Parishes and towns across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership sub-region are set to receive the first share of nearly £1.3 million to help boost small community groups and projects thanks to a new grants scheme.
Lincolnshire Community Foundation’s Levelling UP Community Grants Programme (GRASSroots) will distribute grant aid across Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland to go towards supporting rural communities and parish and town councils.
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the scheme aims to meet an already high demand from parishes and strengthen the social fabric of communities. This could be through building pride in place by improving community facilities, creating opportunities to bring people together or creating social connections that will grow and thrive.
The following projects and groups have been successful in securing a grant:
East Lindsey:
- Wainfleet St. Mary Jubilee Orchard
- New York Lecture Hall
- Stixwould Village Hall
- Spilsby Town Council
- Aby with Greenfields Parish Council
South Holland:
- Weston Parish Council – Weston Hills Park
- Gosberton Snooker and Bowls Club
- Donington – Flinders Park Improvement Project
- Cowbit Village Hall
- Fleet Parish Council – Playing Field Development
In a joint statement, Councillor Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for The Coastal Economy, and Councillor Adam Grist, portfolio holder for Market Towns and the Rural Economy at East Lindsey District Council and Councillor Paul Redgate, portfolio holder for Finance, Commercialisation, Levelling Up and UK Shared Prosperity Funding at South Holland District Council, said: “This funding gives a vital boost for parishes to improve their village halls, their popular clubs and allotments – which will be hugely beneficial to the people who live in those communities and visitors too.
“Additionally, this also gives a helping hand to those who want to set up a new initiative, perhaps a community transport service or an event in their rural community.
“We are so pleased to see this money spreading out across the area, not just in the bigger towns but also the smaller villages which we know will very much appreciate this funding.”
Sue Fortune, Lincolnshire Community Foundation’s CEO, added: “This is an incredible opportunity for organisations based within the heart of their community to access much needed funding whether it’s to install a new kitchen in a much-used rural village hall, reinvigorate a local village tradition or celebrate a local hero, or secure that last bit of funding to complete a community play area.”
Unfortunately, in this round the fund was unable to make any grants in the Boston area due to a lack of bids brought forward. LCF, YMCA and Boston Borough Council are, however, working with a number of community organisations to bring forward exciting bids for the next round of funding.
If this is of interest to your community group, applications are still open and there is still time to apply for the next round of funding.
Grants of up to £24,999 are available to enable places to invest in and/or restore their community spaces and create the foundations for growth at a neighbourhood level.
Some of the applications which would be considered include capital improvement costs to village halls and community hubs, events (cultural, arts, heritage and community) which bring communities together, community play areas, local transport initiatives and projects aimed at reducing the cost of living or improving digital connectivity.
However, anyone is encouraged to make contact and find out more through the LCF’s Grants Page at www.lincolnshirecf.co.uk, where the application form can be found.
