Time to apply for revenue grants

If you're a voluntary group working to make our local communities better, did you know that you can apply for a small grant from South Gloucestershire Council to help you do it?

At the September Area Forum we awarded capital grants to a number of local organisations:

• Crossbow Pre-school Community Hall - Renovaton project -£1,192.00 
• Frampton Cotterell & District Community Association - Central Heating for Crossbow House - £1,000.00
• Wickwar Playing Fields Association - Open Air Basketball Facility - £750.00
• Friends of Ram Hill Colliery - Restoration of Ram Hill Colliery Site - £850.00
• Tytherington Rocks Football Club - Pitch maintenance project - £750.00
• 1st Frampton Cotterell Scout Group - Improving kit - £2,000.00
• Tytherington Village Shop Association - "Growing the business" - £550.00
• Frampton Cotterell Netball Club - Frampton Cotterell development - £605.24
• St Saviours Church - Badminton Road Wall - £1,500.00

The current round of applications is for revenue grants - small grants that can help you with your basic running costs and buying small pieces of equipment. For example, they can help towards room hire, insurance or putting on a community event. We are especially keen to hear from groups that haven't made an application before as we want to make sure we are reaching all parts of the community.

You can find out more and make your application on the South Glos Grants Website. There is also a helpline available on 01454 865865 Mon-Fri 9am-4pm.

In communities that have had new housing, there is also an opportunity to make a proposal for spending some of the New Homes Bonus that the government gives the council for the first 6 years after each new house is built. At the last Area Forum we endorsed the following projects in the Ladden-Frome area:

• Frampton Cotterell Netball Club – Hiring Indoor Training Facilities - £1,680 for 1 year
• Frampton Cotterell Parish Council – Pavilion Extension - £30,500
• Frampton Cotterell Parish Council – Solar Panel Installation - £19,675
• Wickwar Youth Club – Kitchen Equipment - £1,000
• Wickwar Village Hall - Refurbishment - £2,830

If you want a New Homes Bonus scheme to be considered at the next Area Forum, you need to apply by Monday 4th November. Applications for the following meeting should be submitted by 3rd February. Contact your local councillor if you'd like to know more.