The aim of the fund was to increase volunteer diversity; support community-led solutions; test new, scalable and shareable ideas; and improve health and wellbeing locally.

Five fantastic groups were awarded funding through the programme and we can’t wait to see their volunteering projects progress.

• C2C Social Action aims to establish a peer mentoring scheme for women with lived experience of the criminal justice system, mental or physical health challenges, addiction, or trauma.

• EnFold looks to create a dedicated team of volunteers with lived experience of Autism who will form support groups, assist in facilitating informative drop-ins, help the website content creation team, or create a dedicated fundraising team.

• Home-Start Northampton will adapt and test their volunteer training programme to develop an online version, with an enhanced-contact training model that will attract new volunteers from diverse backgrounds.

• Moulton Community CIO will expand their volunteering scheme through training sessions, peer mentoring, and workshops that focus on resilience, confidence building and digital skills. They will actively recruit younger volunteers to encourage intergenerational collaboration and will focus on place-based volunteering.

• United African Association will run a 6-month community health project to enhance the health and wellbeing outcomes of older African individuals in Northampton.