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Almost £1 million is being invested in new services to help vulnerable people stay fit, healthy and well.
The London Borough of Bexley is making the funding available to a number of voluntary organisations and community groups in the borough. They will work with the Council to develop services designed to stop people's health and wellbeing deteriorating to the point where their needs increase and they lose their independence.
Bexley spends around £55m a year on providing social care. It is leading the way nationally in giving qualifying residents personal budgets to purchase their own care.
"Services for older and disabled people traditionally focussed on providing support once older people had serious problems," explained Cllr David Hurt, the Council's Cabinet member for Social Care and Health. "We are working to put more emphasis on providing support to ensure that they can enjoy as much independence for as long as possible.
"We want to see everyone have the chance to live the kind of life that we would all wish for as we grow older."
An example of the new approach is provided by Orbit South Housing. The Council will be funding Orbit to provide an exercise and wellbeing programme for older people living in it's sheltered accommodation.
The change of emphasis towards more 'preventative services' is part of a wider change in the way the Council funds voluntary organisations, which were set out in the Voluntary Sector Funding Strategy approved in February 2008.
