The South West London Investment Fund

The South West London Investment Fund gives partners the opportunity to bid for funding for innovative projects that could have a big impact on health and wellbeing in South West London.

This year the investment fund is supporting 23 schemes. It is divided into two parts – the ICP Priories Fund and the Health Inequalities Fund

The ICP Priorities Fund

The majority of funding (80%) was allocated to employment projects to help local people into health and care roles, and make SW London a great place to work so we retain and attract a skilled workforce now and into the future.

The remaining funding was directed at priority areas including older and frail people, children and young people, prevention,  mental well-being, equality, diversity and inclusion and a greener south west London.

Successful projects include:

• Health and care work experience – giving 100+ students exciting opportunities to gain real-world work experience while raising awareness of the breadth of careers in health and care.
• I-CAN – a projected aimed at supporting care leavers into nursing apprenticeships as part of a study programme with the University of Roehampton.
• Maternity equity conversations – a scheme to address racial and socio-economic inequality in maternity services, co-produced by women with lived and professional experience.
• Dance to Health – which uses creative dance to address the major health challenge of falls in older and vulnerable people in Sutton.
• BRITE box – meal kits with all the ingredients to make a balanced and nutritious dinner, delivered each week to families struggling to eat well. After running successfully in Kingston and Richmond, the project is being extended to Croydon and Wandsworth.
• Upcycled bikes for NHS staff – donated cycles are repaired and gifted free to employees, along with a lock and high-visibility clothing. 

The Little Hands service, from Merton-based charity Jigsaw4u (pictured), which received £83,000 in funding to bring together professional play therapists with children aged five to nine, who have experienced domestic abuse to improve their health and well-being 

According to Stephen Loizou, chief executive officer of Jigsaw4u: “We know that trauma early in life has a profound effect on future wellbeing. This innovative project works with children across south west London, who have experienced domestic abuse.

“Children will be supported to safely explore emotions, process unresolved trauma and learn new coping mechanisms. We were delighted to receive investment funding for this life-changing project supporting such a vulnerable group.”

The health inequalities fund 

The health inequalities fund allocated £3 million to projects which address unequal access to, and outcomes from, health care.

75% of the fund has been awarded to existing schemes, with the remaining 25% allocated to new initiatives, directed towards the populations facing the most profound inequalities in access, experience and outcomes from care.

Existing projects which have received further funding include:

• SPEAR homelessness charity – work to improve access to health and wellbeing services across south west London.
• Community health and wellbeing workers – extending the Brazil model where workers from local communities visit households to help them access the right care.
• Core 20 Plus Connectors programme – building on community-based initiatives to support health improvement.

New schemes funded this year include:

• Health Smart Croydon – promoting better health by increasing awareness around the prevention and treatment of common health conditions, such as diabetes
• Kingston Carers Network – emotional support, benefits advice and advocacy, for unpaid carers.
• Learning disability carers service project with Mencap offering one-to-one support for family carers at moments of crisis or to help in times of transition.
• IRIS programme – to improve the healthcare response to gender-based violence.
• Attic Theatre Company’s Many Voices programme – working with young refugees and asylum seekers to support integration,  increase self-confidence, reduce isolation and engender a sense of belonging