Schemes and Grants
GTC offers a range of Schemes and Grants to help both individuals and groups. Here's a list of what is currently on offer.
Grants to individuals
Helping residents deal with challenges that can be faced through illness and disability, as well as assisting them to develop their lives is one of GTC's major aims. Grants can be made to adapt homes for health reasons, improve personal mobility and safety and broaden opportunities for children and individuals.
Almshouses
One of the principal ways Girton Town Charity fulfils its remit to relieve the needs of Village residents is through housing provision. It currently has 28 almshouses, which are intended for Girton families, either to help them save and move onto their own housing or for active retirees who can live independently.
Accommodation is allocated following a thorough vetting process during which each individual applicant is assessed in terms of meeting the criteria. To find out more about our Almshouses read the link above.
Educational Grant Scheme
This is open to all young people in the Village leaving secondary education for further or higher education or training leading to a formal examination at degree level BA, MA or PGCert, or NVQ Level 4. The Grant, which can only be claimed against actual expenditure, is a maximum of £300 per year and is intended for books, equipment, tools or other direct costs relevant to the course.
Hospital Taxi Scheme
For Girton residents who have problems using public transport, do not have their own transport or find it difficult to drive, the Hospital Taxi Scheme enables them to get to outpatient appointments at Cambridge Biomedical Campus including Addenbrooke's Hospital, the Rosie or Royal Papworth Hospital and some of the pandemic-designated satellite outpatient clinics. An annual registration fee of £7 is payable and then taxi fares are capped at £9 for each return trip.
CarePlus Grant Scheme
This is for people in the Village and their carers and is to assist independent living, providing short-term additional care to suit the individual's need over and above any statutory care to which the applicant is entitled. The Grant also aims to help residents return home from hospital as soon as possible, responding quickly at a time of need. Application is by referral, with care worth up to £1,200 per calendar year provided by one of three care professionals nominated by GTC – Availl, BlueBird Care and Home Instead.
GTC provides funding to organisations which support Village residents as well as regular grants for:
Community Warden
Working in partnership with Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, GTC funds the provision of a a Community Warden to assist older people living in their own homes to continue an independent lifestyle and to complement the work of statutory services. Contact the GTC office for more information.
Older Residents' Co-ordinator
Working in partnership with Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, GTC fund the provision of an Older Residents' Co-ordinator to support older people within the Village to access existing services and recognise gaps where new clubs and groups could be introduced. Contact Patricia on 07469 660866 (Tuesday and Wednesday).
Girton Glebe School
GTC gives Grants to enable all children to go on residential trips regardless of family circumstance.The School Activity Clubs receive funding for an Administrator and professionals to run a range of activities which all children resident in Girton can access.
Prescription Service
This service enables prescriptions for the housebound to be collected from the dispensary at Pepys Way Surgery and delivered to the homes of residents within the Surgery's catchment area.
Relate
Relationship counselling services are on offer to help residents address specific difficulties or learn new skills and strategies to tackle particular issues at Relate Cambridge's office. www.relatecambridge.org.uk
GTC also funds the Buddy Scheme and Family Counselling delivered by Relate at Girton Glebe School