Community groups across Stafford Borough could be in line for a share of a £10,000 pot.
Stafford Borough Council is inviting small organisations to bid for between £200 and £1000 to benefit their group.
A key part of securing the money will mean the organisation must make sure that any grant they get is “match funded” – which means if they get £200 from the Borough Council they must also get at least that amount via other sources.
The ‘Small Grants Scheme’ comes on the back of the Council’s successful ‘Jubilee Fund’ which saw thousands of pounds given to groups who could prove the money would be used to provide a legacy for their organisation. Final figures demonstrated that on average for every £1 granted – groups generated an extra four and a half times that amount.
Councillor Jeremy Pert, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:
These groups and organisations are often the heartbeat of a community so we want to support them and ensure they continue to flourish by helping them to help themselves.
The key to a successful bid is for the organisation to show the money will be used for a project or initiative that will have benefits for its members or community for at least three years.”
Organisations will be eligible for the money if their annual income is less than £100,000 and have no more than three full time members of staff. Successful awards will be made in December.
The new scheme will be administered by The Community Foundation for Staffordshire, a charitable organisation specialising in grant-giving and connecting business and private donors with voluntary and community groups. For more information visit www.staffsfoundation.org.uk/sbc/
