Small Grant Projects Summary Report

Healthwatch Waltham Forest undertook research on social care issues through a Small Grants Project involving local voluntary and community organisations. Four organisations successfully completed projects, engaging around 130 people in total to explore experiences relating to social care, disability support, mental health, carers' services and inclusion. 

East London Out Project spoke to 42 LGBT people, who highlighted the importance of non-discriminatory services, staff understanding of LGBT issues, inclusive communication and better monitoring of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Disability Resource Centre engaged 21 disabled people and carers, finding that equipment provision was generally good following acute illness or injury but that longer-term support, information and access to advice about adaptations could be confusing and fragmented. 

Significant Seams engaged 25 people around mental health, social prescribing and personal budgets. Participants highlighted stigma surrounding mental health, limited awareness of support services and the need for stronger links between community organisations, GPs and local support networks. Waltham Forest Carers Association spoke to 42 carers, many of whom reported lengthy assessment processes, difficulties accessing respite care, insufficient practical and emotional support, and dissatisfaction with mental health services and communication about carers' entitlements. 

The report concluded that the Small Grants Project successfully enabled community organisations to gather insight from groups whose voices are not always heard through traditional engagement methods. Common recommendations included improving access to information, strengthening support for carers and people with disabilities, tackling mental health stigma, improving inclusion for LGBT people and ensuring local services are designed with greater input from the communities they serve.