Gloucester Community Groups urged to apply for Covid 19 Funding
Gloucester City Council is urging community and voluntary groups to apply for funding to help communities during the pandemic.
Three different funds have been set up to help residents – the Gloucestershire Community Resilience Fund, Gloucester City Council’s Recovery Fund and the Covid Compliance Grant.
Gloucester City Council’s Recovery Fund is available to community and voluntary groups or community centres who are at risk financially due to Covid-19.
The fund can used for a variety of issues such as covering lost revenue from premises hire or cancelled fundraising activities. It can also pay for new technology needed to adapt to the pandemic or making premises Covid safe such as installing signage.
The Covid Compliance Grant is available to community and voluntary groups to apply for grants to take forward their ideas on how to raise awareness of Covid 19 guidance.
The fund is set aside from a government grant to support communities to increase understanding of the regulations and advice around the pandemic.
It can be used to cover promotional activity around COVID-19 guidance, signage and advertising, educational campaigns or practical activities for example producing face masks.
Thirdly the Gloucestershire Community Resilience Fund is to support local voluntary sector agencies and community groups who work with vulnerable people.
The fund, which is part of the £300k allocated by Gloucestershire County Council, will cover additional costs that have arisen as a result of the pandemic.
Examples include the setting up of community floats to purchase food and essential supplies, digital support equipment such as mobile phones, volunteer expenses or developing infrastructure.
It’s open to community or voluntary groups, registered charities, community interest companies and town and parish Councils.
Councillor Jennie Watkins, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said: “We know that community groups and voluntary organisations have a vital role to play in this pandemic and I urge them to come forward and apply. By working together we can help to keep the community safe and hopefully come out of this crisis even stronger than before.”
Councillor Mark Hawthorne, Leader of the Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Voluntary and community groups are essential in supporting those who are vulnerable and isolated as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. The Community Resilience Fund is there to ensure that funding quickly reaches those grass roots organisations that need it most.”
To apply contact grants@gloucester.gov.uk For more information visit www.gloucester.gov.uk/community-living/community-grants/