Harrogate Borough Council

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23 October 2007:  THE lid of a £37,000 'community chest' has been opened by Harrogate Borough Council who now wants to hear from voluntary and community groups who need small grants to help support their projects.

 

The fund has been set up as part of plans to increase the council's general support for the voluntary and community sector. It is also in direct response to calls from local groups who say that, although they can apply for funds from a variety of regional and national sources, they often need a small amount of local financial support to kick start new projects.

 

Councillor Andrew Jones, Cabinet Member for Resources who has given his backing to the creation of the fund said:  "Over the past year or so, as we developed our new strategy to strengthen our relationship with this very valuable sector of our community, we recognised that there was a gap in our financial support.  Our voluntary and community groups provide many essential services and activities in the district.

 

"We will keenly follow how this money is used but we are confident that this will deliver an excellent return on our investment."

 

The council is working with the Voluntary and Community Sector Forum in setting up the Community Chest and has created a quick and simple application process which will enable groups to take that first step in developing new projects and services.

 

Councillor Pat Jones, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services with special responsibility for the voluntary and community sector, added:  "Once you see first hand how much work these groups do for their local area, you can't fail to be impressed.  I sincerely hope that these small but valuable grants will help them in their endeavours which in turn will further benefit local communities."

 

Application forms and guidance notes are available from www.harrogate.gov.uk/voluntary

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Each year the council also provides over £280,000 in grants to support the running costs of key local charitable organisations such as Harrogate CVS, Ripon CVS, the Citizens' Advice Bureaus in Harrogate and Ripon, the Little Red Bus, Harrogate Theatre and Harrogate International Festival.  In addition smaller grants help with the running costs of various local arts festivals, museums and charities.