Over 70 health charities share £6.8m
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.
“This new funding will improve the lives of thousands of people across the UK, helping them to lead healthier and more independent lives,” Burstow said. “It is crucial that we continue to champion our voluntary organisations, because their expertise allows them to design and develop innovative solutions to the big challenges we face in health, public health and social care.”
He added: “These exciting projects are more than worthy of our support and I am delighted that the money will be spent on providing individuals and local communities with the tools to tackle health and wellbeing.”
The minister also presented Cool2Care with a Big Society award – Cool2Care is a charity group which aims to help support disabled children.
