Local organisations benefit from City Council Grants
Voluntary and Community Organisations across Winchester are benefiting from the City Council’s Annual Community Grants scheme.For 2010/11 revenue grants totalling more than £532,000 will go towards supporting the administrative costs of 37 groups which provide services and amenities for people of all ages living in all parts of the District. This is an increase in the number currently receiving grant support and includes 6 first time recipients.
Community Grants are awarded each year to local groups that undertake activities which link-in to the City Council’s Community Strategy and support the key themes of Health and Wellbeing, Safer and Stronger Communities, Economic Prosperity, High Quality Environment, and Inclusive Society.
Announcing the council’s annual grant awards Cllr John Cooper, Winchester’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: “The voluntary & community sector has a big part to play in helping us achieve the right outcomes for our community strategy especially where they help meet some of the needs of the most disadvantaged. Their role is one the city council values highly and I think the level of funding we are allocating to this part of our grants budget demonstrates that”.
He added: “Winchester City Council is facing the same budgetary pressures as every other local authority and tough choices have to be made. While many councils have decided that cutting grants to these kinds of organisations is the right way to make savings, I am delighted to say that this administration thinks it is money well spent and so the amount of support they will get is going up for the second year running.”
Details of all organisations receiving Revenue Grants can be viewed on the city council website at www.winchester,gov.uk
Apply for a Small Grant
As well as these annual Community Grants, WCC has ringfenced a further £20,000 to support a Small Grants Scheme which is accessible 3 times per year. Additional grants of up to £500 are available to not-for-profit voluntary organisations, community groups, or registered charities which run activities or projects that directly benefit residents living in the Winchester District.
The next deadline for Small Grant applications is 3rd March 2010 for activities taking place after 14th April 2010.
For more information about the Council’s Small Grants Scheme, contact the Community Grants Officer on 01962 848 582 or visit the City Council Website.