The ELFT Charity supports innovative projects that make a positive, lasting change and go above and beyond what the NHS would usually provide.  Sometimes the most impactful ideas are simple ones that can benefit service users and staff in novel ways. Below are three initiatives that the ELFT Charity has been able to support: 

• We have provided a grant to the Newham Home Treatment Team to redevelop a garden area for service users. The team offer a weekly gardening group and a walking group to encourage fitness and social connections. Their previous garden was damaged so they are keen to build it up again and get a new poly tunnel to grow plants from seeds.  The bid fulfilled the criteria for improving social networks.

• Monies for another gardening project have been awarded to Leighton Road Practice in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire. The Leighton Road Courtyard Garden project will see patients of the practice and the project lead working together to develop a green and pleasant space for everyone with garden furniture, and tea and coffee facilities to help people to connect. This bid fulfilled the criteria for improving social networks.

• Monies have been awarded to support a Luton Peer Led Walking group which is going to be run by service users for service users to engender social connections and support fitness and mental stimulation. The Luton Striders (they already have a name!) will learn first aid skills, work out walking routes, arrange a historian to lead walks around places of interest, organise opportunities for sketching and art, refreshments and pit stops! This bid met the criteria for improving social networks and improving employment prospects

This is just a selection of ideas generated by staff that the ELFT Charity has been able to support. As demonstrated above, some of the most impactful ideas are simple and practical and we are keen get more such projects off the ground. If you have an idea for a project or initiative that would make a difference, read on to see how you can apply for monies.

All applications to the ELFT Charity are considered by the ELFT Charity Committee. If you would like to make a donation to the ELFT Charity, raise money for it or apply for a grant, go to the ELFT Charity webpage: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/get-involved/elft-charity