A FUNDING grant handed to a Northwich-based charity will go a long way to ensuring older people suffering from dementia get the support they need.

Deafness Support Network, which is based on London Road, has benefited from funds made available by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Vivo Care Choices through its community fund.

The fund is worth £20,000 in total and has been split into two rounds of applications, with around £12,000 handed out so far and a second round of applications planned for September 2021.

And the money will help Deafness Support Network to continue its scheme of delivering activity packs to the elderly who have dementia.

The bi-weekly packs include colouring pencils and templates for relaxation and stimulating brain training activities such as crosswords, mazes and spot the difference.

Cheshire West Voluntary Action is managing the fund for Vivo, processing applications and setting up a panel to make sure grants are given to worthy community initiatives.

The first round of funding has seen seven initiatives supported in west Cheshire who deliver projects in the heart of their communities.

As well as Deafness Support Network, these initiatives include Winsford-based Cheshire Dance, which creates resource packs for people with learning disabilities and autism, and NeuroMuscular Centre, which remotely supports people with neuromuscular conditions.

Opal Services, Minerva Arts, Space Cheshire and Friends of Countess have also benefited.

Alistair Jeffs, Vivo managing director, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting all these projects through our community fund.

“At Vivo, we provide services for people with learning disabilities and autism and older people, including those with dementia.

“All of the projects will support these groups and that was very important to us when we launched the fund.

“Knowing their loves ones will be able to get involved with these projects will make a big difference to our carers and families.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how all these projects progress.”

Full details for the second round of applications in September 2021 will be available in the coming months.