A WARRINGTON-based property specialist has revealed its ambition to pass the £1 million mark in distributing grants to community health projects over the next year.
Assura – which works as long-term property partner to almost 600 primary health care buildings – launched its Assura Community Fund in May and made more than £800,000 in grants last year.
It plans to distribute a further £500,000 this year, continuing the focus on supporting charities and community organisations to deliver projects which tackle the long-term health impacts of the pandemic such as loneliness, financial instability and digital exclusion.
Assura has also hailed the work of primary care professionals who have been on the front line of the national response and vaccination programme. Over the last year, the company has put vacant space into use for respiratory care, made land available for extra staff parking and helped GP practices make temporary reconfigurations for social distancing and one-way systems for patients.
Just under 10 per cent of Assura’s medical centre sites have been registered as NHS vaccination centres and have played their part in the national vaccine roll out, and Assura has completed 10 new healthcare building projects since the first national lockdown to add modern capacity for local health services in places including Kent, Birmingham and Nottingham.
Chief executive Jonathan Murphy said: “The last year has given us a unique perspective on just how much daily activities have changed for the people and teams using our buildings up and down the country, and the many examples we’ve seen of primary care’s incredible resilience and little kindnesses to keep people smiling and to support colleagues have been truly inspiring.
“It’s never been so important to be looking after each other and the projects the Assura Community Fund has supported are all about reaching those who are most vulnerable to health inequalities and challenges. In an unprecedented year of lockdowns and the constant need to adapt, this has been a real highlight and we can’t wait for the next round of grants to continue our support for grassroots health causes.”
The Assura Community Fund is managed by Cheshire Community Foundation.
Chairman of the foundation and Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs said: “Assura’s commitment to the communities in which they work is outstanding and inspiring. Their generous support will undoubtedly change many lives for the better.”
