Golden Fund – Open to any organisation willing to offer new activity for people aged 60+
Vale of Glamorgan Council (VOG) Healthy Living Team are proudly working in partnership with Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Sport Wales and a host of third sector organisations to improve physical activity and sport opportunities for residents aged 60+ focusing on communities of highest need across the Vale of Glamorgan.
There are many reasons why people are inactive, this can range from not enough time to exercise, not able to physically get out and about, concerned about facilities when searching for opportunities or people may not be sure where to start! Inactive, by definition, means not engaged in activity or something that isn’t in action. It’s important that people aren’t judged for being ‘inactive’, it is nothing to be ashamed of. You can see Inactive as everyone moves around in some capacity throughout the day, but some people do not move around enough to benefit their health.
Getting active shouldn’t be scary and it doesn’t mean jumping straight to winning the Six Nations alongside Alun Wyn Jones or keeping up with Tanni Grey-Thompson in your wheelchair! The first steps to a physically active life may well just be a few steps across your bedroom – and that is a fantastic start!
The VOG Healthy Living Team want to improve services and provision for the enhancement of older people’s lives across the Vale. The Golden Fund is an excellent opportunity to provide investment into the physical activity and sport landscape in the Vale of Glamorgan. Our goal is to create a menu of activities that are inclusive and accessible for people aged 60+ on a day and time that suits them. We are also striving to develop more activities that make older people feel engaged in their community and have opportunities to socially interact with other people on a regular basis. Please see below for the funding criteria and FAQs.
Please note that the Golden Fund is a competitive grant fund, and we anticipate a large interest. Deadline for applications - Tuesday 31st August 2021.
Alongside the Golden Fund, we are also launching the Golden Pass pilot project in Barry. If you are an activity provider already delivering sessions for people aged 60+ in Barry, please follow this link to see how being a Golden Pass provider could benefit you.
How much funding is available?
Applications should total no more than £500 per project. £500 is the upper limit so you should only apply for what is necessary for your project to be successful. Your organisation can apply for more than one project, but each should be evidence based and demonstrate you have met the needs of the local 60+ population.
Who can apply for the Golden Fund?
Any organisation willing to offer new activity for people aged 60+. This could include, but not limited to –
- Activity Providers e.g. fitness instructors, dance teachers
- Walking Groups
- Community Centres
- Sports Clubs
- Town & Parish Councils
- Leisure Centres
- National/regional bodies and charities with local service branches
- National Governing Bodies of Sport
- Friends of Parks groups
- Residential/Care Homes/Independent Living Services
- Community buildings and organisations that welcome people of all backgrounds
What types of project will the Golden Fund support?
- New activities and opportunities which meet demand of the local 60+ population
- Projects that encourage social interaction as a standard part of the activity
- Projects that focus on inactive people living in areas of deprivation
- A different offering of traditional activity e.g. walking sports, activities adapted for older age group ability
- Reimagined activities which are commonly associated with older people and adapted to get people moving e.g. active dominoes, moving bingo
- Targeting captive audiences aged 60+ that would benefit from physical activity intervention e.g. partnership work with local charities or national organisations working across the Vale
- Support for people with low level health conditions to become more active to prevent their condition from getting any worse
- Help to restart previous activities that have not returned now restrictions have eased
What items can the Golden Fund cover?
Projects should aim to fund 8 weeks of activity enabling residents to join activities for free or at a nominal cost, after which, activities should be covered by participants at normal cost to ensure sustainability of your project.
- Equipment for your activity
- Refreshments to support the social side of activity
- Venue hire to deliver activities e.g. community hall, leisure centre sports hall, park space if required
- Incentive programmes designed to keep older people active regularly
- Qualifications for coaches/instructors/leaders to help you increase capacity
- Payment of coaches/instructor/leaders to deliver activity
- Transport for groups of people attending your activity (this must be sustainable following funding received)
- Help adapt sessions to be COVID secure – hand sanitizer, masks, temperature checkers etc.
What will the Golden Fund not cover?
- Activity outside of the Vale of Glamorgan Local Authority Area
- Activity that is already taking place
- Activity that does not target inactive people – people engaging in less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week
- Bingo, dominoes and any activity that doesn’t encourage much physical movement (however, see above for exception on active versions of these activities)
- Activities that are generally not accessible regularly to most of the 60+ population e.g. sky diving, bungee jumping
- Activity that does not target people aged 60+ (although open sessions for any age group will be considered if 60+ is the primary focus)
- Activity that is planned without consulting people aged 60+
- Projects already funded by other grants e.g. Be Active Wales Fund, Stronger Communities Fund, National Lottery Community Funding etc.
- Capital funded projects e.g. building work
Will our organisation have to complete any evaluations?
Yes. All funded applications will have the responsibility to submit a case study of your project(s) and pre and post evaluation forms will need to be completed by participants as a condition of the funding. Support will be available from the Healthy Living Team throughout the projects to complete all aspects of evaluation.
When will projects need to be delivered?
All project funding must be spent by 31st March 2022, but delivery should be continued following this period. You can start your projects as soon as funding is confirmed.
When is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 31st August 2021.
How do I apply?
There are two ways you can apply –
1. Online via Microsoft Forms - https://forms.office.com/r/zDVurnab1V
2. Hard Copy Application Form – please request this using the contact details below.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
Please contact Elliot Pottinger, Healthy Living Officer (Adults) if you’d like to discuss your organisations involvement further.
Email – epottinger@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Mobile – 07596 889067