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This month, Ben Ward and Jo Hammond shared information about how the Cotswold Integrated Locality Partnership has been tackling the key issues of social isolation and frailty amongst older people, and supporting children & young people facing additional challenges. This work was given a significant boost through the use of the Strengthening Local Communities fund, which totalled nearly £120,000.

Ben and Joanna's update is below:

Amongst the projects funded were projects for older people, such as pet therapy and gentle exercise classes to support physical and mental health. These activities ranged from seated yoga, to tai chi tasters and exercise to music. 

Cotswold Friends was also able to continue delivering their Community Activities Programme for older people. The funding supported their lunch clubs, Men in Sheds and Community Garden.  

The fund has invested in new youth work and play provision delivered by The Door in key areas of Cirencester, as well as World Jungle and Younity Youth in Chipping Campden.

Gloucestershire Young Carers was also supported to provide more opportunities for young people to meet up and do fun stuff, which has included activities ranging from a trip to the Far Peak, to axe throwing. 

In addition to these projects, The Door was funded to deliver a digital youth club space that includes online gaming, streaming, music, chat shows, a Discord server & YouTube channel. They have been working closely with Gloucestershire Young Carers so that their service users can also access the project. 

While this is about having fun, there is also a more serious aspect. Ben Williams-Shaw, Locality Manager for Cotswold ILP, has highlighted how the family fun days organised by World Jungle have brought together people from the most deprived areas of the Cotswold district and introduced health information in a non-intrusive way.

The range of projects supported shows how a relatively modest amount of money can stretch to make a real difference to so many people. 

Jo Hammond, CEO at Cotswold Friends said, “It’s fantastic to see so many organisations working closely together as part of the Cotswolds ILP.  The projects supported by the Strengthening Local Communities funding are helping to tackle some of the key issues facing both older and younger people at this time.”

Find our more about ILP's in Gloucestershire

You can find out more about ILP's and the important role of ILP Representatives in Gloucestershire on our ILP page.