Grants available to improve our neighbourhoods

Friday, 17 November 2023 15:25

By David Murphy

Community groups can apply for £2,000 each to help bring about improvements in their local areas.

Bury Council has allocated £100,000 for a Let’s Do It Community Fund, to be shared equally between five districts of the borough: Whitefield, Prestwich, and the East, North and West (including Radcliffe) parts of Bury.

This is in line with the council’s Let’s Do It ambition of creating a strong and resilient borough, building on the strengths of local communities.

Grants will be allocated for projects which contribute to our Let’s Do It outcomes: improved quality of life, better early years development, improved educational attainment, increased adult skill levels and employability, higher wage rates and business growth, a carbon neutral environment by 2038, and improved digital connectivity.

Applications are welcome from any community group, social enterprise, local network or voluntary organisations, and the deadline for applying is 10am on Monday 11 December. For more details, go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/my-neighbourhood/lets-do-it-community-fund

Two ‘Meet the Funder’ sessions have been arranged where people can find out more. These will be delivered on Microsoft Teams:

Tuesday 21 November, 12pm-1pm: Click here to join the meeting
Thursday 30 November, 6pm-7pm: Click here to join the meeting

Bury Voluntary and Community Faith Alliance (VCFA) can help to link groups which wish to collaborate, and provide support on funding and development opportunities. For more information, see https://www.buryvcfa.org.uk or contact funding@buryvcfa.org.uk

Applications will be reviewed and scored by ward councillors and a funding panel including representatives from public sector partners and the Bury VCFA, and successful applicants informed by Friday 22 December.

Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for finance and communities, said: “The Covid pandemic showed us how tremendously well our communities can rally round and look after people in their local area. These grants will give local groups the chance to continue all that good work and ensure that the whole borough of Bury will thrive.”

Later this month, the council will announce details of culture grants which community groups will be able to apply for. Information will be posted on the council’s and VCFA’s websites.