Voluntary organisations and community groups helping improve the health and well-being of Nottinghamshire residents are set to share £345,000 worth of funding from a County Council scheme.
These funds help towards boosting local facilities, essential running costs, as well as improving residents’ access to affordable and healthy food.
Eligible groups were able to apply for three types of grants offered by the Local Communities Fund (LCF) by demonstrating that their projects will help communities live healthier and more independent lives.
Councillor Scott Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health said,
“We are delighted to award this latest batch of funds to help make our communities an even better place to live. It’s all part of our continued commitment to encourage healthy and sustainable communities by financially supporting community groups and charities.
“And with the Olympic Games still fresh in the memory, its great to see some sporting-themed projects among those which will benefit from this funding, as we know how sport can improve physical and mental health and to do this, the facilities need to be suitable.
“Often sport clubs are more than just about the activities they offer. They bring people together and are at the heart of a community.”
The next round of funding to help with costs will reopen this autumn and once again groups can apply for up to £5,000 for revenue and up to £20,000 for capital grants. For the food redistribution grants, this element of LCF will reopen in spring 2025.
The latest 28 groups to be awarded capital grants, which is designed to help improve local facilities, include:
Blyth Cricket Club £20,000 to help upgrade the bathroom and shower facilities at to meet modern standards, improve energy efficiency and help ensure inclusivity for all members.
Kingston Vale Gymnastics Club, East Leake. £5,000 toward replacing and upgrade gymnastics equipment to benefit 400 club members, including special educational needs children and those from families with a limited income.
Newark Amateur Boxing Club. £5,500 to help upgrade equipment and expand boxing training.
Nottingham Casuals Rugby Football Club £20,000 towards installing solar panels to reduce bills and support environmental sustainability. This project will benefit club members, volunteers, and the local community by lowering membership costs and enhancing facilities.
Retford Lawn Tennis Club £11,950 to help towards installing solar panels. This will reduce energy costs, promote sustainability, and help keep tennis accessible in the community.
The Friends of Gedling Country Park £5,000. The aim of the project is to offer visitors the chance to sit down, rest, enjoy the Park even more and enhance mental and physical health. This grant will contribute towards wildflower planting and installing benches.
Upton Parish Council. £20,000 towards repairs and to insulate the roof of the village hall. This will improve the hall’s energy efficiency project will benefit residents and community groups and providing a warmer environment for community-led activities.
For the revenue scheme, which is aimed at helping groups with their essential running costs, 35 groups will receive grants for this round. These include,
Cotgrave Community Garden, £2,010. The grant will help towards the cost of running this community space, including wages for gardeners, project administration, and paying for gardening supplies.
Literacy Volunteers, £2,010 to help towards funding this scheme to improve literacy levels and support children’s educational development throughout Nottinghamshire. Funding will contribute towards volunteer training, resources for literacy activities, and expansion into rural area.
Mansfield Woodhouse Community Development Group, £1,490. The grant will help towards energy costs and provide a warm, safe environment at Park Road Resource Centre.
Movement for All £1,410. The project provides creative and health-promoting dance activity for older people in the Broxtowe area. Funding will go towards the dance artist’s fees, hall hire, and minibus hire.
Rainworth Miners Welfare Football Club. £2,010 will go towards bills such electricity, water, and volunteer costs. This project will benefit the local community, including vulnerable residents and those with disabilities, by providing a safe space for sports, promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
The Arc Advice Centre, Gedling. £1,760 towards running costs to provide support and advice to local residents.
Transforming Notts Together. £2, 010 towards running costs to help the expansion of community hubs for Ashfield, Gedling and Mansfield residents. This will benefit residents, especially the vulnerable, by reducing loneliness, increasing volunteering, and encouraging local networks.
The Food Redistribution scheme is aimed at improving residents’ access to affordable and healthy food. Among the 12 groups to receive grants for this round are:
Crescent Primary School in Mansfield will receive £ 6,390 to help their costs of providing essential food support services aimed at families and children in need by offering access to affordable and nutritious food and supporting community well-being.
East Kirkby Miners Welfare Trust will receive £5,120 to help towards its work helping families and elderly people maintain access to healthy food and support services in the Ashfield area.
Broxtowe Community Project, Beeston will get a grant worth £ 6,390 to help address food insecurity and provide support in the area. This project is aimed at low-income households and individuals facing financial crisis.
Newstead Colliery Miners Welfare Trust will receive a £6,390 grant. The Trust aims to improve access to diverse and healthy food options as well as services like budgeting and energy efficiency advice. This funding will help towards food subscription costs, utilities for storage and exclusive use of a room for food distribution and health guidance.
For the full list of the schemes which have benefitted, full details for capital and revenue grants are here: Document.ashx (nottinghamshire.gov.uk)
