News / Local partnership gets funding
A PARTNERSHIP between new organisation Shetland Community Connections and Voluntary Action Shetland has secured over £256,000 in funding from the Scottish Government to run an advisory and support service.
The money has come from the Support in the Right Direction 2021 scheme, which aims to help people and their carers to make informed decisions and plans for their social care.
Shetland Community Connections aims to offer a support brokerage service to help people plan and organise their support, as well as find creative ways to use their budget.
It also wants to help people understand the range of options available to them, including telecare and electronic solutions.
The organisation wants people to lead a life that others have the opportunity to do, and it will not just focus on social care budgets, with its work open to “anyone who wants support in thinking through different approaches to meeting their needs”.
Voluntary Action Shetland will be able to recruit a part-time worker dedicated to assisting with the set-up of direct payment packages, giving information, signposting and helping people find their way through becoming an employer.
It will also help with finding PAs, supporting them to purchase services and finding ways to reduce stress of being an employer.
The organisation will also set up training for PAs and help employers get the most out of their budgets.
Shetland Community Connections chairwoman Catriona Waddington said: “All over Scotland there is a move to increase choice about social care arrangements.
“As with most things, Shetland has its own unique set of opportunities and challenges in terms of finding creative ways to do this.
“We are really excited to explore what can be done throughout Shetland to make these choices a reality and proud that the Scottish Government has awarded one of its largest grants to us.”
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