Community projects and groups that support people across Derbyshire are set to benefit from a new £1.5million grant scheme.
On Thursday 13 January our Cabinet will consider a report on the new scheme designed to give funding to groups which help support some of our main priorities.
And if Cabinet agrees to it, groups and charities could be in line for the new funding from the end of the month.
Welcoming the new grant scheme, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart praised the local voluntary and community sector for their hard work supporting local communities, especially during the pandemic.
Councillor Hart said:
“We know that community groups, local enterprises and volunteers have made a significant positive impact across the county, playing a vital role supporting residents during these difficult times. These proposals will seek to ensure our communities and the sector thrives by continuing to support their vital work.”
Outlined in the Cabinet report are five main priorities for the funding:
-helping residents to feel safe
-supporting young people
-encouraging residents to be more active
-being ‘greener’ and more sustainable
-encouraging people to get more involved in their communities to help them thrive.
Organisations and charities that help toward the council’s ambitions will be able to apply for grants from the £1.5million pot which could open at the end of January. Grants would be divided into four main types:
-small Grants – supporting activity or projects under £1,000
-medium Grants – supporting activity or projects between £1,001 – £20,000
-large Grants – supporting projects and programmes between £20,001 – £50,000
-exceptional – supporting projects which are over £50,001.
Derbyshire County Council leader Councillor Barry Lewis said:
“The council has made a long-standing promise to support communities across Derbyshire to get involved in climate change and the wider sustainability agenda. This funding would provide community groups and organisations with green ambitions the chance to make a real difference in our response to climate change and commitment to support biodiversity, sustainability, and the net-zero challenge.”
Also welcoming the new funding arrangements which would include grants for young people, the county council’s Cabinet Member for Childrens Services and Safeguarding Councillor Julie Patten said:
“Supporting young people’s activities is a vital part of the county council’s work. Following our highly successful Youth Activities programme in recent years, I am pleased we’re delivering on our commitment to keep these grants going by setting aside at least £375,000 of the new funding for activities which play a vital role in supporting positive lifestyles among young people.”
Find out more and read the full report on the new grant funding prospectus and framework
