Older people are benefiting from a new grant scheme set up to support ideas that reduce loneliness and improve access to nutritious food.

The Small Ideas, Big Impact Fund has awarded over £160,000 of grants to 47 projects which includes the development of new lunch clubs, cookery classes and Dementia Cafes.

The grant scheme has been set up in response to the significant number of older adults not eating enough and becoming frail. Estimates show that 1 in 10 older people in Scotland are either at risk or suffering from malnutrition, which is predicted to worsen with an ageing population.

Eat Well Age Well, a project from award winning Scottish charity Food Train, recognised that urgent action is needed, and that loneliness is often a key risk factor.

Eat Well Age Well Project Manager Laura Cairns said:

Those who work, care or volunteer with older people in their local community know what will make a real difference and it’s important for us to empower their ideas. We have seen huge demand to create more opportunities for older people to eat socially which is a key preventative measure for both malnutrition and loneliness.

Bon Accord Care in Aberdeen applied in 2018 and received a grant to host Wellbeing and Healthy Eating Roadshows. Business Development Officer Barbara Hockridge said:

The fund has enabled us to hold taster sessions and cooking demonstrations across our housing complexes. It’s also allowed us to bring various partners and suppliers across the City of Aberdeen directly to our older residents to showcase what activities and support are available to them.

For more information on all the projects supported by the Small Ideas, Big Impact Fund visit www.eatwellagewell.org.uk

Image: Eat Well Age Well