The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has announced a new £3 million fund designed to support some of the region’s most disadvantaged communities and equip them to benefit from future inclusive growth.
The Mayoral Community Development Fund (CDF) will provide direct support to strengthen local communities and help them grow, focusing on areas facing high levels of deprivation.
The CDF was approved by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Board on Monday, 10 March 2025.
The funding will go towards building local networks and helping groups get started. A small portion of the fund will also be available to support new groups with grants. The goal is to help communities become more self-sufficient, enabling them to shape local services, attract funding, and take on new projects.
The fund will be spread over three years and will support 10 to 12 areas in the East Midlands region that require assistance in building local infrastructure and social networks. These areas will be selected based on challenges such as low levels of community support and limited access to resources.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “This fund is part of a wider effort to ensure everyone in the East Midlands benefits from economic growth. This is all about giving communities the support they need to thrive. We want to make sure that no community is left behind, and this will help people in the most deprived areas build the skills and confidence they need to shape their own future.
“This is a call to action for our communities to come together – we’re not telling them what to do; we’re giving them the tools and support they need to make their own decisions. The goal is to help people feel more confident and in control of what happens in their area.
“By investing in our communities, we’re building a brighter future for the whole region. This fund is a key part of my vision for a more inclusive and vibrant East Midlands, and I believe it will help create lasting change for the region’s most underserved areas.”
Communities will be selected based on a combination of local data and input from local authorities. The aim is to select a variety of communities, including rural areas, former coalfields, and inner-city neighbourhoods, to ensure the fund is used effectively.
The programme will be run by experienced local organisations capable of delivering long-term results. These groups will work closely with local people to ensure that communities have a say in the decisions that affect them.
EMCCA has already been working with community groups across the region to develop this initiative, one of which is Community Action Derby. Their CEO, Kim Harper, has endorsed the scheme and highlighted its potential to positively impact local communities.
Kim said: “Our rich and diverse community, voluntary, faith, and enterprise sectors are at the heart of our region. They are essential components in building stronger and more resilient communities, whether it’s tackling health inequalities or responding to emergencies, such as the pandemic or the cost-of-living crisis. They fulfil a broad range of roles, providing opportunities, enriching our lives, and giving a voice to those who need to be heard.
“Community Action Derby supports over 700 brilliant locally based organisations in Derby, and we know that investing in them and our communities is vital for long-term, sustainable change. In recent years, the sector has faced a perfect storm of rising costs and increased demand for its services, so we welcome the Mayoral Community Development Fund, which is designed to support initiatives that can make our communities stronger.
“Derby has some of the highest levels of deprivation and inequalities in the region, so to achieve meaningful and sustainable change, we must empower our communities to lead the way, working with them rather than imposing solutions. This approach must be central to the vision for growth in our region, and we must do this in partnership and collaboration with EMCCA.”
The initiative aligns with the Inclusive Growth Commission’s work, ensuring that evidence from the fund’s evaluation will inform future funding decisions and drive positive change across the region.
