Over 3,000 Supported to Stay Well During Winter in Leeds

Community groups in Leeds provide vital winter support

During the winter of 2024-25, 26 community organisations across Leeds received funding through the Stay Well this Winter grants programme to assist people most at risk of poor health during the colder months. This initiative is a partnership between Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds City Council, aimed at addressing winter vulnerabilities in the city.

Scope and impact of the programme

Since its inception in 2012, the Stay Well this Winter programme has awarded 374 grants and supported nearly 32,000 individuals. The most recent round of funding enabled local organisations to deliver a variety of services and activities, including:

• Home assessments and wellness checks
• Social sessions and warm spaces
• Provision of essential winter items
• Referrals to other relevant services

These activities targeted a range of vulnerable groups, including older people, individuals experiencing homelessness, those living in poverty, people with disabilities, and refugees or asylum seekers.

Reported outcomes from funded activities

The organisations reported positive impacts on participants’ wellbeing and living conditions:

• 1,503 people noted improvements in their mental wellbeing
• 1,250 reported better physical health
• 747 felt less lonely due to increased social connections
• 237 were better able to heat their homes and stay warm
• 424 experienced improved access to food

Case example: Special Needs and Parent Support (SNAPS)

One of the funded organisations, Special Needs and Parent Support (SNAPS), focused on supporting children with disabilities, their siblings, and families. Using their grant, SNAPS ran additional ‘Stay and Play’ sessions throughout winter. These sessions provided a warm, accessible venue where vulnerable families could participate in specialised activities and access support.

More than 100 families attended weekly, allowing SNAPS to build trust and support networks with families who might otherwise have faced isolation. Feedback from 174 parents indicated improvements in their children’s mental health and wellbeing, as well as reduced feelings of isolation among the parents themselves. Some families have continued to meet outside of the sessions, forming social and peer support networks.

Additional benefits to organisations

Beyond direct support to individuals, half of the organisations reported that the grants helped improve their services. Several also secured further funding, collectively raising an additional £33,000 to support people facing winter vulnerabilities in Leeds.

The Stay Well this Winter programme continues to be an important collaboration between Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds City Council, with a 15th round of grants planned for 2025.

Source: Leeds Community Foundation