Community groups benefit from £88k funding

A wide variety of community groups across Bury have been given grants totaling £88,646 over the last year.

The Bury Council Small Grants Fund is to support grassroots community activity, local groups that manage themselves and encourage participation from volunteers, and have limited cash reserves and access to funding.

Among the 27 groups to benefit were:

•  Ramsbottom Business Group (towards the Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival)
•  Hunters Hill Tenants and Residents Association (to fund a play area)
• Rotary Club of Radcliffe (for an over-70s Christmas party)
• Prestwich and Whitefield Heritage ((heritage museum in Prestwich Library)
• Tottington Holiday Club (for a holiday play scheme)
• Summerseat Village Community (improvements to Summerseat island)

Organisations which apply for funding must meet one of the council’s main priorities: reducing poverty and its effects, supporting our most vulnerable residents, and making Bury a better place to live.

The grants were awarded by a panel comprising councillors Sandra Walmsley, Tamoor Tariq, John Smith and Dorothy Gunther, and Kate Brooks, the chief executive of Home-start.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for communities and community safety, said: “Bury's community and voluntary groups provide vital services within our borough and this recent allocation of funding to these groups demonstrates the council’s continued commitment and support to their work.”

Community groups which would like more details about applying for grants should call Liz Saunders on 0161 253 6357 or email e.saunders@bury.gov.uk

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 March 2014.