Grants available for enterprising groups in Derbyshire communities
Enterprising groups across the county are cashing in with successful applications to the Derbyshire County Council Action Grants scheme to help with their activities.
In the latest round of grants, 138 groups have been awarded grants totalling £203,800 and there is still £921,200 left in the pot for the remaining 3 rounds.
Derbyshire County Council have now awarded Action Grants totalling £578,800 to 600 groups across Derbyshire in the first 5 rounds of the scheme since it launched in May 2018.
Community groups, clubs, charities and parish councils are being encouraged to apply for the sixth round which is open now up to a deadline of 30 September 2019. Successful applicants so far have been able to show they promoted one or more of the Action Grant themes:
- youth activity – including setting up youth clubs, organising activities for young people, projects to help young people gain new skills or schemes to help them deal with mental health issues
- community activity – such as setting up new community groups, organising a local event or starting a community project
- physical activity and sport – money for schemes to encourage residents of all ages to take part in physical activities, keep fit and stay healthy – or which encourage people to get active if they’re not already
- community safety – grants for projects to reduce crime and the fear of crime including raising awareness about scams and rogue trading, schemes to tackle anti-social behaviour and initiatives to help residents keep themselves safe
Most of the grants are £500 but in the fifth round there were also a number of £5,000 and £10,000 grants available for schemes which can be shown to offer long-term benefits for local people and promote 2 or more of the Action Grants themes. These larger grants will be available again in the final round of the scheme which closes on 30 May 2020.
Grants awarded in the latest round will fund activities including tackling anti-social behaviour and scams, sports training and facilities, theatre groups, choirs, music events, allotments, developing apps, art workshops, adventure activities for youth groups, counselling support, building refurbishment, equipment for community buildings, toddler groups, green schemes, clubs for older people and activities to support disabled people.
Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism Councillor Barry Lewis said: “I have seen for myself the results of our Action Grants in helping to support community initiatives and it’s good to see. The £500 grants may not seem a huge amount but on many occasions it’s been enough to get a project off the ground and it then becomes self-supporting.”
“In the first 16 months of our Action Grants over 600 groups have benefited which is great news and there’s another 8 months for the scheme to run. We’ve still got over £900,000 to help more projects and I hope we’ll continue to get plenty of applications.”
“If you’re involved with a community group, club or charity in Derbyshire an Action Grant could be just the helping hand you need.”
“The process is quick and simple and if you apply now for the September deadline we’ll aim to give you a decision within four weeks.”
The deadline for the current sixth round of Action Grant applications is 30 September 2019. Groups which apply should hear if they have been successful within 4 weeks of the deadline.
More rounds will follow next year until the Action Grants scheme ends in May 2020.
Click here for more information or to apply.
