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Help and advice via St Albans City and District Council
Help and advice via St Albans City and District Council
Community grant fund opens for applications
Community groups and charities in St Albans District can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that help vulnerable people.
St Albans City and District Council has launched its £50,000 Community Project Fund for 2022/23.
The fundsupports the delivery of projects and activities that benefit the whole community and are in keeping with the Council’s inclusion strategy.
Grants are primarily for time-limited projects run by smaller organisations and which meet a community need.
There are two rounds of funding this year with the first opening on Thursday 16 June. A second round starts in November.
Among the organisations to receive a grant last year was the Phoenix Group for Deaf Children and Adults.
They were awarded £2,242 to run British Sign Language (BSL) courses within the community with the aim of increasing BSL skills and inclusion for deaf people.
Christchurch St Albans was awarded £2,715 to stage a free festival to help families, especially the more deprived, to have fun together over the summer holidays
Councillor Sarwar Shamsher, Vice-Chair of the Housing and Inclusion Committee, said: “These grants offer very valuable assistance to the District’s voluntary and community groups and can be used for sport, arts, music, outdoor activities or social groups.
“The fund is a major part of our inclusion strategy that is intended to support residents who are in need. The groups who benefit do a great deal of important work that has helped thousands of people across the District.”
Communities 1st, an organisation that provides advice to charities and encourages volunteering, helps the Council administer the fund.
They will be hosting an online information event on Thursday 16 July from 6 to 7pm. Details on how to sign up are here: www.communities1st.org.uk/calendar/month.
The Council’s Response Fund for 2022/23 has also opened for applications for grants from between £200 to £2,000 from a pot totalling £10,000.
Voluntary and community sector organisations, social enterprise organisations and community interest companies can apply here: www.stalbans.gov.uk/grants.
These grants are for small capital items or for funding for projects that need to be implemented quickly.
Local organisations are also encouraged to sign up as a good cause to the St Albans District Community Lottery. They can do so at www.stalbansdistrictlottery.co.uk/good-causes as a way of raising more funds.
Since the first draw in April, 25 good causes have signed up and received £2,000 in extra funds between them.
Councillor contact: Councillor Sarwar Shamsher, Vice-Chair of the Housing and Inclusion Committee, cllr.s.shamsher@councillor.stalbans.gov.uk; 07883 024251.
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.
Thank you to everyone who took part in our Jubilee picnic, craft events and hobby horse obstacle races on Sat 4 June: to our amazing volunteers and everyone who joined in. It was lovely working with St Helens and St Peters Churches and making good use of Rectory Meadows.
Did you spot our chalk crown trail through the churchyard and follow on up for a cream tea at the Chapel Gym?
We’re collecting photos of the fun day, so if you have some you are happy to share with us (please check with those who are in them, especially with respect to children) please email info@wheathampstead-pc.gov.uk. We hope to make a montage of some of them.
Wheathampstead Parish Council and St Helen’s & St Peter’s churches invite you to a family friendly community picnic. Saturday 4 June 12pm – 4pm on Rectory Meadow (behind the Crinkle Crankle Community Garden and St Helen’s Church).
If you are feeling fine and covid free, we’d love to see you.
Bring a picnic, or buy one locally. Join us for children’s races, hobby horse crafts , charity stalls, face painting, a treasure trail and pony rides. Then wend your way up to the Chapel Gym for a delicious cream tea.
Thanks to our volunteers who help maintain the Local Nature Reserve at Butterfield, and our other open spaces. Looking stunning at the moment
With pony rides and children’s races, a crown trail and crafting fun, plus refreshments .
Bring your own hobby horse or make one like the ones lined up and ready for the ‘starter’s pistol’ and shown below