A POPULAR grant-funding scheme is opening up and calling for people to apply for funding to help vulnerable or isolated people in their communities.

The Community Inclusion Grant was created in 2012 to improve the lives of older people living in Wrexham.

Due to the current situation lots of elderly and vulnerable people in communities across Wrexham are feeling even more lonely and isolated. The grant funding aims to assist people with ideas to help those people.

The panel usually meets four times a year to discuss applications. However, to ensure they continue to provide the grants the team are meeting virtually to discuss them.

So far, the grant has supported an application to help the Portuguese community in Wrexham to remain connected whilst isolating and to help with online food shopping for people who may not have access to laptops/PCs or the internet.

Grant funding has also been awarded to Penley lunch club to extend its provision of lunches.

The demand for the provision of lunch from the Penley Rainbow centre has increased and they needed help to provide more food hot pots as well as support the volunteers who deliver the food to the surrounding areas.

The grant means that they can now extend the area in which the deliver to.

Cllr Joan Lowe, lead member for health and adult social care, said: “The community inclusion grant has always proved a popular grant for the community.

"During the current climate, the grant has become even more important and can really help those people who are at most risk of isolation in our communities.

"Anyone with an idea or with a project that needs additional funding is encouraged to get in touch with the team and apply for the grant.”

Funding, in the range of £200 to £2,500, is available to support the establishment and/or the sustainability of community-based activities that reduce social isolation and loneliness, by supporting people to retain or regain social connections and enable people to participate in their local community.

Re-connecting isolated and lonely individuals not only has a positive impact on the lives of older and vulnerable adults in terms of their health and emotional well-being, but it also supports the community by gaining access to their economic and social capital.

Anyone interested in finding out more can contact the commissioning team on 01978 292066 for an informal chat or more information.

Application forms and guidance notes are available by email: commissioning@wrexham.gov.uk