Applications open for our Community Impact Fund
Today we launch our Community Impact Fund, which offers grants of up to £500 to community groups and organisations whose projects benefit our customers and their local communities.
The fund is aimed at supporting the work of tenant and resident groups, local charities, voluntary and community groups, and organisations who operate in our areas to develop projects that deliver outcomes that benefit our customers and the communities we work in.
The main priorities of our Community Impact Fund are:
- Providing opportunities to access employment and develop relevant skills – for example, projects that help people into work through access to training and educational courses and volunteering opportunities
- Developing financial capability – including supporting people to be financially independent, offering information and guidance, budgeting advice, projects addressing cost of living increases
- Improving digital inclusion – such as projects that develop peoples’ skills and confidence to get online or improve access to devices, digital champions projects
- Promoting health and wellbeing – including running clubs and activities for targeted groups such as young people or older, isolated adults, improving green spaces, projects that improve sense of community, connection and safety, food and nutrition projects, projects that reduce health inequalities.
Our Head of Community Involvement and Investment Natalie Jones said: “When it comes to supporting and strengthening our communities, we want to invest in projects which will improve the quality of life for our customers.
“Applications for up to £500 are now open for our Community Impact Fund. Through the fund, we want to forge partnerships on the ground which make a real a difference. We can’t wait to get started.”
Once applications have been received, they will be reviewed by the Community Involvement and Investment team and the relevant Locality Management Board.
All eligible applications will then be assessed by a judging panel, made up of members of the Customer Panel and Community Involvement and Investment team.
Examples of projects we have previously supported through our Community Impact Fund include:
- Provision of seated dance sessions for older people in sheltered accommodation
- Supporting children with speech and language development
- An allotment project to enable young people to access gardening skills
- Outdoor therapy for vulnerable, isolated people
- Production and distribution of a free independent community newspaper
- Recruit, train and resource volunteers to go into schools to support primary students with their reading
- Engaging young people at risk of anti-social behaviour (ASB) with positive activities
For more information on the eligibility criteria and how to apply please visit our Community Local Fund webpage.
If you have any questions about the Community Local Fund, please contact our Community Involvement and Investment team: communities@greensquareaccord.co.uk
