More than 200 groups have been able to help their local communities, thanks to money from a new County Council scheme.
All over Hertfordshire, worthwhile projects are being given a funding boost through the Locality Budget Scheme. Each of the 77 county Councillors has £10,000 to spend on community schemes in their area.
Most Councillors have now allocated their entire budget but the scheme has been such as success that it will be run again from April and interested groups can apply now.
Awarded grants include:
- £1000 to the Friends of Victoria House Day Centre to create a sensory garden for elderly people in Watford
- £1500 to Royston Tennis Club towards six new courts and floodlighting
- £500 to Potters Bar District Guides towards their centenary weekend celebrations
- £1000 to Kings Walden Parish Council to restart a youth club at Breachwood Green.
- £1100 to the St Albans South Extended School Consortium towards bicycles, helmets and a storage building for its safe cycling scheme.
Grant funding has also been used to pay for a microphone system at meetings for elderly members of Sandridge Silver Threads; to help towards the start-up costs of Welwyn Community Café, and to fund a Christmas meal prepared by young people for senior citizens in Shenley.
Councillor Richard Roberts, Executive Member for Performance and Partnerships, said: “These groups play a vital role in their local community and this funding scheme is a great way for councillors to give a helping hand. We’ve cut out a lot of red tape and made it easier for people to ask for help.”
For more information on how to apply, visit www.hertsdirect.org and type 'locality budgets' into the search box. Alternatively, please click here.