Seventy four charities are to get a share of around £6.8m to “test and develop innovative approaches to improve health and wellbeing”, the care services minister Paul Burstow has announced.

15 March 2012

The winning bids included the Epilepsy Society which would use nearly £300,000 to promote early interventions for people with epilepsy in hard-to-reach groups, the Motor Neurone Disease Association would use just over £500,000 to turn its wheelchair provision into a national service, and Maternity Action will spend its £68,000 on supporting women and their employers to breastfeed on their return to work after maternity leave.

Other charities benefiting from the cash injection include the Disabled Living Foundation which will use £200,350 to deliver an online library of small electronic aids which people can try before they buy, and the Spinal Injuries Association which has won nearly £43,500 to help educate health professionals how to avoid preventable conditions such as pressure sores and urinary infections.