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Voluntary organisations and community groups helping improve the health and well-being of Nottinghamshire residents can now  apply for a range of financial support thanks to the Local Communities Fund.

The four sets of grants open until Sunday 4 June are:

Cost-of-Living grants (Eligible groups can apply for up to £5,000)
Open for a second round, £150,000 is once again available to support groups who are helping residents most in need. This is part of a wider package of support by Nottinghamshire County Council to help those most affected by rising food and energy costs. 
Two types of grants are available and aimed at groups who are:  
• Helping those who are struggling to buy nutritious food to help improve health and well-being and build resilience. This may include projects such as ‘cook and eat’ sessions where residents can better plan, cook and share nutritious, affordable meals.
• In need of a contribution towards their own rising energy bills to help keep their welcoming and warm centres and halls open across the county.

Eligible groups who applied for the first round of these grants (which were open between 7 December 2022 to 29 January 2023) are able to apply again ( including those who were successful)

Capital grants (Eligible groups can apply for up to £20,000)
£500,000 has been earmarked for this year (April 2023-March 2024) for groups to make improvements to facilities that help improve health and wellbeing, as well as projects with an environmental focus. These include:
• Improvements to sporting facilities;
• Play areas and/or equipment;
• Green/horticultural improvements to open spaces;
• Heritage improvements, signposts and information boards to improve the visitor experience.

Revenue grants (Eligible groups can apply for up to £5,000)  
An annual pot  of £100,000  has been set aside  to help projects with their day-to-day running costs such as paying wages and bills. Applications from a range of projects are welcomed, including:

• Summer play schemes
• Projects that tackle digital exclusion, good neighbourhood schemes, dementia-friendly communities and  food/lunch clubs.
• Encouraging local networks where people help themselves and each other to be resilient, neighbourly and safe;
• Increasing volunteering opportunities;
• Addressing climate and environmental change;
• Improving access to existing community-based services (e.g. advice and signposting), for the most vulnerable residents.

Eligible groups can apply for all four types of grants to help meet specific needs in line with the criteria. Each application will need to clearly explain how the money will be used, if successful.

All applications for revenue and capital funding must provide a supporting statement from an elected Nottinghamshire County Councillor for the area in which the proposed project will be delivered.

For further details of  eligibility criteria as well as how to apply go to: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/LCF


Mark Walker, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Interim Service Director for Place and Communities said, 

“We are delighted that local groups can once again apply for our range of grants to suit their different needs as part of this year’s Local Communities Fund. This Fund has the common aim of improving the lives of our residents, particularly their health and well-being.

“And to help simplify the process, groups now have two opportunities a year to apply for capital and revenue grants. Following this current window, the next application window is expected to be open from 2 October 2023.

“Our cost-of-living grants continue to go from strength-to-strength with groups also invited to apply for these grants from today. This 17-month scheme is worth a total of £450,000 to specifically help those groups who support those who are most affected by rising living costs.” 

The first round of cost-of-living grants worth £150,000 were awarded to 87 groups in March 2023. These included those with a county-wide focus:

• £1,135 awarded to the International Development Foundation for Community Integration & Support Services, based in New Basford to help with its work offering a range of support, including providing food to members of African heritage, especially those new to the county.
• £1,630 to help pay the energy bills and running costs of the Nottingham Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Limited. This organisation helps manage the symptoms of Nottinghamshire residents with a range of chronic health conditions.
• £1,000 went to the Old Basford-based Sensory Learning & Play C.I.C to help towards energy and food costs to help them continue their therapy work with low income and disadvantaged groups across the county.
• £1,070 awarded to Nottingham-based The Carers Federation Limited to help with food costs as part of their cross-county project giving advice to young carers on how to cook and supporting them with easy and nutritious recipes that can be replicated cheaply and easily in the home.

For further financial support and advice, check the council’s dedicated cost of living support page: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/business-community/cost-of-living-support

ENDS