Small Grant Fund
As with our larger grant awards, our small grants are used to improve the physical and mental health of the people of Fife.
We've supported many projects in the past year in areas that may not normally attract funding. These are bespoke projects, wide in range and remit and all address a need or lack usually identified by staff members or public.
The small grants case studies here also help to illustrate just how funding can be used across different areas of the community to benefit a number of groups and causes.
In these studies, the beneficiaries can be broken down into six key areas. These will differ each quarter depending on the applications we receive and the projects which are eventually selected for an award.
Funding by target area
Sensory/Soothe Bags for Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) patients
Sensory and Soothe Bags are specially designed kits containing various items that can help calm and focus the mind, providing immediate relief during stressful situations for those under the care of our Community Mental Health Team. These carefully curated collections of tactile, visual and auditory items can be a lifeline for those seeking sensory regulation. The hope is that by introducing these bags that it can offer immediate and personalised coping strategies. The impact could be reduction in crisis episodes by having access to immediate tools for calming and grounding.
I have shared this idea with some of my colleagues and now we all use our own soothe bags at work as our roles are very demanding.
My anxiety used to make me pick my skin and pull my hair out! I have now stopped this as I can distract myself a lot easier!
Small Grant fund
Award amount: £3,060
Charity outcome: Improve people's mental wellbeing
Home-loan breast pumps - Neonatal Unit
Breast milk is a such a boon for premature and sick babies, as it is designed for them and their gut will tolerate it, protecting them from infections. This grant has allowed the Neonatal unit to purchase an additional 20 breast pumps thus ensuring that every neonatal parent can have access to the use of a pump in their own home, thus allowing mums to express at home to help to have a regular long term milk supply.
The Neonatal team have told the charity that the parents have found this service hugely beneficial as no-one wants the expense of an item that will be used for a relatively short time and which can be quite bulky to store.
Small Grant fund:
Award amount: £2,760
Charity outcome: Improve patients' experience
Getting to grips with frailty
A GERT suit is an age simulation suit which offers the opportunity for learners to experience the impairments of older persons or for younger people experiencing frailty.
Funding from Fife Health Charity has secured a further two gerontological simulation suits to assist in the delivery of frailty simulation training for health and social care professionals across NHS Fife, Fife HSCP and care homes settings across Fife.
The frailty-related impairments replicated by the suits are opacity of the eye lens and narrowing of the visual field, high-frequency hearing loss, head mobility restrictions, joint stiffness, loss of strength, reduced grip ability. In experiencing these loses first hand healthcare staff have been impressed by the insights provided by these innovative, practical teaching aids.
The insight into the considerable concentration required to combat a tremor was something I had not realised, an excellent demonstration.
Simulated training/garments gave a fantastic insight into the effects of poor mobility.
Small Grant fund
Award amount: £5,278
Charity outcome: Increase staff knowledge and skills which will benefit patients
Quiet room within the Colorectal specialist unit, Victoria Hospital
A small grant supported the colorectal specialist nursing team to create a quiet room within Victoria Hospital.
Many patients receiving a cancer diagnosis will be supported in this newly created space to discuss sensitive issues around their diagnosis and treatment plans and this room provides a quiet, contemplative safe space in which to receive this news.
Small Grant fund
Award amount: £1740
Charity outcome: Improve patient's experience
