Local groups invited to bid for small grants
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
08/01/2008
Voluntary sector and community groups in Hammersmith and Fulham are being invited to apply for small grants of up to £5,000 through the council’s Fast Track initiative.
The council has set aside £100,000 to help the many voluntary and community groups that work in the borough as a mark of appreciation for the valuable work that they do in the community. Groups are invited to apply to H & F from 14 January to 15 February and with a large response expected, the council will also be making more money available later in the year.
This announcement follows hot on the heels of last year’s successful Fast Track scheme which saw 70 voluntary and community groups winning small grants. Last year’s grants helped groups to pay for projects ranging from activities for children, older and disabled people to local heritage, environmental or crime reduction schemes.
The Fast Track scheme is part of a £4.2 million pot which has been divided between local groups. This represents an overall increase of two per cent from the previous year, following the biggest overhaul of grants to the voluntary sector for more than ten years.
Cllr Antony Lillis, Cabinet Member for Community and Children’s Services, said: “We recognise that there are literally hundreds of local groups in the borough who provide wonderful services but sometimes struggle to pay for particular projects or activities. The small grants on offer can make life for them much easier and we look forward to receiving a wide array of applications.”
One organisation that benefited from last year’s scheme was the 25th Fulham Brownie Pack. Claire Shirley, who is the Brown Owl at the pack, said: “We were delighted to get £400 to go towards taking the brownies to the Waste Warriors sleepover at the Science Museum. This was the first time we approached anyone for outside funding and it really made a difference.”
If you are a voluntary or community organisation working in Hammersmith & Fulham, and would like to apply for a small grant between £100 and £5,000, you can request an application form by contacting:
Community Liaison, Room 42, Town Hall, King Street, W6 9JU
Tel: 020 8753 2487
Email: communityliaison@lbhf.gov.uk
From 14th January, you will also be able to download an application form electronically by visiting www.lbhf.gov.uk/communityliaison.
