Stuart Anderson MP is delighted that Wolverhampton has become one of 27 areas across England to receive a share of £30 million in extra funding to help local communities tackle loneliness. He has welcomed the funding which will help local organisations to provide opportunities for people to volunteer, learn new skills, and connect with their neighbours. It follows a call that Stuart had made as part of Volunteers’ Week last year to tackle barriers to volunteering and make further funding available to tackle those barriers.
The ‘Know Your Neighbourhood Fund’ will deliver volunteering opportunities in 27 areas identified as being disadvantaged using the English Index of Multiple Deprivation and Community Needs Index, including Wolverhampton. It will support people living in those areas to connect with others in their community and engage in volunteering, with the aim of improving wellbeing and pride in place. Launched by the Government, working in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, and UK Community Foundations (UKCF), it has been designed to widen participation in volunteering and help tackle loneliness.
Stuart has welcomed the investment, which will empower residents to help their communities, grow their social networks, and tackle social isolation. A variety of organisations in Stuart’s constituency of Wolverhampton South West will benefit, including Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action; Access to Business: and Wildside Activity Centre. The projects have shown that they will provide valuable services in their communities by helping people to develop skills, grow their social networks, and drive better outcomes in areas such as education and employment.
This Fund builds on almost £50 million invested by the Government in tackling loneliness since 2018, including over £34 million in response to COVID-19 as part of £750 million in support for the voluntary and community sector. This is in addition to the £4.6 million Volunteering Futures Fund launched in 2022, which will allow more than 160 community organisations to support 7,800 new volunteering opportunities across the country. Further funding will follow later in 2023 and 2024.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “In our city, we have a diversity of amazing charities and community organisations. Last year, I called for more action to be taken to tackle barriers to volunteering and make further funding available to do so. I am delighted that Wolverhampton is one of 27 areas identified to benefit from a share of the £30 million in extra investment from the Government. The projects supported via the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund will provide valuable volunteering opportunities for residents, empowering them to help our city, enrich lives, improve wellbeing, and build social connections as we all work together to tackle loneliness.“
Civil Society Minister Stuart Andrew said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, dedicated volunteers and charity workers came together to support our communities in a real time of need - from taking time to check in on neighbours to delivering prescriptions. We are determined to capture this brilliant spirit and see it continue, which is why I’m delighted to announce the launch of the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund. With funding already being allocated, this will create more opportunities for people to volunteer, learn new skills and connect with their communities across the country.”