Voluntary organisations and community groups helping to improve the health and wellbeing of residents are to share £345,000-worth of funding thanks to a Nottinghamshire County Council scheme.

The money will help local facilities’ running costs, as well as improving residents’ access to affordable and healthy food. Groups were able to apply for three types of grants offered by the Local Communities Fund (LCF) by demonstrating that their projects will help communities live healthier and more independent lives.

The next round of funding to help with costs will reopen this autumn and once again groups can apply for up to £5,000 for revenue and up to £20,000 for capital grants. The food redistribution grants element of LCF will reopen in spring 2025.

For the revenue scheme, which is aimed at helping groups with their essential running costs, 35 groups will receive grants from this round of funding. These include Mansfield Woodhouse Community Development Group, which will receive £1,490 towards energy costs and providing a warm, safe environment at Park Road Resource Centre, and Rainworth Miners Welfare Football Club, which is to get £2,010 go towards electricity, water, and volunteer costs.

Transforming Notts Together will receive £2,010 to help the expansion of community hubs for Ashfield, Gedling, and Mansfield residents.

The Food Redistribution scheme is aimed at improving residents’ access to affordable and healthy food. Among 12 groups to receive grants for this round are is Crescent Primary School, Mansfield, which was awarded £ 6,390 to help provide essential food support services for families and children in need.

East Kirkby Miners Welfare Trust is to receive £5,120 towards its work helping families and elderly people maintain access to healthy food and support services in Ashfield.

A grant of £6,390 was made to Newstead Colliery Miners Welfare Trust to improve access to diverse and healthy food options as well as services like budgeting and energy-efficiency advice. The funding will help towards food subscription costs, utilities for storage, and use of a room.

For more information, including the range of grants available and the eligibility criteria for groups thinking of applying next time, go to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/business-community/community-and-voluntary-sector/the-local-communities-fund-lcf