Funding Available for Carer Groups

Do you belong to a Carers group, or maybe you would like to set one up?

To help you run group activities, up to £500 of funding is available, courtesy of Forward Carers, in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS).

Who can apply?
You are eligible to apply for this grant, if there are at least three other unpaid Carers in your group, you’re an unpaid Carer aged 18 or over, living in Birmingham, and registered with Birmingham Carers Hub. Local groups and organisations supporting Carers are also welcome to apply and create events and activities providing there is a Carer who makes the application. Please note that we are no longer accepting applications for those living in Northfield and Hall Green constituencies because the funding has already been fully allocated to these areas.

What Can the Grant Be Used For? 

These grants are available to fund local, events and activities that help unpaid Carers relax, socialise, and take a break from their caring responsibilities. You can use the grant to organise one-off or multiple activities that meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Boost Carer Wellbeing: Host events that offer Carers the chance to relax, recharge, and improve their mental and physical health.
• Respond to Local Needs: Address the unique needs of Carers in your area by providing much-needed support.
• Create New Opportunities: Offer activities that Carers wouldn’t otherwise have access to, helping them experience something new.
• Support LGBTQI+ Carers: Bring together Carers from all backgrounds, especially those from LGBTQI+ communities, for inclusive, supportive events.
• Community Connection: Bring Carers and other community members together, provided there are at least four unpaid Carers involved.

What Sort of Things Could I Do?
So far over 100 Carers across six different constituencies have benefited from this funding and have used their grants for a:

• Christmas meal
• Spa day
• Massage and mindfulness
• Day trip (click the link to see where they went)
• Weekend overnight break, spa and breakfast
• Flower arranging session

What Carers Have Said

“Without the funding they would never have been able to do it. You could see them visibly relaxing throughout the day and see the boost in the carers mental health as well.” – spa day

“The grant allowed us to take time off from our very busy caring roles to indulge in some self-care and reflect, amazing opportunity to rewind.” – overnight break

“This grant has supported 11 carers with hand massage and mindfulness to improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing. The grant has made a significant impact, allowing us to run fortnightly walking sessions over a 13-week period, benefiting numerous participants across the community.”

“We all had a very relaxing time and got to renew our batteries.  It was nice to take time out for our self and sit back and just relax without any worry it made us feel like new people.” – weekend break

“This was a fantastic life opportunity for the users as some of us could never think of having a get away like this for ourselves. We all were able to have fun relax and enjoy ourselves! The users were so overjoyed that they were excited to go back again.” – Spa Day

How to Apply
You can apply for the £500 grant by submitting a short application that outlines how your activity or event will benefit unpaid Carers in your community. Before applying, make sure you have all the necessary details about your planned activities, a breakdown of costs, and your bank account information.

Go to https://forward1.grantplatform.com/ to register on the site and start your application that will then be reviewed by your local NNS, who will assess its eligibility and feasibility. For any additional questions or concerns, contact anna.lockleyscott@forwardcarers.org.uk

What Happens Next?
If your application is successful, you’ll receive the funds within 10 working days of being notified and will be required to sign a short agreement confirming the intended use of funds. At the end of your funding period, you’ll provide a brief report on how the funds were used and how the group’s activities made a positive difference for the Carers in your group.

The deadline for all applications is Monday 10 March 2025 but may closer early if our funding limit has been reached.