ACTIVE AT 60 COMMUNITY AGENT PROGRAMME HACKNEY AND TOWER HAMLETS 2010-2011

As part of its Big Society ambition, the Government recently announced £1 million to fund Active at 60 Community Agent Programme. This Department for Work and Pensions project seeks to support people approaching retirement to stay active, or to become more active and to remain positively engaged with society, particularly those at risk of social isolation and loneliness later in life.

Grants up to £3,000 are available to local volunteer-led groups and organisations based in Hackney and Tower Hamlets with an average annual income of no more than £50,000 over the last three years and whose members will give their time to become Active at 60 Community Agents.

The emphasis will be on funding activities that can continue after the grant has been spent and supports people to get active, encourages taking a leadership role, reduce social isolation and sustain a community agent role.

Active at 60 Community Agents are volunteers, nearing or at retirement age who offer their time to help improve the quality of life for people in their community who also at or near retirement, through social, mental and physical activities. Active at 60 Community Agents will empower and support people by:

• Helping them take the first step to becoming more active and engaged
• Helping them understand the value they can gain from undertaking activity and the value they can bring to their community
• Helping them build social contacts to make activities habit forming

Grants will enable Active at 60 Community Agents to carry out their role in meeting the aims of the programme. Expenditure could include:

• Equipment or materials for activities
• Travel costs for activities
• Venue costs for activities
• Costs of telephone, stationery, printer inks
• Refreshments

Money cannot be spent on advertising, marketing or any promotional activity.

All grants will to be awarded by 31 March 2011. The deadline for completed applications is 5:00pm Tuesday 1 February 2011.
All applicants will be notified of the panel’s decision as soon as possible after the meeting.

For an application pack, call 020 7782 6962 or download the Hackney application form here (268k) or the Tower Hamlets form here (268k).