Community groups and parishes across Babergh have been receiving much-needed cash boosts from a council grant programme.
Babergh District Council has dished out more than £83,000 in capital funding last year (2008/09) to a variety of projects from village hall refurbishments to cricket scoreboards and bowling mats.
Last year Babergh streamlined its grants process in order to make it easier for people to get their hands on our money.
Previously applicants faced multiple forms and processes if they wanted to apply for money from more than one cash pot.
Now, the grant money has been pooled into one pot and applicants can apply for support for community projects, core costs and business support.
Applications were invited for capital and revenue projects, though money available for revenue items was limited. Much of the revenue budget was committed to established partner agencies providing services that are closely aligned with the Council’s priorities.
Some of the groups and parishes to receive funding include: Newton Village Hall, which received £10,000 for major building works, Lawshall Village Hall, which received £5,000 for building work and the introduction of a hearing loop system, Milden Sports Pavilion, which received £7,000 for a new building and opened earlier this summer.
And the smaller groups didn’t miss out either.
Some of the groups to receive funding from Babergh’s Minor Grants include: Sproughton Parish Council, which received £615 for new tables in the Tithe Barn, Bures Carpet Bowls Club received £750 for a new mat roller and Hitcham Bowls Club, which was awarded £350 also for new mats.
Babergh also awarded revenue funding to organisations such as Sudbury and Ipswich Citizens Advice Bureau Home Start Babergh, The Bridge Project and the Kernos Centre – just some of the groups that provide essential services across the district.
A number of groups involved with the arts received funding too - The Quay Theatre, Suffolk Digital Cinema Network and Eastern Angles were just some to benefit – and financial support for sports centres at Hadleigh, Sudbury, Great Cornard and East Bergholt was also approved to enable them to deliver specialised sports programmes during the year.
Jo Beever, Babergh’s Community Grants Officer, said: “All of these groups awarded money provide vital services to their residents and contribute to making sure the district we live in is vibrant and maintains a strong community spirit.
“Babergh is delighted it is able to help so many people with these grants which have covered such a diverse range of projects from cricket practice wickets to new buildings.”
Conditions attached to the programme mean the group that has been awarded a grant above £750 has to match Babergh’s funding and all work must be completed by a certain date. Those awarded less than £750 do not have to match the funding, although it is desirable.
Next year’s grant programme (2009/10) will kick off in the autumn when the gates open for new applicants to start applying.
If you would like more information on Babergh’s grant programme please visit Babergh’s website on www.babergh.gov.uk/babergh/communitygrants, call (01473) 825872 or email: grants@babergh.gov.uk. Application packs for 2009/010 will be available from late October 2009.
Babergh would also urge any potential applicant to contact Babergh Communities Together (BCT), a charity, which can help explore other funding options as well as helping with the application forms and providing administrative support. BCT can be contacted on 0845 260 6340 or 0845 370 6340 or email: info@bctsuffolk.org.uk. ENDS
|