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LinkAge Bristol has secured funding from the Cabinet Office to create a powerful partnership with the University West of England, Business West and Ardent Communications. This innovative partnership will help the charity to move forward to a more sustainable future enabling it to continue its work to reduce loneliness and isolation for thousands of older people across Bristol.
The funding secured from the Cabinet Office’s Local Sustainability Fund and administered by the Big Lottery Fund, has provided up to £20 million of government funding to 265 high-impact VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector) organisations. The Local Sustainability Fund is aimed at small to medium-sized VCSE organisations, which provide vital services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
Over 1,000 organisations responded to the first phase of the application process, of which 265 received an award. LinkAge was one of these successful charities.
Claire Miller from LinkAge says, “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this award! It is really tough being a small charity these days and although this won’t bring in core funding, it will bring in world-class expertise, support and guidance, that will help us to continue to support positive ageing for thousands of older people across Bristol. It is going to be a really exciting year for us and I am really looking forward to working with the University West of England, Business West and Ardent Communications.”
Donna Whitehead, Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of UWE Bristol’s Faculty of Business and Law says, “UWE Bristol is absolutely delighted to be involved in this exciting project with LinkAge, Business West and Ardent Communications. Our experts in marketing, strategy and management, and finance are looking forward to helping LinkAge continue to deliver activities that enrich older people’s lives. The project will have a real impact on the future strategy and success of LinkAge – an inspirational organisation that does great work in our local community. Assisted Living and care for older people are areas the University is committed to supporting.”
Sue Atkinson, Agency Director at Ardent Communications says: “We have been working with the LinkAge team for a number of years and have seen first-hand how this fabulous organisation has made such a great impact on a large number of Bristolians.
Ardent are thrilled to be working with UWE and Business West, sharing our expertise to help LinkAge continue to impact on so many lives in such a positive and beneficial way.”
Amie Vaughan from Business West concluded: "Supporting LinkAge and being involved in such an invaluable project which benefits some of the disadvantaged communities within our City region, is a key priority for us at Business West. The essential skills and experience that our older generations possess, should not be unused and left to disappear. Working with Linkage provides a mechanism for us as business people to engage and care for older people, and to help deepen their experience as they get older. Business West is committed to supporting LinkAge during its projects and working alongside UWE and Ardent Communications provides the charity with expert solutions, guidance and key relationships that enables objectives to be met. "
The work of this inspiring and cross sector partnership has already started and everyone involved is throughily committed to making this work a success for LinkAge and more importantly older people across the city.