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Funding available for community groups

Community groups and voluntary organisations across Stratford District are being invited to bid for funding to help their work.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available from the Community Development Fund for one-off projects. Bids must be made with support from the local County Councillor and received by the deadline of 30 November 2009.

The fund is run by Warwickshire County Council to help communities address issues of local concern to them. Some examples of projects that have been funded are:-

A grant of £1,452 was awarded to Harbury Pre-school for a brand new storage building for their toys and equipment.  The new store means that children at the village pre-school will now have an improved outdoor classroom as this will increase the range of activities on offer.
£1,536.12 was awarded to Little Wolford Village Hall to install a hearing loop system enabling people with hearing difficulties to enjoy activities in the hall.
Age Concern Shipston-on-Stour received £2,000 to renew two second hand ovens which will provide older people with the opportunity to enjoy a nutritious hot meal three times a week.

Once the bids are in, county councillors will choose the successful applications at the local area committee meeting on 21st January 2010.

Chair of the Stratford-on-Avon Area Committee, Councillor Mike Perry said: "The Community Development Fund has proved to be a huge success with more than £200,000 given to support over sixty projects in the district since 2000/2001.

“The fund aims to help communities, especially in more disadvantaged areas of the county, tackle issues of local concern.  The money that is awarded allows Warwickshire County Council to work in partnership to increase access to a number of important local services and we encourage local groups to come up with ideas and apply for help in funding projects that are important to their communities. 

"However, competition for the grants from the Fund is always high, so we do urge community and voluntary groups to hurry and be sure to beat the deadline.”

For more information contact Amanda Wilson-Patterson at the Stratford-on-Avon Area Office, who can provide information, advice and support during your application process and while developing your project:  Amanda can be contacted on 01789 290787 or by email at stratfordoffice@warwickshire.gov.uk.  An application form and guidance notes is available to download on http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/stratfordarea.