Applications to open shortly for community revenue grants
Community and voluntary groups will soon be able to apply for a grant from a new St Albans City and District Council fund.
Grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 are available from the Council’s £50,000 Community Revenue Fund.
The fund is to help charities and non-profit organisations with general running costs and established activities that might need financial support.
Aimed at groups with a track record of delivering important services in the District, it is part of the Council’s £381,000 Community and Voluntary Sector Fund.
This fund has been maintained at the same amount for 2021/22 as the previous year despite the pressure on Council finances from the pandemic.
It is intended to support activities that help the District’s most vulnerable people as part of the Council’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Applications for the Community Revenue Fund will open on Tuesday 12 January and close at midnight on Friday 12 February 2021.
Councillor Jacqui Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Inclusion and Protection, said:
Community Revenue is a new fund that has been set up in response to feedback we have been receiving from our community and voluntary groups.
They have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic with many groups suffering a fall in income while demand for their services has increased.
In response to this, we reviewed the structure of our community grant funds and made some changes. We have recognised that in these difficult times, charities and other groups need financial help with existing activities and day-to-day running costs.
The Community Revenue Fund allows us to do that whereas previously we were looking more at supporting new projects. I urge groups that may be eligible to make an application to do so as we are committed to helping them survive this challenging financial climate.
Organisations considering an application to the Community Revenue Fund can attend an online information event on Thursday 14th January from 4pm to 5.30pm.
Details about how to register along with application forms and grant criteria can be found here: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/grants.
Funding will be for one year from this April with organisations able to apply for repeat funding next year. Previous recipients of Council funding can apply.
As with previous years, there will be further opportunities during 2021/22 for organisations to apply for funding assistance to set up small projects or purchase capital items.
The Council will publicise further details as funds become open for applications: Anyone who wants to contact a Council officer about this should email: engagement@stalbans.gov.uk.
Councillor contact:
Councillor Jacqui Taylor,
Portfolio Holder for Housing,
Inclusion and Protection
Email: cllr.j.taylor@stalbans.gov.uk
Tel: 07971 906343.
Contact for the media:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer
Tel: 01727 819533
Email: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk