Sea cadets in Thornbury are set to benefit from a rowing boat to help with training exercises and teamwork skills. What does your community group need?
Last year we launched a Member Awarded Funding (MAF) scheme where all 70 South Gloucestershire councillors are allocated £3,000 to fund particular projects for the benefit of residents.
As well as the Thornbury Sea Cadet Corps successful application, organisers of Mangotsfield Village Festival have also been given a helping hand towards the security costs of putting on this summer’s event.
And the Young at Heart group in Bradley Stoke will also benefit from funding to put on summer coach trips for older people in the area. Over at Kingswood Park, the local friends group have successfully applied for a set of goalposts to encourage footballers to use the park.
Organisers of Chipping Sodbury’s community event the Big Lunch received £500 at the end of last year. They spent £150 on a Christmas lunch for the elderly and the other £350 will be spent on a summer event for the whole community. The main Big Lunch takes place on Sunday 4 June in Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury and will take on a vintage summertime theme.
Groups still have plenty of time to apply to their local councillor by Friday 31 March. Further information on how to apply is available on our website www.southglos.gov.uk/maf
Councillors have the option to award all their annual funding to a single organisation or initiative, or divide it among a number of groups. They will also be able to combine their individual fund with other councillors in order to provide greater support to a particular scheme.
Funding can be used to make a contribution to a community project or as a grant to voluntary, community or social enterprise groups or town and parish councils.
Robust criteria is in place to ensure funding is allocated appropriately and details of money awarded by each councillor (as well as unsuccessful applications) will be published on our website www.southglos.gov.uk/maf
In February 2016, full Council took a decision to introduce MAF which started in October. MAF replaces our previous Community Grants.
