News MBC calls for local community groups to apply for grant

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is calling on local community groups and Parish Councils to come forward and apply for a grant of between £500 and £5,000 for projects to support residents and communities in Maidstone.

The Community Resilience Fund is available to local voluntary and community organisations to help provide support to Maidstone residents and help build stronger communities.

Cllr Lottie Parfitt-Reid, Lead Member for Communities and Public Engagement at MBC said:

“This fantastic government grant fund has been provided to really make a difference to individuals in our communities who are struggling. Applications are welcome from organisations that deliver services or activities which benefit the physical and mental wellbeing of residents across the borough.”

Projects could include:

*        Support schemes targeting residents whose mental health has suffered because of loneliness or isolation due to financial hardship

*        Help with food or energy costs

*        Life skills or back to work schemes

*        Befriending schemes to tackle loneliness

*        Grassroots sports clubs who need funding for equipment for children to support mental wellbeing

*        Schemes designed to encourage residents to access nature for exercise and wellbeing

*        Youth groups providing recreation and social opportunities for young people

Lottie continued:

“This is the second phase of the Community Resilience Fund, earlier this year we were able to award money to some of the really great organisations working to help the people of Maidstone.

“Some of the amazing projects that applied included; St Martin’s Church and Detling Community Store who provide food parcel schemes and The Princess Project who run Totcycle helping provide essentials for babies and children.

“Other projects included The Vine Church, Making a Difference to Maidstone, and the Nepalese Gurkha Community who all work hard to identify and provide essentials for those in need in the community.”

“One of our key targets is to work with our partners to improve the quality of community services and facilities so this grant really helps us to do this. I would really encourage any organisations that meet the criteria to apply.”

All applications will be evaluated by a panel and successful applications will be  determined by how much residents and the community will benefit from the project proposed.

Applications should be able to demonstrate:

*        Who will be supported in the community

*        What impact it will have on their health and wellbeing

*        How the project will be delivered

*        How the grant will be spent

The closing date for applications is Friday 16 December 2022. To bid for a part of this funding click here: https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/community-support/tier-2-primary-areas/grants-and-funds-for-groups

For more information or an application form please email VCSliaison@maidstone.gov.uk.

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