Seven voluntary organisations will receive a share of more than £130,000 to continue their work supporting Stafford Borough residents for another year.
Those set to benefit from the boost from Stafford Borough Council include rising sports stars, as well as community groups providing services, who can apply for small grants through two schemes administered by the Community Foundation.
Councillor Jill Hood, cabinet member for community, gave details of how the schemes have helped residents at Thursday’s cabinet meeting (February 20). Fellow cabinet members agreed to approve the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Grant Policy and spend £130,250 to enable the extension of the current grant agreements until March 31 2026.
Councillor Hood said:
“The council provides support to seven organisations which are monitored on a quarterly basis: Citizens Advice, Support Staffordshire, Staffordshire Women’s Aid, Stafford District Arts Council, Katharine House Hospice and Douglas Macmillan Hospice. The Community Foundation administers the Stafford Borough Small Grants Scheme and Stafford Borough Sports Grants Scheme and those who can make an application (for a small grant) are registered charities, not for profit businesses, community interest companies, community-based organisations, town and parish councils.
“People who have benefited from our sports grant include a 12-year-old girl for the national Badminton England Under 13s. She’s a champion and her grant will go towards, travel, training, equipment – she completes nationally in Slovakia and Holland.
“We’ve awarded a young girl who is part of the British Cycling Club to help her enter a scholarship – she’s represented Team GB – and another young girl is entering a netball scholarship, who wants to achieve a place in the county team. A young man has had funding from us for a football scholarship, Futures 2Gether are going to benefit from a multi-sports section and Stafford Shotokan Karate are having some new crash mats.
“It’s quite humbling to see some of the applications that come through. It makes you realise what a plethora of extremely talented young men and women – and sometimes elderly men and women – are in our borough.”
Organisations given small grants include Oak Tree Farm Rural Project, which enables young people with learning disabilities to learn new skills, Fulford Community Choir and Church Eaton Cricket Club, cabinet members heard. Councillor Hood said:
“I’m particularly pleased we’re going to be allowing town and parish councils to apply for grants because often we find local people who find Stafford Borough Council a big daunting organisation, whereas they can go along to their local town or parish council and ask ‘please will you help me’,
“Applications will be strictly monitored and applicants will be required to deliver performance, monitored and held to account for the use of Stafford Borough Council funding. Funding through those organisations will provide services and engage with communities in all manner of arts and learning activities, providing enjoyment to individuals and groups.”
Councillor Tony Pearce said:
“At the moment, when the future of this council is in some doubt, the question ‘what has the borough council ever done for me’ is on people’s lips. It’s as well that we recognise that, in addition to the statutory services we provide, we support the wider community and in particular those organisations supporting the most vulnerable in our society.”
Councillor Ant Reid said:
“I think all the organisations we are giving grants to are totally deserving. Citizens Advice is especially important to our community at this time.
“I don’t think many of the public realise the council supports various organisations that support them – the work they do is really important to a lot of people. I also want to highlight the small grants scheme and encourage individual groups – especially in the rural areas but across the towns as well – to come and apply for support.”
Funding to be awarded to voluntary sector organisations by Stafford Borough Council in 2025/26
- Citizens Advice – £60,000
- Support Staffordshire – Stafford District – £22,250
- Staffordshire Women’s Aid – £15,000
- Stafford District Arts Council – £10,000
- Katharine House Hospice – £3,500
- Douglas MacMillan Hospice – £2,500
- Stafford Borough Small Grants Scheme – £10,000 (administered by the Community Foundation)
- Stafford Borough Sports Grants Scheme – £7,000 (administered by the Community Foundation)
