Warwickshire News Mine

They just need to get their bids in for a share of thousands of pounds worth of booty, according to Warwickshire County Council!

Grants of up to £3,000 are now available from both the Warwick Area Fund and the Community Forum Grant Fund. 

The Warwick Area Fund is run by Warwickshire County Council for one-off projects that provide new opportunities for local people, particularly those who experience disadvantage or exclusion from mainstream activities. 

Bids must be made with support from the local County Councillor (see Editors’ Notes for full list) and received by the deadline of Friday 6 August 2010.  Once the bids are in, county councillors will choose the successful applications at the local area committee meeting on Tuesday 12 October 2010.

Cllr Jose Compton, Chair of Warwickshire County Council and of Warwick Area Committee, said: “Community groups in Warwick district have the opportunity to bid for significant funding to help them get their projects off the ground and pay for items that will benefit local people.”

Some examples of projects that have been funded through the Warwick Area Fund are:
• A grant of £1,417.50 was awarded to Leamington Night Shelter to provide a safe bed for the night to homeless people.

• £2,050 was awarded to Warwick Gap to provide structured activities for 7 -14 year olds on the Woodloes Estate.

• Friends of Kingsway Centre received £3,000 to develop an allotment for pre-school children through which to help educate families about healthy living and balanced diets.

Applications are also invited to the Community Forum Grant Fund, a joint initiative between Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council.  The Fund provides support for small-scale projects that meet community needs and contribute towards priorities identified by each Community Forum. 

There are seven community forums across Warwick District, each made up of people and agencies who want to improve life in their local area.  Everyone who attends the Community Forum can have a say in how the grant money is spent.  Applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis until all funds have been allocated in each of the forum areas. 

County and District Councillor Les Caborn said: “I urge local community groups to take advantage of this and to work with their local Councillor to put a bid together for a share of the fund. Other groups have already benefited immensely from this."

Some examples of projects that have been funded through the Community Forum Grant Fund are:

• A grant of £2,382 was awarded by Warwick Community Forum to fund the installation of lighting near the POD at Priory Pools Park to improve safety and use of Youth POD.

• £500 was awarded by South Leamington Community Forum to the University of Warwick Students Union to run a Student Community Representative Scheme to encourage students to become active local citizens and good neighbours. 

• North Leamington Community Forum awarded a grant of £5,000 to support the renovation of Crown Way Precinct and Wallsgrove Close in Lillington.

For more information or an application form for either of these funds, contact the Warwick Community Partnership Team on 01926 456102 or by email at warwick@warwickshire.gov.uk.  Application forms and guidance notes are also available to download on http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/warwickarea

Link to WCC