Every so often I’m asked by charities and community groups, who undertake a range of projects to help people right across Crawley, if I can advise of any potential avenues of funding for them to develop their work and assist more people in our town.
The People’s Health Trust have opened Active Communities in West Sussex using money raised by HealthWish Society through the Health Lottery.
Active Communities is a funding programme for community groups and not-for-profit organisations, who can apply for investment of between £5,000 and £50,000 for projects lasting up to two years. Interested parties will need to have an income of under £350,000 a year or an average of £350,000 over two years.
In terms of eligibility, real emphasis is placed on having a true benefit to the local area. The winning projects must be designed and led by local people, in support of the neighbourhood or community, with a strong sense of creating enhanced connections by meeting up and coming together.
Ideas which have been funded previously by Active Communities include a local magazine written by and for the benefit of disabled people, a community cafe created and run by single parents as a space to meet and seek support, and a group for older and younger people to get together in a local area and enjoy activities such as crafts and technology.
Groups in West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove are currently eligible. Sussex is one of just four areas in the country where applications are open currently.
For more information and to apply for funding, please visit: www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk/apply-for-funding. The deadline for Stage 1 applications to be submitted is 1pm on Wednesday 29th November 2017 – good luck!
Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info