Organisations and community groups across the Conservative-run Wealden district are being invited to apply for grants to help provide funding support for their activities or services.
The Wealden Community Grant Scheme includes recovery grants, small grants and a three year service level agreement funding programme.
Application forms can be downloaded by searching for grant funding on Wealden District Council’s website. While there are three strands of funding, organisations can only apply to one strand.
A second round of Recovery Fund payments – inviting applications until October 24 2021 with funding to be spent by March 2022 – is available to help any third sector organisation, which did not benefit from a recovery grant in the last round. Groups can apply for between £500 and £3,000.
Last year groups were supported with help towards equipment, measures to ensure safety, provision of alternative delivery methods, and help with utilities, rent and other expenditure which needed to be met when organisations were struggling with reduced income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Expenditure for general activities to support communities was also provided.
Wealden District Council aims to announce decisions and start the procedure for releasing funding during December.
The second strand of funding is the Small Grants Scheme whereby grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available to third sector organisations which are planning activities in the next financial year to benefit Wealden residents.
Applications need to be in by 30 November 2021 with the money spent between April 2022 and March 2023.
In the past a huge range of projects has been supported including sports clubs, arts activities, those supporting young people, older people and the disabled for the health and well-being of residents.
The third and final strand is Partnerships Service Level Agreements of three years. The deadline is 30 November this year and the three year funding is also available to key organisations which support residents in multiple parishes to be spent between April 2022 and March 2025.
Wealden’s community and public health portfolio holder, Conservative councillor Philip Lunn said, “
"These are important pots of money that go right to the very heart of our local communities. They provide assistance to groups carrying out important work for people in our towns and villages and I would encourage them to apply for the grants to help them continue their vital work. IIf any group is in doubt whether it could qualify, please contact our support officer for guidance.”
Guidance and eligibility is given in the application forms, but organisations should contact Michelle Namurach, Wealden District Council’s partnerships and funding support officer for advice and to answer any questions by emailing communitygrants@wealden.gov.uk or calling 01323 443520.
