News Local groups invited to apply for MBC Community Resilience Fund

Maidstone community groups and Parish Councils are being invited to apply for a grant for projects to support local people.

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has announced the fourth phase of the Community Resilience Fund which will be open for online applications from Monday 4 March 2024 until Sunday 24 March 2024.

The Council is calling on local voluntary and community organisations that deliver services or activities that benefit the physical and mental wellbeing to residents to bid for money.

Organisations can apply for one off funding of between £500 and £5,000 for projects for residents and communities in the borough. The Community Resilience Fund has already awarded 56 community groups £142,305 for projects helping to increase access to counselling services and activities to improve mental and physical health, and combat loneliness and isolation. Find out more by watching the MBC Supporting Communities video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8CwqsuVI1A

Cllr Claudine Russell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Engagement at MBC said:

The Community Resilience Fund provides mental health and wellbeing support through schemes which help build stronger communities.  We are inviting local charities and community organisations across the borough to apply for funding from this grant to help them deliver some great projects.

Who Can Apply?

• voluntary or community organisation
• registered charities
• constituted groups
• non constituted groups with own bank account
• Faith Groups, if project inclusive of all faiths
• not-for-profit company or Community Interest Company

Projects could include:

• Art and movement classes
• Coffee mornings
• 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

Claudine continued:

This is the fourth phase of this funding. Previous grants have helped to improve the quality of community services and facilities to hundreds of people in the borough of Maidstone.  This funding means we can help work more closely with these partner organisations and I’d encourage all of them that meet the criteria to apply online.

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 Sunday 24 March 2024.

Bids for this funding can be made online here: MBC Community Resilience Fund

If you have any questions about the fund or need the application form in another format, please email: vcsliaison@maidstone.gov.uk

Successful organisations will be required to provide feedback and information on the residents supported and the type of support given.

Anyone wanting to be kept up to date on news and funding, can join the MBC Voluntary and Community Sector mailing list by contacting: vcsliasion@maidstone.gov.uk

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