Voluntary and community groups in Calderdale are being encouraged to apply for a share of the Council’s cultural objectives fund or larger grants before applications close in October.
The Council is working hard to get more and more people involved in our great local arts and culture, especially as part of its drive to continue the legacy from the Tour de France 100-day Cultural Festival. The voluntary sector plays an important part in this, and can help make a big difference by getting the community involved.
So the Council is making up to £100,000 available for groups in the sector that provide access to arts and cultural experiences. For every £1 of funding that the Council provides to cultural groups, a further £3 of funding or voluntary work is provided by external organisations.
The larger grants offer between £10,000 and £30,000 for up to three years. They are aimed at groups that can help the Council achieve its priorities around communities, volunteering, community safety, clean green public spaces and tackling domestic abuse. Grants will be awarded to support a number of different projects across Calderdale to enable as many local people to benefit as possible.
The grants awarded for 2012 – 2015 boosted a number of local projects, such as helping WomenCentre to support people affected by domestic violence, and helping Halifax Street Angels to fund an expanded service and the cost of drop-in facilities in the town centre.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Marcus Thompson, said:
“We are committed to supporting voluntary and community groups. They play an important role in tackling the challenges facing our communities, and by working closely with them we can make a real difference for local people. I encourage groups across Calderdale to apply for a cultural or large grant in our latest round of funding.”
The grants run on a three-year cycle and the latest round covers funding for 2015 to 2018. Final decisions on applications are expected to be made by the Council’s Cabinet in December 2014.
From April to July 2014 the Council consulted with voluntary and community groups to find out their priorities for funding. Their feedback has been used to shape the grant schemes and support for the next three years.On 15 September 2014, Cabinet agreed the priorities of the Council’s voluntary sector programme for 2015 to 2018. As a result the grant schemes have become more targeted and priorities-based, so that funding can be directed where it will have the biggest impacts.
Completed applications for cultural and large grants need to be with the Council by 9am on Friday 31 October 2014. For details of how to apply and the criteria that need to be met, go to the grants page on the Council’s website. Email grants@calderdale.gov.uk for an application pack.