Grab a slice of £55,000 for your community group

A Community Chest grant fund, that helps support community groups across South Cambridgeshire, has been topped up with £55,000, which is now up for grabs.

The funding is available to voluntary and community groups, charities and parish councils wishing to improve the quality of life for residents in South Cambridgeshire. Applicants can apply for up to £1,000 for:

• improvements to community facilities
• repairs to historic buildings/monuments/memorials
• tree and hedge planting schemes
• equipment and materials
• start-up costs

In the last year, the fund awarded a total of £79,000 to 63 local projects, from play equipment repairs for Horningsea Residents’ Association and an indoor caving and climbing system for Whittlesford & Duxford Scout Group to specialist hydrotherapy pool equipment for Waterbeach-based charity Eddie’s.

Cllr Simon Edwards, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s finance portfolio holder, said: “We are fully supportive of the superb work delivered by our voluntary and community sector, which provides support for so many of our residents. We know that funding is becoming increasingly difficult to find, and I’m really pleased that we are able to continue to offer grants to support their projects."

“If you need help with a particular project, I do urge you to apply. It's a very simple process and it would be a shame to miss out on funding that is available to you."

Applications will be accepted from Saturday 1 April. For full details about the fund and guidance on eligibility visit www.scambs.gov.uk/communitychest