Euro Money could help Herefordshire Communities

The Herefordshire Partnership is putting together an application in a bid to lever in thousands of pounds of European money for community projects across the county.

Whether you're working to increase the involvement of disadvantaged and excluded groups, or running a community project - such as Credit Unions, LETS or Community Finance Initiatives - this application could secure up to half the funds of the project cost and we'd like to hear from you.

The application, to be submitted this autumn, will identify types of activities which could benefit from the grants.

Funded by the European Objective 2 programme, the scheme will operate in some of the most rural parts of the County.

The Herefordshire Partnership wants to be sure the application reflects the regeneration needs of Herefordshire:

"We need community groups, Parish Councils and voluntary organisations with ideas that help improve the economic chances of their communities to get in touch," said Vanessa Garwood, Senior Commissioning Officer of the Partnership.

"Although we cannot help groups straight away, the things they want to do will help us shape the application," she said.

"As with all European funding, not everything is eligible and not even the whole county is covered, but we need to make sure that we get the best deal we can," she added.

The type of projects that could fit the scheme include those which would develop or create voluntary and community support structures, encouraging involvement by local people through training advice and information.

Also projects which help to define communities, links with work, heritage and the environment, or which offer new economic opportunities, for example community enterprises such as community shops.

"We are working to a tight deadline,"said Vanessa. "We need to have people’s ideas by October 17 to give us time to link them up and make the application by Christmas."

Anyone interested and wanting more details should contact Clare Wichbold, the Partnership Development Officer, on (01432) 261793 or email cwichbold@herefordshire.gov.uk for details of which parishes may be eligible and to find out what to do next.