Councillor Alyson Barnes
Published December 9, 2016 at 14:10
Following Cabinet approval in November, Rossendale Borough Council has opened the application process for Rossendale Council Grants.
Cllr Alyson Barnes, Leader of the Council said;
“We recognise that these are difficult times for many people and there are some key challenges for Rossendale residents. Although the Council still has to make savings, we have made £62,000 available each year for the next 2 years for the provision of targeted grants for services to support financial inclusion in Rossendale, and for small community grants through the Neighbourhood Forums.”
Financial exclusion refers to the difficulty that many people have in accessing welfare benefits or using mainstream financial services such as bank accounts, savings, loans, insurance and other products. It is both a cause and a symptom of poverty.
Local charities and other community organisations applying for funding must have a track record of working in partnership to deliver services to Rossendale residents to improve financial inclusion in the Borough and must have local knowledge of the issues facing the different communities within the Borough.
Organisations can apply for a two year grant for funding from £7000 upwards, although the amount of grant funding available may not cover everyone’s requests. The deadline for applications is noon on Friday 6th January 2017 and decisions will be notified by the end of January. Successful applicants will receive the first year’s grant in April.
The Council is also pleased to be continuing to provide small grants of up to £500 to local community groups through the Neighbourhood Forums. Applications for Neighbourhood Forum funding can be submitted at any time and are considered by the Forums 3 times a year.
To receive an application form or for more information on the grants application process please contact Alison Wilkins on 01706 252593, email alisonwilkins@rossendalebc.gov.uk