Council invites applications for community grants

The council has a total funding pot of just over £73,000 available for 2016/2017, with grants on offer to community, voluntary and charitable organisations based in the borough.

Organisations can apply for:

• a voluntary and community grant of up to £1,500 to support projects which benefit the local community
• a sports grant of up to £1,000 to support local sports clubs in delivering events or activities
• a youth and play grant of up to £1,000 to support events or projects which develop and sustain youth and play provision
• an arts grant of up to £1,000 to support Rugby's creative industries and community engagement
• a Rural Development Fund grant of up to £10,000 to support projects in Rugby's rural areas
• a Health and Wellbeing Community Fund grant of up to £2,500, delivered in partnership with Public Health Warwickshire, to support projects which increase physical activity, positive mental wellbeing and awareness of healthy eating

The community grants support Rugby's new regeneration strategy, drawn up by the Rugby Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

The strategy aims to develop and support projects which increase community cohesion, improve health and wellbeing, tackle unemployment and help residents access education and training.

The LSP has placed the concept of 'intergenerational working' at the heart of the strategy - bringing different generations together to learn from each other.

The council has encouraged grant applications to embrace the intergenerational working theme.

Cllr Leigh Hunt, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for sustainable inclusive communities, said: "The new regeneration strategy has laid the foundations for a wide range of new and innovative projects to support our residents.

"By linking the council's grants to the aims and objectives of the strategy, we hope to encourage community and voluntary organisations to work in partnership with us to deliver real results in our communities.

"As a council, we recognise the vital contribution such organisations make to our borough and understand it has become increasingly difficult for these organisations to secure funding.

"I'd urge all community and voluntary organisations to find out more about our funding criteria and make an application before the deadline."

Applications for community grants must be made by 12 noon on Monday 11 April.

To apply, visit www.rugby.gov.uk/grants

For more information, email grants@rugby.gov.uk