The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
by Karen Johnson
South Holland District Council community development officer
It is really exciting to learn when a new community fund is announced and in particular one that I am personally involved in. That’s why it is great to tell you about the East Coast Community Fund.
Each year for the next 20 years, approximately £390,000 will be available from the fund to support a wide range of community and environmental projects.
Applications for grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 are being invited from community groups, charities, social enterprises and other eligible organisations.
Projects must be located within a 5km strip of the coast. A detailed map, where applicants can search via their postcode to check eligibility, is available at http://grantscape.org.uk/fund/eastcoastcommunityfund/
Grants from the main fund will be considered to support projects and initiatives in the following four categories:
1) community buildings and facilities
2) community activities and services
3) environmental and public open space projects
4) sports, recreation and play
There are two applications rounds each year and the first one is now open! Groups have until March 15, 2017 to submit an application with decisions being announced in June.
My personal involvement is representing South Holland District Council on the local advisory group that has been established to help decide which applications will receive grants.
Lincolnshire Local Authorities and Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Services (LCVS) are working together to support Lincolnshire organisations that are interested in applying. LCVS and myself are available to advise and discuss individual project ideas.
Contact details of all advisory group panel members are available on the GrantScape website.
For more details about the fund visit http://grantscape.org.uk/fund/eastcoastcommunityfund/ or contact them at 01908 247634 or e-mail eccf@grantscape.org.uk
