Play areas, mental health support and floodlighting are just some of the projects rolled out this year to support communities.
West Lindsey District Council has continued to support a number of community-led projects despite the Covid-19 pandemic, with grant funding provided throughout the 2020-21 financial year.
A total of 91 projects received grant funding of more than £92,000 from the Council’s Match Funding Grant and the Councillor Initiative Fund, to support communities where they need it most.
Projects range from much-needed food banks to longer term projects such as developing an under 5-year-old play area.
In 2020-2021 the following grants were awarded:
- 15 Match Funding Grant awards totalling £67,396.97
- 76 Councillor Initiative Fund awards totalling £24,773.85
Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Owen Bierley was pleased the Council was able to support a wide mix of community-led projects across the district.
“West Lindsey recognises that grant funding plays an important role in the wider availability of funding, especially for the community and voluntary sector.
“For every £1 invested from all the schemes, the Council matched/levered in £6.98. This means our grant funding total of £92,170.82 matched or leverage in a staggering £643,921.05, which really demonstrates the value of our grant schemes.
“Whilst it has been an incredibly challenging year for many, it has been humbling to see community groups reaching out to offer much-needed support to local communities. I would like to offer my gratitude and thanks to each and every one of these groups for their valuable work which I know has had a huge impact on local people and I hope this great work will continue.”
Keelby Parish Council was awarded £8,000 from the Match Funding Grant to create an Under 5’s play area. This grant has helped the parish council unlock £79,000 of grant funding from FCC Environmental.
The play equipment will include a castle and a fort climbing frame on a child-friendly safety surface. It will include a bridge and springers for children to play on and will be set in an L shaped setting for parents to sit and watch their children play.
Angie Burnett, Clerk of the Parish Council, has been working on the project using her background as a sports development officer to help shape the project.
She said: “This is such a big project for the community and has taken a lot of careful planning but I am pleased that we have secured the funding for the project. FCC Environmental have awarded us £77,948.39 and without the grant from West Lindsey District Council we would not have been able to access this.
“Keelby has wanted a new play area for the under 5’s since 2013 and we cannot wait to start work as it is such a big investment for the village. Children who come to school in Keelby will be able to play on the equipment before and after school.”
Reepham and District Tennis Club received £1,625 from the Match Funding Grant for an LED Floodlight upgrade.
Kerry Scott Chairperson of the club said: “The floodlights were failing, they were coming to the end of their life and they needed replacing. The members use the courts all year round so we need the lights to keep running through autumn and winter. We are only a small club and without the match funding grants it would have taken forever for us to raise the amount of money required.
“Our experience of applying for the funding and seeking advice and support has been amazing and we are very grateful to both IGAS and West Lindsey District Council for their support.”
Phil Staples committee member who organised the project added: “By upgrading our floodlights to LED lighting, they will be more economical for the club to maintain, they are more environmentally friendly and they also give a brighter light on the courts.”
For more information about the grants available please visit the Match Funding Grant page on the council’s website.
- The Councillor Initiative Fund allows district Councillors to make awards of funding to support a wide range of community projects and activities. Each district Councillor has £4,000 allocated to them to use over a 4 year period.
- Match Funding Grant aims to provide funding that can help start or finish local community projects. The main purpose of this funding is to help secure or attract external funding either from other local organisations or from regional and national funding bodies. The maximum grant available is £8,000 and the minimum grant available is £500.