The Area Committee, acting in its capacity as Trustee for the Brookfield Park Shiers Family Trust, considered a report regarding the application process for grants from the Trust, in accordance with its previous decision to reserve £25,000 from the Trust towards addressing the effect of loneliness amongsy elderly residents and the consequential effect on their health.
The Area Committee agreed to:-
· Invite applications for projects by voluntary and community groups which aim to reduce loneliness for people aged 50 years or older in the area of the former Cheadle and Gatley Urban District Council. Both enhancement of existing projects as well as new projects will be welcome.
· That £5,000 be allocated initially for the Cheadle and Gatley, Cheadle Hulme North, Cheadle Hulme South and Heald Green Wards.
· That the maximum award per organisation be £1,500.
· That a grant condition be attached requiring the money be spent on residents within the Trust’s area even if the organisation applying for the grant is located outside the area of benefit of the Trust.
· That the process be marketed before the start of the application process.
The Area Committee agreed that a further report be submitted in six months’ time with submitted applications.