Information from Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Ageing Well in Whitfield - small grants for VCSE organisations
Ageing Well in Whitfield is a one‑year pilot supporting people in the Whitfield PCN area to feel more confident, connected and in control as they age. The programme strengthens relationships between VCSE organisations, health and care partners, and community groups to build a more preventative model of support to the people identified. This work responds to local realities: fewer years spent in good health, complex service pathways, and a VCSE sector under significant capacity and funding pressure.
Purpose of this grants process
The small‑grants scheme (£1,000–£10,000) enables VCSE partners to release Better Care Fund funding to facilitate work with people experiencing mild–moderate frailty. The funding will support trusted community and social enterprise organisation, registered within Stoke-on-Trent and delivering activity within the geographical footprint of Whitfield PCN can apply. relationships, warm handovers, increased capacity for community‑based activity, and more consistent touchpoints that help residents stay active, connected and independent for longer.
Intended Outcomes
This programme aims to deliver:
- Improved experiences and outcomes for aging residents at risk of frailty
- Greater coordination across sectors and services
- Increased VCSE capacity, confidence and sustainability
- Stronger shared learning about what supports ageing well
- Momentum towards longer‑term investment and scalable neighbourhood models
The Commitment to VCSE Partners
The programme is deliberately empathetic, flexible and trust‑based. Recognising the state‑of‑the‑sector challenges locally, there is a commitment to:
- Light‑touch, proportionate monitoring focused on learning
- Valuing relationship‑building and continuity as legitimate funded activity
- Providing support for reporting tools and digital requirements
- Adapting collaboratively when delivery pressures arise
- Creating psychologically safe environments for shared reflection and improvement
A Positive Intention for the Future
A core aim of this pilot is to co‑develop longer‑term funding options and influence more flexible commissioning approaches that genuinely reflect the realities facing the VCSE sector. Learning gathered through this programme will directly inform future commissioning design and resource allocation. There is also a shared commitment to explore how the model could be scaled to support other neighbourhoods across Stoke‑on‑Trent, building a more consistent approach to ageing well across the city.
Funding Amount
Between £1,000 and £10,000
Application Deadline
12:00 PM on 24th April, 2026.
