A COMMUNITY volunteer project will extend its work with care homes across the borough thanks to a fund to transform adult social care.

Community Circles is one of the organisations to have received £188,333 in funding as part of a £1 million pot of money aimed at making the borough’s care homes fit for the future.

The project will be working with care homes by linking into community connections like volunteer groups and businesses to build a circle for people who are in need of support or by bringing an extra dimension to the services already on offer in the home.

Seventy per cent of care homes in the borough 70 are rated as good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The work with Community Circles will aim to help raise the levels of care to outstanding by creating better links between care homes and the wider community.

This work will build on many innovative projects already taking place at care homes, such as welcoming neighbours for lunch.

This targets those who might be living along and wanting company.

Jo Willmott, assistant director for provider management at Wigan Council, said: “Community Circles is a fantastic organisation that has been helping care homes across the country to offer a personalised service that enriches the lives of residents.

“Its approach really fits in with The Deal for Adult Social Care by harnessing community support to make a difference and gives our care home sector the chance to benefit from the positive impact The Deal has already brought to so many people.”

Martin Routledge, head of development for Community Circles, said: "In considering local authority partners to work with we are looking for councils that share our vision of helping people stay connected to friends, family and communities.

"We have been very impressed by the Wigan deal and look forward to many years of fruitful partnership.”

Other projects to benefit from the funding are digital schemes which will give care home residents access to laptops and tablets and opportunities for people to take part in indoor and outdoor activities to improve residents’ health and wellbeing.

For more information about Community Circles visit helensmith@community-circles.co.uk.