Grants for community activity

Grants schemes run by Herefordshire Council are offering up to £2,000 towards the cost of projects which promote voluntary and community activity in the county.

The community projects grant can support up to £2,000, or 50% of the project costs (whichever is the lesser), is available and the community pride grant for up to £750, or 75% of the project costs (whichever is the lesser), is also available for eligible projects .

So far this year community projects grants have been awarded to:

• Ross-on-Wye Baptist Church for equipment for its CAMEO group
• The Coppice Workers towards publicity of the National Bean Pole week promoting the use of local canes in the garden
• Dormington and Mordiford Parish Council towards a speed indicator display by the school
• Kington Show towards publicity
• Mortimer Leisure Centre towards a community event
• Leintwardine Community Access Point towards the cost of relocating the CAP
• Goodrich parish council towards the cost of printing its village design statement.

The community projects grant is a discretionary grant which aims to promote and support voluntary and community activity in Herefordshire by helping to establish and develop facilities, activities, events and services across the county and is open to constituted groups. 

The grant is given to:

• Encourage communities to come together with activities to improve their vicinity
• Support effective community involvement in decision making
• Support and encourage participation in regular volunteering
• Strengthen and support community and voluntary activity and enable a thriving third sector
• Improve the availability of sustainable services and facilities and access to them. 

The "community pride grant" is a new discretionary scheme covering the whole of the county to help local community groups in Herefordshire bring ideas and projects to life for the benefit of Herefordshire citizens.

The project must be community led and come from groups or organisations with a written constitution and bank account.  Private individuals cannot apply.

Projects must demonstrate that their project takes place in, and benefits people in, Herefordshire, provides good value for money, seeks to involve the community, be new and not duplicate existing services, and it must not be for statutory activities or to promote political or religious activities.

Activities could be social, environmental or economic in nature such as: providing equipment, support or publicity for a group; improving signage for an area, low level crime prevention initiatives or training courses.

Previous community pride schemes have supported notice boards, neighbourhood watch signage, playgroup equipment, equipment for community groups and clubs, and equipment for village halls.

Any groups wanting further information about these grants should contact the delegated grants and programmes team on 01432 260753 or email delegatedgrants@herefordshire.gov.uk.

Information can be found in the delegated grants and programmes section