Community groups and charities across Newark and Sherwood district can apply for up to £20,000 to help deliver projects and schemes that improve the lives of residents through the district council’s Community Grant Scheme.

The £150,000 fund recognises the important contribution that local organisations make to improving people’s quality of life and aims to help get projects off the ground, enhance their impact, and encourage local communities to deliver exciting and transformative initiatives.

To be successful, applicants must demonstrate that the project takes place within the district, that there is a local need for it, and how it contributes to one or more of the council’s Community Plan objectives. They must also include financial information to support the application.

Extra weighting will be given for projects whose applications can show they:

• contribute to overcoming the cost-of-living crisis,
• contribute to public protection by reducing crime or anti-social behaviour,
• improve biodiversity or contribute to reducing climate change.

Up to £20,000 can be applied for larger transformational projects, and any application over £5,000 must demonstrate match funding.

Applicants are also encouraged to contact Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Community Development team at [email protected] to strengthen their applications.

The closing date for applications is 4pm on Monday, 3 June , with awards being made from July. For the full eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/communityfunding/ or call 01636 650 000 during regular office hours.

Coun Paul Taylor, portfolio holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “I am really happy to launch this year’s Community Grant Scheme, which gives local community groups and charities across the district the opportunity to apply for funding to help deliver projects and schemes that will improve the lives of our residents. The Scheme aims to ensure groups that may otherwise not be able to access council funds can receive help and support from us.

“In 2023/24, we supported 15 groups with £100,000 of funding to deliver some truly amazing projects. I am pleased to say that this year, we have £150,000 to award to successful applicants, with the help of additional funding from our allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This means we can help support even more groups and residents across our district.

“I encourage any group or charity who thinks they could benefit to apply.”