Thank You NELC

How funding from  the Lincolnshire Community Foundation has enabled vital support for vulnerable people in North East Lincolnshire

 

At Carelink we are deeply grateful to the North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) and the Lincolnshire Community Foundation for their generous grants that have enabled us to continue supporting the most vulnerable residents across North East Lincolnshire. These funds have made a real difference during an unprecedented time of challenge and isolation.

 

In particular, the grants have allowed us to maintain and expand our weekly telephone support for shielding individuals, and to roll out telecare digital units to 50 residents at no cost, with weekly check-in support for up to three months. It is only through this kind of local partnership and funding that organisations like ours can respond swiftly and effectively when it matters most.

 

The Lockdown & Shielding Landscape

 

When COVID-19 emerged, many people in our community found themselves on the national shielding list—those deemed clinically extremely vulnerable. Suddenly cut off from usual social contact, facing long periods indoors, and anxious about health risks, these individuals needed more than just medical support—they needed consistent human connection.

 

Thanks to a £5,000 grant from NELC via the Community Response Fund (administered by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation), provided from Christmas onward, Carelink was able to step in. Council staff and local councillors had been offering telephone check-in support during the lockdown. With the grant, Carelink took over and expanded the programme, reaching out weekly to those shielding, making sure they were okay, offering companionship, welfare checks, and appropriate referrals.

 

Supporting the Clinically Vulnerable

 

In addition to the earlier grant, NELC also awarded a £9,000 grant from their “Supporting the Clinically Vulnerable in N E Lincolnshire” fund. This additional funding enabled Carelink to purchase digital telecare units and offer them to 50 shielding residents—completely free of charge for up to three months. The telecare units allow sound and activity monitoring or simple fall detection, depending on the model. But the real difference lies in the human element: our staff will call every week, check how people are doing, guide them in setting up the devices, and help them access local services that reduce isolation.

 

How the Programme Worked

 

• Selection of recipients
  We identified 50 individuals on the shielding list who were isolated, without regular contact, or lacked digital access.

• Placement of telecare units
  These were delivered and installed (or set up remotely) by our support team.

• Weekly check-in calls
  In addition to the device, each recipient receives a weekly phone call from a trained operator—just to say hello, ask how they are, ensure they have everything they need, and link them to services if necessary.

• Accessing local services
  If the weekly call identifies a problem (poor mobility, loneliness, confusion, lack of equipment, cold home), we refer the person to partner services: social care, local charities, befriending schemes or digital learning.

• Free three-month use
  Each telecare unit and weekly call support is provided free for up to three months, thanks entirely to the NELC grant.

 

The Impact on Lives

 

These programmes have had tangible outcomes:

 

• Reduced isolation: Many recipients reported feeling less lonely simply because someone rang them weekly and listened.

• Increased safety: With a telecare unit installed and regular calls, we were able to spot early warning signs and refer faster.

• Greater digital inclusion: Some recipients had never used digital devices—now they felt confident contacting family, accessing services, or using apps.

• Improved wellbeing: Knowing someone cares, someone is watching out, and someone will act if things go wrong gives profound peace of mind.

 

Why This Matters Now

 

As we emerge from the immediate crisis, many people remain isolated. Shielding may technically have ended for some, but the long-term impact persists: reduced confidence, limited contact, fear of socialising, technology gaps, and health worries. Funding like that from NELC allows services like Carelink to bridge these gaps—not just respond to emergencies, but proactively support wellbeing and independence.

 

A Heartfelt Thank You

 

We want to say a sincere thank-you to North East Lincolnshire Council and the Lincolnshire Community Foundation. Without your grants, this work simply would not have been possible. By choosing to fund the Community Response Fund and the Clinically Vulnerable initiative, you have allowed vulnerable residents in our region to receive continuous support when they needed it most.

 

Together, we are building a safer, more connected, more inclusive community.

 

What’s Next?

 

Carelink is committed to continuing and expanding this work. We will continue to call weekly, monitor usage of telecare equipment, and seek further funding to ensure no one feels alone or unsupported. If you know someone who might benefit—someone on the shielding list, someone with limited digital access, someone feeling lonely—please contact us. We are here, we care, and we respond.