Mobile Wardens support people wanting to remain living in their own homes rather than moving into a care facility, by offering help with practical tasks such as making an occasional light meal, organising appointments, delivering shopping, filling in forms and collecting prescriptions. The Wardens become a familiar face for residents through daily phone calls and weekly visits, making sure they don’t become isolated and can access trusted information and other services they might find useful.
The Council has been supporting local schemes with grant funding for many years but has this week launched this new funding pot for 2020 to 2022 specifically to make it possible for new schemes to be set up. The Council has identified seven locations across the District – which have higher populations of older or vulnerable people – that would benefit from new schemes being established. Local groups can apply via a tender process to run the schemes in these locations: Fulbourn; Gamlingay; Over; Papworth Everard; Sawston (and surrounding villages within the Granta footprint); Willingham; and a cluster of villages including Bourn, Caldecote, Hardwick, Toft and Wimpole. Groups wishing to create new schemes in other South Cambridgeshire parishes could also be eligible for funding and can apply through the grant application process.
Cllr John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Mobile Wardens have been unsung local heroes for many years and now, with many more residents staying at home and more unsure about how to safely access essentials supplies and trusted information, they are more invaluable than ever. Thank you to every single Mobile Warden for everything you do, enabling people to live in their own home for longer, delaying unnecessary early moves to care environments and, through the relationships you strike up with your clients, offering reassurance to relatives about the wellbeing of their loved ones.
“Although residents pay a small charge for the service, the schemes incur costs for training and putting safeguarding measures in place, as well as from overheads and set up costs. In recent months there has been such a brilliant local effort to support those who are self-isolating and we want to build on the momentum of this community support as life gets more back to normal. So, while not every South Cambridgeshire village has a Mobile Warden scheme, we want to help reduce the barriers to new schemes being established by helping with these costs. If Parish Councils, charities or independent groups are interested in setting up a new group, please apply. We can help connect you with the practical guidance you will need to get going as well as support to complete an application.”
Applications opened on Monday 1 June 2020 and will close on Friday 10 July 2020.
Visit the council’s website for more information about logistical support the council can offer to groups as well as full details on how to apply – through the tender process or directly to the grant: