Closing date and result
The application window will close at 5pm on Friday 6 March 2026. Officers will appraise applications based on the below documented assessment criteria. Any successful awards will be made on the week commencing 9 March 2026.
Purpose
Balance impairment and muscle weakness caused by ageing and lack of use are the most prevalent modifiable risk factors for falls. Strength and balance training has been identified as an effective single intervention and as a component in successful multifactorial intervention programmes to reduce falls or subsequent falls.
The aim of the Strength and Balance programme is to prevent falls within the population of (Ipswich and) East Suffolk Alliance by improving the gait, balance, co-ordination, muscular strength, flexibility and confidence of those who have had a recent fall or been identified as being at high risk of having a fall.
East Suffolk Council is currently working with Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB; Ipswich and East Suffolk Alliance) to support equity of access to strength & balance programmes and ensure there is a range of strength & balance group activity programmes on offer across (Ipswich and) East Suffolk Alliance.
East Suffolk Council is now seeking to work with Voluntary and Community groups, local deliverers and organisations to deliver strength and balance classes and ensure that older adults can access the right exercise programme at the right time, in the right place.
We are looking for programmes to be delivered over a 12-month period in one or more of the following locations:
- Kesgrave
- Leiston or Saxmundham
- Framlingham
- Woodbridge
Outcomes
Performance of the programme will be measured by various client outcomes as outlined in the standard operating procedures, these include the following:
- Number of clients starting a 12-week Strength and Balance programme
- Number of clients completing a 12-week Strength and Balance programme
- Number of clients reducing their ‘Timed Up and Go’ score (TUG) across 12 weeks
- Number of clients reducing their ‘Falls Efficacy Scale’ rating (FES) across 12 weeks
- Number of falls pre and post 12-week programme
- Case studies and client feedback
Providers will be required to complete TUG and FES assessments at a client’s first and twelfth week of the programme. Please refer to the attached standard operating procedures for more information on the required outcome measures and assessments involved.
Monitoring and sustainability
You are required to complete the relevant monitoring forms (as outlined in the standard operating procedures) on a quarterly basis during your programme and a final report after your programme has finished. This monitoring process will cover client outcomes and safeguarding/health and safety incidents.
When applying, also think about how your project/service/event will be sustained. For example, if the funding enables a new group to be set up for 12 months, what will happen after that? To some extent, you might not know at the beginning, the shape it will take after the project/service/event has ended, but it is useful to give some thought to the question: “for this to continue into the longer term, what needs to happen?”
How much funding is available? Will you fund 100%? What about match funding?
Organisations can bid for a share of the total £20k funding pot, with grant applications of any amount considered.
Match funding opportunities are also available for organisations wishing to partially fund – please make this clear on your application.
Can we apply if we received funding previously?
Existing/previous beneficiaries of East Suffolk Council funding for Strength and Balance programmes may still apply for additional/renewed funding.
We expect to see applications that articulate costs for things like:
- Instructor costs/staff hours
- Additional room/venue hire costs associated with delivery of the programme
- Any other costs relating to programme delivery (e.g. equipment, refreshments, marketing)
All costs must be explained, as per examples provided on the application form.
When will the funding decisions be made and when must it be used?
- A panel will review the applications within 2 weeks of receipt, with an acceptance/rejection issued within 1 week following the review.
- Programmes must commence within 3 months of receipt of funds.
- Any funding awarded must be used within 12 months of your programme beginning.
- If any funds are not used or you want to change the use of any funding allocated, you must email the Health and Wellbeing Project Team as soon as possible at healthreferrals@eastsuffolk.gov.uk
How will funding decisions be made?
Applications will be scored using the below criteria:
| Section | Assessment criteria |
|---|---|
| Project summary and description | Clarity of project aims; alignment with outcomes; realistic beneficiary numbers. |
| Delivery plan | Practicality of delivery; staffing; delivery structure (closed/rolling); location choice/s and evidence of sufficient local demand; capacity to deliver. |
| Value for Money | Justification of costs; cost efficiency; appropriate resource use; realistic budget. |
| Evidence of outcomes and monitoring | Understanding of required data; credible data-collection processes; commitment to monitoring; evidence of past outcomes/success. |
| Budget clarity and financial information | Complete cost breakdown (including per class where possible); realism; inclusion of volunteer hours/donated goods; funding picture; shortfall clarity. |
| Organisational suitability and governance | Relevant policies in place; safeguarding; health & safety; governance appropriateness; trained OTAGO instructors. |
| Sustainability | Realistic long-term plan for continuation beyond ESC funding; identified 'exit routes' or maintenance classes post 12 week programme. |
| Publicity and acknowledgement | Clear plan for promoting the project and acknowledging ESC funding. |
| Overall deliverability and risk | Confidence in overall deliverability; risks identified and mitigated. |
Please note, if the sum of applications exceeds the total funding available, applications will be scored on a competitive basis. To ensure a higher chance of being awarded the funding, please ensure your application form clearly explains how your proposal meets/answers the specified criteria.
What we cannot fund
- National and regional organisations unless they have a local base and/or their application is for a specific project that will benefit people in East Suffolk. If the project will not exclusively benefit residents in East Suffolk, any award will be pro-rata e.g. if 30% of eligible residents are estimated to come from East Suffolk, we may fund 30% of the total eligible costs.
- Groups operating as a business for profit
- Applications to cover core costs, business as usual, or loss of income for your organisation
- Activities that are statutory obligations e.g. curricular activity in schools
- Payments towards endowment funds, deficit funding or loans
- Activities promoting political or religious beliefs
Political parties or organisations intending to support or oppose any particular political party, or to discriminate on the groups of race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.
Completing the application form and acknowledgement
- Take 5! Please check you have answered every question. Unfortunately, some funding applications either leave out information or have figures that do not add up. This delays the process and causes both yourself and us extra work. Please also don’t forget to attach your policies and procedures (or give a web-link to them). We want you to submit the best application possible!
- If you have any queries or difficulties with the application form, please email us as soon as possible at: healthreferrals@eastsuffolk.gov.uk. We will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
- If you do not receive a confirmation email within 5 working days of sending your application, please email us at the above address, as soon as possible.
- Please send your application as a Microsoft Word document (not a PDF).