Full of Life Funds available for local groups helping older residents to get active

Richmond-based groups and organisations are invited to apply for funding to support activities, run throughout October, that help our older residents and carers live more physically active, healthy and independent lives.  

Back for its fourth year, the Full of Life Fund programme sits alongside our annual Full of Life Fair at Twickenham Stadium and the National Day of Older People (6 October) and aims to connect our older residents with activities and groups that can support their health and wellbeing, conveniently available to them in their local area. 

Cllr Piers Allen, Chair of the Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Committee and Richmond’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “We’re delighted to once again support bringing the benefits of Full of Life directly into our communities this year through the Full of Life Fund. It’s very important for our residents to understand the breadth of what’s available to them in their local area to help them stay active, connected and fully supported to live healthy, independent lives.

We have so many fantastic local groups, organisations and businesses in our borough who work hard to bring this offer to life year-round, and through this programme we aim to raise awareness of these opportunities and support people to get involved.” 

Applicants can apply for up to £250 of funding to support their activity or event and may decide to do something bespoke or use the funds to increase the size and capacity of activities that are already planned. Events must support our older residents' wellbeing through things like encouraging them to move more and helping them to live healthy, socially connected lives. 
 
Ideas for events include: 

• Organising activity ‘taster’ sessions that your organisation typically offers, to display the range of options available for older people in our communities
• Encouraging people to get active by hiring a yoga or dance instructor
• Organising an event designed especially for adults with sight or hearing impairment
• Organising dementia-friendly activities for our residents living with and caring for a loved one with dementia
• Hosting a healthy cook-a-long, highlighting how food and nutrition relate to overall health
• Organising a group walk around local parks and nature trails
• Organising a trip to a local museum, theatre, or art gallery
• Hosting expert-led workshops on how to safely maintain physical health, even with limited mobility

Funding will then be decided upon based on key criteria being met and ensuring there is an even spread of events across the borough. Events will need to take place between 1 and 31 October 2024, around the time of this year’s Full of Life Fair, which will be held on 27 September at the RFU Twickenham Stadium. More information about the main Fair and how to register will be released in August.

The deadline to apply for the Full of Life Fund is Sunday 4 August at 11.59pm. Successful applicants will be informed by late August.