’s Twitter, @lbbadults, and Facebook pages.

The pages will be updated with information on the progress of the projects over the coming months.

On Twitter residents can follow the #BarnetSIF hashtag for updates.

Groups bidding for funding were asked to base their applications around one or more of the following three criteria:

• kick-start a project which involves people sharing skills and time for the benefit of others
• help disabled people into employment
• set up an initiative which allows people to plan their care more creatively so they can live the lives they want to.


Among the ten successful bids were a joint initiative being set up by Your Choice Barnet, Barnet Mencap and the Mill Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team.

The project, which will receive £20,000, will work with local businesses to become ‘Safe Spots’ for people with learning disabilities who travel independently.

A Safe Spot will be recognised as somewhere for a person to go if they encounter difficulties and need support to be able to contact someone.

The Saracen Sport Foundation were awarded £5,780 to get the over-50s active through dance with the ’Love to Dance Project’, a two hour dance class which will keep the mind and body active as well as being a great way to make new friends.
Learning disabilities charity Self Unlimited successfully bid for £16,673 to launch ‘Dine Unlimited’. The project is intended to encourage friendships and reduce social isolation by supporting people to host their very own unique dinner party and contribute to a cookbook with a difference.

The Stroke Association will receive more than £8,000 for a ‘Life after Stroke’ educational programme aimed at helping working age people who have suffered a stroke.

Charity Langdon will receive funding for two projects, ‘Link2Support’ and ‘Link2Employment’, which are aimed at creating employment opportunities for young adults with learning disabilities.

Councillor Sachin Rajput, Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “It is tremendously important that people are given the opportunity to live as independently as they possibly can.

“That is why I am delighted that our Supporting Independence Fund will help kick-start a number of really imaginative and worthwhile projects which are aimed at realising that goal.”