Groups planning community events urged to apply for a grant

Community groups planning fundraising events in the run-up to Christmas and beyond are being urged to apply for a grant from Daventry District Council (DDC).

The Council offers grants of up to £500 to help local groups and good causes cover the costs of putting on community events.

It has already awarded almost £10,000 to 25 groups across the District this financial year, helping them put on a variety of events including village fetes, WW1 commemorative celebrations and fireworks evenings.

However DDC has now added a further £5,000 to the pot and is urging groups to submit applications for events taking place before the end of March 2019.

Completed application forms must be received by the Council at least three weeks before the event being applied for, so groups that hurry could use the money to help them put on a Christmas fundraiser.

Councillor Alan Hills, Community, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council, said: “Our one-off event grants help groups put on dozens of events across Daventry District each year, helping foster a good community spirit as well as assisting those groups with fundraising for their cause.

“The grants proved particularly popular this summer, which is why we’ve decided to boost the pot by a further £5,000. I would urge groups that are planning an event in the run-up to Christmas or in the New Year to make good use of that money by submitting an application.”

Applicants must demonstrate they have support from their local town or parish council and must also match any funding they receive.

DDC recently awarded grants totalling £188,000 to 23 community and voluntary organisations across Daventry District and is processing a number of applications for the remaining £140,000 of funding which is available in this financial year.

For more information about the range of Community Grants offered by DDC, including the eligibility criteria for each grant, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/communitygrants or phone 01327 871100.