Now the fund has been opened for its latest round of grants aimed at tackling health inequality.
Applications are open for voluntary groups till October 31 for cash “that can make a difference” up to £10,000 from Brent Council and the NHS.
They could include screening projects for things like bowel or breast cancer, or campaigns to improve vaccinations and to encourage youngsters into sports.
A previous grant went to Brent Irish Advisory Service which realised health inequalities were often caused by finding it hard to access services or even know about them if you weren’t computer savvy.
“A lot of people are excluded simply because they aren’t great with technology,” explained Ellen Stafford from the advisory service.
“Lockdown highlighted that so much support is online, so not being good with smartphones or computers was a problem.”
The organisation ran 300 one-to-one drop-in sessions at hubs in Cricklewood and Harlesden.
Margaret Carroll, a 71-year-old grandmum from Harlesden, attended one of the hubs to get help.
She said: “I now order my repeat prescriptions through my phone and do online banking. I also use WhatsApp and Facetime to speak to my sister in America and my five grandchildren in Ireland — it’s brilliant.”
Another grant went to Urban Growth which runs workshops in the new sensory garden at Kingsbury’s Tudor Gardens centre for adults with learning difficulties. The project reduces isolation, which led to Urban Growth receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise.
Citizens Advice Brent also got a grant last year to train seven full-time volunteers to handle a growing demand with issues like energy grants, cost-of-living payments and applications for essential household items and school uniforms for those facing financial hardship.
Brent Council’s cabinet member for public health Neil Nerva said: “These organisations have made an impact. They support mental health and have increased vaccination rates as well as providing physical activities for youngsters.”
The council is running an online help session at 4pm on Monday, October 13, for groups wanting to apply for grants to register their interest. Details are on the ‘Brent Health Matters’ website.
