Over £150,000 of ‘Community First Foundation’ funding is now available for community groups across four of Bolton at Home’s neighbourhoods.
Residents from Farnworth, Great Lever, and Kearsley have until Friday, June 1, and Tonge with the Haulgh until May 21, to submit applications for a share of the funding, with grants ranging from £250 to £2,500 for both new and existing community groups.
Community First is a £30m Government funded initiative running until March 2015. As part of the programme, communities are encouraged to come together and identify their strengths and local priorities to plan for a more sustainable future.
To be eligible for funding, projects must meet local priorities that could include ways to improve the environment, bring communities closer together or improve people’s health, wellbeing and welfare.
Bolton at Home has been selected as a panel partner for the programme. All proposals will be considered by Community First forum groups, which have been set up in each of the wards, with recommended projects going to a Community Development Federation for approval.
Bolton at Home Project Support Officer, Gail Helme said: “This is a fantastic opportunity, supporting new and existing community groups to deliver difference-making activities and projects.
“Bolton at Home is committed to creating homes and neighbourhoods we can all be proud of. So, we’re delighted to have been selected to take part.
“We encourage community groups to get in touch with their proposals, whether it’s an intergenerational or cultural initiative, a campaign for green spaces, a healthy eating drive or volunteering opportunities – a grant could be made available to support them.”
As part of the scheme, every £1 in funding that is awarded must be matched with a similar amount of in-kind donations such as cash, services, products or volunteer time. Quarterly Community First funding applications meetings will be held, with grants split over the next four years until the scheme ends in 2015.
Further information on how to apply can be found at http://www.boltonathome.org.uk. Alternatively, phone Barbara Burton on 01204 332852 for Tonge with the Haulgh enquiries, or Gail Helme on 01204 337967 for Farnworth, Great Lever and Kearsley