Funders, Partners & Recognition

Working together for stronger communities

UAA’s work is strengthened by funders, public services, charities, businesses and community organisations. Partners help us reach people, make referrals, bring specialist expertise into community settings and make sure people can access support outside UAA’s own remit.

Partners we work with

UAA’s network includes health and NHS services, GP surgeries, Public Health, Healthwatch, local authorities, Adult Social Services, Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, Northamptonshire Police, British Red Cross, Mind, Community Law, NREC, the Hope Centre, Accommodation Concern, Groundwork Green Doctor, Northamptonshire Black Communities Together (NBCT), Support Northamptonshire, the Age Well service for Black communities, DFK Community Wellbeing Music & Arts Hub, Northamptonshire Sport, FareShare Midlands, faith groups and other local voluntary and community organisations.

Partnerships in action

DFK Community Wellbeing Music & Arts Hub works with UAA on creative community activity. DFK has delivered children’s workshops at UAA events and has also supported the technical side of community events, including help with music equipment and the mixing desk. This partnership adds creative opportunities for children and families while strengthening the quality and reach of UAA’s cultural events.

UAA is also a referral partner for the NBCT Age Well service for Black communities, hosted by Support Northamptonshire. The service supports older adults from South Asian, African and African-Caribbean communities across Northamptonshire. It provides culturally responsive help in people’s homes and communities, including support to access health and adult social care, practical case-management and wellbeing support, and help to stay safe, connected and independent. UAA helps identify older people who may benefit and refers them into the Age Well team so they can receive more specialist ongoing support.

Recent funding and support

Recent UAA projects have received support from organisations including Sport England / National Lottery, Macmillan Support Grants, Northamptonshire Community Foundation, Arnold Clark and other local and national funders. Funding supports activities such as sport, cancer wellbeing, food support, youth work, culture and community participation.

Recognition

• BBC Radio Northampton Make a Difference Awards 2025: UAA volunteer Trish Caswell received the Active Award, recognising her contribution to UAA’s women-only swimming work and the confidence and opportunity it has created for women learning to swim.
• Rose of the Shires recognition.
• British Red Cross Certificate of Recognition.
• Invitations to deliver UAA cultural and drumming activities at community, school and workplace events.

In September 2025, UAA joined the BBC Radio Northampton Make a Difference Awards ceremony, where Trish Caswell received the Active Award. UAA’s own news coverage highlighted her work helping women learn to swim, while the award recognised the wider value of inclusive, community-led physical activity. The recognition provides independent validation of the commitment behind UAA’s women-only swimming programme.