A charity supporting the Orthodox Jewish community in North London has been awarded £87,300 to boost its programme supporting elderly carers in Hackney and Haringey.

City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, awarded the funding to Hackney based charity Bikur Cholim, to help meet a surge in demand for its services.

The grant will fund the charity’s health and wellbeing programme for carers over the age of 65 in response to seeing an increasing number of older carers struggling to cope, resulting in poor physical and mental health.

The money will fund a new Carers Support Worker for older carers who will provide advice, support and rest and relaxation through respite activities such as arts and crafts, gym sessions or simply a coffee at a local café. The scheme will develop individual support plans for each carer and work closely with volunteers to coordinate activities.

The funding will pay for a public information campaign to promote the services and target ‘hidden carers’ who are unaware of the support available to them.

A new carers support group will be set up so people using the service can play a role in the management of the project and make sure all their needs are met.

Alison Gowman, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, commented:

“Bikur Cholim has an impressive team of 300 volunteers with a true community approach to helping others.

“It has an excellent track record of supporting elderly people in North London. There is a clear need for this programme and I am sure the expansion of the carer scheme will be as successful.

“City Bridge Trust is committed to making the capital a better place to live, for all Londoners.”

Jocheved Eiger, Chief Executive of Bikur Cholim, added:

“The funding will go towards the recruitment of a Carers Support Worker for Older Carers and enable us to reach out and provide support to older carers, many of whom are challenged by their own health needs whilst balancing the care of a loved one.

“Our project will give them the support they need to continue in their vital role”.

City Bridge Trust is London’s biggest independent grant giver, making grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantage and inequality across the capital. The Trust has awarded around 7,700 grants totalling over £370 million since it first began in 1995. It helps achieve the City Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners

ENDS

Media Enquiries

Kristina Drake

Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

07710860884 / 020 7332 1125

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

• We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, makes grants of around £20 million annually to tackle disadvantage across London.

• We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, the Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important commons in London.

• We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies, all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.