25 May 2021
NHS Charities Together, the charity founded by Sir Captain Tom Moore, has offered support worth £222,766 for third sector organisations in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to support those leaving hospital.
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Charity (SaTH Charity), the lead charity for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, invited bids from 200 local groups and charities to demonstrate how they could reduce hospital admissions and assist early supported-discharge, and to support vulnerable and hard to reach groups.
Bids could include managing the transition of the elderly from hospital to home, mental health support, supporting vulnerable members of the community, and end-of-life care; work that helps to significantly reduce stress on the NHS and provide the wrap-around provision for patients.
SaTH Charity received 28 bids and these were evaluated by a Partnership Panel with representatives from local NHS organisations, local authorities, HealthWatch and the voluntary sector. This week NHS Charities Together approved nine grants based on their ability to deliver the NHS Charities Together aims.
Successful bids include supporting the homeless to have better access to GP care to avoid hospital admissions, funding for a local dementia group to provide a support network and support for priority groups to access community green space to achieve better health and wellbeing. Successful bids have been offered to STAY Telford, Telford MIND, The Ark in Shrewsbury, Connect for Life, Shropshire Rural Communities Charity, Energise Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, Telford and Wrekin Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), Donnington Community Hub, and Sutton Hill Community Trust.
Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Services and lead director for SaTH Charity, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of the bidding process and the opportunity to work collaboratively with third sector organisations that provide such valuable support to our ICS knowing that they will make a big difference to the care that we can provide to service users in our local areas. No one wants to be in hospital if they can help it, therefore it is very important that we support organisations to avoid or reduce that wherever possible, or help people in their homes when they return from hospital.”
Emily Bell, Chair of Trustees at Shrewsbury Ark, said: “This grant ensures that the most vulnerable members of our community will have regular access to the healthcare that they need, in a safe and familiar environment. It enables healthcare professionals to assess their (often complex) physical and mental health needs from a holistic point of view, with a joined up approach to what happens before and after a hospital admission. In doing so, this grant will not only benefit the individuals who use the service, but it will also help to alleviate the many complex and time-consuming issues that occur when members of our homeless community are admitted to hospital.”
Debbie Gibbon, CEO of Telford and Wrekin CVS, said: “Telford and Wrekin CVS and Taking Part are delighted to have received grant funding from NHS Charities Together. The grant will complement the community based Wellbeing Independence partnership by supporting the people to live healthy across Telford. The Wellbeing community health programme will reduce pressure on NHS services through its focus on early interventions and communication, supporting discharge into the community and improving people’s health. We will work closely with other partners who have received a grant.”
NHS Charities Together opened grant applications on 1 September 2020 for ‘lead’ NHS member charities to apply for community partnership grants to be used across Integrated Care Systems (ICS), Health Boards and Integrated Care Provider (ICP) areas. The grants will enable patients to return to their home earlier with the additional care available from the community.