£370k fund open for Inverclyde groups
COMMUNITY, sports and voluntary groups across Inverclyde can now apply for financial assistance of up to £10,000 from the council.
Applications are now being accepted for the local authority’s new Community Grants Fund, which combines the Grants to Voluntary Organisations (GTVO), Under-19s Sports and Community Hall Waivers funding pots.
Groups can apply for up to £10k towards their work supporting people in communities across Inverclyde.
The council has set aside a budget of nearly £370k for the 2021/22 financial year specifically for the Community Grants Fund.
Groups must meet the eligibility criteria to be able to apply and must also demonstrate how funding would contribute to and benefit the wider community in line with the local priorities of: repopulation; local economy; inequalities; or environment, culture and heritage.
Applications received by noon on Monday 12 July 2021 will be considered by the grants sub-committee at its meeting in August.
Councillor Graeme Brooks, who chairs the council’s grants sub-committee, said: “We have such a wide range of groups doing amazing work right in the heart of communities across Inverclyde.
“Money is set aside each year by the council to provide one-off support to give groups a helping hand in doing that good work which benefits our area so much.
“The pot of money available has a limit, so the role of the members of the grants sub-committee is to make sure the money spent achieves the maximum benefit across Inverclyde.”
The new Community Grants Fund was established following a recent review of the GTVO, U19s and hall waivers schemes.
Changes were approved at a recent meeting of the education and communities committee.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, depute council leader and convener of the education and communities, said: “The purpose of the Community Grants Fund is to enable the council to provide financial support to community, sports and voluntary organisations within Inverclyde.
“Groups can bid for support towards facility or core costs, project costs or fee waivers for council and Inverclyde Leisure facilities.
“It makes sense to combine the three traditional funds into one and the capping of grants at £10k also means that there is the potential for more groups to access funding.”
Organisations are required to register with the council when they apply.
For more information, including full eligibility criteria, and to apply, visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/communitygrants.