Community Chest topped-up with extra £30,000

Almost £30,000 extra funding is being pumped into a South Cambridgeshire District Council programme that awards grants to voluntary and community sector groups and Parish Councils.

The funds are being re-allocated from an underspend on a separate grant programme.

As a result, the funding is being made available for other groups to benefit from via the Council’s Community Chest.

It means funds are still available this financial year, for local groups that work towards improving the quality of life for local people to bid for.

These grants can completely or partially cover the costs of a project, equipment or work, and applications are considered on a first come, first served basis.

The latest round of grants saw funding awarded to groups including South Cambs School Sport Partnership for the purchase of sports equipment, Elsworth CE Primary to help establish a before and after school club, and Cambridge Sport Lake Trust for the purchase of equipment for Milton Country Park’s play area.

Cllr Simon Edwards, Cabinet Member with responsibility for community grants at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “It’s great news that we’ve been able to place these funds into our Community Chest.

“As each grant from the Chest is up to £1,000, it means at least an additional 30 local good causes will still benefit this financial year, and so they’ll be able to press ahead with projects that make a real difference in our communities.

“With the chest topped up, I’d really encourage our local community and voluntary groups and Parish Councils to have a think about how these funds could help benefit them, then get their applications into us.”

Grants of up to £1,000 are available for:

Improvements to community facilities

Repairs to historic buildings/monuments/memorials

Tree and hedge planting schemes

Equipment and materials

Start-up costs

For application forms and full details about the fund, plus guidance on eligibility, visit www.scambs.gov.uk/communitychest