Local community and voluntary groups will now benefit from a new Tamworth Borough Council Councillor Grant Scheme.
Councillor Community Grants, Festive Grants and Environmental Grants, are now combined into one Councillor Grant Fund, where councillors can award a minimum of £250 to a maximum of £1,000.
Each ward councillor will be granted £1,000 each year from April 2024, to distribute as grants for the benefit community and voluntary groups. This scheme replaces three separate grant schemes, to enable councillors to recommend larger grant awards.
The grants will allow for councillors to work with community groups all year-round to address community challenges, environmental issues, or festive assistance.
Councillor’s will be able to consider larger grants for community projects, with all funding now being managed by the Community Foundation for Staffordshire. This will enable a more streamlined administration, access to wider funding for the benefit of our communities and allow the Partnership teams to ensure the council meets its commitments under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF), and wider health inequalities and wellbeing work.
Applications for the new Councillor Grants can be made at any time throughout the year.
Previously each ward councillor had a number of different grants that they could distribute to community and voluntary groups. It was agreed that the grants would be combined to enable groups to apply for a larger pot of funding to enable projects to take place anytime of the year.
Additionally, Tamworth Borough Council’s Community Grant scheme will remain the same, where groups and not for profit organisations can apply for up to £1000 on a quarterly basis, for projects that meet the needs of our communities.
More information about grants can be found online at: www.tamworth.gov.uk/grants
Councillor Martin Summers, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health and Community Partnerships, said: “The work of Tamworth’s voluntary, charity and community groups is incredibly appreciated and valued; with groups often supporting the most in need in our communities. As a council, we recognise the worth and importance of this work and this new approach to Councillor Community Grants will mean that at ward level, we can better direct more grant monies to those groups who continue to make a difference to the lives of Tamworth people.
"I'm really pleased to be able to give councillors better opportunity to serve their community. I've always felt councillors are best placed to decide which projects need their support in their wards. This new, clear grant pot of Councillor Grant Funds will enable the council to process applications easily and reach more meaningful, community projects.”
Notes:
The Councillor Community Grants has a total amount of funding of £30,000 per year. Each ward Councillor is allocated a budget of £1000 which can be used to support projects that bring benefits to their ward, therefore a maximum of £3000 will be available to spend in each of the ten wards in the borough.
Grants will be awarded for projects/activities that can meet at least one of the following criteria:
• Assists with Cost-of-Living challenges
• Helps tackle the causes of inequality in our communities
• Reduces social isolation
• Helps develop and safeguard our environment and open spaces
• Increases opportunities to participate in arts, heritage, and sports activities
• Increases volunteering and civic pride
• Helps tackle causes and effects of poverty and financial hardship
• Promotes and develops community cohesion
• Provides social support over the festive period