A new pot of funding for community projects supporting adults and young people with autism and their families is set to launch this autumn.
Thanks to a one off amount of £200,000 from Lincolnshire County Council and South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, community groups and organisations from across the county will be able to apply for funding to help develop new projects.
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) will manage the fund alongside its successful Managed Care Network, which supports community projects for adults with experience of mental health problems.
Like the mental health promotion fund the monies will be available to support groups wanting to set up accessible community activities specifically for adults and children on the autistic spectrum and their families.
Jane Marshall, Director of Strategy at LPFT said: “We are really excited to be able to expand the community funding we offer, , and look forward to building a bigger community resource for people with autism.
“When we talk to service users, carers and the wider public we often hear that people find it difficult to find projects and activities that can support people with autism. Yet we know that social groups and activities can have such a huge impact on people’s quality of life and prevent deterioration in their mental wellbeing.
We hope to find projects that will help people develop a greater sense of personal wellbeing, improve coping and self-care, increase motivation, hope and confidence, reduce isolation and improve physical health.”
Improving support for people on the autistic spectrum is something identified in the countywide all-age autism strategy, developed by the Lincolnshire Autism Partnership Board.
Chair of the Lincolnshire Autism Partnership Board, Richard Eccles added: “The increased range of support and activities in the community form a cornerstone in the implementation of the Autism Partnership Board’s updated strategy.”
Justin Hackney, Assistant Director of Specialist Adult Services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The Managed Care Network for mental health needs has achieved many positive results for the people of Lincolnshire. It is with great delight that we have been able to expand the brilliant work of the Managed Care Network for people with autism.”
The funding application process will officially launch this September, in anticipation of projects starting in February 2020. The schemes will be funded for up to one year.
To help interested groups find out more about the funding and application process, LPFT will be hosting a number of drop-in events this August. More information is available at www.lpft.nhs.uk
The events will also be an opportunity for people with autism and their families to let us know where they feel there are gaps in the current support available and ideas for how this could be improved.
Drop in events will take place:
| 5 August 2019 | 09:30am – 12:30pm | LINCOLN | Alive Church, Newland, Lincoln, LN1 1XD |
| 7 August 2019 | 09:30am – 12:30pm | GRANTHAM | Jubilee Church Life Centre, 1-5 London Road, Grantham, NG31 6EY |
| 8 August 2019 | 12:30pm – 3:00pm | BOSTON | Len Medlock Centre, St George’s Road, Boston, PE21 8YB |
| 28 August 2019 | 09:30am – 12:30pm | STAMFORD | Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford, PE9 2DL |
| 29 August 2019 | 09:30am – 12:30pm | GAINSBOROUGH | John Coupland Hospital, Ropery Road, Gainsborough, DN21 2TJ |
We ask that people confirm their attendance by contacting: Nikki Dudley, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Engagement Support Officer, nicola.dudley@lpft.nhs.uk T: 01529 222244 , Mob: 07971 510300
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