Grants to help Aylesbury groups in need
£50,000 was distributed to 20 local groups and organisations last year
Groups, organisations and services in Aylesbury are being encouraged to apply for grant funding.
It comes as a pot of £50,000 was distributed to 20 local groups and organisations in 2020 thanks to the town council’s grants programme.
The deadline to submit an application is next Wednesday (10 March).
Aylesbury Town Council is especially encouraging those which have struggled or even stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic to apply.
Town mayor, Councillor Mike Smith, said:
"We hope the opportunity to apply for one of our grants will inspire local groups to look beyond the current pandemic.
"Our grants have helped all sorts of groups in the past, but we would love to spread our support even further so please help us get the word to anyone you know who might be part of a group which could benefit.
"I’m delighted that the council’s grant programme can support our community and I hope they will continue to thrive now and as soon as the pandemic begins to ease."
Past recipients include: Inspire All CIC who work to support Aylesbury residents recovering from trauma, Aylesbury Cricket Club who needed new equipment to remove the financial barrier of participating, Elmhurst Youth Project who used their grant to help with funding costs and The Thursday Morning Club, who received a £1,000 grant last year.
Steve Mason, the club’s honorary treasurer, said:
"The funds have gone towards the cost of our weekly meetings for the senior citizens of the local area and in addition have been used to fund coach trips to seaside resorts and places of interest, not otherwise possible for many of our members who do not have access to other means of transport for such destinations.
"We are eternally grateful to Aylesbury Town Council for the grant we received."
Three types of grants are available:
• General grants are awarded to support a project, event, service or to purchase equipment. They can be match funded up to 50 per cent of the costs to maximum of £2,000.
• Social and emotional wellbeing grants are given to outside bodies as part of the town council’s commitment to improving public wellbeing, as exemplified in its support for creating a dementia-friendly community.
• The town council provides a sports grant budget as an opportunity for young sports persons who have demonstrated a high level of achievement representing their sport either at national or international events.
People can apply for grants via the Aylesbury Town Council website, or for more details contact the council’s grants officer, Jane Eden, by calling 01296 425678.