New round of grants giveaway open for applications

Community groups in County Durham can apply for thousands of pounds to help sustain community projects or get new activities off the ground.

Housing association believe housing is offering grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 through its Large Community Revenue Grants scheme, which is open for applications from Monday, 4 July to Friday, 5 August, 2022.

Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations, local schools, community groups, town and parish councils and charities can all apply.

At least 30 per cent of those benefiting from projects should be believe housing customers, in central, east or west Durham.

Projects must also meet at least one of believe housing’s key themes:

• Health and wellbeing: improving mental and physical health as well as building the confidence of individuals
• Employability and training: including volunteering and other upskilling activities
• Increasing household income: activities including debt and benefit advice, feeding families and employing people
• A greener, fairer future: by reducing, reusing and recycling
• Tackling inequalities as a result of Covid-19.

Damian Pearson, Community Investment Performance Team Leader at believe housing, said: “We’re looking for innovative projects that seek to address local issues and meet our key criteria, in a way that suits their community.

“We want this funding to go towards the development of sustainable communities and to support new projects and activities which have limited resources.

“Grants could be used to set up classes and events; help cover costs such as staff, room hire and equipment; provide refreshments as part of an activity; increase participation through promotion; or go towards travel costs.

“Any organisation that is interested should look at the funding criteria then get in touch as soon as possible, as these grants are usually oversubscribed.”

For more details on believe housing’s Large Community Revenue Grants, eligibility criteria and how to apply visit believe housing community grants | believe housing