MORE than £500k in grands has been awarded to combat loneliness in Hampshire.

Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Councillor Liz Fairhurst has awarded a total of £565,390 in grant funding to projects across the county that are working hard to tackle loneliness and encourage healthy living among older people.

A total of £480,000 was awarded over a two-year period to MHA Communities to assist their county-wide work offering a variety of fulfilling social and digital activities and services for older people.

A further £20,000 was awarded to Age Concern Hampshire to support the charity to increase the number of village agents in the county who have an important role helping older residents stay independent.

A grant of £65,390 to be shared among five initiatives across the county including Springwood Community Centre in Havant, Hart Voluntary Action's in Hart, Unity Test Valley Digital Connectors, Fluid Motion's in Basingstoke, and Southern Rail partnership (SRP) project that brings together the SRP, Hampshire County Council and a local bus group.

The grants awarded by Councillor Fairhurst form part of a wider programme of Local Authority grant funding designed to assist individuals to remain independent within their communities, minimising their need for social care.

They enhance the vital role played by local voluntary and community organisations who are often best placed to support people at a local level.