More than 80 community groups and charities will receive grants to help fund essential running costs and to improve local facilities.
It’s all part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s continued commitment to encourage healthy and thriving communities as the county continues its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first round of the new Local Communities Fund, which opened last Autumn, is awarding more than £1.2 million to eligible groups which demonstrated that their projects will help communities live healthier and more independent lives, as well as keeping children, vulnerable people and communities safe and protecting the environment.
The County Council’s Communities Committee, gave the green light today ( Wednesday) for 82 community groups to share these funds. Committee Chairman, Councillor John Cottee said,
“ We’re delighted to announce the first round of funding for this rolling programme of support. We hope it will provide a vital boost to organisations which gave much-needed help to people during the pandemic.
“Through this new Local Communities Fund, our aim is to make it easier for these wonderful groups to access the support they need to continue their work to encourage healthy and thriving communities.
“ We had a fantastic response to this new fund. I’m proud that more than £1 million of this first batch of funding has been allocated to specifically help well-established community groups
“Funding these longer-term projects is essential to get communities back on their feet, particularly those hardest-hit by the pandemic, including those suffering from loneliness and mental health issues.
Available grants included:
• A rolling programme of capital grants of up to £20,000 for projects with match funding already in place, to spend on making improvements to facilities that help improve health and wellbeing, as well as projects with an environmental focus.
Eligible groups can continue to apply at any time.
• Revenue grants to help projects with their running costs, including large, four-year grants open to those with a good track record of delivery. This part of the scheme is now closed to further applications; however, community organisations and groups can still apply at any time for a small revenue grant (up to £5,000).
58 groups will now receive a large revenue grant ( £5,000 or more) The amounts shown will be allocated each year for the next four years.
These include
• Citizens Advice Broxtowe (£149,875) will help the organisation provide free, independent advice to those that need it, delivering social, economic and health improvements. Funding will go towards salaries, office costs and overheads for six local Nottinghamshire Citizen Advice Offices.
• Mansfield Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) (£181,210) will help provide support for county-wide organisations and local groups to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic by helping them to deliver essential deliver community services. Funding will go towards salaries and overheads.
• Newark & Sherwood Community & Voluntary Service (CVS) (£11,462) Volunteer run social transport scheme for those who are otherwise isolated or excluded, enabling them to live independently, participate in their communities, access education, employment, health, and other services. Funding will help with delivery staff/admin and general running costs.
• Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) (£35,067) Y-Volunteer will develop new volunteer roles for young people in Mansfield and Bassetlaw and create young volunteer- led social media campaigns around volunteering. Funding will contribute to to salaries, marketing, and overheads.
• Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire will receive £45,600 which will go towards salaries and running costs for three projects:
-Men in Sheds projects for older men to practise or learn woodworking skills, make friends, and improve wellbeing.
(£10,175)
-Befriending support for isolated older people across the County to alleviate loneliness (£21,800)
-An information, signposting and advice (ISA) service to provide support to older people( £13,625)
• Gedling Play Forum ( £12,208) Play sessions and volunteering opportunities. Running a resources centre and scrap store to encourage creativity and recycling. Funding to help with costs such as overheads including rent and utilities, and volunteer expenses.
• Nottinghamshire Mind (£40,875) provides mental health support for those living in the communities of Nottinghamshire. Funding will go towards staffing/venue hire/admin and overheads.
• Disability Nottinghamshire (£13,978) Telephone and face-to-face support around benefits advice, money management, support, and information on any aspect of disability. Social support groups and peer mentoring also available. Funding will assist with staff costs and running costs including rent, IT, and phone.
• Ashfield & Mansfield Voluntary & Community Transport will receive £27,250 towards a scheme for people who are unable to use public transport. Funding will contribute to insurance, vehicle and staff costs.
Twelve groups were awarded a one-off capital grant funding towards facility-improving projects. These include,
• Our Centre, based in Kirkby in Ashfield, where £20,000 will be used towards the cost of replacing a community minibus
• Nottinghamshire Clubs for Young People, a county-wide voluntary youth organisation will receive £19,571 towards replacing a sports hall roof in Nottingham.
• Hetty’s, a Mansfield-based charity, will receive £20,000 towards purchasing new premises to run emotional, practical and recovery support for those impacted by substance misuse.
• Langar cum Barnstone Parish Council, near Cotgrave, will receive £20,000 towards a new village hall
• Shireoaks Village Hall (£8,850) to help with the cost of building improvements to the village hall
To apply for funding or for full details of all 82 groups ( including the 12 groups which were awarded one-off ‘small’ revenue grants) go to: The Local Communities Fund (LCF) | Nottinghamshire County Council
Successful applicants are being contacted in the coming days. The county council’s communities team will work with those who were unsuccessful to discuss the next steps and / or to explore other possible funding options.