Community is the Best Medicine Fund

South Staffordshire Council in partnership with the Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT) and The Staffordshire Community Foundation have pooled a budget to assist households who may be faced with challenging choices such as eating healthily, turning the heating on or having to live in cold homes, leading to increased health and wellbeing issues.

Applications will be considered from Community Groups who are responding to increased pressures and demand by:

• Supporting and promoting the provision of a network of warm and welcoming spaces for any in our community / communities to go to on a regular basis ·
• Offering bespoke support packages to those most in need. As the cost-of-living increases (i.e. heating, food price inflation, housing costs, other costs, etc.) this will start to impact on our residents daily lives. Visitors to these locations would be able to receive a friendly welcome, someone to talk with and be listened to, whilst having a warm drink. & food in venues that are equipped to offer this facility. Food and drink maybe be offered free of charge depending on their individual's circumstances and the resources available to the provider.
• Befriending those most vulnerable in our communities including those who experience rural isolation.

It is not intended to cover the full costs, rather supplement other budgets and funding that existing organisations are already using for this type of provision.

The application form is available to complete by downloading and printing off or a Word document can be requested from info@sstaffs.gov.uk