Magic Little Grants 2022 has launched today and is open for applications

Localgiving is working with People’s Postcode Lottery, a grant-giving charity funded by Players of People’s Postcode Lottery, to offer charitable organisations the opportunity to apply for 2,650 grants of £500.

The Magic Little Grants Fund provides charitable organisations the opportunity to access funding to deliver a range of projects which fit one or more of the below funding themes:

  • Improving mental wellbeing
  • Enabling community participation in the arts
  • Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
  • Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality
  • Improving biodiversity and green spaces
  • Enabling participation in physical activity
  • Responding to the climate emergency and promoting sustainability 
  • Increasing community access to outdoor space

Organisations must either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000. Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work.

Please note that schools are eligible to apply if they are a registered charity. Groups in Northern Ireland are not eligible to apply for this funding. Groups may only apply once in 2022 for a grant.

It only takes 15 minutes to apply and if successful, you’ll receive funding within six weeks. 

If you’re new to Localgiving and your Magic Little Grant application is successful, alongside the £500 grant you will also be awarded a year of free membership (funded by the the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery). This means that you will not have to pay the £80 + VAT membership fee, but you will still be required to set up a direct debit upon registration. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application via email, regardless of whether they are successful or not, within two months of their submission.

Make sure to enter the promocode MLG2022 to claim your free annual membership as part of the grant. You need to complete the Localgiving validation process before you are able to submit your application. 

Click here to register and apply

Supported Hospital Discharge Scheme

UCAN in partnership with Rainbow Services (Harlow) and Voluntary Action Epping Forest is delivering a pilot project at Princess Alexandra Hospital to support the safe discharge of patients returning to their homes in West Essex

We know that planning for a successful hospital discharge starts at Admission, and as a community organisation there is a part we can play in making those return to home occasions safe and easier for both patients and hospital staff. From arranging for a food parcel to go home with patient, follow up shopping, prescription and welfare checks, installation of keysafes for property access by carers and services, and the provision of hot meals each day – there is a lot we can do to ease the transition.

UCAN is leading on the West Essex Help programme, funded by West Essex CCG for a pilot test and learn phase. Each week we will have a Community Discharge Supporter Worker in the hospital, visiting wards where patients have been identified as being ready for discharge. We will talk with them to establish their needs, and then make the necessary arrangements – which can even include delivery of assistance equipment like walking frames and wheelchairs to their homes. We are also providing a single point of contact for Ward staff to call with requests for help – as often things that seem impossible our Community Responders can accomplish – whether it’s getting a bed downstairs or a dog walked in the absence of the owner!

We are delighted to be working with Princess Alexandra Hospital. The scheme is being mirrored for patients being discharged into Hertfordshire, with our counterpart service being provided by the lovely team at Herts Help.

For further information on Community Supported Hospital Discharge email westessex.help@ucan.org.uk or call our SPOC on 03333 408218.