The council’s Area Committee Grants application round is currently open to groups across the city, including non-profit, voluntary and community organisations, or groups of local residents.
Grants are awarded to help fund various aspects of a project benefiting people living in a particular part of the city, such as:
Venue hire for community, arts or sports activities;
Transport for trips by disabled, younger or older residents
Materials for art projects.
The committees will recommend grants for projects that help reduce social and/or economic inequality for residents, as part of the council’s ongoing work to combat poverty and inequality in the city.
Groups can apply to one of the council’s four area committees, covering the North, East, South and West/Central areas of the city for funding for projects or activities which will take place in one of the four areas between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. Groups can apply to more than one committee for activities taking place within different areas of the city, up to a maximum potential grant of £5,000 per committee.
Applications from groups are open now with deadlines being:
25 January – North Area (Arbury, East Chesterton, West Chesterton and King’s Hedges wards)
28 January – South Area (Cherry Hinton, Queen Edith’s and Trumpington)
1 February – West/Central Area (Castle, Market and Newnham)
8 February – East Area (Abbey, Coleridge, Petersfield and Romsey)
Councillors will then make recommendations on the grant applications that are received at the respective Area Committee meetings in March.
In addition this year, local groups are being invited to apply for separate grants of up to £500 to help with events taking place between 1 May and 30 June 2022, to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. This funding will follow the same process as the Area Committee Grants, and will have the same closing dates for applications.
Cllr Anna Smith, Leader of the Council and Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “These grants make such a difference to our local communities and I hope as many community groups as possible will submit a bid.
“One of the council’s absolute top priorities is to tackle the poverty and lack of opportunity faced by so many people in Cambridge, through our Anti-Poverty Strategy.
“These Area Committee Grants can contribute towards the amazing work being done by so many groups in our city to help and support residents who may otherwise miss out on opportunities and to make Cambridge a more equal place.
“I’d also encourage community groups, local organisations and residents’ groups making plans to celebrate 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign this year to apply for one of the special Jubilee Grants to help with their events.”
For more details visit: www.cambridge.gov.uk/area-committee-funding, email: grants@cambridge.gov.uk or call the Grants Team on 01223 457857.