Support for older / isolated people
Simple, reliable human contact — designed so it does not depend on one kind neighbour forever.
A small befriending or phone-tree scheme with boundaries, consent, and a weekly rhythm.
Older people living alone, recently bereaved people, anyone housebound without family nearby.
Open this guide from a ward’s Take action tab to load councillor and Area Partnership contacts for that place.
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Step-by-step plan
Follow the phases in order. Finish one before expanding.
Design the offer
Weekly phone check-in OR café afternoon OR walk group — not all three at once.
What volunteers will and will not do. Share with every volunteer.
Borrow trust and insurance where possible.
Soft start
Quality of contact beats a launch poster.
Listening skills, confidentiality, when to escalate.
Who is reached, who is missed, volunteer load.
Kit & materials
Never share numbers without permission
What to ask, what not to promise
Library, church, community café already heated
No personal loans, no medical advice, no keys unless formal scheme
Council & institutional help
You are not a crisis service. Know how to signpost to official support and emergency services.
Ask about free room slots for tea/coffee afternoons.
Partner with established befriending orgs for training and referrals.
Safety & non‑negotiables
- PVG may apply if regulated work — check before home visiting
- Prefer public venues for first meetings
- Two-person visits if home visits are part of the design
- Clear emergency process if someone does not answer welfare calls
Common mistakes
- Becoming unpaid social work
- No consent for sharing personal details
- Home visits without checks or pairs
- No plan when the founder is ill
Funding that fits this action
Small grants for tea, transport, printing · Health & social care partnership community funds when open · HA funds for tenant befriending · Tap a card to open the funder website.
Glasgow Area Partnership / Neighbourhood funds
Small local projects, events, equipment, environmental improvements
Who: Constituted community groups in the area
Size: £500 – £5,000
Deadline: Rounds through the year (check Area Partnership)
Tips: Show local support and a clear neighbourhood benefit. Apply to your local Area Partnership budget.
Common fails: No constitution, unclear budget, activity outside the area.
Area Partnership Budgets (GCC) →
Housing Association community funds
Tenant and estate-based activity
Who: Tenant groups and local partners
Size: £250 – £3,000
Deadline: Rolling or quarterly
Tips: Link to estate priorities (youth, environment, isolation). Ask your local RSL’s community team for their community grant pot.
Common fails: Activity not benefiting tenants/area.
SFHA member housing associations →
Community Council small grants
Micro projects and seed costs
Who: Local groups (varies)
Size: £50 – £500
Deadline: Meeting cycle
Tips: Attend a community council meeting and ask early.
Common fails: No local connection demonstrated.
Glasgow Community Councils (GCC) →
Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund
Community mental health & wellbeing activity
Who: Community groups via local TSI interfaces
Size: Typically small–medium grants
Deadline: Locally administered rounds
Tips: Partnership with existing support; trauma-informed approach. Search Funding Scotland for the current Glasgow round.
Common fails: Clinical claims beyond group capacity.
Search Funding Scotland (Glasgow wellbeing) →
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland
People-led community projects
Who: Voluntary/community organisations
Size: Up to £20,000 (check current rules)
Deadline: Rolling
Tips: Plain language; clear beneficiaries; realistic budget.
Common fails: Retrospective costs; vague outcomes.
Apply — Awards for All Scotland →
Downloadable templates for this action
Open in any text editor or spreadsheet. Fill in the brackets — then send or print.