WNDC pumps tens of thousands of pounds into community schemes

Hundreds of thousands of pounds has been pumped into community projects and groups by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation’s Stronger Communities Fund over the past year.

The fund, managed by Northamptonshire Community Foundation, was launched at the tail end of 2008 and has seen groups across the Northampton, Daventry and Towcester areas, benefit by £367,545.

The £750,000 Stronger Communities Fund will be awarding grants until March next year, with the next wave to be decided on February 12, and with recent news the boundaries of the fund are growing, we look at some of the groups which have benefited from the fund.

"THE grant will make a huge difference to the lives of the local and Sikh community of all ages."

The words of Northampton Sikh Community Centre and Youth Club project co-ordinator, Pindy Chahal, after projects totally £47,064 were awarded by WNDC.

Mr Chahal said the group, set up in 1996, aimed to develop a community gym for people of all ages as one of its projects and since the cash injection from the WNDC it has seen a significant increase in users.

He said: "There has been a significant increase in user participation since the new equipment has been installed as there is now sufficient equipment in place due to the new machines. Overall, there is a clear indication of more people working towards healthier lifestyles."

Other recent grants saw the county’s first ever korfball club, The Northampton Banshees, receive more than £2,700 to help with start-up costs, Bugbrooke Sports and Community Centre receive £10,000 to provide a multi-use games area to encourage positive physical activity among youngsters, £20,000 for Inspiration FM to buy new radio broadcast equipment and nearly £19,000 to The Bridge Substance Misuse Programme to equip a gym in Northampton for people with drugs, alcohol or mental health problems.

Vince Carroll from the programme said: "The grant goes a long way to helping us equip our new gym. It will help provide a facility that people with a variety of issues can use and benefit form as part of their recovery."

Chief executive of the Northamptonshire Community Foundation Victoria Miles said: "A year on and the Stronger Communities fund has enabled a lot of groups to transform people’s lives – everyone from the young and old, people with disabilities, the isolated and the vulnerable. This really is a truly wonderful example of a community action led pot of funding. We are proud to be working with WNDC and to be delivering the Stronger Communities fund."

And now, even more community groups across the three towns are eligible to apply for funding from the fund.

At a recent board meeting the WNDC allowed even more community groups across Northampton, Daventry and Towcester to apply for funding by approving an extension to the operational boundaries of the fund.

Previously, the scheme only covered communities which had been identified as most likely to be directly affected by the growth plans for the area. However, the fund now covers the full local authority districts of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester.

Chief Executive of WNDC Peter Mawson said: "We are delighted even more people across the west of Northamptonshire will be eligible to apply for the Stronger Communities Fund. Since being established in 2008, this programme has been a real success story, supporting a wide range of people young and old, as well as a diverse selection of activities ranging from sport clubs to transport schemes."

He continued: "WNDC is delivering new projects for people in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester, to live work, and spend leisure time in. But the Stronger Communities Fund is about much more than simply bricks and mortar.

"It’s about creating new opportunities and new ways for local people to lead fulfilling lives through voluntary groups. We are delighted to fund activities and will continue to support these groups over the coming months."

Victoria Miles, Northamptonshire Community Foundation Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted to be working with WNDC and this excellent news means that more groups than ever before will now be able to benefit from much needed grants. These grants make a huge difference and capital funding in particular – such as equipment purchase and building renovation, is often difficult to secure. This makes the Stronger Communities Fund particularly valuable for the people in and around Northampton, Daventry and Towcester.

"A year on and the Stronger Communities fund has enabled a lot of groups to transform people’s lives – everyone from the young and old, people with disabilities, the isolated and the vulnerable. This really is a truly wonderful example of a community action led pot of funding. We are proud to be working with WNDC and to be delivering the Stronger Communities fund."

Grants awarded are between £1,000 and £20,000, although the Foundation said most awards are between £1,000 and £5,000. So what can funded:

• Applications must be for either a new project or service, or for an extension or improvement to an existing project or service.
• Grants must be for capital projects only (equipment and building work) and must be spent within six months for the formal grant offer.
• Community projects on public land or property must have an existing lease and benefit from a minimum of ten years on their outstanding lease with evidence of long term revenue funding for the project.
• Applications are welcome from projects or services which deliver cultural or sporting benefits.

To apply for projects visit the WNDC website at www.wndc.org.uk and follow the links to the Stronger Communities Fund or log-on to www.ncf.uk.com and download an application form. It is recommended you contact the Foundation’s grants team on 01604 230033 to discuss your project idea before applying.